AirAsia AK1729 Flight from Penang International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1
AirAsia AK1729 is the last AirAsia flight of the day from Penang International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1. Flying back directly to Singapore was affordable as the taxes out of Malaysia airports aren’t that high as compared to flying out of Singapore Changi Airport. So while I flew up from Johor Bahru Senai with Firefly FY2905, I ended my Penang trip by flying back to Singapore directly.
Penang International Airport
Heading in to Penang International Airport after alighting from the Rapid Penang Bus Service 401E from KOMTAR.
The entrance here leads into the Arrival Hall.
The Departure Hall is 1 floor up by escalator.
Heading to the check-in kiosks.
The departure board at Penang International Airport.
I was wondering why there was a crowd in front of the departure board. This isn’t the UK.
The AirAsia check-in kiosks are just behind.
AirAsia Check-in Kiosk
Seems like there is a new check-in system here.
While I keyed in my booking details correctly, even scanning the QR code on my boarding pass, my booking failed to show up even after 3 tries. Luckily I had my airasia Super App E-Boarding Pass downloaded as a standby.
Turns out that the crowd in front of the departure board was actually part of the queue towards the manual check-in counters and bag drop at the next section. Luckily I’m only travelling with a cabin bag with nothing to check-in.
Malaysia Immigration & Security Screening
Skipping the long lines, I headed straight to the gate with my E-Boarding Pass.
An AirAsia staff checks for boarding passes before entering the immigration area.
Indeed, my flight back to Singapore would be faster than the peak-hour Rapid Penang Bus 401E ride from KOMTAR.
My boarding pass and passport were checked here before entering the immigration area, and immigration and security screening went without a hitch. Seems like most passengers are flying domestic.
In the Transit Area of Penang International Airport after clearing immigration and security.
Gate A1A is a shared gate for domestic and international flights. When I got there, Gate A1A was still in use for a domestic flight, so I had some time to walk around and find a water refill station.
The departure board says “calling” but the gate was very closed.
Most of the shops in the transit area have not reopened or have closed down. Only the usual suspects like the duty free shop and Gintell Rest N Go massage chairs are around at the front.
A Penang souvenir snacks stall has also opened.
Snacks and drinks have been outsourced to a vending machine.
A bottle of water here costs RM3. Unfortunately, my walk around the transit area yielded no water refill points, and speaking with a cleaner by the toilet confirmed it.
Gate A1A Boarding
Heading back to Gate A1A for boarding closer to departure time. My boarding pass was scanned upon entering the gate hold room.
Inside the gate hold room, queues are formed according to zone numbers.
9M-AQZ in AirAsia Save our Malayan Tiger Livery would be operating on my AirAsia AK1729 flight from Penang International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1.
I was given an Airport Priority Service with my AirAsia Platinum Membership Status. This means priority boarding at the gate, and Zone 1 was printed on my boarding pass, even though I am not in a Hot Seat.
A closer look at 9M-AQZ in AirAsia Save our Malayan Tiger Livery with the single glass on the path to the aerobridge.
Heading towards the aerobridge.
Diverting to the staircase down to the apron because, well, AirAsia.
9M-AQZ AirAsia Save our Malayan Tiger Livery
9M-AQZ in AirAsia Save our Malayan Tiger Livery from the tarmac at Penang International Airport.
Heading up the mobile staircase with a side view of 9M-AQZ in AirAsia Save our Malayan Tiger Livery.
Boarding 9M-AQZ with the cabin crew checking boarding pass details. Also, looks like WiFi is available on this flight.
The interior of AirAsia’s Airbus A320-200.
My window seat at 18A.
The legroom on board AirAsia’s Airbus A320-200.
The advertising panel at the back of the tray table carries more AirAsia advertisements.
WiFi instructions are also placed at the back of the tray table.
The view out of my window seat.
Boarding was completed early and the plane waited for some missing passengers. The interior of 9M-AQZ also features Save our Malayan Tiger wraps on the overhead compartments.
After calling for the missing passengers, who were no shows, the plane doors closed and the aircraft pushed back before scheduled departure time.
Taxiing out of the main terminal building.
Taking off from Runway 04.
My AirAsia AK1729 flight departed from Penang International Airport at 8.11pm – 1 minute late.
Flying over Kawasan Perindustrian Bayan Lepas.
Flying past the Bayan Baru Roundabout.
Flying past the Penang Bridge.
Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak and Chicken & Cheese Sandwich
After the seat belt signs have been switched off, my pre-booked meals were served rather quickly. I ordered the usual Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak, along with a Chicken & Cheese Sandwich.
The Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak (RM12) was great as usual, with a generous serving of sambal. Much has been said by thousands of passengers about Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak that I don’t even need to explain it again.
The Chicken & Cheese Sandwich (RM8) came with sliced chicken ham, lettuce, cream cheese mayonnaise, and honey mustard sauce which elevated the sandwich as it was a moist sandwich in a dry pressurised environment on board the flight.
Even though the Chicken & Cheese Sandwich description on AirAsia’s website starts as “If you’re adventurous with your travels but not so much with your food”, the is actually one of the better sandwiches I’ve had in this part of the world for this price point of only RM8, even comparing with sandwiches on the ground.
Flying past Port of Tanjung Pelepas.
Flying past Tuas Mega Port and Jurong Island.
Flying past Pasir Panjang Terminal and offshore islands.
The Singapore city skyline from above. If I’m this high, it means that the flight isn’t landing just yet.
And true enough, flying past Changi Airport back into Malaysia.
Turning around above Sungai Lebam back to Changi Airport.
Approaching Singapore Changi Airport from the northeast.
Singapore Changi Airport
My AirAsia AK1729 flight from Penang International Airport landed in Singapore Changi Airport at 9.17pm – 28 minutes early.
Braking on the runway and turning back to Terminal 1.
Turning in to Terminal 1.
Terminal 1 Gate C17
It was a quick taxi into Gate C17 just at the corner of the finger pier.
Disembarking from the plane.
Heading up the aerobridge to Changi Airport Terminal 1.
NOTE: AirAsia has moved operations back to Terminal 4 from 15 September 2022.
Your AirAsia arrival will be in Terminal 4 and NOT in Terminal 1 any more.
Thank you 9M-AQZ for the ride.
Heading to immigration via the travellators.
The bus gate to Terminal 4 is ready for transit passengers.
NOTE: AirAsia has moved operations back to Terminal 4 from 15 September 2022.
Your AirAsia arrival will be in Terminal 4 and NOT in Terminal 1 any more.
Singapore Immigration
Heading down for immigration which took 30 seconds.
Baggage Reclaim & Singapore Customs
With no baggage to reclaim, I headed out through customs without a hitch.
The last bag was already on the belt when I got out.
From here, I headed to the Skytrain to Terminal 3 to catch the MRT back home.
Conclusion
Overall, it was another pleasant AirAsia flight with an on-time push back, an early arrival, and good food that I pre-booked for dinner on board. The flight time from Penang to Singapore took just 1 hour and 6 minutes, which is 40 minutes faster than the Rapid Penang Bus 401E that I took from KOMTAR to Penang International Airport. With such a traffic jam to the airport already, I dread to think of the traffic jams continuing on the mainland. Flying for a far distance during peak periods is indeed a better choice.
NOTE: AirAsia has moved operations back to Terminal 4 from 15 September 2022.
Your AirAsia arrival will be in Terminal 4 and NOT in Terminal 1 any more.