Hunting for air tickets to fly on Tet days | Look At Vietnam

Passengers complain that they cannot book air tickets to fly on Tet holiday, though Tet two months is two months away.

It is very difficult to get a ticket from December 24 of Lunar Year (February 8, 2010) and afterwards

Giang, who lives in HCM City, decided to take his five-month-old son to his home village in the central region. However, he cannot book tickets. All he has is the promise from booking agents that they will call him when someone cancels their flights.

Nearly all booking agents have reported that they have no more air tickets for short distance flights. As for the key route of Hanoi-HCM City, passengers have to watch every minute for air tickets.

“We have only one ticket for the flight on the eve of the Lunar New Year. Will you take it?,” an officer of Hoa Binh booking agency told Giang.

However, Giang did not take the ticket. “What for? I need two tickets for two, my wife and I,” he said.

After having a quick look at the computer’s screen, the officer said: “Jetstar Pacific ran out tickets in July. Only Vietnam Airlines still has air tickets because it has decided to provide additional flights”.

“If you are still indecisive, the ticket will be taken by another passenger,” he added.

The ticket was booked 10 minutes after Giang refused it.

The En Viet booking agent said that though Vietnam Airlines has decided to provide more flights on the Tet holidays, the number of flights is still far below demand. It is very difficult to get a ticket from December 24 of Lunar Year (February 8, 2010) and afterwards.

“Tickets are booked as soon as additional flights are announced,” an officer said.

According to En Viet, only business class tickets are still available for HCM City-Hanoi flights, while no seat on economy class is left. Meanwhile, short distance flights, such as those from HCM City to Da Nang, Hue City and Quy Nhon, ran out of tickets in June or July.

According to the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, the number of passengers who will fly on the Tet holiday is expected to increase by 20 percent

The aviation market on the Tet holiday will witness the ‘solo performance’ of Vietnam Airlines which plans to provide 850 additional flights for the Hanoi-HCM City and HCM City-Da Nang air routes, from February 1, 2010 to February 28, 2010.

Vietnam Airlines has said that it plans to increase the number of flights on peak days for some short distance routes, including the ones from HCM City to Hue, Pleiku, Quy Nhon and Buon Ma Thuot.

Meanwhile, Jetstar Pacific has run out of tickets and keeps quiet about plans to increase number of flights on the Tet holiday. Meanwhile, it remains unclear when Indochina Airlines will resume flights. The air carrier has halted flights after it had to return its only charter aircraft due to financial difficulties.

VietNamNet/VNE