Mile High Crosswords

This is my must-do when aboard AirAsia.

After completing it I sign off, doodle something and give myself a star :)

(Oh. By the way, I still can't finish any sudoku. At best so far I'm usually stuck with the last two boxes)

Interesting Things #76

When : 26th May

Where : BKI-KUL flight AK5111

Where : Next to the toilet

I got up to use the toilet, and noticed that the one on my right is closed off. On a torn-off piece of crumpled paper hastily pasted onto the door, was written 'unserviceable'.

Me : Hmmm (looked at flight attendant standing facing me at the galley).

Her : It's out of order.

Me : Oh...I thought the pilot had just announced this aircraft is one-week old??

Her : Ya-lah, that's why I was wondering ... yesterday the same thing on my flight from Mumbai.

Me : (smile)

Her : (smile)

Okay. Does the A320 have toilet problem? Because on my flight back from Vientiane to KL the same thing happened. It's either the same aircraft or there were at least two broken toilets flying around.

Seeing Red - Of Sales and Fees

I am a bit bothered - just a teeny weeny bit - that I have not been able to find anything on Air Asia's current sale, nor anything from MATF. The prices aren't as cheap as before.

Hmpph. That's probably because I have a limited budget, haha, so I can't just pick and purchase just like that. There are a few dates but I am indecisive so that's that for now.

Anyway, did you know that AirAsia is almost strictly enforcing the one hand luggage policy this year? I said almost, because they are inconsistent. And if I may say so, discriminative toward those with backpacks because those with supposedly 'cabin-sized' luggage that are bigger and surely heavier are let through. Yes my backpack is rounder in shape but it is smaller than a cabin-size luggage okay? Otherwise, how can I lug it on my back? And how can you say that my Quarfie doesn't qualify as a handbag? Duh.

I've been travelling with this bag for every trip, except to Singapore last year. Where got big laaa....

And last week as I was scanning my backpack before leaving it at the Left Luggage Counter in LCCT, I overheard the airport security mentioning that Air Asia has increased their baggage fees. I only checked today and true enough; up to 15 kg the fee is now RM20.00 and THAT is the online discounted rate. Am I the only one who's just discovered this?

Yes Air Asia I've got a bone to pick with you.

Anyway, as irritated as I am right now, I will still fly with you, but only when you're cheaper :)

India, Anyone?

Air Asia : The secret is out! AirAsia announces FIVE (5) new city additions to our India route - New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore!!! Gear up as India is going to rawk red this year with us opening the doors to the mystique of sights and sounds. The adventure of a lifetime in 2010 begins tomorrow. India, here we come!

விரைவில் जल्द ही आ रहा coming soon. What's Your India?

* * * * * * * * *

Air Asia's facebook page mentioned that they will officially launch five new India destinations tomorrow!

New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore will definitely see a surge in visitors once these routes take effect. I'm guessing the flights are going to fly from LCCT-KLIA, and maybe Penang.

Last time I checked we need to get a visa in advance at RM152, excluding other handling fees, and it takes 2-3 working days. My last 'homework' on India consisted of planning imagining some travel itinerary that can be covered in a 12-14 days period.

Anyway, let's see the travel dates/period offered by Air Asia.

In the meantime, yes, I shall think of an answer to : What's Your India?

Travel News : Koolred

Check out the new online community/social networking site from AirAsia's partner, Koolred.

It says, 'if travelling is your passion, get connected now!'

Will see how interesting this turns out to be, since I'm now bored with Facebook. Maybe I can find a travel buddy for next year.

Travel News : Air Asia's Convenience Fee, Update

Grabbed from the AA website :

Convenience Fee

With effect from 5 November 2009, a Convenience Fee is now applicable for all online payments made via credit, debit or charge cards. Please see below for more details on the fee. What is Convenience Fee? A convenience fee is charged when payment is made through credit, debit or charge cards. The fee is charged per guest for each way and only applies to the initial booking. Any changes or addition to existing booking is excluded from the Convenience Fee. Why is the fee introduced? To ensure that our guests are provided a comfortable and safe booking environment AirAsia has invested substantially to expand, implement and maintain our online payment systems and especially, to upgrade, enhance and improve the security features for online credit, debit and charge cards payments. The Convenience Fee is to subsidize the costs of the payment systems. Are there other payment options which do not attract a Convenience Fee? Yes, the Convenience Fee does not apply to direct debit payments. * * * So when you are buying that free seat that's on sale right now, remember to add on RM10 to the ticket price. Happy travelling!

Travel News : Air Asia Imposes "Convenience Fee"?

I caught a little bit of news on this on Air Asia's FB page yesterday. And again today found postings about the matter on Trip Advisor.

An excerpt from a TA member's posting :

"Recently AirAsia has started adding an item called 'Convenience Fee' when one make booking with them. AirAsia introduced this fee stealthily - ie w/o any annoucement or notification.

Worse still, this fee is not shown anywhere in the fare calculation and ONLY appears on the FINAL page of your booking just before you confirmed your credit card or other payment details. I believe this is done intentionally so that for those who are not alert might missed this additional charge."

The 'convenience fee' is RM5 per person per sector. So for a return that's RM10 extra per person. I remember paying a convenience fee on Tiger Airways too. Am not sure whether it is the same rate for international flights.

Unlike the other services, this is not optional so that means we have no choice; boo. I wonder why no official announcement has been made, though apparently it has taken effect immediately, perhaps it's applicable from November onwards. Just be informed travellers!

No Fuel Surcharge. No Admin Fee.

But, say hello to Convenience Fee :s

Sugar in the Sky

I just read that Air Asia will be selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts onboard from 1st September onwards.

CEO Tony Fernandes made this announcement via Twitter on August 25. I might have missed this piece of news then, and I don't see it on their website either; maybe they have not updated it. Not able to post a link now, but there was an article in the Star last week, will link later.

I don't really have a thing for doughnuts (reminds me too much of Homer and NYC cops) or other sweet things, but it really does come in as a great option in case you get a sudden, crazy craving for sugar at 35,000 feet. Or thereabouts.

The doughnuts will be part of their Snack Attack inflight menu and is sold at RM7 for a pack of two.

Makes me think, what other things I would like to see in the inflight menu.

What about Marmite sarnies? No?

Air Asia - Painting the Skies Red

Despite some shortcomings, I think overall Air Asia is doing a good job in ensuring 'everyone can fly'.

I've had a few poor experiences too, however so far nothing major that really upset me. Oh, except the delayed flight in Kuching last month, when the ground staff failed to communicate this to the passengers. Everyone was upset because it was really late. I am sure everyone has their own Air Asia horror story :). I'll save mine for another day.

Anyway, this 'young' airline certainly moves fast compared to MAS. I like it that they are forward-looking and responsive to the market and are always offering something new, be it destinations, flight frequency or sale prices.

Their website is better and more user friendly. Their aircraft are newer and more comfortable. MAS still has this dirty green or stripey multi-colour seat covers that look like they're from the 80's.

They monitor their On Time Performance monthly : July was 83%. Does MAS monitor theirs?

3Sixty is a good inflight magazine, can't say the same for Going Places, which is staid and boring most of the time. It reads like it's been written by, well, staid and boring people.

They are already issuing numbered seats on their flights, with the 'hot seats' offered online when you are making your booking. Standard seats are at RM5, while hot seats are at RM25, inclusive of Xpress boarding.

They've also introduced web check-in and kiosk check-in, both facility which I find are very convenient for the guest.

My feedback on the web check-in is that it is very hard to print out the boarding pass, I only managed to align the page correctly once. Thing is, you can try once and that's it. So, anyway I still had to present myself at the check-in counter and ask the airline staff to print my boarding pass, which on all occasions they happily did with smiling faces.

The kiosks save you time from queueing up, and are available at LCCT-KLIA, and in Penang Airport; I have not noticed it in other airports. Bear in mind that after you have printed out the boarding pass, you still need to have your travel document verified by presenting yourself (with IC/passport and boarding pass) at the Air Asia counter, No. 67 in LCCT if I remember correctly, and getting the boarding pass rubberstamped. Otherwise the airport police won't let you in the departure lounge. I asked the airline staff once, he told me that 'we try to make it as easy as possible for you, but the airport authority needs this process to be done for security reasons'.

Check-in via either method is quite a breeze especially if you only have hand luggage. I have not tried using it with check-in luggage yet.

I've also noticed that the menu has changed a few times in the past year. Yes, the food onboard is nothing to shout about really, well, at least it's your choice to pay for it or not.

On the whole, Air Asia staff on the ground and aboard the flight are also friendlier compared to the ones on our national carrier. Before the emergence of Air Asia, I remember having to go to the MAS Sales office in Karamunsing to buy tickets only to be served by sullen looking personnel who look like they'd rather be anywhere else but at work; either that or they're sitting on pineapples. The same goes for the ones at the airport. Terrible courtesy and lack of customer service skills is how I remember them, such poor ambassadors for the airline.

If it were not for Air Asia I don't think I would've been able to travel as much as I have and will be, and I'm looking forward to more exciting offers from the Red Airline.

More international destinations from KK would be great, pretty please?