Pinoys are all too familiar with AirAsia. It’s a low-cost carrier based in Malaysia and operates flights from Clark (Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Airport Code: CRK) in the Philippines.
I flew with AirAsia from Clark to Kuala Lumpur recently. Have you heard about AirAsia X though? From Kuala Lumpur, it was a long and comfortable ride aboard AirAsia X to Tokyo for me.
What is the difference between AirAsia and AirAsia X?
AirAsia X flights are AirAsia flights with more than 4 hours of flying time from Malaysia, "long-haul" in short. I flew to Tokyo from KL (Kuala Lumpur) and Osaka to KL via AirAsia X during this Guiltless Getaways Japan trip. Please refer to this AirAsia and AirAsia X route map I found from Airline Route Maps to find out how far AirAsia X can take you (just click to enlarge).
AirAsia X flights are AirAsia flights with more than 4 hours of flying time from Malaysia, "long-haul" in short. I flew to Tokyo from KL (Kuala Lumpur) and Osaka to KL via AirAsia X during this Guiltless Getaways Japan trip. Please refer to this AirAsia and AirAsia X route map I found from Airline Route Maps to find out how far AirAsia X can take you (just click to enlarge).
AirAsia X has just stopped their flights to Paris, London, Mumbai, Delhi and New Zealand to focus more in Asia. I was like =( . Tokyo and Osaka are also not in this map yet.
This map from the AirAsia website below shows the flights available from Philippine airports (Clark, Kalibo, Davao, Puerto Princesa to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur). From there to Kuala Lumpur, you can start flying to other Southeast Asian countries and AirAsia X destinations. Booking for both AirAsia and AirAsia X can be done at the official AirAsia.com website (automatic).
Some features of AirAsia X planes/flights that I experienced include:
The AirAsia X Premium counter (no long lines!, please note that for AirAsia flights within Malaysia you must do a self-checkin online or you’ll pay extra - weird huh?!, domestic Malaysia in short),
the Airbus experience even for a low cost airline (big planes and seating capacity),
the Hot Seat (you pay extra for extra legroom, seats are colored red),
Nasi Lemak as my pre-booked in-flight meal
(that's chicken with spicy sambal, anchovies, egg and peanuts,
you place your ticket like this so when the flight attendant passes, you can present your ticket immediately),
(that's chicken with spicy sambal, anchovies, egg and peanuts,
you place your ticket like this so when the flight attendant passes, you can present your ticket immediately),
Uncle Chin’s Chicken Rice as an inflight meal (this one is not spicy like the Nasi Lemak, you pay a little higher if you choose from the menu during the flight, best if you pay in Ringgit, I also ordered free “hot water” hehe),
the free Malaysian Tune Talk SIM card (for flights going to Kuala Lumpur except from Singapore),
a whole row to myself!
and a notably very smooth touchdown and take-off from the LCCT (low-cost carrier terminal in Kuala Lumpur). I don't think it was a coincidence. I flew four times at different routes, via AirAsia - Clark to Kuala Lumpur, via AirAsia X - Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo Haneda, via AirAsia X - Osaka to Kuala Lumpur and via AirAsia again - Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok =)
Arigato Gozaimasu for the wonderful experience, AirAsia, AirAsia X Malaysia and AirAsia X Japan! Watch out for my Tokyo and Osaka adventure series!
Update 2/25/13: AirAsia's new customer hotline number for the Philippines is 742ASIA(2742). You can call them from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily Monday to Sunday.
Update 2/28/13: You may now pay for your AirAsia tickets in cash via 7-Eleven Stores nationwide.
Update 2/25/13: AirAsia's new customer hotline number for the Philippines is 742ASIA(2742). You can call them from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily Monday to Sunday.
Update 2/28/13: You may now pay for your AirAsia tickets in cash via 7-Eleven Stores nationwide.
