Open Skies In The Philippines
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Image Courtesy: skyjetair.com
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New airlines are taking advantage of the Philippines’ open skies policy but the reservations process is frequently problematic for many. New entrants SkyJet and Fil-Asian Airways are trying to fill the gap left by the big players (Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air) who, some would argue, have lost their focus on serving customers in favor of servicing profits.
To rationalize their profits and improve their image – much needed after the appalling track record of poor customer service it had as AirPhil Express – in May, 2013, Philippine Airlines changed the name of subsidiary AirPhil Express back to PAL Express . . . one wonders why they changed it in the first place, and at what cost the re-re-branding has cost customers.
The past two years we have seen the South East Asian Airline (SEAir) partnering with Tiger Airways and Zest Air partnering with Air-Asia. Whilst these marriages have increased the airlines’ attractiveness as end-to-end carriers, it has left them with deranged booking systems as they try to stitch their software platforms seamlessly together. Try to book Davao to Manila with Zest Air and most frequently your flight reservation request will be “Access Denied – you do not have permission to access this page” on the Internet. Similarly, but different, opening the SEAir International website you can choose to fly from Davao to Manila but when you select these destinations you are immediately redirected to the Tiger Airways website, which does not have Davao as a destination/origin option . . . neither does it have the Manila to Batanes flight that SEAir once pioneered. I wonder how some passengers get bookings at all?
What is obviously required by both airlines is some qualified database integration expertise, I know the people who can solve these and other airline website problems but getting the airlines to admit they have a problem is the challenge. Lack of revenue should be the motivation but it seems that, because their Internet reservations are so low, they perceive the need to solve the problem is small . . . hello!!!! your Internet reservations are small because your reservations systems are not working.
Why do we in the Philippines like open skies? Because it provides the motivation for new and innovative airlines to serve the traveling public better. Fledgling airlines are attracted to off-the-beaten-track airports that in turn provide direct access to some of the most beautiful parts of the Philippines. Fil-Asian will be helping tourists to reach such places as Tablas, Romblon and Sibuyan, while SkyJet is already traveling to Batanes, Coron and Catanduanes. Maybe one day soon we will also be able to fly to Guiuan or Daet on a scheduled flight; and, Manila surfers are waiting for direct flights from Manila to Siargao – better than a six-hour bus ride to San Juan, La Union.
GetWet says: may the skies forever be open to competition . . . and maybe one day the oft floated (pun intended) idea of a seaplane service linking the Visayan Islands will become a reality.
If you are wondering which airline flies to which part of the Philippines, and if your travel agent does not know the answer, then you will find this useful How To Fly To website tool available at MyCam-Asia.tv website.?