Bangkok Airways introduces passes

Bangkok Airways introduces passes

Last minute booking trends forces airline sell prepaid passes with lots of flexibility on conditions.

Bangkok Airways launches a new prepaid pass campaign in the hope it will bring back passengers who postponing travel due to the Type A H1N1 influenza virus scare.

Bookings were down 18.5% in the first half of July forcing the airline to introduce new campaigns.

There are four options: Fun (Bt9,000); Fusion (Bt12,900); Fancy (Bt19,500); and Freedom (Bt29,000). Each one allows four one-way flights to and from designated destinations set out in the conditions. Prices are inclusive of the taxes and fuel surcharge.

Bangkok Airways senior sales director, Chonlada Chevathakorn, said, the airline would introduce 20,000 passes in Thailand through travel agencies and the airline’s sales offices.

The discounts are 20% off the passes when sold at events such as Ultimate Dream Destination, 17 to 26 July, at Siam Paragon and Amazing Thailand Grand Sale, 30 July to 2 August, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

The pass has a life time of one-year, valid for travel until 31 July 2010, while routes can be changed up to three times at no extra cost.

Bangkok Airways vice president for corporate communication, Nandhika Varavarn, said: “Booking behaviour has changed. It is more short notice so we have to offer flexibility in the passes.”

Passengers have dropped 18.5% during the first half of July, when compared with the same period last year.

Last year, the airline attracted 2.5 million passengers but it estimates that it will close 2009 with 2.6 million passengers, around 200,000 off its earlier estimates.

Source: http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2009/07/bangkok-airways-introduces-passes/