22 july thursday - i flew mas to kuching. I was all nicely checked in. Even had an e-boarding pass on my iPhone.
From bangsar it was just a short hop to klsentral. As i got to the station there were all these erl boys in purple so i waved for one to help me with the luggage. This guy did a great job and even loaded the luggage bags at the check in counter for the luggage drop after waiting for me to buy the train ticket.
At check in counter i asked the mas staff if i could have a boarding pass printed and he said no. I was kind of puzzled why not. Anyway, i forgot to ask him which gate to board at and he also didn't tell me. Would be good if the mas staff could be trained to prompt passengers on important information like boarding gate number. It was not given for web check in.
Yippee i thought. I could drop off the luggage so i did not have to rush to klia to meet the 60min baggage drop deadline. So i thought i must have saved 30 minutes there for me to browse at the shops.
Turned out that it was a luxury i didn't have. I should have factored in time WAITing for the train. Not sure why i had the impression that there'd be a train at least every 10min, if not every 5 min. Maybe it used to be. It was a thursday afternoon at 3, not a weekend.
So it was annoying when i went down to the platform and found out that the next train would only leave in 18min! And there were a few passengers there waiting. So it could be more than 18 min. There i was sitting waiting, my schedule was out of whack, fretting about about missing the flight. And nothing to do in the dinghy platform as I got there waiting for the train. I felt kind of silly. I wanted to get a novel to read on board thinking i'd get something at the klia bookstore. But all that time was now just used to wait at the platform.
There should be a big light box signage showing the immediate 2 train departure times at the ticket counter. S'pose I should have asked when the next train would be when i bought the train ticket. Why didn't the erl staff prompt me? A little service like that does not add any additional cost and there was no one queuing. It's these little questions like where are you heading or what time is your flight, that adds that caring touch.
Another annoying thing, as i was walking along the platform, i actually saw a sign flashing with arrows that read train boarding here. So the kwailow lady in front of me started hurrying and i started hurrying. And of course when we got to where the sign pointed there was no train there waiting. In a normal average day, i would have been able to share a joke with the lady. But today i was simply fretting deeply inside.
On the train i was trying hard to relax and enjoy the view and not fret about the delay. After the initial slum section of the city, the view began to get greener. We went past the beautiful university pertanian grounds with its paddocks and open fields and cows and streams. And i was relaxed. Then the big sized guy seated across from me was talking on the phone. And he said something about not being able to check in at klsentral and would have to see if he could check in at klia.
We got to klia and I ran towards the lift. I was quite fast. Then I saw the big sized guy quickly got into the lift too and so did the kwailow lady and some other guys. As the lift opened at the departure floor the 3 of us started dashing out, i couldn't help feeling like we were in one of those movies where the story line covered lives of different people who do not yet know how their lives were to be connected. And i felt i knew these people. Our commonality was running late.
So i ran to look at the big board to search for mh2528 and i found that boarding was at gate B 4 and it was still open for boarding. Now the thing about klia is it is big and it took a lot of steps to get to the domestic doorway entrance. Luckily the guys in blue did not take long to check boarding pass and screen bags despite a queue of 5 in front. So it was a relief to find B4 was not that far to get to and finally to be greeted by the super friendly mas staff at gate B4. i asked, do i have time to go to the toilet. And he smiled and said yes, just out there. And another mas staff waited for me to finish talking to my husband on the phone as i told him I made it to the boarding gate and then the mas staff so politely showed me which side of the skybrige to use.
As i got on the plane i told the mas staff at the pantry i had dry throat could he toss me some water. He actually filled up a cup of water for me and another staff waited at my seat and helped put up my backpack in the overhead compartment. I flew economy yet from the ground counter to the plane it felt like business class. And i was more than happy to have a lovely free meal on board of satay with fried rice together with pink guava juice and fruitcake and 3 ferreros. It was all too irresistible for someone with blood sugar issues and i ate everything but made serious effort to save the ferreros. (I'll deal with the doctor another day.) So there I was enjoying the flight (even without a good book). I couldn't believe i paid a lower price than if i had flown airasia for this journey.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Airasia Lcct
This evening we were at lcct to send off our daughter and nieces to melbourne. It is our daughter's first flight to melbourne. We expected pandemonium with the announcement by airasia that they are going manual for 3 days due to their computer upgrade. So we got there 4 hours ahead of departure time.
When we went to the check in counter to queue, a non uniform airasia personnel came to inform us that the counter will only open 3 hours before departure and that we don't have to stand in queue so early and he assured us that the manual system is working smoothly.
So we went to McDonalds to hang out. Sadly the airconditioning at lcct didn't seem to be fully functioning. We checked out Chocolate Lounge and all the way down to the Old Town Coffee but everywhere it was warm and humid. Why is the lcct air conditioning not working properly eventhough the terminal seems to be doing well with a lot of passengers and with many shops opening up.
Then it was time to queue up for checking in. For one flight to melbourne, airasia had opened up like 6 counters and while we were waiting they opened up one more. Amazingly, the queue moved faster than on normal days. Eventhough everything was done manually, and the airasia staff had to check through a physical list of passengers to tick off the names of the list and then paste a sticker onto a manual list the staff was very polite and appeared focused on the job. The ticket was printed off by one staff who then calls out the name to the staff at the counter. Checking in was a pleasant and smooth experience. We were impressed with airasia's staff appearing to be well trained and coordinated and its ability to deliver good service eventhough their computer system was down. That was impressive and the kids also made the same observation.
After checking in we had 1.5 hours of waiting before the girls went in to the departure lounge. So we decided to take our chances with Chocolate Lounge. It did get very marginally cooler after we sat for 15 minutes or so and had a cold drink. But it did still leave a lot to be desired in terms of the airconditioning. Could the lcct terminal ever be better? It is sad that 27 years after I first boarded a flight to melbourne departing from kuching I still can't say now that we have anything to show when we a flight is taken from the lcct. Why can't the klia be used until a proper terminal is built for lowcost aircrafts. I just can't get over the makeshift feeling of the lcct terminal. And I can't help feeling why airasia's passengers need to be so badly treated in Kuala Lumpur by Malaysia Airports. Only in Kuala Lumpur. When we arrive or depart from any other destination besides kuala lumpur using airasia, the airport facilities are satisfactory and of a much better standard than lcct. It saddens me each time I am at lcct. Airport terminal is the pride of the country and the first impression a traveller gets. I thought that was the explanation for spending so much money on klia. But why leave so many travellers in the discomfort of a terminal like the lcct. I feel disgraced to be host at such a terminal. I was prouder of our small kuching airport then 27 years ago.
When we went to the check in counter to queue, a non uniform airasia personnel came to inform us that the counter will only open 3 hours before departure and that we don't have to stand in queue so early and he assured us that the manual system is working smoothly.
So we went to McDonalds to hang out. Sadly the airconditioning at lcct didn't seem to be fully functioning. We checked out Chocolate Lounge and all the way down to the Old Town Coffee but everywhere it was warm and humid. Why is the lcct air conditioning not working properly eventhough the terminal seems to be doing well with a lot of passengers and with many shops opening up.
Then it was time to queue up for checking in. For one flight to melbourne, airasia had opened up like 6 counters and while we were waiting they opened up one more. Amazingly, the queue moved faster than on normal days. Eventhough everything was done manually, and the airasia staff had to check through a physical list of passengers to tick off the names of the list and then paste a sticker onto a manual list the staff was very polite and appeared focused on the job. The ticket was printed off by one staff who then calls out the name to the staff at the counter. Checking in was a pleasant and smooth experience. We were impressed with airasia's staff appearing to be well trained and coordinated and its ability to deliver good service eventhough their computer system was down. That was impressive and the kids also made the same observation.
After checking in we had 1.5 hours of waiting before the girls went in to the departure lounge. So we decided to take our chances with Chocolate Lounge. It did get very marginally cooler after we sat for 15 minutes or so and had a cold drink. But it did still leave a lot to be desired in terms of the airconditioning. Could the lcct terminal ever be better? It is sad that 27 years after I first boarded a flight to melbourne departing from kuching I still can't say now that we have anything to show when we a flight is taken from the lcct. Why can't the klia be used until a proper terminal is built for lowcost aircrafts. I just can't get over the makeshift feeling of the lcct terminal. And I can't help feeling why airasia's passengers need to be so badly treated in Kuala Lumpur by Malaysia Airports. Only in Kuala Lumpur. When we arrive or depart from any other destination besides kuala lumpur using airasia, the airport facilities are satisfactory and of a much better standard than lcct. It saddens me each time I am at lcct. Airport terminal is the pride of the country and the first impression a traveller gets. I thought that was the explanation for spending so much money on klia. But why leave so many travellers in the discomfort of a terminal like the lcct. I feel disgraced to be host at such a terminal. I was prouder of our small kuching airport then 27 years ago.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Tenaga Nasional hospitality
As I wrote about Petronas, i recall one incident way back in 2000. This time it is Tenaga Nasional. Our gratitude remains and our only regret is that we did not take down the name of the officer who went all out for us that day and we could not write to Tenaga to formally extend our gratitude. Maybe Tenaga could help us to identify this officer.
That day we were driving down to KL after a weekend stay in Cameron Highlands. About halfway down, our car radio starting waning and so did the indicators and the air condition went off. Hubby was very instinctive and saw Tenaga station and he quickly turned into Tenaga carpark and at that moment the car engine died. What were we to do. Turns out it was the alternator. One would never expect the mercedes to break down in that way, simply dying on us without any obvious alarm or signal. It was a sunday and we were no where near any shop. Those days the mobile signals were also weak and only celcom which hubby was using could receive signal. I was using digi which could not receive any signal. At that moment, a Tenaga staff drove by on his motorbike and asked if he could help. We told him our problem and he quickly offered to take hubby down to the Tenaga workshop. He told me to wait with the kids at the Tenaga club house where there is a canteen and also a phone. So we were quite comfortable while we waited. There was food and the kids were small then. They went to the playground and played with the other Tenaga kids.
That officer took hubby to the workshop and from there he picked up a mechanic and they then drove all the way down to Bidor which was about an hour down just to buy an alternator for the car. So it took about 3 hours before the men came back with the alternator just to get the car going again. By then it was about 7pm and we were able to drive back. In our haste to leave quickly as it was already dark, we did not get down the name of the officer and the mechanic who went all out to help us that day.
Since then we have always felt that if anything happens in the outskirts always turn into Tenaga stations or camps if there is no police station around. We felt grateful for the hospitality that Tenaga staff had extended to us. Hospitality that no money could buy. It also offered safety and security to us with a young family. It felt good to know that if we ever do road holidays, there will always be a Tenaga power station somewhere in the vicinity throughout the country.
That day we were driving down to KL after a weekend stay in Cameron Highlands. About halfway down, our car radio starting waning and so did the indicators and the air condition went off. Hubby was very instinctive and saw Tenaga station and he quickly turned into Tenaga carpark and at that moment the car engine died. What were we to do. Turns out it was the alternator. One would never expect the mercedes to break down in that way, simply dying on us without any obvious alarm or signal. It was a sunday and we were no where near any shop. Those days the mobile signals were also weak and only celcom which hubby was using could receive signal. I was using digi which could not receive any signal. At that moment, a Tenaga staff drove by on his motorbike and asked if he could help. We told him our problem and he quickly offered to take hubby down to the Tenaga workshop. He told me to wait with the kids at the Tenaga club house where there is a canteen and also a phone. So we were quite comfortable while we waited. There was food and the kids were small then. They went to the playground and played with the other Tenaga kids.
That officer took hubby to the workshop and from there he picked up a mechanic and they then drove all the way down to Bidor which was about an hour down just to buy an alternator for the car. So it took about 3 hours before the men came back with the alternator just to get the car going again. By then it was about 7pm and we were able to drive back. In our haste to leave quickly as it was already dark, we did not get down the name of the officer and the mechanic who went all out to help us that day.
Since then we have always felt that if anything happens in the outskirts always turn into Tenaga stations or camps if there is no police station around. We felt grateful for the hospitality that Tenaga staff had extended to us. Hospitality that no money could buy. It also offered safety and security to us with a young family. It felt good to know that if we ever do road holidays, there will always be a Tenaga power station somewhere in the vicinity throughout the country.
Petronas Station Jalan Maarof Bangsar
It was 11.30pm on Tuesday. Hubby and I had just left the Petronas petrol station along Jalan Maarof (ex-Caltex) and were driving along the Federal Highway when a car driver pointed to the back of our car. We were driving the Perodua Myvi. Looking in the mirror i saw that our petrol shutter was left open and hubby had forgotten to put back the petrol cap. Something about the height of the car body. The petrol cap is not quite visible and it is easy to get distracted if you leave the petrol pump on, and go into the shop to buy stuff.
We made a U turn and re traced our way back to the petrol station hoping to find the cap along the road. We tracked all the way back to the Petronas station but we could not find it. So we pulled up to the gas attendant and asked if he had noticed a petrol cap that may have dropped from our car. Nope, no cap was left behind. So I got out of the car and went down to the cashier and asked if anyone had brought in a petrol cap that may have been found. He said none. Then I asked if he could help check if there is any spare petrol cap. This is where I think in life, there are always 2 possibilities. Will i encounter helpfulness or indifference. The cashier could have just said no. But he said hang on and he called the gas attendant in. And told the gas attendant to go to the store room and see if there is any spare petrol cap. And this is the second instance where the gas attendant could have either taken a cursory glance or done a thorough search. I mean what are the chances that there is a spare petrol cap. I figured if we could forget to screw back the petrol cap, same thing could happen to other motorists. So maybe. But if you think about looking for a small item like the petrol cap, it is not such a big item that it could easily be found. So I would say, I wasn't holding my breath as I waited. Few minutes later, the gas attendant came out from the store room and I was surprised. He was actually holding a petrol cap. This is one of those events that may seem small but it means a lot to the persons affected. And we were the ones affected an we felt it was no small matter.
My hubby and I felt gratitude and thanked both the cashier and the gas attendant. There was no way we could have been able to buy a petrol cap at that hour in the evening. We were grateful for the hospitality extended by Petronas. They have good people manning their stations. Courteous attitude and these boys went the extra mile. We are proud of our Malaysians. Thank you to those helpful boys in Bangsar.
We made a U turn and re traced our way back to the petrol station hoping to find the cap along the road. We tracked all the way back to the Petronas station but we could not find it. So we pulled up to the gas attendant and asked if he had noticed a petrol cap that may have dropped from our car. Nope, no cap was left behind. So I got out of the car and went down to the cashier and asked if anyone had brought in a petrol cap that may have been found. He said none. Then I asked if he could help check if there is any spare petrol cap. This is where I think in life, there are always 2 possibilities. Will i encounter helpfulness or indifference. The cashier could have just said no. But he said hang on and he called the gas attendant in. And told the gas attendant to go to the store room and see if there is any spare petrol cap. And this is the second instance where the gas attendant could have either taken a cursory glance or done a thorough search. I mean what are the chances that there is a spare petrol cap. I figured if we could forget to screw back the petrol cap, same thing could happen to other motorists. So maybe. But if you think about looking for a small item like the petrol cap, it is not such a big item that it could easily be found. So I would say, I wasn't holding my breath as I waited. Few minutes later, the gas attendant came out from the store room and I was surprised. He was actually holding a petrol cap. This is one of those events that may seem small but it means a lot to the persons affected. And we were the ones affected an we felt it was no small matter.
My hubby and I felt gratitude and thanked both the cashier and the gas attendant. There was no way we could have been able to buy a petrol cap at that hour in the evening. We were grateful for the hospitality extended by Petronas. They have good people manning their stations. Courteous attitude and these boys went the extra mile. We are proud of our Malaysians. Thank you to those helpful boys in Bangsar.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)