Already featuring a few times here, Air Asia has fast become my favourite Low Cost Carrier. I’ve shown you a short flight for less than $42 when I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, a long haul flight with Air Asia X for less than $160 when I flew from Adelaide to Kuala Lumpur, now let me show you a long haul flight in their Premium Cabin where seat comfort and service is not compromised.

The day before I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul’s Incheon Airport, I was delighted to learn my OptionTown upgrade to Premium Class, Air Asia’s Business Class,  had been confirmed! ~ OptionTown is an independent service where for a payment of around 75% less than the actual Business or Premium Class fare on a select few airlines, you will be waitlisted in your selected class of travel. You find out between 3-1 days prior to departure if the seat is yours, if it’s not available you have the payment refunded less a small service fee ~ FAB!

It was 5.30am and still dark when I arrived for my 8.00am flight at KLIA LCCT Air Asia X check-in counter and presented my ticket, passport and my bag where 25kgs is included with the Premium Class fare. I received my boarding pass for the flight with seat number 2D and advised boarding would take place at 7.20am, so I headed through security and downstairs to the departure area. As I cleared a second security area at the departure gate, it was not long before they called a priority boarding for premium passengers and I took the few hundred metre walk on the apron towards my aircraft enjoying the vista.

Boarding via the forward stairs, I was warmly welcomed by flight attendant Salam who directed me to my second row, centre aisle seat and handed me a chilled bottle of water.

Located at the front of the widebody Airbus a330-300, the Premium or Business Class cabin seats a mere 12 passengers in 2 rows of a 2-2-2 configuration in what Air Asia X calls Premium FlatBeds. The pod style seats are a comfortable 20″ / 50.8cms wide and have a generous 60″ / 152cms of pitch and as the name suggests recline fully flat to an angle of 8 degrees.

There are three main seat settings on the electronic controls located in the arm rest or you can simply set the controls to your own liking. The FlatBed also comes with adjustable headrest and reading light and was perfectly comfortable for the 6.5 hour day flight to Seoul, had the flight been overnight I’m sure just as comfortable fully reclined flat.

This particular aircraft 9M-XXA, was the first wide bodied Airbus a330-300 bought by Air Asia X directly from Airbus in Toulouse. To celebrate the milestone, the names of the airlines employees at the time, are printed onto one of the overhead lockers in the Premium cabin.

As part of the Premium Class ticket, passengers are entitled to a hot meal so I flicked through the inflight menu at the selection, deciding on the Malaysian national dish,  Nasi Lemak. Funny enough though, I was not asked what I would like and just presented a meal which thankfully was the dish of my choice! The Nasi Lemak – fluffy coconut rice with chunky Chicken Rendang, a fiery sambal and a side of peanuts & ikan bilis (fried anchovies)  – came with a bottle of chilled water and was delicious, again another tasty Air Asia inflight meal!

The friendly flight attendants were always on hand for anything I may have needed. I purchased a few piccolos of Jacobs Creek Chardonnay throughout the rest of the flight and the crew were happy to take Malaysian Ringit, Korean Won or even the occasional Aussie Dollar when my notes were two large in the other denomination (that was me not wanting to break the notes!). I didn’t hire an entertainment system on this flight – I had already viewed the content on my flight from Adelaide – and having  power outlets at each seat in the Premium Cabin allowed myself to pre loaded enjoy a movie on my laptop without the battery running low.

The flight arrived on time into Seoul’s Incheon Airport and parked next to a new American Airlines Boeing 777 in the striking new livery.

This was yet again another wonderful flight with Air Asia X and the OptionTown upgrade well worth the money for those extra benefits and spacious comfortable seat. The meal was, as has been the case with Air Asia previously, wonderfully tasty and the service from the attentive crew professional and personable. With their affordable fares and extensive network throughout Asia, I highly recommend Air Asia and Air Asia X in either Premium or Economy Class and wouldnt hesitate to fly with them again, in fact I’m looking forward to it 😉