Read fine print before flying

PHOTO: TNP READER

Jetstar's two-day delay of its June 11 Guangzhou-Singapore flight, which left about 150 passengers stranded, once again puts budget airlines' service quality in the news.

Lawyers said that consumers should read the terms and conditions carefully before buying tickets as some budget carriers' contracts even state that they don't guarantee carriage at the scheduled date and time of flight.

Full-service airlines can offer better compensation because they are insured against events such as flight delays and the cost is already built into the airfare.

Case said that even if there are disclaimers, budget airlines may still be breaching the Unfair Contract Act, so they should offer some compensation to affected passengers.

It advises consumers to buy insurance to cover for flight delays, although most policies will usually cover for delays that last for days.