Think budget flights and images of crammed seats, smelly aircrafts come to mind. This needn't be the case always. Definitely not when you are flying Air Asia. The airline has been a success story from the word go. From 2001 when an erstwhile sick state owned Malaysian airline was re-relaunched as Air Asia to its successful (and oversubscribed) IPO it is not difficult to see why Air Asia is the success story it is.
Whats going for the airline :
1. Cheap fares. Sometimes they have promotions which can give you a real bargain.
2. Connectivity. Excellent connections from Singapore to Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Thailand can be better covered with only Bangkok and Phuket being catered to from Singapore.
3. Clean aircrafts. Cleanliness is usually the biggest sore point with budget carriers but Air Asia is an exception. Discarded bottles, food packs etc are taken away before landing thus sparing time for a quick vacuum before the next take-off.
4. Food is quite tasty by airline standards.
5. You can save 30-50% if you pre-book add-on services like extra baggage, meals on flight etc.
6. BIG loyalty program helps to tie budget flyers to Air Asia.
What can do with some help :
1. On-time performance can improve. Occasionally my flights have been delayed for no apparent reason other than 'technical issue.' If the issue really is serious, then the aircraft should be pulled out of service and sent for a thorough maintenance check.
2. Difference between preferred morning / evening slots and graveyard slots can be quite hefty. I understand this is part of the budget pricing exercise but in low season this can be adjusted in my opinion.
3. Like all budget carriers, leg space and seat size is wanting. But that is not such a big issue in my view since the budget pricing makes up for the inconvenience of a crammed seat.
Overall rating : 8/10. This has to be the numero uno budget carrier in the Asian region and it is not without justification that Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes is one of the most respected figures in the aviation industry today. If you fly budget, fly Air Asia.
Whats going for the airline :
1. Cheap fares. Sometimes they have promotions which can give you a real bargain.
2. Connectivity. Excellent connections from Singapore to Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Thailand can be better covered with only Bangkok and Phuket being catered to from Singapore.
3. Clean aircrafts. Cleanliness is usually the biggest sore point with budget carriers but Air Asia is an exception. Discarded bottles, food packs etc are taken away before landing thus sparing time for a quick vacuum before the next take-off.
4. Food is quite tasty by airline standards.
5. You can save 30-50% if you pre-book add-on services like extra baggage, meals on flight etc.
6. BIG loyalty program helps to tie budget flyers to Air Asia.
What can do with some help :
1. On-time performance can improve. Occasionally my flights have been delayed for no apparent reason other than 'technical issue.' If the issue really is serious, then the aircraft should be pulled out of service and sent for a thorough maintenance check.
2. Difference between preferred morning / evening slots and graveyard slots can be quite hefty. I understand this is part of the budget pricing exercise but in low season this can be adjusted in my opinion.
3. Like all budget carriers, leg space and seat size is wanting. But that is not such a big issue in my view since the budget pricing makes up for the inconvenience of a crammed seat.
Overall rating : 8/10. This has to be the numero uno budget carrier in the Asian region and it is not without justification that Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes is one of the most respected figures in the aviation industry today. If you fly budget, fly Air Asia.
No comments:
Post a Comment