I booked Air Asia XL now Premium economy seats last November when they first started flying direct from Melbourne. Also, we got return free flights (plus taxes) from KL to Penang which was a bonus.
A few weeks ago I decided to buy extra luggage. I printed off the itinerary and 'Hawkeye' noticed they had switched us to an earlier flight leaving us only 1 hour and 25 minutes to clear customs/immigration and collect luggage and check in at domestic. However, when I rang they put us on the next flight with a massive 6 hours and 30 minutes wait. It would have been nice to have been informed of the change.
Our flight to KL also changed without AA notifying us... this was an hour later and probably due to day light saving. It now left the ungodly hour of 01:45. I stupidly booked row 1, the bulkhead prevented us from stretching our long legs fully and I was not happy. I personally found the seats uncomfortable as they were short in the back of the leg, 'his nibs' thought they were OK but he likes to disagree with me. I went online in Penang and changed the return seats which were much better and room to stretch out under the seat in front... even his Lordship had to agree it was a wise move. The international food was a piece of ropey chicken and some other bits I didn't eat. Only one food service in an 8 hours 15 minute flight though you could purchase other food if you wanted it. No in-flight entertainment (IFE) but not bothered as we were tired anyway and preferred to sleep.
I felt like the Queen as I've never been first off an aircraft before, but that feeling didn't last very long as were the LAST out of the Immigration hall, this was due to the flight attendants failing to give us Immigration cards... ah! well we did have 6 and half hours to wait so it didn't really matter.
I was pleasantly surprised at LCCT airport even though it's basically a tin shed. Once we'd checked into domestic it reminded me more of a Pommy bus station rather than an airport lounge. It was very confusing!! there were two flights listed for the one gate. We had paid priority boarding (we booked before AA changed to pre seating allocation ... it used to be a free for all and the fastest runner got the bestest seats) So, they called for Mr Paul and Mrs Gerradin and we got to go first... however, we'd no idea where to go as there were two aircrafts on the tarmac and no-one to direct us. I asked a woman who was closing the gap behind us which aircraft and she pointed to the first one. A guy on crutches overtook us and we followed him up the steps *we must be getting old* and into our seat in row three. Then more confusion with the crew which became clearer when two people left the aircraft THEY WERE ON THE WRONG PLANE!! how can that happen !! ... This couple gave us many chuckles over the next two weeks as we often pondered if they ever got to their destination... poor buggers.
Same thing happened again in KL. We were just about close the door and cross check and there is a guy running along the tarmac and runs up the steps of the next plane parked along side us, he then runs down and bolts towards us and up the steps of our aircraft... he was absolutely knackered but happy to have made it!! Air Asia really do need to lift their game. I also watched a lady in a wheelchair being escorted to our plane. I'm thinking how's she going to get on without an air bridge, are they going to load her on like Thai Airlines did with me when I had a knee injury a few years ago (I was loaded on with the dinners at the back of the aircraft and very un Queeny) No such luck as she was physically helped by two people. I dread to think what would happen if she couldn't weight bare. Same ropey chicken on the menu for return trip but it did look a rad better, however, I did ask if I could change it to a sandwich and though it wasn't strictly allowed... they did.
Hmmm ! the seats in rows past 1 had IFE in the back of the head rests at 30 MYR... and finally his nibs ain't happy LoL but I couldn't give a rats clacker as it's wasted on me as I pretend I'm not on a plane, I gain this pleasant state of mind with the help of prescribed medication his nibs refers to as 'her silly pills'. So head settled in the bendy head rest and tucked up in my Jetstar blanket and the bloke behind starts banging the back of my head (you couldn't make it up) he's tapping hell out of the IFE screen and each tap feels like a jack hammer. So I ended up turning round and asked him to touch the screen more gently... he gave me a lovely smile and apologised and I felt like a right heel !! Later 'His Highness' said he was getting frustrated with the screen as it wasn't working so he got to tapping it harder and harder and finally his wife told him the programmes hadn't started yet and by the way the IFE was in-between the seats in the first row. Doh!
I fractured my foot in Bali in June resulting in a DVT. I'm now advised to inject an anticoagulant prior to flying... so off to the KL tut with my cabin bag containing the pre loaded syringe and sharps container. The floor was grotty and I reluctantly had to place it down to open it. Under the door crawled a dirty big fat cockroach so I kicked it away, but I didn't see where it went and it may now be in my bag... I'm not taking that home with me and so it had to be searched thoroughly. Thankfully, it was clear so I must have sent it flying into the middle of next week.
So that was my first experience with Air Asia.