[draguer]

Quote:

After a six-week postponement, AirAsia have finally launched their ASEAN pass, opening up southeast Asian travel across 140 of their routes for a mere US$160 (NZ$213).

The ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) pass is now available for purchase and will allow you to fly to destinations in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Brunei, Singapore, and Indonesia.

The pass is valid for 30 days, and entitles travellers to ten credits' worth of flights.

Credits value the length of each flight; so a short hop from Bandung to Singapore would be one credit, however, a longer flight from Bangkok to Singapore, for example, would equal three. The base 'promo' or sale fare of a flight such as this, booking two weeks in advance, normally costs around $62.

Longer, 60-day passes will also be available for US$290 (NZ$385) and offer 20 credits' worth of flights.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: AirAsia to launch Southeast Asian air pass

However, booking a last-minute weekend trip to a full-moon party at the beach will not be possible as the pass requires that the purchaser books at least 14 days in advance.

Credits can only be redeemed on the base fare of the flight, so extras such as check-in baggage and meals will be added on to the cost of the flight, as will airport tax (on AirAsia flights, the costs of each of these things tends to be minimal anyway).

The pass was originally intended for sale from January 15, but was postponed in light of the AirAsia Indonesia Flight 8501 crash.

Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said the AirAsia ASEAN Pass will be the "catalyst" for increased air travel within south-east Asia and will also lure foreign tourists.

AirAsia, which has dominated cheap travel in the region for years, faces rising competition from the proliferation of discounts airlines in Asia, the world's biggest and fastest growing air travel market.

http://i.stuff.co.nz/travel/themes/budge...ASEAN-pass

Am sure this will be good news for a few of you on here.

[Kamaki4]

Many conditions with these passes. A few in particular raise red flags. 1) Each flight will need to be redeemed at least 14 days before departure.
2) Each route can only be redeemed ONCE using an AirAsia Asean Pass.
3) Flight redemption is LIMITED and subject to seat's availability, it may not be available on every flight or day, ie weekend, public holiday and school holiday.

[Kaebs]

(02-25-2015 11:49 AM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  

Many conditions with these passes. A few in particular raise red flags. 1) Each flight will need to be redeemed at least 14 days before departure.
2) Each route can only be redeemed ONCE using an AirAsia Asean Pass.
3) Flight redemption is LIMITED and subject to seat's availability, it may not be available on every flight or day, ie weekend, public holiday and school holiday.

Here is the core reason i'm not gonna buy this pass. Its quite similar to standby passes. Any1 else have experience with this? Like how do you work the system so you don't end up waiting an entire day just to board a flight.

[buja]

(02-25-2015 11:49 AM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  

Each flight will need to be redeemed at least 14 days before departure.

What exactly does this mean?
I have to figure out my flights at least 14 days before departure?

I guess so...

"Can I redeem a flight departing tomorrow?
No, each flight will need to be redeemed at least 14 days before departure."

[buja]

(02-25-2015 02:04 PM)Kaebs Wrote:  

Here is the core reason i'm not gonna buy this pass. Its quite similar to standby passes. Any1 else have experience with this? Like how do you work the system so you don't end up waiting an entire day just to board a flight.

I don't have real world experience...but from my understand of reading the website...

It differs from standby because you have to make a reservation at least 14 days in advance.

Presumably, since you have to book on the website in advance (and pay airport taxes), you would know well in advance whether or not you can get the flight.

[elcidcampeador]

It also doesn't include the airport/country taxes, which sometimes are quite expensive depending on the country. I just paid at least $75 for a simple return trip to Santo Domingo in taxes and airport charges.

It seems like a decent deal, although still it isn't a tremendous value and one has to commit all of the money upfront to Air Asia.

Also, there is 'limited availability' and as far as I know, no way to search online for this availability. Maybe they are blacking out certain higher fares?

There are plenty of competitiors in the region, and I only fly Air Asia when I am paying for my own ticket and there isn't a reasonably priced alternative.

Recently I flew BKK-SGN, and Jet Airways (full-service good airline) was cheaper than Air Asia. I flew Air Asia KUL-BKK because it was about $40 after paying for the bag, and Malaysia was $90.

As always, it will be useful to price out the flights you plan on using before considering Air Asia. Also add in $25 or so to each Air Asia flight for bags and the overall hassle of having no legroom.

EDIT: Here's the official link

[RagnarLothbrok]

So has anyone tried this ASEAN pass yet? I am currently considering buying the 30 day pass to fly the route Bangkok - Bali - Jakarta - Kota Kinabalu - Kuching - Kuala Lumpur - Bangkok.

If all those flights are really available at the time I want to book them, the ASEAN pass offers great value. Usually the flight Bangkok - Bali alone is 100$ one way. The ASEAN pass is 150$ at the moment.

[jayko]

give it a pass. not worth the hassle at all given their lousy service

[Kamaki4]

(05-30-2016 01:20 PM)RagnarLothbrok Wrote:  

So has anyone tried this ASEAN pass yet? I am currently considering buying the 30 day pass to fly the route Bangkok - Bali - Jakarta - Kota Kinabalu - Kuching - Kuala Lumpur - Bangkok.

If all those flights are really available at the time I want to book them, the ASEAN pass offers great value. Usually the flight Bangkok - Bali alone is 100$ one way. The ASEAN pass is 150$ at the moment.

Hard to argue with jayko, on this one, but if you do book and find availability for all the legs, give us an update on this thread. Air Asia has burned me once, but I'm not the first or the last to have that happen. Still use them occasionally because they are the only airline that flies direct from CM to Hat Yai and Krabi. I would never use them to fly from CM to BK(DMK), many of the other airlines that ply that route are better value for money.

[jayko]

@kamaki4, I guess your base is in Thailand, but i m not familiar with Thailand low cost carrier unfortunately.