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Whooooweee.... there's been one helluva fight in the media this week between the Airports Company South Africa and Comair, over ACSA's request for a 133% hike in passenger charges.
ACSA says it's only fair after investors stumped up to fund R17-billion worth of capital expansion, and "we must reward investors". They're also saying airlines are unfairly hiding hefty fuel surcharges under 'airport taxes', which dupes travellers into thinking they're being fleeced by ACSA.
Comair, on the other hand, is saying that ACSA's managed its finances badly, shouldn't be granted the steep increase, and that if it's given it will stifle the domestic travel market. Fair point, but one also gets the feeling Comair is playing a slightly political game, given that ACSA doesn't seem to want to sell it the soon-to-be-defunct Durban Airport.
It's a complex issue which is fraught with agendas and arguments. The best I can offer is for you to read the two stories and decide for yourself: Comair lashes out at 133% hike, and ACSA's rebuttal. |
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The travel trade - and most South Africans - love to complain about South African Airways, and often it is richly deserved. However, the airline equally deserves praise for amending its consumer website so that all fares quoted when booking flight tickets through www.flysaa.com will now include the cost of tax and surcharges.
The airline says "this new development was implemented to ensure ticket prices were transparent and complied with international Consumer Protection Acts and Laws which require the travel industry to include taxes and surcharges in the prices quoted for services."
Whether it was a carrot or stick that forced the change, it is to be applauded. Travellers need all the transparency they can get.
When booking on flysaa.com you will now see at a glance what a one-way or return ticket will cost, including: Airport tax, security surcharge, destination airport tax, passenger surcharge, airport tax due at the transfer or stopover airport (if applicable), fuel surcharge and VAT (if applicable).
Well done SAA… let's hope your competitors follow your lead.
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Planning to visit the Mother City this summer? Three of Cape Town's top attractions have teamed up to offer a discount card that will save you cash and keep you out of the queue.
City Sightseeing Open-Top Tour, Table Mountain Cableway and Two Oceans Aquarium have joined forces to launch the Go Cape Town Card, an all-inclusive ticket for the three popular tourism attractions. The card will be available from Tuesday December 1, 2009.
Visitors pay only R360 per card, which includes a return trip on the Table Mountain Cableway, a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium and a ride on an open-top City Sightseeing Bus. Children under 18 years pay R180 per card.
The Go Cape Town card can be purchased at any of the three attractions, the Cape Town Tourism offices or online at www.webtickets.co.za. The cards are valid for three months from date of purchase. |
Fri 04 Dec 2009 |
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Click click. Checked in... |
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Flying from South Africa on Qatar Airways? You can now check-in online up to 36 hours before your flight and simply collect your boarding pass at the 'fast bag drop' counter. Head over to www.qatarairways.com/za.
In many of the cities that Qatar Airways flies from passengers can print their own boarding passes at home or have them downloaded to their cellular phones, and the airline says it is hoping to have this service available in South Africa in 2010 |
OK, here’s a quick quiz. It’s only one question in fact… where do you think the picture alongside was taken? I snapped it of my hiking guide after we’d just spent the day exploring two separate trails.
The first wound through wonderful dense forest where Indian Rubber trees towered above us and White-breasted Sea-eagles soared on the thermals below. The second trail followed a deserted ridgeline where we only saw one other soul in our three-hour walk. The views to the west were of a lovely deep water bay where pleasure yachts were moored, while to the east is a beach resort and a popular surfing break.
Stumped?
Well, this was snapped on my recent trip to Hong Kong… a city better known for its crowded pavements and bright lights than hiking trails and outdoor activities. But yes, apart from stuffing myself with dim sum and noodles I spent a wonderful day exploring the city-state’s hiking trails, and you’d be amazed how easy it is to leave the urban jungle for the great outdoors.
You can read more about it in Shape magazine next year, or click through to www.discoverhongkong.com.
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