OVER 70% of express bus tickets to most states in Peninsular Malaysia are available at the Sungai Nibong Express Bus Terminal in anticipation of the upcoming Hari Raya Adilfitri celebrations.
However, bus tickets to Terengganu and Kelantan have already been sold out, while bus tickets to northern destinations like Kedah and Perlis, and southern states, remain still available.
Ticket counter clerk, Kimberly Ng, 32, observed that there has not been a significant rush for tickets back to their hometowns since fasting has just begun slightly over a week.
“Tickets to the East Coast are limited as Sungai Nibong offers only three daily trips, while there are more available for the North and South due to higher bus frequency.
“Some people might be purchasing tickets early as prices tend to increase during festive seasons, from not more than RM50 to RM60 per person,” she said.
According to Ng, Billion Star provides the most extensive trip options compared to other bus companies, leading to the highest ticket sales for the company.
“Traffic jams are common during the festive season, causing unavoidable delays in arrival that are beyond our control,” she added.
Aeroline Penang, known for its punctuality and good service, provides trips to Kuala Lumpur, concluding at three destinations: Corus Hotel, Sunway Pyramid, or Bandar Utama.
Chief customer officer, Nasheha Nasir, 34, said the tickets are nearly sold out are for trips to Corus Hotel.
“Since last year, Aeroline ticket prices have increased from RM60 to RM72 for adults and RM36 for children.
“For the festive season, Aeroline does not provide any promotions or discounts; ticket prices remain fixed,” Nasheha said.
Nur Arina Asbar, 23, said for now she has not yet purchased her ticket to Johor Baru as it is still early.
“I plan to buy it this week after confirming my class schedule to ensure the ticket is not wasted in case of any changes.
“I usually take the bus back to the village during the Aidilfitri season because it’s more convenient and cost-effective for students like me,” said Nur Arina.
Meanwhile, IJM employee, Intan Juhaidah Juhan, 26, who resides in Kuala Lumpur, booked an AirAsia flight ticket two weeks before Ramadan.
She was delighted to secure two flight tickets to Penang, mentioning that most seats were already occupied.
“I made an online reservation because it’s quicker and more convenient. As we know, flight tickets during the Aidilfitri festival season tend to sell out faster than other modes of transportation.
“Furthermore, opting for flight service ensures a quicker journey without the hassle of road congestion,” she added.
AirAsia recently announced in a statement that they have added over 22,000 seats at low rates for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri season while Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) is offering 295,608 tickets for travel from April 5th to April 30th, 2024.
The KTMB website shows plenty of vacancies for travel from Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur, but the availability for the return trip is dwindling.
Tickets for buses, trains and planes are expected to be more sought after from this week.
Story and pix by Nur Syakirah Mohd Basri