Don’t Book Budget Airlines To Penang!

Hi Friends,

Flying from Singapore to Penang just takes 1 hour 10 minutes or so. For such a short flight, it makes sense to just book cheap air ticket on budget airlines. However, there may be circumstances when you should not book budget airlines to Penang!

So what are these circumstances?

Budget Airlines Raise Their Prices

Budget airlines tickets are cheapest when the dates are just opened for booking. As the seats are filled up gradually, budget airlines also raised their prices.It will reach a point when budget airlines start to charge almost the same as a full fledged airline.

Take for example, I just came back from Penang taking advantage of the Good Friday long weekend on 22 April 2011

I remembered booking the flight in mid March 2011. On a Saturday when I was checking the airfare, I saw budget airline return air tickets are priced below S$130 per pax.

However, I did not book on Saturday as I was still waiting for confirmation whether my hubby wanted to make the trip. On Sunday evening, we finally decided to make the trip. When we log into various budget airlines website, we realized they were selling the airfare at above $250

Wow, the jump is huge. More than S$100 increase!

So we started to check on other airlines like SilkAir. SilkAir, being a full fledged airline is pricing its air ticket to Penang around S$230. Considering spending almost the same amount, we opt for SilkAir.
Later, we realized some of our friends have booked air tickets at above S$250 on budget airlines.

Full Fledged Airline Versus Budget Airlines

So what is my experience after taking full fledged airline to Penang?

Well, in terms of comfort level, I will think budget airlines score the same points as full fledged airline for travel which is less than 3 hours. Such short routes include Malaysia, Phuket, Bangkok etc.

In terms of food, full fledged airlines like SilkAir does serve snacks (sandwiches, coffee/tea/ orange juice) on the 1 hour flight. It is a bit rush but still sufficient time to finish the sandwich since it comes in a small piece. Other complimentary service includes distribution of Straits Times on board.

In terms of pricing, full fledged airlines is more value for money during circumstances when budget airlines prices have increased due to full occupancy. SilkAir prices are already included the snacks, luggage, choosing of seat and most importantly more timely and punctual flight timing.

Don’t always think budget airlines must be cheaper, you have to compare your prices. So when the situation calls for it, don’t book budget airlines to Penang! Check out tickets to Penang on SilkAir, Malaysia Airlines and etc. For faster comparison of airfares, you can use ZUJI Singapore

Cheers,
Karen