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Thai Airways A330 Business Class Throne seat.

I used my American Express Platinum Card to travel to Bali for $244… In Business Class.

Susan Weston / March 20, 2020 / 1 Comment

Last summer I took an extended vacation to Bali, Indonesia. On first glance this may sound like an expensive trip. But I was able to use my American Express Platinum Card along with some travel hacking to book a round trip ticket for $244. And the best part was the return ticket included 3 business class flights. The whole trip should have cost over $10,000.

Travel Hacking

I have been preaching travel hacking to anyone who will listen. How to get cheap tickets. What credit cards to use. It seems complicated, and it did to me, but it became an addiction.

I spend hours reading blogs and searching for deals. I have flown to Boston for less than $10. I flew round trip to Hawaii for $33. Round trip to Barcelona for $52. Round-trip in business class to Japan for $400. Round trip to Europe for $370 and round trip to Las Vegas for $12.

American Express Membership Rewards

I was able to book my flight to Bali through Aeroplan (Air Canada’s reward program). Did I fly Air Canada or use miles I acquired flying Air Canada? No. I have never flown Air Canada. It was thanks to my American Express Platinum card and some travel hacking tricks.

Aeroplan has excellent reward availability on partner airlines to Asia for a fixed redemption of 45,000 miles in economy and 77,500 miles in business class. And they do not charge high fuel surcharges.

Aeroplan is also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards. This means miles I earn using my American Express Platinum Card can be transferred to Aeroplan.

I was able to secure enough miles for my trip through the initial bonus offer. Voila. I booked a flight to Bali for 45,000 miles and $12 in taxes/fuel charges.

On the way home, I found a trip with three business class segments. These flights cost me 77,500 miles and $181 in taxes. I used more of my Membership Rewards points along with travel hacking tricks to acquire enough miles for the purchase.

Travel Hacking American Express Aeroplan — Photo by H W on Unsplash

One mistake I did make was that I initially picked a window seat. Closer to my departure date, I decided I wanted an aisle. I get pee anxiety. I can go 12 hours at work without peeing, but the minute that Fastens Seat Belt sign goes on, I’m crossing my legs and wishing I had a foley. Changing my seat assignment cost me $50. We all make mistakes.

American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum card currently has a bonus offer of 6 0,000 miles if you spend $5,000 in 3 months. The annual fee is steep at $550. But hear me out. I promise it is worth it.

American Express Centurion Lounge Access

The Centurion Lounge is one of my favorite domestic lounges. (You can read about my favorite here.) Currently, there are lounges in Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Houston, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and Seatle. Future plans include Denver, JFK, LAX, Heathrow, Pheonix, and Charlette Douglass.

You can expect a full buffet of hot food, unlimited craft cocktails, internet, and plenty of outlets. All customized to the location. For example, in the San Francisco lounge, guests can do Napa Valley inspired wine tasting, while in Houston, the menu is Tex-Mex.

One downside is that the lounges tend to be overcrowded. Expect to search for a seat. New lounges being built are larger, so I hope the overcrowding will improve. Either way, just having this perk makes up for the high annual fee.

Priority Pass Select Lounge Membership

The Priority Pass is the #1 reason to get this card. The priority pass gives you and two friends (subject to change by lounge) access to more than 1300 lounges worldwide. That means free food and drinks anytime you fly. How much does a beer at an airport cost? $8. A burger? $18

If you take three trips a year and have a couple of beers and food, you have already saved over $100. And let us be honest. It’s never just a beer. That shot of whiskey they give you a “deal” on seems always to hit the spot.

Travel Hacking Tip: The American Express Platinum priority pass does NOT include restaurants, unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve. At airports where there are no or few lounges, the Priority Pass will partner with restaurants. The pass gives you $28 (plus $28 for a guest) towards your meal, including drinks. Check your home airport and see what Priority Pass offers. If it is restaurants, you may want to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead.

American Express Platinum Card and Priority Pass

Delta SkyClub Access

The Platinum card gives you access to all Delta Sky Lounges when flying Delta. To enter, just show your valid Platinum Card, valid ID, and same-day boarding pass for a Delta flight. You may purchase guest access for your spouse or domestic partner and a child under 21, or up to two other traveling companions for $29 per person.

Travel Hacking Tip: Ok, this is not the most ethical tip, but it is entirely legal. Delta has a 24-hour cancellation policy. The policy includes same-day travel. In fact, per customer service, you can cancel your reservation after the flight takes off for a full refund. This means you can purchase a random Delta ticket on the day of your scheduled flight and enter a Delta Sky Lounge. Then cancel your Delta ticket and continue with your travel plans. I don’t want to 100% promise it will work, but I have done it. And I spoke on the phone with two delta representatives who confirmed the cancellation policy. I suggest calling and confirming the policy before purchasing the ticket, as airlines are also changing their rules.

The Global Lounge collection

Several other lounges can be accessed with the Platinum card. The Escape Lounge brand is located at smaller airports, including Reno-Tahoe (RNO) and Providence (PVT). Another lounge company that cardholders have access to is Airspace, which has locations in San Francisco (SFO) and Cleveland (CLE). For a full list of available lounges, see The Global Lounge collection. In total, the American Express Platinum card gives cardholders access to lounges in 130 countries. That is a lot of free food and alcohol.

Earn 5x Points on Airfare Booked Directly Through the Airline or Amextravel.com

Earn 5x Ultimate Reward points for travel booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel. 5x points are the best point earnings on travel for any credit card currently. The catch is if you are not booking through American express, cardholders must book through the airline’s website. You can not use Expedia or Kayak.

Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Coverage

Starting January 1st, 2020, American Express began offering trip delay and cancellation coverage. If you pay for your round-trip flight with the Platinum Card you will be eligible for:

Trip Cancellation Insurance: You can get reimbursed for up to $10,000 of nonrefundable expenses – and up to $20,000 a year total – if your flight is canceled due to weather, an injury, or illness, and other “covered reasons.”
Trip Delay Insurance: A flight delayed by more than six hours is eligible for up to $500 in reimbursement for lodging, food, and other associated expenses.

Travel Hacking Tip: Coverage is only available on round-trip tickets. Round-trip reward flights are covered if taxes and fees are charged to the card.

$200 in Annual Airline Fee Credits

The credit does not include actual tickets. It only applies to any incidentals, such as baggage fees and online wifi. It also includes memberships to discount clubs, such as Frontier Airlines’ Discount Den.

Travel Hacking Tip: It seems that Southwest Airlines gift cards purchased through Southwest’s website also trigger the credit. If you fly Southwest Airlines a lot, I suggest using the Platinum card to buy a $200 gift card. Then you can use use the credit towards actual tickets. I have used this trick for two years on several American Express credit cards with no problem. Again, I can’t guarantee 100% that it will work for you. If you fly Southwest a lot, then you will spend the gift card anyways, even if you don’t get the credit.

Using American Express Platinum card to fly Southwest — Photo by Oliver Engel on Unsplash

$200 in Annual Uber Ride Credits

$200 in Uber credit is an excellent deal if you use Uber a lot, which I do. The catch is the credit is spread over the year. $15/month January-November and $35 in December. And remember, Uber is cheaper than a DUI.

Travel Hacking Tip: Although it says Uber ride, the credit also applies to Uber eats.

$100 in Annual Saks 5th Ave. Credits

I don’t shop at Sak’s 5th Avenue, but I will always take free money. Think of it as a $50 gift card January-June and another $50 gift card July- December.

Travel Hacking Tip: Check out this article for tips on what and how to spend your credit. Whenever buying anything, it is best to try and buy through cashback websites. Accessing Rakuten (formally Ebates) on the way to the Saks website can give you up to 11% cashback. Check out the link for some great tips.

$100 Application Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

If you don’t have Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, get it now! I am sure you have seen people at the airport walk past you and go right to the front of the line. Not only is there a shorter security line, wait for it… Travelers who have TSA Precheck do not have to take off their shoes nor take out their laptops or liquids.

Travel Hacking Tip: Several credit cards come with this benefit. If you already have TSA Precheck and Global Entry, the credit can be used for anyone. It would be a great Christmas gift for someone. They do not need to know it was free.

If that is not enough, Global Entry allows US citizens to fly right through immigration. No one wants to wait in the immigration line after a long international flight.

Travel Hacking Tip: For anyone who does not have TSA Precheck and Global entry, there is a way to shorten the time spent in the immigration line. Mobile Passport is an app that allows passengers to fill out their immigration forms online. There is a separate line for Mobile Passport users at immigration in most airports/cruise terminals. The line can be just as short as the Global Entry line. I am sure you have disembarked the plane and walked by signs advertising this service. Most people don’t pay attention to them. It can be done at any time right up to getting into line. And it’s free.

TSA Precheck/Global Entry is easy to get. You just go online and fill out some information. Pay with your American Express Platinum. You will get a credit on your account. Next, you will need to set up an appointment with the TSA Precheck office. Voila. No lines for four years.

Travel Hacking Tip: Currently New York residents can not apply for Global Entry, but can still apply for TSA Precheck.

Instant Marriott Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold Status

I very rarely stay in hotels when I travel. I use Airbnb or stay in hostels, but earning status with these hotel brands have a lot of perks.

Instant Rental Car Agency Status with Hertz, Avis, and National

Another great perk if you tend to rent cars a lot. Depending on the company and the level of status, perks include skipping the line and the ability to earn free rentals.

Several other benefits come with the platinum card, but I just touched on the major ones that I use.

Bottom Line

I was able to fly across the world in business class for next to nothing because of my American Express Platinum card. Yes, it does have an annual fee of $550, but as you can see from above, you get your money back and then some.

The American Express Platinum offer of 60,000 Ultimate Reward points after spending $5,000 in 3 months is a great deal. $5,000 may seem like a large number, but there are many ways to hit the spending limit. Check out this article from The Points Guy. The Points Guy is one of my favorite travel blogs, and I recommend joining his email list if any of this interests you.

If nothing else, I hoped I piqued your interest into the world of travel hacking. Safe Travels.

*** DISCLAIMER: This post does contain some referral links. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. The information is up to date and factual to the best of my knowledge but is subject to change at any time. I am not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.***

I used my American Express Platinum Card to travel to Bali for $244… In Business Class. Read More »

Travel Goal: A Tattoo in Every Country

Susan Weston / September 30, 2019 / Leave a Comment

Every year thousands of people travel to Thailand. Some travelers leave with a cheap “same, same but different” shirt. Others leave with a traditional bamboo tattoo.

Bamboo Tattoos

The art of bamboo tattoos originated in Southeast Asia and is said to go back over 3000 years. In Thailand, bamboo tattoos began with monks in Buddhist temples who received these tattoos as a religious text. The process of getting a bamboo tattoo begins with a bamboo rod. Very fine needles are attached to the end of the rod. Ink is applied, and the needles are tapped by hand into the skin. It is not as painful as it sounds.

Tattoo and Muay Thai

Last year, I traveled to Thailand with some friends. After four days of walking by what seemed like endless tattoo shops, I gave in.

The fact that I jumped into a Muay Thai Ring fifteen minutes later was not an indication of my state of mind. Nor was the fact I had been drinking all day.

Muay Thai Fight — Getting ready for my fight.

Muay Thai Fight Thailand — I won a free bucket of booze!

Honestly, I had been thinking about getting a bamboo tattoo, and I do not regret it. I grabbed my friend Chris to come with me while my other friends held down our table at the bar. I walked into the tattoo shop and realized I had no idea what to get. I knew I wanted a word related to travel.

After throwing some words out, Chris said, “Journey.” Perfect. Sold. The guy translated journey into Thai, and another guy tattooed what I hoped was the correct translation on my foot. Worst case scenario, it said penis. Either way, it would be a good story.

And it begins…

Months later, I was heading to Spain. It was then that I set a goal to get ink in every country I visited. It needed to be in the native language and be related to travel. I decided I will place each tattoo in a line down my back.

These tattoos have become a representation of my travels. A souvenir that I do not throw in a drawer and forget. Each one has taught me something about an area of the world I have never previously been to.

Ready for Travel tattoo in Kuala Lumpur — Ready for my tattoo in Malaysia

Anar pel mon

Catalonia was once an autonomous province in the northeast corner of Spain. In 1714, Barcelona, along with the rest of Catalonia, fell to the Spanish and lost its autonomy. Its native language, Catalan, was almost lost along with it. There was an attempt at a revival in the early 1900s, but in 1939, the racist regime that had emerged imposed a harsh penalty for anyone who spoke it. Finally, in 1978, democracy was restored, and Catalan was revived once again. Even to the point of required schools in the region to only instruct in Catalan.

I was introduced to the language when I was visiting Barcelona in 2017. I knew I wanted a tattoo representing Spain. I preferred not to get a tattoo in Spanish because that could represent many countries. Anar pel mon’ is a Catalan phrase that roughly translates to “Go for the World.”

Catalonia Map BBC — Catalonia Region in Spain

Japanese Kanji

I was in Japan snowboarding. I dragged my friends and our snowboard bags through downtown Tokyo in the early morning. I only had a few hours to get a tattoo before my flight.

The first kanji is “journey,” and the second is “to go.” Together they become a verb as in traveling or currently in motion on a treck.

Bunga Raya

I spent two weeks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In 1960, two years after receiving independence, ‘Bunga Raya’ was named Malaysia’s national flower. The hibiscus flower has vibrant colors that symbolize the courage and vitality of the people. Bunga Raya literally means “celebratory flower” and reflects the celebration of unity in the nation.

Zamrud Khatulistwa

Zumrud Khatulistiwa is Bahasa Indonesian for “Emerald of the Equator.” Indonesia has this nickname due to its green and lush tropical rainforests and its geographic position along the equator. I need to thank my friend Firman from Tribe for this tattoo idea. Firman is the ‘night guy’ at the hostel I was staying at, and since I’m always up all night, we became fast friends. He loves history and would teach me all about Indonesia. Thanks, Firman!

Start Somewhere

The script on my back translates to “Start Somewhere.” I spent three months in Bali, Indonesia. Bahasa Bali or Balinese is a language specific to the island of Bali. Traditionally the language is written in script, natively known as Aksara Bali. Aksara Bali is a dying language. It can be seen on buildings and signs throughout the island, but very few people still read and write it. Through my tattoo, I am doing my part to help keep the language alive.

Travel Tattoo Catalan, Malay, Japanese, Behasa, Aksara Bali — Five down and many more to go.

And many more…

Someday I will be old and senile, living in a nursing home. A young, hot care tech will be giving me a bed bath. He will ask about my stretched and faded tattoos. I will be reminded of all the places I have traveled and all the people I have met. And that will make every painful tattoo worth it.

(I did confirm that my Thailand tattoo does indeed say “Journey”… I am tempted to get “Don’t Stop Believing” on my other foot.)

Travel Goal: A Tattoo in Every Country Read More »

Skyline of Kuala Lumpur from Hell Lounge Bar

Exploring Kuala Lumpur: Capsule Rooms, Virgin Cocktails and a Special Guest

Susan Weston / August 9, 2019 / 5 Comments

Traveling to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was a last-minute decision. I barely did any research before booking the ticket. I knew I needed to renew my visa, and flights to KL were cheap. Plus, I am always excited to explore a new country.

Surprise, I’m coming to visit!

My boyfriend, Cliff, booked a last-minute plane ticket to come to see me. It took him forty-forty hours of travel, but he made it to Kuala Lumpur. Five years ago, he didn’t even have a passport, and now he is traveling alone halfway across the world. I was excited to show him where I have been all summer. I was planning to stay in KL until August 7th, but I really wanted Cliff to see Bali. So we decided to fly back to Indonesia earlier than I planned. We did spend a few days exploring KL before we ~~missed~~ boarded our flight to Bali.

Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Visiting the Batu Caves with Cliff in Kuala Lumpur

For those wondering, based on my last blog, flying back early will affect my original visa plan. I did have to pay for another Visa on Arrival (VOA), and I will have to go through the full renewal process. Both are completely worth it.

Capsule Hotels: Sleeping in a morgue?

Capsule hotels are starting to gain popularity worldwide, but they originated in Japan in 1979 as a solution to a growing number of businessmen needing low-cost accommodations in the city. A traditional capsule room is essentially a wide enough box for a twin mattress and tall enough to allow a person to sit upright. When these boxes are stacked on top of each other, they resemble… a morgue. I know it doesn’t sound very inviting, but please have an open mind. Although capsule hotels in the past were very basic, new hotels have high-end bedding and a long list of amenities, including gyms, restaurants, and pools. I encourage you to read this article before you make your decision regarding a capsule hotel.

Tokyo's First Capsule Hotel: Capsule In Osaka — Tokyo’s first capsule hotel: Capsule Inn Osaka

I decided to stay at Mingle @ Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. A friend from Bali recommended it to me. I reserved a private twin capsule room. When I arrived, I discovered I had been upgraded to a queen capsule room. I am positive that the hostel is psychic and knew Cliff would be coming to visit.

Book and Bed Capsule Hotel Tokyo — Book and Bed Capsule Hotel in Tokyo

Mingle is not a dedicated capsule hotel, but as many other accommodations have discovered, a capsule provides more efficient space use. The capsule rooms at Mingle are designed to give people a private room with a small “living” area. Essentially, the design consists of bunk beds with opposite openings creating two separate private rooms.

Queen Capsule Room Diagram — Diagram of a queen Capsule room.

My queen capsule room had a queen mattress-sized “bunk bed.” It did seem a little strange to have a huge bed, but only a 7 x 4-foot area to “live in.” It was perfect for me, but I do not recommend it for two people. Or at least Cliff does not recommend it for two people.

Must See: Heli Lounge Bar

If you are ever in Kuala Lumpur, you must go to the Heli Lounge Bar . Every evening a bar is set up on a helipad that is still used during the day. It has amazing views of the city, including the Petronas Towers. The bar is a popular place to watch the sunset over KL. We intended to get there at sunset. But… squirrel. Is that a craft beer bar? It took longer than expected, but we eventually made it to the lounge.

View of Petronas Towers from Heli Lounge Bar — View of the Petronas Twin Towers from the Heli Lounge Bar

I actually recommend arriving at the lounge after dark when all the buildings are already lit up. We were there on a Monday, and there wasn’t a crowd or a line to get in. Entry was free with the purchase of a beverage. Please do your research before you visit. I have been told that it can be really crowded and sometimes has a cover charge.

I don't have a short attention span. I just... Ok Look! A squirrel! — Squirrel!

Are the Petronas Twin Towers a must see?

Even before Cliff actually booked his ticket, we had talked about what there was to do in KL. He was really excited about the Petronas Twin Towers.

Looking up at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia — Petronas Twin Toweres

I have been to many beautiful places in my travels, and I’ve also regrettably paid to see the “best view” at the top of some tourist attractions. I refuse to take another crowded elevator ride to the top of a building just to take a photo. A photo that is inadvertently photobombed by some girl trying to get the perfect Instagram shot.

Sam Kuok Tattoo Kuala Lumpur Bunga Raya — My newest travel tattoo!

Getting tattoo at Sam Kuot Tattoo in Kuala Lumpur — My newest travel tattoo!

Of course, when Cliff ended up in Kuala Lumpur, he wanted to visit the observation deck in the towers. So we did what all couples do… compromise. (Haha, I almost peed my pants from laughing.) Instead, I bribed Cliff with alcohol. For less than the admission price to the observation deck, we could have cocktails AND a view at Heli Lounge Bar. In the end, Cliff did decide to visit the less pricey Sky Deck at the KL Tower while I was working. So I guess we did compromise.

View from bottom of Petronas Twin Towers — Looking up at the Petronas Twin Towers

We still visited the towers, and they are actually pretty cool. The outside features these crazy multi-faceted walls of perfectly polished stainless steel and glass. Even at ground level, the stainless steel had not one fingerprint on it. I am convinced there are Oompa Loompa’s secretly polishing the steel when no one is looking. At the bottom of the towers is the Suria KLCC mall. The mall is enormous. It has six floors and over 35 acres of shopping, including two huge food courts. It was the biggest mall I had ever seen until…

Berjaya Times Square

I had an appointment with a tattoo artist to get a new tattoo. It happened to be inside Berjaya Times Square. I had never heard of Berjaya Times Square and didn’t realize it was one of the world’s largest malls. We walked through the entrance of the building into an atrium that was at least nine stories tall. Every time we turned a corner, there would be another wing of stores. The mall contains a bowling alley, an Imax theater, a paintball arena, archery, multiple grocery stores, a police beat, a hotel, and an entire section called Tiny Taipei with narrow streets and shops to look like a shopping street In Taipei.

A claw machine where you can win real food.

If that wasn’t enough, I saved the best for last. The mall contains an entire amusement park. Not just a few rides. A full-size amusement park with every ride you would expect to see at Six Flags, including a full-size rollercoaster. The mall is insane.

Amusement Park in Berjaya Times Square — Amusement park in Berjaya Times Square mall.

And, no, we did not ride the roller coaster even though Cliff turned into a little child at the sight of it. “Mom, Can we? Can we?” We soon discovered that we could not just purchase a ticket to the rollercoaster. We had to buy an admission ticket to the whole amusement park, which was really expensive. Especially for one ride. Who would pay the entrance fee for Disney World and just ride Pirates of the Caribbean?

No Alcohol!

I don’t think I have touched on this yet. In Bali and Malaysia, alcohol is expensive and hard to get due to religious reasons. Many restaurants only serve beer. And by beer, I mean one brand of beer. One positive is that you don’t have to agonize over what your beverage of choice will be.

Alcholoh is expensive in Kuala Lumpur — Bacardi $85.00

Expensive Prices of Alcohol In Kuala Lumpur — Bacardi $85.00

Be Warned! Restaurants will advertise “Happy Hour: 2 for 1 mojito.” These are VIRGIN mojitos. I repeat. These are VIRGIN mojitos. Don’t be fooled. And don’t be that person who says, “I’m wasted.” No, Ma’am, you are not. You were drinking a virgin, organic, vegan mango smoothie. There are plenty of places you can still imbibe. Just expect to pay close or even more than American prices.

Taps Beer Bar Kuala Lumpur Malaysia — I highly recommend Taps Beer Bar

Ok. That’s fine. At least I can get free, unlimited alcohol at the airport lounge. NOPE. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) has only one Priority Pass lounge airside that serves free alcohol. And only Carlsberg beer. That is it. For anyone headed to KUL, head to the Plaza Premium Lounge in the klia2 terminal. It is located airside on level 2 of international departures. The lounge is located next to Gate L8. Be careful. There are five Plaza Premium Lounges at KUL. Choose Wisely.

I am sure at this point, someone reading this post is waving their finger at me. They are concerned for my well-being. Questioning why I am so concerned with the lack of alcohol in Kuala Lumpur. Questioning why drinking at the airport is so important…

Oops. I made us miss our flight.

Cliff and I missed our flight. It was completely my fault. I wasn’t ready in time, and we missed the bus to the airport. I am pretty sure this is the first time I actually missed my flight, which is pretty good considering the amount of traveling I do and the fact that I am always running late. It was destined to happen sooner or later. Thankfully my boyfriend is the most easy-going person in the world and wasn’t even fazed.

AirAsia Sucks

Even though it was my fault we were running late, I think we could have made the flight (or at least Cliff could have) if it wasn’t for the AirAsia employees at KUL. I have flown AirAsia before and have not had any issues, but I do not recommend flying with them out of KUL. If you do, plan to arrive at the airport at least five hours early.

When we arrived at the airport, the check-in line for AirAsia was roped off. A large number of other travelers were standing around trying to figure out where to go, and the AirAsia employee was refusing to help anyone. She was just standing there blatantly ignoring people. It was like we didn’t even exist. She finally decided to speak and said that everyone had to use the check-in kiosk to obtain luggage tags and then drop their bags off at the drop-off only counter. Since we were running late, the kiosk would not let us check-in and said we needed to see an attendant. I tried to tell her that, but I did not get any form of a response. Anyone we tried to ask would point us in a different direction. Finally, a bunch of passengers, including me, ducked the rope and got in line.

Enjoying Batu Bolong Beach, Bali, Indonesia — Beach day in Bali!

By the time we reached the check-in counter it was too late. The agent checked us in but said my bag would not make the flight. No problem, I thought. It can go on the next one… False. AirAsia requires you to fly with your bag. Cliff, who only had a carry on, tried to make the flight but the door closed as he arrived to the gate.

We both ended up having to purchase new tickets at full price. Finding the ticket counter went as well as trying to check-in. I am starting to think AirAsia intentionally slows down the check-in process. There seemed to be an abnormally large number of passengers that had missed their flights and were required to purchase a new ticket. Finally, after buying new tickets, we were on our way to Bali!

Exploring Kuala Lumpur: Capsule Rooms, Virgin Cocktails and a Special Guest Read More »

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