Comments on: Angry Flyers Lounge-The AirAsia X files by an ex customer

By: Steven McKiernan

Steven McKiernan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:38:35 +0000

Air Asia Perth to Denpasar. Departure set for 04.30.
Checked in at 02.20.
Waited and briefly napped.
Boarded on time.
Wheels left the tarmac exactly on 04.31.
Not the most comfortable flight, some parent allowed their four year to practice interval sprints up the aisle. i didn’t notice ANY airline music other than my MP3 player or earplugs.
Landed Denpasar 08.05. long walk from gate to visa on arrival and customs, carousel. luggage as planned cleared quarantine and found our hotel driver for the transfer to ubud.
The plane left and arrived at the advertised times.
Return flight scheduled 00.30. Arrived at the terminal at 22.05. Huge queues out the terminal just to go through electronic scanning and then stand in the queue for check in. Checked the departures and there were nine departures between midnight and 01.00
Initially only one person was processing check-in for Air-Asia, due to IT issues, later a second and third desk opened up. Cleared all protocols by 23.00. Played cards and napped until called for the flight. Bussed to apron and boarded at 00.30. Quick head count as a passenger was missing. Resolved, doors shut. Taxied and queued took off 00.40.
Arrived Perth 04.05 five minutes early.
Luggage and customs and quarantine and my lift was waiting at 04.50.
I call that a flawless performance by a budget airline, definately no frills, but for a three and half hour flight with challenging logistics each each gate the result is commendable.
I’ll use Air Asia again and would recommend the airline to others.

By: David Sanderson

David Sanderson — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:28:46 +0000

bilbycoote, spare us your bogus and irrelevant concern for third world poverty.

AirAsia is actually a good low cost carrier but it would be wise to allow yourself a comfortable 24+ hours between connections (eg overnight in Kuala Lumpur even though it is a pretty unattractive city)

By: Steven McKiernan

Steven McKiernan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:43:35 +0000

Aah the romance and glamour of twentyfirst century Budget airline – budget service air travel. As always expect the ubiquitous Mr Murphy to be lurking with intent.
Always take squishy earplugs, MP3 player, good book, sandwich, give up smoking, try and avoid checked bagge and a healthy dose of Broome-time. It will happen when the planets align and the flight-crew’s biorhythms coincide. Try and relax. You can only make that happen.

Tas Flyer is correct – cheap has its drawbacks, expensive isn’t THAT much better.

What exactly did AirAsia do wrong, and what could they have done better so perhaps ameliorate your experience?

The issue is what happened in Melbourne. Your original departure flight time was 00.45. Advised of the delay to 07.00 you check in at 21.30 and a food voucher issued. You are still in the departure terminal. You know at this time that you will not be going anywhere until immigration and quarantine at 05.30. Did you consider a quick blast into Melbs for a few loud drinks at the Hairy Canary?

Loading of passengers (including lost or disorientated) is hardly within AirAsia’s complete control. This set the chain of events for the tug, the taxiing. Did you think the pilot was having a sulk as other shinier airlines got precedence?

Guess what? shit happens, prepare for it.
Tell you what, I’m flying AirAsia for the first time later this year, I’ll let you know how it goes.

By: bilbycoote

bilbycoote — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:28:19 +0000

I think you must be related to Kyle. That just what traveling in the third world is like. Its tough for the locals to- no food for weeks on end. No air-conditioned terminal to feast in. Next time spare us and go to los vagas with Kyle.

By: Tas flyer

Tas flyer — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:12:05 +0000

Point to Point = “No point flying with us unless you have No expectations of:
– service
-arriving or departing on time
or baggage.”

Cheap has it’s drawbacks.