MAS Online Booking

Have you ever try buying an air ticket from MAS airline (Malaysia Airline System) via the internet? They called it their E-Ticketing system. The last time I read in the paper (not sure how long ago) you need to collect your e-ticket from their MAS ticket office. Sounds strange right? If we are to go all the way to their ticketing office, why border doing it online? Just go straight to any ticketing office and buy your ticket there, right?

Of course I don't believe this is happening. Especially with MAS, our country's pioneer official airline services. Supposedly the best airline system in this country! Never happen to me before when I buy my air ticket from Air Asia Online services. I guessed must be some miscommunication somewhere along the line? And I didn't border to find out the truth either until...

...my colleague asked me to help her buy an air ticket for her to go to Myanmar. I gladly agreed! How hard can it be? I can do it via the net, right?

I went onto the Air Asia website but found out that they do not have flights to Myanmar. Well the next choice will be MAS and yes, they do have online ticketing services. Happily I signed up to their online services and the rest is a breeze!

I paid via credit card and I got the e-ticket printed out and that's it! No sweat! At least that's what I thought until I see this remark on the e-ticket...!

For security reasons, the following are required upon check-in or ticket reissuance, failure to produce these documents may result in denied boarding:

1. Photocopy or actual credit card used for the online purchase(s). 2. Photocopy or original photo ID of the credit card holder.

Huh? What's this? I need to make copies of my id and credit card for my colleague? So that she could board the plane? What nonsense is this? What if these photocopies fall into the wrong hands? Credit card fraud syndicates? Why do they need photocopies of the purchaser's id and credit card? The bank has already confirmed the transaction, didn't they? What security reasons? Is there a miscommunication somewhere?

I called MAS Customer Care Centre and they confirmed it, unfortunately. But I do not want to give away copies of my id, so how? Okay...they have a solution. I need to get my e-ticket endorsed by their officer, meaning? I have to take my e-ticket to any MAS ticketing office personally with my id card and credit card to get it verified and endorsed! Or else, my colleague cannot board the plane!

What rubbish! What online ticket purchase service is MAS promoting when the purchaser needs to make a trip to their ticketing office? Does it matter if the ticket purchased is for the purchaser himself or not? No such thing with Air Asia, don't know about other airlines (let me know if you know of any?).

A total waste of my time! The morale of this story? Do not buy your air ticket online from MAS if it is not for yourself? MAS, you are not flying inline with cyber age! Sigh...