Air Asia Sells Two Return Flights but Does Not Offer Them in a Single Booking, Why?

gadgetguy on 21/07/2022 - 21:19

I'm looking at a return flight. MEL to PNH, end of Dec, returning end of Jan. Prices for this period seem to have doubled in general and are being quoted $2500 upwards by all the sites.

I can however book separate flights MEL->KUL return and KUL->PNH return, with timings that work at a combined cost of around $1200 (plus baggage and the other extras).

However, I cannot get the AirAsia site or any others to offer the flight combo above as a single booking so I won't have to pay for all the extras twice and also have my luggage checked the whole way.

Anyone know why and is there a way around this?

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Comments

  • JimmyF on 21/07/2022 - 21:39

    However, I cannot get the AirAsia site or any others to offer the flight combo above as a single booking so I won't have to pay for all the extras twice and also have my luggage checked the whole way.

    Yep it is air asia aka budget airline, they don't do connecting flights etc which is why you can't 'see' it being offered.

  • PissLUR on 21/07/2022 - 21:54

    Of course that is the case.

    • gadgetguy on 21/07/2022 - 21:56

      Are you replying to me? If so, what do you mean?

      I can sort of understand if AirAsia don't offer connecting bookings but why are none of the other agents offering this as an option, even as separate bookings within one trip?

      • PissLUR on 21/07/2022 - 22:01

        If AA is not offering, then how would the other agents be able to offer that service?

      • JimmyF on 21/07/2022 - 22:02

        but why are none of the other agents offering this as an option, even as separate bookings within one trip?

        Agents as in other airlines or agent as in travel agents?

        People can't sell things airlines don't offer.

        • PissLUR on 21/07/2022 - 22:03

          I believe OP is referring to travel agents.

          • gadgetguy on 22/07/2022 - 08:12

            @PissLUR: Agents as in other flight suppliers - Expedia, trip.com, etc.

            Both flights are available to be booked individually via these agents, so clearly the flights are offered by AA.

            • JimmyF on 22/07/2022 - 09:49

              @gadgetguy: Why are you surprised then when AA doesn't offer this combo DIRECT that reseller agents also don't offer this? Agents don't control the schedule/rules of the airline, just sell the product.

  • rmh876 on 21/07/2022 - 22:00

    Jetstar Au is the same too! :)

  • mskeggs on 21/07/2022 - 22:20
    +4

    Probably related to different subsidiaries, Air Asia, Air Asia X and I think there are one or two more. And that is assuming they have a computer system that can do multiple bookings - budget airlines don't invest much in IT systems, or anything really.

    • johninmelb on 23/07/2022 - 18:35

      Yes, your trip to KL will be with Air Asia X which is the long haul airline, and the onward leg with Air Asia. Two different airlines. I had the same situation back in 2015 going to Bangalore, though I had a few days in KL before the flight to India.

  • OMGJL on 21/07/2022 - 23:55
    +4

    I guess this probably has to do with

    "if they offer combined ticket, one out of 2 ticket got cancelled by whatever reason, they need to refund both ticket,
    if they don't offer combine ticket, they only need to refund 1 ticket out of the whole lot, since the airline will refund those agent, they won't lose money at all"

    Airline and agent took a big hit after covid, I guess they can't afford to take chances like how they used to do.

  • Thrawn on 22/07/2022 - 08:45

    Airasia was the same pre-Covid.

    They only do some routes as “Fly through” (their term) connecting flights. And sometimes it costs more booking it that way than getting separate tickets

  • gadgetguy on 22/07/2022 - 09:13

    Okay thanks for the replies, there's clearly no hack to achieve what I want. Looks like two completely separate bookings is the only way.

    • PissLUR on 22/07/2022 - 09:31
      +1

      It's a very risky move to save money, it might end up costing you more money.

    • Icecold5000 on 07/08/2022 - 21:28
      -1

      You’re saving over $1200 and still complaining haha

  • JimB on 22/07/2022 - 09:37
    +2

    They are point to point airlines.

    Reason why did do this is to avoid the responsibility if the 1st flight is delayed and you miss your connecting flight, they do not have to put you up for a hotel and send you on the next available flight.

    e.g. bad luck if you missed your connecting flight even though it's AA's fault you were late.

    It's a gamble for the $$$ you save.

    • JimmyF on 22/07/2022 - 10:10
      +1

      Correct, even if the bookings are with the same company, there is no linkage. So if your first AA flight is late, the second AA flight doesn't care if you miss it. Too bad.

      Or worse, booking in advance the flight times change and the two bookings no longer work together. You can do anything about it.

  • Thrawn on 22/07/2022 - 09:57

    if there's plenty of frequencies on the KUL to PNH segment, it's not really a big deal if you miss the flight. Just grab the next one (any airline)… local asian flights from KUL are usually pretty cheap even on a last minute basis.

    For the other direction you'd want to leave a big time gap in KUL as missing the KUL-MEL segment is painful. Just sightsee around KUL for a day.

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