Flying with Air Asia: Local and International Flight

I'm not really too observant when it comes to airlines.  I don't see much difference since most of my flights are not longer than 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  Here in the Philippines, I've tried almost all of the domestic airlines available for my trips.  It was just last October when I tried Air Asia, which was Zest Air before here in the Philippines.  But for Air Asia, I tried flying with them in my local and international flight for the same trip.

In my previous blog about my free trip to Pimalai Resort and Spa in Krabi, Thailand, I choose Air Asia as our airline.  Well, its not really a free trip since the flights or airfare and other transportation cost will be shouldered by us.  In my previous blog, I am choosing from Phuket, Bangkok or Krabi as destination coming from Manila.  It was Air Asia who holds a flight direct to Krabi from Malaysia at the cheapest rate.  Tiger Air also have flights to Krabi but from Singapore. 

From Manila, I booked a flight going to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia via Air Asia/Zest Air, then I booked another flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Krabi, Thailand.  I did the same for the return flight, from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur via Air Asia but then I chose a different airline from Kuala Lumpur to Manila.  Main reason is because of the flight schedule.

It was my first time to fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia via Air Asia/Zest Air.  It was a 3-hour long flight.  I regret that I didn't "book" for a meal (at an extra cost) for the duration of the flight as there was no any food for sale on board.  I felt it was the longest 3 hour of my life.  The time of departure from Manila was quite delay by some minutes but that's understandable since it has been a common problem in the runways here in the Philippines.

From Kuala Lumpur to Krabi, the airport will be at LCCT in Malaysia, domestic flight.  We were not allowed to stay or lounge at the departure area hours before our flight.  The in-charge personnel will just call on the passengers about 30 minutes before the flight. 

LCCT is also the same airport destination from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur.  Since we toured in Kuala Lumpur (you may read my blog post about it here), we can take either the bus or train going to our destination.  LCCT airport have various bus, shuttle and vans available to wherever your destination is.  It is nice that Air Asia have Skybus, their bus transportation brand, purchase option on their website upon booking.  It will be helpful if you plan to ride on it after you arrived at Kuala Lumpur.  But I think the rate is more expensive on Air Asia's website than buying tickets at the LCCT airport.  We chose the latter. 

Overall, my experience with Air Asia / Zest Air is ok.  Not much to rave or rant about but the flight was safe and cheap of course.  We didn't experience too much delay as well.  Although on the first day, our flight schedule was changed but it was only 10 minutes earlier.  A notice/advised was sent via email on the changes weeks before the flight.  What I like about Air Asia is that they hold seat sales even to near traveling dates.  So anytime you wish to go somewhere on an unplanned trip, you may check Air Asia's cheap fares.  I may not be able to grab a very cheap fare during my Thailand/Malaysia trip but somehow it was on promo.  By the way, I booked our tickets about only a month before our travel date.  Cost is about Php 6,000 per person, roundtrip (Mla-KL-Krabi-KL; KL-Manila from different airline).  Not that cheap but I think it was still a good deal.

Layover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

My boyfriend and I had an overnight layover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after our Krabi trip in Thailand.  It may seem like a lot of time but it's not since we will be arriving in LCC Terminal at about 5pm.  Then the next day, our flight back to Manila is at around 12:40pm.  So basically we just have the night to explore Kuala Lumpur.  With that, we just thought of visiting Petronas Towers and KL Tower.  Good thing, I read that the Petronas Tower is more beautiful at night.  By the way, this is our first visit in Malaysia.  Read below on how our short but memorable trip went.

Transportation
From LCC Terminal (LCCT), we decided to ride the bus, Sky Bus to be specific, to get to KL Sentral.  As per research, travel time will take about an hour and 15 minutes.  Another way to get to KL Sentral is by train.  But the train from the airport is located in KLIA terminal, which is about 15 minutes away by bus or shuttle from LCCT.  If by train, travel time is only about 40 minutes.

Sky Bus ticket

Then from KL Sentral, we rode the rapidKL train (Kelana Jaya line) going to KLCC station.  Travel time is about 17 minutes.  The Petronas Towers is just a short walking distance from KLCC station.

rapidKL token

The Petronas Towers
We arrived at KLCC station at around 8pm already.  Upon disembarking the station, you will be passing by a shopping mall.  I just forgot its name.  We were kinda lost upon exiting the train and we found ourselves inside this mall.  The concierge gladly showed us how to go to Petronas Towers, which was really walking distance outside the mall.  Outside the mall, we can already see the tall Petronas Towers.

Petronas Towers at night

picture taken by our kababayan

I was instantly amazed at its tall majestic structure with lights opened at the building.  Viewing Petronas Towers at night was indeed a good sight.  There were quite a number of people taking pictures outside of the building.  We even heard and see several Filipinos in the area.  With that, we were able to ask them to take a picture of us.  People around were quite friendly, whatever one's nationality is, because I've seen different people asking to take pictures of them.

KL Tower
From research, I learned that KL Tower is just near the Petronas Towers.  It is suggested to walk rather than take a cab since you might be stuck in traffic.  I read that we must take the P. Ramlee street but when we asked some security guards around, they pointed us in the other way.  I insisted my boyfriend to take the P. Ramlee street but I didn't argue further.

KL Tower from afar

We stopped here, it seems like KL Tower is nearer

Because we took the "longer way", we got tired and just decided to go to our hotel, which is at the Nilai area.  Along the way, my boyfriend buys some cigarette in a small store.  It was quite expensive at RM 12 to RM 14 per pack.  The store owner told us to be cautious in passing by small streets as there were some pick pocketers around.  I thought that was a nice gesture but it made us quite afraid in walking around the city at night.  That was past 9pm already and going to Nilai from KL Sentral would take us about an hour travel time. Our travel going to hotel was the most memorable one.

Nilai Hotel
From KLCC station, we rode the same train, rapidKL, in going back to KL Sentral station.  From KL Sentral, we took the KTM Komuter train (Rawang Seremban line) going to Nilai station. It was almost 10pm when we rode the train.  Travel time is about 58 minutes, almost an hour.  Few stations before Nilai, my boyfriend sees that its less people already outside each station.  He is worried that we might not easily get to our hotel.  The hotel I chose was about 2-3km from Nilai station.  I chose this area as it is just 30 minutes away from KLIA by bus.  Also from Nilai station, the bus terminal going to the airport is just walking distance.

train station in KL Sentral

inside KTM Komuter train

Ticket of KTM Komuter

I explained all these to my boyfriend so he wouldn't worry that much.  But deep inside, I was also kinda worried myself as it is getting late already.

We arrived at Nilai station at almost 11pm already.  We immediately asked around where New Nilai Hotel is located.  Several people provided us with several answers.  Some say that we cannot go there by walking as it is far while some say it can be done.  This made us wonder who was telling the truth and how far really is our hotel from Nilai station.  We thought of getting a taxi but I was worried our money will not be enough as I opted to pay in cash on our hotel reservation even if I booked via agoda.  Another option we thought was to ride the bus going to the airport and just spend the night there.  Our hotel reservation will be forfeited and we will still be charged/debited through the credit card enrolled in agoda.  A few more walks around the area we saw the police station.  The gate was closed but a policeman was outside.  My boyfriend asked them if they knew our hotel.  For some reason, what they say was the one we believed in.  They say that it is located about 2 blocks away, on the second stoplight, about 3 km distance.  We can walk but since its already late at night, they advised us that might not be safe.  They told us we can ride a taxi but I know, from research, night taxi rate is higher than day rate.  As I've mentioned, our money will not be enough to pay for the taxi.  We thought of our second option but the policeman told us that there were no longer buses arriving at the terminal at that late time of the night going to the airport.  I was already worried, frustrated, mixed emotions and deep inside I was already praying.  It is already the last night of our vacation yet we don't have any place to sleep and rest.  What an opposite situation from our luxurious accommodation in Thailand!

Nilai police station post, at the back of the picture is the bus terminal

Nilai police station entrance

Then all of a sudden, the policeman we talked to offered to take us to our hotel.  We couldn't believe what we heard but we already took the offer.  Words of gratitude came from me and my boyfriend's mouth from riding the policeman's car up to our hotel.  That was the first time I felt "no words can really express how thankful we were".  My boyfriend wanted to hand him some payment but the policeman refused. We were really thankfuk to him.  And indeed, our hotel was quite near the Nilai station and can be reached by walking.

Once at the hotel, we were already quite relieved, though my boyfriend is still worried about our safety in Nilai area.  That was also the first time he told me: "matapang ka talaga" (you're really strong).  I don't know why he said that or what he really meant about it.  But I know I made him worried a lot, not for himself but for me and my safety.  To me, this experience is an adventure but scary.  Prayers can still do wonders and God is good all the time.

The next day, from our hotel, we just walked towards the bus terminal.  From Nilai bus terminal to KLIA, we took the Airport Liner.  Travel time is about 20-30 minutes.  Waiting time or bus interval is about every 20 minutes so it is important to be early at the bus terminal to wait for the bus.

Airport Liner ticket

I like the ticketing system of Airport Liner.  Even though there are 2 doors in the bus, everyone must enter in the front, at the driver's side, since the bus ticket is printed there.  They have like a POS ticketing system where the driver inputs the number of passengers and destination then the ticket will print the amount.

Here's the breakdown of our expenses (for 2) in our layover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

Bus from airport to KL Sentral - RM 18
Train from KL Sentral to KLCC station - RM 3.20
KLCC station to KL Sentral - RM 3.20
Mc Do dinner - RM 21.95

Train from KLSentral to Nilai station - RM 9.40
New Nilai Hotel - RM 60 (watch out for my blog about this hotel)
Nilai bus terminal to KLIA -  RM 6.40
KFC lunch (at KLIA) - RM 27.50
Souvenirs (at KLIA) - RM 44.70

TOTAL - RM 194.35 (Php 2,600+ approx.)