1. Kudos to MAS for finally realizing that they cannot continue to ridiculously charge for fuel surcharge when the price of oil is below USD40 per barrel! I just hope that there won’t be any other special fee imposed after the removal of this fuel surcharge because we are not stupid.
2. I notice that not all of 100% of the fuel surcharge is removed. Why is this? Excessive profit withdrawal symptoms?
3. MAS must be competitive if they want to continue to stay relevant but no necessarily afloat. There are so many other airlines that offer far better competitive packages for the same type and class of travel and such competition is healthy. I took a MAS economy flight recently to Kota Bharu and paid RM691 for a return trip. I only got a glass of juice and a packet of nuts on board. I later found out that Firefly (100% subsidiary of MAS) flies to Kota Bharu from Subang and the average ticket price is only around RM300! I felt like a fool for assuming that there were no other alternatives. I wonder what would have been AirAsia’s fare that same day for the same route? If I was given a foot reflexology and a Shangri-La buffet meal on board for that RM691 i think I would not complain. We all have choices don’t we?
4. Are the MAS ticket prices high in general or is it just high in Malaysia so that all government and government corporate related travel pays full overpriced fares? I find it hard to imagine that despite the premium high fares, some flights are still full. Is everyone paying the same fare? I have heard before that the bundling of packages on MAS say from London to Sydney is cheaper than the London to KL flight but i have not confirmed this. With free booze on board its no wonder the Europeans choose to fly cheap on Malaysia Airlines! Their return on investment on booze alone in that long haul flight covers their fare cost! So if it is true then it is a sad state of affair because these passengers are not even coming to Malaysia as tourists.
5. An isolated example to prove my point – I just confirmed today with Malaysia Airlines 1-300-883000 that a business class return fare from Hanoi to London for March 15 travel is USD2406 which is approx RM8,400 per passenger! I then confirmed that a return trip business class from Kuala Lumpur to London is about RM23,000! This is true.
6. The appalling fact here is, it is the SAME plane from Hanoi that comes to Kuala Lumpur on route to London! Logically speaking the extra distance from KL to Hanoi and vice versa should make the fare more expensive than RM23,000! If we are using logic that is. If we are not using logic, then i stand to be corrected.
7. Are we Malaysians subsidizing the world market to ensure MAS flights are not empty? I can accept discounts for travel from other countries but RM8,000 to RM23,000 is a big “makes no sense” commercial gap! How is the pricing and bundling policy executed and audited at Malaysia Airlines?
8. On both counts, MAS has committed a serious social crime. One is to the Malaysian People for overcharging all of us so that the rest of the world can travel cheaply. And secondly, to the shareholders of MAS for commercially and purposely creating an opportunity revenue loss!
9. I think all Malaysians who want to fly business class to London please book your ticket on the internet for a Hanoi-London route and pay the rate on the internet of RM8400.
10. Then take AirAsia from LCCT to Hanoi if you are lucky for RM99 per way (you only need a one way ticket because on the way back you can get off at KLIA without proceeding onwards to Hanoi! if without luggage that is)
11. This finally solves how Tony’s AirAsia can now strategically collaborate with Malaysia Airlines for the optimal benefit of all Malaysians!
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an eye opener, indeed.
let’s face it, it’s tough when the business is political. Even tougher when the company do not address the recurring profit loss, then suffer again every year. Yet, down south, in Singapore the most profitable airline in the world exist as an example for them to follow. I had the oppurtunity to fly on Singapore Airlines on a night to Brisbane from KLiA for RM1000 nett. No AirAsia then. Because it was cheap, we took the whole family, 10 of us to Gold Coast for Hari Raya. As a customer, we have options. MAS must remember that and make it a point to stay competitive so that we Malaysians prefer to fly on MAS.