Air NZ Says Pacific Blue Ripping Off Customers

Air New Zealand Calls For Pacific Blue To Stop Ripping Off Customers

Pacific Blue is set to gouge the pockets of Kiwi travellers under its new baggage policy.

Under Pacific Blue’s new baggage policy travellers could pay in excess of 10 times more to carry check-through luggage on the airline than on Air New Zealand.

Air New Zealand Group General Manager Short Haul Airlines Bruce Parton says it’s time Pacific Blue changed its marketing slogan from “Pay A Visit Not A Fortune” to “Pay A Fortune When You Visit”.

“Travellers are going to be sick at the thought of potentially having to pay in excess of ten times more than we will charge to carry two bags totalling 50 kilograms when travelling on Pacific Blue,” Mr Parton says.

Air New Zealand has been reviewing its baggage allowances and will next week announce changes to its policy that will retain a free bag weighing up to 25kg and significantly discount prices for additional pieces of baggage.

“We are in the business of trying to encourage people to travel, especially at a time where household incomes are stretched, rather than discourage it like Pacific Blue, which is obviously struggling to fill its coffers,” Mr Parton says.

Under Pacific Blue’s new policy, travellers purchasing cheaper fares are being asked to pay a minimum of $8 for checked luggage when purchased online, and then $8 for every kilogram they check in beyond 23 kilograms.

“Under the Pacific Blue plan, a customer purchasing a lead-in fare online carrying 50kg of luggage would pay $224, compared to no more than $20 on Air New Zealand from mid-September. Our changes see around a $130 reduction in the cost of the extra baggage, which is in stark contrast to Pacific Blue’s massive increases,” Mr Parton says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media