Have you flown Airasia?

[nickle730]

Not sure where to put this one, since the decision is ultimately about money, I stuck it here!

Have you flown Airasia? I want to book a holiday (to Asia!) and their fares are markedly cheaper than the next cheapest airline (as in $2K cheaper!). Now, I know that they are no-frills and you get what you pay for and all of that, but I have a specific question - did you pay extra to choose your seats? We are traveling as a family of five and it will cost an additional $300 to choose our seats. I don't care where we sit, but I don't want the five of us scattered randomly around the plane. The person who is seated next to Miss P might not be too keen!! So, will they keep the children with an adult or are we likely to be scattered if we don't cough up the extra?

[xXHopeXx]

I'm not 100% sure they wouldn't but don't kids/babies have to be supervised? if so then that should pretty much guarantee that you would at least be with one and hubby with the others or vice versa, but I'm pretty sure it's first in best dressed, if you don't pick seats, you get what's left from who does pay to pick

[Ree*Ree]

I'm flying with them today to Bali I'm going with my mum and she has paid the extra to get us seats together.
Last October DH, DS and I flew with them also and didn't pick seats, as DS was only 18months we didn't buy a seat for him, and we did get split up - I was up the front of the plane, and DH somewhere near the back!
I wouldn't put it past them to not plan to seat children with parents, I would give them a ring and ask.

It definitely is a no-frills airline, small and a bit cramped, but doable for short flights and keeping in the budget!

[nickle730]

Thanks, ladies. I'm relying on their own policy which states that minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times! It would be ok for us to be seated with myself with two children and DH with one or vice versa, but not ok for us all to be separate! DD1 will be 10 and would probably cope ok, but DS is 7 and would not be happy. DD2 will be two and obviously needs to sit with a parent.

Have done a bit of Googling and it seems common to seat adults separately but not so much children away from parents, although it does happen. The travel forums I have read seem to indicate that the seats will be shifted so that parent's are seated with their children if staff are reminded of their own safety policy. A lot of recommendations to check in early online to ensure seats together. Hmmm... need to think on it! $300 is quite a lot to pay for peace of mind if we would be seated together anyway!

Have a great holiday, Ree. Let me know how you go with AA!

[sahbear]

I flew with them in September, and we had no problems at all. We didnt pre pick our seats.
DH and I were kept together - DS was an infant, so no seat for him - but we received an offer a couple of days before to buy a seat for him for next to nothing (obviously to fill up the plane) which we did.
They also weigh all of your luggage - including hand luggage, so watch your weight limits.