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FLIGHT REVIEW: AirAsia – Sydney to Male

Flying AirAsia you need to remember it is a low-cost carrier, but the ‘you get what you pay’ process is actually a good thing.

If you only want to get from A to B without all the bells and whistles, then why should you pay for that? AirAsia offers just that, buy the flight and then add on your extras like seat choice, meals, entertainment on-board and more.

Its main hub is klia2, the low-cost carrier terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Kate Webster recently flew to Male with Air Asia. Here is the verdict.


Flight: D7221 – Sydney (SYD) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | AK 74 Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Male (MLE)

Aircraft:  A330-300 | A320

Class: Economy Class – Quiet Zone

Configuration: 3-3-3

Duration: 8h 40m | 4h 25m


CHECK IN

AirAsia allows an online check-in on flights 14 days before departure to 1 hour before scheduled time of departure. AirAsia X flights allows online check-in on flights 14 days to 4 hours before scheduled time of departure. Alternatively, international flight guests can check-in at the airport 3 hours prior to departure with check-in closing 1 hour prior to departure. These are strict times so do adhere to them or you will risk missing your flight. I opted for the check-in at the airport. The staff at check in at both Sydney and Kuala Lumpur airport were friendly and welcoming which is always a nice way to start your journey.

FREQUENT FLYER: You can join for free to become a BIG Member with AirAsia. This means you can pre-save your card details for faster one-click payment with BigPay Checkout, get instant member discount on flights, pay for your flights & add-ons with BIG Points for further savings, get 24-hour members-only priority access to sales, manage your upcoming flights & pre-book addons with MyBookings, get exclusive access to monthly sales and accrue points to be able to access full flight redemption for free flights. It is free to join so why not. You can join here prior to travel – https://www.airasia.com/member/

BAGGAGE:  The limitations on your baggage allowance is determined by the fare you purchase.  Ticket holders (except infants) are allowed to carry on board 2 pieces of cabin baggage which must not exceed the dimensions of 56cm (H) X 36cm (W) X 23cm (D). This can include a laptop bag or handbag. Both pieces must not exceed 7kg combined weight. If you need more baggage allowance than this, you can purchase this at the time of booking your airfare. Prices vary but you can get an idea by visiting https://www.airasia.com/my/en/our-fares/fees-and-charges.page. The good news is, surfers are now entitled to take 1 x 15kg surfboard free of charge under the Free Surfboard Policy.

THE SEAT

I was pleasantly surprised to find the plane was new and not fully booked up which allowed room to spread out. I was lucky enough to have a window seat and a spare seat beside me to stretch out and have a comfortable flight. AirAsia have a choice when it comes to seating, all of which can be pre-paid at time of booking.  Standard Seats have a pitch of at least 31inches and width of at least 16 inches. Hot Seats offer at least 17.5inches of legroom so you will have more than enough space to stretch out, as well as offering boarding first. For those travellers who seek a little peace and quiet, there is the Quiet Zone seats. These offer minimal noise with no disturbances, no kids below 10, soft ambient lighting and your meals will be served faster. Then of course is the Premium Flatbed Seats with a 59inch pitch and 19inch wide seat, located in the Premium Flatbed cabin, which converts to a full flatbed when desired, as well as other features that ensure your utmost comfort on board.

Check out the cabin virtually here.

INFLIGHT

MEALS: Meals and meal/drink packages can be purchased at time of booking or through the website at least 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure. If you miss both of these opportunities and decide in-flight that you are hungry, you can purchase meals and drinks at a higher price. There is so much to choose from for these meals, it is impossible to list. You can view the latest menu here. I purchased my meal on board as after I smelt everyone else with their meals, I got hungry. I chose the Chicken Teriyaki with rice which was actually quite tasty and filled me up.

ENTERTAINMENT: Once again, if you want to access the inflight entertainment this is a paid add on. For MYR49 pre-booked or MYR59 onboard purchase, you can access hours of movies, TV series, music, games, and magazines on the Xcite Tab. Pre-loaded with high definition content and approximately six (6) hours of battery life, Xcite Tab offers a seamless viewing experience from the comfort of your seat. Being the savvy traveller I am, I took my own tablet loaded with movies and a book to read, which kept me occupied.

THE VERDICT: The overall experience with AirAsia was a pleasant one. I could not fault the service and on-board offering. You have to keep in mind that it is a Low Cost Carrier so you pay for what you want/need. If you can fork out the money for the Hot Seats or Quiet Zone, definitely do it as it is worth it. A handy tip, if you have a long layover in Kuala Lumpur between connecting flights, do check out the Tune Hotels on offer. There is one located right at the airport and offer some great deals on day-use and layover rates. I was a massive fan of the Tune klia2 Airport Hotel.

For more on AirAsia visit www.airasia.com

Kate Webster

Kate Webster is the founder and owner of Captured Travel Media. She is a world traveller, ocean lover and conservation warrior who is determined to make every moment count for not only herself, but the world around her. An editor and travel journalist, Kate travels the globe in search of vivid imagery and compelling stories that capture the essence of the people and places she visits. She is a passionate conservation advocate, sustainable traveller and always travels with reason and cause.

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