After Tan Sri Tony Fernandez fairly recently hinted at an AirAsia ASEAN Pass in support of the region’s economic integration, the airline finally released one. The pass, available at 7200 PHP for 10 credits and 12,900 PHP for 20 credits, may be redeemed for flights using a credit system based on flight cost, duration, and frequency. Some flights cost one credit, while some three. We’ve created suggested itineraries coming from the Philippines that fully consume the pass. Read more…
In creating an AirAsia ASEAN Pass itinerary, the following must be considered:
- A route may not be taken more than once (e.g. MNL-KUL and KUL-MNL).
- The number of credits a flight takes is based on cost, duration, and frequency.
- The pass only covers the base fares. Fuel surcharges are not imposed at the moment.
- Airport taxes, as well as add-ons like meals and baggage, are paid separately.
- Seats are subject to availability—chances are lower on weekends and holidays.
- Tickets must be booked at least 14 days in advance.
What we have created so far are four itineraries that use 10 credits—making the flights cost 720 PHP (one credit) or 2160 PHP (three credits) plus airport taxes per flight.
CLASSIC INDOCHINA
Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia
Manila, Philippines (MNL) – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) 3 credits
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (SGN) 1 credit
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (SGN) – Bangkok-Don Mueang, Thailand (DMK) 1 credit
Bangkok-Don Mueang, Thailand (DMK) – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP) 1 credit
Phnom Penh, Cambodia (PNH) – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) 1 credit
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) – Clark, Philippines (CRK) 3 credits
Flights: 6 Miles: 5061 Cities: 5 Countries: 4
Notes:
- Phnom Penh may not be excluded because only PNH-KUL is one credit. Hence, Siem Reap to Phnom Penh must be traveled by land.
- Travel must end or begin in Clark because MNL-KUL or KUL-MNL may only be used once.
FROM BORNEO TO INDOCHINA
Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand
Cebu, Philippines (CEB) – Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (BKI) 1 credit
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (BKI) – Kuching, Malaysia (KCH) 1 credit
Kuching, Malaysia (KCH) – Singapore, Singapore (SIN) 1 credit
Johor Bahru, Malaysia (JHB) – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (SGN) 1 credit
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (SGN) – Bangkok-Don Mueang, Thailand (DMK) 1 credit
Bangkok-Don Mueang, Thailand (DMK) – Krabi, Thailand (KBV) 1 credit
Phuket, Thailand (HKT) – Kuala Lumpur, Thailand (KUL) 1 credit
Kuala Lumpur, Thailand (KUL) – Cebu, Philippines (CEB) 3 credits
Flights: 8 Miles: 5148 Cities: 9 Countries: 4
Notes:
- The journey begins in Cebu. For it to begin and end in Manila, a MNL-CEB domestic flight must be booked separately, and the last KUL-CEB leg must be replaced with KUL-MNL or KUL-CRK.
- Singapore to Johor Bahru must be crossed by land. AirAsia has a free shuttle bus with Causeway Link from JB Sentral near the CIQ Complex to Senai International Airport.
- Krabi and Phuket are interchangeable, and both or only one may be visited. Distance between Krabi and Phuket is approximately 150 kilometers.
VISIT MALAYSIA
Malaysia and Singapore (optional)
Manila, Philippines (MNL) – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) 3 credits
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) – Langkawi, Malaysia (LGK) 1 credit
Langkawi, Malaysia (LGK) – Penang, Malaysia (PEN) 1 credit
Penang, Malaysia (PEN) – Singapore, Singapore (SIN) 1 credit
Johor Bahru, Malaysia (JHB) – Kuching, Malaysia (KCH) 1 credit
Kuching, Malaysia (KCH) – Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (BKI) 1 credit
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (BKI) – Cebu, Philippines (CEB) 1 credit
Cebu, Philippines (CEB) – Manila, Philippines (MNL) 1 credit
Flights: 8 Miles: 4213 Cities: 6 Countries: 2
Notes:
- The journey may be started in Cebu by replacing MNL-KUL to CEB-KUL and removing the last CEB-MNL leg. That would also bring the total down to nine credits used.
- Singapore is an optional stop and may be replaced with a KCH-JHB flight if going direct to Johor Bahru is more preferred.
THAILAND EXPEDITION
Thailand and Malaysia (optional)
Clark, Philippines (CRK) – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) 3 credits
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) – Phuket, Thailand (HKT) 1 credit
Krabi, Thailand (KBV) – Bangkok-Don Mueang, Thailand (DMK) 1 credit
Bangkok-Don Mueang, Thailand (DMK) – Chiang Rai, Thailand (CEI) 1 credit
Chiang Mai, Thailand (CNX) – Surat Thani, Thailand (URT) 1 credit
Surat Thani, Thailand (URT) – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) 1 credit
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) – Manila, Philippines (MNL) 3 credits
Flights: 7 Miles: 5484 Cities: 7 Countries: 2
Notes:
- The journey begins in Clark. For it to begin in Manila, CRK-KUL must be replaced with MNL-KUL. However, the flight back to the Philippines must also be replaced accordingly.
- Kuala Lumpur is an optional stop and may be used as a transit point only.
- The total number of credits for this journey is 11; therefore, one flight must be booked separately. Best choices are the domestic flights to or from Bangkok (i.e. KBV-DMK or DMK-CEI) because promo fares on these routes are typically cheap.
- Krabi and Phuket are interchangeable, and both or only one may be visited. Distance between Krabi and Phuket is approximately 150 kilometers.
- Chiang Rai may be removed and replaced with Chiang Mai (i.e. DMK-CNX flight) if desired. Distance between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai is 200 kilometers.
For the full listing of flights and corresponding credits, as well as the mechanics of the AirAsia ASEAN Travel Pass, check out www.airasia.com/ph/en/book-with-us/asean-pass.page. For questions, comments, clarifications, and ideas, use the comments box below.
