AirAsia bookings offline this weekend

PHUKET: Thai AirAsia this weekend will temporarily suspend its online booking facility for all flights to and from Bangkok after October 1.

The news comes as the budget carrier prepares to move its operations from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok.

Starting at 10pm on Friday, technicians will be reprogramming airport codes to reflect the change from Suvarnabhumi International Airport (SVB) to Don Mueang Airport (DMK), where the airline will resume operations on October 1.

Work is expected to be completed and the system back online by 10pm on Sunday.

During the system change, passengers will be unable to make any new bookings online for flights to or from Bangkok after October 1. This includes bookings made through agents, airport sales offices and travel service centers.

In addition, passengers who have already booked flights to or from Bangkok to travel on or after October 1 will be unable to use the “Manage My Booking” function or web check-in.

Passengers wanting to make a booking or make changes to any scheduled flights in or out of Bangkok after October 1 are advised to do so before 10pm on Friday or after the work has been completed.

Passengers whose travel dates are before October 1 remain unaffected.

During the system update, all other online booking facilities will continue as normal. People planning to book flights between other destinations that are not via Bangkok can continue to do so normally. For example, flights departing from Chiang Mai or Phuket remain unaffected.

After the airport code change has been completed, passengers who are traveling to or from Bangkok from October 1 onwards will receive an updated travel itinerary with the new airport code (DMK).

Those who have already checked in for their flights to or from Bangkok after October 1 will be required to check-in again.

AirAsia said staff will be available to handle urgent changes during the maintenance period, but request that customers have their booking reference number to hand. AirAsia can be contacted via live chat or eForm.

The company will provide “Live updates” on their website AskAirAsia.com, detailing when online functions will become available again.

“We apologize for any inconveniences caused. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to prepare for a smooth transition to Don Mueang International Airport,” AirAsia said in a press release.

For more information, visit www.airasia.com or AskAirAsia.com