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

1,000 air tickets at VND 100,000

Users of the website jetstar.com who use JetMail accounts are being offered the chance to book domestic flights at very cheap prices, from as low as VND 100,000.
The programme started on May 8 and will last until the number of tickets are sold out. There are 1,000 tickets at VND 100,000 each and others from VND 160,000, VND 370,000 and VND 450,000.
These price levels, however, are said to be available only for certain days and routes and only if paid for by credit cards. Tax and fees are excluded.
An additional VND 50,000 will also be charged when passengers wish to carry 20kg luggage.
Source: Vnexpress

Vietnam to attract 5 million foreign tourists in 2009

Vietnamese officials have introduced a host of solutions to attract more tourists to the country amidst the global economic slowdown.
At a press conference in Hanoi on January 10, the officials said that Vietnam plans to welcome 5 million foreign and 21.5 million local tourists this year and the figures are expected to increase to 6 million and 23.5 million in 2010, respectively.
To reach this target, Vietnam will reduce prices of air tickets, hotel services and souvenirs, with the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines being the pioneer in lowering airfares.
The country will host a series of festivities, including the Year of Tourism in the Central Highlands that features celebrations of Da Lat city as well as flower, gong, coffee and wine festivals.
The year 2009 will also see an international fireworks competition in the central city of Da Nang, the Nha Trang Sea Festival in central Khanh Hoa province, days of Mekong-Japan culture and tourism in Can Tho city, the third Asia Indoor Games, a food and hotel fair in Ho Chi Minh City, and a joint programme to promote tourism in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in HCM City.
In 2010, visitors will have the opportunity to join in the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi, the Hue Festival, and the Miss World pageant in Khanh Hoa province, as well as international film, puppetry and circus festivals.
During the press briefing that was held within the framework of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009, Singapore and Myanmar also introduced measures to promote tourism development in their respective countries.
(Source: VOV)