Some interesting news about AirAsia:

1. They are punctual.
2. They assign a seat to you.

I took several flights in June with them and most of the time the plane
would take off a few minutes ahead of schedule (Surabaya-Johor Bharu
even left 10 minutes early). Only one flight out of the eight I took in
June was delayed (about half an hour).

However, since Malaysian Airlines has reduced their fares, AirAsia is
now on average only 10%-20% cheaper than Malaysian. It is even possible
to spend less with Malaysian Airlines if you book a bit early.
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

I have read mixed opinions about this airline.
Many people complain about frequent delays and sometimes,

even flight
cancellation. When the plane is not full enough, you have to wait for
the next plane!

However, since Malaysian Airlines has reduced their fares, AirAsia is
now on average only 10%-20% cheaper than Malaysian. It is even possible
to spend less with Malaysian Airlines if you book a bit early.

In article <4a62208c.21134906@news.free.fr>, Magnus says...

I have read mixed opinions about this airline.
Many people complain about frequent delays and sometimes,

That is a thing of the past. Of the eight flights I took in June, one
was delayed, the other seven left and arrived early.

even flight
cancellation. When the plane is not full enough, you have to wait for
the next plane!

Never heard anything like that.
--
Because it is obviously nonsense. The opposite has been quite common.

On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:58:58 +0200, Alfred Molon

I have read mixed opinions about this airline.

There are mixed opinions on any object imaginable. For instance there isn't

"Alfred Molon" <alfred_molon@yahoo.com> kirjoitti
viestissä:MPG.24cc565ccd17a4d998c0b2@news.supernews.com...
In article <4a62208c.21134906@news.free.fr>, Magnus says...

I have read mixed opinions about this airline.
Many people complain about frequent delays and sometimes,

That is a thing of the past. Of the eight flights I took in June, one
was delayed, the other seven left and arrived early.

even flight
cancellation. When the plane is not full enough, you have to wait for
the next plane!

Never heard anything like that.
--
Because it is obviously nonsense. The opposite has been quite common.
Nowadays overbooking is sanctioned (at least in the EU region) and this most
vicious practice has become less frequent.

I've also had them cancel a flight
and rebook me on the next one

Alfred Molon wrote in message
news:MPG.24cbbb1ec2bd8e1c98c0b0@news.supernews.com...

However, since Malaysian Airlines has reduced their fares, AirAsia is
now on average only 10%-20% cheaper than Malaysian. It is even possible
to spend less with Malaysian Airlines if you book a bit early.

My wife and I are traveling from PEN to REP through KUL one-way for the
paltry sum of $205 US (two passengers economy class) on December 8th. The
taxes amounted to more than the fare. No complaints here.

rg

"Chris Blunt" <mail@nospam.com> kirjoitti
viestissä:mnn565phr18gukuqn1gp106blpko6ubkcs@4ax.com...
On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:19:11 +0300, "Markku Grönroos"

I'm not sure which of the above posters you think is talking nonsense,
but I think they are both right to a certain extent. I've flown many
times with Air Asia and most of the flights have been on time and
great value for the money. However, I've also had them cancel a flight
and rebook me on the next one, presumably because they found they
could accommodate passengers from both flights on a single aircraft.

They did not pronounce the reason for cancellation? Airlines hardly (must
not?) cancel flights at so short a notice for such a reason.

On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:19:11 +0300, "Markku Grönroos"

I'm not sure which of the above posters you think is talking nonsense,
but I think they are both right to a certain extent. I've flown many
times with Air Asia and most of the flights have been on time and
great value for the money. However, I've also had them cancel a flight
and rebook me on the next one, presumably because they found they
could accommodate passengers from both flights on a single aircraft.

They did not pronounce the reason for cancellation? Airlines hardly (must

In article <mnn565phr18gukuqn1gp106blpko6ubkcs@4ax.com>, Chris Blunt
says...
I've also had them cancel a flight
and rebook me on the next one

That has not yet happened to me and I've been flying with them for
years. The worst that happened was a delay of 2-3 hours (can't remember
exactly) many years ago, but delays seem a thing of the past now.

As for the excellent value, they are now only a bit cheaper than
Malaysian Airlines.

Delays can happen for all kinds of reasons. Weather, congestion at
airports, aircraft technical problems etc. All airlines are affected
by those factors and always have been. Low-cost airlines like Air Asia
are affected most of all because they have tighter turnaround times at
airports to keep their aircraft in the air for a higher proportion of
the time. If an airline schedules only 45 minutes between a flight
arriving and the same aircraft taking off again that leaves less time
to make up for any delays than if you allow a couple of hours between
flights.

That's only because Malaysian Airlines,along with many other carriers,
have cut their fares recently to try to get passengers flying again
during the economic recession. The problems those full-service
carriers have now is those lower fares are not sustainable in the long
term with the business models they have. They will eventually have to
raise their fares again or they'll go bankrupt.

In article <ouk665deipcpf50ph2cb5vsjaaa9licdbm@4ax.com>, Chris Blunt
says...

Delays can happen for all kinds of reasons. Weather, congestion at
airports, aircraft technical problems etc. All airlines are affected
by those factors and always have been. Low-cost airlines like Air Asia
are affected most of all because they have tighter turnaround times at
airports to keep their aircraft in the air for a higher proportion of
the time. If an airline schedules only 45 minutes between a flight
arriving and the same aircraft taking off again that leaves less time
to make up for any delays than if you allow a couple of hours between
flights.

Well, just consider the following. Most European flights by full-service
airlines are delayed, while out of the 8 Airasia flights I took in June
7 were on time or early and just one delayed.

Besides, Airasia starts the checkin procedure around 40 minutes before
the departure, so the planes must have more than just 45 minutes between
flights at the airports.

That's only because Malaysian Airlines,along with many other carriers,
have cut their fares recently to try to get passengers flying again
during the economic recession. The problems those full-service
carriers have now is those lower fares are not sustainable in the long
term with the business models they have. They will eventually have to
raise their fares again or they'll go bankrupt.

You are making some speculations here without having sufficient
information. Malaysian is undertaking measures to cut costs, for
instance by selling more through the web (lower selling costs) and by
reducing salaries. I know this because I read an article in a local
Malaysian newspaper talking about salary reductions at MAS.

By the way, nowadays Airasia is "full service". They are even better
than MAS, because they offer more flights. The only advantage of MAS is
that they use the better terminal (KLIA vs LCCT for Airasia).

The full-service carriers always beat the
low-cost airlines, but there's a price to be paid for that with higher
fares.

Why is that? An airline can start checking-in passengers long before
the arrival of the incoming aircraft. Many times I've checked in and
got to the departure gate only to find the aircraft has not yet
arrived. Just look at the schedules of the different airlines and
you'll see that the budget airlines always have tighter turnaround
times at airports.

Maybe you're misunderstanding the terminology here. A "full-service"
airline normally means one of the more traditionally established
airlines that offer the full range of services such as meals and
drinks included in the fare,

better in-flight service,

more flexible
booking conditions,

more generous baggage allowances etc.

These
airlines are quite different to the low-cost carriers that cut costs
to the bone and offer a basic "just get you there" service.

On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:32:27 +0200, Alfred Molon

Maybe you're misunderstanding the terminology here. A "full-service"
airline normally means one of the more traditionally established
airlines that offer the full range of services such as meals and
drinks included in the fare, better in-flight service, more flexible
booking conditions, more generous baggage allowances etc. These

Naturally it is quite different a task to provide a connection along any

In article <i9j8651gs6bahel969qus3pj54b8chg5rb@4ax.com>, Chris Blunt
says...

The full-service carriers always beat the
low-cost airlines, but there's a price to be paid for that with higher
fares.

That's a bold statement. Do you have any data to back it up? As
explained, this June out of the 8 AirAsia flights I took 7 were on time
or early, just one was delayed.

Air Asia's on-time performance rating for June 2009 was 79%. Its there
on the front page of their web site. That means that less than 8 out
of 10 of their flights were on time.

Chris Blunt wrote in message
news:sfoa65h5i2v1e6fvnreiv8av2mnl6agm1d@4ax.com...

Air Asia's on-time performance rating for June 2009 was 79%. Its there
on the front page of their web site. That means that less than 8 out
of 10 of their flights were on time.

That compares with all reporting US airlines for the period of April 2009
to May 2009 with on time arrival rate of 79.82% at
http://www.transtats.bts.gov/OT_Delay/OT_DelayCause1.asp?pn=1. Pretty much
the I'd say.


rg

Meant to say; "Pretty much the same I'd say."

rg


"Sharkbait" <sharkbait999@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:Ceu9m.453$646.72@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...
Chris Blunt wrote in message
news:sfoa65h5i2v1e6fvnreiv8av2mnl6agm1d@4ax.com...

Air Asia's on-time performance rating for June 2009 was 79%. Its there
on the front page of their web site. That means that less than 8 out
of 10 of their flights were on time.

That compares with all reporting US airlines for the period of April 2009
to May 2009 with on time arrival rate of 79.82% at
http://www.transtats.bts.gov/OT_Delay/OT_DelayCause1.asp?pn=1. Pretty much
the I'd say.