Somebody wrote about AirAsia on LinkedIn. What now AirAsia? Imagine arriving at the departure gate, only to be told you couldn’t board your flight—for no apparent reason. That’s exactly what happened to Ming Yii on January 6, 2025, when she was about to fly with AirAsia from Shanghai Pudong to Kuala Lumpur. That’s pretty crazy stuff right there—it didn’t seem fair at all.
She got to the boarding gate on time, ready for her journey. But instead, the airline staff denied her boarding without offering a clear explanation. There was no written notice, no concrete reason, just a refusal that left her confused and stranded. For anyone who has ever been in a situation where you feel powerless, you can imagine how devastating this must have been.
Here’s what Ming Yii wrote.
What’s even harder to stomach is the excuse AirAsia gave: they claimed she had a medical condition that made her unfit to fly. Amazing. They called in airport medical staff, who checked her thoroughly and found nothing wrong. Her vital signs were perfectly normal. Determined to prove she was healthy, Ming Yii even offered to sign a disclaimer, taking full responsibility for her fitness to travel. But even that wasn’t enough for AirAsia to change their decision.
To make matters worse, she felt singled out as a single female traveller. With no other option, she had to pay out of pocket for another flight to Kuala Lumpur. Can you imagine the frustration of not only being denied a service you paid for but also being forced to spend more money just to get to your destination? She arrived safely at KLIA just hours later, further proving that AirAsia’s medical excuse was baseless. The fact that she had to go through all this is infuriating.
Financial loss is one thing, but the emotional toll is quite another. Being treated unfairly, subjected to baseless accusations, and left to fend for yourself at an airport is not something anyone should have to endure. It’s just plain wrong.
Ming Yii is now demanding full compensation for her flight tickets, additional travel expenses, and the emotional distress she suffered. AirAsia must take responsibility when they get things wrong. Passengers are people who deserve respect and fair treatment. Her story is a wake-up call for everyone who frequently uses AirAsia. Why should passengers have to go to social media to be heard, why AirAsia isn’t taking this privately and amicably settling this? Obviously, this budget airline needs to do better.
Ming Yii’s courage to share her ordeal on LinkedIn is inspiring because it shines a light on issues that so many travellers face but often feel powerless to challenge. Her determination to seek justice isn’t just for herself—it’s for everyone who has ever been treated unfairly and made to feel small.
