I’m back updating my blog, just because I would love to share something out of the politics topic which is so HOT in town these days.

This China Trip were planned in July 2010, we grabbed the cheap tickets from Air Asia and the travel date was actually 10 months ahead. Initially we have 16 travel members, however, 2 of them did not manage to join in, hence we ended up 14 people in a group.

Honestly, going travel can be very tiring, especially when you are going in a big group. The lucky and sweetest thing is, all the travel members are all working adults, we ain’t the 1st time traveler, we don’t need a leader as all of us can take good care of our own. Some of us were close friends, friends of close friends and family members. We could get along very well and give the most co-operation all the time.

Here’s a brief summary of our Travel Itinerary before we start this Travelogue.

8 days 7 night – Go around China Trip

• 2nd April 2011 – Kuala Lumpur to Hangzhou. Arrive around 10 pm.
• 3rd April 2011 – Hangzhou day tour
• 4th April 2011 – Hangzhou to Su Zhou
• 5th April 2011 – Su Zhou day tour
• 6th April 2011 – Su Zhou to Wu Xi
• 7th April 2011 – Wu xi to Shanghai
• 8th April 2011 – Shanghai day tour
• 9th April 2011 – Shanghai back to Hangzhou , Flight from Hangzhou to Kuala Lumpur
• 10th April 2011 – 4AM arrive Kuala Lumpur LCCT

Prebook Meal from Air Asia. Asean Meal & International Meal

Air Ticket price : RM 540 (Kuala Lumpur – Hangzhou) by Air Asia not inclusive of baggage fee & food.
Travel Package Fee : RM 900 per person – Include of 4-5 star hotel accommodation, food & transport.
Ticket & Tips : RMB 350 / RM 175 – Extra tour fee for ticket entrance and some other tourist spot.
Cash money to spend : RMB 1000/ RM500 per person

Arrive Hang Zhou Xiao Shan Airport

After 5 hours flights from KL to HGH, finally we arrive Hang Zhou Xiao Shan International Airport. According to the tour guide, this airport was newly renovated 2 years ago. Basically it looks grand, far more improve than the 10 years ago when I firstly step into China. Very impressive, really impressive! By judging by the airport, Ive already put some expectations on the cities.  Let’s follow me!

China welcome us by rains. It is spring season now, which it is suppose to be around 11-17c daily. However, it welcomes us with 8c… this is really awesome when you see your own smoke while talking!

The travelmates, greeted by the young tour guide, Xiao Yuan

The one holding mic is our tour guide for the whole trip. In China, they will prefer people to add “小” xiao in front of their surname for us to remember them easily.  So as our tour guide, we call him 小圆, but of course this is not his real name.

Ramada Hotel

We were staying at Ramada Hotel. The hotel distance from the Airport took around 30 mins. This hotel locates quite far away from the city center, but I like the environment, it’s quite and peaceful. A great place for us to rest after the long hour flights.

The average rate for this hotel cost around RMB 890 / RM 445 per room, dividing into 2 person, its RM222.50 per person.

Remember, we only paid RM900 per person for our travel package. It’s worth right? We are able to enjoy the 1st class facility by paying little affordable amounts. Another credits the travel agent

Our Hotel Room, clean and modern.
The best thing, it comes with the  network TV, which acts like PPS. You have all the latest drama and movie from the list.  I’m loving it!

All of us were very hungry, we are looking for food but too bad most of the eatery place were close. The only place we could go is the convenience stall. All of us went into a little shop and bought a lot of foods from here. There’s a lot of beverage for you to choose. Variety choices of Instant Noodles that you hardly get it in Malaysia.

Don’t bother so much, the weather was freezing cold outside. It’s better we go back to our room, and grab a hot bowl of Instant Noodle while enjoying the full list of channel.

Let’s call it a night. After a long day of waiting and transit, finally we settled down in the hotel.  Till then, will try to update again by soonest!

Ok. I’m ranting, cos I’m on Fire, due to AA’s useless Premium Calls.
My friends call back from Perth asking for help, they would like to add on baggage for their return flight to Malaysia. However, they can’t login to the “Manage My Booking” site, hence she called back and seek for my help.

I tot maybe it could be server error, so I try my luck in Miri. But the truth tell me, even if you are in Australia, if the server is down, it is all down!. Sigh, it keep showing me blank page so I have ready to pay few bucks for the premium line. ** Hoping for help ** Hey, its RM1.95 per MINUTE. That is freaking expensive okay?

This is the 1st time I try calling AA. Finger Cross, all get done well. But it turn out to be wasting 2 min listening to those crap machine talking, and still it ask you to press the numbers for your selection. That is not call PREMIUM Lor! Premium is like you call to your platinum card center, within seconds, “the real human” will answer your call and not by the machine pre-recorded sound!

Ok I’ve gone through all the rubbish talks, and keep waiting for the representative. But the only feedback i got it, “Sorry our customer representative is currently still busy. You may call back later. Please be reminded that this call will be charged at RM1.95 per minute” Wtf!? Is that my fault for not getting you to answer my call? Why you wanna charge me if this is your own fault?

So after 5 min and 30 seconds, I know I’ve wasted RM 10 ++ so I hang up my call. But, my problem ain’t solve. Its not the RM10 that I’m mad with, but its their service! So how am I going to “Manage the Booking”. You know, its Saturday the office are close. You know if I have to travel to the airport, I know they will also be pointing here and there and end up I am just wasting my time again. And all the while I tot AA’s web page are awesome. As if “Everyone who can ONLINE, can FLY”. At least I could understand for it’s downtime. Which I accept to call the premium “HELP LINE”. But now it turn out to be the “HELP LINE” also can’t HELP me. Then what else that Air Asia can do?

To no avail, I twitted to @AirAsia. I left wall message at Air Asia’s facebook. I wrote them an Email. And finally I would like to blog this out. But maybe another story learn. If you are taking AA, who is like me, who can only go for budget airline. Please do all your planning properly before your actual travel date. All these last minute changes are so unpredictable. =)

I heard they do have special team dedicated to all these kind of feedback via the social media. Please prove me I’m correct. I’m expecting some replies from the AA.

My Email to Air Asia – plfeedback@airasia.com

Hi.

I try to contact AA using the premium service call on Saturday 13 Nov 2010. 1.50pm.
I understand that there’s charges of RM1.95, but because the web page is down, I cant go into manage my booking. That is why I need to call up for emergency help.
Disappointedly, I’ve been charge for RM10+ for the call waiting for 5min 30seconds and I did not get to talk to the representative.
This is ridiculous charge. I don’t mind for such charges if you could have help to solve my problems. But seems like these kind of problems not only happening on me alone.

1. Why your web is always down? How am I suppose to do emergency changes on my booking?
2. If your help line are not that premium, why should you charge your customer for RM 1.95 per minute?

I’ve responded to your twitter page, facebook page, but still no feedback so far.

From:
Mary Ting
Your very disappointed loyal customer.

I know I know, its ZERO FARE, sure congest so don’t complain.Right?

Do you know why the DAP in SIBU wins the battle? Its because the know what the people wants. Hence they win their votes.

Now the case, why does it relates to Elections again?

Same thing, nowadays if its not Air Asia then go for MAS.

People loves to make comparison, thats human nature, you can’t stop it.

Anyhow, I still love Air Asia. I mean there’s no harm in competitive market, at least they will do something better to serve us better. Right?

Dato Tony also loves all his supporter, hence he wrote on his Facebook page, ask us to be patient. Hmmm… I bet this is not the first time we read such msg. Ok, nevermind you don’t have a google – like server, but I bet you should have a lot of brilliant IT support at the back right?

Now, why make a fuse here? Why Everyone Can’t Fly?

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t me who think of this Slogan, its Air Asia’s fan who came out with such slogan. And I think it rhymes well.

Betul tak?

Are you familiar with this page? This is the new Air Asia’s wallpaper. Damn Cool with lots of XXX. If newbies, might tot this is a 18sx rated site. Ohmygawd!

Disappointment. Very disappointed.

The truth:

I’ve got my tickets. I spent 3 hours include searching , booking and payment.

How I did it?

I was there at Air Asia web page, waiting for the promo to launch too.

We have discussion with the travel mates along while distributing the search job too.

It ended up all went to sleep at 2 am cos it totally can’t move.

Hence, I turn on my alarm at 5am so that I could avoid the traffic jam.

5am to 8am. Do you really everyone afford to spend the time like this?

The asnwer is NO.

Oh yea, since i got my free tickets why am i making so much noise here??

I am here, not only for the zero fare. I am here to lodge a complain to Air Asia, to Dato Tony, that I actually wanted to buy ordinary fares too. But I can’t even search as usual. And this is urgent case, as they need to book tickets for a meeting. Partially I’ve booked it with MAS, but still I wanna give AA a chance!

Stop showing me this, I will throw eggs at your office later! I mean it!

IMHO

I think the next time if you wanna avoid this kind of complains, maybe you should have another gateway for special promo. At least your loyal customer won’t piss off like now.

“Aiya, AA so big no need to hear my feedback la..”

Betul juga, then this is my blog, and I am AA fans, I think I have the right to voice out too!

Dear Dato Tony,

I’m sorry If I ever offended you. But please la, tak ada complain mana ada maju? Right? Heheh, so I sincerely hope, you go and lecture your IT supports, brainwash them, do some BETTER improvement.

Thank You very much.

Your AA Loyal Supporter,

Mary Goolooloo =)

Noticed that Maswings are doing promo lately. I’m talking about Maswings, subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines which take cares of Sabah and Sarawak’s inbound flight.

First they’ve monopolized the market, control all the ticket prices which is way more expensive. It may be expensive than going  oversea compare to some other airlines.

Take a very short examples for Miri to Sibu which I fly most. They used to come out something like Maswings Prepaid, which for me back then the fare is still acceptable although it is still quite expensive which is RM90 for one way. But okay, at least its less than RM200 which still not equivalent to air ticket to KL by using Air Asia. But then, they’ve stop it, and implement something new.

For now, the ticket price normally starts from RM138 onwards exclude of Taxes. For a return flight, the minimum I’ve to spend would start from RM280. If I book within a week, the ticket price would hike up to RM300 ++. Is that really reasonable for such a short distance and just flying in the ATR72?

Okay, that’s enough, I can’t say much, they’ve invest on the new ATR fleet. Since they monopolized the whole market, we, the people in Sabah and Sarawak need to pay more to fly! Fly nearer but pay more. This is totally unacceptable.

Can’t you come out something like budget airlines? Or give us more promotions?

Yes, they did actually, but its just another gimmick from them.

I saw this on Maswing’s facebook page. I’m really happy to see that Miri – Sibu are having offers for as low as RM12 one way. That’s really help me to save a lot of money and time. The truth is, the promotions are totally invalid. I’ve been clicking the whole schedule from 01Jan2010 till 30thJune2010. I didn’t see any! All started with RM138.

Okay, assumed that the above promo are not ready, or they published wrongly which I totally can’t get it from their webs. That’s fine! ….

Dear Maswings,

Can you tell me what actually happened to your Malaysia Airlines’s System?? Ada problem kah? If you are unable to give good promo, then don’t give!

Your booking systems are not as good as other airlines. MAS ground staffs are mostly not helpful. Unless you know any of them, maybe its easier. The customer careline are always busy. If you have anything urgent, you just don’t hope they could assist you, I think you might have already drive to Airport and get everything settled.

I’m very disappointed with Maswings. I really hope they could have much more improvement over their marketing skills. Not to give empty hopes only. Please reduce your fare. Those in rural areas are those who need to fly more frequent. We in Sabah and Sarawak don’t have big highways that connect us to everywhere. If we have more and better options, I will not take flights. The truth is, that’s the most convenient way.

If you really want to serve the mass market, then you should be able to make everyone can fly with not much hassle.

So please!

Please be more considerate and love us, your customers more. I’ve been flying with you for ages even before you turn into Maswings.  Don’t you have any better deals for us?

Please make sure, your pilots won’t be as the picture below. Even if Free tickets it shouldn’t be in this way!

Thank you so much!

Your’s sincerely,

Mary Ting aka Goolooloo
Your loyal passenger