Air Asia

[PEP]

Not a big deal I know but to me it is worth advising others in case this has an important effect upon them.

I was booking in, two hours prior to flight time, with Air Asia for a domestic flight to Bangkok. The booking was for two related persons and had been made, via internet, 15 days previously and a single “E” ticket had been issued. The boarding passes were given for seats 7A and 8A. I pointed out to the check-in lady that as we were together and had a combined booking that I would expect to sit together. “Not so”, she said, “if you wish to choose your seat then you must pay an extra 50Baht”. Mmmm! I’m not too happy but remaining polite I asked that if I paid 50Baht could I sit in 7B with my wife. No, was the reply that seat is already assigned. What about she sits in 8B alongside me? No that is also allocated. If you wish to sit together you must pay100Baht for two people to choose their seats! It was then that I asked to speak to the supervisor.

The supervisor promptly arrived; I explained the situation, adding that this was my wife’s first flight and that I needed to reassure her ETC. The only brief reply from the supervisor before she promptly went away was; “Company policy is that if you wish to select preferred seating it will cost you 50Baht per person.”

I again tried to get a reasonable answer from the check-in girl why this was so. She mumbled something about the seating was automatically pre-assigned by a computer programme when the booking was made and that consideration was given to balanced loading of the plane. My pleasant parting remark as I gave up and went was; “You are very fortunate to have a computer that is able to estimate my weight as 90Kgs. and my wife’s as 55Kg”.

No problems sitting together on return from BKK. The plane was apparently balanced OK!

[LuckyLew]

On my flight last week to Udon Thani they had my wife and I separated

on the outbound flight as well. Didnot really mind as we both sit with

out MP3's on, but was surprised when I saw plane was half empty

Me thinks Air Asia is trying to dig too much for extra baht. Usually

after take of they let people move about the plane and change

seats, this time they did their best not ot allow this.

[ThaiRich]

When you book your Air Asia tickets. It ask if you want to choose your seat. If you don't want to pay 50 baht and choose where you want to sit. Then you get what you get. I would understand if it wasn't on the web site. BEFORE you even pay for your ticket it gives you the choice to choose or not to choose. I'm not really sure I understand what it is your complaining about. You choose not to pay the extra and pick your seats. Then when time to check in your upset that you don't get to sit where you want???????

[KhunDave]

On my flight last week to Udon Thani they had my wife and I separated

on the outbound flight as well. Didnot really mind as we both sit with

out MP3's on, but was surprised when I saw plane was half empty

Me thinks Air Asia is trying to dig too much for extra baht. Usually

after take of they let people move about the plane and change

seats, this time they did their best not ot allow this.

If your flight was half empty then weight and balance considerations probably was the genuine reason they didn't want people to move around. On a plane with say 150 seats, you really don't want a passenger load of forty to all sit at the front - would play havoc with the handling.

That said, I have noticed something with LOCOs in general where the "pay to choose a seat" option is offered. If I am travelling alone and thus not bothered about sitting with some one I decline the offer. I always then find that I am allocated something horrible like 24E. I reckon this is a way of nudging the customer to pay to select something less horrible.

[Jdietz]

When I read the 'small glitch' title I was thinking more of something like this instead of having to part with a whopping 100B...

[SantiSuk]

Air Asia is a pussycat compared to the likes of Ryanair or Easy Jet. Demands of up to £15 for seat selection are commonplace

[ThaiPauly]

My Wife and I got seperated on a trip back from BK last week, but no big deal as far as I am concerned...we both got window seats with me right behind her, there was a guy sitting next to me who offered to move to an empty seat so we could be together....but I said it was OK....I could do with an eardrum break !!!LOL

[PEP]

When you book your Air Asia tickets. It ask if you want to choose your seat. If you don't want to pay 50 baht and choose where you want to sit. Then you get what you get. I would understand if it wasn't on the web site. BEFORE you even pay for your ticket it gives you the choice to choose or not to choose. I'm not really sure I understand what it is your complaining about. You choose not to pay the extra and pick your seats. Then when time to check in your upset that you don't get to sit where you want???????

THAIRICH,

You and I both know that 100Baht is not that important, nor my complaint. I was and still am curious to know why a simple computer programme adjustment cannot be considered so as people travelling together automatically sit together as with the hundreds of flights I have previously made. I am quite happy with all other aspects of AIRASIA service.

Thanks to all for replies.

[doggie888888]

I thought it's free seating (i.e you are free to sit anywhere except for first few rows) so it's a matter of looking for first available 2 seats together. On my last trip to KL on Air Asia, there was no seat number on my boarding pass because I did not pre-book. Which is different from your experience; you had seats allocated to you even though you did not pre-book. I wonder if yours is the new standard on Air Asia now.

[siamjj]

passenger seating means nothing in trimming an airline,cargo and fuel is what trims a plane.ever see a courier plane take off?they have no passengers and trim the load in air after take off.wings back and forth till the level out.they move fuel from side to side.

its about the baht only,lol.

[erikr_]

When you book your Air Asia tickets. It ask if you want to choose your seat. If you don't want to pay 50 baht and choose where you want to sit. Then you get what you get. I would understand if it wasn't on the web site. BEFORE you even pay for your ticket it gives you the choice to choose or not to choose. I'm not really sure I understand what it is your complaining about. You choose not to pay the extra and pick your seats. Then when time to check in your upset that you don't get to sit where you want???????

wow 2 whole euros, no I really can not accept that

But I agree if the flight is not full and you are early then should they be more flexible. Maybe your answer should have been you do not want to slect the seats, just want to e seated together and they can pick which seats. In which case you should not have to pay as you are not requesting specific seats sorry that it to much logic maybe for in Thailand

[Kitsch22]

When you book your Air Asia tickets. It ask if you want to choose your seat. If you don't want to pay 50 baht and choose where you want to sit. Then you get what you get. I would understand if it wasn't on the web site. BEFORE you even pay for your ticket it gives you the choice to choose or not to choose. I'm not really sure I understand what it is your complaining about. You choose not to pay the extra and pick your seats. Then when time to check in your upset that you don't get to sit where you want???????

THAIRICH,

You and I both know that 100Baht is not that important, nor my complaint. I was and still am curious to know why a simple computer programme adjustment cannot be considered so as people travelling together automatically sit together as with the hundreds of flights I have previously made. I am quite happy with all other aspects of AIRASIA service.

Thanks to all for replies.

If they did as you suggest, how many passengers would pay to book adjoining seats? Their online booking system is very clear and explicit. If you wish to "avoid disappointment" you must book and pay. Those are their terms. I have five bookings pending with AA at present. For two of the flights I needed three adjacent seats, so I booked and paid - for the other three flights seat location was unimportant so I did not book and pay. Would I be pleased if you got for free the benefit for which I had paid? No, I would not. The charge is modest enough, after all.