Sounds to me like the LCC advertise cheap flights, then if they don't sell well, they change the flights (stuff people around) so to maintain they don't lose anything. An Ombudsman needs to be allocated for these companies, to make sure they're not ripping people off. My mother has just been told, a 2nd time, that her flights have been changed again. She's flying Syd to Perth return in Aug (fare bought Dec 2013), originally a "sale fare" directly to Perth. She then was told last month there were changes, and she would need to fly via Melb, adding an extra 3hrs each way. She has now just received ANOTHER email today with changes again, but this time to a MUCH later flight, which gets her in very late that night. She now loses the whole day she was scheduled to be in Perth for, plus my sister who is picking her up, who lives a 3hr drive away, is seriously inconvenienced. I truly believe these LCC are deliberately doing this, and it needs to be regulated and STOPPED. Fine them a substantial amount if they do it too many times, showing a pattern of simply screwing people over to maintain their bottom line...
Comments
Mark, there is a so called
Mark, there is a so called Ombudsman under the name of "Airline Customer Advocate" (ACA). I dealt with them over a year ago when I took Jetstar to court. I am not sure if anything has changed since but I found them to be a toothless tiger. They certainly didn't have the regulatory power to fine or even enforce any decisions on Jetstar. It is setup and funded by a few airlines, including Jetstar to make it look like someone is watching over them. But unless ACA is given the same level of power as the one for the communications ambuscade, Jetstar will continue to behaving like a bully as it has done so for so many years.
Give them a try anyway. Things might have improved since I contacted them. You can get more information from http://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/General/Default.aspx . I haven't had the need to contact them since I stopped using Jetstar over 18 months ago.
Good luck
Amir, you are right about ACA
Amir, you are right about ACA being a "toothless tiger". They do not have any power to intervene and attend to your situation. I was trapped with Jetstar, and had no where to turn to except the ACA. They couldn't really be of any help at all. Oh well, bottom line: goodbye S**Tstar!
David, you can take Jetstar
David, you can take Jetstar to the small claims tribunal in your state and most people stand a very good chance of winning their case. I did take them to QCAT in Brisbane for a rescheduled flight that I didn't want and Jetstar insisted that I must accept. I won the case and got a refund of the fare and my out of pocket expenses. I know of at least another 3 people who have also been successful in suing jetstar. Its simple, quick and bery cheap ($21.50 in QLD). The other alternative that many people seem to find successful is to write to the top management at Jetstar. You can find all the contact details on this site. Good luck