Two things are happening at the same time: people have less money and low cost airlines are expanding. Yeoh Siew Hoon, for one, is enjoying the new freedom in the sky.
Firefly, Malaysia's first community airline. Courtesy of FireflyA friend of mine who has enough personal wealth to retire comfortably at 40 if he wanted to told me the other day, "I now fly low cost airlines. It's not too bad once you've done it."
He is not alone. There are many travellers who used to shun low cost carriers but are now giving it a go, and then finding the experience not too bad.
Actually, if you're flying shorthaul, there's not much differential between the two. For example, as I write this, I am sitting on Seat 8C on a Malaysia Airlines' flight from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur on a rather old-looking Boeing 737-800. The seats are narrow. The flight is full.
The Jetstar Asia flight I took last week from Hong Kong to Singapore on a newer A320 was more comfortable, space-wise and seat-wise. Yes, the MAS flight included food, but on Jetstar, I can choose whether I want to eat and what I wish to eat.
The differential is of course bigger if you happen to be on the new A380 on Singapore Airlines. Yes, I finally took my first flight on the biggest bird in the sky and I have to say it's a super quiet and super comfortable plane.
Because it is so quiet, some people find the noise on takeoff and landing a bit unnerving – you do hear every creak, every strain and every whirr of those magical, mechanical things that are designed to help this giant take off and touch down. Across the aisle from me, a woman cringed every time she heard a whine from the aircraft.
I am also told by pilot friends that they find it hard to sleep on the aircraft because it is so quiet and they hear every noise from the galley and cabin. Apparently, they are used to sleeping with "white noise".
I personally found it so comfortable that for a moment, in the midst of watching "The Great Buck Howard", I almost forgot I was on a flight.
In the last few months, low cost airlines have stepped up their expansion in ASEAN in anticipation of the Open Skies agreement due to come into effect early next year. It has given us travellers so much freedom and choice over when we want to fly and who we want to fly with.
For instance, I had been booked on an SIA return flight from Hong Kong but chose to book an earlier Jetstar Asia flight because I wanted to get out before a typhoon arrived. I booked my Jetstar flight at midnight for an 11am departure.
On this trip, after Kuala Lumpur, I flew with Firefly, my first time with this new Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, to Penang. Firefly flies from Subang and what a transformation this airport has undergone – its ceiling has glittery little stars that remind you of, yes, fireflies. You also avoid that long trek to and from Sepang, a major advantage, and the cramped, crowded LCCT that AirAsia has to use.
The flight is on a turboprop ATR, perfectly comfortable. The service is friendly and you get a mini muffin and a drink, free. Firefly, billed as "your community airline", says it is not low cost, just no frills.
It now flies from Singapore direct to places in Malaysia that have hitherto been hard to get to – Kuantan, Kuala Trengganu, Kota Bahru, Ipoh and Alor Setar. This will open up a world of choices for urban-trapped Singaporeans and visitors transiting through the city.
From Penang to Singapore, I flew AirAsia. My mistake was forgetting the baggage allowance being so used to flying with SIA for the last two decades on this route – I ended up paying RM400 for extra baggage. My mother had insisted on loading my suitcase with food because she thinks I am starving to death in Singapore.
This month, my mother will fly to Surabaya from Penang on a trip with her friends where they will volunteer to work at an orphanage in the Indonesian city.
Like the Europeans, we ASEANians are getting used to a new kind of travel – one that is liberating and empowering.
We no longer have to pay more than we should to get to where we wish to be.
As for my friend, he will stick to flying business class on longhaul flights. "That's something I won't give up," he said.
That, plus the yacht he is planning to buy. "You can use it anytime," he said.
I know it won't be a low cost yacht.
Yeoh Siew Hoon, one of Asia's most respected travel editors and commentators, writes a regular column on news, trends and issues in the hospitality industry for 4Hoteliers.com.
Siew Hoon, who has covered the tourism industry in Asia/Pacific for the past 20 years, runs SHY Ventures Pte Ltd. Her other writings can be found at www.thetransitcafe.com
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