AirAsia Check-in
Web and mobile check-in are available upon booking confirmation up to four hours before take off for AirAsiaX flights (one hour before scheduled departure for AirAsia flights). Check-in desks at the airport close about one hour before scheduled departure.
AirAsia baggage allowance
Cabin baggage: Passengers may bring one piece of baggage weighing up to 7kg with dimensions of 56cm x 36cm x 23cm plus one smaller item such as a laptop or purse.
For ex-Kuala Lumpur flights (to Melbourne for example) the baggage costs are as follows: Supersize Regular (up to 15kg - RM 50), Supersize Medium (up to 20kg - RM 60), Supersize Large (up to 25kg - RM 90) and Supersize Xtra Large (up to 30kg - RM 100). The cost of purchasing a baggage allowance (of 15kg) at KL airport is RM 60.
Excess rates: Excess baggage charges (also apply to excess sports equipment) cost RM 40 per kg if leaving Kuala Lumpur (for Melbourne).
Prams/strollers/buggies, wheelchairs, mobility devices and walking frames may be checked-in free of charge.
AirAsia legroom
About 79cm (31in). Hot Seats - with extra legroom - are available for a fee. They're located near exit doors, lavatories, and some have baby bassinets. On the Airbus 330 and 340, there are standard seats, Hot Seats and Premium Flat Bed Seats (AirAsia's version of Business Class).
Pre-arranged seating
From KL (flying on to Melbourne) the Standard Seat costs RM 35, the Hot Seat RM 110.
Passenger change details
On flights departing KL (for Australia for example), flight changes or cancellations cost RM 140 (per sector) and name changes cost RM 200 (per booking).
Child fares
Ex-Kuala Lumpur the fee for the under twos costs RM 125.
Senior fares
AirAsia doesn't offer discounts for older travellers.
Pets
AirAsia does not accept any animals on board (including service dogs).
Carrying musical instruments
A small musical instrument (violin/guitar/saxophone or trumpet) may be carried on board flights. The usual cabin-baggage routes apply: it should be 56cm x 36cm x 23cm and weigh no more than 7kg. For larger pieces, passengers purchase the baggage allowance that they need.
In-flight service
There is a buy-on-board food service. In accordance with Shariah law AirAsia does not serve alcohol or pork on regional flights. However, wine and beers are available for purchase on AirAsiaX flights. The menus vary by route.
Air miles
BIG is AirAsia's frequent-flyer scheme. Passengers earn points (or BIGGIES) with every transaction and may redeem their points for flights. Earn one BIGGIE with every RM2 spent.
Airline food link
See what meals and snacks fellow passengers purchased on their AirAsiaX flights on Airlinemeals.net.
In-flight magazine
AirAsia's in-flight magazine is Travel 3 Sixty. It's available to read online.
Airline alliances
AirAsia has an alliance with Jetstar, a Qantas subsidiary.
Airline overview
AirAsia is a Malaysian-based budget airline with a long-haul arm called AirAsiaX. Imagine a long-haul version of Ryanair, where you pay for everything you might need and a Virgin-Atlantic style red colour scheme.
AirAsia's main hub is at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and it has secondary hubs at Kota Kinabalu International, Penang International and Kuching International. Subsidiary carriers are Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, VietJet AirAsia, AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia Japan.
AirAsia flies on to hundreds of cities in Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan and Iran.
The group was bought in 2001 for just one ringgit (plus RM 40 million of debt) by Tony Fernandes's company Tune Air Sdn Bhd. Little more than a decade later, it has the lowest operating costs of any airline in the world ($0.035/seat-kilometre in 2010).