|
|
| Click here for Malaysia's website |
In particular the First Class intercontinental service is particularly top notch, however the MAS short haul service is nothing like the long haul service and you can understand why so many Malaysians grumble when they use MAS on short haul for the first time after listening to tourists and business people who arrive long haul saying its the best airline experience.
Tickets are not particularly cheap, so it isn't exactly a backpackers airline unlike Thai (except for those determined to do the islands of Southern Thailand) and yet the cabins are definately not top notch, particularly the Entertainment systems, which rate very pooly compared to Singapore. The route map is pretty good for those in London or Manchester to reach Australia, and here the airline would pick up traffic - if only it could turn around the cabins to encourage more regular travelers. In the premium sector, the lounges again vary for top notch (in KL) to woeful (in Australia), however few people suffer this - as it is so hard to get access to the lounges via the very poor Frequent Flier scheme, Enrich, where it is very difficult to work up enough status to get access.
Sydney A typically grubby Malaysian Boeing 747-400 about to leave for Kuala Lumpur |
First has a pitch of 76", Golden Club Class (Malaysia's name for Business) is 50" with a very standard business class seat except in the AŁ30-200 where it is 62" and an almost flat bed, and Economy is a generous 34".
Malaysia Airlines is planning to introduce a new Premium Economy on it's new Airbus A380 Superjumbos, which it will call "super economy".
Malaysia Boeing 747-400 |
Economy in a 3+4+3 pattern. Row 48 is by far the best, with a window and loads of legroom by the emergency exit. Row 38 is an emergency exit, but without a window (but there is a window in the door ahead of you) however also by a cluster of toilets and over the wing with a very poor view, so is generally a poor bet. Row 26 ABC is also an emergency exit, while 28 HJK is a bulkhead - right behind the muslim prayer area, so you may get woken up at odd
London LHR Malaysian Boeing 747-400 |
Business has just three rows of 2+3+2 on the lower deck (row 17 are bulkheads, but with cot fittings), and 8 rows of 2+2 in the upper deck, which are a much better bet. Upstairs is generally quieter than the lower cabin, because children are rarely seated here, however there is no guarantee.. Row 10 is by the exit with lots of room. The right (H/K) is slight better than the left (A/C) side, where the window view is restricted by the seat offset. Avoid the rear row upstairs which is right next to the galley, and where the crew tend to hang out and chat. All 747s have the same type of business class seat, which leaves a lot to be desired and is as dated as the rest of the
London Malaysian Boeing 747-400 on finals |
First has 4 rows of 2+2 seats, plus 2 very lonely seats in the middle of the cabin.
All of the 747s have individual 6.5" video screens in economy, as well as the overhead projection TVs showing the usual rolling map. In business and first there is a very good 10.5" screen, and telephones in the armrests.
Malaysia Boeing 777-200 |
Economy seats are in a 2-5-2 pattern, giving an ok seat width - it is certainly wider than airlines like Emirates.
The best seats in economy are 29, which are exit row seats. You are near the galley, but the enormous legroom makes it worthwhile. It gets a slim sliver of a window, a window in the door ahead of you - and its not over the wing. Row 12 is a bulkhead, but gets cots clamped to the forward wall. At all costs avoid row 20 - there is no window at seat 20A and 20K.
Kuala Lumpur Boeing 777 |
All seats have a 6.5" seatback video screen. If you are in a bulkhead or an emergency exit you get a fold out video screen which is smaller than the seat back videos, and your remote is in the armrest, so you keep on banging it when you are asleep. These seats also have a video screen in the ceiling, so you can enjoy the moving map when your screen is stowed.
Business seats are in a 2-3-2 formation, with two rows (4 is the bulkhead with an odd cutout for extra legroom) a door, and then 2 more rows (9AC is behind the "business centre" while 9JK are behind a toilet). All seats come with a fold out video screen.
First comes in a 2-2-2 pattern, in 2 rows.
The aircraft will seat 510 passengers, and will be used to increase capacity on the kangaroo route from London to Sydney via Malaysia - after all the current Boeing 747s seat 359, so this will save having to put another aircraft on the route.
The biggest change for MAS is that the aircraft will have a "super economy" class, which seems to be akin to Premium Economy, with extra legroom.
Malaysia Airbus A330-300 |
Kuala Lumpur Airbus A330 |
Economy seats are in a 2-4-2 pattern, giving a much wider seat than in the 777, and is ideal if you are flying as a couple, as it means the end of clambering over two people when you want to leave the window seat. Row 32 AC, HK are emergency exit seats, as is (very unusually) row 31 in the middle. Row 21 gets a bulkhead.
Business class is configured with fully electronic easy sleeper seats, with a 62" pitch and great recline. The 330-200's are the only aircraft in the MAS fleet with these seats in business class but they do tend to change aircraft without notice, scuppering your plans for a comfy journey on the way down to Melbourne.
Economy seats are in a 2-4-2 pattern, giving a much wider seat than in the 777. Row 29 AC, HK are emergency exit seats, with a bulkhead for the toilets in the middle. Row 11 is all bulkhead.
Business class is a particular let down, with ancient seats, few features (all mechanical) and no seat back videos. Business seats are in a 2-2-2 formation, with 8 rows. Row 1 has a bulkhead. At all cost, avoid seat 9A & 9K as there is no window there.
Malaysia Boeing A737-400 |
Boeing 737 seats |
Economy seats are in the usual 3-3 pattern. Pitch is the rather generous 34". Row 12 and row 13 have overwing ejectable emergency exits, with a lot more legroom. You have to specifically ask to sit here if you want these seats, and they are only available at checkin, because the staff want to check you are fit and able to help in an emergency. On these flights the service begins at the front - so it is worthwhile asking to be as close to the curtain divider as possible.
There is a true Business class cabin, with 4 rows of 2+2 seats. These seats are Boeing's late 80s style generic business seat, having a 36" pitch, and a 21" width. It is quite comfortable for a short haul flight.
Singapore Malaysian Boeing 737 about to leave for Kuala Lumpur |
At checkin in Malaysia it is worthwhile asking for a specific seat - and then checking your boarding card to ensure you have been given it, and that your Enrich number has been correctly recorded. Otherwise you may find that the Malaysia Airlines system of filling up the planes from the back results in you sitting all squashed in - while there is plenty of space at the front. At Malaysian outstations, like the UK and Australia, the staff apply a somewhat more logical system. You can also phone up at any time before your flight and request the seats you want.
As you board, there will be music playing. 1960s lift music. The safety announcement is often carried out manually, the old fashioned way. Spot the introduction saying "This is your seatbelt..." - which most airlines stopped reading out years ago, mainly due to the laugher from the back of the plane.
It kind of sets the style of the flight, when the staff resolutely follow the rules - often reading them out as they carry them out. There are silly things, such as waking passengers to open window shades when hitting turbulence. I understand the issue of raised shades for landing and taking off, but for mid-air? It does help that fingers are used to gesticulate the raising of the shade, and the request is an order.
In Economy you will get offered a hot towel, even for the shortest flights. Newspapers are no longer brought around. Even on short domestic flights you will be offered a choice of hot meal (with full metal cutlery, except for flights to the UK and US), and free alcohol. The 737s are never short of staff, however the 747s do suffer from rushed cabin crew.
On Long-haul flights you have to specifically request washbags. These contain a toothbrush and razor.
Going Places Malaysian inflight magazine |
It is actually a pretty decent read, and is professionally put together. There are a series of regular features, including Happenings, with a list of events this month around the world, and Shelf Life with books for the beach. The Trends section shows all sorts of things you would never want to buy.
The bulk of the magazine is taken up with a series of travel articles. Admittedly they are taken from the same syndicated articles that many other magazines use, so changes are you may have read some before, but there are loads of them, typically ten or so, all very well written.
At the back is Navigator with the inflight information. There are pages of information on how to use KLIA, how to get into the country, and how to use your seat. Finally on the last page, there is a very good map of Kuala Lumpur.
Sydney Malaysian Boeing 747-400 |
From LHR there are also direct flights to Penang on a 747 on Saturday at 1805 and on Tuesday at 2100. Langkawi also gets a flight from LHR on a 747 at 2100 on Wednesday and Sunday.
Amsterdam to KL is daily on a 747 at 1200, and every day except Tuesday and Thursday at 2035. There are codeshare flights to the Nordic countries which link to these flights. Frankfurt is daily at 1200 with a 777. Paris CDG is daily except Wednesday and Thursday at 1200 on a 747. Rome gets a 777 on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Zurich gets a 777 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 1250. From Vienna there is a flight on Monday and Saturday at 1230 in a 777, plus codeshares on Lauda's 777s at 1100 (arrives 0355). Cairo gets a flight to KL on a Thursday and Sunday in a 777. Cape Town gets a flight on Monday and Friday on a 747.
From KL there are flights to Adelaide on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 2145 on a 777. Auckland is daily on a 777 at 2040 (exchanged for a 747 on Friday). Brisbane is daily except Tuesday at 0920 (on a 777), Melbourne is twice at day, with a 747 at 1000, and a 777 at 2115, and two times a day to Sydney at 2045 (in a 747) and 0945 (777, no service on Tuesday and Friday).
Sydney Malaysian Boeing 747-400 |
Los Angeles gets a flight every day except Tuesday and Thursday at 1515. New York is Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 2245 in a 777.
Twice a day to Tokyo at 1100 and 2350 (777), Osaka is daily at 2345 (2140 on Saturday) in a A330 and Seoul is twice a day (no service on Thursday). Hanoi gets a daily 737 flight and a second flight four times a week in an A330.
Ho Chi Minh gets a daily 737 at 0730 and 1420, Hong Kong gets a flight five times a day (at 0915 in a 747), and Shanghai is twice a day in a 777 at 0140 and 0850
Singapore gets a shuttle five times a day (A330, 737 at 2315), and Bangkok gets a shuttle five times a day, while Phuket is twice a day at 1135 and 1805 on a 737. This is a codeshare with Thai.
London LHR Malaysian Boeing 747-400 |
Unlike other FF schemes, it is impossible to work your way up status levels, to get benefits like access to the lounges, just by flying in economy. Instead members earn Enrich Gold Miles for travelling on board Malaysia Airlines First Class and Golden Club Class. You need a total of 40,000 Enrich Gold Miles to qualify as an Enrich Gold Member, and you have to accumulate the miles within a consecutive 12 month period.
Once upgraded, your Enrich Gold Miles will be reset to zero come December 31 and you will begin a new 12- month period (January-December) of accumulating Enrich Gold Miles. To remain as an Enrich Gold member, all you need to do is to accumulate a minimum of 35,000 Enrich Gold Miles within the 12-month membership period (January-December).
Enrich Gold members do get some perks, like access to Golden Lounges even when travelling on Malaysia Airlines Economy Class. At KLIA, members can get into the Golden Lounge Satellite upon arrival and departure on Malaysia Airlines international flights. Each Gold member is entitled to invite one guest (travelling together with member on Malaysia Airlines) to the Golden Lounge.
Kuala Lumpur Boeing 737 about to take off |
You also get wait-listed at a higher priority, check in at First Class or Golden Club Class counters, and an additional baggage allowance of 50% over and above the entitlement of your class of travel.
Note that it is impossible to fly on Malaysian and then post off the boarding card with an application form to earn miles (which is the system most airlines have). Instead, you need to join up before flying Malaysian.
London LHR Malaysian Boeing 747-400 about to leave for Kuala Lumpur |
You can also earn miles on KLM (Business class gets 125% extra, Economy Class 70% on classes B,K,L,Y,M,H,Q,S,T & V), Northwest (Business Class 125%, Economy 70% for B,M,H,Q,V,K,T,L,S,X,Z & G), Swiss (Business Class 125%, Economy 70% on B,V & K) and Virgin Atlantic (First Class 150%, Discount Economy 70% of the actual flight distance on B,L,M,Q,V & X classes).
For example from KL to Phuket, economy is 437 miles, so you need to spend 40,000 miles for a business class return.
Internationally, Malaysia has a lounge at London Heathrow (LHR, T3), Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Singapore (Changi, T2), and Taipei. Australia has a number of lounges, in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
Singapore Malaysian Boeing 737 about to leave for Kuala Lumpur |
Information on their E-ticketing is also hidden away. If you book online you can't E-ticket for international flights to Thailand - instead you have to click the box which says collect them from the ticket office in central KL. It does however print out a summary.
There are some special fares hidden away, if you travel midweek and include a Saturday night, but these rise if you travel on a Friday or Saturday.
Note that some Thai airways flights are shown as fully booked on Thai's website, however you can book them as Malaysian, if they are a Thai codeshare on Malaysia metal.
Main site: www.malaysiaairlines.com
Entertainment including this month's films.
Seatmaps for all planes.
Note that all reviews and opinions on Malaysia (MH) food, service, seats, planes, upgrades, lounges, the Golden Lounges, and the Enrich Frequent Flyer scheme is soley at my judgement. No legal liability is accepted if you take my advice.