TT's response to all-inclusive fare laws - no surcharge on debit cards

[stuartfaz]

I was wondering what the home of free seats-that-aren't-actually-free would do in response to tighter all-inclusive fare laws, and now we know.

Any transaction done on a VISA or MasterCard debit card is now surcharge-free, on the new 'raw fares'.

T and C's below:

Terms & Conditions

This "Tiger Raw" fare is the lowest available fare from Tiger Airways Australia and is fully inclusive of all taxes and charges.

The "Tiger Raw" fare does not incur payment of the $5 convenience fee associated with credit card purchases per passenger, per flight sector. Payment by Visa or Mastercard credit card or international debit card is permissable subject to payment of this fee. The following conditions apply:

• Must be purchased using a Visa debit card or MasterCard debit card issued by an Australian financial institution.
• Available for bookings made at Welcome To Tiger Airways only, during the stated buy period for one way travel. Travel dates may vary by destination.
• Includes an A$15 discount per passenger per flight sector, which is otherwise payable if bookings are made via our call centre or at airport locations.
• Includes free carry-on luggage allowance of up to 7kg. Passengers may select to purchase a checked in luggage allowance, or select a specific seat for an additional fee.
• Additional fees are payable in respect of permissable changes to confirmed reservations.
• Subject to availability (not available on all flights or days). Seats are limited and may not be available during peak periods or on all flights, public holidays or certain blackout periods or once sold out.
• Not available in conjunction with any other promotions or for group bookings.
• All bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Additional conditions apply for stated international Flight Combo flights.

[Sunstar320]

Could this "Tiger RAW" fare class be a hint that they might be introducing a new fare class? Like "Tiger FLEX" for example? Could work well on their Sydney sectors when they build their fleet/frequencies up a little.

[stuartfaz]

Could this "Tiger RAW" fare class be a hint that they might be introducing a new fare class? Like "Tiger FLEX" for example? Could work well on their Sydney sectors when they build their fleet/frequencies up a little.

I doubt it, they seem very stringent on their 'one fare class' policy.

I'd say the 'raw' fares are just another name for normal fares bought by a debit card.

[oz_mark]

I find it a little strange that it is all written up as though it is a promotional fare

[odysseus]

As it refers to a discount, it seems the advertising should be shown $15 higher. You can then get the discount if you opt for this fare.

Not so many Visa and M/C branded debit cards around though, so for everyone else they still have to cough up the extra surcharge.

[Cabbage]

Not so many Visa and M/C branded debit cards around though, so for everyone else they still have to cough up the extra surcharge.

Guess thats what they're counting on...fwiw, I pay no fees with my Bankwest Zero transaction account and get a free MasterCard Debit Card thrown in, so this "discount" is a welcome development.

[Dave Noble]

Not so many Visa and M/C branded debit cards around though, so for everyone else they still have to cough up the extra surcharge.

There are quite a decent number of debit cards out there.

NAB, Westpac, St George, ANZ and Commonwealth to name a few all offer debit cards on transaction accounts

Dave

[stuartfaz]

As it refers to a discount, it seems the advertising should be shown $15 higher. You can then get the discount if you opt for this fare.

I think the discount they're talking about is a normal fare bought online compared to a fare bought over the phone (in reality its a $15 charge for buying over the phone but this doesn't sound as nice )

There doesn't seem to be a difference between the 'raw' fare and the regular fare (there's still only one fare type available), but there's just no surcharge on the debit cards.