Happy and worry Traveller,

Recently we had holiday in KL and we took airAsia to most of the destination. We flew to Hanoi, Bandung, singapore and Macau, and we book hot seat which give us priority boarding from KL and Macau. we were satisfied and happy. One thing that we all have to be aware that when you booked thru budget airline you will get those who never travel before so you have to give some spare for this type. one thing that we have query is about the safety of the passangers as some people still on the phone when the plane want to take off and landing.

I've been on an AirAsia flight where we took off and remained at low altitude, then had to return to the airport because "the plane would not gain altitude". There sure were some worried faces onboard! 10 minutes with a guy in jeans holding a screwdriver on board to repair it and we were off again.

Yes budget airlines service is crap, flight schedule terrible, in flight service non-existant and they are over-represented in safety incidents. But hopefully they will at least force some of the other airlines into lowering their prices, so people like me can get cheaper tickets without actually having to fly on a budget airline.

I got fares, two weeks in singapore for $600 return for two of us (there are a few extras on top of the advertised price).

My connection was working fine. I initally only booked five nights then saw another cheep return fare a week later so paid the cancellation fee to rebook. Still worked out an amazing bargin.

Let me give you my own personal stats for Air Asia. 4 flights total. Two were ok. One was late, and had a burning smell from the air cond halfway through the flight to which the air stewardess when asked about it gave me a cute smile and saying "Actually we don't know, sir!". Another flight was late, and the air cond was not working until later, while everyone inside was suffocating and sweating like pigs.

I had been told that there was a flight where halfway during take-off the pilot jammed the brakes and went back to the terminal due to 'electrical faults', everyone got kicked off, then got on a new plane about 2 hours later. The replacement plane, half hour after take-off turns back due to engine problems, everyone gets kicked off again. And this was supposed to be a MIDNIGHT flight!

Air Asia is great? What nonsense! Singapore, Malaysian, Emirates are great. You get what you pay for. Get some good insurance with the money that you had saved.

As antman says, if people can be patient other airlines are looking at getting involved in this type of deal, this is just the start. SQ will most likely open up their onward flights also in the coming future following this deal. I'm looking forward to seeing some cheap onward flights to the UK. Lord knows they would have the market for it. There are enough of us down here! :)

@Bob, Air Asia is great. I wouldn't worry at all Ashley!

Well, you do get what you pay for. I can't say much about the service or comfort about both of these airlines (i.e. including Air Asia), other than there isn't any. If you're a young student, you might be ok. If you are older, and have a reasonably big bum, or have young kids, you're in for a challenge time. GOOD LUCK! (Short trips ok, but I wouldn't fly either of these airlines on a long trip even if it's free!).

Ashley #1 Good luck on the service quality! Who knows, the flight might even get cancelled and you lose out altogether.

Jetstar need to upgrade their online booking site. I went completely through the booking process including seat selection and credit card details to be told at the end that I had made a "duplicate" booking. Funny there was no one already in our seats.....

Quote from article above: "He said New Zealanders shouldn't feel too aggrieved by the prices saying fares were fairly priced, including between New Zealand and Europe."

I'm afraid not! On the web today a return flight from London to Christchurch is for sale with Emirates for £1007 or nz$2099 however the reverse flights on the same aircraft purchased here in NZ are $3149!!! Almost 50% more expensive! This difference is quite common. The argument is that it because of numbers however you can only put so many people on an aircraft and as wages, taxes, fuel etc is cheaper here than in the UK the difference, if any is justified, should be at this end.