My Husband and I regularly fly home to Nelson (from Wellington) and very rarely use Air NZ because of the hideously priced flights. Fly Sounds Air - set prices and frequent flights, gotta love it!!

When I was home in Nelson visiting family at the beginning of February, I checked flight availability to return to Nelson from Wellington over Easter. Even two months out, there were no cheaper fares available. I was looking at paying about $130 one way. Still hopeful of getting to Nelson for Easter, I have checked flights over the last 2-3 weeks, disappointed that I'd be paying close to $400 return. However, I was very surprised when I checked yesterday morning that there were flights available for Easter at $88 one way, so snapped them up. M

I am a frequent traveller between Nelson and Wellington - over the past 5 years I have flown this route approximately 500 times.

If you book in advance, you can usually get the cheapest fares, this is true. But "in advance" usually means at least 4 to 5 weeks. What frustrates me is the huge amounts you get charged for a booking with say 2 weeks notice. Some fares are $300 return!

But why would Air NZ do anything about this? Where is the incentive to stop making money? The answer is, there is no incentive.

The government happily bails out Air NZ when they have no money, so now they can squeeze out competitors (Origin), and overcharge customers.

When there is no competition,Air NZ can do what they want to with ticket prices and they show no repect for the "neville nobodies' of this world.When I last checked wasn't the current Government a large share holder or "donor" in Air NZ ?? Doesn't that make the taxpaying public a "shareholder" in the company and therefore entitled to some sort of discounting or freebies which are currently enjoyed by our illustrious over indulging politicians? Come on Bro's,lets start giving it to these beuracratic monopolies and say "enough's enough!!" Now you all have a nice day

Nick Smith and Air NZ just don't get it. Or don't want to. Before the new 2 tier pricing, there were 3 prices. The 'cheap' ones - for people flying on a tuesday lunchtime who book months in advance, the middle tier which normal people used, and the stupid prices only big business and the desperate used. It is that middle - 'normal person' - option that was taken from us and we hate Air NZ for that. They don't seem to care how much we hate them for rorting us so they can compete with cheap fares on AKL-WLG-CHC. Sure, maybe its just good business for Air NZ, but does nobody care how much damage it does to Nelson?

I have to agree with Nick Smith and the article in Saturdays Paper. I have noticed that there are less seats. We are being ripped off for all flights. That is to Auckland and Christchurch.

Air Nelson could easily squash Nick Smith's (usual) histrionics by publishing the number of Smart Saver seats over a given period of time, including and excluding special events (Christmas, Easter etc)