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CNA
11-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Jetstar Asia customers left confused, frustrated by lack of communication after closure announcement
SINGAPORE: When Mr Daniel, 25, first heard that Jetstar Asia would cease operations on Jul 31, he thought that his two planned trips with the airline would not be affected. He had booked flights to Bangkok in early July and Okinawa in late July, and did not realise the airline said it would operate with a 'progressively reduced schedule' before closing permanently. He and 10 friends are heading to the Thai capital for a graduation trip and have already booked accommodation that cannot be refunded. On Wednesday (Jun 11) morning, he received an email saying his flight was cancelled, so he made plans to book a different flight to Bangkok. But a friend who was going on the trip with him called Jetstar Asia's hotline, got through after 45 minutes and was told that the flight is still on. 'If it's a mass email kind of mistake, like they just sent it out (to everyone), then it will make sense. But for me, they included my specific booking reference,' said Mr Daniel, who did not want to give his full name. 'We were very confused … if it's still on, then why was there a cancellation email?' For now, Mr Daniel said he will hold off booking a new flight and hope that Jetstar Asia can provide more clarity. He also feels that there is uncertainty over whether his flight to Okinawa might be cancelled, since it is unclear which flights would be cut from the airline's schedule before it closes. 'I'm wondering, when would they tell me about it? Or how late would they tell me about it?' Jetstar Asia is the only airline that flies directly from Singapore to Okinawa. 'It would help if Jetstar said okay, we will inform all of you by this certain timing, what flights are being cancelled and what flights are still on,' he said. The budget airline operates 16 routes within Asia, and flights before Jul 31 may be cancelled. Jetstar Asia said travellers whose trips are after Jul 31 will be offered full cash refunds or alternative flights, depending on availability. For another Jetstar customer, Ms Lim, it was clear that her flight was off. Her trip to Surabaya was planned for August. But the 30-year-old, who also declined to give her full name, has yet to receive any email or notification about a refund, which the airline has said will be offered to customers. Jetstar should be providing 'more timely communication', she said. The website said passengers can request a refund from the booking management page, but there is no option to do so, said Ms Lim. 'If they were genuinely committed to customer support, notifications about refund processes should have been delivered at the same time as the closure announcement, or at the very least, within a clearly communicated timeframe thereafter,' she said. Another traveller who only wanted to be known as Mr Yong also has not heard from the airline about a refund for his trip to Phuket in December. "We understand they are going through a lot, but I feel they should be more ready to reach out to customers when this was announced," he said. CNA understands that Jetstar is in the process of contacting affected customers. REBOOKING FLIGHTS Mr Yong booked the Jetstar Asia flights to Phuket two months ago for himself and his partner. The tickets cost him about S$600 (US$467) then. After today's announcement, he had to quickly rebook his flights on Jetstar Asia's competitor, Scoot, for over S$800. A check on Scoot's website shows that no-frills return tickets on the same dates ranged from S$744 to S$854 for two passengers, depending on the flight timing. 'The moment we saw (the news), we quickly booked the replacement flight this morning,' he said. 'We were afraid that other passengers would also start to book alternatives as well.' Ms Lim also booked replacement flights for her trip to Surabaya. She initially chose Jetstar Asia because the flight back to Singapore was scheduled in the afternoon, whereas Scoot's flight was in the morning. She said prices for Scoot's flights seemed to be rising when she checked them today, but she managed to get a Singapore Airlines flight and 'peace of mind' for about the same price as her original Jetstar Asia tickets. CNA has contacted Jetstar Asia to ask how many passengers are affected by the cancelled flights. Travel agency Chan Brothers Travel said Jetstar Asia did not inform it in advance about the impending closure. "Like the general public, we only became aware of Jetstar Asia's planned closure today," said Ms Trista Foo, senior marketing communications executive at the company. She said Chan Brothers has contacted Jetstar Asia to understand how its bookings will be affected and to seek clarity on the cessation process, and is waiting for more information from the airline. Chan Brothers' customers fly Jetstar Asia for tours to Okinawa and Broome, a town in Australia. Both direct flights from Singapore are offered only by Jetstar Asia. Ms Foo said her company is offering customers alternative flights to Okinawa with stopovers in Hong Kong or Taipei, where the journey will be about 2.5 hours longer. "Customers will be informed of any marginal fare top-up required for these alternative flight options," she said, adding that they can also change their destination or cancel their bookings. For Broome, the direct flight is four hours long, and transit flights usually extend travel time to around 10 hours, she said. "This significantly longer travel duration will affect overall experience and impact demand for Broome as a destination from Singapore," added Ms Foo. Tour agency EU Holidays said only a handful of customers would be affected by the closure of Jetstar Asia. These are independent travellers who engage the agency's help in booking their trips, said director Wong Yew Hoong. "Normally, our group tours (use) full-service carriers," he said. EU Holidays will inform customers who are affected and alternative arrangements will be made where needed. If they cannot be placed on different flights, Jetstar Asia will refund EU Holidays, which will in turn refund its customers.
Forbes
31-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Around The World In Luxury For 60 Days, $85,000 Plus Airfare
Bespoke travel group Butterfield & Robinson is launching a 60-day world trip in March 2026, with ... More destinations including Mexico, Morocco, India, Turkey, Cambodia, Vietnam and Burgundy, France. Pricing starts at $85,000. The bespoke travel group Butterfield & Robinson just announced a 60-Day Around the World trip. The Around the World in 60 Days trip will take luxury travelers to 6 significant world destinations. Kicking off in Oaxaca, Mexico, the trips, created by Butterfield & Robinson's 'experience designers,' then takes travelers to Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Morocco and Turkey. The trip ends in the Burgundy region of France, which Butterfield & Robinson calls its "soul' and is the location of its European office. The company calls it a 'trip collection' because the sixty-day trip is broken into six separate journeys, allowing guests to take the whole trip or any individual segment. Trip itineraries are designed to let travelers experience different cultures, outdoor excursions and delicious dining from street carts to fine restaurants. The trip's sixty-day span was chosen to mark the Butterfield & Robinson brand's 60th Anniversary. The full trip experience takes place from March 21st to May 21st, 2026, with pricing starting from $85,170 per person. Most flight costs are not included in the pricing but the B&R team can help travelers book their flights. Picture of a field of espadin agave (Agave angustifolia) taken at the mezcal factory Tres Colibries ... More (Three Hummingbirds) in Oaxaca, Mexico The Butterfied & Robinson tour of Oaxaca will feature mescal tastings and showcase the artisanal process behind the liquor. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images) The old joke goes 'I don't want a trip around the world; I'd rather go somewhere else.' But it sounds like Butterfield & Robinson's 'experience designers' have created some compelling journeys. In Mexico, travelers will get to immerse themselves in Zapotec culture and Oaxacan landscapes. Guests will stay in the exclusive Casa Silencio , a luxury property offering curated mezcal tastings. Other stops include a visit to El Árbol del Tule, a 2,000-year-old cypress said to have the largest diameter of any tree in the world, and a visit to one of the oldest markets in Mesoamerica, Tlacolula Market. 'Cycling Cambodia & Vietnam' takes guests from the Mekong to Hoi An, Vietnam. In Cambodia and Vietnam, the journey will begin aboard the Aqua, a high-end vessel sailing the Mekong. Guests will also stay at Four Seasons in Hoi An. On the journey, travelers will visit temples and local farms and get a glimpse at Vietnam's daily life as they bike alongside canals, floating markets and local communities. Then there's feasting on street food from vintage Vespa scooters, a roadside cooking class, and dinner with Duc, the chef who runs one of Hoi An's most renowned restaurants, at his home. The next stop is India, for 'Blue City & Beyond: A Journey Through Rajasthan.' The view from Mehrangarh fort of the blue rooftops, Rajasthan, Jodhpur, India on July 20, 2019 in ... More Jodhpur, India. This is one of the destinations on the Butterfield & Robinson 60 day world tour. (Photo by Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images) Part of the tour takes place in historic Jodhpur, sometimes called the 'Blue City' because of the blue buildings in the old walled town. Guests can zipline through Jodhpur's blue skies, cycle hidden Rajasthan roads, and track leopards through Jawai's hills by jeep tour, led by experienced guides. The journey takes guests from candlelit forts and spice-scented kitchens to sunrise safaris and secret dinners,. Visitors will tour Udaipur's City Palace to go behind the scenes of royal history. The travelers will get to stay in a restored 300-year-old palace, privately reserved for the India it's on to Morocco, for 'Atlas to Atlantic: A Grand Moroccan Adventure' Travelers will get to hike in the foothills of the Atlas mountains with a trusted mountain guide, lunch with 'amazing' Amazigh locals, and trade stories in remote villages, perhaps over mint tea. The group will cruise the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, watch a Sahara sunset by camel, and toast it all with a private charter off to Casablanca. The group will stay in unique properties from a private Sahara camp to the Royal Mansour Casablanca, enjoying fresh, locally sourced cuisine at each stop. From Morocco the road takes the travelers to 'Ancient Türkiye: Cappadocia to Coast,' where Butterfield & Robinson says history, adventure, and indulgence collide. Travelers will wander Istanbul's famed bazaars, fly in hot air balloons over Cappadocia's fairy chimneys, and pedal past Lycian ruins along the Aegean coast. Cappadocia, which attracts the attention of local and foreign tourists with its fairy chimneys hot ... More air balloons as well as rock-carved historical sites, hosts millions of visitors every year in Nevsehir, Turkiye on April 22, 2025. (Photo by Behcet Alkan/Anadolu via Getty Images) Travelers will explore ancient sites like the Hagia Sophia and Kaymakli Underground City. The group will sail the Mediterranean by private yacht. There will be stops to swim, snorkel, and cycle along the coast, with feasts at sunset. The journey will give visitors a rare insight into Turkish culture through visiting its vibrant markets and villages, as well as dining on local cuisine. Finally, the trip concludes in Burgundy, in what B&R calls 'A Grand Cru Soirée.' The company considers Burgundy its second home. Travelers will experience scenic rides over vine-covered hills and get to savor rare vintages and meals that might have befitted French royalty. Guests will cycle through picture-perfect villages, tour Beaune with local hosts, picnic among vineyards, and barrel-taste at exclusive domaines. One of the wine tastings will let guests taste wines with a rising-star winemaker pioneering sustainable winemaking techniques. With château stays, cellar secrets, and plenty of surprises, the company says 'This isn't just Burgundy. It's our pièce de résistance'. 'To celebrate Butterfield & Robinson's 60th anniversary, we wanted to do something truly special—something that captures the spirit of adventure we've been championing since day one,' says Mike Scarola, CEO of Butterfield & Robinson. Cycling on the wine route among the vineyards in autumn colors in France. 'Our team of Experience Designers looked at everything, from flight paths to seasonality and local holidays, to craft an itinerary that flows seamlessly and highlights both iconic destinations and emerging gems,' Scarola added. 'This journey is the ultimate expression of what we do best: immersive, meaningful travel to the world's most extraordinary places.'
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Travel firm expects ‘biggest ever summer' after surge in package bookings
On the Beach is riding the wave of a booming demand for package holidays and is expecting its biggest summer booking season yet. The travel group anticipates another record year of sales, boosted by a surge in bookings. In the first half of its financial year, the company reported a 13 per cent year-on-year increase in sales by total transaction value (TTV), reaching £640.7 million. This was driven by an 11 per cent increase in the volume of bookings over the period, which has risen to 18 per cent since the beginning of April, it said. Summer sales are currently 14 per cent higher than last year, as people secure getaways to destinations in Europe. The Manchester-based company reported a pre-tax profit of £3.3 million for the first half of its financial year, up 18 per cent on the prior year. On The Beach said that demand for package holidays was continuing to 'buck wider UK consumer trends', indicating that the travel industry has been more cushioned from a wider spending slump affecting sectors such as retail and hospitality. Customers continue to 'prioritise travel', chief executive Shaun Morton said, adding that the company was 'well placed to deliver our biggest summer to date'. New city break packages were 'scaling rapidly and being enjoyed by both new and existing customers', he said, bringing the total number of short and long-haul cities to 130. The group also said it was reaching new customers after expanding into Ireland.
