MAS, Firefly, Airasia and CSR

One of the most annoying things about school holidays and festive seasons is that airfares are costly.

If there is a need for airlines to do corporate social responsibility ('CSR') it really should begin with school holidays and festive seasons. The best time for family gatherings is during school holidays and festive seasons. School children particularly look forward to spending time with outstation extended family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. It is the best time to balik kampung and to visit the family. In fact, when special fare promotions are announced, there is even a note in fine print that the special fares would not be applicable during school holidays or public holidays! It seems unconscionable for airlines to seek a bigger profit during such times.

It would be great if Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Airasia, being Malaysian, could adopt a CSR approach with regards to such holidays. Follow the footsteps of Telekom Malaysia, where calls made during festive seasons are at a lower call charges, appreciating the sensitivity that calls are particularly meaningful for people who are away during such times. Balik kampung during such times are also particularly meaningful. And this airfare insensitivity particularly hurts people who have to travel between east and west Malaysia with no other means to balik kampung.

During festive seasons, the government monitors prices of food. Could there be a monitoring of airfares too?

Firefly as an alternative

We took the firefly from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching for chinese new year! It is a good alternative to have from airasia.

We particularly liked the fact that firefly flies out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and not the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). It's nice to use a full fledged airport eventhough it means paying RM35 for airport charges instead of RM9 for LCCT airport charges. The price difference is worth it especially for flying out where there may be waiting time. Furthermore, KLIA also offers the KLIA Express train from and to KL city.

It was also very smart for firefly to make the booking simple. With an additional RM38, there is 20kg check in luggage, a meal and a bottle of water. That pretty much brings it up to the same full service as the Malaysia Airlines (MAS). There's something about a well thought package that makes you feel it is just a click away. Because airasia never offered a package like this, I tend not to apply my mind to it except maybe for international sectors.

Anyway, I asked my highly opinionated 13 year old daughter how she felt about firefly, she said she would still opt for airasia because of airasia's nasi lemak. The firefly one is a tad too spicy. Well, that's true, I found the nasi lemak a bit too spicy. Haha, does it all boil down to the nasi lemak onboard?