Firstly different route,different time.
Secondly very interesting that if MH dropped their fuel surcharge they would be cheaper.
Thirdly add in luggage,CC fee and they are virtually the same even with MH charging that fuel surcharge.
In my math, $1275-$1128 = $147.
Other Air Asia fees:
- luggage (20kg) is $56 return ($20 return if one can keep it to 15kg).
- credit card fee: $0 (unlike other LCCs such as TR, TT, JQ & 3K who charge around $5/sector)
- meals $10.40 AUD return
- comfort pack (if needed): $13 one way (assuming use again on return)
Total extras: ~$44AUD (15kg) or~$80 (20kg) luggage. So with 20kg of luggage they are almost virtually the same ($67 cheaper) with 15kg of luggage they are $100 cheaper. Of course to a really genuine AFFer, it would depend on whether the MH fare earnt points
FWIW I have just checked the Malaysian, Singaporean and Thai Air Asia websites and ALL fares are advertised on their websites as "ALL-IN-FARE" , don't know if that translates to newspaper advertisements.
Based in Singapore, I do check LCC's regularly. I do know for a fact that when I check the price on Air Asia website, the first price it brings up is what I have to pay (without luggage of course, which is minimal anyway for 15kg on intra Asia flights on Air Asia - eg $4SGD for SIN-BKK vs $12.50 on Tiger ). If I check Tiger or Jetstar Asia I have to click and click again to get taxes and "facilitation fees" factored into the pricing, and a $50 fare easily transforms into a $175 return fare.
And rest assured if MH fuel fines were lower, their base fares would be higher.
Lot of dumping on Air Asia, but their
current approach to advertising fares, the lack of a "facilitation fee" and the ability to have single click pricing on their website is a lot more transparent than Jetstar or Tiger (at least for intra Asia flights). Although a rider I have found you can get transparent pricing on Jetstar for say flights originating in Singapore, by quoting through their Australian website).
