Looking to travel cheaply within key parts of Southeast Asia? One budget airline that has fast become a popular choice is Air Asia, which serves Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, even China on ocassion. Air Asia is worth a look if you’re hoping to cut costs for your trip. But remember: like all budget airlines, there’s usually a reason these costs can be cut!
Mind you, by no means is Air Asia a terrible airline (unlike some). In fact, there’s a reason it’s vastly preferred by the locals. So long as you know what you’re getting into, it can actually be a good choice if your schedule is flexible and your budget limited. Below is a quick pro-and-con sheet on flying Air Asia. Read on, and deduce from it whether you prefer the comforts of a major airline, or if maybe this budget airline might be right for you.
Pro: Ticketless flights
Air Asia is the first Asian airline to fly ticketless, i.e. e-tickets. Now, while this way of flying may not be news to those who frequently travel in the US and Europe, it was a new concept when first introduced in Asia. Most Asian airlines still insist on using traditional plane tickets, which means that when you purchase your flight, you often have to pay an extra fee for them to mail your tickets to you via courier. Air Asia allows you to book online, and all you have to do is show up at the check-in counter with your identification documents.
Of course, be aware that your boarding pass is going to look like a grocery store receipt. Hey, it’s how they cut costs. So make sure you keep your boarding pass in a safe place and don’t accidentally discard it, which can easily happen!
Also, the first half of your boarding pass will be collected by hand — no computer scans involved — so be sure you’re on the right flight. A woman had to quickly disembark from our plane after finding out she was headed the wrong way. It was a good thing we hadn’t taken off yet, or she would’ve had quite a surprise in mid-air!
Con: Free seating
This is a con if you’re very particular on seating arrangements. Passengers aren’t assigned a seat, so it’s first come, first served. Or rather, whoever’s first in line and first into the plane gets to choose his or her seat.
This is precisely the reason why, the minute an Air Asia crew member so much as steps forward at the departure gate, everyone rushes to line up at the gate doors. You have to be quick on your feet if you want to get your pick. So if you’re determined to get an aisle seat, hussle forth!
There is, of course, priority boarding for senior citizens or families with young children. This isn’t always clearly announced, however, so prick your ears. They will either ask that these priority boarders enter from the left side of two lines, or to nudge their way to the front in order to go through. Pay attention, because if you join the priority boarding line by mistake, they will politely ask you to return to the regular line, which can mean going to the back of a long line.
Pro/con: Open-air boarding
Another way Air Asia cuts cost is by having open-air boarding. This means the old-fashioned way of leaving the airport terminal building and heading out into the open for your plane. If you don’t have a wheeled carry-on, be sure you’re capable of carrying it up the stairs onto the plane. You can board from either end of the aircraft, so if you prefer seats in the rear, head for the second set of stairs.
Note: These are Southeast Asian countries we’re talking about, which means (1) hot and (2) humid. So when you think of this open-air boarding, remember it’s going to be that same temperature inside the plane when you get in. You might find yourself sticking to the PVC seats on a hot day. There is no air-conditioner running, and air circulation is barely there. You’re basically stepping into a stuffy tin can, which becomes a bit more tolerable when you finally take off, but not a moment before.
You might also find a few stowaways flitting about the plane — and by stowaways, I mean flies. Yes, they get to ride for free. All part of the package!
Con: Delays and cancellations
Air Asia is quite known for frequent flight delays, and it doesn’t always inform you of the flight status, either. If you’re fortunate, you might be clued in by the attendant behind the counter when first checking in. You certainly won’t be told when you’re waiting in the departure area, that’s for sure, and there’s often nobody there whom you can ask.
If you’re lucky, you could end up on time. Otherwise, you could find yourself waiting for more than an hour without a word from the crew. So make sure your travel plans are flexible, and allocate plenty of leeway for your arrival time to be on the safe side.
Based on the points above, you can judge for yourself whether Air Asia is ideal for your next backpacking trip, or if you’d rather pay a little more for comfort. Either way, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.
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