Worst airlines ever. Review on Air Asia

Don’t be fooled by their so called “low cost”.

In fact it isn’t low cost, there are additions to the fares such as seat selection fee, baggage fee, meal fee and other hidden fees, which all adds to and cost as near as a decent airlines like Thai airways. Of course, for some this little difference could be the reason for opting Air Asia but don’t forget you’ll still pay a lot in many different ways.

Here’s my story:

SERVICE: Their services from ground to in-flight staffs were inefficient. KOL – HKT, we were five of us travelling including my 2 year old daughter. Bangkok- Phuket being it a short haul flight, I skipped the seat selection(my biggest mistake). I thought I might as well take advantage of the so called “low cost” and arrive early instead for check-in so that I, my wife and our daughter could get seats next to each other. I told our situation to the lady at the check-in counter that we require 3 seats together; she responded “I will check”. She checked through our passports and looked at each of us. Minutes later our luggage's were through and we were handed the boarding passes straight away.

I thought as requested at least three of us(baby, my wife and myself) were seated in a row together.but guess what all 5 of us were placed at different seats far from each other. I went “what is this? I requested for at least 3 seats to be together, how can my 2 year old sit alone? She went “sorry sir you don’t have a pre-booked seats”, and if we want to be together we must request the passengers after boarding. I went “Oh! How nice of you, you know very well that we have a baby and she can’t sit alone. At least make 2 seats together”. She barely responded and gave direction to the boarding gate. It was ridiculous.they are complete idiots, let alone their English were poor.

Upon boarding I wasn’t going to sit down until 3 of us are seated next to each other. The in-flight attended asked us to wait until all the passengers are seated while we were standing in the corner holding the baby in my arm. She looked for possible volunteer, finally there were three guys who felt sorry for our situation and went ready to swap with our separated seats. We were so thankful of them. I know part of it was my fault that stupidly I didn’t pre-book our seats, assuming that some seats probably at the back of the aircraft will be left for early check-ins (for those who want to take advantage of not having to pay for seats). Well I was wrong and stupid, but I expected a little courtesy from the staff as we had a young child. But they were ridiculously unhelpful. If this was going to be the case why don’t they just make the seat selection a must while booking.

COMFORT: Forget it! I saw their so called “hot seats” for which you pay extras for extra leg room were not any different from those ordinary seats. The seats were so cramped that you can hardly move if the seat in front fold back.

UNPUNCTUALITY: Be aware that Air Asia can change their flight timings anytime they want, so stay tuned and updated. Check your mails before heading for airport. Guess what our flight was postponed for nearly 24 hrs, not just couple of hours. We were in complete shock when we found out only at the check-in counter. They claimed that they did try to contact me at my regular mobile number which I wasn’t using during the trip, instead had a local sim on my mobile. Whatever it is international flight having postponed by 24 hours, don’t you think it’s too much? Something atleast I never expected. Now where are we supposed to go in Bangkok? We just checked out of hotel, traveled all the way to airport and now this.it was like we’re in hell.

We requested if there is anything they can do and put us in the next flight. The guy at the check-in counter, as usual, hardly spoke any understandable English and with his uncooperative body language pointed his finger towards the Air Asia sales counter to contact them. We explained the situation to the guy at the sales counter, requested to help us take the next flight if possible. The guy was so impolite, he was like “what can I do, your flight is tomorrow and today flight is full, we try to call you”. I told him I am on a holiday and I am not using my regular mobile number. He went “so that’s not my problem, we try to call you.”

Now here I am wondering HOW this Air Asia who claims themselves as ‘the award winning airline of the year’, trains their staffs. I mean common it’s an international flight; can’t they maintain some standard. At least train them to treat customers politely. I know my English is not perfect but theirs were very poor, worse part is they never put any effort to be helpful and friendly. They have no manner, no courtesy and are very rude.

After repeated request this impolite and disrespectful fella at the sales service counter told us to wait for an hour and see if there are no shows. We waited, waited, waited and finally exactly 5 no shows. Was it a coincidence is a question I still have in my mind. The guy went “go go, go to the check in.NOW! We were rushing to the check-in, luggage through and here we are told that there are only four seats left and we must hold the baby in our lap. I was like “common.give us a break”. We had no choice, rushed to the aircraft as the last call was announced.

We struggled just like before with the separated seats even though this time I had pre-selected seats with the original flight. As we walked in the aircraft there was this man who straight away told us that there are two seats together at the 28th row and that we could take them if we want. He was a god sent for us.

We also had pre-booked meals with the original flight but since we boarded on a different flight they wouldn’t serve us any meal. So there we go, we lost one seat’s fare and 5 pre-booked meals and lots of esteem. Not worth it, right!

This was the worst case I ever faced in my entire travel experience. Last but not least Air Asia in Bangkok lands at Don Muang Airport and not the Suvrnabhumi. The difference in two is that the Don Muang airport is an old airport and later is a new one. The immigration at Don Muang are some of the worse and cruel people you can ever come across. Not sure if this was done only to Indian passport holders but they were real cruel. They wanted us to show 10000 bhat each for expenses during our stay. It was ridiculous; I told them am not carrying that much cash but a visa travel card. I had two visa travel card with a balance of US$ 5000 each on it. Showed the balance slip from ATM but they wouldn’t accept it and instead told us to comeback. They enjoyed harassing, I saw them looking at each other with their stupid smile. We weren’t the only one harassed, others were too.

We had to wait until everyone was cleared. Gathered every last bit of currency with had on us, some US$ & UK pound. The immigration lady went what is Pound? I yelled “UK POUND, you know England!” They looked at each other and go! I know this incidence is not airlines (Air Asia) related but like my first visit to Thailand if I’d flown with Thai airways, we would have landed in Suvarnabhumi Airport where the immigration was smooth and friendly. I’d say catching a train in India is better (more fun) than flying with Air Asia.

Everyone goes on a holiday to have a good time. Your holiday starts from the moment you are in the aircraft. The feeling that you longed for whole year, you know what I mean. So choose wisely and don’t have a bad start. Go for that little extra spending and choose a renowned airline. Air Asia spoiled my mood and so did the holiday.

I wish I could rewind and change. If you choose Air Asia, remember that you start with and you end with it. I hope my review will help some to avoid what we experienced.