MAS vs AIR ASIA

I was watching TV on Sunday and watched the MAS so called ‘breaking news’ of ZERO fare campaign a few times and it tempted me to go online the next day to check for the ZERO fare. Traffic is very high for the first time (I guess) on MAS website coz I hardly get access for booking a ticket. So, I try the next day (Tuesday, 6/5). Before that, I was reading The Star online on AIR ASIA claims that they’re ticket is still the cheapest even compare to ZERO fare on MAS, so I wanna check it out.

MAS ZERO fare return ticket KK-KL-KK is RM240; 0 + 240 of taxes and fuel surcharge (maybe??? MAS only classify as tax). Meanwhile on AIRASIA, return ticket KK-KL-KK is RM221; 39 (seat) + 6 (airport tax) + 22.50 (admin fee) + 43 (fuel surcharge). So technically, AIR ASIA is right, they are the cheapest airlines. (Both prices for 1/11 and return 8/11)

Let me compare the two airlines services so you can see what you get with that price. Before that, let me reminder you that I’m not a frequent traveler, so my experience with an airline maybe not much, but I do travel between KK-TWU-KK around 3-4 times a year; mostly via AIR ASIA.

If you think you can get free food on board with MAS, you’re wrong! My friend’s husband fly with MAS recently and he said they are only serves sandwiches, which in reality should cost less than RM10. However, AIR ASIA sells their food at twice (maybe more) of the original price, so it depends on what you wanna eat. But AIR ASIA is very clever on charging their services, i.e. xpress boarding RM20, insurances RM12 and recently checked baggage RM5 or RM3 online for one bag (excluding excess baggage). If your math is good as mine, then the price between AIR ASIA and MAS is almost the same. (Of course you can skip the xpress boarding and insurance which make AIR ASIA the winner!)

AIR ASIA also claims that they have newer plane and spacious seat; well I disagreed with that! I was on their new Airbus once, from KK-KL in 2006 (after delayed for about an hour) and the seat is not ‘spacious’ as they claim it to be, in fact it still the same as their older plane. If you are big and tall person, it maybe not gonna be a pleasant journey for you. MAS planes is not much of a different in term of ‘spacious’ but it’s comfortable for big and tall person.

My friends complaint a lot on AIR ASIA stewardess make-up and appearances, but I care less about that, I just hope they can be more friendly and don’t talk too loud when chit chatting among themselves. In contrast, MAS staffs deserved the ‘best cabin crew’ awards (if I’m not mistaken, they won that a few years ago); their quality of services is the best even for domestic flight.

So, which one do you choose?? If you care less about comfort, then AIR ASIA is the best choice; it’s cheap!!! But if bring a lot of luggage (I mean A LOT!), with children and elderly person, cares about comfort and money is not an issue, then pick MAS. As for me, I hope the fight between MAS and AIR ASIA continues, coz we as consumer can get the benefit of low fare and more choices!!!!