Jambojet’s ‘Price Lock’ service to spare passenger pain of fare fluctuations

Budget airline Jambojet has launched a new service that allows passengers to book tickets at a specific price and pay the fare within 24 hours, shielding them from price increases as the departure day nears.

The carrier’s new service called “Price Lock” requires passengers booking flights online to pay a service charge of Sh500 (over and above ticket price) in order to hold ticket prices for trips that are at least five days away.

Passengers who fail to pay for their tickets in full within a day after reservation will automatically lose the reserved ticket price and forfeit the service charge already paid.

Jambojet, a subsidiary of national carrier Kenya Airways, says the new service will spare passengers price fluctuations that push fares well above the minimum of Sh2,950.

“Price Lock allows you to hold your itinerary and fare for 24 hours, giving you the peace of mind that the price of your itinerary won’t increase and that the flight won’t sell out,” the low-cost carrier explains on its website.

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“Reservations that are not completed before the 24 hour expiration period will be cancelled and the fare lost. Price Lock service charges are non-refundable and are not applied toward the price of the ticket.”

Significantly cheaper

JamboJet, which began operations in April 2014, flies to Kisumu, Malindi, Ukunda, Lamu and Mombasa, relying on pricing that is significantly cheaper than other airlines to draw customers.

The cheap tickets can only be secured when booking is made well in advance of the flight date. They are also exclusive of add-ons such as extra luggage, meals or request for seats with more legroom.

As is the case in the airline industry, as the travel date draws near, ticket prices spike based on demand of the flight, availability of seats on the aircraft as well as its flight time.

This can cause the price of tickets, including those issued by budget carriers, to increase significantly and at times as much as major airlines such as its parent firm KQ.

For instance, a Sunday Jambojet flight from Malindi to Nairobi is currently going for Sh14,039 ($139) with the carrier’s website indicating that there was only one seat left as of midday yesterday. Customers who wish to lock in prices of “cheap” tickets they spot on Jambojet’s website can now do so at a fee.

“This (Price Lock) feature gives our customers the opportunity to finalise all travel details prior to paying for a flight, ensuring that their itinerary is correct,” said Jambojet chief executive Willem Hondius.

“We appreciate our customers have busy lives and that making travel plans should be as quick, easy and convenient as possible.”