Budget Malaysian airline to start Melbourne route

[ellein]

Great New! New Route

Cut-price airline AirAsia X has announced it is to begin new Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur flights.
- New flights unveiled
- Tourism boost
- $199 fares
The Malaysian-based carrier will offer one-way fares to Kuala Lumpur - starting at $199 including taxes and charges - and four return flights a week from November 12.
The airline plans to increase to daily return flights during the peak season from December to mid-January and then daily from March 2009.
Sales start tomorrow till this Sunday

Source: The Age

Too bad I have bought my ticket during that period.

 

[oz_mark]

Sounds good, although the A330 maps of Air Asia X I have seen seem to be 9 abreast which is a bit squeezy for me. Malaysia Airlines do however throw up some cheap tickets to compete with Air Asia X (although they are quite restrictive and not eligible for FF points...)

 

[taswegian77]

Sounds good, although the A330 maps of Air Asia X I have seen seem to be 9 abreast which is a bit squeezy for me.

wow, i find it hard to imaging how they manage to cram a configuration of 3-3-3 into a A330? I guess they transport very small people. I know the JQ and QF A330 is 2-4-2 and that appears a standard space area for the aisle as well as seats.

 

[oz_mark]

wow, i find it hard to imaging how they manage to cram a configuration of 3-3-3 into a A330? I guess they transport very small people. I know the JQ and QF A330 is 2-4-2 and that appears a standard space area for the aisle as well as seats.

They are narrower seats. I think the XL seats are 2-2-2. They fit 392 seats on their A330's. (FWIW They are looking at 10 abreast on the A350!)

 

[NM]

They are narrower seats. I think the XL seats are 2-2-2. They fit 392 seats on their A330's. (FWIW They are looking at 10 abreast on the A350!)

And compare their 392 pax on an A330 with QF's 343 to 379 on a 3-class 744, or 452 on a A380!

 

[serfty]

$500 to London?

AirAsia X announces routes that could offer $500 London flights | Herald Sun

MELBURNIANS could soon be travelling to London for $500 on low-cost airline AirAsia X, which will start flying within months.

The Malaysian-based airline today announced its latest international route between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur will begin on November 12, with one-way fares starting at $199.

AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani said they hoped to extend their service to Europe and the United Kingdom in the near future.

"With the exception of peak periods, I think normally we would be looking at a $299 fare from Kuala Lumpur to London, so all-in (a return flight) of within $1000,'' Mr Osman-Rani said. ...

 

[oz_mark]

In this case, the $500 refers to a one-way ticket though (normally the advertised price IME is a return). Also the connection in KL will be at the LCCT, so I imagine you should expect a US like experience of formalities in immigration, baggage collection, rechecking etc.....

 

[moa999]

But
OOL-KUL

Lead-in fare                 $199 (same as MEL-KUL quoted fare)
Fees taxes and charges       $171
20kg bag                     $20 (25kg is $35) (15kg is $7)
                            =====
                            $390

Given KUL-LHR is an even longer flight plus higher fees at Brti airports, I would say cheapest all-in
OOL-LHR or MEL-LHR will be $950-1000, so $1,900-2,000 for the return.

Suddenly not that much of a good deal flying 3x3x3 with tight pitch.

 

[fortymilliondaggers]

Well put. I recall articles about amazingly low prices from over a year ago. I'll believe it when I see it. To their credit, they are still cheaper than other airlines.

 

[oz_mark]

But
OOL-KUL

Lead-in fare                 $199 (same as MEL-KUL quoted fare)
Fees taxes and charges       $171
20kg bag                     $20 (25kg is $35) (15kg is $7)
                            =====
                            $390

Given KUL-LHR is an even longer flight plus higher fees at Brti airports, I would say cheapest all-in
OOL-LHR or MEL-LHR will be $950-1000, so $1,900-2,000 for the return.

Suddenly not that much of a good deal flying 3x3x3 with tight pitch.

The current OOL-KUL promotion has fares of $28 around, which becomes the $199 when you add all the other bits on

 

[FPred]

$199 including taxes and charges? I can't really believe that. I paid around $560 to bkk (high season) with thai airways. KL tends to be a bit cheaper

 

[serfty]

The base fares are AU$17 to KL and AU$61 return.

With

of $182 out and $138 back.

Add:

• Checked luggage $7 for 15kg ($20 for 20kg, $35 for 25kg) each way.
• $7 for a "meal" each way.
• $7 for a "Comfort Kit" (reusable pouch containing blanket, inflatable pillow and mask) one way
• $7 to select seat; $35 for 'extra leg room' each/way.

 

[soorox]

Air Asia to Melbourne....confirmed!

Great news for melbourne as yet another international airline is set to join in the growing Melbourne aviation market!

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Air Asia to Melbourne....confirmed!

See http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...-malaysian-airline-start-melbourne-14263.html

 

[soorox]

Re: Air Asia to Melbourne....confirmed!

thanks oz_mark! still having trouble in finding new threads

 

[ethernet]

Well, I just booked a KL return with them and wisely ponied up the extra $70 for prime seat choice. To their credit, they are the only airline with Peak December period seats showing - but not at silly out of the ballpark prices like say, Bogstar and Tiger at the moment.There appears to be a steeper than usual premium on December departures out of oz.

I was gambling that JQ would have an OS sale on by now, but nope - not yet.
As for seat room, Tiger is just bearable - if nobody reclines for a 6 foot plus frame. That heads up will ensure I pick another for the next hop.

Given that interest rates are up, and discretionary cash has been spent for a new plasma for the Olympics, plus heavy discounting of emptyish domestic flights may dampen OS outbound . As Emirates has a cracker of a deal on now- and is usually full - it sure looks like fundamentals are going south,

 

[jaredr]

I have flown OOL-KUL a number of times, plus AAX domestically within .MY

The A330's i've flown were 2-4-2 config, with 2-2-2 in premium eco

The thing you notice most of all is the lack of ANY IFE!!!. Nothing at ALL.

8hrs to KUL is one thing, but KUL-LHR (if it even is LHR and not something like avalon) without IFE will be painful

However according to the captain on the last flight I took, they have A340's coming which might improve the IFE department.

KUL LCCT is an "experience". While I dont mind walking across the tarmac in leiu of jetways (especially rewarding after being cramped for 8hrs), the HEAT and HUMIDITY of KUL is will certainly let you know you've arrived.

Oh, and a lot of airlines need to adopt airasia uniforms. OMG!

 

[oz_mark]

I have flown OOL-KUL a number of times, plus AAX domestically within .MY

The A330's i've flown were 2-4-2 config, with 2-2-2 in premium eco

If you make a dummy booking for either PER or MEL to KUL and go to the seat selector you are given a 3-3-3 layout to choose from. From OOL, it is 2-4-2, but I would expect they will at some point standardise the layout to the announced 3-3-3.

They were looking for some a340's to get aircraft with enough legs to get to Europe

 

[soorox]

the HEAT and HUMIDITY of KUL is will certainly let you know you've arrived.

Yepp! When i landed at KL from MEL the humidity just got me sweating which wasn't very pleasant but unlucky for me I hopped on a transfer to Penang which seemed much worse! :shock:!

 

[openseat]

I bought a $199 ticket for a 'positioning' flight. I only paid extra for the seat selection. However I have only just discovered that you are not allowed to bring your own food and consume it on board. It is not too much of a problem flying from MEL to KUL as it is such a late flight. I just wonder how much they enforce this rule.