Discounts in the air: Gulf carriers slash tickets

It’s sale season and Middle East carriers are pulling out all stops to entice the price weary passenger into booking their flights with their airline, with discounts that go 35 per cent deep in some cases.

Flying high in this instance are Emirates, flydubai and Qatar Airways.

Flagging off today is Emirates, which is offering its customers a three-day sale, with discounts of up to 35 percent to select destinations across its network.

Available on return economy class tickets to over 30 destinations worldwide, the sale is valid until Thursday November 17.

Some of the most popular destinations included in this offer are expected to be; Amman, Istanbul, Munich, Manchester, Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Colombo, Cairo and more.

“This three-day sale is the perfect opportunity for our customers to take advantage of our incredible fares and take a well-deserved break,” said Khalid Bel Jaflah, Emirates Vice President Commercial Sales UAE in a statement.

To avail of this offer, outbound travel must commence between the November 15 to  December 10.

Competitor Qatar Airways has also announced its three-day sale from today, offering savings on return fares to and from over 100 destinations worldwide.

Economy class prices are up to 25 per cent off the normal tariffs, while business class passengers can take up to 20 per cent off their ticket prices. With a generous six-month travel window between 21 November and 31 May 2012 next year, customers can plan and book their next holiday or business trip well in advance.

The savings are based on return fares, including taxes with certain conditions attached. Passengers can choose from a diverse range of destinations, including Hong Kong, Seychelles, Kathmandu, Madrid, New York, Sao Paulo, Beirut, Athens, Beijing, Muscat, Delhi, Goa, Melbourne and more.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “Through this incredible worldwide offer, we are saying a big ‘thank you’ to our customers reflecting their loyalty towards flying with Qatar Airways. 

 “It’s been a big year for Qatar Airways and we have much to celebrate – welcoming our 100th aircraft, being named Airline of the Year 2011 and spreading our wings to more than 100 destinations worldwide.”

Budget carrier, flydubai too is on the price war, with its 11 per cent savings to 11 destinations on its one-way tax-inclusive fares.

Book before noon on November 21 for travel between January 15 and March 24, 2012.

The destinations on the flight map include Aleppo, Alexandria, Amman, Beirut, Colombo, Damascus, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Karachi, Khartoum or Lucknow.

“I wish I could avail these discounts, but most of these deals have blackout dates and naturally, that would be over the festive period making the Christmas and New Year prices shroud in gloom,” said Anna-Marie Ramon, a receptionist.

While Ramon’s concerns have been echoed by a few others, people like Raed Gorges, an advertising executive says: “I am not one to complain here. I might as well fly early to Beirut and meet the family earlier, rather than breaking my bank and losing the chance to not see them at all over the Christmas period.”

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