More cheap fares?

Press, 10 November 1983, Page 1

More cheap fares?

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

Air New Zealand is seeking to extend its popular main trunk “Thrifty” fares to specified flights on all of its provincial routes. The airline has filed an application with the Air Services Licensing Authority for permission to introduce the 43 per cent discounted fares next month. The authority will consider the application at a hearing on November 16. The “Thrifty” fares were first introduced on the main domestic routes between

Christchurch and Wellington ahd Auckland on July 18. Dunedin was brought into the scheme about a month While “Thrifty” fares offer a substantial saving over normal fares, their availability is governed by a number of restrictions. They are available only for specified flights and they must be bought at least seven days in advance. A 10 per cent penalty fee is charged for any change of booking or cancellation. But unlike the airline’s 35 per cent discounted “Epic” fares, “Thrifty” fares are

valid for one-way journeys. “Epic” fares are governed by a number of restrictions, including round-trip travel, a minimum stay away of two nights, and advancepurchase deadlines. The airline intends retaining all the other discounted fares available on its provincial routes, including its popular “Twogether” fare. Air New Zealand believes that the introduction of its ‘ range of discounted fares contributed to the 5 per cent increase in traffic on its domestic routes over the first six months of this year.