Tigerair MoveMe lets you change flights without paying extra fees
Is it worth paying the budget carrier $12 for more flexibility?
Tigerair is introducing yet another optional flight fee, but you might actually want to pay this one.
For $12, customers on Tigerair flights between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane can add a "MoveMe" option to their ticket, which lets you switch to an earlier flight if you show up ahead of time and there's a seat available.
If you're late for your flight, you can also use MoveMe to shift onto a later service on the same day. Again this assumes seats are available, and the option is only available for up to 15 minutes after your original flight departs. (Tigerair closes check-in for domestic flights 45 minutes prior to departure.)
To take advantage of either MoveMe option, you need to talk to check-in staff at the airport. There's no option to make changes via the web site or by phone.
You can pay the $12 fee at the time of booking, or add it to your ticket up to 72 hours prior to departure. Before doing so, we'd recommend checking if there are other flights that qualify. There's no point paying the extra fee if you're on the last flight for the day.
Like most budget carriers, Tigerair doesn't offer conventional flexible fares, which let you switch if circumstances change. Full-price carriers like Qantas and Virgin typically do, but those tickets will generally be much more expensive.
Added flexibility can be useful, but you also need to consider total fares when you're comparing airlines. Get up to speed with our full guide to fees for Australian airlines.
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