Air Travel at one time was novelty. Few would have this luxury to fly and be proud of the flight. How times change and now Air Travel is like taking a Bus, only thing flying Bus and rightly one of the maker calls it AirBus. Now air travel is like a poultry farm in the air, where chickens are stuffed forcefully into the plane and the plane made to fly. More apt would be chickbus.
Air Travel means getting locked with your seat belt on a 2 x 2 ft seat and very restricted foot space. And if on a Transcontinental flight, then the flight is a punishment.
Flight Catering is still worse . A small plate with two spoons of rice, one spoon of one vegetable and one spoon of another vegetable . All of which tastes like rotten egg. And to serve this little food, a full Tamasha ( Show ) is carried out. Well, I gave up eating in the flight some 15 years ago and I would rather carry my own food, if on a long flight. And for short flight, skip the two spoons meal.
Last month, I was travelling to Hong Kong from Singapore by Cathy Pacific and there was a Sardar Ji from India who was sitting in front of my seat. Incidentally all airlines now days employ Indian and local flight attendants, so she served him the Indian Food. Now a two spoons food is not going to be enough for Sardar Ji and he called the girl again and asked for more. The girl said, she would get back and then every 15 mins ,the man called for his food and till the landing of the flight, he was not served his extra request. Simple, because airlines carry limited food supplies and no one can get the extra on request. This is the quality of Airlines.
Anyway, the main post is about Air Asia. This little Budget Airline has impressed me a lot. For those who have not flown Air Asia recently, then they would be impressed to see the new planes and the interiors and the cleanliness. However, most striking is that within minutes of the plane landing, it takes its passengers and on landing, within minutes downloads the pax and the bags.
Air Asia offers prices usually which are one third of most commercial airlines and hence automatically gets its seat full faster then all the other airlines. Secondly, it is online booking , so there is no catch anywhere. Other airlines, it is a good possibility that the next guy seat travelling with you has paid one half of what you have paid. Usually Travel Agent loot.
What is most interesting about Air Asia food is that they have a menu and you can pick up the food you like and order in advance. This is very unique, because now you have the option of taking what you like most , then being on the mercy of the airline to serve you , what you hate most.
Further, if you are a good eater as our Sardar Ji in the last paragraph, then you order two of it.
Airplanes are made by Boeing or Airbus and after that is all about punctuality, safety, promptness and presentation. How does it matter, it is a Budget Airline or dirty old PSU airlines with their aging staff.. One of my client always tells me, why should I fly business class, when the economy class also goes to the same destination. ( Winks )
Overall the Business Model of these young men, who started Air Asia is such a slap on the face of all Giant Public Sector Airlines.
We have seen the big losses of AlItalia, Japan Airlines, Swiss Airlines, Air India, British Airways ,. Who post Multimillion Dollar losses against Air Asia, which works on one third the prices of the conventional airlines and only on account of its smart thinking makes a huge profit.
Will the Governments ever learn, how business is done. How long will we tax payers keep bailing out public sector. How long will these silly Airlines serve the lousiest food and delayed flights and overprices tickets and what not keep sucking us.
Great Job Air Asia. Lots to learn from you.
