KUALA LUMPUR – Former transport Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong is being schooled by social media users over using the right mobile app to check flight ticket prices, following his spat with his successor Anthony Loke over airfares yesterday.
Several Twitter users pointed out that Wee had found an economy class ticket on Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to be upwards of RM3,000 for a Kuala Lumpur-Tawau flight because he was using the AirAsia Super App, instead of checking directly with MAS.
“If using the AA (AirAsia) app, mahal (expensive). Check lah at (the) MAS app… be a smart consumer,” tweeted a user with the handle @ervanj.
“If buying a MAS flight ticket, use the MAS app, lah YB, why use ‘Super App’ by AirAsia,” another user @iam_ein tweeted.
“Hahaha booking (an) MH (MAS) ticket on AA’s app,” @darryldw also tweeted.
Others took screenshots of their flight ticket search on the MAS app for the same route which showed prices below RM3,000 and posted them in response to Wee’s tweets.
These responses were to Wee’s rebuttal to Loke who yesterday said the former minister was quoting prices for MAS’ business class ticket instead of economy.
“This fact must be corrected. As a former transport minister himself, I am confident Wee understands the difference between an economy and business class ticket,” Loke had said.
Wee had initially expressed his shock and disappointment that a return economy ticket between Kuala Lumpur and Tawau during the festive period would cost RM3,138, questioning the government’s role in ensuring airfares were affordable for people to return to their hometowns for Hari Raya.
However, Loke responded that upon checking with Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) group chief executive Izham Ismail, it was found that there are in fact no available economy class tickets on sale during the period Wee had highlighted, as they had all been sold out. Further, Loke said, the price Wee had referred to was for a business class ticket.
In response to Loke, Wee dug in yesterday and insisted his price check at RM3,138 for a KL-Tawau economy flight ticket on MAS on the Super App was correct, showing the same results on three mobile phones.
Loke will be holding a press briefing later today on airfares for the Hari Raya season. – The Vibes, April 17, 2023
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