Few will have heard of Amravia but this week they sounded like they were about to join the list if bankrupt airlines for 2012. Armavia is the national airline of Armenia, a small landlocked  mountainous country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. It  was part of the USSR.

Armavia was established in 1996, with commercial flights to Russia and Turkey starting in 2001. It had a strategic alliance with Russian  S7 Airlines who owned 68% of Armavia for a while. The carrier took over flights from Armenian airlines which went bankrupt in 2003 and then it absorbed flights operated by Armenian International Airways  which collapsed in 2005.

It has a smallish fleet of eleven planes and was launch customer for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 last year. They named it after the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin. (Ironically, one of the largest orders for the Superjets  was from the now defunct Malev Hungarian Airlines). Their second Superjet 100 comes in April, 2012.

They fly to points in Europe (eg Amsterdam, Lyon, Milan, Venice), Middle East (eg Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, Istanbul), Russia (Mosow, Volgograd) and Ukraine (Kiev, Odessa). Most flights orginate from Zvartnots Airport 12 km (7.5 mi) west of the Armenian capital:  Yerevan.

For much of 2011, they have been clearly in a cash flow crisis. They dismissed staff very quickly after the European summer of 2011. In addition, there have been rumors that the airline is up for sale.  Armavia flights have been delayed because of the company’s high debts to Zvartnots Airport which twice surpasses the norm set. In December they reduced all fares by 7 per cent- one wonders if to generate cash. The Federal Russian Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) suspended flights in Russian airspace until air navigation fees were settled.  On March 6, Armavia promised this payment by March 20.

On the same day, the airline went on “strike”, refusing to pay fees on flights out of Zvartnots Airport in protest of the high fees at that airport. The Managing Director of Armavia,  Mikhail Baghdasarov said “either we declare bankruptcy or Zvartnots Airport lowers its tariffs by 25 percent“. There was an agreement on March 14, 2012 between the airport and the airline which has been kept confidential.  The company said is preparing for a “busy summer” and intends to acquire new types of aircraft.

So is Armavia ailing or aspiring?

I used Kayak to research a flight: Austin-Pittsburgh-Boston. The best option price and schedule- wise was an American Airlines/USair combo sold by American Airlines for $US357.60 ($A345) in Economy.

Kayak gave me a link to American Airlines which I clicked on. This deposited me on the onto the American Airline homepage (www.aa.com). I entered all my personal data and scrolled through to payments page where I entered my Credit Card details. The form asked for my country. I discovered there was not a drop down box for “Australia”. I could enter USA, Canada, UK but no Australia. So I called American Airlines. Turns out I cannot book and pay for a ticket on AA.com with an Australian Credit Card. I had to start the whole booking process again at the Australian American Airlines site: http://www.americanairlines.ie/intl/au/index.js

This I did. The cost to fly on the same flights was $574.60- that is $US594.81. This is a massive $US 237.21 difference. Excessive? Solutions:

1. Get a US Credit or Debit Card
2. Get a friend to pay
3. Book and put on hold and pay for the ticket at the airport. They wont let me pay over the phone. How bizarre is that?

This is a Trip Report about my first Tiger Airways Australia flight after their recent resumption. Tiger was grounded by CASA, the Australian Air safety agency for six weeks for a number of offences. They only started flying again three weeks ago. Their CEO lost his job over the groundings.

I have previously rated Tiger very poorly and indicated I was not in a hurry to fly them again.

Today’s Trip Report:  Tiger Airways TT 618:  17:40h Melbourne to Sydney- which I missed. This is the sixth flight I have ever missed in my life.  This is not bad considering I have had 788 flights! On three occasions, missing the flights was not my fault but I do take responsibility for three!

Seconds, after booking my ticket on Tiger’s user unfriendly website, I got my travel confirmation. As a very frequent flyer, I have had a lot of these in the past and I admit I didn’t read it.  I filed it in my email and made sure it was entered onto my Tripit (see blog post on this useful travel app which creates your travel itineraries).

Yesterday,  I tried to use online check-in  but discovered  ”Tiger Airways Australia’s Web Check-in service is temporarily unavailable, as this will allow us to more efficiently process refunds for affected passengers”. has shut their while they are rebuilding the airline.

This, of course, meant a check in at the airport. This made me a little nervous because of Tiger’s carry on luggage limit. On my fare, my carry on limit was 10kg. Confession Time:  I had one bag at 8kg and one at 5kg which means if they weighed my hand luggage, they may have demanded payment. I don’t mind paying- I just hate checking luggage in.

I knew Tiger has a really strict time cut off so I made sure I got to the airport before it.  Unfortunately I discovered on arrival at the airport that their cut off is 45 minutes NOT the thirty minutes I assumed it was. Qantas closes their flights 15 minutes (30 minutes with luggage) before the flight. At Jetstar its 30 minutes and Virgin recommends 30 minutes. Rex is 20 minute cut off in regional centres and 30 minutes in Capital cities. 

I and another gentleman arrived simultaneously 42 minutes before departure (16:58h) to find check in had closed. 3 minutes prior! 

The supervisor was unmoved: “on your ticket confirmation it says 45 minutes. Since the grounding we have to be very careful”

I said to him “45 minutes is not a CASA requirement”

He said:  ”Its our system. It closes automatically and I can’t get back into the system. We need that long to process things.“

I said “thats not a friendly system!” How many empty seats have you got on the flight? “

He said “A lot, but I can’t get you on”

The other passenger,  a young student was close to tears:  “I have to be in Sydney tonight”

Our Tiger guy said: “there are no more flights tonight, For 85 dollars I can get you on the first flight tomorrow.”

Annoyed, I pulled the painful passenger attitude:  ”For 109 dollars I can get a flight to Sydney with Virgin now.”

He shrugged. I should know better than to argue with an agent in this situation. You cannot win but I tried: “I fly 120 times a year. You can either get me on this flight now or I promise you I will never fly tiger again”

He looked at me and said “if you had been here on time, I could have.  Check in opened two hours before departure”

I said:  ”I obviously wasn’t here, two hours before departure. So that comment isn’t helpful. Good Bye. You have lost me Tiger.”

I wheeled my bag to the Virgin Australia terminal next door and booked a $109 flight on my computer. I then checked in and was on the 18:15h flight which departed 35 minutes after my original flight.

Tiger Melbourne opening

I understand strict cut offs for check in. I acknowledge I need to check my travel confirmation more closely. Today, however, Tiger could have done better. Why could some allowance have not been made for the following reasons:

• there were only  two passengers affected- in an empty check in area
• it was a mere three minutes after check in has closed
• both passengers were unaware of the 45 minute check in rule
• Tiger have a need to rebuild a brand in Australia

If they had given me a polite warning about their strict check in policy and allowed me on, this would have resulted in:

1. the young student and I getting to our destination
2. less stress for us (and staff?) 
3. taking up less time than the argument with the supervisor
4. potentially keeping me as a customer (slim chance I know!)
5. turning this blog into a more pedestrian Trip Report of a Melbourne-Sydney flight with Tiger Airways Australia

They may have won this battle but now? Nothing will get me back on Tiger’s crowded uncomfortable planes flying out of tacky cheap terminals! Their demise wont be missed a lot, I am sorry. 

For the record, my other missed flights have been:

1992
Qantas: Adelaide to Melbourne
I misread my paper ticket and arrived after the plane had left. Qantas put me onto the next flight.

2002
American Airlines: St Louis to Philadelphia
In the midst of the obsessive post 2001 obsession over security, I was scheduled to be processed for a special security check, The check took so long due to a shortage of staff, that I missed my flight even though I was checked in and in the airport. I talked myself onto the next flight

2010
United Airlines: Oklahoma City to Dallas
To be honest, I chose to be late to the airport for Social reasons! United put me on the next flight.

2004 and 2011
Southwest Airlines: Los Angeles
I missed my connections because my planes out of Australia were delayed- fog in 2004 and a failed engine in 2011. Southwest moved me onto next available flight.

This email offering fares from the US to Europe got me mildly excited for a minute with visions of Rome until i focused on the star. I love those stars that sit next to all airline pricing. As I have long complained, no fare is what it says it is.

So the star* in this fare special means:

1. that’s $198 each way- and you must buy a round trip ticket
2. $198 of course is the cheapest possible fare and is from: NYC to Dublin, Ireland which while definitely part of the European Community is not anywhere near Rome which is in fact $315 each way
3. fees, taxes and airport charges up to $245 are extra
4. Fares are for mid-week travel -weekend surcharges apply
5. The fares quoted are from New York- how many Americans actually live in NYC? Other cities are far higher. For example, St Louis-Rome is $471 each way!

The cheapest fare from St Louis to Rome on a Wednesday is $981.80. The weekend fare ranged from $1200 to $1900. 

That’s a far cry from $198 and it annoys me.

If our supermarkets operated the same way, they would offer a Bunch of Bananas for 10c*

1. that’s 10 cents a banana ….a bunch contains six bananas which must be bought together-otherwise each banana singly is $4
2. the bananas actually do not contain any banana flesh. Its the banana skin price that starts at 10 cents. A banana inside each banana skin costs an extra 30 cents per banana
3. fees, taxes and shop charges are up to 15 cents a banana extra
4. the bananas are only on sale at this price between 1am and 4am
5. the bananas are only available at this price at one store. The price at every other store will be 20 cents higher per banana

So your 10 cents banana becomes $4.50 for a bunch – only if you buy them at 2am! 

Would we tolerate a store selling things this way? NO  Why do we let airlines?

1. we are talking large sums of money- most of us find it hard to picture $1000 purchases but we can imagine 10 cent purchases,
2. airline travel is seen as slightly mysterious and most people do not understand the complexities
3. the airline industry has been seen as a  soft target for taxes and charges by governments  and airports around the world. I am not sure any other industry has the regime of taxes an airline does. 
4. Airlines have shifted more and more of what was included in their core pricing to “fees” and “charges”  They then can advertise the base fare and add the charges and fees later

In the meantime, watch your pricing- no price is what it seems. In this case I would be happier with Lufthansa is they said: Europe from $645….but that price does not grab your attention as much as $198 does it?

In an extraordinary admission, the, President of US Airways, Scott Kirby stated that the airline’s profit for 2010 will come entirely from “ancillary revenue” or fees as we passengers know them. This is the reason why everywhere you turn now when flying, you seem to pay another damned fee. And its so confusing!

I am planning a flight from Los Angeles to JFK in 2011. Here are two of my options:

On fare alone, Virgin is cheaper.
Add one bag and JetBlue is cheaper- albeit by $3.
Throw in the wifi and the gap becomes a little greater.
If you want the exit row, however, thats where it becomes really interesting. JetBlue will charge you $50 on that sector for exit row making your fare $209.70. Virgin America have turned it into a premium economy seat and will charge you $451. This price does include a free bag and unlimited meals. Are those meals really worth the extra $240.30?

• For luggage limits check out: /wikitravel.org  or  this very useful table
• For all US carrier fees and baggage charges head to: Smarter Travel US fees   
• This UK Telegraph International Airline guide (in pounds sterling) and this surfboarding site are helpful!
• For European airline fees 
• South America and Caribbean Edition
• Frequent Flyer Fees: 

Today, I want to challenge you to reduce your luggage load by 25 kilograms (55lbs). This follows on from my last blog post where I encourage people to switch to carry-on only.

1. Take less Clothes because in reality, you don’t need everything you want to take. My rule is to pack and then reduce by half the number of clothes you have packed. The reality is most people overpack. 
2. Choose clothes that will all combine. eg for men, make sure your ties and shirts will all work together. Taking 3 shirts and 3 ties creates 12 combinations. Most conferences and business meetings I have don’t go for more than 2 days. No one will see me wearing the same shirt again and if they do, with a different tie, it can look like a different shirt!
3. Plan to wash. I aim for a weekly wash. I either wash in a hotel/motel with laundry facilites or find a laundrette or plan to stay with family or friends at certain times. Thank you to friends and family across that form part of the Aussie laundrette service…am thinking of Nikki in England, Geoff, Mike & Steve, John & Alison in the USA, Mum when she was in NZ. I owe you guys. I therefore pack a week of clothes. NB missing a wash can mean a tricky situation! I avoid getting my hotel to wash clothes for me-thats way too pricey.
4. Take quick drying underwear, socks and t shirts. I find them at camping stores. They are great because you can hand wash them in a sink, leave them to dry and most times they dry overnight. They are not cheap or very fashionable but 2 pairs means a lot less conventional underwear is needed.
5. Buy clothes as you travel. When I travel to the USA or an asian country, I reduce my clothes dramatically and buy stuff there. I also visit charity stores as part of my journey. If you can buy a t shirt for $2 and a business shirt for $5 to $7, you can buy stuff and leave it for another charity shop
6. Take fewer shoes. One walking, one dress up and one sports is enough. Synchronise your shoes to match your clothes. I have now managed to combine my walking and my dress up shoes by buying eccos
7. Wear bulky stuff on the plane- I have boarded Melbourne airport in full summer wearing a jumper (sweater/jersey) and a winter coat heading to Minnesota which is in full winter. My gloves and scarves were in the coat pockets
8. Reduce your electrical items-I use my phone as my alarm clock, camera, and watch. Ditch the electric toothbrush and razor. Reduce power cords. I have one multiple electrical adapter that works in every country. DVDS can play on a computer
9. Buy less souvenirs/smaller gifts When buying souvenirs, think: do i really need this? I now let me luggage dictate what I buy. Too heavy? Then I forget it or get it sent
10. Ship stuff  home -with the dropping of seamail, this has become expensive but can be useful
11. Buy books second hand at discount bookstores.  I read them on the flight/train and then at the other end I donate the book or sell it at another bookstore or leave it for someone to find (bookcrossing.com).  I have made a profit a couple of times buying a book in one country second hand and selling it at the other! Buying books as you go reduces your weight. Too many people take 4 or 5 books  of which they end of reading one. I take one book – sometimes two. I choose books that are lightweight. I have stood in shops weighing them
12. Take small toiletries with you. All of my toiletries fit into the regulation carry on size ( -and if you are staying in a hotel, remember they will usually be giving you shampoo and conditioner but some will also supply moisturiser, toothpaste, shavers, shaving cream, mouthwash. If you are going away for two weeks, you do not need a 1 litre mouthwash. Newsflash: -most places in the world sell toiletries
13.  if you are buying duty free,  see if you can buy it on your trip home so you dont have to carry it for you. Best method is to have it waiting at your home airport for you.

Next Post,  I will reveal where to get info re airline baggage rules. Comments?

Ryanair is the discount airline that everyone loves to hate.  Overall, they are the 8th largest in the world by total passneger numbers but Ryanair is the largest airline in the world in terms of international passenger numbers carrying 66 million passengers  annually. They fly more international passengers than Lufthansa. Staggeringly they carry more international passengers than British Airways  and Air France combined. They operate   250 Boeing 737-800 aircraft on over 1,100 routes across Europe. 


On my Ranking of my most disliked airlines, Ryanair is Eighth). However, Tripadviser earlier in 2010 declared Ryanair to be the worst for amenities (4th year in a row). Reasons why Ryanair is disliked:

1. Ryanair charge very low fares and then add extras like luggage and credit card fees (see my article: Discount Airline Ripoffs). Holiday Which?, said Ryanair is the “worst offender” for charging for optional extras. Check out this very very funny spoof of Ryanair’s practices by Fascinating Aida (NB naughty language!). 
2. Many of the airports they claim to fly to are nowhere near their destinations e.g. “Hamburg Lübeck”, Germany is an hour by bus from Hamburg. Their Paris airport is Beauvais-Tillé, 85 km from Paris.
3. They have been fined by Advertising Authorities several times 
4. They have been accused of abandoning passengers at the wrong airports
5. Covalence’s 2010 annual ranking of the overall ethical performance of multinational corporations put Ryanair at the bottom 12
6. Passengers arriving at an airport without a pre-printed online check-in have to pay €40 for their boarding pass to be re-issued
7. Customer complaints can only be made via a premium rate phone line, by fax or by post

One passenger (Robert Tyler) who disliked them immensely set up ihateryanair.co.uk in February 2007. The site has acted as a place for passengers to share horror stories. In January 2010, Mr Tyler began accepting ads on the site which earnt him 365 pounds. 


Ryanair then took Mr Tyler to a domain name tribunal complaining “that the site took unfair advantage of the Ryanair name for commercial gain.” The adjudicator agreed saying: “It cannot be fair to take advantage of the reputation attached to another party’s trade mark in this manner, whether it be good or bad.” and has demanded that the doman naem “ihateryanair.co.uk” be handed over to the airline. 
Mr Tyler has simply moved the content to http://www.ihateryanair.org! Check out these other anti Ryanair websites

• http://davefaq.com/Opinions/RyanAir-Sucks/
•  http://www.ryanaircampaign.org/ 
• Ryanair be fair (employee complaints). 

How an airline with four websites against them can continue to survive and grow makes you wonder!