Job Discussion Forums

[Longton]

This isn't related to teaching but may be useful for teachers.

Airasia.com is starting direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, 5 days a week. This is a low cost airline based in KL. It flies to many Asian countries as well as to London and Australia. I used them earlier this year for flights to Vietnem and Laos, and they were excellent - punctual, with new planes.

I have just booked a return ticket from AD to KL for Dhs 420, which includes two meals and all airport taxes and fuel surcharges. Too cheap not to fly!

[MrScaramanga]

One word of caution about budget airlines: these are regional carriers who do not have to abide by the very strict safety and maintenance protocols enforced in North America and the EU. Therefore their record is untested. A few years back, Garuda Airlines (the national carrier of Indonesia) was banned from flying into the EU because of substandard maintenance... It was just re-instated.

Southeast Asian airports such as Singapore make passengers who fly in on such carriers go through a security check upon arrival!

MrS

[Longton]

I totally disagree with your comments. I flew Air Asia around the region in summer, including a flight to Singapore and never went through any enhanced security. Are you saying that people who fly with low cost airlines and more likely to be suspect passengers????

Singapore has its own low cost airline, Jetstar, and this airline flies to many international destinations.

I doubt that the UK and Australian governments would give landing rights to airlines that have poor maintenace records, and Air Asia flies to both Australia and UK.

Garuda was not a low cost airline but the flag carrier of Indonesia.

[MrScaramanga]

Of course, I am not saying that...

I know what Garuda is (see my message above).

I think you should take a chill pill, dude...
MrS

[Rock Hopper]

Singapore low cost flys as TIGER. Qantas low cost flys as JETSTAR who have had their share of problems as their planes are being serviced in Asia as well. There has been a great deal of concern expressed at some of work carried out overseas.
Garuda is trying to live down its poor reputation and is updating its fleet. It didn't help when a Garuda pilot was accused of having deliberately crashed his plane 7 March 2007 on landing killing 21 passengers---5 being Australians.
Air Asia has improved its image by upgrading its fleet with new planes. Airbus 330 & 340 long range etc, .
Service is a problem every where. Local service for local planes have priority when it comes to quality of work performed. No skin off their nose if the oppisition has a problem.
Rover In Time

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Not to mention when the Singapore low cost Silkair pilot killed all of those people by augering that 737 into that Indonesian river in the 90's when he committed pilot suicide...

NCTBA

[Zoot]

What Longton failed to mention is that the flights with Air Asia are only cheap if they either begin or end in Malaysia. Otherwise they're quite expensive and schedule management with them is very difficult.

[anaxiforminges]

[dazedandconfuzzed]

i've flown air asia a few times. planes have all been brand spanking new, straight off the peg, and i've had no problems. I'd recommend bringing lots of food on long hauls if possible, even if you buy their rubbish microwave meals in advance. (i flew KL to London and was sooo hungry!) you have to spend about 20 dollars to use your card and the food was cheap so i'd have had to buy everything for that.

also bring a blanket. it's probably to get you to buy theirs, but the kl-london flight was so cold despite me asking them to turn the heat up there were visible cold streams coming from the air vents.

[wailing_imam]

Air Asia is fine and has undoubtedly revolutionised Asian air travel. Air Asia is divided into Air Asia, Indonesian Air Asia and Thai Air Asia. The Indonesian Air Asia planes are new, the domestic ones are generally 737-400s.

The downsde of Air Asia is that it flies into KL, without doubt the crappest capital in S E Asia.

Garuda Indonesia is now allowed to fly into EU airspace.

Silk Air is not a budget (low cost) airline. it uses smaller planes to fly to the more out of the way places not covered by its parent, SQ.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]