10 Tips For Flying AirAsia

Whoopee! We finally got to sit on the brand new A330 for our return flight from the Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur by AirAsia. If we can survive the 8-hour flight on Asia's best budget airline, so can you. Here are some really useful tips:

1 Stick to your guns, do not buy the XL seats. Come to think of it, AirAsia never said what "XL" stands for. Clever, clever. If you think that XL stands for Extra Large, well, that's your problem. As far as I can see, the so-called XL seats - whatever its stands for - are normal seats for adults. Not worth the extra dough.

2 Slim down before taking the flight. The normal seats, in the economy section, are really XS seats. Go figure what "XS" stands for. These seats are perfect for children under 120cm and those with Kate Moss-like physique. Since we cannot grow young unlike Benjamin Button, our only recourse is to slim down - failing which you can pray for a half-filled flight so that both the left and right seats next to you are vacant and you can stretch out. Good thing the handrests can be raised - see, AirAsia does think of everything.

3 Practise sitting upright. I took my first aeroplane back in 1979 and I swear ALL the aeroplanes that I have taken since then had seats that can recline backwards at the touch of a button. (Pause) Not so on this plane. The seats are fixed. There is still a button but it is a dummy button, lol! Well, at least the good seating posture will make sure we do not get backache. Think positive.

4 Think the romance of travel. Most people do not understand the term "romance" - tut, tut. When applied to travel, it simply means anything rustic, simple, old-fashioned, natural - get the idea? Example: Boarding the plane via the air-conditioned, carpeted aerobridge is NOT romantic. Strolling down the tarmac, getting real close to the plane, listening to the engine whirring softly in the background, walking up the stairs with the sunlight kissing your face and the breeze ruffling your hair - ah, that's the romance of travel. Appreciate it. If there is gentle rain, all the better. Forgo the umbrella (courtesy of the airline) unless it is a thunderstorm.

5 Forget about eye candies. No offence to the AirAsia gals, but they are simply not SQ material. How can passengers expect them to be? Not fair-la... Common cents will tell you that if they were, they would have joined SQ for the big bucks. Another point, imo, Tony stinged too much on cloth for the girls' uniform. Their uniform always seems a wee bit too tight and the skirt a wee bit too short. Not very graceful or elegant - that's my humble opinion.

6 Travel with children. AirAsia is a very child-friendly airline. Those with children get to board first and they always get the best seats. If you don't have children, borrow mine.

7 Have fun on night flights. I really mean it. Don't try to go to sleep - you may end up feeling frustrated. What for? Instead, saturate your sleep quota the day before, fill up the night hours with activities - and have fun!

8 Remember to bring your USB-port cables. You can actually charge your i-pod or blackberry on board. Awesome. USB ports are available in front of the seat but cables are not. So don't kick yourself when your battery runs out and you sit staring at the USB port the whole journey (like what happened to some people I know).

9 Do not wear heels. Now where did that come from? Oh yes, this tip is probably only applicable when travelling out of Australian airports. If you are wearing anything other than 1-inch heels or flats, you will be required to remove your shoes and put them through the x-ray machine. It happpened to me. Give it to the Aussie customs controllers for being tops in vigilance - James Bond movies have shown that heels are the best hidden compartments for all types of gadgets.

10 Enjoy your flight. This is the most useful tip of all - and it can be done. Clueless? Take some pointers from these young fellas here:

- take camera shots of yourself

- eat

- play computer games on the laptop

- watch downloaded shows on the laptop


- read


- play Game-Boy or similar portable games while varying sitting position

- play Uno or similar card games


- watch the clouds and dream....


Finally, the REAL test - would I take AirAsia flights again with my family? ABSOLUTELY YES!

Okay, so I admit I am a cheapo. But that's alright. The budget airline takes me from Point A to Point B safely and it makes air travel affordable. That's what matters in the end :)