The Malindo Experience part 2

Malindo boast of free refreshments. Don’t expect much. On the out going flight we got a Kaya Bun with mineral water. The bun was dry and really something that you would find at a 7-eleven or some cheap bakery.

Nothing much but better than nothing

 While on the way back it was a little pack of 3 Oreos.

Blue LED mood lighting and blue packaging

They however fared better with the buy on board food. I got a Chicken Beriyani by Nasi Kandar Kayu which was very good but not as good as the AirAsia one.

Made by Kayu Nasi Kandar and just to remind you who really owns the airline, cutlery from Lion Air

Nice fluffy basmati rice with the chicken curry

A least a full cutlery set with sugar/creamer/salt/pepper

On the return it was Nasi Ayam Bertutu which was good.

Batik Air cutlery this time

Ayam Bertutu, steam rice, Fish Satay Lilit and stir fried french beans

Each meal cost RM12 and were delicious but not as cheap as the AirAsia buy-on-board. The main problem was that when I booked the ticket, the buy-on-board option was not yet available and I couldn't book later as their "manage booking" system didn't allow me to do it later unlike AirAsia. So I used my charm to convince the crew on both flights to "reserve" food for me. Luckily they did that as they ran out of food fast. They also had NO menu on board. How hard is it to put a copy in the seat pocket? Helps in speeding up service.

The crew on both flights were friendly and enthusiastic but clearly inexperienced. On the flight to Denpasar, the seatbelt sign was switched on half way through the flight due to bumpy weather but the crew didn't hear the cockpit making a PA announcement to "prepare for landing" at the top of decent. I had to alert the crew that we were on finals to landing and to make the landing announcement and check the cabin! They thanked me later!

One crew lacked "communication skills", when the passenger across the aisle asked for another bun as she was walking pass with a tray full of buns, she just snapped "can you wait!". The white guy was shocked and turned to his SPG (Sarong Party Girl i.e. slutty local girl with white guy) asking if she heard how rude the crew was.

In fact everytime that crew entered the galley she would complain loudly about passengers, about how they needed more crew etc. Even during the hour long delay on ground in Kuala Lumpur we were "entertained" to a long and loud conversation about their boyfriends, about how bad the management was.......etc. You get the picture right?

So the verdict? The ground handling was poor, in Denpasar the staff only turned up at the gate 6 minutes before departure time that resulted in a 50 delay in departure. The gate also was change 3 times and no announcement was made, I realised the change myself when I saw the aircraft was at another gate and just walked there on my own.

The crew lack professionalism. Just being polite and smiling isn't enough. The out going flight was just chaotic in service. Have you ever heard of walking and handing out a straw to each passenger and coming back 10 minutes later with the bottled water?

They however get an A+ for the comfort and facilities on board their plane. They have what will be an excellent product once they iron out the kinks. Low fare with this level of comfort would draw away many passengers from AirAsia and MAS. However I have doubts that they would be able to sustain and survive with the low fares and I am sure higher cost. Time will tell. Would I fly with them again? Sure. I would take their 737-900 anytime over the sardine cans that MAS flies.  

Imagine their product with the focus and professionalism of AirAsia.....that would be a huge game changer to the Asian aviation arena.