Norwegian Air stability through summer?
Feb 13, 2019, 2:28 am
#46
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It's impossible to know for sure, but I think your odds are good. I'd be more worried about AFTER summer.
I just hope you paid little for your flights. I have family members (who didn't consult me) who bought tickets on Norwegian when they could have gotten the same deal (or better) on one of the major carriers. As most folks here know, if you're a little flexible and you watch the fares on sites like secretflying and theflightdeal, it's usually not hard to get a cheap transatlantic fare on a major carrier (and, of course, there are many ways for Americans to game the credit card sign-ups for free flights). So now my family members have to worry about their trip for no good reason. That's why no one else should be buying Norwegian tickets now unless the deal is truly incredible. Which, of course, will be ANOTHER revenue problem for Norwegian!
I just hope you paid little for your flights. I have family members (who didn't consult me) who bought tickets on Norwegian when they could have gotten the same deal (or better) on one of the major carriers. As most folks here know, if you're a little flexible and you watch the fares on sites like secretflying and theflightdeal, it's usually not hard to get a cheap transatlantic fare on a major carrier (and, of course, there are many ways for Americans to game the credit card sign-ups for free flights). So now my family members have to worry about their trip for no good reason. That's why no one else should be buying Norwegian tickets now unless the deal is truly incredible. Which, of course, will be ANOTHER revenue problem for Norwegian!
That said, I'd rather walk/swim than fly Norwegian, how they handle irrops is one reason, the other is they charge for in flight meals.
Feb 13, 2019, 5:07 am
#47
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Preferring to walk/swim rather than pay for an inflight meal seems rather odd. A lot of people used to say that when the shorthaul flight revolution started, but I don't see many of them walking/swimming these days.
Feb 13, 2019, 5:23 am
#48
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I also refuse to fly Ryanair for the same reason.
Feb 13, 2019, 6:08 am
#50
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I've been watching fares LHR-LAX-LHR for Christmas 2019 - Norwegian are consistently undercutting all the other airlines so there is scope to increase fares and still be the cheapest.
That said, I'd rather walk/swim than fly Norwegian, how they handle irrops is one reason, the other is they charge for in flight meals.
That said, I'd rather walk/swim than fly Norwegian, how they handle irrops is one reason, the other is they charge for in flight meals.
For short-haul, I choose Norwegian rather often as they aren't any worse than what I get from say SK or BA and the routes on which I choose them don't seem to have major IRROPS problems.
Feb 13, 2019, 6:44 am
#51
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All boils down to the fact that the cheapest ticket may nor be the least expensive journey.
At a minimum, I would not purchase a DY ticket without hedging the savings with a travel interruption policy which unequivocally covers IRROPS, new tickets, and other associated costs.
At a minimum, I would not purchase a DY ticket without hedging the savings with a travel interruption policy which unequivocally covers IRROPS, new tickets, and other associated costs.
Feb 13, 2019, 7:12 am
#52
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Let's say an airline X has a probability of 10% of going out of business by the time you are scheduled to fly with them...
Just calculate 10% x estimated cost of dealing with that, and you can figure out what makes sense vs. alternatives. Easy as that?
FWIW, I have taken a number of flights with Norwegian over the years, including OSL-JFK in their premium cabin. They have been just fine.
IRROPS is possibly a different story - then again, that can be a hassle with any airline.
Just calculate 10% x estimated cost of dealing with that, and you can figure out what makes sense vs. alternatives. Easy as that?
FWIW, I have taken a number of flights with Norwegian over the years, including OSL-JFK in their premium cabin. They have been just fine.
IRROPS is possibly a different story - then again, that can be a hassle with any airline.
Feb 13, 2019, 3:02 pm
#53
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Many countries offer similar protection if you book a package tour (flights+hotel).
Feb 13, 2019, 7:36 pm
#54
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This surprises me. The fares out of NY are pretty high and they have no real competition because flying to Martinique or Guadeloupe with any other airline involves long connections and even higher fares. My issue with them were the times: the trip ate a whole day both ways, I would even have preferred redeyes. Also the low-cost terminal in Guadeloupe sucks and of course the service and entertainment onboard are low cost. And there is no premium class. They could have done a better job.
Feb 14, 2019, 3:07 am
#55
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I believe that return tickets booked ex-DK include an insurance premium, meaning that the Danish government (or someone) pays what it costs to rebook your flight if the bankruptcy estate doesn't do this.
Many countries offer similar protection if you book a package tour (flights+hotel).
Many countries offer similar protection if you book a package tour (flights+hotel).
Feb 14, 2019, 7:26 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Sad to see the Caribbean routes go as I’ve used them 5 times in total (4 X to Guadeloupe and once to Martinique). But if you’ve been paying any attention over the past year it’s been pretty obvious that the end was near at least for these routes.
Like the Norwegian spokesperson stated, the routes did fairly well but with all the additional cost of crew and base it wasn’t very viable.
In regards to pricing, I never spent over $525 w/ bag fees included for two people in total. The price was insane and quite frankly I’m shocked they were able to keep it going for this long.
To all the finance users of the board, reading all the additional tea leaves, on a scale from 1-10, how concerned should I be using them the first week of April? I’m heading over to Barcelona and rolled the dice as the price was again to good to pass up as a budget travel. EWR to BCN direct to be exactly.
I booked on on my credit card of course so I’m not too concerned about getting my money back if they fold, but this situation that their in has prevented me from being able to lock down the rest of my accommodations (Airbnb and ticket to Barca Vs Atleti game).
All in all, do you guys think they’ll be in play until then? Thanks in advance!
Like the Norwegian spokesperson stated, the routes did fairly well but with all the additional cost of crew and base it wasn’t very viable.
In regards to pricing, I never spent over $525 w/ bag fees included for two people in total. The price was insane and quite frankly I’m shocked they were able to keep it going for this long.
To all the finance users of the board, reading all the additional tea leaves, on a scale from 1-10, how concerned should I be using them the first week of April? I’m heading over to Barcelona and rolled the dice as the price was again to good to pass up as a budget travel. EWR to BCN direct to be exactly.
I booked on on my credit card of course so I’m not too concerned about getting my money back if they fold, but this situation that their in has prevented me from being able to lock down the rest of my accommodations (Airbnb and ticket to Barca Vs Atleti game).
All in all, do you guys think they’ll be in play until then? Thanks in advance!
Feb 14, 2019, 8:09 am
#57
Join Date: Sep 2004
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I have tickets YUL to FDF for 7 people in a weeks time. Of course I have good travel insurance, and if they fail before then I can come up with a last minute trip. But obviously that would be a very unpleasant thing to deal with, and time consuming for sure.
I honestly cannot see them hanging on much longer. I have resisted the temptation to fall for their many recent sales. Seeing them as a way to rake in money to stave off the wolves at the door.
I honestly cannot see them hanging on much longer. I have resisted the temptation to fall for their many recent sales. Seeing them as a way to rake in money to stave off the wolves at the door.
Feb 14, 2019, 9:23 am
#58
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FWIW, I hope Norwegian do survive as they do have a deflationary impact on airfares on the routes they operate.
Feb 14, 2019, 9:28 am
#59
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There has never been a successful low cost airline flying across the Atlantic. Which isn't to say it's impossible, but it's very hard. There's a reason why all the major airlines fight for the premium class pax on these routes. That's where the money is made.
In Norwegian's case, the management mistakes have been mind-boggling. Not only did they embrace a dubious concept, but they did it at a break-neck pace from secondary airports on tertiary routes where their prospects were the bleakest. The proper course of business, if they believed their model could work, was start slow, refine the product and see what happens. Instead, they went all out on a strategy that couldn't possibly work. Why anyone gave money to these guys to do this is even more mind-boggling than the business plan.
In Norwegian's case, the management mistakes have been mind-boggling. Not only did they embrace a dubious concept, but they did it at a break-neck pace from secondary airports on tertiary routes where their prospects were the bleakest. The proper course of business, if they believed their model could work, was start slow, refine the product and see what happens. Instead, they went all out on a strategy that couldn't possibly work. Why anyone gave money to these guys to do this is even more mind-boggling than the business plan.
Never? Generations of students flew Icelandic to LUX for their European adventures. I don't know how you qualify success, but this LCC seemed to last for a long time, although I guess we can quibble about whether it was a charter operation.