18
Mar
Posted by: admin / Category:
Travel
Here is some news just in from Airlink that I wanted to share:
JOHANNESBURG – AIRLINK TO MOVE CHECK-IN COUNTERS IN NEW CENTRAL TERMINAL BUILDING AT OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL
From 1 April 2009, all passengers, travelling on both Airlink’s REGIONAL and Airlink’s DOMESTIC flights will be checked in at the SAME check-in counter bank located in Terminal B at OR Tambo International, Counters B89 – B101. NB: Airlink will therefore no longer operate its regional flight check-in desks in the International Terminal, ALL check-in is now in Terminal B and it is very important that passengers are made aware of this change by their travel agents and administrative personnel.
Passengers arriving off Airlink’s regional flights, will clear customs and immigration at Terminal A. (International), domestic passengers will arrive at Terminal B. (Domestic). Passengers connecting from Airlink’s regional flights to international flights should proceed to the International Transit facility located in Terminal A (International).
CHECK-IN, BOARDING and CUT OFF TIMES, passengers should report to the check-in counters:
Domestic flights – 1 hour 30 minutes before flight departure
Regional flights – 2 hours before flight departure
FLIGHT CLOSURE – CHECK-IN
Domestic flights close 30 minutes prior to departure
Regional flights close 50 minutes prior to departure
FLIGHT CLOSURE – BOARDING GATES
Domestic flights, commences 30 minutes prior and CLOSES 15 minutes before departure
Regional flights, commences 40 minutes prior and CLOSES 20 minutes before to departure
Airlink believes that significant benefits will be achieved for our passengers through use of a single check-in facility amongst which will be:
1. Centralized location close to vehicle drop-off, bus and other transport facilities.
2. Additional space to accommodate peak passenger flows
3. Centralised management, supervision and control of the check-in process
11
Mar
Posted by: admin / Category:
Travel
My oh my is this a sign of things to come:
Airlink has announced that Johannesburg – Margate scheduled air-service will be withdrawn from 17Apr09.
With this latest announcement to hit the local airline industry from SA Airlink, does it signal the continued down turn of the airline industry, additional cost cutting. It happened before after 911 when it was cheaper for the airlines to park their planes on an abandoned air strip rather than keep them in the skies. So is this a continuation of the down turn experienced by airlines over the past few years. They have been hit by 911, sky high fuel and now lower passenger numbers it is surprising that they are still in business.
We know how SAA is still in business they have another bail out from government. I mean 1.6 Billion rand to save an airline that cannot even find a decent CEO for years, what is it with the airline? At 1.6 billion rand, lets just say there are 10 million tax payers in the country means that we have each paid atleast ZAR160 to keep the airline going. Not to mention the fat wallets that have been supported in the interim. Now one may ask similiarly to that asked in the banks of the UK, how the hell can you actually earn a bonus (or should the politically correct word be retention bonus) when you have actually been a diservice to your company and the nation as a whole. It is rediculous! Get a decent person who can run the airline and restore it to the glory it was or SAA stop flying!
09
Mar
Posted by: admin / Category:
Travel
Wow can you belive the fares lately we have seen flights to London plumet below the ZAR5000 barrier. We effectively see fares itself in the region of ZAR1400. With approximate airport taxes for this routing in the region of ZAR4000 depending on the carrier means that the Fuel surcharge in some cases is 2.5 times the price of the ticket? Even though this is brilliant regarding the fuel surcharges is really crazy. So we are still paying fuel surcharges when the fuel price is more than 50% less than it was a year ago. So why are airlines charging this fee still, I realise that it is probably to stay in business. Beware of the airport taxes as they vary from airline to airline so when checking rates ask for the all inclusive fare and also watch out for hidden service fees and booking charges….