Welcome to my 5th freedom trip report with Air Asia X!
One of Air Asia X aircraft painted in a special livery, for this case this is the Sonic the Hedgehog livery. (Photo: Alpha 380)
Introduction
I have always wanted to fly with this airline to compare with Scoot, however I wasn't able to find any suitable routes until this time which I was quite fortunate to come across the 5th freedom flights between Taipei Taoyuan and Osaka Kansai Airport. In addition to this route, Air Asia X also flies direct from Kuala Lumpur to Osaka Kansai and this makes me wonder whether is the airline making profit on the 5th freedom route especially with quite a number of airlines doing this same route. Whatever it is I decided to take the plunge and finally book myself on this airline and since the Premium flatbed was slightly more expensive, I went for it. It would be great to avoid the 3-3-3 tight configuration on this A330-300. Do note that the fuselage cross-section is narrower than the Boeing 787 so this can be quite uncomfortable for medium to long haul flights for those like myself with wide shoulders.
So which airline (Scoot or Air Asia X) offers a better premium product? For Scoot only the Boeing 787 has the Scootplus cabin and the recliner seats are similar to the common premium class products in the market.
Air Asia X gets my vote for 2 main reasons: Better inflight meal and options and lie-flat bed is better.
Without further ado, let's begin this trip report!
History of Air Asia X
Air Asia X is a Malaysian long-haul low cost carrier set up by the Air Asia Group, was established in 2007. However the airline was initially named as FlyAsian Express a year ago and was rebranded to this name due to some changes with the airline's operation. This airline operates a full fleet of Airbus A330-300 consists of different configuration, main difference is the different number of business class seats configured on the aircraft. The airline flies on many regional and some international routes offering passengers a less expensive way to travel and of course it met with severe challenges and unfortunately some of the routes didn't work out, such as flights to London Gatwick and Nairobi (Kenya). Currently the AirAsia Group announced plans to merge Air Asia X and Air Asia into one single unified brand.
This airline also own a subsidiary, Thai Air Asia X which flies long haul in Bangkok (DMK) Airport. Both airlines will eventually replace all the A330-300 aircraft with the A330-900neo and currently only Thai Air Asia X is operating this new varient of the A330 model.
Booking with the airline
Air Asia Move app not only manages flights of the airlines in the Air Asia group, it also offer flights with its competitors similar to travel agent 3rd party apps such as Cheapticket.com and Trips.com. In addition, it offers hotel, airport transfer and other amenities that make life more convenient for the travellers and of course all these are not free but still it is a good option for those who prefer to pay of the services.
For the app, I find the user-interface of the app relatively easy to use. I didn't have any problem navigating through the app and booking my flight.
As you can see the price difference is not a lot but the comfort level between the 3-3-3 cramp configuration and the 2-3-2 configuration is quite a lot especially for a solo traveller so paying more for the better class is certainly worth it.
For premium flatbed passengers, you are able to select the meals and seat for free.
This A330-300 has only 12 seats and when I booked, the 3 seats in the front rows were occupied.
What I like about flying with Air Asia is the good selection of delicious local dishes.
For this flight, I selected Uncle Chin's Chicken Rice.
You can also select a 2nd meal but you have to pay for it.
Once my booking was confirmed, I was offered some duty free items sold at a discount and I can order them before the flight and the cabin crew were delivered to me during the flight.
When I tried to check-in, I had do it several times as I kept receiving the error message before eventually I managed to complete it.
I received the mobile pass but it is still advisable to collect the physical boarding pass from the check-in counter. As a foreigner flying out of Taipei, I have to show or inform the ground staff of my return flight itinerary since this flight is booked on a one-way trip.
On the day of departure
This is Sanchong Elementary School station
I had to change the train at Minquan West Road station and take the red line to Taipei Main Station.
The train system is marvallous over here as it is convenient and easy to travel around.
This is the Airport train station, there are 2 types of travel, the express and standard. Usually I go for the express train as it skips a few stops and reduced the traveling time to get to Taoyuan Airport.
One of the configuration on board the airport train gives you this much space allowing you to place your luggage in front of you.
As my flight was departing from Terminal 1, I stopped at this stop's station and it took less than 5 minutes to reach the departure hall.
Welcome to Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1!
This is the view of the drop-off point.
The queue for my flight was long and luckily for me, I got to skip this long queue.
I was the first passenger and within minutes, I received my boarding pass and had my luggage checked in.
Checking the flight information, there was no news about my flight. No news usually means good news (no delay).
I had to wait for a short while for the counter to be opened.
My boarding pass
You can see how long the economy class queue is.
This is the boarding information at the airside. Checking my flight, my aircraft was located at gate A2.
I headed towards the gate A area.
There are duty free shops along the way.
This is the gate area of my flight which also shares with a few other gates.
I had a nice lunch at one of the local restaurants near the gate.
It's been a long time since I last flew on a 5th freedom flight.
The interior area of the passageway connecting the concourse to the departure gates.
I did a check on what aircraft I was flying on, it was 9M-XXR, one of the oldest A330-300 in the fleet.
The departure gate area was crowded as there were a few flights departing around the same time.
Gate A2
Off we go. It was nice to be one of the first to board the aircraft.
Welcome on board 9M-XXR!
This was my 2nd time flying on a high density configured A330-300. My previous flight experience on this aircraft model was with Cebu Pacific, you can check out the trip report over here.
My ride: 9M-XXR (Photo: Stefano.R)
Aircraft info
Flight route: TPE-KIX
Miles: 1,058
My seat: 2A (Photo: Aerolopa.com)
Date of departure: 27th May 2025
Airline: Air Asia X
Flight: D7378
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
Registration: 9M-XXR
Seat: 2A
Terminal: 1
Gate: A2
Load (J Class): 9/12 (75%)
Flight Time: 2 hours
Actual Flight Time: 2 hours 12 minutes
Schedule Departure: 1540
Boarding: 1458
Push Back: 1534
Take Off: 1552
Schedule Arrival: 1920
Actual Arrival: 1904
Departure Runway: 05R
Departure Weather: Windy
Arrival Runway: 06R
Arrival Weather: Partially Cloudy
My Flight Experience
Boarding took place about 40 minutes before departure and I was glad to be one of the first to board the aircraft. Once on board, I was greeted by two lovely crew who assisted us to our seat and when I went over to check out the economy class cabin, one of them reminded me of my seat but I told him I wanted to check out the economy class cabin before the rest of the passengers board the aircraft, it's not every flight I get to be one of the first to board.
Looking at the 3-3-3 configuration, it is very tight and after experiencing it once, I won't want to experience it again. This is the main reason why I opted for the Premium flatbed class.
Anyway, once on board, a taiwanese family with 3 kids sat in the same class and occupied the other seats of row 2. 3 lucky solo passengers including myself had an empty seat. The announcement were made by both the flight crew and flight purser. There was no announcement about the weather on route but we experienced some turbulence during our take off and along the cruise but nothing bad at all. Later on I discovered a few seats were inoperative (with the sticker on the seat) but mine was able to recline to a certain angle and then that's it. Fortunately, I was able to retract the seat back to the original position and since the seat besides mine was vacant, I shifted over to enjoy the lie-flat position. This happened after the meal service.
For the meal service, I was given my choice of meal and a bottle of water. I asked the crew whether I could switch the bottle of water to coke, I was told that I have to pay for it so I decided to stick to my bottle of water. The meal was enjoyable and so is the lie flat bed which I enjoyed for a short while. For the inflight service, the crew were nice and pleasant, no complaints at all.
The 2 hour flight ended very quickly and we landed smoothly at Osaka ahead of schedule. After leaving the airport, I had to navigate my way to the accommodation which is about an hour by train and I had to change a couple of times so not very convenient. As for this aircraft, it would rest briefly before making the trip back to Taipei and then onward to its home base, Kuala Lumpur.
4 different A330-300 configuration for Air Asia X
Configuration A: C12 Y365 (My aircraft - 9M-XXR) - 14 units)
Configuration B: Y367 (1 unit)
Configuration C: C18 W24 Y267 (2 units)
Configuration D: C30 Y255 (2 units)
Air Asia X inherited some of the A330-300 from other operators through the lessors therefore the configuration is different and they can be deployed on any routes depending on the load factor and demand.
Do note: Thai Air Asia X has Configuration A and B for the fleet of 9 aircraft based in Bangkok (DMK) Airport. There is a 3rd configuration for one of the aircraft and that is C18 W33 Y312, different from the 3-class configuration C.
Economy Class
This cabin is configured in a 3-3-3 configuration filling up the space from the 2nd cabin to the 4th cabin of the aircraft, sitting 365 passengers on this A330-300 aircraft. Each seat has a seat width of 16.5 inches and with the exception of the bulkhead rows, the seat pitch is around 32 inches.
This is the first cabin of the economy class (Quiet zone).
The 3-seater by the window side
Seat width may be small but legroom space is not too bad.
There is no IFE screen installed on Air Asia's aircraft.
The cross section view of the cabin
This are the forward seat rows, popular with passengers who wish to disembark earlier.
To me, I don't mind sitting in these seats only if I have a vacant seat. To stand a better chance to score a vacant seat, chose the seat at the last few rows of the aircraft, usually passengers prefer seating in the front cabin.
One last look at the economy class seats.
Premium Flatbed (Business Class)
There are 12 seats in this cabin, configured in a 2-2-2 arrangement. These seats are lie-flat bed and can be converted by using a touch pad featuring the control buttons allowing you to configure the seat to a more relaxing configuration during the flight. Although the seats are not the most advance in the market, it is still adequate for medium haul routes but to me, the lie-flat option is the key of a more comfortable ride especially flying on a low-cost carrier.
The view of the premium and economy class cabin
My seat: 2A. Unfortunately the seat had an issue and that is it was not able to recline completely. It could recline but only till a certain angle and then it stopped.
As the economy class behind me is marketed as the Quiet Zone, I was not surprised how quiet it is enjoying my take off and landing at the window seat.
It was wierd not to have any IFE Screen at the seat back.
Each passenger receives a pillow, blanket and a bottle of water.
These seats are able to recline without affecting the passengers sitting behind.
The comparison between the seat in lie-flat mode and the seat in the original position.
Enjoying the view while sitting at the aisle side.
3 windows for myself in seat 2A.
The views from my original seat.
The bulkhead row offers a good amount of legroom space.
The adjustable headrest.
The gap between the seat allows the seat to recline without affecting anyone.
More photos of the seat
A caution notice is pasted on the seatback to ensure the passenger follow the important safety guidelines.
I would be able to view outside from the 3rd window when my seat is reclined.
The seat control panel
The adjustable reading lights
I was able to stretched my legs when my seat is at the original position.
Another view of the cabin from my seat.
The foldable tray stored at the side of the handrest compartment.
There is a drink holder at the side of the seat.
The foldable tray table can be pulled out from here. (Below)
Front view from my seat
Slightly side view of the seat
The last row of the premium flatbed cabin
The front view from the aisle seat
That's me enjoying the lie-flat experience.
The view of the window seat
This kind of seat is good for solo travellers but for couple not so much.
One last look at my window seat.
Lavatory
A relatively clean lavatory located behind the cockpit.
That's me, enjoying every minute on this flight.
Safety Card
Inflight menu
Inflight magazine
Coconut drink
Fastpass gives you an advantage such as early boarding and check-in and an increase luggage allowance.
Air Asia's Duty-Free Merchandise
Pillow
Blanket
Bottle of water for each passenger
The airline's network (Air Asia)
You can order them on board but its better to do it online before the flight.
This is Uncle Chin's Chicken Rice.
Window view photos
The Roll Royce Trent 772 engine powers Air Asia's A330 fleet.
Once our engines were started, we were given clearance to taxi and head towards the runway.
China Airlines A350-900
China Airlines Airbus A321neo
Airport Traffic Control plays an important role to ensure the safety of the aircraft movement at the airport. Sometimes there are challenges due to issues which may cause delay to your flight, so we need to be more understanding if the flight is delayed due to ATC issue.
Leaving the apron as we entered the main taxiway.
We headed to the end of the taxiway and passing by the new Terminal 3 (under construction).
EVA Air Airbus A330-300 departing ahead of us.
It was soon our turn as we entered the active runway.
Off we go!
As our aircraft was lightly loaded, the climb was powerful.
The maintainance facility for the commercial aircraft.
Bits of turbulence during the climb due to the windy condition.
We headed towards our assigned route path.
It was nice to fly during the evening time, witnessing the beautiful sunset.
However the weather at Osaka was very gloomy as we flew through some clouds and this is what we saw during our descent.
At least we manage to see the last light of the day before it became dark.
Beautiful view, isn't it?
Descending into Osaka KIX airport during the last few minutes of the daylight.
We touched down smoothly.
It took less than 10 minutes to reach our gate.
This is our parking lot.
My flight summary
Welcome to Osaka Kansai Airport!
The walk from the aircraft to the landside took around 15 minutes.
I like the way the airport staff stack the luggage nicely on the carousel.
The landside of Osaka KIX airport.
To get to the JR line train station, you need to take the escalator up to the 2nd level.
Follow the instruction and soon you be at the train station.
Japan train system may be one of the most efficient in the world but they are certainly not passenger friendly in my opinion. It took me a while to figure out how the system works.
I paid a one-way ticket to this location where I need to purchase another ticket to get to my accommodation.
Here is the platform.
My ratings
Airline Website/Mobile App: 3/5 (AirAsia Move App)
Airport Experience (TPE): 5/5
Inflight Service: 4/5
Seat Comfort: 4/5 (Premium Flatbed)
Inflight Entertainment: 0/5
Cabin Ambiance: 4/5
Seat Condition: 2.5/5 (Original seat could not be converted into flatbed)
Cleanliness: 5/5
InFlight Meal/Beverage: 5/5
Punctuality: 5/5
Overall Rating: 37.5/50
Percentage: 75%
Conclusion
This premium product may be dated, but it still beats the recliner seat and the 3-3-3 configured economy class in terms of comfort. I was fortunate to have the seat besides mine vacant otherwise I won't be able to experience the lie-flat experience which I find it to be quite comfortable. The airline may have insufficient time or manpower to work on sorting out the issues on the seat. I did highlight the seat problem with the crew and I am sure they are already aware of it. Not a big deal for me on this short 2 hour flight and for the airfare the airline offered but for the KIX to KUL or vice versa sector, it can be a problem for those wanting to nap during the 4 hours sector. As for the inflight meal, it was delicious although the portion was slightly on the smaller side. As a low cost carrier, it was not a surprise that one has to pay for meals or better seats (if available) but you can take advantage of the lower price compared to the premium airlines, so the question is do you want to feel more comfortable inflight or just save up the cash and spend more on your travel instead, so this is the question you need to ask. Personally, I prefer to be more comfortable on board as a 6 foot 4, legroom space is important to me and this cabin product is adequate. The lack of IFE Entertainment system is noticable especially without online wifi or streaming. So I recommend you to bring your own tablet or phone for your own entertainment especially on the longer flights.
Overall, it was a pleasant 2 hours flight, nothing spectacular about the service or the seat but I did manage to get some rest and more importantly avoid the long queues at the check-in, boarding and disembarkment, these are the important perks of flying in this class along with the more comfortable seats and the complimentary meals. So yes, it is worth paying more to enjoy these perks.
The airline has recently ordered a large number of A321XLR and also a handful number of A330neo to be delivered to Air Asia X in a few months time, I am likely to try out these aircraft once they enter service.
Have a good one!
Charles
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