Air Asia X to London Stansted

"So. How was Air Asia?"

This is the most frequent question that I received after my recent holiday. So, I guessed it is appropriate for me to have an entire post dedicated to Air Asia X!

Well, unless you are the few lucky ones who travel on business class on MAS or SIA normally; Air Asia X is really NO different.

I didn't take notice (blurr blurr), but H said that the seats are definitely bigger than the regular Air Asia seats., ie. comparable to the economy seats on SIA or MAS. The seats here are in a 2-4-2 configuration. If there's any indication to you, I actually fell asleep before the plane took off from Stansted Airport. Slept through take-off, and when I woke, there was only another 5 hours of flight time left. Errr...but I supposed pigs can sleep in cramped places too.

The only difference is that you need to purchase their comfort kit, food/drinks and rent their entertainment system....and of course for the check-in baggage and other extras, if required. We brought our own comfort kit, i.e. pillows and blanket and our own entertainment system (PSP, DS, iTouch, DVD player...) but did rent ONE entertainment unit at RM 30/- for the entire flight. The movies available were not extensive but satisfactory.

If you can get the Promo Rates on Air Asia X, it's definitely worth it. We paid RM 5,400/- for the four of us. KUL-STN return. This includes 4 x 15 kg bags, 4 x pre-booked seats, 4 x Meals.
Compare this with the RM 16,500/- on MAS for the same travel period.
Alot of difference, huh??
Errr...but our flights from CGK to KUL return on Air Asia were NOT cheap though. Cost us over RM 2,000 return for the four of us! What to do? Hari Raya period....
But overall, still cheaper. For the same period, fares from CGK to London on SIA would have cost about USD 5,000/-.

The only drawback is that the flight departure from Stansted is at 1.30 AM....and by the time we get to the airport for check-in, all the shops are already closed. So abit of a bore there.

Will I take Air Asia X again?
OF COURSE!

And did you know that they will be flying to San Fransisco soon?
To Oakland Airport....so.... USA...Here I come on Air Asia X!!!!

And since we are on the topic of budget airlines, might as well talk about Ryan Air. We flew Ryan Air from Stansted to Rome Ciampino. GBP 400 for the four of us. This includes 3 check-in bags. So again, cheaper than the normal airlines. Didn't pay for pre-book seats... It was free seating. Luckily, the toilets onboard are still FREE!
Drawback?
Had to walk out onto the tarmac to the planes. Thank goodness that it wasn't raining!
And Ciampino is a small boring airport (and I mean reeeeeaaaaaally boring). But who cares when you can fly cheap?