Can you fly AirAsia to Singapore for price of a roti canai ?

The New Straits Times reported today, 2 February 2008, as follows:

“Fly to S’pore for ‘price of a roti canai’"

AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes, who flew on the inaugural flight into the island republic, likened the cost of travel between the two countries now to the "price of a roti canai". AirAsia will be plying the route with two flights daily.”

Wow! So cheap lah, let's all go to Singapore, Tony says the cost of travel is only the cost of a Roti Canai.
[this is a delicious flat hot plate bread, which is served with a gravy (dhall, curry), or sometimes eaten with sugar]

Come on folks, off we go to Singapore, after all Roti Canai only costs in the range 80 sen to RM 1.00 at the normal eating places, or if in a 5 Star Hotel, maybe RM 5 to RM 10.
AirAsia travel cost are so cheap, it is truly a budget airline lah, OR IS IT?

I just tried to book AirAsia to Singapore on-line, the Promotional Fares was RM 0.00, {bloody hell, free, even less than the price of the cheapest roti canai}. Tony was right, BUT, WAIT, LOOK BELOW, THERE ARE A FEW ADD-ONS:

The parts below were copied from the AirAsia web pages, whilst booking on-line:

"Depart

Sun 02 Mar 2008 - Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL) to Singapore (SIN)
Flight	Departs	Arrives	Passenger	Fare	Class
AK 123	1000 (KUL)	1055 (SIN)	Adult	0.00 MYR	Economy Promo
AK 127	1950 (KUL)	2050 (SIN)	Adult	0.00 MYR	Economy Promo

Fare Rules

Return

Tue 04 Mar 2008 - Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL)
Flight	Departs	Arrives	Passenger	Fare	Class
AK 124	1130 (SIN)	1225 (KUL)	Adult	0.00 MYR	Economy Promo
AK 128	2140 (SIN)	2240 (KUL)	Adult	0.00 MYR	Economy Promo

Fare Rules

Your Travel

Going Out

Kuala Lumpur LCCT(KUL) to Singapore (SIN)

02 Mar 2008 AK 123

Departs 1000 Arrives 1055

Total cost = 106.00 MYR

Going Out

Kuala Lumpur LCCT(KUL) to Singapore(SIN)

AK 123 - Depart KUL 10:00 AM 03/02/08

Arrive SIN 10:55 AM 03/02/08

Coming Back

Singapore(SIN) to Kuala Lumpur LCCT (KUL)

04 Mar 2008 AK 124

Departs 1130 Arrives 1225

Total cost = 131.00 MYR

Coming Back

Singapore(SIN) to Kuala Lumpur LCCT(KUL)

AK 124 - Depart SIN 11:30 AM 03/04/08

Arrive KUL 12:25 PM 03/04/08

1 Guest @ 0.00 0.00 MYR

Airport Tax 25.00 MYR

Administration Fee 21.00 MYR

Fuel Surcharge 60.00 MYR

Going Out Total 106.00 MYR

Coming Back Total 131.00 MYR

1 Guest @ 0.00 0.00 MYR

Airport Tax 50.00 MYR

Administration Fee 21.00 MYR

Fuel Surcharge 60.00 MYR

Coming Back Total 131.00 MYR

Services and Fees

Going Out Total 106.00 MYR

Going Out Total 106.00 MYR

1 Guest @ 0.00 0.00 MYR

Airport Tax 25.00 MYR

Administration Fee 21.00 MYR

Fuel Surcharge 60.00 MYR

---

Coming Back Total 131.00 MYR

---

Total Package Price 237.00 MYR

Coming Back Total 131.00 MYR

1 Guest @ 0.00 0.00 MYR

Airport Tax 50.00 MYR

Administration Fee 21.00 MYR

Fuel Surcharge 60.00 MYR

---

Services and Fees

02 Feb 2008 11:45 hrs"

[NOTE: MYR = Malaysian Ringgit, usually abbreviated to RM]

So folks, if you pay an average of RM 118.50 for a roti canai, then you can fly return to Singapore for the price of two roti canai, but in the real world the cost of flying to Singapore & back on AirAsia is actually the cost of at least 237 expensive RM 1.00 roti canai.

This example clearly shows:

1. There is no transparency in Malaysia
   
2. Do not believe what you read in the English Language Malaysian Main Stream Media, such as the 'Star' and 'The New Straits Times', or hear on the Malaysia TV stations
   
3. Tony Fernandes thinks that roti canai cost a minimum of RM 106.00 each
4. Travelling on AirAsia is not as cheap as it first looks
   

Caveat emptor

Cheers!