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Craig

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Posts posted by Craig

  2. Posted · Edited by Craig · Report reply

    While it would be great for a sitting US president to visit Malaysia (trivia: the last sitting US President to visit Malaysia was Lyndon Johnson in 1966!), traffic is going to be a nightmare in and out of KL! LA almost always come to a standstill whenever Obama is in town. While many LA residents like and voted for Obama, Angelenos hate it when the president comes to town because of the traffic chaos it will create.

     

     


    Barack Obama surprises Najib with personal call over GE13 victory

     

    This is pretty normal - most foreign leaders make a congratulatory call to a newly elected leader or an incumbent leader who successfully defended his/her seat after an election.

  3. Posted · Report reply

    If BA were to return to KUL, I'd see them doing nonstop instead of a SIN stopover. With MH in OW, there is no way BA can compete with MH's twice daily A380 service with a daily one-stop service via SIN.

     

    Just my 2 cents -- OW premium fliers will fly MH simply because (hypothetically speaking, if BA were to resume flights to KUL via SIN):

    1) It's nonstop

    2) Offer 2 flights a day

    3) Passengers earn miles/points as they'd do on a BA flight.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    I don't believe any US airports separate their props and jets operations. You could have a props only operation due to airport restrictions (runway length, terminal facilities etc.), but to separate them because props cannot operate at a airport is bizarre. Most US carriers have a subsidiary or at least another company operating on their behalf their props operations and *mainly* used for flights under 2 hours.

     

    I understand if MAHB want SZB props only operations due to noise abatement etc. but to forbid props at KUL is strange. Maybe Malindo, Firefly etc. wants to operate props because they can only do so from SZB and they may generate more O&D traffic from there?

  8. Posted · Report reply

    I noticed something in the WOR - it says there is an extra piece baggage or 20kg extra allowed for MH Plat (emerald) travelling on OW carriers - to my knowledge baggage is not a cross carrier OW benefit for elites. I wonder where this came from

    It is now, starting today! :)

     

    http://www.oneworld.com/news-information/oneworldnews/details/?objectID=53802

     

    The fast track benefit is also another addition for OW Emerald members.

  9. Posted · Edited by Craig · Report reply

    Just to share some brainstorming in my head:

     

    - AAdvantage does not have MH as their partner yet and even so, they only have 4 oneworld airlines (out of 12) as partners. I am not sure if AA allows redemption on AA codeshare flights operated by the other non partner airlines or not. Also, I could not find the redemption rate for AA from LON to KUL. It mentioned in their page that I may need to call their Customer Service for non straight forward itinerary, which is a hassle.

    - The Executive Club allows a redemption from LON to KUL using their partner (which might be MH) but the rate they quote is 35,000 miles one way vs. 25,500 miles if I were to do it via Enrich. And I still have to pay all the corresponding taxes and surcharges too. Not good.

    - Redemption via Enrich Online is guaranteed for a last minute ticket. I don't know about AA and BA.

    - If I get a job in the UK and get to travel a lot for it with BA, I think I will be hassled by Enrich's traditional way of miles crediting by partner airlines.

     

    Considering all circumstances, I think it is still best to stick with Enrich for the time being. Hope others who are also a member of AAdvantage or The Executive Club can share their view points on the subject.

     

    AA (or most airlines for that matter) doesn't allow redemption on code-share flights. Most award tickets are booked directly from the operating carrier itself.

     

    AA's EU-East Asia award requirements for one way travel are 32/52.5/70k miles (Y/C/F). No YQ on award other than BA/IB flights. Generous routing rules - up to 125% of the MPM (as long as it's a published fare). You could fly LHR-PEK-HKG-DPS-KUL and it's still way below the MPM although no stopover are allowed other than north American "gateway" cities.

     

    You have to define "last minute" - I have booked and ticketed same day travel using my AA/UA miles on LA and combination of *A before. Maybe like 6-7 hours prior to travel. If the agent sees the space, it's yours. Same goes for BA - I booked and ticketed day before travel, granted that was flying BA using Avios.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I'm due to fly on a UA 787 this coming tuesday ORD-IAH. Part of me wants to change it, part of me still gatal to fly.... how ah? :(

     

    I've been on it for an hour and moved maybe 20m before it was returned back to gate and canceled thereafter (it was already delayed 2 hours to begin with).

     

    I've been on UA and LAN's 787 and UA put the 787 to shame. Their mood lighting is ugly and instead of a grand archway passengers see when they walk in, it's a galley - enough said. The seats are 80s CO-style check fabric and it's the old BusinessFirst (the flat beds) in the C cabin. Nothing spectacular and the entire cabin was "darkened" prior to boarding (US carriers tend to do this all the time - lower the shades before boarding!).

     

    LAN on the other hand has warm mood lighting, modern interior and very inviting.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    United may be the world's biggest airline but it is also one of the worst!

    While I am not a huge fan of the new United (I am a huge fan of the old United - they bend over for their elites, especially 1Ks), I wouldn't consider them as one of the world's worst. One of the worst in a developed country, quite possibly. In the world...far from it. :-)

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Ooh not so stupid from my perspective - there was one fare last time from the USA via IST plus MH code share in J for about 1400 USD. The fare is now 2400 USD (inflasi) - but if they fly their own metal it won't be anywhere near that price (They told me so). Bought a few of those, was definitely the best way home cause stopover allowed in IST also. If they do fly here, i think that fare habis lah.

     

    True - but the problem is you can't earn any miles on IST-KUL sector (on almost all *A programs), making it less attractive to *A fliers.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Wow 90% load factor. If they upgrade 777 cabin up to A380 standard, they will pull customers back from other airlines.

     

    Great....but:

     

    The carrier is relying on travel agents to fill the seats, having already increased passenger numbers by 14% so far this year.

     

    That's not the most lucrative market. But good that they are filling up C cabin as well.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I've flown on their 767 in C before - expect really old school business seats. Recline works "too well" - so much so that you are actually touching the knees of the person sitting behind you. Great food (especially out of ADD when they serve injera) and service is good. They serve more food on a 2.5 hours flight in C (out of ADD only) more than any other airlines I've been on and that says a lot. Their Y class looks decent - comes with PTV as well IIRC.

     

    Imagine having lay-overs in Addis Ababa? Must be freaking awesome!

     

    Been to ADD - not the most interesting city I've been to in Africa. It's very concrete and attractions are few and far apart. It's relatively safe (at least the part that I was staying in) but you'll see police and army patrolling the city with guns similar to AK-47 (I am not familiar with guns at all). Photos of buildings and people are a big no no (I was yelled at for taking pictures of goats crossing the street) and this is especially true for government buildings and residences.

     

    Having that said, I've been told that Ethiopia is an awesome tourist destination with the exception of Addis. People are gorgeous and very friendly. Food is great - probably one of the most delicious African cuisine I have tried so far (love the injeras!).

  18. Posted · Edited by Craig · Report reply

    Wow. I am surprised AF will use a 4-cabin plane to KUL, but great news nonetheless!

     

    AF KUL Summer 2013 Schedule:

    CDG - KUL: 19:40 - 13:50 +1

    KUL - CDG: 23:15 - 06:10 +1

     

    KL KUL Summer 2013 Schedule:

    AMS - KUL - CGK: 20:55 - 15:00 +1 // 16:20 - 17:20

    CGK - KUL - AMS: 18:50 - 21:55 // 23:20 - 06:00 +1

     

    Interesting departure time from CDG - the KUL layover for CDG-CGK is 2.5 hours and the majority of SE Asia departure bank is between 23:00 and 23:59.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    In theory, every additional note to a network give a positive multiplier to the whole network. If MH have extensive network and regular frequency, MH need not depend on ex-KUL pax alone but feed from the whole network like QR, EY, EK, SQ, etc.

     

    True - which is why MH needs to start adding more regional flights (which they are doing) and have at least once a day long-haul flights. Previously, there are way too many destinations that are served 3-4 weekly - if they are going to do it, do it daily.

  20. Posted · Report reply

    If QR/DOH pax profile is similar to EK/DXB, fewer than 20% of pax originating/terminating at DOH/DXB. Implying MH is missing out ex-KUL demand, incapable to cater for ex-KUL pax or both.

     

    MH cannot possibly cater to those ex-KUL passengers especially when more than 80% of those traffic are connecting traffic. If those passengers are connecting to cities in Africa, Europe, Middle East or South America, MH will not be able to justify its own services to those cities hence why EK/QR is able to pick up those traffic from KUL.

     

    This is similar to why BA is struggling on its SYD route because BA have EK, QR, EY, MH, SQ, CX, JL, TG etc. competing for traffic from London/UK to Australia/NZ. All the other airlines serve major cities in Australia while BA can only afford to serve 1 (and if you are going to MEL, it requires a layover in SYD).

  22. Posted · Edited by Craig · Report reply

    Maybe it's the OCD in me, but how do MH assign its flight numbers? Do they just throw darts on the board and see where it lands on?

     

    I saw in the other thread that BKI-HKG flights were increased from 7 to 9 weekly flights and the new flight numbers are MH 426/427, i.e. for Malaysia-HKG flights, you have MH 72, 78, 384, 426.

     

    I know the general assigned international routes/flights numbers are as below:

     

    MH 1-49: Europe

    MH 50 - 99: North-East Asia and USA excluding China

    MH 120-149: Australia

    MH 150 - 199: South Asia and Middle East

    MH 2xx: Unused, but used to be Africa / South America

    MH 350 - 399: China

    MH 4xx: Newly assigned flight numbers

    MH 5xx: Unused

    MH 600 - 650: Singapore

    MH 700 - 899: SE Asia excluding Singapore

     

    And then you have a lot of oddities (when there are a lot of unused numbers within the range), e.g.:

    MH 104: KUL-BLR

    MH 68: BKI-TPE (while KUL-TPE is MH 366 and 408). Most MH 50-99 range are ex-KUL.

    MH 850-865: KUL-DPS/MES - All other Indonesian flights are in the MH 7xx series. KUL-DPS is MH 715, 851, 853!

  24. Posted · Report reply

    I heard the magic date for completion of Oneworld integration is 12/12/12. By then AA & QF (I believe, I'm not sure about QF) will have reciprocal benefits. AY may be at the end of the month, while BA will be early next year.

     

    The magic date for completion of OW integration means MH is fully integrated into OW (it can't be integrated with a few first). Or are you talking about code-share agreement?

     

    If 12/12/12 is indeed the magic date, then from that day onwards, all OW benefits will apply to MH flights and vv (FFP benefits, lounge access [looking forward to my FCL access], interlining etc.).

  25. Posted · Edited by Craig · Report reply

    There were some worries arose during the recent QR's oneworld inception event that the airline will complete its integration with other oneworld partners earlier than MH.

     

    Sources said MH is just 'too slow'.

     

    MH accepted its invitation June 2011 and it's expected to join late 2012 or early 2013 (which is still within the time frame although on the slower side: 12-18 months are the norm). I believe the formal induction date will be announced 7 weeks prior.

     

    But I don't believe QR will be formally inducted into OW before MH. MH will have delay for another year if that's the case.

     

    MH seems to co-operate more with the members elect than the members itself. MH has code-sharing agreements with QR and UL and limited reciprocal FFP benefits with UL. Not even a single OW carrier has reciprocal FFP benefits with MH as of today!

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