How to get the best deals on AirAsia

Air Asia's advertisements : As sweet as a boy's lips telling you he'll never break your heart. Sounds securely tempting, but you know you'll get screwed over in the process. 

If you are a frequent flyer with AirAsia, you will discover that it is almost impossible to score the deals that they promote on their advertisements. China for RM300? Or Singapore for RM50? After many attempts of getting the best deals online, I have discovered some tricks for buying your tickets, without hairpulling tantrums, and minimal swearing (and get a good deal while you’re at it!).

To pull this task off, you will need these important things :

1. A well updated diary/organizer/planner
2. A rough idea of how long you would want to stay in a place
3. Online banking account (with money inside, of course)
4. Stable and reliable internet.
5. A higher-than-normal patience (a yoga session before booking is highly recommended)

If you are like the other 85% of the world’s population with school, work or a schedule to keep up to, it is impossible to start buying random tickets without checking the schedule. Your diary should be in front of you during the booking to look for possible dates of travel.

Tip : do highlight the public holidays of Malaysia (or any other country you are flying into or out from) to detect if you can extend your stay.

More often than not, long weekends or holiday season is a rather difficult time to get a deal. So don’t keep your expectations high when buying the tickets during holiday seasons such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, New Year or Christmas. Include in the diary the festivals that happen at your destination to ensure that you do not miss anything special.

An illustration of how your diary should look like. Do take into consideration the classes you'll miss or the days you have to take leave in order for this to be possible. 

So in this example, if I leave on the 22nd for a 5d4n trip to Beijing, I will have to take 2 days off from work? Sounds possible, right?

Now, moving forward with the booking, opt for the dates that you do seem free in (double bonus if you are getting the ones on promotion)

Oh lookie look! KL-Beijing return airfare for RM1,200? Sounds cool? Now lets see how we can make sure this number remains at RM1,200.

1. Luggages. 

If you are relatively comfortable with travelling with only one backpack and not carrying any other form of luggages with you, then you don't have to spend money for the additional luggages. 

Tip : Bear in mind that there is a limit to the carry on luggage and AirAsia can be pretty strict about them. Make sure that you are only carrying in one bag (with the exception of ladies, you can bring in your handbag along) and that the bag does not weigh more than 7kg

Tip : If upon double checking, you discover you have exceeded the limit, buy your luggages at least 3 hours before your check in time. The rates are murderous after that.

AMOUNT SAVED : RM65 x 2 

                                        = RM 130

2. Add-on calories. 

I call them add on calories because they function like calories. They are hidden inside the little form of foods that you never think twice, and SHAZAM! you are fat like a Godzilla. Okay, maybe I suck at making metaphors but you get the idea right? 

These are the things that you should pay extra attention to :

• Red carpet services (RM 100)
• Food 
• Travel Insurance (RM34)
• Skybus (RM12)

Some of them are automatically added on, and thus, you have to pay attention and unclick them as you feel necesary. 

Tip : Save the food and the bus trip for later. Your plans might alter and the prices of the bus and the food are the same online as the are when you pay cash. 

Tip 2 : If you do plan on getting the travel insurance, please do pay attention and read all the clause (or if you are like my friends, find the lawyer friend (and give them hell) to read them for you). Personally, I have chosen not to travel with their travel insurance for reasons that I do not think their limited coverage is worth it. If you are contemplating on it, I suggest you read their policies on lost luggages and delayed flights. I doubt you'll ever click that button again. 

AMOUNT SAVED : RM 100 x 2 + RM 34 + RM 12

                            = RM 246

3. Seating Arrangements

Personally, I can sleep like a log on the plane. I have trained my brain to sleep the moment the cabin crew stands in front and takes out the yellow vest. Unless you are the sort who requires seating with your travel partner or if you are travelling with a child, I suggest that you skip the seating arrangements. 

This is the trickiest part of the whole transaction. You need to deliberately cancel out your seating, or they will consider your picked seat for RM35 (even if all you did was press Confirm)

Remember to unselect!

AMOUNT SAVED : RM 35 x 2

                           = RM 70

4. Payment method

If you can, do opt for the debit card or auto debit (Internet Banking), rather than the conventional credit card. For every flight for every person, they will charge you RM 16 per transaction. That means if you are buying a ticket for a family of four, you will spend an approximately RM128 for nothing. Direct debit has zero charges and you'll be good to go!

AMOUNT SAVED : RM16 x 2

                           = RM 32

So, if you have followed the tips correctly, you would have saved a total amount of 

RM 478.00

*insert sounds of applause here*

That amount can get me to and fro CAMBODIA for another happy pizza Angkor Wat trip!

Hope this was beneficial, and yes, you're welcome :D

ps : I didn't actually buy the tickets to Beijing as stated in the example because I am broke and unemployed at the moment  I just finished law school and I have to wait until my pupillage starts before I can even start dreaming about travelling again. However, if you (yes, you the one who is reading this) are somehow an eccentric billionaire who wants to spend money on young travel enthusiasts, you can definitely buy me the ticket above. Hahahaha. (no, seriously, I mean it) 

Love, 

;)