Saturday, September 23, 2006

Just a bit silly really...

I was just at the Qantas site looking at prices for taking the family to my brother-in-law's wedding in Auckland next March. Prices for two adults are pretty much what you'd expect, it's going to cost almost $1000 (return) for the two of us. What I think is outrageous is the cost of taking the kids. A four year old takes up a seat, so he pays full adult fare. Well okay I can cop that. They can't be expected to let seats go cheaper just for kids when they could get an adult fare on. It sucks but that's life.

Gemma, being under two will sit on our laps. Her ticket is 10% of the adult fare, probably to cover fuel costs that her huge (10kg?) baby body is going to add. But the real kicker is the $134 in charges and taxes that is added to her ticket. So a flight where she will sit on her parents' laps, eat her own food and not use any of the facilities is going to cost us $159.00. Just seems a bit silly to have to pay that much to take my own child out of the country, sitting on my lap. Of course if we wanted to put her in her own seat that would cost us $433.00.

5 comments:

Mindy said...

If it wasn't for a family wedding I'd be thinking the same thing.

Wenchilada said...

We just took Persephone, flying QANTAS to Melbourne and weren't charged, she sat on my lap on the way back and we took advantage of the bassinet doovy heading down.

Next year, we're off to NZ for Canterbury Faire and to see my relos. Fortunately for us, Mr C keeps heading over seas with his job and we're using frequent flyer points for it. Though, I do think the charges etc they slap on is a bit ridiculous!

So is the fact that the gold/platinum lounge at Sydney airport only has one baby change room, which doubles up as a disabled shower/toilet, which doubles up as somewhere they will send businessmen who can't be bothered to wait in queues like everyone else! Don't get me started (I ended up getting my wrist smacked by the lady-behind-the-desk, who didn't have her story straight before she came at me for her big piece of drama for the day), but next time, I'll be changing Persi in the lounge, on the table.

DV said...

but next time, I'll be changing Persi in the lounge, on the table.

I would go for on her desk in front of her personally.

worldpeace and a speedboat said...

and make that cow do it!

(I read the blog)

Wenchilada said...

Yeah, well, she'll be on solids well and truly by then! That should make them change their priorities...

Trust me, I'll be doing things a bit differently next time if the baby change room is occupied. Yeah. Just you watch me.