Air Asia

Air Asia is the budget airline for getting around the continent. Overall, I had a pretty decent experience using them on multiple flights on my recent jaunt around Southeast Asia, but they weren’t without issues.

Like most budget airlines, I quickly discovered you have to watch out for the fees. Particularly, those steep discounts seem wonderful until you realize the lowest fares don’t include your luggage. Unless you plan on traveling light with just a small carry-on expect to add between $25 and $75 onto the cost of your ticket upon arrival.

The flight itself was decent, though the airplanes weren’t very big and you could definitely feel every bump and gust of wind. I never felt like I wasn’t safe, however. You won’t find the in-flight meals or entertainment like its big budget competitors, but if you’re looking for an affordable, no frills way to hop from one Asian country to the next, Air Asia is a pretty good deal.

The flight attendants were courteous and all instructions were provided in English, so there were no communication problems. The seats are small, but comfortable enough.

Overall, I’d have no problem hopping on an Air Asia flight again as long as there wasn’t a comparable alternative on a bigger and better airline. Just be sure to check all of the added fees and baggage limits before booking your ticket, as it’s usually non-refundable and if you have to purchase something extra at the ticket counter, they’ll nail you with hefty fines.