The fuel surcharge ain’t gonna’ cheap after all
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AirAsia had recently announced that beginning April 21st, their ‘poor’ passengers will be charged for every checked baggage to make them even more ‘poorer’. What was their motive for this inconsiderate move?
Quoting the excerpt from AirAsia’s official statement on their desperate move;
“3. Other airlines do not charge for baggage, so why is AirAsia?
AirAsia’s primary aim is to continue to keep costs low for all our guests. This means guests will only pay for services they use. With the cost of flying rising (due to increasingly higher fuel costs), we are looking to change consumer behaviour and encourage people to travel lighter.It is a common policy for low cost carriers in Europe and the US to charge for checked baggage. The traditional carriers who charge higher ticket prices already have this cost built into the ticket price. At AirAsia, our guests have the choice of paying for this service if they want to use it.”
Coincidentally, I just bought some tickets for my holidays. I bought my first trip before April 21st and the second trip after the baggage handling fee took effect. Prior to April 21st, the Fuel Surcharge is RM43.00.
I bought my other holiday ticket on April 22nd. This time I had to pay additional RM3 for each checked baggage. If I don’t pay online, I can still pay the fee at the check-in counter but for RM5 per baggage. My first impression when AirAsia announced this move was that would mean reduced fuel surcharge and cheaper fare. Unfortunately, the fuel surcharge remains the same after April 21st. I felt cheated as a customer while AirAsia makes more money by offloading their operational costs to their poor customers. Yet another hidden cost! 
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April 29th, 2008 at 6:56 am
had a few experience flying with this airline. my take is, their popular destinations are well managed; no delays, beautiful aircraft and good service. for their not so popular destination, the service sucks!
so far my travelog with them:
sibu, langkawi, bandung and bali = popular
terengganu and surabaya = not so popular
hidden cost… biasa la… macam mana nak untung kalau tade hidden cost
April 29th, 2008 at 10:44 am
i understand AirAsia’s move with the baggage handling fee, i.e. we bring in more luggage we pay more, which is fair but what if we don’t have luggage or less luggage? shouldn’t AirAsia give discount? If AirAsia is serious about changing their consumer’s behaviour and encourage light travel, then they should be fair and reward the light traveller
They say the move is due to higher cost due to higher fuel price but hey what is the fuel surcharge for then?
April 29th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
rumet > didn’t realize that the difference QoS btwn popular and no so popular destinations. Kuching is one destination that generates profit to AirAsia’s business but still the service sucks.
silverstar > you hit my points bull’s eye. that’s the message I’m trying to convey
May 7th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Have to agree on Rumet’s view… Notice that Kuching is the last of their main gateways in Malaysia to get the new Airbus??
Anyway.. AA is not going cheap nowadays… but since MAS and AA are both fighting.. its good for us..
I do have to say that I really love AA’s new airbus.. but their old aircrafts are just not maintained!!