It's all about my travel experience and things I love to do…
Low Cost Airline
Air Asia/Airline Baggage “Handling” Practice
Mar 30th
Sawadikap!…
I am back from Phuket, Thailand as some of you would already know. But if you didn’t know, now you know. 
Before I go on and proceed with my traveling experiences, let me write about one experience that I always see it with my own eyes but never had a chance to proof my words whenever I tell people what I saw.
It is about Air Asia’s baggage “handling” practice. I’m just curious, how much Air Asia actually has spent on baggage damage compensation?
Maybe to the airlines, it is cheaper to spend on compensation rather than spending time to carefully transfer our baggage from the aircraft to the baggage trolley. I don’t know, don’t quote me on this.
Here was what I captured when I arrived at LCCT on the 30th March 2010 at 0200 hours from Phuket. This flight is not my flight, but some other flight that arrived a moment earlier than us.
Looking up for my video I saw other similar videos that would show you further on how Air Asia handles your baggage.
Here’s on from danielpurser
Interesting isn’t it? Oh wells, what can I say? You want cheap and budget, your service also cheap and budget lah.
Okay… to be fair, Air Asia is not the only airline that does this kind of baggage handling. Search on YouTube reveals that almost all the airlines does this. Saves time… but does it save their cost in compensation?
This is how easyJet handles baggage from ValienteVejete.
Maybe these airport workers/airline staffs learn their trick from these luggage monkeys in the USA. Video by ministryofcctv.
But if you want to view more of baggage handlings on YouTube, click here.
It’s good that airlines offer us cheap fares and made it affordable for us to travel, but if we were to experience this kind of baggage damage trauma, why do we have to pay you to handle our baggage?
My take is that, if you want to accept a fee in handling our baggage, handle them with care! Why waste money to print out the “Fragile” sticker and stick on our bags.
Might as well put up a disclaimer right in front of your check-in counter and say “Your baggage “might” be thrown by our tarmac staffs, please take note that you can claim for any damages.” Right?
Oh wells, this is my 3rd time experiencing and seeing how Air Asia handles their passenger’s baggage. Next time, I will just buy a harder cover luggage bag or a heavier luggage bag and then see how much they want to throw my luggage!
Air Asia Last Minute Super Value Fare
Dec 29th
Yes, trust me when I say this. I can have access to “Air Asia Last Minute Super Value Fare”.
How?
Because I’m working in a travel agency!
I’m on a last minute plan to head up north, yes again. This time with Air Asia.
Wanted to fly Firefly because I’ve never flew on it and they have good comments so far. But, Air Asia stole my heart as the air fare that I can get is super cheap!
This is what I get from Firefly.
So expensive, even though it is nearer to my place but still, I don’t mind traveling further for cheaper fare.
This is what I get from Air Asia online price.
Even more expensive, given that I’ve added 20kg baggage and also taken advance boarding and on board meals, it is still expensive compared to what I can get through my system. Look at how cheap it is…
Half the price I can get online. Nyek! Nyek! Nyek! This is so so so cool! Plus, I just only bought my flight. Super last minute right? Even if I buy tomorrow also, the price is fixed and will never change.
Yes. I shall brand this as “Air Asia Last Minute Super Value Fare” (C). Of course, as a travel agent, we still will charge service fee and what not. In the end, it will still be cheaper than online price. Say, we charge RM 50 for all tickets issued, it totals up to RM 176 and it’s still cheaper than RM 241.
Who says you can only get cheaper price online?
Good thing about this “Air Asia Last Minute Super Value Fare” is that with the price I’m paying, I’m getting all these:
- Additional 20kg of baggage allowance.
- Meals of my choice.
- Express boarding with seat selection.
- I can change date anytime I want without being charged extra.
You know where to reach me should you feel like trying to grab this deal.
But anyhow, just email travel(at)yapthomas.com for more info.
Disclaimer:
“Air Asia Last Minute Super Value Fare” is my own term and is a contracted fare with my agency. I’m only using that term of “Air Asia Last Minute Super Value Fare” on my own accord. Don’t sue me.
Flying With Air Asia To Perth…
Mar 7th
We flew Air Asia to Perth. It was 5 hours of flight and it was a near full flight.
While waiting for our flight D7 2712 to Perth, we tried to get a seat at the boarding gate. It was difficult. Why is it so difficult? LCCT sure has enough adequate seats but, it is the other people waiting for the same flight are making it difficult for us to get a seat.
Those people just don’t understand that seats are for humans, not for bags! Grrrr….
It was a tiring and long 5 hours flight. You know how bad can the leg room be for people as tall as me. I can’t complain either as flying with Air Asia, you want a good seat, you pay extra.
So throughout the flight, we entertained ourselves with their on board chat system. Which pretty much took away our boredom.
I also paid for their entertainment package which cost me RM 30 and I can watch most on board movies and I watched Cars. Yeah I know how outdated I am. -_-
One lesson one should learn when flying with Low Cost Carriers is that, fill in your stomach first before flying. You can save quite a bit from the on board meals which cost a bomb. I had Sri Melur Roti Jala with a cup of coffee and it comes to about RM 12 (Roti Jala) + Coffee (RM4). Crazy!!
It was really yum for the Roti Jala, but I thought they could do better with the serving potion. Maybe two more pieces of the Roti Jala?
Time passes by very fast and the captain announces our arrival to Perth 30 minutes before landing.
We checked out and when my baggage arrives, I found that in front of my backpack, the string was torn. Must have been that the gound handling people destroyed it by holding my backpack by the string or it was just rough handling by all parties. Gah! It is new bag… 
*sobs*
Passing through all the immigration and out we are at the arrival hall. We took the airport shuttle that cost the 3 of us AUD $35 to the city.
The journey to the city took approximately 30 minutes and were in Perth!!!
and… we are going to explore the city…
The KLIA and LCCT-Labu Blah Blah Blah
Jan 25th
So, KLIA or LCCT Labu?
All I can say is that LCCT Labu is just a gimmick. As much as I have support for Air Asia as well as MAS, I do seriously think, spending on LCCT Labu is just not wise and no businessman would venture into that.
Why do I think so?
I don’t know. Maybe I am wrong, but don’t quote me. MY focus will be solely on KLIA and how to make KLIA better. We don’t need something new to make a name for ourselves. Just re-brand!
Why would they want to upgrade the facilities in LCCT now when they have plans to get LCCT Labu up and running soon? It is like throwing money without thinking of ROI. I don’t think any businessman would do that. Unless, the money recovered is unimaginely quick.
Again, the logic is, soil problem is not a big huge problem at all. If we have the desire to get KLIA LCCT done up as soon as possible, we can always adopt a technology to do so. The receipts from tourism can easilly offset the cost of adopting such technology. If there is any technology available.
Should cost be MAHB biggest concern, invite Sime Darby to venture into airport business and get a cut out of them. I mean, MAHB has serious problem in promoting KLIA and making KLIA to a world class airport to attract many more world class airlines. With a venture with Sime Darby, I think, maybe MAHB can quite make the cut and build KLIA to a status a par with Changi or Suvarnabhumi.
We seriously need to get a professional planner to get things done at KLIA and put KLIA and LCCT on more airline’s landing radar now! Airport is a very essential facility for any country to grow.
What I see at KLIA and LCCT now is that, they are from the same mother, but it seems that LCCT somehow has stole the limelight and KLIA is now jealous and pulling a sour face, emoing.
They should be working together to link both great facilities up and make it more convenient to the mass public. It is sad to know that LCCT sits just beside KLIA, but just because of some soil problem or railway blocking in between, there is no linkage. Imagine how much can both KLIA and LCCT benefit in terms of passenger growth if they are both well connected?
Let’s say, I want to fly from Penang to Miri. There immediate connection from Penang to Miri is on MAS in KLIA. But, there is a later flight to Miri at LCCT. I would rather save the buck to travel from LCCT and KLIA and take Air Asia instead. It’s human psychology. Distance without proper immediate connection deters a great relationship between two great airports.
Somebody needs to buck up and I do seriously think that MAHB and LCCT needs to put on their thinking cap again to restrategize their business for the benefit of the country. Not just the people. not just themselves and not for some idiot politician who say what they should do.
And they should do it, PRONTO!
Cheaper Air Fares to come! Say Hoorayy!
Dec 14th
ASEAN will see the implementation of open skies policy. In fact, we have already got the feeling of this policy of implementation already. The continues war pricing between airlines and the continues war for a piece of the route (eg. KUL-SIN) has given us, the consumers, the hands down win.
I read in interest of the cover story of TheStar’s Saturday Biz Week cover story, Competition up, fares down.
As a consumer I yearn for this day to come, where open skies policy is fully implemented and everyone can enjoy low fares given by numerous airlines. But, commercially as airline’s middle agent, we do not want to see this happening as we will lose out due to airline’s direct sales to consumer. That aside, I’m looking at this phenomenon as a consumer now.
(source: The Star)
You see, we should be having even more open skies policy with many countries in the world. This would allow even more people to travel and when people travel, they move multiple economic activities.
For example, when Jet Airways and Tiger Airways started flying into KLIA, the market grew approximately about 6-7 percent. Every other airlines that flies into KLIA, will do the same too. We should start gaining the status of regional hub! With the liberation of open skies policy, we can! Just that, we should have done it earlier. Now, we have to compete with Singapore and Thailand as regional hub.
Over the past ten years, we have seen several airlines pullout from KUL. Some of them are British Airways, Qantas Airways, Aeroflot and Lufthansa. Why? Is it the policy within our government that is pushing them away or is it the open skies that is not liberated?
The roadmap to full ASEAN open skies policy implementation is at 2015, which many of us hope it will be realized ON THE DOT.
(Source: The Star)
Now, when you see the chart above, you will ask why so little open skies agreement Malaysia has with other countries? We are little slow in implementation of anything good. Just put it that way. Our neighbour Singapore is otherwise had an earlier start and now, Singapore is like an aviation hub in the region. No doubt to it.
You see, in Europe, the aviation industry liberalization took place in 1987. We in ASEAN only wants to get it started a year ago. In ASEAN, it is a little bit different because of the huge differences in economic capacities, industry development and infrastructure. How can a region with such huge differences participate and gain from such policy? ASEAN needs to acknowledge these differences to be able to gain from the benefits of an open skies policy.
One biggest barrier is transparency which the ASEAN governments is not quite ready to let it go. There are calls for greater transparencies. The ASEAN open skies policy can really spur tourism and other economic activities within its chain effect. Open skies policy would benefit most countries, as it would allow for the improvement of infrastructure, gaining of skilled workers and overall establishment of smaller airlines before entering the competition.
See how AirAsia has grown and just take a look at LCCT. Not to mention, Malaysia Airlines is also the hot talks of the town now. Never anyone has thought you could fly cheap on Malaysia Airlines. Thanks to the fierce competition with AirAsia, now we all can.
In other words, I WANT CHEAPER FARES and thus I as a consumer would want to see this open skies policy implemented ASAP! 
Now everyone can go Melbourne!
Aug 22nd
There is a thread started by Rue this last two nights ago by triggering a mind boggling question:
RueAugust 20 at 11:38pmReplyHi PPL,Im seriously considering heading to aussie sometime soon, simply becoz i havent been thr and i wanna visit a new foreign country every year
Anyway i know most of you have already been thr, and some of you ARE actually there, but since i got 2 weeks of leave to clear, i tot y not? Plus i really feel like getting away.. from everything.. so aussie’s not a bad place i guess.
Any takers? I know tom, ur gonna pester me to get tix frm u, but seriously, anybody up for an “impromptu” journey abroad?
Come join my iniative, and lets go visit a new country every year together gether!
When I just check about it on AirAsia website, I saw this!
Whoa! Now everyone can go Melbourne by AirAsia already!
MAS can go poof already lah! Oh wells, I have to be wary as well, because it will definitely affect travel agents as much as any other competing airlines for the pie of that route(KUL-MEL-KUL).
Students can now go HOORRAAAYYY!!! because Melbourne is like, little Malaysia while the number of students going to Melbourne to study every year are unimaginable…
While I was there about 5 years ago, I practically met a few people while walking through the city. It was like crazy I tell you! and it was unexpected meet. Gosh! The number of Malaysians in Melbourne!
Quick! Planning for your year end summer break in Melbourne?
Do it now!!
Hmm.. I am still contemplating if I should head down under..???
The Short Business Trip to Miri
Mar 25th
Time for some refreshing entry eh? After a few picture-less entries…
Few weeks ago, I was flown to Miri for a business trip. It is more like a mini-regional
meeting with the bosses over there. My company has some formal agreement with
another company to form an alliance and we had some briefing on the products and
and also how the partnership is gonna be…
It is so easy to travel with AirAsia.Upon arrival at the LCCT airport, just check-in
with your e-ticket. So convenient! Go to the CUSS kiosk and key in your flight data
and voila!, you are good to go…
CUSS = Common Used Self Service
LCCT is always packed with people! Day or Night! AirAsia has seriously brought a
revolution in traveling to both Malaysian and foreigners in the region. Just look at
the amount of traffic within LCCT itself and the amount of people flying in and out
everyday! Whoa… I’m gonna start looking for a company to buy at RM 1 and make
it big just like Tony!
Bus Angin -__-
Whenever I’m on the plane, I always try to choose an emergency row seat. Why?
Not because I am a hero and I want to be a champion to open the emergency door
and guide people out to safety. I don’t think I can even open the emergency door. -_-
It is because I have long leg!
The all new spectacular Airbus!
The flight took about 3 hours and in a blink of an eye, I’m at Miri already…
This is gonna be my 3rd time visiting Miri for business. People has been telling me
that I must one day extend my stay and make my way to Gua Mulu!
Is it really really really really really really really nice there??
Immigrants at Immigration…
The airport is freezing cold! Superbly cold at night. Maybe it was because of the rain?
Got transfered to the hotel near my office. Wasted no time I changed and walked to
the nearest shopping complex!
Look old, but don’t let the looks deceive you. They got coffee bean here!
Eventually, I wanted to scout for pajama, for the Nuffnang Pajama Party but it is not
easy to find one for men. Even though I found a few, but they are short in length.
I.M.TALL. Went to scout for food instead… Hungry mah…
Giving McD a run of their money…
I think, they only sign that attracts me to eat at SugarBun was this sign…
Hey.. at least they give you TWO CHOICE instead of ONE!
Balik hotel tidur and next morning woke up and start my long long day…
Mega Hotel view…
Boulevard Hotel view…
Miri is a quite city at night and buzzling city during day time. Not as bad as KL.
Miri can be regarded as an oil capital of East Malaysia. Thanks to Oil & Gas, the
once used to be a small quite town now is a buzzling city…
Their traffic jam is because of traffic light.
One of the government building.
The tallest building in Miri, Yu Lan Plaza
My time in Miri is limited and I only have time for discussion and meetings over
meetings. It is such a short trip and I swear I do not want to take this kind of trip
anymore in future. It is VERY tiring and flying is not fun when you do it frequently.
What a blogger go to do during his free time eh?
Miri airport is not too big, not too small. Just nice. Spacious enough and as a traveler
I’m satisfied with the facilities that they have.
r.e.l.a.x.i.n.g….
During my flight back, I was looking for their in-flight food menu. I can’t find any.
Guess most of the previous passengers took it as their souvenir already. Bah!
I almost mistaken these as their food menu! -__-
Hungry! okay! Dunhill Lights Satu!… batang.. No?
what about Martell satu!… cup.. no?
So they don’t let you smoke nor let you drink one cup of their liquor..
I finally resort to a food that satisfied my cravings with source of protein summore!
No added MSG and Xtra DeliXious summore!
Served hot at 35,000 feet in the sky!!
Don’t pray pray!!!
Oh well… took a short nap and I already arrive Kuala Lumpur…
What a short business trip…
Cantik kan?
AirAsia Free Seats Indeed!!
Jan 10th
I previously challenged and put up a guessed that would AirAsia throw in ONE MONTH
free seat for the Kuala Lumpur – Singapore route.
It proves that I would be right afterall..
Not exactly right but then, at least AirAsia is actually giving out FREE SEATS!
what’s best is that AirAsia is also giving out FREE PACKAGES!!
So.. FREE SEATS ANYONE?? QUICK!!!
A as researched by Zero of digitalzack.blogspot.com shows that AirAsia, even
though they are not giving out free seats, they are offering the best airfare compared
to five other airlines in the region flying the same route. See below..
- Malaysia Airlines
7 times daily with B737-400 (148 passengers)
Fare: RM429 one way - Singapore Airlines
6 times daily with B777-200 (285 passengers)
Fare: RM421 one way - Japan Airlines
Once daily with B767
Fare: RM360 one way - Jetstar Asia Airways
Once daily with A320 (180 passengers)
Fare: RM223 one way - Tiger Airways
Once daily with A320 (180 passengers)
Fare: RM148 one way - AirAsia
Twice daily with A320 (180 passengers)
Fare: RM106 one way
Source: AirAsia beats others on KL-SIN route!
ARE YOU SMILING YET?
Jetstar and Tiger Airways flies KUL-SIN route
Jan 9th
Many sure have been hoping on to the special promotion by Jetstar and Tiger Airways’
for the Kuala Lumpur to Singapore route or vice versa.
Starting 1st February 2008, both Jetstar Asia and Tiger Airways will start plying both these Kuala Lumpur and Singapore route. In July 2007, it was reported by TheStar that three low cost carriers are throwing their interest to ply this ASEAN’s most lucrative route are Air Asia, Singapore’s Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia.
Both the later airlines has already started marketing their promotions vigorously by
throwing their best fare possible to lure this high traffic route of Kuala Lumpur/Singapore.
Now, let’s look at what Jetstar Asia has to offer when on 7th December 2007, they have
reported that rights are granted to mount Kuala Lumpur flights and their marketing:
Yes, I know.. their sale period over already.. on 8th Jan 08
Now, let’s look at what Tiger Airways has to offer then. They are throwing a
SGD $0 fare promotion for this Kuala Lumpur to Singapore route..
Better than Jetstar has to offer!
SGD $0 wor.. O_O
Yes, their promo is still going on!! QUICK GRAB IT WHILE YOU CAN!
I do smell a fish here as both these airlines are limiting their promotional period to
around the same time and they are both flying from 1st Feb till 25th Oct 2008!
I do really think that both Jetstar Asia and Tiger Airways are joining hand-in hand to
give Air Asia a hard time for this KUL-SIN route. NO?
While I am pondering why these two foreign airlines has already started promoting their
shot on this ASEAN’s most lucrative route while Air Asia is just…
just… err..
sitting behind at the comfort of their nice office desk at LCCT
and… ermmmm…
SMILLING AWAY !!
I am guessing that Air Asia is trying to come up with a best strategy to reply both
Jetstar Asia and Tiger Airways. What strategy would you guys think Air Asia will do?
Do I smell a one month FREE SEAT promo? o_O
Come on Air Asia..
You can do better than our neighbour.. It’s time to show who RULES THE GAME!!
or shall I be despair that Air Asia have to bow to them???
But, one month FREE SEAT promo would do us all Malaysian proud !! 
Phuket’s Plane Crash; The Cause?
Sep 17th
A disaster which will haunt budget airlines industry as well as travelers.
Many would want to know what is the real cause of the crash of Flight OG-269.
Families of victims wants an answer. Thailand’s authorities has already started their investigations on the cause of this disastrous accident.
The crash was “probably weather related”, Vutichai Singhamanee, director of the Civil Aviation Authority’s flight standards bureau, said by telephone yesterday. “We don’t know if it was pilot error. We are investigating.”
If that is so, this would be the second deadliest air crash in Thailand’s aviation history
after the 1998 Thai Airways’ incident, an Airbus, also due to weather conditions.
I am very sure this is going to have hit in the travel industry. Especially the budget
travelers. From what the industry people knows, the plane Mc Douglass made is
an old aircraft. It was the aircraft of the 80’s.
I was at Starbucks last night, and I was talking about this and there were two
pilots sitting there. They overheard my conversation with the baristas and said
“Don’t take budget airlines, they are not safe. They use cheap fuels”
“You see, full fledge airlines have 6 wheels, they only have 4 wheels!”
And they were joking all about it. But then again, I would not speculate too much on
how safe is Budget Airlines are and should or should you not take risk in future taking
budget airlines. We have to really look at all parties. From the mother nature to the
company to the pilots themselves.
Oh wells…
Let’s just all pray for the confirmed 88 death in this One Two Go Airline crash.
88 death is confirmed from last news reporting.. 50 or more lay injured in hospitals.
May their souls rest in the peace setting of Phuket’s wonderful sea breeze..
