Expensive fares ...not everyone can fly

Last Wednesday a good friend of mine sent a text message inviting me to a kenduri. Liz, my dearest friend, is going to celebrate her sons' birthday as well as a kenduri for her youngest son ... I really really wanted to come and visit her ...in fact i promised her that i would be visiting her in Kuantan this year ...a promise made early this year when Aariz was born ...so, by friday morning (after i got her text message) i decided to check out the flights to Kuantan ...lo and behold, the cheapest quotes that i got was RM 1,300 ....using MAS ...as there is no Airasia flights that serve the Kuala Lumour -Kuantan sector ....felt like crying ...was so looking forward to meeting her ....it is nearly a year since we last saw each other ...the last time we met was last Nov, when she was heavily pregnant with Aariz ...

This brings me to this issue that has been bugging me for a very long time. I am very disappointed with the Malaysian air transportation nowadays ...there was a time where all fares under MAS was fixed ....and you know what price you are supposed to pay ...but because of profit, they (under Idris Jala) started to emulate Airasia ...you book early, you pay less ...you book late or last minute you pay more ...this is a disgrace coz this practice is actually victimizing those people who are facing emergency situations ...those who have an urgent, unexpected businness that require them to use the air transport ....my dad was complaining about this all the time ....orang susah jadi lebih susah sebab tambang mahal ...if you have alternative mode of transport, then it wont matter much ...but if you are in semenanjung and have to go back home to Sarawak or Sabah for family emergencies ...or in situations involving life and death ...you wont have much choice ...unless you have a boat or sampan handy ...and that alone take days ...an utterly impossible feat ....

So, people turn to Airasia ...Yes, it is cheaper comparatively... But with all the add-ons that one has to pay ...the price is also rather steep ...it is ok if you are earning 6k a month ...but those people with limited disposable income and saving really dont have any choice ....i really thought that the old pricing was great ...but as younall know ...money and profit rule!!!!! by the way, do you guys know that Airasia is now having this RM10 fee if you are checking in at their counter??? this is because they are encouraging people to check in online ....again, those without access to internet or smartphones are the victims ....but do they care???

How can airline serves the public better? Merging airasia and MAS services? Dont think that is the solution ....Let's stop and think about this for a moment ....

Liz, my promise is still a promise ...i will visit you in Kuantan ....just have to find a cheaper ticket ....have a great kenduri ....