Date: Oct 28, 2016

Here comes a new trick from budget airlines.

If you are a golfer, and you intend to fly Air Asia to play golf somewhere, please remember, you need to check in your golf bags by selecting “I have sport equipment to check-in”.

Here is my story…

I went to play golf in Sarawak happily.

I took Silk Air to go there because the timing is good.  But their timing is bad on the returning flight, so I book Air Asia for the returning flight.

During the booking process, something went wrong.  I tried to select the “sport equipment”, but the web site got “jammed”.  So, I rebooked everything again, and this time, I select the regular “baggage”.  And I don’t know how heavy is my golf bag, so, I selected 25KG for the baggage.  Thinking that, golf bag and luggage is same thing.  And the booking went thru.  And I am happy to go.

We arrived at Kuching using Silk Air.  Everything very smooth as normal.  Check in, fly out, go to hotel, etc.

We have a short meeting, and then on Saturday, we have a golf game with these fantastic folks.

I won this putter too for hitting the ball so close to the pin.  Also, another putter from 31st price of lucky draw.  As well as a throphy being the “Most Promising Golfer” (means my golf sucks among these Malaysian players).

Everything is so happy.

I go shopping at the Satok morning market.  Buying the salted fish.  Happy.

Eat my favourite beef noodles – very happy.

Even the Kolo Mee is so nice.  Happy.

Until Sunday morning, when we trying to get home.

So, we arrived at airport.  And trying to check in.

The counter staff says she cannot check in our golf bags.

Because we have 25 KG of baggage.  But did not buy any Sport Equipment.

So, it is time to argue.

“Listen!  Please listen to your customer!!!!”

“When I booked the ticket, your website has problem.”

She said, “No, our web site has no problem.”

“Listen!  Look at this.”

“This is my only luggage – carry on bag.  And it is less than 7KG, and this is all I have beside the golf bag.”

“Why would I book a 25KG baggage, when I do not have luggage to check in????”

“Can you see the logic here, I do not have any other luggage, only the golf bag.”

“I selected this because your web site has problem.”

Unfortunately, the manager at site, came, also did not understand what I try to point out to her.

After 15 minutes of arguing, I see no point of arguing anymore.

“How much?”

Then, she said.  And this is what I heard (may be I heard wrongly) “first… 120 Ringgit.  second… 240 ringgit”.

“This is ridiculous.  So I paid the 240 Ringgit.”

And then, when she start to ask for another 240 Ringgit from my friend, I begun to get furious?  I thought she said 1 is 120 Ringgit and 2 is 240.  But instead, she said, my bag is over weight.  Usual limit for golf bag is 15KG.  So, my friend also need to pay 120 for the first 15KG, and another 240 Ringgit for the other 30KG.

Another 10 minutes of arguing.  And then, we settle at paying only one time 240 Ringgit.  She out of good will waived the other golf bags.

And both of us has purchased 25KG of baggage with nothing to check in.

My happy Sarawak trip end with a sad and mad mood.

Why would I at the first place go and buy 25KG of baggage if I do not have any other luggage to check in but the golf bag.  Golf bag is the only item I am checking in.  And my golf bag weight 22KG.  So, I end up have a 25KG baggage space with no luggage to check in and have been forced to pay 240 Ringgit for excess baggage.  And on their receipt, they don’t even say “charge for sport baggage!!!!!!!!”  It simply says Excess baggage.

What sort of nonsense you are saying that the base limit of a golf bag is 15KG.  And you need to double charge two times to count for excess baggage???  My friend’s golf bag is only 19KG.

Friends, how heavy is your golf bags?

Remember, next time, please click this “red line” saying “I need to check in sport equipment”.

And you have to select the correct sport equipment weight.  And on their web site, later I found out is charged at higher price than the baggage.

But I did buy bigger baggage.

So, the lesson is clear.

If you are taking Air Asia next time and you are bringing your golf bag, please remember to buy the “Sport Equipment” baggage.  Which is higher price.

Or if you don’t like the way how they treated you, and you can just boycott them and take other flights.  I don’t recall other airlines has treated me so badly.

That is my slight unhappiness during my last Sarawak trip.