AirAsia has advised passengers travelling over the upcoming Deepavali long weekend to plan ahead, saying longer queues are likely at check-in counters and at security and immigration checkpoints.

In an advisory issued on Wednesday, the airline said it expects travel to increase during the holiday period. It asked passengers to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.

AirAsia said check-in counters will close one hour before scheduled departure at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 and 45 minutes before departure at other airports in Malaysia for domestic flights.

The airline encouraged passengers to use its self-service options. These include printing baggage tags at airport kiosks by scanning the QR code on the e-Boarding Pass and using the self-baggage drop counters. Passengers can add baggage or increase their allowance through the AirAsia MOVE app up to four hours before departure, it said. It also recommended the app for flight status updates.

For international travel, AirAsia said passengers must meet the entry requirements of every country they travel to or transit through, including visa rules, and should check the latest requirements with the relevant embassies or consulates.

The airline said its Auto Visa Check feature lets passengers verify most visa and electronic travel authorisation documents during online check-in, from 14 days before departure until one hour before. After verification, the e-boarding pass is issued immediately, it said. If verification fails, passengers must go to the check-in counter for a manual document check.

Counter check-in will be available only for passengers with reduced mobility, those travelling with infants under 24 months, pregnant passengers, senior citizens, and young passengers travelling alone, according to AirAsia. Pregnant passengers must complete a form at the counter, and those more than 27 weeks pregnant must submit a doctor’s medical certificate. Passengers who need wheelchair assistance should book it at least four hours before departure through the booking process or the “My Bookings” tab in the app, the airline said.

AirAsia also encouraged Malaysian passport holders to download the MyNIISe or MyBorderPass app, which it said allows faster immigration clearance through dedicated QR code and facial recognition lanes at KLIA Terminal 2. Passengers can use the e-Boarding Pass on the app at all Malaysian airports and many others, although some airports still require a printed boarding pass for verification, it said.

For cabin baggage, the airline said each passenger may carry one piece measuring up to 56 x 36 x 23 centimetres, plus one laptop bag, handbag, or small bag.

Source: PR