Although many airliners have announced increases on the number of air tickets available for flights before and after the Tet holiday, or the Lunar New Year, a large number of customers say they cannot buy the tickets despite booking early. National carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) announced on November 1 that it started selling tickets for Tet, shortly after which economic class tickets for flights in the “prime period” - a week before the Lunar Eve on February 10, 2013 - were sold out. “I visited VNA website in the early morning but there were only business class tickets available at nearly VND5 million (US$240) each,” said Pham Van Son, a Ho Chi Minh City’s District 9 resident. It was not until 4pm on the same day that Son was informed by an airline agency that tickets for economic classes were finally available, though at a higher fare than last year. Airliners said tickets for several flights during daytime have been sold out, and there are now only those for services between 2am and 5am a week before the New Year’s Eve. “We have a very long list of customers booking for Tet tickets, and those coming late cannot even have a chance to get them, even at high prices,” said a VNA’s level-one agency. The carriers also said they will not sell tickets in large quantities for fear of scalping. “Jetstar Pacific has launched its first ticket selling, and there will be two to three sale sessions in the future,” said deputy CEO Ta Huu Thanh. Airfares for most of the busy services have also soared, passengers said. “Round ticket for the HCMC – Hanoi service now costs VND6.1 million, while last year it was only VND5.7 million,” said Nguyen Dai Phong from Hanoi. Analysts said the fares were increased to help the airliners recoup for the north-south directions. Flights from HCMC to Hanoi and the northern localities are always full, while the seat occupation rates for the return flight are only 30 to 50 percent, they said.