XL seats - Air Asia - booked but inquiring minds need more info

[Natt]

Well for anyone thats read my chatter, you would know I am off to KL with Air Asia very soon.

After seeing the fares drop, and getting all cranky because of the big difference I actually managed to rebook the expensive sector onto their XL seats - for roughly the same as trying to score an upgrade at the airport (effectively using the $ difference to guarantee a seat)

But now I am fretting because an extra $ for a seat is completely alien to me (I am a purely cattle class gal)

Has anyone flown Air Asia, and can tell me what a good choice I made (or not).

Oh its a 7 hour flight :shock:

 

[somebol]

Well for anyone thats read my chatter, you would know I am off to KL with Air Asia very soon.

After seeing the fares drop, and getting all cranky because of the big difference I actually managed to rebook the expensive sector onto their XL seats - for roughly the same as trying to score an upgrade at the airport (effectively using the $ difference to guarantee a seat)

But now I am fretting because an extra $ for a seat is completely alien to me (I am a purely cattle class gal)

Has anyone flown Air Asia, and can tell me what a good choice I made (or not).

Oh its a 7 hour flight :shock:

XL is definetely better than the normal Y seats. They are a bit more spacious and roomy, but do not expect business class seats or service. You are only paying for the seat... so you get no extras (food etc).

XL seats are in 2-3-2 config so always better to get a seat in the '2' section.

 

[Alanslegal]

Don't get to cranky over the fare drops. That's just part of the game that we're all in - we book at a time we think is good value and if it drops, then its bad luck, But if the fares did go Up, then its good luck isn't it?. Well enjoy KL that's the most important part.

I've never flown XL but surely anything above economy has to be better?!

 

[Natt]

XL seats are in 2-3-2 config so always better to get a seat in the '2' section.

Sweet thats exactly the information I needed - as I was wondering about that

Nah I was not too cranky about the fare drop, thats just the way it works (sadly not my way this time) - but I was umming and ahhing about the upgrade to other seats

 

[Alanslegal]

Natt, do let us know how the flight experience goes as I'm tempted to give Air Asia a go - maybe just the once so I can say I've flown on them and ticked off another airline off my fly everything list.

 

[Natt]

Natt, do let us know how the flight experience goes as I'm tempted to give Air Asia a go - maybe just the once so I can say I've flown on them and ticked off another airline off my fly everything list.

Will do

Theres a lot of scattered information about them - but nothing terribly useful.

I am guaranteed to have a camera this flight (to get the GST back) - so Ill be taking plenty of piccies - Ill just have to get organised enough to get them on-line

 

[Paul_PER]

Hi Natt,

Flew AirAsiaX PER-KUL return for Easter. I have been meaning to do a TR but haven't got around to it.

XL is definitely worth the upgrade from economy.

Please note that the first AirAsiaX A330 is leased - so it is/was in a slightly different configuration to the other aircraft they ordered from Airbus.

On the planes I flew XL was 28 seats. 2-3-2. Seats were black leather. No buttons at all except for seat recline. Seat is a fixed back / base slides forward to recline. Plenty of leg room (and I'm > 6 foot). Plenty of room as there were only 16 & 18 seats out of the 28 occupied on the two legs I was on. Lights on overhead. No personal air vents. Headrests have adjustable wings like Qantas.

No entertainment at all so take your ipod / laptop / DVD player.

After take-off the curtains were drawn but many economy passengers still came through to use the forward toilet. On the way to KL two kids came and sat in empty seats for an hour or so before being sent back by the hostess. (So you could sat they weren't the most attentative in noticing stuff like that).

I prepaid for "international" meals. Basically a chicken TV dinner, bottle of water, and a Kit Kat.

KLCC was basically a functional tin shed.

KL was a cheap hoot so overall it was a great experience. (But very hot & humid).

Economy was 3-3-3. In order to walk down the aisle I had to shuffle semi-sideways. Looked very uncomfortable.

Hope that helps. If you want to know anything else just post it up!



p.

 

[Natt]

Paul

thats really good info - sound like even though it was more $ it was probably worth upgrading since the money was "lost" otherwise

I do have a really important question though - power - did the seats have a socket in them that would power a notebook?

i do plan to be asleep but you never know - the battery life on my little netbook is about 3 hours at best

 

[mumof2sydney]

Hi Nat

we too have flown airasia a couple of times OOL- KUL
our comments
XL seats - looking very tired - frayed and a bit sad but definately more roomy
no power - you can hire (prebook) entertainment unit - costs about $10 AUD bu must be paid in MYR - 25 MYR on board - its basically a 7 inch DVD player preloaded with movies - there are 2 english ones, as well as some entertainment - games and the like and some soapie type stuff..be aware they only have about 25 on board so get in early if you wnat one - no power - because when your hired unit runs out of battery they will just give you a new battery - cant plug in!

KUL LCCT is basically a shed - get into terminal ASAP after you get off plane - you walk quite a way along tarmac - why fast? well the area for waiting for clearance is limited - so if a few planes have landed at the sae time - you may be outside waiting and its HOT!! and sticky!
otherwise KL is a blast - have fun!

 

[ronza]

AirAsia X actually run a spanking new A330 alongside one of their older leased ones. I've flown both and the new A330 is actually a pretty nice aircraft. Brand new leather seats that recline forward (in Economy) and inbuilt touchscreen IFE which costs a little bit to use. Nothing like the old A330 some people would have experienced (that old A330 may still be kicking around on some days/routes though).

The LCCT at Kuala Lumpur is also changing - the old international passport control resembled a zoo but the new extension takes passengers from the tarmac, up escalators and into a larger a/c'ed arrivals hall which is much more pleasent to queue in. My last few arrivals (from the Philippines, Cambodia and Australia) through there in Jan/Feb were fine.

 

[Natt]

AirAsia X actually run a spanking new A330 alongside one of their older leased ones.

Heres hoping I get the new model

 

[Paul_PER]

Hi Nat,

No power on the seats in the planes I flew. No entertainment units offered for hire either.

IT stuff was about 25% cheaper in KL compared to Australia so you might want to pick up a second battery for the netbook!

 

[Natt]

Just checking back after my trip (I have been back a while but dragged home a cold - so have not been feeling human enough to post)

Well having flied XL and normal - whats my verdict on whether its worth the extra money - well the answer is generally no - providing you can get a decent seat in the normal section (eg 2 across when there is 2 of you) or the plane is not at capacity

Mel-KL

We flew out just after midnight and the "economy" section of the plane was full - the XL section was about 15% full.

Definetely the extra room was a bonus - when trying to sleep what got me is the seats did not actually recline, they move forward in the shell they are sitting in. This has the benefit of not encroaching on the person behind you - but also means you are not actually reclining more like slouching lower. Normal seats are the same.

The other poor bit of design (at least for me) is that you cannot remove the table in between the 2 XL seats. So should you cant curl up next to the person and you can't stretch lengthwise should you be luck enough to have an XL row all to yourself. In the normal rows you can.

Most people in the XL seats managed to get sleep, but no more than anyone else. Probably not helped by the family with two noisy kids, but thats travel for you.

Also the XL area filled a bit more during the night - as strays headed in (their was little sign of staff and they did not seem bothered).



KL-Melbourne
Took our pre-chosen seats (two across) in the normal area but found the plane quite empty. Promptly found an empty row of 2 and shared with my husband. There was plenty of spare sets of 2 seats left - so I could kick him off and stretch out. Much more comfortable than an XL seat.

Be warned if you are going to play musical seats - do it as soon as the door closes - or loose the chance as others grab spare spots.

Interesting the rules about not going to XL if you had not paid for it seemed firmer on the day flight

Overall
So basically providing you can get a good seat in the normal area (pre-book) its not worth upgrading. For AUD$250 the extra room is just not worth it - when you might get a better spot in economy anyway.

The only thing to noted is the first row in the normal section (with the extra legroom) the seats were separated by hard dividers that could not be removed - so again no laying out. Also if you have a wide behind, or even a not so big, but not standard model, there will be no hope of you getting in them - they are narrower even than the normal narrow seats. Best seats seem to be in exit rows (pretty sure no dividers), or in the 2x2 area (depending on the number of people travelling in your part of course and the configuration of the plane)

The only time I would recommend XL is to a solo traveller of large size or someone tall.

Side notes
There was inflight entertainment (tv in the back of the seat) - seemed like a good variety of programs and games - so I'd recommend. But I did not need it thanks to my trusty iPod touch - which surprisingly recieved power from the USB plug located next to the screen of the entertainment system

Air Asia X has wine/beer for those so inclined - wine worked about about AUD$7.50-$AUD8, with beer slightly cheaper - no signs of spirits

 

[JohnK]

Very nice review Natt.

Definetely the extra room was a bonus - when trying to sleep what got me is the seats did not actually recline, they move forward in the shell they are sitting in. This has the benefit of not encroaching on the person behind you - but also means you are not actually reclining more like slouching lower. Normal seats are the same.

I think I have underestimated Air Asia. These type of seats are great news for people who can sleep upright and do not want to get stuck behind serial recliners for a long haul flight. Are the economy seats the same or do they have recline?

Interesting also that Air Asia have some sort of IFE....

 

[fortymilliondaggers]

Economy seats are the same and do not recline. I found them very narrow and quite unconfortable, but at the moment they practically can't be beaten on price.

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting also that Air Asia have some sort of IFE....

...and like most LCC it is pay per view

 

[JohnK]

Economy seats are the same and do not recline.

That is a great feature.

I found them very narrow and quite unconfortable, but at the moment they practically can't be beaten on price.

Not such a great feature and I would more than likely struggle to fit in the seats.

...and like most LCC it is pay per view

At least they offer the option and I don't imagine it would be too expensive. One needs to look at alternatives just in case the benefits of status cease to be of benefit....

 

[MessyJessy]

hi i'm too late to book our XL seats on air asia x as they are all picked already.. we're flying gold coast to KL and KL to london & return..
Gold coast to KL is on a 3x3x3 and KL to London is a 2x4x2
there is 4 of us..(2 couples) any recommendations on which seats would be best to choose?
I've read posts saying "provided you get a good standard seat"
I've heard the exit seats are the best for room - are the exit seats ALL hot seats? it's pretty confusing.. If the XL are all taken, are there any standard seats we should aim for??
They are long flights, and after being on hold for 30 minutes to talk to someone from air asia x & having to hang up I don't know what to do!
somebody please help me cheers

 

[MelUser]

don't know but please post a report here about your flights. thanks

 

[Paul_PER]

hi i'm too late to book our XL seats on air asia x as they are all picked already.. we're flying gold coast to KL and KL to london & return..
Gold coast to KL is on a 3x3x3 and KL to London is a 2x4x2
there is 4 of us..(2 couples) any recommendations on which seats would be best to choose?
I've read posts saying "provided you get a good standard seat"
I've heard the exit seats are the best for room - are the exit seats ALL hot seats? it's pretty confusing.. If the XL are all taken, are there any standard seats we should aim for??
They are long flights, and after being on hold for 30 minutes to talk to someone from air asia x & having to hang up I don't know what to do!
somebody please help me cheers

I flew PER-KUL last Easter so my knowledge could be out of date as the airline continues to evolve. Initial services were with leased aircraft which had different configurations to Air Asia X owned aircraft.

I'm pretty sure you will find that OOL-KUL will be an A330. KUL to Stansted will probably be an ex-Air Canada A340 (which, if they haven't changed the inside should be reasonably comfortable).

Note that Air Asia X aircraft have two classes - "economy" and "XL". I think you need to book your preferred class when you make the booking.

"XL" has considerably more space than "economy".