One of my favourite activities in the world is flying. I love airports, good and crappy. I love airplanes, the marvel of the technology that goes into creating one of these beautiful machines. However, two experiences today have made me feel slightly encouraged and slightly bemused at the same time.

Basically, I booked a ticket to Shanghai from Birmingham airport, transiting in Zurich for about £313 on Swiss Air. That is about 670SGD. VERY cheap basically. Swiss is not by any stretch of the imagination the best airline in the world. It’s glory days are now long over and is languishing as the sister airline to Lufthansa. What really impressed me then, was the efficiency at which the booking was conducted. Very typical of the online experience.

Now my redemption booking with Krisflyer for the flight of BHX-FRA-FCO-MUC-BHX. Although the initial phonecall to redeem the ticket was very smooth. And though she put me on hold for a while to sort through some stuff, ultimately the service was kind, efficient and everything you expect call centre staff to be like (for once). She also had a Singaporean accent, very reassuring. Then the pricetag came. 366 SGD. For the taxes and surcharges. I was shocked but I paid it anyway. Afterall, as terrible as it was, I could at least use my miles. However when I thought about it for a bit, I just didn’t think that the price was at all justified. When I called Krisflyer back the second time, the lady who responded to my call was, bless her soul, infinitely helpful and did actually try and help. But she probably couldn’t get why on earth I was complaining in the first place. She did help me find the break down in price and basically told me that it was something the governments charged and there was nothing to be done. What makes me really sad is that you’re not really getting a free ticket when you order a redemption ticket. I’d much rather pay more miles and not have to deal with paying the extra cost. But I guess that is not to be. Sometimes, I just wish then that everything would be like the online experience, I honestly don’t mind sacrificing some warmth for some Swiss precision.

I’m not really complaining in the end I guess, I just wish thing’d be a bit easier/cheaper for a starving student like me. I don’t know why but this probably is one of those rare few posts that turn out positive in the end…

Anti-Rants, flights, flying, frequent flyer, high cost, Krisflyer, miles, online experience, sad, Singapore Airlines, Star Alliance, Swiss Air Lines