My worst experience with Tiger airways June 15 2013 as my friends had on Nov 2011 while travelling to Sunshine coast airport from Sydney.. Should have listened to their advice. Recently I traveled with my partner from Brisbane to Melbourne. I travel about 3-4 times in a year including both overseas and interstate.
Given it as a budget airline decided tried to save money. This was my first time travelling to tiger airways. Been to Brisbane airport just about 50 mins prior to departure and gate close at 45 mins prior to departure. I couldn’t find the counter for tiger airways at all.
Initially I looked for those automatic self checking counter like every other airline has. I couldn’t find it at all and tried to look for the counter then and I couldn’t find it. Decided to ask a volunteer she said it’s at the back! My impression every other airline counter is in front so that passenger can easily identify it and why tiger is hiding at the back and then saw a small portable signpost standing on the hallway.
I lost probably 10 mins figuring it out. By the time I reach the counter and showed my ID and destination the receptionist said you need to be here 45 mins prior and you have been here after this time so you can’t check it and I told her about trouble finding your counter and you don’t have any self checking counter. She did not gave any buzz and we lost the flight, our time and the money.
We traveled then from virgin airline the same day. As I have already bought return ticket for both of us from Melbourne as well decided to fly back on tiger anyway as I have already spent it and there is no refund. We found sticking chewing gums patched on the seats and dirty seats never bothered to be looked at and clean which I even took a picture for proof.
I will post that in other websites where it is allowed. The experience with my 4 other friends and a child in 2011 were flights cancelled and they were put on hold for more than an hour on phone trying to figure out how to reach their destination and any other flights available and that was 11 pm at the time when they knew about it.
They ultimately had to travel to Brisbane, unfortunately and I had to change my schedule to receive them travelling all the way from Gympie.
We won’t travel in Tiger airways anymore as they don’t value their customer, never learnt after being grounded for good reasons, even if they partner with other airlines and I have stopped recommending my friends travelling and shared my experiences with them.