Air Asia

[cleveland]

Hi there

Has anyone traveled Air Asia. They have some pretty cheap deals at the moment and am just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with them. I'm wanting to go to Hong Kong so would go from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur then from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong. The price is very cheap but obviously the only thing i'm worried about is it is a budget airline so want to atleast feel safe while flying.

 

[Eagle87]

Hi there

Has anyone traveled Air Asia. They have some pretty cheap deals at the moment and am just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with them. I'm wanting to go to Hong Kong so would go from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur then from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong. The price is very cheap but obviously the only thing i'm worried about is it is a budget airline so want to atleast feel safe while flying.

You will be fine.

On most of their long haul flights they have just changed the seats - both economy and premium - and they are waaayyy better than the previous ones.

I have flown on Air Asia within Asia and on Air Asia X between Australia and KL about 80 or so times and I have never felt unsafe.

They are a low cost airline, so the terminals are less flash (LCCT in KL for example) and you have to pay for things like luggage allowance, food and videos but again, safety isnt an issue and the level of service has always been fine from my perspective.

I would add that on the Air Asia routes in Asia, Indonesia (Jakarta) & Phnom Penh often seem prone to longish delays (2 hours at times) which is at times bloody annoying.

Hope that helps.

 

[raskolnikov]

Budget airlines are cheap because the service is cheap, not the safety. All interenational airlines have to meet safety requirements regardless of how expensive they are. So it you don't mind crap service then use them by all means.

 

[Eagle87]

Budget airlines are cheap because the service is cheap, not the safety. All interenational airlines have to meet safety requirements regardless of how expensive they are. So it you don't mind crap service then use them by all means.

Define "crap service"?

In terms of Air Asia, certainly (as mentioned before), the Low Cost Terminals are lesser and the method of boarding and so on is more basic but the onboard service is fine and as an online ticket purchaser, there is little difference between them and a full cost carrier as regards bookings and check in.

 

[ObaMartins]

To be honest I have found, especially on the intra-asia flights that the service on AA and the flight in general has been much better than say Thai, Malaysian or Singapore.

Jetstar Asia and Vietnam Airlines probally been the other two better ones.

 

[Tormented Tiger]

Being a tourist and buying heaps of cheap clothes what is their suitcase kgs limit?


Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Qantas is 22kg while Jetstar is 20kgs and I think I heard somewher Tiger is 15.

 

[Scotland]

If you consider Qantas domestic flights acceptable then you will have no problems whatsoever with Air Asia.

 

[Eagle87]

Being a tourist and buying heaps of cheap clothes what is their suitcase kgs limit?


Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Qantas is 22kg while Jetstar is 20kgs and I think I heard somewher Tiger is 15.

Air Asia has 0kg included, you purchase the amount of baggage allowance wanted. You can buy 10, 15, 20 or 30 (from memory).

So its not an issue.

 

[Flash10]

Air Asia has 0kg included, you purchase the amount of baggage allowance wanted. You can buy 10, 15, 20 or 30 (from memory).

So its not an issue.

I flew with them in Feb to KL and onto Thailand. I was allowed 15 kg for no extra cost. If you book through the Airasia website it should be the same.

Everything went smoothly and the service was equal of any other full price carrier (except you had to pay for food, entertainment, etc).

After buying food the flight was about $430 per person return. Would fly with them again before any other airline for that price.

The LCCT isn't the most glamorous terminal however its comfortable enough.

 

[ObaMartins]

IIRC, Air Asia (intra Asia) give you a limit of 15kg but on Air Asia X you have to purchase luggage as Eagle says.

 

[Eagle87]

I flew with them in Feb to KL and onto Thailand. I was allowed 15 kg for no extra cost. If you book through the Airasia website it should be the same.

Everything went smoothly and the service was equal of any other full price carrier (except you had to pay for food, entertainment, etc).

After buying food the flight was about $430 per person return. Would fly with them again before any other airline for that price.

The LCCT isn't the most glamorous terminal however its comfortable enough.

Nope. The default position is 15kg (when booking on line) BUT you actually pay for that - RM20 from KL to Bangkok.

The only way you get included baggage without a fee is on Air Asia X premium seats, you now get 15kg included.

ALL Air Asia flights within Asia require payment for baggage. I suggest that the 15kg you had "included" was because you simply clicked the default and they charged you the RM 20 (or you were in a premium seat). They also automatically include travel insurance (for a fee) which you need to deselect assuming you already have travel insurance....

LCCT is ok. Its basic but ok. Its better now that its been extended and renovated but still a lot less comfortable than KLIA.

 

[raskolnikov]

Define "crap service"?

In terms of Air Asia, certainly (as mentioned before), the Low Cost Terminals are lesser and the method of boarding and so on is more basic but the onboard service is fine and as an online ticket purchaser, there is little difference between them and a full cost carrier as regards bookings and check in.

I was talking more about in-flight service. Usually on budget flights you have to pay for your food, entertainment etc and the flight attendants are less hospitable.

 

[mdc]

Will Flight Centre match Air Asia prices? Or would I be wasting my time?

 

[Scotland]

I was talking more about in-flight service. Usually on budget flights you have to pay for your food, entertainment etc and the flight attendants are less hospitable.

Last time I flew I ordered some Indonesian chicken dish when I booked my ticket which cost all of about $3. I also found the flight attendants no less hospitable than Qantas/Jetstar staff, the only difference was that none had English as their first language.

 

[Flash10]

Will Flight Centre match Air Asia prices? Or would I be wasting my time?

Not sure but there's not much point in trying. Just book through the Airasia website and that should be the cheapest you can get anywhere. It's very easy and you can prebook food, entertainment, luggage etc.

 

[HarryTiger]

I payed $100 less but the steward didn't smile at me or give me peanuts, wahhhhhh!

 

[raskolnikov]

I payed $100 less but the steward didn't smile at me or give me peanuts, wahhhhhh!

Not saying that it's not worth the savings. Just saying that if you pay cheap fares don't expect first class service.

 

[HarryTiger]

Not saying that it's not worth the savings. Just saying that if you pay cheap fares don't expect first class service.

Yeah and I'm not replying to anyone in particular but one of my pet peeves is seeing people become total pedants whenever the subject of airlines is raised.

 

[Scotland]

Not saying that it's not worth the savings. Just saying that if you pay cheap fares don't expect first class service.

Do any of the airlines in Australia offer first class service?

I've flown Air Asia economy and Qantas international business class. The difference in service isn't that noticeable.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Flew Air Asia X to London & back in December last year and it was a mixed experience.

The new plane they use on the MEL-KUL run was a bit of nightmare, I'm not the smallest guy and the seat was just way too cramped. The fact that Uni had just broken up for holidays made it worse as the flight was packed with students going home for holidays. As it was a night flight it was even worse as sleep was impossible. Coming back from KUL to MEL it was OK as one of the seats in our bank of 3 was empty so my wife & I had a bit more room and that wasn't too bad, but still not overly comfortable.

The KUL-LDN STN flight was superb, they use an older Airbus with the traditional 2-4-2 seat layout as opposed to 3-3-3 on the new airbus. The seats were comfortable and there was ample room which made the 14 hours an utter joy after the previous 8 hour flight from Melbourne & then 8 hour transit at LCCT - the transit was OK, my mother-in-law came to the Airport and got us booked in at the Tune Hotel for a few hours so we could get a couple of hours sleep and have a shower.

I found the service to be pretty good, and the ground staff were OK with the luggage, particularly in London when I was a little bit over on my carry-on baggage and the guy just winked and said "close enough". The Malaysian food onboard is pretty good for airline food, probably the best airline food I've ever had. The service from the flight attendants was also good.

I'd fly them again, as much as I find the seats uncomfortable on the new airbus if it's only 8 hours to KL and & I'm not transiting and then flying 14 more hours to London then I think I could put up with it easily, especially as the in-law's place is waiting for me when I get there!

 

[Blue_Skies_Ahead]

I've flown Air Asia economy and Qantas international business class. The difference in service isn't that noticeable.

That's a bit harsh but I guess everyone can have an opinion!

I flew Air Asia once when they first started and the service, planes and seats were below the standard of any economy class I have experienced.

Ultimatly you get what you pay for!

 

[Eagle87]

I own a travel agency and have worked within the industry for a number of years.

Ok....

That's a bit harsh but I guess everyone can have an opinion!

I flew Air Asia once when they first started and the service, planes and seats were below the standard of any economy class I have experienced.

Ultimatly you get what you pay for!

Wouldn't be any self-interest at play here would there? Please advise what commission you receive from Air Asia v "any economy class" provider?

For the record, I dont agree with Scotland. Qantas International Business is better than Air Asia by some margin, that said, Air Asia X long haul with the new flat bed seats is much better than, say, Malaysia Airlines Economy for almost the same price Perth to KL....

The seats have been an issue on Air Asia X and they have/are now replacing them. That said, you have flown Air Asia once and you don't mention whether that was Air Asia X, Air Asia, Air Asia (Indonesia) or Air Asia (Thailand), each have different levels of service - a comment I am reasonably comfortable making after 80+ flights with them. I am also happy to comment on Qantas (Platinum FF), Singapore (KrisFlyer Elite Gold) or MAS (Enrich Silver)....

Or you could just take the travel agent, with his vested interest, at face value

 

[Blue_Skies_Ahead]

Wouldn't be any self-interest at play here would there? Please advise what commission you receive from Air Asia v "any economy class" provider?

For the record, I dont agree with Scotland. Qantas International Business is better than Air Asia by some margin, that said, Air Asia X long haul with the new flat bed seats is much better than, say, Malaysia Airlines Economy for almost the same price Perth to KL....

The seats have been an issue on Air Asia X and they have/are now replacing them. That said, you have flown Air Asia once and you don't mention whether that was Air Asia X, Air Asia, Air Asia (Indonesia) or Air Asia (Thailand), each have different levels of service - a comment I am reasonably comfortable making after 80+ flights with them. I am also happy to comment on Qantas (Platinum FF), Singapore (KrisFlyer Elite Gold) or MAS (Enrich Silver)....

Or you could just take the travel agent, with his vested interest, at face value

Hahahahaha!

Funny stuff!

Okay it was Air Asia X to KL.

So it looks like your pretty familiar with Air Asia but I'm a little baffled why would you even ask what commission Air Asia pay considering they are a LCC?



For those that are not that familiar with Air Asia and what commission it pays travel agents I would like to state that it is 0.00%.

Does that stop me booking a customer on a Air Asia flight if that is what they desire?

No!

And for the record I have no vested interests! Although Emirates have been looking after me pretty well!

 

[Scotland]

For the record, I dont agree with Scotland. Qantas International Business is better than Air Asia by some margin

My comment was directed at the poster who suggested the level of service provided by the staff is greatly reduced on cheap airlines.

Give me a sky bed, personal TV with multiple channels and scotch fillet for dinner with as manu beers as I can drink over a cramped cattle class seat any day, but should you replace the Qantas staff with Air Asia staff there would be no discernible difference, other than their Asian-ness of course.

 

[mattyh]

Will Flight Centre match Air Asia prices? Or would I be wasting my time?

Providing the fare you have found is still available when you take the quote in, they MUST beat it by $1 and give you a $20 gift voucher to use for next time. It is their policy.