AirAsia guests have commended the airlines’ latest addition to its self check-in facility – the web check-in that was made available from Tuesday, 17 February 2009.

With the new innovation, air travelers can now save time on pre-departure procedures by using the free- of-charge web check-in facility implemented across AirAsia and AirAsia X’s entire network.

“This is a wonderful innovation. With AirAsia’s web check-in, I can perform check-in myself in the office. I do not have to worry about long queues at the counters anymore. It allows me to plan my trip better and saves me a lot of time, and it minimizes chances of missing my flight,” said Janice Kuek, an AirAsia guest from Kuala Lumpur when met at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal today.

The web check-in facility allows AirAsia and AirAsia X guests to skip long check-in queues at the airport if they web check in at www.airasia.com from 48 to 4 hours before their scheduled flight departure. Web check in is available for all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights.

During web check-in, guests may also opt for AirAsia’s Baggage Supersize and “Pick A Seat,” new services that allow for carriage of more baggage weight and the option to choose seats, respectively. “Pick A Seat” has been smoothly implemented on all AirAsia flights beginning 17 February 2009.

Another guest, Nazatul Ismail Kamaruddin from Sungai Buloh who was en route to Bandung for a holiday with his family, said: “The web check-in is really convenient for me and my family. All we need to do upon reaching the airport is present our printed boarding passes and drop our luggage at the special counter. Also, with Pick A Seat, we no longer have to worry about rushing to board the aircraft. With a nominal fee we can choose where we want to sit, and that is important for a family with small kids like us.”

Kathleen Tan, Regional Head of Commercial, AirAsia, said, “At AirAsia, long check-in queues will be history. We have invested in technology that now offers web check-in services to guests flying across our network of over 114 routes to over 64 destinations. With our increasing use of technology to enhance services, we stay in step with the needs of our guests, who call for convenience in their travels.”

AirAsia’s web check-in is complemented by the self check-in kiosks that allow self-check in from 6 to 1 hour before departure. Airports that allow kiosk check-in include those in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang), Thailand (Chiang Mai, Hatyai, and Phuket) and Indonesia (Jakarta and Bali).

With the latest addition of web check-in facility, AirAsia now boasts of three check-in options for its guests: via web at www.airasia.com, self check-in kiosk at selected airports, and through conventional check-in counters at airports.

“We expect our host of check-in options to increase demand for AirAsia seats, especially among professionals and young adults who gravitate towards fast and efficient do-it-yourself electronic services. This increase in demand can only strengthen AirAsia’s lead among low-cost airlines in Asia. Our string of innovations brings ease of travel to guests from Southeast Asia, China, Bangladesh, India, Australia and UK. These electronic services are incredibly user-friendly; guests from all walks can easily use them,” Kathleen said.

Check In Options

1. To check in via the web, guests must log on to www.airasia.com between 48 to 4 hours before flight departure, key in details pertinent to their travel, then print their web check-in boarding passes.
2. To check in via self check-in kiosk, guests need to key in details pertinent to their travel into self check-in machines at selected airports.
3. At the airport, domestic travelers with check-in baggage go to the baggage drop/document check counter before proceeding to the departure gate.
4. All international travelers go to the document check counter for baggage check-in, if needed, and travel document verification before proceeding to immigration and departure gates.
5. Domestic travelers with check-in baggage and all international travelers need to receive verification stamps on their web check-in boarding pass before proceeding to the departure gate.

Web and kiosk check-in are available to guests except those who are expectant mothers, traveling with infants, 16 years old and below and traveling alone, traveling in a group of more than 9 under the same reservation number, and those who have reduced mobility and special needs and who book flights using credit cards within 24 hours of flight departure. Kiosk check-in is not available to guests who fly within 12 hours after booking their seats. Other terms and conditions apply.

The leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia today celebrated the inaugural flight from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), India to Kuala Lumpur in a true Southern Indian spirit to depict the first route launched by AirAsia to India. Barely a month after opening the sale for the route, AirAsia has already recorded an overwhelming 100 percent load from 1st – 18th December 2008 for the flights from Kuala Lumpur to Trichy with an amazing average of over 80 percent load factor both ways. The low-cost carrier currently serves the route with direct daily flights Trichy departing from LCC Terminal, Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia’s spanking 180-seater Airbus A320.

Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Berhad said “We are extremely proud of the soaring load factor for this new route. We have created new demands for the market and are very proud to service an underserved sector. The continuous strength of this network will allow AirAsia to rapidly drive growth, perhaps even ramping-up more frequencies in the future so that our guests can continue to enjoy our revolutionary low fares. Our guests can benefit from our network where we have over 3,000 weekly flights from our extensive network in the region, encompassing over 108 routes in Asia, including the ones served by AirAsia X, our long-haul affiliate to Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, Australia and Hangzhou, China. Taking our steps further into the global market, AirAsia X has also announced flights to London which will commence in March 2009.”

“We truly hope that with this new service, the people from Trichy and its neighboring regions will have access to more low-cost alternatives to international routes and additional destinations from Kuala Lumpur where AirAsia champion. Furthermore, there is a huge population of Indians in Malaysia who descended from South India and with our extremely affordable fares will enable them to trace back their family roots, renew family ties, and perform pilgrimage or travel for holiday purposes”

H.E. Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner for India in Malaysia commented “AirAsia has revolutionized air travel with its low fares and made flying affordable for everyone. We are confident that AirAsia will not only assist us in boosting bilateral agreement, the local tourism industry and economy but also opening up our market. We are excited and are certainly looking forward for AirAsia to launch other routes from the various points in India in the future.”

Tiruchirapalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. The most famous land mark of this bustling town is the Rockfort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. The city is a thriving commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars, handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys.