Air Asia short haul tips

richardw

Will be booking some short haul flights soon on Air Asia between Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, all one ways. There will be 3 adults travelling.

Any tips would be appreciated.
Will be booking with an AmEx card.
Any seating tips?
Do they do a basket of flights like easyJet?

jammin_2

Seats are not assigned (rather like Ryanair).

EDIT: I was wrong, Air Asia now allocate seating either at check-in or during booking if you pay extra.

What's a basket of flights?

danandjens_worldtravels

i disagree with the above poster, as whenever I've flown with them they allocate seats on check in, so no need to pay for pre-booked seats.

Keep some malaysian ringets or local currency for a cup of tea and perhaps a snack on the flight but don't buy the meals - really unappetising and poor!!

Flights are mainly on time, and pre-paying for the bus into Kuala Lumpur if you are staying in the centre is worthwhile, as it will save you a bit of hassle and a few ringets!!

I think when you book you will have to remove insurance if you don't want it.

Keep your baggage weight correct (although a friend of ours claims she has never had to pay more for her overweight baggage with Air Asia!). We never had a problem with this because we never went over. LIke Ryan Air keep to the rules and you will be fine.

jammin_2

danandjens_worldtravels wrote: »

i disagree with the above poster, as whenever I've flown with them they allocate seats on check in, so no need to pay for pre-booked seats.

You may well be right, it was a couple of years ago when I last with Air Asia - things may have changed since then.

richardw

Thanks.
Have booked the flights.
They don't do a basket of flights like easyJet, but you can create a log-in which makes it easier.
They do allocated seating, so no run to the plane.
Removed the insurance, but paid extra for 20kg checked luggage.
There wasn't an extra fee for Am Ex.

Mr_Lahey

- You do get seats at check in, but lest be honest does it really matter where you sit.

- Food on board is expensive.

- All the planes a flew on (loads) were brand new and every single one of them was on time.

- I wouldn't bother pre booking the bus, when you get to KUL there is a line of about 5 or 6 different services and all charge low prics anyway, be warned though, get on the bus which is fullest because until they are completely full they do not leave, regardless of what the timetable says.

- One last thing, see the future of boarding passes if you check in at the airport, nothing more than a receipt.

(Just to add - i hope Vietnam is on your trip, it kicks every other country in SE Asia out of the water)

jammin_2

richardw wrote: »

Thanks.
Have booked the flights.
They don't do a basket of flights like easyJet, but you can create a log-in which makes it easier.
They do allocated seating, so no run to the plane.
Removed the insurance, but paid extra for 20kg checked luggage.
There wasn't an extra fee for Am Ex.

Thanks!

richardw

Thanks, the closest we get to Vietnam on this trip is Phenom Penh. I think Vietnam and Laos is going to be another trip.

lizzielondon

for our short haul flights from malaysia - thailand we choose our seats online when we booked (september 2009), same way for the long haul stansted - malaysia

maybe this is different for one way?

jammin_2

lizzielondon wrote: »

for our short haul flights from malaysia - thailand we choose our seats online when we booked (september 2009), same way for the long haul stansted - malaysia

maybe this is different for one way?

No, you are correct. Air Asia now allocate seating either at check-in or during booking if you pay extra. I was wrong before when I said it's a free-for-all like Ryanair. It used to be like that, but not now.

jojones55

i last went with Air Asia a few years ago, locals used to run to the plane as if they might run out of seats- very funny. it was a good airline, nice seats but expect delays like all budget airlines have.