Young Taiwanese tourists stranded at

[Pieter C. 5]

"DAILY EXPRESS NEWS

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MAS waives RM300 fee for Taiwanese

Kota Kinabalu: Twenty-eight of the 47 Taiwanese tourists stranded at Terminal 2 of the KK International Airport on Tuesday managed to catch a MAS flight to Kaoshiung at 3.25pm Wednesday.

 

The rest would be going home Thursday also by a MAS flight scheduled to depart at the same time.

 

The tourists, mostly teenagers, missed their connecting flight to Kaoshiung on Tuesday after their AirAsia flight from Miri, where they had been holidaying, arrived here late by two-and-a-half hours.

 

But instead of paying RM300 in cancellation fees for missing the flight earlier, they only had to pay Taiwan dollars NT600 or RM68 per person as processing fee.

 

Since they had used up all their money during their two-week holiday in Miri, freelance travel agent, Lau Ing Hing, said he had to use his credit card to meet the RM3,196 in processing fees.

 

In addition, Lau also had to arrange for the bus operator to ferry the tourists to his home at Kg Manggis in Papar and back to the airport.

 

"The children's parents promised they will reimburse the money but what if they don't keep their end of the promise?"

 

Lau said may write to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy to highlight the problem they had experienced with AirAsia.

 

He said the low-cost carrier should bear responsibility since it was their fault that the Taiwanese tourists were stranded at the airport.

 

Lau said if not rectified, such slip-ups would be detrimental to tourism in Sabah, especially when the State Government is aiming to attract more than two million visitors this year.

 

Lau's colleague, Ng Lee Mai said she felt relieved now that the tourists are finally going home.

 

"I am happy that everything has been settled but I hope (this would be a good lesson) on the part of the airlines because in problems like this, the victims are the tourists," she said.

 

The tourists were scheduled to arrive at the terminal in Tanjung Aru at 1.05pm on AirAsia flight AK5814 from Miri, Tuesday.

 

However, they only landed at about 3.40pm and by the time they managed to retrieve their baggage, flight MH86 had already left.

 

It was learnt that the MAS flight from Kota Kinabalu to Kaoshiung waited for half an hour for the Taiwanese tourists and departed only at 4pm.

Initially, Ng said the tourists were about to camp out at the airport until Thursday "but that would be bad for our tourism."

 

Lau, subsequently took them to his home at Kg Manggis in Papar but, given the lack of space there, some had to stay with another friend in Kawang.

 

"I really pitied them because most of them are quite youngÉseveral of them actually cried for their parents.

 

"They also suffered from mosquito bites after one night's sleep in the village," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Andrea, the person-in-charge for AirAsia's East Malaysia public relations said the carrier would be issuing a statement concerning the matter today (Thursday).

 

She said that AirAsia could not come up with a statement on Wednesday because they have to determine the cause of the delay from Miri as well as other factors. "

 

 

Apparently, no good coordination between AK/FAX and MH...

Why not wait for another 30-45 minutes and get these 28 passengers on board ???

 

[Seng Lim 0]

Whenever you fly with AK, you have to pray hard there won't be any delay.

 

I would definitely opted for the morning flight AK5812 depart Miri at 0755, arrive BKI on 0825 if I want to make these kind of connection (2 different airlines!).

 

Person who book and decide on the AK afternoon Miri - BKI flight should bear part of the responsibilities on the whole chaos.

 

If MAS keep waiting for this group of people to board the aircraft, it would be really unfair for those who already board the plane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BC Tam 2]

Agree with Seng Lim - whoever did the booking should bear some responsibility, for the very fine margin of error incorporated into the itinerary.

 

Eta 13:05, etd 15:25; affording 2:20 transfer time at best. Take into consideration minimum check in time is 0:45 prior etd. Also allow for aircraft to taxi, park after landing, say 0:10 Then perhaps another 0:45 for disembarkation and luggage claim, not forgetting there is immigration clearance required at BKI. Journey from T2 to T1 would be about 0:15, assuming one does not get tangled up at Tg Aru roundabout. Leaves a margin of 25 minutes under near ideal conditions, a very tight schedule indeed.

 

But it's still good to know the kids were looked after and AK and MH did make a joint effort to try resolve the incident. Hopefully they're safely back home now.

[Sherman 0]

IMO, those Taiwanese don really know that the style of AK, always delay delay and delay... last time, about two years ago, when my family and i should onboard an afternoon flight to KLIA from KK, the original departure time should be before 4pm, then around 1pm, we got a sms from AirAsia that the flight had been delay till 6. then when we check-in at T2, the lady told us that the flight delay till 10pm. wtf...... then the end of delay... the delay not only effect us, but also effect our cousin, who drive all the way from Ipoh to KLIA to fetch us...

Edited August 12, 2006 by Sherman

[Seng Lim 0]

The rule of thumb to increase the chances of having 'On-Time' AirAsia flight is to take their 1st morning flights.

If you are taking their afternoon and night flights, the chances is being 'Re-Timed' by AK is much greater compare to morning flights.

[Sherman 0]

The rule of thumb to increase the chances of having 'On-Time' AirAsia flight is to take their 1st morning flights.

If you are taking their afternoon and night flights, the chances is being 'Re-Timed' by AK is much greater compare to morning flights.

 

any reason that afternoon and night flight got greater chance of re-time?

[Samsyuri 0]

Any news regarding the actual cause of the delay? is it 733 or 320??

[Seng Lim 0]

any reason that afternoon and night flight got greater chance of re-time?

 

In most cases the plane already waiting on the tarmac for the 1st morning flights.

Afternoon and night flights will have greater chance of delays due to the snowball effect.

 

[Sherman 0]

In most cases the plane already waiting on the tarmac for the 1st morning flights.

Afternoon and night flights will have greater chance of delays due to the snowball effect.

 

ic... thanks for ur explanation...

[Seth K 3]

I do wonder what upgrade means when you only run a single class aircraft... hmmm....

Well, they don't operate single class anymore, so the ad pretty much true. If MH still operate single class, the upgrade will be to the cockpit

[Radzi 2]

Those Taiwanese should check-in at BKI T1 at a certain time. What they do before that is of no concern to the airline. It is fine for MH to delay the flight for half an hour, but it is very unfair for the 100+ that check-in on time.

 

One more thing, if MH86 is delayed by more than an hour, MH 87 ex-KHH the next day will have to be delayed as well. This is due to crew rest time limitation that states that crew must have a minimum of 12 hours rest between flights. For info, MH 87 KHH-BKI-KUL is operated by the same crew that operate MH86 KUL-BKI-KHH the day before.

[Gavin Andrew David 6]

You guys heard the ad on the radio ?

 

Why you should fly malaysia airlines in 40 seconds

And it addresses alot

[Seng Lim 0]

Saw the same ads on TV and newspapers too. Simple and Nice, especially the 3 MAS girls at the end of the ads (TV).

[Pieter C. 5]

This is due to crew rest time limitation that states that crew must have a minimum of 12 hours rest between flights. For info, MH 87 KHH-BKI-KUL is operated by the same crew that operate MH86 KUL-BKI-KHH the day before.

 

IMHO, captain, you work for an excellent airline, WRR-wise: min. rest at my airline is 11.5 hours which can be reduced to 8.5 hours, however, the reduction of the previous rest has to be added to the next

 

(11.5-3=8.5; next rest 11.5+3-14.5)

 

[Sherman 0]

You guys heard the ad on the radio ?

 

Why you should fly malaysia airlines in 40 seconds

And it addresses alot

 

r u sure? the ad of MAS at MyFm mention is 30 second.

[Pieter C. 5]

Some more KK Terminal 2 news:

 

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS

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Measures to ease the congestion at terminal

Kota Kinabalu: Steps are being taken to ease congestion at the departure hall due to ongoing upgrading works at Terminal Two in Tanjung Aru.

 

Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said the move was an immediate measure to address the congestion resulting from heavy passenger volume at the terminal.

 

"The two retail outlets and AirAsia service centre will be relocated to make room for more passengers to wait (for their flights)," said Chong after his second inspection this week to monitor work progress.

 

He was accompanied by Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Monica Chia, Sabah Tourism Chairman Tengku Datuk A.Z Adlin and Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Datuk Seri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid.

 

The capacity at the departure hall has already been improved from 140 to 410 seats.

 

"The only other pressing problem is the check-in counter and the MAB has agreed to expand the area," he said.

 

The upgrading package at Terminal Two covers the parallel taxiway, extension of runway, new control tower and new Department of Civil Aviation building.

 

Simultaneous refurbishment and extension works are being carried out at Terminal One. Completion is scheduled for April 2009.