[top photo: Former Manchester United defender David May (left) and former Liverpool fullback Phil Babb (right) arriving at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang from London yesterday.]

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Former Manchester United defender David May and former Liverpool fullback Phil Babb were among 216 passengers onboard yesterday's return flight from London on AirAsia X.

They are scheduled to make a special appearance at the Sunway Lagoon Amphitheatre tomorrow for the stadium- viewing party of the Manchester United and Liverpool English Premier League match.

On hand to welcome them was Tourism Malaysia International/marketing Division (Americas/Europe/Oceania) senior deputy director Maizan Ahmad.

For 70-year-old Anne Fern, her flight to Malaysia was a surprise.

Her family had booked the holiday to celebrate her birthday at a secret location here. She and her family were rewarded with an upgrading to XL class for being the first customers in the queue.

"It's a fantastic surprise indeed," said Fern, who was travelling with her grandchildren Katie and Ben Myers, daughter Elaine Baxter as well as Agustinus Nieuwenhuisun who had flown in from Holland.

The family will also celebrate Nieuwenhuisun's 69th birthday. They will join Fern's grandson, who is in Penang.

From here, they planned to fly to Ko Samui, Bangkok, and Singapore, all on AirAsia.

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