I've never done one of these before but as I'm sitting in the Air Asia premium red lounge in KL with a couple of hours to spare so I thought writing about my experiences may be fun and useful for someone.
I managed to grab some return flights from Melb -Bali on the premium flat beds for the grand sum of $281 return. It was during a sale and I'm not sure if it was a price error or not but the premium class was selling for the same as cattle class. Not only do you get a lot more comfort but luggage and a meal are included for free! Unfortunately a few months later I was informed that Air Asia were to cancel their Melb to Bali flights. My choices were to get a full refund or to reroute through KL. I took the later option and here we are.
Check in was drama free and I avoided the long snaking queue and only had to wait for one large group of travellers in front of me in the premium line. As I was headed to the departure gates a man stopped me and asked me for a favour. My mind immediately thought of all the possible scenarios leading to being sentenced to death in a foreign country. However, it was only to guide his elderly mother in law with very limited english skills who was traveling alone back to KL. It would slow me down a bit but I accepted the task as any decent human should. It could be your mother or grand mother who needs help some day.
All was fine going through x-rays and immigration, the airport wasn't very busy at midnight on a Saturday night. The old lady waited patiently while I got my GST refund for my iphone and off we continued onto gate 20, possibly the furthest gate in the airport. The GST counter was of course busy with lots of tourist claiming a mountain of goods and not being aware of rules around receipts needing names and addresses for large amounts. We got to our gate with about an hour to boarding time. As the boarding call started I pointed the old lady towards the line and had to gesture for her to stay as I went on ahead to claim my priority boarding! I'm a nice guy but I'm not giving up my priority boarding
The last I saw of the old lady was when I pointed her to the back of the plane as I sat in my comfy spacious seat. Mission accomplished.
There was 12 seats in the premium section, 2 rows of 2 - 2 - 2. There was only 7 of us on board so we had plenty of room to spread out. I've added a couple of photos but they don't really show much. Haven't mastered the art of taking photos for these trips reports without feeling awkward. The seat reclines back into a bed but it is not quite horizontal so you are left lying on a slight angle. I kept feeling myself slipping downward while sleeping but it was much better than being in cattle class still. Pillows and blankets were provided free of charge but there was no entertainment. Not that it was needed as it was lights out and bed time after the meal. Meal quality isn't any better in the premium class. The only difference being you get a tray with your food.
About 8 hours later we landed in KL and departed from the plane quite promptly. It was a good 20 minute trek going through KLIA2 airport, through the x-rays, across to the satellite building and into the premium red lounge. Showed my boarding passes and got given my wifi password and told that I had to monitor my own flights as there was no boarding calls. The lounge is quite spacious with lots of seating and power points. There is even a beanbag room which is where I'm sitting right now typing this. Food and drinks is very basic. Some sandwiches and triangle things with some low quality meat inside. Nasi lemak rice with sauce and those fish and nut thing but there was no egg or meat. Drinks consisted of coke, tiger beer, some very diluted orange flavoured drink and a coffee machine. I've added some pictures of the lounge. There was also a VIP room which you had to ask for access. Didn't look too special though, just some nicer looking chairs and a TV. I much prefer this bean bag room.
Lounge access is free for all premium flatbed and premium flex customers. Other guests are able to gain access for 79RM. I'm headed to Bali next but I don't think the next plane has premium flatbed seats. I've got stays at the Four points Kuta and Conrad Bali which I will do reports on. Also a few other non chain hotels which I will try and do reports on too but are probably of less interest for people here. That's all from me for now. Thanks for reading
I managed to grab some return flights from Melb -Bali on the premium flat beds for the grand sum of $281 return. It was during a sale and I'm not sure if it was a price error or not but the premium class was selling for the same as cattle class. Not only do you get a lot more comfort but luggage and a meal are included for free! Unfortunately a few months later I was informed that Air Asia were to cancel their Melb to Bali flights. My choices were to get a full refund or to reroute through KL. I took the later option and here we are.
Check in was drama free and I avoided the long snaking queue and only had to wait for one large group of travellers in front of me in the premium line. As I was headed to the departure gates a man stopped me and asked me for a favour. My mind immediately thought of all the possible scenarios leading to being sentenced to death in a foreign country. However, it was only to guide his elderly mother in law with very limited english skills who was traveling alone back to KL. It would slow me down a bit but I accepted the task as any decent human should. It could be your mother or grand mother who needs help some day.
All was fine going through x-rays and immigration, the airport wasn't very busy at midnight on a Saturday night. The old lady waited patiently while I got my GST refund for my iphone and off we continued onto gate 20, possibly the furthest gate in the airport. The GST counter was of course busy with lots of tourist claiming a mountain of goods and not being aware of rules around receipts needing names and addresses for large amounts. We got to our gate with about an hour to boarding time. As the boarding call started I pointed the old lady towards the line and had to gesture for her to stay as I went on ahead to claim my priority boarding! I'm a nice guy but I'm not giving up my priority boarding
The last I saw of the old lady was when I pointed her to the back of the plane as I sat in my comfy spacious seat. Mission accomplished.There was 12 seats in the premium section, 2 rows of 2 - 2 - 2. There was only 7 of us on board so we had plenty of room to spread out. I've added a couple of photos but they don't really show much. Haven't mastered the art of taking photos for these trips reports without feeling awkward. The seat reclines back into a bed but it is not quite horizontal so you are left lying on a slight angle. I kept feeling myself slipping downward while sleeping but it was much better than being in cattle class still. Pillows and blankets were provided free of charge but there was no entertainment. Not that it was needed as it was lights out and bed time after the meal. Meal quality isn't any better in the premium class. The only difference being you get a tray with your food.
About 8 hours later we landed in KL and departed from the plane quite promptly. It was a good 20 minute trek going through KLIA2 airport, through the x-rays, across to the satellite building and into the premium red lounge. Showed my boarding passes and got given my wifi password and told that I had to monitor my own flights as there was no boarding calls. The lounge is quite spacious with lots of seating and power points. There is even a beanbag room which is where I'm sitting right now typing this. Food and drinks is very basic. Some sandwiches and triangle things with some low quality meat inside. Nasi lemak rice with sauce and those fish and nut thing but there was no egg or meat. Drinks consisted of coke, tiger beer, some very diluted orange flavoured drink and a coffee machine. I've added some pictures of the lounge. There was also a VIP room which you had to ask for access. Didn't look too special though, just some nicer looking chairs and a TV. I much prefer this bean bag room.
Lounge access is free for all premium flatbed and premium flex customers. Other guests are able to gain access for 79RM. I'm headed to Bali next but I don't think the next plane has premium flatbed seats. I've got stays at the Four points Kuta and Conrad Bali which I will do reports on. Also a few other non chain hotels which I will try and do reports on too but are probably of less interest for people here. That's all from me for now. Thanks for reading
