Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Middle Eastern Budget Airlines

Is it just me or the newly released dates for Jazeera, Air Arabia and Bahrain Air are abnormally expensive right now for summer flights. None seem to have any fare sales on right now (which they usually do). Would I be better to wait?

Check Etihad in case the 4 flights special offer still exists. It was on a recent thread this month. There were also some specials from BAH, I think.

The miles earned on the trips might count double if they are within the promotion's dates.

There are several reviews of flights on Saudia's budget airline (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=792412) in the Trip Report index.

Not sure if you are located in UAE or can somehow qualify, but there are some HSBC cardholder special fares here (http://www.etihadairways.com/etihadairways/global/en/HSBCProm.htm).

Booking link to check pricing is here (http://www.etihadairways.com/etihadairways/obe/Search.aspx).

Thanks for the info. I just booked a Early-Bird Special from DEL-DXB on Jazeera. So far there are 5 ticketed passengers on the flight, but as soon as I booked mine, the early-bird rate isn't coming up any more.

Total after taxes and fees I paid 5000INR, which is about 125$, its the cheapest I've seen for that route.

Last week I booked KWI-BEY-KWI for 1KWD ($3.60) each way on Jazeera. A promotion they were running over the past couple of weeks. Total cost 41KD ($150) with taxes.
I think it's all about timing. Plus, knowing that Kuwaitis leave Kuwait en masse during the Summer, Jazeera's supply/demand pricing policy could be at play. The public holiday 3 weeks ago saw KWI-DBX-KWI 3-5 times more expensive on Jazeera than Thai Airways scheduled service.

Hey all, FYI Etihad could set up a budget airline, in the wake of the success of Air Arabia and Jazeera.
Competition from the above airlines on the subcontinent might be hurting EY and EK a little if they are considering the option

It seems the success is due to the migrant worker traffic:
Etihad considers branching into budget operations (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/04/28/223322/etihad-considers-branching-into-budget-operations.html) [FlightGlobal]
Etihad Airways is considering the possibility of developing its own low-fare airline, although the company has not laid down any formal plans.

The Abu Dhabi-based operator says it is studying the option but is not intending to establish such a division in the near future.

“It’s something that many full-service airlines have either introduced or considered, and we’re in the latter category,” says a spokesman for Etihad, which has recently moved into narrowbody operations with Airbus A320 aircraft.
Air Arabia in particular has capitalised on the traffic potential of the ethnic labour market by developing strong links to the Indian subcontinent...
Etihad rival Emirates is to assist with the creation of a Dubai-based budget airline

What??? More LCCs in the Middle East? If everything goes ahead, then Emirates and Etihad will both have their own LCC divisions. I remember that at one point GF was going to launch its own LCC but I haven't heard anything since then.
I hope that Egypt gets a new LCC soon. I would love to see low-priced tickets CAI-DXB and CAI-JED. Currently, all 3 LCCs go to Alexandria, which is approx 2hour+ drive.
But believe me, opening a direct CAI-DXB-CAI low-cost would be filled, and wouldn't actually harm MS, EK and GF's loads.
Pricing on Jazeera Airways is extremely tricky. I know that some routes are higher than those on full-fare airlines, yet some routes are being sold for 'free' (that is you pay only taxes and surcharges). What is up with that??!

I think that the purpose of LCCs isn't to lure customers away from full-fare airlines, but rather to create more customers. For example, a labour worker who could only visit his country every two years can do so every year.
I still don't understand what the new Duba-based EK-assisted LCC will be like. Will it be part of the Emirates Group? Previously it was stated that it wouldn't be, but I hope that it will be. EK could use it as a feeder service and utilise the A330s for bigger routes (and lose cargo revenue, but who cares?)

What??? More LCCs in the Middle East? If everything goes ahead, then Emirates and Etihad will both have their own LCC divisions. I remember that at one point GF was going to launch its own LCC but I haven't heard anything since then.
I hope that Egypt gets a new LCC soon. I would love to see low-priced tickets CAI-DXB and CAI-JED. Currently, all 3 LCCs go to Alexandria, which is approx 2hour+ drive.
But believe me, opening a direct CAI-DXB-CAI low-cost would be filled, and wouldn't actually harm MS, EK and GF's loads.
Pricing on Jazeera Airways is extremely tricky. I know that some routes are higher than those on full-fare airlines, yet some routes are being sold for 'free' (that is you pay only taxes and surcharges). What is up with that??!

I think that the purpose of LCCs isn't to lure customers away from full-fare airlines, but rather to create more customers. For example, a labour worker who could only visit his country every two years can do so every year.
I still don't understand what the new Duba-based EK-assisted LCC will be like. Will it be part of the Emirates Group? Previously it was stated that it wouldn't be, but I hope that it will be. EK could use it as a feeder service and utilise the A330s for bigger routes (and lose cargo revenue, but who cares?)

A direct CAI-DXB-CAI LCC option may not necessarily harm loads, but WILL harm yields. LCC are all about juggling around on supply & demand. If there's lots of demand, the price goes up & vice versa. Jazeera have obviously discovered that people will pay to fly, although not necessarily cheaply. Such a situation can only be resolved by more competition but that cannot be healthy for the economy in volume. The current illustrations you've shown show that Jazeera are doing well & obiviously attracting attention from the likes of Etihad & Emirates.

I highly doubt that Emirates will use a low-cost subsidary for feeder services. The cost base will be entirely different, service different, narrowbodies with little cargo capacity (don't ever think Emirates doesn't care about cargo - that's perhaps one of the main reasons they bother with routes such as BAH/DOH-DXB. 200 pax but a belly full of freight. Cargo is perhaps one of the most lucrative parts of the airline industry after business class). It will more likely supplement & open up oppurtunities for those who currently can't afford to fly.

According to this interview with the CEO, QR might launch a LCC to defend its territory:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9697860