In Reply to: GARUDA BRISBANE NO LONGER.. posted by nate on Friday, 2. March 2007 at 07:59 Bali Time:
That's bad news Nate...I know it comes as no consolation, but the airline dumped Adelaide and NZ as well. And it has been cutting the number of connections via Sydney and Melbourne.
A bit shortsighted of Garuda I think, because, if the level of interest shown on this forum is anything to go by, the option of Bali via Singapore airlines (which takes you through Singapore)is gaining momentum - especially as Oz interest in Bali continues to gain momentum.
Not everybody sees rockbottom airfares as the be-all and end-all of a Bali vacation (the number of people who opt for Exec class upgrade is proof positive of that!) The more people talk about it, the more likely more people are to actually try the Singapore connection. Garuda would do well to remember that Melbourne and Sydney people can also go via Singapore and every person who gives that option a try is one less fare they will get, guaranteed!... and who knows how many others who may follow based on word of mouth.
Of course the overwhelming majority of people will still seek the shortest cheapest option possible but Exec class is cream on the cake for Garuda and people who go that way are far more likely to try something like Singa air...and Exec class sales are not the seats Garuda would want to fly empty. But I suspect they may be the seats at greatest risk to an airline that is downgrading its product and its availaiblity. Not to mention the potential loss of a large percentage of the disenfranchised people from NZ, Brisbane and Adelaide that Garuda has just completely devalued. Add Tiger air to the equation and Garuda's market share in Australia could begin to get even shakier!
Nobody expects Garuda to run its biz at a loss just so we can get a direct flight to Bali. But I can't believe that Garuda management could not have arrived at a more creative or lateral solution to the problem. Disappointing, really, because I have always been a huge advocate for the Garuda experience to Bali.
Perhaps Garuda is of the opinion that it can simply ramp things up when Australian interest in Bali returns to pre bomb 2 levels. By then, though, it may be a case of shutting the gate after the horse has done the proverbial. We'll see. Cheers - kevin