Seng Lim

All these restriction is caused by all those crazy terrorist, as long as there are out there, there's no reason to expect these kind of additional security restriction will be lifted. Would be grateful if they (terrorists) didn't come out with any new genius ideas and create more security restrictions.

Cut-price airlines landing like flies Scott Rochfort and Nadia Jamal May 18, 2007 ASIA'S largest low-cost carrier, AirAsia, has issued the biggest challenge to Jetstar's international operations to date, announcing plans to gazump the Qantas offshoot by becoming the first budget carrier to operate between Australia and Malaysia. AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes said yesterday his airline's new long-haul offshoot - AirAsiaX - planned to commence services on September 8, either to Adelaide or to Melbourne's Avalon Airport. This will be one day before Jetstar is due to commence flights from Sydney to AirAsia's base of Kuala Lumpur. It is expected AirAsia would then offer passengers the opportunity to fly on to its short-haul destinations throughout Asia. Mr Fernandes predicted his airline would offer MYR (ringgits) 800 ($285) return fares from Australia to Kuala Lumpur on a sustained basis, easily undercutting the $990 return fares offered on the Jetstar website yesterday. But given the expense of landing and parking aircraft at Sydney, Mr Fernandes said it was unlikely AirAsiaX would fly to Australia's largest airport any time soon. "I would want to go to Newcastle before Sydney," Mr Fernandes told the Herald. Mr Fernandes said AirAsiaX's aim to offer cheaper fares would be aided by its plans to fly to airports (or terminals) with lower costs. Avalon's landing fees are negligible compared to Melbourne Tullamarine's and, unlike Jetstar, AirAsia will use the cheaper low-cost terminal in Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia's plans come on top of Viva Macau's confirmation this week that it planned to become the first Asian low-cost carrier to fly to Sydney this July. Singapore's Tiger Airways, which plans to start domestic flights out of Melbourne this year, already has international flights into Perth and Darwin. Avalon Airport boss Tim Anderson said he had talked to AirAsia. "We're considering all of the options at the moment," he said. "They are complex, but we do believe that we will be able to provide all the facilities and services necessary for international activity." Jetstar declined to rule out using Avalon for international flights in future. Meanwhile, the Australian and International Pilots Association launched a campaign to pressure the Qantas "to commit to maintaining a world class airline and ensuring that its low-cost operation - Jetstar - does not threaten the Qantas Group's international reputation". http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/cutprice...8995366002.html

Although in AK pre takes off announcement they said 'outside food & drinks is strictly not allowed', well I can see they wasn't really strict on that and you can always enjoy your own meal as long as you know how to do it right. On my recent flight from Macau to KL sitting in front is a group malaysian uncles and aunties (tour members) having their own feast (passing around paos -- obviously took from the morning hotel buffet breakfast) when cabin crew is having their break in the galley after the meal service. None of the crew member interfere with any of those uncles and auntie, they just keep their eyes shut and busy with their chit chat. By the time cabin crew start the merchandise sale of course the meal party already over. I think the strategy of having your own snack when cabin crew is having their break in galley is a smart and good strategy (if you really want to have your own meal only of course), however it's only applicable for those routes with longer flying time.

1 level only (the level that is full with branded boutique), toilets on other levels still FOC including toilets inside Isetan.

AK still has some catch up to do in terms of squeezing money from customers in comparison with Tiger Airways: S$5 for 'Standard Seat' & S$25 for 'Preferred Seat' (per sector), that's more advance than AK, interested? Oversized sport equipment at S$25 per sector. Special discount rate of S$25 for extra 5kg (per sector), interested? (warning - no refund for any unused weight) Note : Exchange Rate S$1.00 = RM2.30

AK had sent out the emails for all it's member on today on their Xpress Boarding service. Here's some of the important notes in their flyer: 1. Say 'YES' to Xpress Boarding when you purchase your flights online at www.airasia.com; all AirAsia sales offices, call centres and airport sales counters. 2. Pay a special introductory fee. (refer to RM20 for Malaysian) 3. Be at the boarding gate at least 30 minutes before 4. If you take up Xpress Boarding, you will not be able to use the Web Check-in service Doesn't like the idea where you can only choose either Xpress Boarding or Web check-in, not both.

Effective 21 May 2007, KLIA will kick start the liquid security measures, full details available at: http://www.klia.com.my/?tpl_id=310/

Another Asmara Air in the making.............

Originate from LCCT only.

Just took the MFM-KUL flight on last month, colour code bording not in practice.

Well they could use small single aisle aircraft with fuel stops all the way to Saudi Arabia.

I have the same feeling too. If TF want to get respond from the public, why don't he just do it over airasia.com? Just couldn't figure out why he opted to do the feedback survey from yahoo. Most likely it's fake in my opinion.

Mas-Be is actually Malaysia Beijing Travel Service (travel agent in KL) who provide the chartered air service between KUL & China. http://www.mas-beairlines.com/ListProduct.asp?Subject=Home http://www.mbts.com.my/mbts/

Those who are smart enough already grabbed the 500K FREE Seats promo by AirAsia a week earlier between 18 to 20 of April. While for MAS can basically forget about them based on the fare they offered.

I don't care, don't know and not interested to find out what they are doing behind our back, who is the snakes and how many snakes are there. The fact is because of AK everyone can fly with cheap fares and with those 1 millions/500k Free seats they are making lots of people (especially Malaysian) happy.

Bcos AK outperform MH in every way, the whole AK things has been a real phenomena and being the largest LCC in Asia they are the pride of our nation.

AK has created the AirAsia Long Haul page on it's website: http://www.airasia.com/site/en/page.jsp?reference=aax

I guess they will share the same website with airasia.com since they have dropped the 'X'. Details on the destinations will only be announce in 6 weeks time thus booking won't be open any earlier than that.

Price is the only thing that really matters, having technical stop is just like doing transit in Changi/BKK, no big deal.

Article and pictures of the GAMCO hanger fire. Apparently the fire started from QR A300 cabin. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/...ire-at-abu.html

Full details on AirAsia Web check in has been published on it's website : http://www.airasia.com/site/en/page.jsp?re...e=ancwebcheckin web check-in Enjoy a hassle free check in anytime*, anywhere from your computer. From 23 April 2007, you can check in online when you: • travel within Malaysia (Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah & Sarawak) • has no check-in baggage and carry only 1 hand baggage (does not exceed the dimensions of 56cm X 36cm X 23cm and does not weigh more than 7kg) • do not carry risk item / dangerous goods. • are not any of the following guest(s): - Expectant mothers. - Guest(s) travelling with Infant(s) less than 8 days old. - Guest(s) that require Special Assistance/Requirements. - Guest(s) travelling alone below 16 years old. All you need to do: • Have your booking detail (booking number, destination & date) ready. • Get the printed ready and connected to print out the boarding pass. • Check in within 6 hours prior and up to 2 hours before Scheduled Time of Departure (STD). Note: *You can only check-in 6 hours prior and up to 2 hours before Scheduled Time of Departure (STD)

Agreed with Rozhan the offers wasn't appealing at all. The 500K seats make them looks like respond to AK 500K free seats promotions just ended on last Fri but what they so call the super deals just so so only.

Some important abstract from the official announcement on today: April 23 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SAS, the world's biggest maker of commercial aircraft, won a 15-plane order worth as much as $2.63 billion from a Malaysian long-haul budget carrier and may supply the airline with more aircraft. Fly Asian will lease between one and three A330s for its initial flights until the first purchased plane is delivered in September 2008, Fernandes said. The aircraft wasn't available any time sooner, he said. The airline may fly to as many as five cities with its leased aircraft, Fernandes said, declining to be specific. The destinations are likely to include China, India, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and Japan, he said. In the U.K., Fly Asian will serve either Manchester or Stansted, outside London, he said. ``We're in the process of finalizing the destinations,'' Fernandes said. Fly Asia had planned to use the AirAsia X brand for its long-haul flights, though will now drop the `X,' Fernandes said. Full article available at: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=new...id=aQ2VeRabepZU

According to their official press release, KUL wasn't in the axed list. http://www.gulfairco.com/press/newsEnglish...&newsid=755 "We will stop operating to our heavily loss-making long-haul services to Dublin, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Sydney and Singapore.