At Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the hub for national carrier Malaysia Airlines, I was expecting a straightforward and seamless experience from check in to boarding, and I wasn’t disappointed.
There were numerous counters to receive premium class passengers at the point of check in. The staff were forthcoming with providing directions for clearing immigration as well as to the lounge.
KLIA also has expedited immigration and security clearance for premium class passengers, so just follow the signs accordingly.
As I was travelling in Business Class for this trip, I decided to try out a couple of lounges prior to boarding, namely the Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge and the Cathay Pacific Lounge, but more on those in separate posts.
At the departure gate, I caught a glimpse of my aircraft pulling into the gate before passengers were called forward for boarding.
First and Business Class passengers were called forward for boarding right on schedule. Upon entering the aircraft, I managed to snap a few photos of the single row of 4 First Class seats right at the front of the aircraft. Notice that the First Class seat isn’t particularly wide to begin with, although there seems to be loads of storage space around the seat. The doors also provide additional privacy.
I then proceeded to my seat in row 2, right at the front of the Business Class cabin. As with my previous review of the same aircraft from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, this flight was also operated by an A350-900 aircraft, with Business Class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 configuration in alternate rows.
I found a pillow and blanket on my seat for additional comfort. The seat controls located on the side console were easy to operate and very intuitive.
There was additional storage found at the forward end of the console, right above the lifevest compartment.
The crew served some pre-takeoff beverages while I settled in my seat.
Now take a closer look at the other features of the seat. There is a small pocket for a handheld device such as a cellphone, as well as another compartment that could fit a small water bottle of sorts. The reading light was rotatable, so you could adjust it accordingly when required.
You’ll find the inflight entertainment controller under the armrest.
The screen is found above the little cubby for your feet when the seat is in lie-flat mode.
Once airborne, the cabin crew quickly commenced the meal service given that this flight only had a flight duration of a couple of hours. They could’ve done better with the presentation, but the food tasted good and everything went very well together.
After my meal, I decided to explore the seat in lie-flat mode. With the touch of a button, you can convert your seat into a fully flat bed, and the armrest can be lowered to provide more space for those with broad shoulders.
Your feet should fit comfortably in the cubby, with more space than the typical reverse herringbone seat.
As this was a day flight, I managed to capture some nice shots of the engine and wing inflight.
While I had more time to appreciate the seat than my previous flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, it was clear that the seat would be decent for medium and long haul flights given that it can be converted to a lie flat bed. Malaysia Airlines could’ve designed a more private seat in Business Class as those seated in seats that are flush with the aisle may feel a little exposed. Otherwise, the soft product was a good as advertised, and overall it was an enjoyable flight!
