Flyer fined for bomb threat idiocy

Idiot of the Week award goes to airline passenger Liu Jinqi.

The Chinese traveller has fined - but unfortunately not banned for life - for communicating a fake bomb threat to budget airline AirAsia.

Liu, 28, wanted to change her seat, but after several attempts to contact the airline failed, she opted to take drastic action, travel news hub Travel Mole reported.

After attempts to talk to the airline through its website and via email failed to get a response, she took to the airline’s chatbot system.

She wrote: “Human service emergency, bomb dangerous.”

The airline promptly contacted police.

The travel twit was in Malaysia and booked an AirAsia flight from Tawau in Sabah to Kuala Lumpur, ahead of another flight from KL back to Beijing, China.

Liu and her travel companion were tracked down and arrested and Liu pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal intimidation in a Malaysian court.

She was fined RM5,000 (around $1800).

“I only wanted to change my seat," said entitled Liu.

"I had tried contacting AirAsia, but there was no response. That is why I used the word ‘bomb’ so that my message would get immediate attention.”

Budget airline offers a further 20% off fares

A flight between Sydney and Auckland for $169, or Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur for $339?

Those are just two of the offers in the AirAsia mid-year Grand Sale. which was launched today and last for just one week.

The sale enables travellers to enjoy 20% off all seats and all flights to 130 destinations across Asia.

The premium flatbeds on AirAsia X are also on sale at 20% off.

The promotional fares are available for bookings starting today until July 16 for the travel period between September 4, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

Among the offers are:
Auckland to Sydney from just $169 (economy), $389 (flatbed)
Auckland to Kuala Lumpur from $471 (economy), $1599 (flatbed)
Sydney to Kuala Lumpur from $319 (economy), $959 (flatbed)
and Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur from $349 (economy), $859 (flatbed)

Leisure destinations in Malaysia include Langkawi, Kuala Terengganu, Penang, Johor Bahru and Kuching, along with international cities such as Singapore, Brunei, Bangkok, Kaohsiung, Guilin, Medan and more.

There is also 20% off ancillary offerings including Hot Seats (extra leg room and priority boarding) and all AirAsia airlines are included in the sale: AirAsia Malaysia (AK), Thai AirAsia (FD), Indonesia AirAsia (QZ), Philippines AirAsia (Z2), AirAsia X Malaysia (D7), Thai AirAsia X (XJ).

All fares are, of course, subject to embargo periods and terms and conditions apply.

Bookings can be made via the AirAsia Superapp.

Budget airline restarts Bali flights

After a hiatus of over two years, AirAsia has resumed services on its Perth to Bali route.

The inaugural flight, which was 93% full, departed Perth Airport last night.

AirAsia Indonesia CEO Veranita Yosephine said: “The past two years have been extremely difficult for everyone, however things are finally returning to normal. 

"We are thrilled to return to West Australia. It was truly an incredible moment to welcome everyone on board our first flight from Perth to Bali since March 2020.  

“West Australians love Bali and as Asia’s low fare leader, we will continue to provide great-value deals and special promotions for flights and accommodation, from our Airasia Super App and the Airasia website.

“Demand for our new services is very pleasing with many flights filling fast, and we will continue to review opportunities to increase services in the future to match this pent up demand.”  

Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown was delighted to see another airline partner return.

 

“Pre-Covid, AirAsia was offering three daily services to Bali Denpasar, and we are looking forward to working with the airline to increase its services in the coming months as more people seek out a winter travel escape and reconnect with Perth’s favourite tropical island destination,” he said.

 

AirAsia is now operating flights on the Bali-Perth and Perth-Bali routes four times a week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with plans to add additional services in the near future. 

Flights can be booked at airasia.com, through online travel agents and other official ticket sales agents.

A most unwelcome guest on an Air Asia flight

An AirAsia domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau, Sabah, earlier this week was diverted after a snake was seen in one of its overhead compartments.

AirAsia said that as soon as the flight’s captain was aware of the incident, he made the decision to divert the aircraft to Kuching, Sarawak, Channel News Asia reported.

This was done as a precautionary measure to fumigate the aircraft, said the airline.

Video clips of the shadow of a snake inside one of the plane’s overhead compartments had been circulating on social media.

“This is a very rare incident which can occur on any aircraft from time to time,” said AirAsia’s chief safety officer Capt Liong Tien Ling in an emailed statement to CNA.

“The Captain took the appropriate action,” said Liong, adding that the safety and wellbeing of their guests and crew was always their top priority.

“At no time was the safety of guests or crew at any risk,” he said.

It was unclear how the snake got inside the aircraft and there was no information if it belonged to any passengers.