tiny ticket

Last work week has been a tight one. 4 flights in 3 days; to and fro Langkawi on Wednesday, to Kuching on Thursday and return to KL on Friday... AirAsia should really look at solving the delays in their flight schedule... 4 out 4 flights were delayed... that's 100% from my point of view. The 1st flight to Langkawi delayed for about 1/2 hour to refuel the Airbus. Return flight was delayed for 2 hours because "we don't know for sure, it's KL's arrangement"... The flight to Kuching was delayed for about 35 minutes and return flight was delayed for 50 minutes... "Murah maa..." said one man who sat next to me on the flight to Kuching. Yes, very true indeed. The airfare is very cheap... but I think a little bit more attention to customer's satisfaction will do no harm. Anyway, for the benefit of doubt, they may have strong reasons for the delays and I may not have the best knowledge to compare their performance with other airlines... Based on this experience, I would say go for AirAsia if you want to cut cost with real low priced air fare but if you want to be punctual for an appointment, I am not convinced with AirAsia, at least for now.

The flight to Kuching scheduled to depart at 3.25pm means I've to check-in before 2.40pm. It was a real rush since I only left Puchong at 2pm. Ironically, only the day before, before our flight to Langkawi, I told my colleague that I hate rushing and I never mind being very early than required for any occassion...

I managed to reach LCCT car park around 3.25pm, the car park 'chip-coin' machine was broken and they gave a tiny piece of photocopied ticket at the car park entrance instead. Ironically, in Langkawi the day before, while at Kuah Jetty car park, we saw a sign at the carpark exit counter that says RM30 fine for lost car park ticket. My colleague suggested that to make easy money they should make the parking ticket as tiny as possible so that it is easier to lose the ticket... and that was what I got at LCCT. It didn't take long before I realized that the tiny ticket was missing. While lining up for check-in I looked for it in my wallet and bags but didn't find it.

I was thinking to go back to the car after checked in and try look for the carpark ticket and maybe request the staff at the carpark entrance to produce a new one for me since I've just entered and there's chance that they'll remember me. But the check-in counter staff asked me to immediately go to the departure gate since it's about boarding time already.

In the hall, around 3.05 pm AirAsia announced that the flight is delayed, since the plane will only arrive at LCCT at 3.30pm, they appologized of course. So I thought I can use that time to go back to the car park. When I asked one staff at the gate for a transit pass (required to exit the departure hall), the staff is reluctant since if the plane arrive they will call for boarding and will wait for no one to close the gate. I understand the policy and reasons for it but it's kind of ironic because their flight is always late and she is warning me that there's no room for a paying customer to be late at all.

Arrived from Kuching, I failed to find the tiny carpark ticket in the car. I was penalised RM50 on top of the parking fees. In total, I have to pay more than RM100 to exit the car park. It was really frustrating to lose money in that way. It really was a lesson learnt the hard way. Ironically, when exiting the carpark at the Kuah Jetty, 2 days earlier, seeing the carpark rate was only RM0.30 per hour, and we were only charged RM0.60 in total, I said to my colleague, "I can even pay for 5 cars instead"... yes, at that moment, I said it jokingly but it really makes me think on the way back home from LCCT...