[PeKaJoSa]

Hi Folks !

I've just found out that Malaysia Airlines are running an offer of return flights from UK to NZ at £579 (inc taxes.) for departures between 1st April - 15th July. Better still, if you can travel out in May then it drops to £499.

The offer is currently available until 5th April, so only valid for a few more days...

http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/uk/en/dest/offers/deals-and-offers.aspx

I've no idea if Malaysia Airlines are any good, but I hope this deal is of use to someone!

:nice1

Cheers!
Pete.

[JandM]

Thanks for the tip. :nice1

[ykkee]

it used to be top class airliner but the bad management making them poorly performed. I have not used MAS in these 5 years (use AirAsia most of the time) but all the negative feedback I got from friends' opinion who flew within ASEAN region. I used it about 6 years ago flew to London for my vacation, it wasn't bad though.

[Motleybeast]

We used Malaysia Airlines for our flights here and they were very good, no complaints.

But the website was a nightmare to use, imho, and if you wanted any extra information, it was a struggle. For instance, I was trying to get information on weight allowance, as we were emigrating, to see if we could bring extra, and I couldnt find it anywhere on the site.

We were looking at flights the other night, as we are going back to the UK in October for a brief trip, and we couldnt even get to the choose flights bit. Kept coming up with "change class or date of trip". After trying 7 dates either side of the date we wanted, I gave up and went with Singapore instead.

[jeffanar]

I have not used MAS in these 5 years (use AirAsia most of the time)

What is Air Asia like to fly with? I understand they are a pretty budget airline (you pay extra for bags, food etc.) but they have some pretty cheap fares from Gold Coast to Vietnam which I'm looking at doing later this year, so any feedback on the airline would be appreciated :nice1

[Flutterby]

used MA last year and thought they were great, good service throughout the flight, no problems with check in etc, i would recommend them! the website is difficult to use, but have managed to get better prices through travel agents.

Motleybeast what was your verdict with regards to luggage allowances on MA in the end?

[batgirl1001]

I'm flying with MAS to Auckland. Unfortunately, there is no more additional baggage allowance given in special circumstances such as migrating or studying in NZ etc.

Got an insipid reply from MAS PR dept about the high fuel prices, economic instablity and increased competition in global downturn for turning down my request for additional baggage allowance. I replied quite scathingly to that email.

Looks like I have to use some connections to get further allowance ( I hate doing this). Hopefully my uncle who works for the ground logistics at Changi Airport has some pull to help us.

[ykkee]

AirAsia flight are mostly in Asia region. The hub nearest to NZ is Melbourne. I am flying from Kuala Lumpur to London in May. The promotional price for the two-way flight is about US$400 including all the food. quite a good price.

[Motleybeast]

Motleybeast what was your verdict with regards to luggage allowances on MA in the end?

I finally got a telephone number that put me through to the right person and when I asked, they said there was no extra allowance, even for people that were emigrating. So, we had the standard 25kg.
But the way we read it, was that we had 25kg each for all of us(family of 4, with 2 kids who were 4 and 6 at the time). We turned up at the airport with 2 large cases, 2 not so large cases, 2 booster seats, and we made sure that all 4 of us had decent size hand luggage as well. I made sure we were early at check-in and they didnt question it, not a problem at all. From memory, I think we were slightly over.

So, I think, as long as it dosnt look like your taking the mickey, you can get away with a little bit extra. I've done quite a bit of travelling in the last 5 years, and from my experience, if you turn up early for flights, they're not so hot on the weight thing. I dont know if its because they wait and see how heavy the planes going to be or what it is, but it seems to work for me.

Hope that helps. :nice1

[Flutterby]

thanks for that, i've got vouchers for additional luggage anyway so not too bothered, did they allow you to use the booster seats on the plane?

[Motleybeast]

We didn't use the booster seats for the flights, we put them in the hold with our luggage. We wanted them with us because the first few weeks we were here, we did the campervan thing and we knew our container wasn't coming for another 2 months.

[Flutterby]

hmmm want to use some sort of booster on the plane because otherwise my daughter can't see the tv screen but from reading rules on other airlines they are not allowed, couldn't find a clear answer on MA's website.
Did you get charged for the booster seat?

[victoria24]

they wont charge as it wont be stowed luggage, malaysian are v child friendly :)

[Motleybeast]

No we didn't get charged, and they just went off with all the other cases.

As victoria24 says, Malaysian are very good, as far as service went, looking after the kids and everything to do directly with the flight was all excellent. My kids are small for their ages(4 and 6) and from memory they didnt stuggle with the screens, but maybe as an alternative why not use the pillows they give you. With Malaysia, I wouldnt have any problems with asking for a couple more...

[Flutterby]

ok by getting my ticket agent to ring MH i've been told that the standard baggage allowance is 25kgs but if you produce a valid migrant visa at check-in you can have have 40Kgs. Hand luggage is 7Kgs.
What counts as a valid migrant visa? PR? Work permit/visa? working holiday visa?
Since my partner doesn't need a visa and my daughter is getting citizenship i guess they won't get the extra baggage, or maybe my partner would with his visa for moving here? i'm going to ring them myself as soon as i've got my tickets but just wanted everyones thoughts.

I know for a fact that our bags were over the 25Kgs last year when we visited and we didn't get charged any extra and they weren't very hot on the hand luggage which was definitely more than 7Kgs.

[Kanga]

We used Malaysia Air 2 yrs ago and 7 and will again this winter. One of the top things about flying with them is the Pan Pacific airport hotel- makes you positively look forward to the flight!!! We stop on the way over for 12 hours there, but not on the way back. They ran a fare sale from Oz recently and we got return flights for 4 for $7K, which made the rellies who are subbing our fare (we're have my little sister's bridesmaids and they all thought it worth chipping in for!) very happy indeed. I liked flying with them (well, as much as you can when you hate flying, iyswim!) both times we did- the extra legroom is lovely and some of those flights we've ended up on half empty planes- bliss.