Air Asia Rant - Ajarn Forum

LDMA · 22nd January 2008, 16:46

Let me count the ways.

1) No seat allocation. Nok Air can manage it for almost exactly the same price, so I think there is little to do with cutting costs in this, and all about making you feel budget!

2) No queue preference for families with small children. Monks and old folks get a grudging nudge to the front but that's it.

3) Express boarding...pay for the priviledge of not being involved with the crush that is unprecedented on any other airline I've ever been on.

4) No outside food....fuck off, I'm not eating your overpriced tat...I make sure I take something to eat on board from home.

5) Legroom...I realise that I'm not going business class here, but I swear there's a good few inches less legroom than on any other budget airline I've ever been on.

6) Delays delays delays. Air Asia is the single most delayed Airline I have ever used. I have used them 5 times since november and each and every time their flights have been delayed by at least an hour, and last Friday 3 1/2 hours! For our misery we got a free cold Burger King hamburger.

I realise these flights are cheap, but there is a world of difference between the ocst cutting of Nok Air where you barely notice the difference between them and a regular airline, and Air Asia which screams..."We are cheap, and you will suffer!"

aging one · 22nd January 2008, 16:53

Too cheap sometimes. Sadly you get what you pay for. I heard too many horror stories and decided not to buy super cheap international Air Asia tickets last week. If I change my mind I can get close to the quote again. They were 189 Malay Dollars KL/BKK, then you add the taxes and surcharges and they were 1500 each way. They claim 80 plus percent on time factor.

jakestevernson · 22nd January 2008, 18:19

josh_ingu

An excellent reply - very good points.

Jake

LDMA · 22nd January 2008, 18:42

Nah, I don't buy it...not on internal Thailand flights....not when you have Nok Air whose service is night and day from that found on Air Asia.

First of all seat allocation, not only do they have it but you can reserve your seats online.

Secondly, Nok Plus their faux business class. Seats at the front (albeit no better than economy) and you get a free snack...I challenge anyone to find a difference between this and Thai Airways internal flights (discounting the double price of course)

Thirdly, a far better record of punctuality in my experience.

Fourthly (and this is a definite plus if you're just going to BKK), they still use friendly old Don Muang, though slightly annoying if you're transferring out the country.

Fifthly, leg room...marginally more IMHO.

Incidently you can book nok air less than 24 hours before just as you can with Air Asia...

There's no comparing the two....
-----
I would also add that the saving with Air Asia compared to Nok came to 500 baht in Air Asia's favour for three of us.

Nana · 22nd January 2008, 18:47

I have to agree with their claim of being so cheap but afterall they really are not that cheap. As my mother-in-law flew with Nok Air from Bangkok to Phuket, her baggage was really overloaded by about 10 kg and she was charged 120 baht altogether, it should have been a lot more than that but the staff was very helpful.

When it was time to see her off in Surat with Air Asia, she was 6 kg overloaded and she was asked to pay 560 baht. Thier staff was not anywhere near helpful and din't want to compromise in any case. So yes they are low cost and low service.

Well · 23rd January 2008, 00:06

air asia are shit.

anyone really still use them?

i1der · 23rd January 2008, 01:44

I love the train..give me lot of times to reflect on the past and dream, feel for the excitement of the future.

Well · 23rd January 2008, 01:53

i love the train too dang, definitely. sometimes tho, you gotta fly...quite literally!

but i gave up with 'air delaysia'...(geddit kids?

) a long time ago.

MisterStretch · 23rd January 2008, 06:20

I unfortunately have to use Air Asia as it's the only airlines in Thailand that flies from BKK to HDY.

Good point:
- Can walk up and buy a ticket just an hour before the flight, there's always a seat and the price is the same as if you book it weeks ahead of time.

Other good point:
- Some cute air hostesses, but that's it for good points.

Bad points:

- Hardly ever on time. I've been delayed as much as 3.5 hours - no compensation, no "Sorry" on the ground...and then they changed the gate and didn't tell anyone until the last minute. You know how Thais are with having to be first in any line. I'm surprised old people weren't trampled to death.

- Express Boarding. For 150 baht, I'll pay to board first - though I feel like I'm being ripped off.

- No outside food. WTF?!?! I hate the crap they have. I wouldn't eat that if I was very, very hungry.

- No refunds, even if they screw up the reservation. 500 baht for changing a flight.

- No leg room. I'm 1.94 meters...I pay for express boarding so I don't have a medical condition by the time the flights over and grab that exit row aisle.

- You have to pay a tremendous surcharge for carrying sporting equipment, even if its under the weight limit. WTF do I have to pay extra to carry a fishing rod?

- 15kg weight limit. If you are connecting with an international flight that has a limit of 20kg, it seems foolish that I have to pay extra for my 'extra' 5 kg.

I'd surely fly someone else if that were an option, but in the Hat there's only on connection to BKK.

Well · 23rd January 2008, 06:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterStretch

...the only airlines in Thailand that flies from BKK to HDY.

eh?!

i1der · 23rd January 2008, 06:29

They probably use the same airplane flying back and forth between HDY and BKK, so if the first flight in the morning didn't go as scheduled then the

just keeps on rolling down the hill.

MisterStretch · 23rd January 2008, 06:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Well

eh?!

Yeah...you can fly Nok to Don Muang but only Air Asia fly to the new airport (BKK) from Hat Yai (HDY).

Well · 23rd January 2008, 06:36

ah i got ya...thanks for the clarification. i been a way a while!

i1der · 23rd January 2008, 06:37

One Two Go, NokAir and Thai do have BKK-HDY on their many scheduled routes, Air Asia is the one that fly in and out from the new, Suvanaphum Airport.

MisterStretch · 23rd January 2008, 06:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by i1der

One Two Go, NokAir and Thai do have BKK-HDY on their many scheduled routes

From BKK - Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bankgok) the ONLY low-cost carrier is Air Asia. I just checked 1-2-Go and Nok (though as a Hat Yai resident I've know this for a while)...they only go to Don Meung, not Suvarnabhumi.

Thai Air, being so much more expensive wouldn't really be an option unless I was connecting on them, but their website lists the destinations but can't find a flight. So, it's still Air Asia, I'm afraid.

My Hat Yai travel agent says that Air Asia is the ONLY carrier from HDY to BKK.