Air Asia - Now everyone gets delayed...

[kotontech]

We are big fan of Air Asia but of late (the past year) the afternoon and night flights seems to be getting delayed longer and longer. A lot of my friends experienced the same problem.

We just flew back with AirAsia from Clark Airbase and the flight was delayed for two hours (after we were all checked in with the big 'On Time' sign at the check in counter) and we were only informed via the intercom one hour before dep claiming it was due to 'technical problem'.

With nothing much to do we started talking with the airport staff and we were told Air Asia flight departing from Clark always arrive late and hence it's common to be delayed for few hours, one for 5 hours!

Once onboard I chance upon the pilot and struck a conversation and casually asked him why the delay and he promptly answered 'technical problems'. When I told him what I heard at the airport only then he confided it's a perpectual problem due to the frequent delays in take-offs and landings over the course of the day and as it get later the delays get accumulated. Hence, most afternoon and night flights are delayed. Looks like the new airbuses will not be much of a help unless flights are better timed. Looks like Tony is strectching it.

What say you guys?

[patrick]

I just got back from Thailand and Xiamen, China. There was hardly any delay for all our flights, except for the flight from Xiamen to Bangkok. Even then, the delay wasnt very long. Lucky me!

Come to think of it. I have flown AA very often and I have hardly ever been delayed except once from KL to Penang but that was due to bad weather. But at least AA sent me an sms to inform of the delay, but I was already at the airport as I had gone there very, very early.

[CS Chua]

I use AA frequently and I have been delayed twice only. Once the toilet would not flushed and the second time, the air-con did not work (you can spend the time talking to the staff and get information otherwise they will not tell why.)

I can bear with these occassional inconveniences as I saved heaps of money which would have gone to MAS. A tip for passengers of delayed flights: Always sit at the back because the food runs out by the time the food trolley reaches the middle of the plane. Everybody is so hungry they started to buy food which they usually do not. Nasi lemak always get sold finished first.

[USJ27Resident]

We are big fan of Air Asia but of late (the past year) the afternoon and night flights seems to be getting delayed longer and longer. A lot of my friends experienced the same problem.

What say you guys?

Complain and gripe all you want about the delays - but let me tell you something about flying, if the delay is technical/mechanical - the airline can take ALL the freaking time in the world to get it fixed. One simple reason... rush the problem through because of complaining passengers, and the airlines will probably end up with one less aircraft in their fleet... its not like you can get a FLY-BY fix-it

I for one, wouldn't want to be part of the landscape/seascape before my time...

Sheeeeesh! Malaysian (Passengers).... all the same. On a bus, train, taxi, trishaw, perahu, sampan, LRT, Kommuter, kereta sapu, helicopter and oh yes... almost forgot... (where you get/find, the mother of all complaints).. in the aircr@ft!

[wAISEKMAo]

I just got back from Thailand and Xiamen, China. There was hardly any delay for all our flights, except for the flight from Xiamen to Bangkok. Even then, the delay wasnt very long. Lucky me!

Come to think of it. I have flown AA very often and I have hardly ever been delayed except once from KL to Penang but that was due to bad weather. But at least AA sent me an sms to inform of the delay, but I was already at the airport as I had gone there very, very early.

Patrick,
I decide to try KL - BKK, BKK - xiamen via airasia and another xiamen - zhejiang. The price is about half what i am expect to pay if i am to use conventional airlines, do you think it worth a try?

[chsum]

CSChua

Once the toilet would not flushed and the second time, the air-con did not work

I also encounter the same delay problem on the way back from Bali, we boarded the plane n they say the aircond don't work, I wonder if they r telling the true, well, it's better then telling u that there is a fuel leak in the engine or the right engine is loose .

It's time for AA to upgrage the planes & give the planes longer turn around period so that it won' get delayed instead of reaping the profit now n end up loosing a few planes & lives in crashes.

[achee]

I needed to fly off to Jakarta last Thursday. Checked th AA rate, and return fare was a whooping RM600+ (last minute booking meh.... ). MH was RM900+

I was recommended by a friend to check KLM, and guess what, I paid only RM308.00 for a return flight. Flight didn't delay, only a 15min hiccup due to airport runaway traffic, ada choice of food (vegetarian, moslem, kosher, diabetic bla-bla), air-cond on board works, ada movie, I was not sure whether the toilet flushed well or not bcoz I didn't make a visit there... and what else..??? Overall I felt it was a steal.

And to forumers, check KLM when you have to make a trip to Jakarta.

Disclaimer ..... I am no representative of any carriers.

[slappy]

Yup, KLM has always been cheap on the KL-Jakarta flight. Can say for the flight routes though. You can also book and pay online on KLM.

Disclaimer: Oso not a KLM promoter.

[kokomo]

Well, I hope my morning flight to Kuala Terengganu won't be delayed. Can't wait to get myself into Redang for a good swim.

But their check-in time are really terrible'lah ... have to check in by 5.15am but flight starts only bout 7.15am. So blardy early man.

[alexhay]

dont forget, they need time to load your luggage to the plane...and also to ensure the safety of the luggage so that something will be missing from it...opss..did I say something...hmmm...sorry typo error...should be 'nothing' will be missing...

[SunwayKid]

Prior to the arrival of Air Asia, if a bolehlander wants to experience the sensation of cheap flight for $9.99 (that’s the price to bribe the guard to allow you to go up the elevator), he would need to hurl himself from the 44th floor of Petronas twins’ tower and enjoy the feeling until he hit the ground and died. And yet, some claimed this could still be more enjoyable than flying Air Asia.

Air Asia, is by far the world’s cheapest airline, and the word cheapest is not necessarily restricted to just the price of the fare. One must relate the word “cheapest” in every possible sense – you need to be the bravest of people to enter the cubicles in their planes as the only freshener they used is made from humans. Or the strongest of customers to bear the longest delay, without any food or water – unless you are willing to splurge on airport cuisine. You want cheap, so the service also must be cheap. That is how the airline makes the something called profit.

One must surely marvel at the conveniences that Air Asia has given ordinary bolehlanders who no longer needs to go up the twin towers to experience flight. For the privilege of traveling great distances for so little ringgit, isn’t it worth a few mild discomforts.

[AllUrban]

In many cases, AA being delayed has actually worked to my advantage.

I can spend more time at the airport areas, enter the lounge and gate much later.

This weekend I came back from Macau/Hong Kong, had to get to the ferry terminal by 6pm to pick up luggage, then make it to the airport by 630 for a 7:25 pm flight.......

but there was a protest in the city, no taxis, GF and I had to run from the middle of the city out to the casino area to catch a cab...like we were contestants in the Amazing Race

We picked up a cab at 6:15, go to the ferry terminal, picked up our luggage, and rushed to the airport, arriving at 6:40

Arrive breathless at the counter, get in and run to the gate, look at the board...and see that the flight is delayed

I told GF that I had anticipated it, and I was running for the exercise

I dont think she believed me but I maintain that it was all planned.

Cheers, m

[PJS]

Once onboard I chance upon the pilot and struck a conversation and casually asked him why the delay and he promptly answered 'technical problems'. When I told him what I heard at the airport only then he confided it's a perpectual problem due to the frequent delays in take-offs and landings over the course of the day and as it get later the delays get accumulated. Hence, most afternoon and night flights are delayed. Looks like the new airbuses will not be much of a help unless flights are better timed. Looks like Tony is strectching it.

What say you guys?

I too say AA has cut their schedule very tight to allow for any gaps in between to recover from their previous flights' delays.

Same thing happens to other domestic or budget airlines in many other countries where turnaround time at each airport is cut to the minimum to allow for more schedule flights in a day for a particular airplane. That is the strategy to maximize flight time, minimise downtime, with maximised returns.

We just hv to be prepared and be flexible in our scheduling if we want to take advantage of budget airfares.

One can just hope the quality of maintenance is top notch for the short time a plane is on the ground. And why should they not be? If I recall correctly, they contracted General Electric the engine supplier itself to perform all their maintenance, right?

[kokomo]

Recently, a friend of mine went to Cambodia .. took AA, so once they touchdown there, they were actually lookin' high and low of their luggage but then to no avail. Check with them over there, it seems that they forgot to sent their luggage over

Now this is my main concern that it could sent my luggage to somewhere else or did not sent to me at all. Let's just hope and pray that such incident won't occured on me.

[evelynlim]

Well, I hope my morning flight to Kuala Terengganu won't be delayed. Can't wait to get myself into Redang for a good swim.

But their check-in time are really terrible'lah ... have to check in by 5.15am but flight starts only bout 7.15am. So blardy early man.

Kokomo, why do you need to check in so early? So long as you check in 45 minutes before boarding time and be at the boarding gate 30 minutes before boarding is acceptable as mentioned in their email when they have confirmed your booking. Happy holidays to you