Malaysian Aviation Commission

[warrior01]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has ever dealt with the Malaysian Aviation Commission before?

Long story short, my MASWings flight from Mulu to Kota Kinabalu was cancelled a few weeks back, received absolutely no help or compensation from the MASWings agents at Mulu airport (which closes at 4pm, and had no phone signal at all to ring the airline myself). Luckily I had some Marriott points and could spend the night at the Mulu Marriott, but had to book a flight out the following afternoon myself, missed my connection from BKI to Sandakan, missed my connection from there to the jungle accommodation, had to book a same-day hotel in Kota, ended up just having to hop over to Johor Bahru, cross into Singapore, and back home with Finnair via Helsinki (the RJ Gold Sparrow came in handy for last minute extra legroom seats on AY!) – It was the Malaysian school holidays, so all flights down to SDK were booked solid at such short notice, as was accommodation.

I made an official complaint to MASWings and was fobbed off twice. Either the aircraft “went tech” or some bats came out of some Mulu caves an hour early and caught the airline off guard… both excuses used. I don’t think Malaysia has the same consumer protections as UK/EU/US in terms of flight cancellations, but wondering if I should make a complaint about the airline to their aviation commission.

What do you all think my next move should be?

[Dubious]

It’s a shame to have missed out on those destinations.

I think it is worth raising this to MAVCOM. They do have a need to prove themselves following the reorganisation some years ago that brought them into existence. Plus there have been some grumblings about the MASWings public service routes over the last couple of years. At the very least a complainT to them would help establish a datapoint on their teeth.

There are consumer rights for air passengers set out here: https://www.mavcom.my/en/consumer/

The compensation for flight cancellations is limited to 4694 SDR ~ GBP 4800.

The problem you will probably face is MASWings will probably claim extraordinary circumstances. But don’t let that put you off.
MASWings were obliged to communicated the delay and provided assistance to you. It is on MASWings to prove that they did, not on you to prove that they didn’t, but make sure to mention the lack of this in your communication with MAVCOM.

Please report back on how you get on. I think it is worth trying.

Incidentally, MAVCOM ran an international seminar on aviation consumer protection a few days ago, so I do think they want to set some expectations with the industry.