I had actually booked my ticket to Padang on AirAsia’s non-stop flight QZ140 more than a year before travelling, but they terminated the route shortly after it was launched. Nevertheless, I took up the offered reroute via KL option to still make it to Padang at no additional cost to me and got a seat on AK700, the first AirAsia flight of the day from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.
Actually, AirAsia allowed me a few options for the trip, namely:
Option 1: Move flight: Change to a travel date no later than 16 MAY 2018 on the same route without additional cost and subject to seat availability.
Option 2: Reroute: Travel via Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to your destination within 7 (seven) days from your original travel date without additional cost and subject to seat availability.
Option 3: Credit account: Retain the value of the fare in a credit account for future travel with AirAsia, with the credit to be redeemed within 180 calendar days from the date of credit issue.
Option 4: Full refund: Obtain a full refund in the amount equivalent to your booking and in the form of the original payment. This must be done via e-Form available on Customer Support.
which I thought was rather amazing considering that they are only a budget airline but are willing to offer a full refund. But since I paid for the ticket at the old airport tax price, I took up the reroute offer which would make the most economic sense – and I arranged for myself a free stopover in KL too.
Retrieving my boarding pass from the FAST Check-in kiosk.
My boarding pass for the initial AK700 flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Unfortunately, the onward boarding pass from Kuala Lumpur to Padang could not be picked up from Singapore.
Heading into the transit area.
My flight was departing from Gate G14.
I got to the gate just in time when boarding commenced.
Heading to board the plane to KL.
9M-AJP on duty for my flight to KL.
Boarding the WiFi-enabled aircraft.
The interior of the AirAsia Airbus A320-200 cabin.
The legroom available on board.
Free WiFi is available on this flight once above 10,000 ft.
Instead of an IFE, I have an advertisement slot behind the tray table.
A strange view of SilkAir and Scoot at Terminal 4.
9V-TRL, the last Scoot aircraft in full original Tigerair livery, being towed to Terminal 2 for passenger service.
Pushing back from Terminal 4.
Facing north-east. Guess it’s going to be a long taxi.
Taxiing to Runway 20C.
9V-TRL at Terminal 2, waiting to board her passengers to Ipoh.
Taking off from Runway 20C.
Runway 20L/02R taking shape.
The huge footprint of Changi Airport.
Looking back at Changi West.
Crossing from Singapore to Malaysia in style on a Saturday morning.
Pulau Ubin from above.
Paya Lebar Air Base as seen from above.
The now-operational Seletar Airport with no commercial flights.
Crossing the Causeway with ease with AirAsia.
Breakfast was served shortly after the seat belt signs were switched off.
I pre-booked the best dish ever for breakfast in Malaysia’s skies – Pak Naseer’s Nasi Lemak.
KL catering didn’t disappoint for this box of Nasi Lemak. Unfortunately, Pak Naseer’s Nasi Lemak is not available for purchase anywhere else aside from on board a flight, though I would really love for AirAsia to open a cafe selling their in-flight meals on the ground somewhere in Malaysia.
Descending into Kuala Lumpur.
A quick 31 minutes later, and I was in KL.
Arriving at Asia’s No. 1 LCC Hub at klia2.
Turning into Gate L10 (International).
Disembarking from the plane with the aerobridge.
9M-AJP and 9M-AJN, planes from the same batch, crossing each other at klia2.
As the K and L piers are shared between domestic and international flights for ease of turnarounds, the door to International Arrivals was open for the flight, with the door for Domestic Arrivals locked.
Ascending to the International Arrivals level.
Heading to the transfer desk to connect to my flight to Padang.
Heading to the transfer counter to get my boarding pass for Padang.
Overall, AirAsia, as usual, doesn’t disappoint with their flights with a reasonably comfortable reclining seat and a full meal on offer on such a short flight. Full service airlines which are dropping down the ranks should learn from AirAsia on how to do short-haul flights simply but yet efficiently.
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