Filed under: Travel
So really, how often does one get to experience the feel and scent
hands-on on a new Airbus aircraft freshly assembled out of the factory
whilst paying a low price for it? Not quite often enough.
As most people would know, AirAsia recently ordered a whole fleet of these A320’s as they’re doing very well with the Malaysian domestic flights industry, laughs and points at MAS and their painting. Externally at this time you would notice that the plane looks very clean, shiny and brand new - simply because it is, compared to the Boeing 737 which is the can be compared in this class aircraft of the A320.
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I was one of the lucky ones who got a chance to get on one of these on my way back from Kuching, and I must say, it’s like getting into the family’s new car! The upholstered leather seats, wider cabin and larger overhead baggage space, plus the smell of that fine leather lingering in the air, it was too perfect to be an AirAsia economy flight! I didn’t get to take an external view of the plane as I boarded it via the new Terminal at Kuching Airport where they had the automatic feeder bridge and not the conventional Kuching native ’staircase truck’ method of climbing onto an aricraft which would have permitted a sweet shot of the cabin side and General Electric-SNECMA engine.
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Airbus cockpits tend to look more bulky than aerodynamic like Boeing’s
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The ambience of the plane was very clean and bright, as all the panels and lights are still in virgin condition, you won’t find stained walls or window covers on this flight, folks. For now at least. Again, the luxury on this flight cannot describe the worth of paying RM200 to ride it.
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About 25 minutes into the flight, the flight attendants will start selling food and drinks followed by merchandise. Now, incase you haven’t gotten on an AirAsia flight yet, they don’t include food in your ticket fee, instead you have to purchase what you want from a menu of two one item for your main course. One main course. Fried rice for evening flights and Nasi Lemak for morning flights, and I can’t even get started on describing to you how bad the Nasi Lemak is, but at 25,000 feet in the air it’s a last resort and it costs the same as 10 packs of noodles on the ground. There’s plenty of snacks to choose from though, which also cost at least 5 times more than the retail price. On this flight though, the water heater broke down so there’s no main course to serve. I thought this was a new plane? Heh.
Merchandise, well, let’s just say they were selling the usuals - t-shirts, caps and die cast planes and what nots. But really, who would want to buy an AirAsia shirt? and next to that, why? Looking like flight attendants is cool now maybe?
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As per how I’ve mentioned, the overhead baggage compartments are bigger in the A320 compared to the 737, the maximum load per compartment is 38KG and it can probably fit an average small sized suitcase, perfect for snappy travellers that don’t check in their luggage, and those pesky kids crying during turbulance!
As mentioned by fellow blogger Kenny, there is one con to this slick new masterpiece..
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Where the heck did the button for me to press to recline the seat go to?? No, this is not a method they use to avoid from people resorting to slumber, snoring and disruptin the flight, as per what I’ve read the absence of the reclining option makes maintainence costs low as there are no mechanical parts to the seats. Believeable? You be the judge. I think it’s pretty ridiculous that this is taken out as the A320 supports flights up to 4 hours, and nobody wants to take a 4 hour flight without getting some shut-eye unless they had an excessive dose of caffein, nicotine, alcohol, bing bangs, marajuana or porn the night before the flight.
All in all, you know what my verdict is, this airplane may be sighed in the future, but for now it’s my time and it’s great, and is way too worth it. Consider it the first class of economy, with a non reclining exquisite leather seat. Good job, Tony!
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