I often hear people grumbling left, right and centre or read about their complaints on Facebook and elsewhere about the airlines but personally, most of the time, I have been quite happy with what I have been through whenever I flew…be it on the cheap airline (just that I don’t quite like the airport) or the national carrier, Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
Likewise, on our recent trip to New Zealand, I flew MAS, SBW-KUL-AKL return, and it was fine all the way. There was a bit of a delay in our KLIA-Auckland flight that morning but all the flights in and out of Auckland were delayed owing to thick heavy fog that day. Things like this may happen and anyway, it was just a matter of 45 minutes – nothing to be jumping up and down and pulling one’s hair about. I always believe in the age-old English proverb, “Better late than never!”
On our flight back from KLIA to Sibu, MH2712 on the 22nd of December, 2012, I noticed that we were flying in one of their newer aircrafts – the Boeing 737 – 800, I think it was…which, unlike the older ones, has a fuel-saving winglet…
I did not like the black leather upholstery though – the same as those of the cheap airline. Somehow I prefer the cloth seat covers they have in their older planes and the cheerful colours certainly go a long way to make flying in them more soothingly pleasant.
There was a problem with the online check-in that I did in Auckland but I would not go into the details. The ground staff, both at Auckland and KLIA, were every nice about it and did everything to clear whatever problem there was with it. Unfortunately, for this particular flight, there were only 3 seats left – two on one side and another on the other side of the aisle, all in the very last row of the aircraft. “That’s perfectly all right,” I told the lady, “as long as we can get home safely. After all, it is just a 2-hour flight.” Well, eventually, I was able to swop seats with my fellow-passengers so that all three of us could be seated together in the same row. No problem at all!
However, if you’re flying via this airline and in this particular aircraft, it may be better not to book your seats from rows 25 and after as the overhead stowage compartments are reserved for the cabin crew…
…and other things…
…and the one right above row 28…
…stores the equipment…
…for the in-flight safety briefing video…
…so if you have any hand luggage, you will have to stuff them into those before row 25 or push it underneath the seat in front of you.
Honestly, I’m not complaining or anything just that it would probably be useful to take note of these things so we would not be caught unaware when flying in one of these aircrafts. Of course, we can always ask the very nice and friendly and very helpful flight attendants on board…
…for assistance. I did – I called out to one standing a few rows away from me, “Can you help me with my bag, please?” and smilingly, he replied, “Of course, most certainly,” and in no time at all, my bag was nicely stowed away up there and I could proceed to my seat.
I’m not too sure whether it was just my seat or it was the same with the rest or I had put on too much weight while in New Zealand and in Auckland specifically…but the seat belt was too short for me. So I had to get the attention of another one of the stewards on duty…
…and ask for an extension belt. He got one for me instantly and he even apologised that he had not got me one earlier. Ooooo…I was impressed! I would say that I should be flattered that he did not realise that I needed one…and I would take that as a compliment. Hehehehehe!!!!!
Breakfast was fine – I had the roti pratha with chicken curry…
…that came with a bar of Toblerone…
…and this very nice slice of chocolate cake…
But another thing I did not like about this aircraft was that I could not push the armrest completely in between the seats…
…like in the old Boeing aircrafts. I would usually do that when flying as that would give me a little more space…but not when I’m flying alone and I have a stranger sitting right next to me. Other than that, I also found that the toilets were smaller so I had a bit of difficulty moving around inside and getting in and out of the tight cubicle.
Still I’m not complaining…and I would say I do appreciate the effort on the part of the cabin crew to try and make everything as pleasant as possible and also the ones in the flight deck for a smooth and comfortable flight…and like I said earlier, it was just a 2-hour flight, anyway.
I don’t usually complain too…
But the recent flight I took from Jakarta was agonizing. My seat couldn’t recline! So my back was straight up for two hours =.=
You went by Air Asia – probably you ter-book the seats at the emergency exits. Those can’t be reclined – no buttons. Well, we were seated at the last row – couldn’t recline those either – the wall was right at the back but that wasn’t a problem. Two hours only sitting up straight and that was “agonising”? Hmmm…maybe you should go see a chiropractor or a Chinese sinseh – back problems are very common these days.
It is funny as you still complain.
Was I? Not really. Just sharing my opinions about the new aircraft and comparing it with the old ones – well, not exactly new, a few months…maybe a year now…but the first time I’ve flown in it. The flights were good – smooth-sailing, very happy with the pleasant service and all.
Bui, it’s time to shed off that extra kgs that you have been accumulating all these years. muahahahahha
Hehehehe!!!! Later not “sui” and not “tuapui” anymore, how to be “suituapui”? LOL!!!
Yeah, I’m with you on this one. I don’t mind delays, was subjected to a memorable one, a cascading delay starting from Frankfurt but I thought it was a pretty good experience.
I always think that being nice to cabin staff is important, I got a free upgrade once on a flight from Australia back while I was in uni coz someone was complaining in front and I was next in line and I said “It must be tough being in your job” and made small talk and smiled. I got upgraded to Business – the ground staff have discretion to do that.
Good post on the flights buddy! I hear there are some with embedded TVs in front even for short haul (e.g. KL-Sibu). I haven’t seen them yet though.
Yup! The one in this post was from KUL to Sibu. It depends on the type of aircraft you’re flying in. They have that in this “new” Boeing…and MasWings have that too in their ATR aircrafts (that have replaced the old Fokkers).
I guess it pays to be nice to everybody – what goes around comes around. After all, a smile and a greeting may be simple and quite effortless…but it may make someone’s day, anytime anywhere – imagine what they have to put up with on the job day in, day out.
Delays are things that cannot be avoided. Sometimes, it is “an act of God” – I would rather be delayed than to never reach my destination…and sometimes, it’s a snowball kind of thing – a passenger turns up late by 10-15 minutes on the first flight – the subsequent flights would be affected…and any more passengers like that, the delay gets longer. In fact, the cheap airline would want to leave as soon as possible as the longer they stay at an airport, the more they would have to pay…and thank goodness I have never experienced any delay when flying with that airline (except when they first started, using KLIA, and had all the teething problems…and when they were running FAX, the rurul air services in Sarawak and Sabah – that one’s horrible!). Touch wood! Hope it stays that way – fingers crossed.
Well said!
Thanks.
Commercial airlines! I guess it’s the time when you really get to meet people from all walks of life: nice ones, indifferent and nasty ones alike. Was on a plane from Moscow and joy oh joy I got to sit beside a genius who decided to binge on a bottle of vodka he bought from duty free. That experience kind of reminded me of working with psychiatric patients a few months back. I think what kills the flying experiences to me are the indecent passengers I meet when I fly instead of the crews and planes. Cabin crews usually cope with the rudeness rather well.
While I don’t complain about plane models I do concede that I prefer the jumbo A380s because the seats are so comfy and they provide charging sockets on the seats.
And yeah as HB said it really pays to be nice to the staff! Three course meals with proper cutleries and Ottoman seats for the win!
You? For someone your size, nice and slim…any seat would big and comfy! LOL!!!
Yet to fly on A380 – hope to get on it someday soon – to London. 
Ya…fellow-passengers. Had two sumo wrestlers in my same row on an AK flight, so three in a row – probably seeing our plight (or worried that the aircraft would tilt) the flight attendant suggested that they took the vacant seats at the back but they refused. But it was all right – less than two hours’ flight. What I really cannot stand is how fellow passengers will take out their phones to text messages the very moment the aircraft touches down – despite all the announcements. Just can’t understand the mentality of these people!
That’s true. More often than not, what you give is what you get…so people who complain all the time should start looking at themselves. There is a Chinese saying – you point at someone, you have 4 pointing back at you….
Er, I have yet to experience any discomfort during my flights…. either the service met my requirement or I’m an easy going person
Same here.
Actually I have no complaints on the flights too. Everything including the air stewardess are fine ;]
Yup! But some people can be quite difficult I would think – even the hotel in my post yesterday – If you go to their Facebook page, you can see a few nasty people there. I thought they’re pretty nice…or maybe my expectations are lower, not so high class one.
Delay for just a short while should be alright. So far, I have once experience a solid 2 hour delay from Kuching-KL because of heavy rain. In the end we were compensate each a RM5 McDonald voucher only.
Heavy rain, what to do? I would not want the pilot to risk it… Air Asia? More than 2 hours or not? If more, and you bought travel insurance, you can email them to claim – they will pay you RM200. A cousin of mine travels free all the time snowballing that RM200, one flight after another…but I would not want to be on the same flight as her. So sial – delay all the time! LOL!!!
Bananaz seldom go fb like you said too much complaints, trivial things and whatnot.
That depends on who your friends are – negatively-inclined people, I would just hide…or even unfriend! I don’t intend to log in and get all depressed. Life is miserable enough as it is…
So far so good in my years around the world in 8000 days. Maybe my expectations were not that high and have accepted the fact that flying requires tons of patience where delays are inevitable. Food wise no problemo coz Bananaz is a eat to live person.
It boils down to the individual. Obviously, those who complain a lot…are either very unlucky or there is something about them – fussy, hard to please.
I did not fly as often as you did, so maybe didn’t encounter any major dissatisfaction. I normally fly AA, so the only complaint I have is the LCCT! Firstly have to walk so far to the plane / terminal and more importantly, safety measures are lacking during the walk from plane to terminal and vice versa.
But the other times that I have taken the bigger airlines, SIA is still tops
I flew on that airline once – so-so, did not feel it was anything great…and they tell me it is expensive. I wouldn’t know… Not keen on flying to Singapore to catch the flight…and if not connecting, will have to stay one night – and it is definitely not as cheap as staying at my favourite airport hotel – see earlier post…and eating is expensive too…or for us, at least.
Yes, yes…LCCT…dunno why they must park so far away, right on the furthest side of the block…have to walk all the way…and by the time I get to the terminal building, I would be dripping in sweat!!!!
As for the cabin crews service also no complaints at all, never ever had any upsetting incident to recall back. They are well trained and performed their job pretty well. Moreover they are also human and not machines or superman or superwoman. Especially on a long haul flight they do go through ups & downs. To err is human to…
Indeed, there may be a few black sheep sometimes…but can’t go around killing all with one blow, can we?
Well, Mas Airline always have nothing much to complain about compare to AirAsia, personally I hate AirAsia so much.
I did not like it when they first started – so much hassle, so noisy like mobile disco…and pasar malam…but of late, I find that they’re much better. I do find that it is good, definitely good enough for me. Even the horrible airport seems a bit better these days…except for the walking bit – and the crowd IS different but as they say you fly cheap, you cannot expect five star… Same as staying in hotels – you stay cheap hotel, don’t expect high class five-star treatment but there are some very nice cheap hotels, I would say – not bad at all…
With MAS, no complaints….only the time I blogged about my flight was the recent one.. ie. the time when I flew back from Singapore to Ipoh by Firefly.. they couldnt land and flew to Penang and then back to Ipoh when the rain has stopped.. The flight nearly made me vomit…cos of the going up and down in the sky.. hahaha.. but Thank God for the pilot, he did the best for the passengers…
If that is the case, there is nothing for you to complain about the airline. They got you home safe and sound, in one piece and very much alive, didn’t they? It happens here all the time – been through that quite often – our airports in our smaller towns are smaller and in the event of very bad weather, it may not be good to risk it! I certainly would not want the pilot to!!!
Once I was flying back from Tokyo in the 80s…and while we were going to land (then at Subang), suddenly the aircraft started going up again – so suddenly that everyone was shocked and very puzzled! There was some mention of a plane crash! We were diverted to Penang and had to wait for hours and hours…while they cleared the runway. That plane that landed right before ours – the top half all blown off…but miraculously, everybody survived. So there we were – delayed for hours…but I certainly was thankful – it was not my plane!
If I have any complaints about flying, it’s most about fellow passengers who are noisy, or simply too uncaring about other people’s comfort.
So far so good…some may talk non-stop throughout the whole flight, and even with babies crying throughout the whole two-hour flight. What to do? Luck no good – some babies, we can’t do anything one…no matter what the parents or the cabin crew try to do. I’m sure the parents themselves also feel bad…. Just cannot stand people using their mobile phones on board – like they have some million dollar deal they would not want to miss. Like they’re illiterate, cannot understand the announcements….No class at all, these people! Tsk! Tsk!
ooo, i usually have no real complaints with MAS, but i do with airasia, cos my flights have always, always been delayed. including one that was delayed for five hours without advance warning until i had already gotten to the airport, without any excuse being offered, heh
Hmmmm…must make sure that I do not travel on the same flight as you then. LOL! No travel insurance? If you do, you can email them and claim RM200, I hear?
Sigh, if possible, I really don’t like to fly AA. Now u remind me how long I hv not take Mas airline. Lucky, March trip I manage to grab mas..with almost similar price .
Friendly and helpful stewardess sure make the trip a lot different.
I take MAS most of the time. I think one hand, can count the number of times I’ve flown AA.
Frankly, we should be very thankful that our national airline is wayyyy better and dare I say classier than many other airlines in the world. We might have encountered a few high and mighty stewardess ( haven’t met any rude steward yet ) but to compare them with those mat Salleh ones, ours still bearable lah. I would rather have delays if the aircraft have some malfuction or weather-related than risk flying in that situation. Sometimes we do tend to forget that no airlines want to cause any delay as delay means a lot of money wasted and a lot of hassle for them to re-organize everything again. Like you say, wait a little bit la.. who knows sometimes delay is a good thing and it might even save your life.
I met one pondan steward Penang-KL who behaved like he was a diva…bitchy…bitchy! – I think that was an isolated case.
My flights to Wellington and back were fine too. Indeed, every minute they stall at an airport, they would have to pay. That’s why Air Asia, they would land…get everybody out…and get everyone on board and they would take off quickly…if they can help it.
Of course, overly-long delays can be frustrating but what to do? 2005 in Auckland, thick fog and all flights diverted to Christchurch…and we had to sit at the airport for the fog to clear…and wait for the plane to come back from Christchurch, unload…and reload – we were delayed by at least 6-8 hours!!! What to do? Not the airline’s fault. Dunno why people seem to be in such a hurry – in Hokkien, we say, “Kua khee see” (Rush to die!).
Tomorrow I cuti commenting in your blog, ah unless I have the means to do so. Take care, don’t post anything I shouldn’t miss in case if I ter-miss
Off to Oz, eh? Get ready for the free sauna…and don’t forget to bring along your fly swatter!!! Have fun! Muahahahaha!!!!
aiya…you lost so much weight already ah? I thought you makan a lot over there. Must eat more this CNY.
I lost weight? Why would I need an extension belt if I had lost weight? Must control a bit over CNY, can keep growing and growing….all the time. I would not be able to fit into the chairs in the aircraft eventually.
Thanks for the tips! I think the arm rest could be made that way purposely to keep a distance between passengers.
It’s like that in most planes, I think – only in the old Boeing 737, it can be pushed completely in between the seats.
what is there so much to complain since you were given an extension belt immediately, a very nice slice of chocolate cake, and roti prata with curry chicken and a chocolate bar to feed you all the way?? hehehehe~~
BTW, if the Food Mayor of Sibu King Kampuarthur is sitting next to me, i will make sure the armrest will be tightly in place, so that he can’t cross the boundary, hahaha!!
No complaint at all – I have a great flight home. Hmmm…you think that arm rest will be able to keep us apart? Wink! Wink!
Muahahahahaha!!!!!
Toblerone?!! Hmmm… I guess the black leather seats are easier to clean and maintain compared to the colourful cloth upholstery.
I guess so. Oh? Why the “hmmm…”? Not one of those in your favour, “professionally”?
well honestly i have never flown a plane not even once in my life
but i’m looking forward to
Try Air Asia, come to Malaysia. Their catch line is: Everyone can fly. Grab one of their cheap promos – I think one is on right now…ending today!
well i guess most everyone on airlines is polite and proper
they are trained for the job and if not,
they wouldn’t be there in the first place
hmm but still inconvenience is inevitable
It depends. Some may have the qualifications but they may not actually be qualified. Same thing in any job or profession.
Had my fair share of awesome and awful flights. I complain a little but will just live with it. No point fretting over it and growing more wrinkles along the way.
If I am still cheesed off after the flight (e.g. long waits – I had a flight to Australia that was delayed for 7 hours and insufficient food by the time we took off) then I will write my necessary letter of complaint officially. Otherwise…I take it as an adventure:D
Most of the time, they will just ignore or just say some sweet something in reply and you’ll still be in Square One. But if it is a complaint about an employee, they will investigate and the letter may cause a whole lot of trouble for the poor fella. Would be better to just talk to the person nicely or even tell him/her off face to face – I hear he/she may be suspended for a month without pay…and imagine if he/she has a family to support. The airlines are very serious and strict about such things.
I have no complaint on MAS, but Air Asia yes.
Give and take a bit, considering that they’re cheaper…but so far, it was fine with me – only when they first started…but I don’t use that airline very often.
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