FlyMD From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 278 posts, RR: 1 Posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 10638 times:
Let me begin this thread by saying that I think that Air Asia is a good idea and for a specific type of traveller a decent airline to fly. Having said that, I think that the cost of flying Air Asia can really rack up for the majority of travellers and that in the end the cost can approximate that of a legacy or national carrier in the region.
I recently flew Air Asia (BKK-KUL-BKK) and have to say that the experience was interesting. I will be submitting a full TR once I get the pictures downloaded from my digital camera (ORD-NRT-BKK: Oct 4; BKK-NRT-ORD: Oct. 11 both on UA as well as BKK-KUL-BKK: Oct 6/10 on AK).
Why I say beware of Air Asia is that they really nickle and dime you. The cost of my AK flight was 6433 THB (Thai Bhat) roundtrip, which is approximately $200. I could have flown MH for between $270-300 but I wanted to give AK a try because who knowns when I would have the opportunity again.
ISSUE #1: VERY RESTRICTIVE BAGGAGE POLICY-
-When we (my wife, sister-in-law and I) checked in in BKK, we were told that our bags were over-weight. They only allow 1 piece of checked luggage per person and the weight maximum is 15kg. We had not even started our vacation yet (all we had was clothes in our luggage) and the bags were already "over-weight". We had to pay an additional 1600 THB (approximately $50 or $17 per person), not horrible but aggravating.
-Coming back however, our baggage weighed a total of 85kg (for three people distributed over 4 bags-we bought an extra bag for souvenirs). I don't think that this is too unreasonable, about 28kg each. However because we were 40kg over our "allowance", I had to pay 800 MH (Malaysian RIngits) which is approximately $250 or an additional $83 per person.
-AK only allows one piece of hand baggage with a maximum of only 7kg so there is not a lot of wiggle room there.
ISSUE #2: CHAOTIC KUL TERMINAL/SYSTEM WIDE CHECK-IN PROCEDURE-
-The LCCT at KUL is not large enough already for AK's capacity. The check-in lines are pure chaos (see my pending TR with pictures).
-To top the chaos off, each flight is assigned to a specific desk (in KUL and BKK). While our line for the KUL and BKK flights were snaking out of the door, the line for other flights (like Macau) were empty (yet when asked, they said they could not check me in at those desks).
ISSUE #3: CHAOTIC BOARDING-
- They do offer "Express boarding" where you can board first but it costs another 20 MR (approximately $6 each).
-If you don't get Express Boarding, good luck. Before the flights were called, there was literally a pushing rush to get to the front of the doors. I'm not a fan of open seating, but they should at least adopt a WN-like policy with boarding groups. The rush was literally dangerous.
ISSUE #4: LACK OF FLEXIBILITY-
-Obviously I cannot make this generalization systemwide, but I think that my experience in this regard was just a lack of experience on AK's part. After you have been doing something for a while you realize that there is the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law.
At any rate, we arrived at KUL for our BKK return flight about four hours early (hotel checkout issues). There was an earlier flight leaving for BKK within the hour with 40 empty seats on it. When I asked if we could take the earlier flight, they said "No. Our policy is that you cannot make changes less then 48 hours before your flight. You have to take you original flight or but new tickets." Bear in mind, the tickets are non-refundable, so I would lose all of my money just to take a flight 3 hours earlier.
Needless to say, I did not buy three new tickets just to leave 3 hours earlier. I understand that there are written policies but there is also the spirit of customer service. The supervisior literally let us sit at that airport for close to four hours while a flight was leaving in 1 hour with a third of it's seats empty. That is ridiculus, what did he or his company have to gain from that lack of lfexibility.
SO TO SUM IT ALL UP:
So in the end, I paid $307 RT per person for the flights on this "budget carrier". I could have flown MH for less ($274) and had assigned seats, gotten FF miles and a more generous baggage allowance.
AK targets vacationers and the segment of the population that was not really flying before, hence their slogan "Now everyone can fly" (i.e.rural people heading to larger cities or people heading back home). All of these people will be travelling with a good deal of luggage as evidenced by the VERY LARGE line at the dedicated "Excess baggage" counter.
If you are flying with very minimal luggage, AK is okay (the new Airbus 320s are nice). Just get express boarding, come to the airport early and bring lots of patience.
Fly the friendly skies of life!. Enjoy every minute.
Well, I guess you knew in advance about their baggage policy. So I cannot see your point about complaining when you had to pay for excess baggage. This is regular on all LCC and other carriers.
Well, chaotic boarding is always fun. At least you did not have to run to get a seat.
Quoting FlyMD (Thread starter): At any rate, we arrived at KUL for our BKK return flight about four hours early (hotel checkout issues). There was an earlier flight leaving for BKK within the hour with 40 empty seats on it. When I asked if we could take the earlier flight, they said "No. Our policy is that you cannot make changes less then 48 hours before your flight. You have to take you original flight or but new tickets." Bear in mind, the tickets are non-refundable, so I would lose all of my money just to take a flight 3 hours earlier.
That of course you will find on almost every airline in the world. Just think if every passenger arrives at the airport early and demanding to be put on an earlier flight.
Quoting FlyMD (Thread starter): That is ridiculus, what did he or his company have to gain from that lack of lfexibility.
As I said. On major carriers you can pay hell of a money to get a flexible ticket to go when ever you want. On a LCC....no way.
I am sure you as an enthusiast will not fly the airline anymore but you can at least put the airline in your book and mark it as flown. I feel for you and your bad experience.
Soups From Ghana, joined Jun 2004, 3419 posts, RR: 18 Reply 2, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 10639 times:
I flew with them on Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu-Kuching-Kuala Lumpur paid less than $150 for the 3 flights for 3PAX!
Fantastic service loved it. yes they are strict on baggage but you tried Ryanair or Easyjet? or any NON us low cost airline?
Next destinations, Suarabaya, beirut, paris, Accra
FlyMD From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 278 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 10641 times:
Quoting IcLCY (Reply 3): I think the words research, terms & conditions come to mind.
Research what exactly?. The baggage policy can be researched but even then it is just a number. I don't make habit of weighing my bags before I leave my house.
Regarding the boarding policy, I did research it hence it purchased the express boarding.
Regarding their check-in method or their terminal situation at KUL, how would you suggest that be researched?
And yes, all air carriers heck just about any business will have terms and conditions. Hence I referred to the "letter of the law". There is also common sense enactment of rules and regulations. As a owner of my own practice I have rules as well (i.e. you must be in the office by your appointment time). However, I also use common sense. If a patient comes 15 minutes late because they were stuck in traffic, I would not refuse to see them. It is called bending over backwards to please your customer. The airline would have lost NOTHING by letting take the earlier flight
So I cannot see your point about complaining when you had to pay for excess baggage. This is regular on all LCC and other carriers.
I don't mind paying for excess baggage obviously the more the weight of the baggage, the higher the cost of the fuel. On the way back my sister-in-lawhad to pay a flat $50 fee to UA for excess baggage. $50 is reasonable, close to $300 is a bit much I think. Just my
Fly the friendly skies of life!. Enjoy every minute.
Well i went travelling for 13months. I left Dub with all my luggage for this period in an 80Ltr backpack. Think it weighed about 18Kilos. I got two AX flights and i never had to pay excess fees!!! Maybe things have changed though as this was Oct > Dec 05
Quoting FlyMD (Thread starter): -To top the chaos off, each flight is assigned to a specific desk (in KUL and BKK). While our line for the KUL and BKK flights were snaking out of the door, the line for other flights (like Macau) were empty (yet when asked, they said they could not check me in at those desks).
Yeah they were dedicated lanes as well while i flew with them but i did Bkk > PNH and BKK > HKT and i dont remember any long queues for them. Maybe i just timed my arrival at the airport perfectly as both my flights were packed yet the queues were fine.
When did Air Asia change to AK. Flightmemory has them down as FD for me????
Flown on EI, FR, BMI, TG, PG, FD, JQ, DJ, LA, NZ, SQ, DL, LX, LH
Toast From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 10641 times:
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 4): I don't make habit of weighing my bags before I leave my house.
I do, always. Any old bathroom scale is perfectly adequate. I've never faced an excess baggage surcharge. Honestly, it takes 10 seconds and can save you lots and lots of $ and hassle.
Bullpitt From Spain, joined Mar 2004, 870 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 10641 times:
Hi all
Quoting FlyMD (Thread starter): So in the end, I paid $307 RT per person for the flights on this "budget carrier". I could have flown MH for less ($274) and had assigned seats, gotten FF miles and a more generous baggage allowance.
I won't even anwer this. I think if you think about it you have anwered yourself. A lot of people who fly these LCC when they add it all up realize they could have saved some money if they flew a legacy carrier.
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 4): Research what exactly?. The baggage policy can be researched but even then it is just a number. I don't make habit of weighing my bags before I leave my house.
Another mistake, you should, Airlines have a weight limit and as such you should know how much you can carry and how much you are carrying.
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 4): The airline would have lost NOTHING by letting take the earlier flight
Yes they have something to loose, you see I don't know this specific carrier, but many carriers sell more expensive tkts that allow changes, if you start changing tkt that don't allow changes people start to expect this to be done and don't buy changeble tkts as they know they will be able to change them at the APT.
These are my principles but if you don't like them I have others
Mandala499 From Indonesia, joined Aug 2001, 5880 posts, RR: 74 Reply 10, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 10640 times:
FlyMD,
Your 28kg per pax KUL-BKK would have attracted excess baggage per kilo on other airlines too you know!
Now imagine if you paid an extra 70 - 100 bucks a person and then STILL get charged 8kgs per person for the excess, ($43 a person)...
So, had you flew MH, you would pay an extra 113 - 143 bucks a person...
You have a luggage weight allowance, don't exceed it, no matter what airline you fly... any free excess is their discretion and not your right! I guess you're too used to the US system of having the allowance per luggage piece (regardless of weight) method.
The hand baggage with max of 7kgs is also expected at full service carriers too. I've been lucky to avoid it so far, had been let go for it before, but I've seen people forced to pay for the same excess as I had, that's on a full service carrier too, so I don't see what's unique with Air Asia on this one.
Oh hang on, U flew ORD-NRT-BKK on UA, then Air Asia BKK-KUL... no wonder you were surprised about the "weight policy".
LCC Terminal? LOL Well, welcome to Cattle Terminal *grin*... What were you expecting? In Asia, if they got a queue for a particular flight and the next desk is empty, there's never a guarantee that next desk is going to serve another flight! With Air Asia, there's a mishandling issue, workload issue, you name it.
As to the boarding, now that's THE reason why I've avoided Air Asia so far. It's amazing how good people are at rugby when boarding comes, and the best scrums are at Air Asia.
Lack of flexibility? It IS their policy not to allow flight changes within 48hrs unless they pull money off you. Air Asia make big bucks on last minute sales, but a lot of the times, they'd rather see that seat go empty than allow shifting... why?
Quote: So in the end, I paid $307 RT per person for the flights on this "budget carrier". I could have flown MH for less ($274) and had assigned seats, gotten FF miles and a more generous baggage allowance.
Add $43 per pax to the MH fare for your 28kgs which they COULD have charged you...
In my opinion, you were lucky UA only charged you $50 for your sis in law for the the excess baggage... Oh, hang on, the allowance isn't weight based is it?
In the past, I've seen pax booking on US airlines so they can carry more weight...
Mandala499
When losing situational awareness, pray Cumulus Granitus isn't nearby !
F1eddie From Ireland, joined May 2007, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 10640 times:
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 9): For that 18 kilo backpack you would have paid a fee (their limit is 15kg)
Nope i definately did not pay extra. I would have been fuming if i did have to pay it. I also flew Bangkok Airways and i did not have to pay an excess fee with them. Mind you it did cost me E80 for O/W.
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 9): AK is Air Asia is believe, while FD is Thai Air Asia (I'm pretty sure, but I will double check)
Thats what i taught. Maybe then this explains why i did not pay an excess fee....
Flown on EI, FR, BMI, TG, PG, FD, JQ, DJ, LA, NZ, SQ, DL, LX, LH
AirNZ From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 10640 times:
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 4): Research what exactly?. The baggage policy can be researched but even then it is just a number. I don't make habit of weighing my bags before I leave my house.
Sorry, but I don't see your point here. You clearly say that their baggage allowance was freely available but you clearly chose to ignore it and didn't bother to even check your bags weight. In other words, with this being "just a number" to you, you simply turned up and expected them to bend just to your whims. Absolute nonsense, and I see no grounds whatever for your objecting to it.
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 4): And yes, all air carriers heck just about any business will have terms and conditions. Hence I referred to the "letter of the law". There is also common sense enactment of rules and regulations.
You accepted the Terms and Conditions as the "letter of the law" when you booked the flight......another example of how you expect these to be waived to suit you.
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 4): If a patient comes 15 minutes late because they were stuck in traffic, I would not refuse to see them. It is called bending over backwards to please your customer. The airline would have lost NOTHING by letting take the earlier flight
A completely different scenario (although a commendable one) and has nothing whatever to do with "bending over backwards to please your customer" With all due respect, you have in this case continually expected Air Asia to simply pander to just whatever you wanted. If you had wanted the earlier flight, then you should have booked it in the first place as you obviously would have known the hotel check-out time relative to the flight you did book.
FlyMD From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 278 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 10220 times:
Quoting AirNZ (Reply 12): Sorry, but I don't see your point here. You clearly say that their baggage allowance was freely available but you clearly chose to ignore it and didn't bother to even check your bags weight. In other words, with this being "just a number" to you, you simply turned up and expected them to bend just to your whims. Absolute nonsense, and I see no grounds whatever for your objecting to it.
My point is that I did not weigh my bag before I left my hotel in Bangkok. I did not expect them to bend to my whims.
My objection has to do with howreasonable the policy is (or is not). Who travels on vacation with a single bag weighing less than 15kg. If excess baggage is going to be a way to "make up" revenue why don't you have a reasonable policy and just charge another $10 per person. It is just the sticker shock effect. Advertise this ridiculously low fare and then charge for every little thing so that in actuality you pay way more than you expected to.
Quoting AirNZ (Reply 12): You accepted the Terms and Conditions as the "letter of the law" when you booked the flight......another example of how you expect these to be waived to suit you.
Of course I accepted the terms and conditions when I purchased the ticket, hence I paid the fees. Maybe you just cannot understand my letter of the law statement. You can be rigid and when the battle but you may not necessarily win the war.
Quoting AirNZ (Reply 12): If you had wanted the earlier flight, then you should have booked it in the first place as you obviously would have known the hotel check-out time relative to the flight you did book.
I guess you have never tried to take an earlier or later flight before huh?. It is always so easy to make black and white statements.
Fly the friendly skies of life!. Enjoy every minute.
Rongotai From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 477 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 10148 times:
"Maybe you just cannot understand my letter of the law statement. You can be rigid and when the battle but you may not necessarily win the war."
Bullpit explained really clearly why an airline that sells non-changeable tickets will 'lose the war' if it then allows the expectation to develop that that 'non-changeable' tickets can, in fact, be changed.
On my business trips my regular practice is to buy a cheap - non-changeable - ticket, leaving home in the morning because I know precisely what flight I will be on. I buy a more expensive, flexible, ticket, coming home because I am never quite sure when I will want to travel. If I knew that my 'non-changeable' tickets still gave me a chance of a flight change I'd probably buy them. Also, when I turn up at the airport and say 'Can you put me on anything earler?', I would be really pissed off if I knew that when they replied 'no', that might be because they had just released a free seat to someone who hadn't paid enough to deserve it.
Therefore, for me, learning that Air Asia is inflexible about such things, gives them a customer service tick as far as I am concerned.
F1eddie From Ireland, joined May 2007, 459 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 10142 times:
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 13): I guess you have never tried to take an earlier or later flight before huh?. It is always so easy to make black and white statements.
Yeah ill back you up here. My dad flew DL to Sarasota back in Aug. For some reason like yourself on his return he arrived to the airport early. Maybe by three hours or so. They let him and my uncle get an earlier flight to ATL. But i would hope that this is one perk that legacy carriers have. Not that it is always done. I have been told it really is up to the airlines discrection but i would never think a LCC would provide this for you. We did spawn the birth of one of the most ruthless LCC here!!!!!
Flown on EI, FR, BMI, TG, PG, FD, JQ, DJ, LA, NZ, SQ, DL, LX, LH
Mandala499 From Indonesia, joined Aug 2001, 5880 posts, RR: 74 Reply 16, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 10142 times:
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 13): My objection has to do with howreasonable the policy is (or is not). Who travels on vacation with a single bag weighing less than 15kg.
I've done it before... a 2 week holiday with a total flying time of >20hrs to get there. How reasonable is the policy? Very! Most of their customers are short-holiday traveller. For me, if I cannot go on 15kgs, I pick an airline that allows me more... if it's more expensive, then that's the price of the extra baggage allowance. I really do not see how unreasonable the policy is. If someone offers "$10 BKK-KUL one way, on condition that no luggage is allowed", is that unreasonable?
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 13): Advertise this ridiculously low fare and then charge for every little thing so that in actuality you pay way more than you expected to.
They declare how much you have to pay, and any additional charges that can apply should you exceed allowances in their terms and conditions... I don't see anything wrong with that. The only problem I have is that they don't advertise how much they sell their onboard food for! LOL...
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 13): You can be rigid and when the battle but you may not necessarily win the war.
Did you win the battle or the war?
They're providing a service consistent with their terms and conditions, and their promise. If to achieve that they have to be rigid, so be it.
Quoting FlyMD (Reply 13): I guess you have never tried to take an earlier or later flight before huh?
I guess we all have tried to take an earlier flight... But when refused, regardless of availability, it's their discretion. Yes, I've been refused earlier flights, but I don't it up as "their inflexibility"... Try and take a later flight? LOL, that's even less likely!
Those who paid $20 one way for the BKK-KUL would be happy with the terms and conditions of Air Asia group... why? They want more, they pay more (probably with another airline)...
Mandala499
When losing situational awareness, pray Cumulus Granitus isn't nearby !
Mham001 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2557 posts, RR: 3 Reply 18, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 10098 times:
You need to learn to wear the right shoes that will slide under the front of the scale and give it a little 'lift' when they are checking your bag weight.
Mandala499 From Indonesia, joined Aug 2001, 5880 posts, RR: 74 Reply 20, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 9936 times:
FlyMD,
Then what's the difference between flying Air Asia for $20 one way or $200 return? Nothing! Just a different price, but your fare is still restricted. There's nothing to beware about regarding Air Asia... everything is written beforehand. If there is one thing pax should be aware about is that "they really do stick to their rules"...
So, care to enlighten us on why their policies are not reasonable? Such as:
1. A 15kg baggage allowance (Where it is stated in your terms and conditions of purchase as such)
2. Not letting you go on an earlier flight (Where it is stated in your terms and conditions that for your fare, there are no changes allowed within 48hrs of departure).
3. Sticking to their policies.
Otherwise, you're just venting at your frustration that Air Asia does not give leeway to customers who do not comply with their terms and conditions or that you cannot understand that Air Asia's idea of customer service IS to provide a product consistent with their terms and conditions (not relative reasonableness because other carriers would allow such leeways)...
Quoting Mham001 (Reply 18): You need to learn to wear the right shoes that will slide under the front of the scale and give it a little 'lift' when they are checking your bag weight.
LOL, that's a really old and forgotten trick my friend!
Mandala499
When losing situational awareness, pray Cumulus Granitus isn't nearby !
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined exactly 7 years ago today! , 20630 posts, RR: 62 Reply 21, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 9863 times:
I find it interesting how so many people on these forums lambast USA carriers for lack of service, but then when someone from the USA points out how restrictive a non-US airline is in any way, all he gets is "you knew what you were buying" and "everybody does it."
No, everybody does NOT do those things. Not in the USA at least. I guess we are all just spoiled here by our great service...
Most non-USA flight baggage rules SUCK. End of story...
Quoting Rongotai (Reply 14): Bullpit explained really clearly why an airline that sells non-changeable tickets will 'lose the war' if it then allows the expectation to develop that that 'non-changeable' tickets can, in fact, be changed.
WN must be doing something wrong then. Because they let you do all sorts of changes day of if there's room, and even change your ticket to another day without any penalty!
Quoting F1eddie (Reply 15): Maybe by three hours or so. They let him and my uncle get an earlier flight to ATL. But i would hope that this is one perk that legacy carriers have.
Very common here in the USA. If there is plenty of room on the earlier flight, people are usually allowed to fly early, at least as a standby and usually, if you ask nicely, the CSR just gets you seats. If there is limited room remaining, you are often allowed to pay a small fee to fly earlier or standby and hope for the best. No airline that I know of in the USA would be so rigid that they wouldn't let you change to the earlier flight in some way if there was plenty of room and you were at the checkin desk. They certainly wouldn't make you buy a new ticket...
Though I've not flown SkyBus, so maybe they wouldn't allow it. Don't know.
Quoting TreeHillRavens (Reply 19): It's Air Asia. Just like Ryanair and Easyjet. A complete different model than those LCC carriers found in United States.
And this is his point! When you fly WN for example, you pay a fare, and basically you get to where you are going with a reasonable amount of luggage for that fare, with some leniency on changes. 21kg would incur no extra charges (they had 4 bags, not 3, so that isn't 28kg each as some misunderstood), and WN allows for 3 bags! (most other carriers allow for 2).
Further, most carriers in the USA have no rule at all about the weight of carry on baggage, or if they do, it is never enforced. I have never, in my millions of flown miles, had a carry on bag weighed. I've had it sized before, but never weighed.
Even most non-USA carriers relax their baggage rules for USA flights because they have to match our higher level of service in that regard...
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
FlyMD From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 278 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 9843 times:
Quoting Mandala499 (Reply 20): So, care to enlighten us on why their policies are not reasonable? Such as:
1. A 15kg baggage allowance (Where it is stated in your terms and conditions of purchase as such)
2. Not letting you go on an earlier flight (Where it is stated in your terms and conditions that for your fare, there are no changes allowed within 48hrs of departure).
3. Sticking to their policies.
Okay, this is starting to feel like talking to a brick wall, but lets try again.
1. I never said that the baggage allowance was not stated in there terms and conditions. If that were the case, the excess baggage fees would not have been paid. Just stating an allowance does not make it reasonable. If they stated a 1kg allowance does it all of the sudden become reasonable?
2. Again, I never said that this was not in their terms and conditions. I never said that they HAD to let me take an earlier flight. All that I said was that it seems a bit unreasonable to let a flight depart with 1/3 of it's seats empty when you have customers who would like to take an earlier flight.
3. I never made a blanket statement that sticking to their policies is unreasonable. Of course in any company/organization there have to be ground rules. That does not mean that reasonable exceptions cannot occur.
Quoting Mandala499 (Reply 20): Otherwise, you're just venting at your frustration that Air Asia does not give leeway to customers who do not comply with their terms and conditions or that you cannot understand that Air Asia's idea of customer service IS to provide a product consistent with their terms and conditions
"You're just venting your frustration (grammer corrected)"-DUH!. Hence the title of my thread was Beware of Air Asia, not Air Asia sucks. As I said, Air Asia is good for a certain type of traveller!
And I garantee you "terms and conditions" never contain things good for the customer, so please don't tell me that sticking to the legalese of terms and conditions is their idea of customer service. If so, that is pretty sad.
Fly the friendly skies of life!. Enjoy every minute.
TOLtommy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3076 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 9752 times:
Nothing personal FlyMD, but after checking your profile, I'll take my chances with airline rules over doctors office and insurance company rules anytime.
As others have said, had you simply done a little extra research, a lot of this would have been revealed to you. You are an Anet member, you didn't think about asking a few questions before your travel?
Quoting FlyMD (Thread starter): but I wanted to give AK a try because who knowns when I would have the opportunity again.
Don't forget to add that into the value of the total price you paid.
25 FlyMD: That is a really useful and relevant comment, it really added alot to this conversation. I'm not sure I know what your comment means and I would
26 Flymad: [quote=FlyMD,reply=0]The supervisior literally let us sit at that airport for close to four hours while a flight was leaving in 1 hour with a third o
27 Jbernie: Really? I just flew MEL-LAX-DEN with QF & Frontier, Frontier asked if we wanted to take the flight to DEN leaving in 40 mins which we did not know ex
28 CXfirst: With SK from LHR-OSL, we got an earlier flight (were transitting from EK and had 5 hours, did not choose earlier flight in fear of missing it). This
29 Pe@rson: Flown AirAsia quite a few times, and other than the occasional delay experienced no problems at all. Look forward to next time flying KUL-BKI-KCH-KUL
30 Reggaebird: FlyMD, First of all, I want to say that I enjoyed reading your detailed and thoughtful post. However, I think that there is a core issue here. You ha
31 NA747: Thanks for the heads up, FLYMD! My partner and I are flying AK/FD this week: KUL-PEN the 19OCT and PEN-BKK the 22OCT. I did notice their restrictive b
32 Pe@rson: What a great word! There was a thread a couple of weeks ago about a American A.nutter and his wife who had to pay £300+ (I believe it was £, perhap
33 DHR: Bottom line is that US passengers enjoy more flexibility with their LCC's than the rest of the world. I suppose that since all travellers to and from
34 Pe@rson: Copied-and-pasted from another A.net thread re. some Americans: "Working on ryanair check-in we get people all the time who simply dont read what they
35 FlyingAY: Air Asia is a very typical LCC; tight baggage rules is something you should expect from a LCC. And keep in mind, that LCC in most parts of the world m
36 Reggaebird: " target=_blank>http://ask.skybus.com/about/rules-of...shtml It remains to be seen if Skybus will survive. If you read user opinions about this new Am
37 CX777Fan: I was going to comment on the irony of someone flying UA complaining about Air Asia, but you beat me to it. Apart from paying excess baggage, I've ex
38 Mh001: Thank you for your report FlyMD...very interesting. it's an eye-opener and confirms what a money grabbing operation AK is. The LCCT in KUL is too smal
39 Pe@rson: Dangerous? You must explain it. That's why it's to be expanded. Surely you know that coming from Malaysia? And it's obvious you'd be anti-AirAsia: yo
40 Jbernie: I believe the intent was that a large group of people rushing to a small entry generally leads to someone getting hurt, trampled, pushed out of the w
41 Mh001: thank you for your post. that is why i think it is dangerous. I am a malaysian and i have to say that we do not understand the word 'queue'. I am asha
42 MH001: sorry - i meant to say thank you for your post jbernie!
43 UN_B732: This is an old topic here on A.net. LCCs aren't for everybody. Look at the full package before choosing your carrier. You pay for a Kia Rio, you don't
44 Imag: I'm pretty sure that patience and humility weighs no where near 28 kilograms too! How does someone travel with a bag that weighs that much? Isn't the
45 Vulindlela: I would like to add that I flew Air Asia from KL to Cambodia a while back, turned up at the airport some 65km out of town only to realize at the ticke
46 MAS777: Try flying Easyjet or Ryanair and you would be charged for checking-in even A single piece of luggage let alone be over the weight limit. On excess we
47 Chrisrad: Nothing to do with it, IATA rules for flights to and from the USA are piece system, whilst all other regions are weight system. Having said that, on
48 Alangirvan: Nowadays, carrying bags is a Profit Centre for Low Cost Carriers. Ryanair now charge passengers to check one bag up to 15kg. Before they started charg
49 Andaman: Same here. Airline rules can be annoying, but when you buy the ticket, you accept them. And if you expect flexibility, you shouldn't choose a LCC. Do
50 Mham001: I don't think thats silly "stupidity" but more about the weight the employees have to throw around as they handle your bag.
51 Coal: Wah wah wah... next time fly MH or TG... but oh sacrilege! Beware of their prices You get what you pay for. I've flown Indonesia Air Asia (CGK-DPS) an
52 FlyMD: Maybe you did not read all of what I said but hey it was long so I will reiterate. I ended up paying more per passenger on AirAsia than I would have
53 FlyingAY: Like you have been told, your bags actually exceeded also the amount of luggage that MH lets you take on the plane - so yes, there was a possibility
54 FlyMD: Maybe yes, maybe no. But is it even supposed to be close?. One is an airline with tight seat pitch, open seating, a barn-like terminal, no inflight s
55 PanAm747: Welcome to the wonderful supportive world of a.net. Remember that moment on the movie "Airplane!" where the Point-Counterpoint debate where the man sa
56 AeroWesty: I doubt most Americans have even heard of Air Asia, or have the possibility of flying with them. Searching for flights in the BKK-KUL market, not a s
57 Flymd: Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 56): We travel because the world is as diverse as it is, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.[/quote I agree, which is why tr
58 AeroWesty: Perhaps it's just my computer which is showing the word "dangerous" in your opening post.
59 FlyMD: Are you serious?. You interpreted my saying that 150 people rushing simultaneously for a single door as being dangerous to mean that the outside world
60 BNEFlyer: I flew AK HKT-KUL-HKT in May and found them to be fantastic. I paid around AUD$300 for a 3 night package (flights, 4 star hotel & breakfast). In HKT m
61 AeroWesty: It certainly can be interpreted that way, as your post title is telling people to "beware" instead of "be aware of" Air Asia, and all that that entai
62 FlyMD: I do understand the subtilties of beware and be aware. Regardless of which was used, the sentence ended with Air Asia and not "the outside world". Ma
63 AeroWesty: Great. Air Asia knew all about Southwest before they started operations, and discarded that style for whatever reason. Their choice. LOL, I find it r
64 FlyMD: I think that the majority of us on a.net will continue to enjoy the good that comes with world travel. If you enjoy warts however, count yourself in
65 Nzrich: Its not getting at USA / Non USA carriers and citizens its complaining about expecting more than the rules of a individual carrier .. The poster shou
66 Coal: Yes, why do you fly and ultra-low cost carrier and still whine? How do you think they make their money? Were you born yesterday? It's a different cul
67 Flymd: Read my other posts if you really want that question answered Yes, I was born yesterday. I am the amazing typing infant. I am on page 257 of the Guin
68 Pe@rson: I had to pay for that bus! LOL. Although I was last at the LCCT 9 months ago...[Edited 2007-10-14 11:39:27]
69 EBGflyer: AirAsia don't offer connecting flights, so already here's a difference. For them it makes no point. They just loose money.
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