This Malaysia Airlines flight review is by former BBC journalist Jane Dreaper. This is her first of three articles about her Langkawi trip that she will publish over the next few days.
You can visit Jane D’s site: https://dalemoorltd.com/
intro
It felt like being welcomed by an old friend…
I always turned left on big holidays. After that, my living situation changed and I was able to survive in the back seat of the plane. Knowing the flight situation in advance makes it even more difficult.
This was a special holiday for me as it was my dream to go hiking in New Zealand. Finally, I had the time and money to spend in style, so I asked my travel agent to arrange a business class flight with some relaxing stops.
I thought Langkawi was perfect for a return island vacation (detailed review coming soon). It made sense to fly with Malaysia Airlines as it would take a short time to get from Kuala Lumpur to Down Under. This also gave me the benefit of earning some tier points through the One World Alliance.
I had a better experience on London-KL than KL-Auckland in both directions.
reservation
My travel agent (Trailfinders) did the heavy lifting for me, but it’s worth knowing that Malaysia has launched a digital immigration system in early 2024. Unlike most visa applications, we aim to complete them as quickly as possible if any issues arise. , this must be applied for within 3 days of arrival, so don’t apply until the last minute.
But it was plain and simple. This is only required when entering Malaysia, not in transit, so there was no need to apply again when returning home.
Ground experience/departure
Prior to my departure, I spent a very pleasant night at Heathrow Airport at the Radisson Red, which I previously reviewed here. A magician competition is being held and I’m very busy!
I used the “WeKnow” taxi service to get to Terminal 4. This was booked through a kiosk in the hotel lobby and was half the price of Uber. I arrived earlier than promised and ended up with my own minibus. Check-in was quick and we were invited to the Gulf Air Lounge near Gate 6.
It was a very quiet and pleasant early Saturday morning, so we enjoyed toasting the start of our adventure with rodier and shrimp on rye bread.
We also had beetroot chia pudding and delicious strong coffee.
If you want the full Middle Eastern experience, there was a wide range of breakfast treats including hummus, labneh, and olives.
cabin/seat
Flight MH3’s LHR-KUL was an A350-900 with a 1-2-2 configuration, so I was able to have the window seat I reserved in advance all to myself. We maximized the storage space with a small cupboard and mirrored door.
The safety video was interesting. A variety of music styles were featured, including Korean pop and bohemian Rhapsody videos. My seat was comfortable and easily converted to flat. I used the chair’s massage function. Since there was no one in first class on this flight, we also used their toilet.
Meal/Service
Malaysia Airlines’ nice touches include having satay served before all three course meals. They believe they serve 15,000 sticks a day. You can also mix chicken and beef. The taste was delicious.
Malik looked after me while I had a smoked salmon appetizer, grilled sea bass, main, and panna cotta. The rice that accompanied the main was as good as you would expect from an eastern airline.
Washed down with Clare Valley, an Australian Sauvignon Blanc.
As a Yorkshire resident I was delighted to see Harrogate Water on offer.
I wasn’t too happy when the tea was served with little threat of teabags, but after requesting a dark mug, it was a one-off. This small mistake was the only element in the Malaysian food and drink offering that momentarily disappointed me.
An amenity kit containing a variety of Payo toiletries and an eye mask was delivered in a smart Aspinal bag, and we were each given a pair of slippers.
The menu listed various snacks that could be ordered between main meal services. I chose cheese and biscuits.
A delicious breakfast of mushroom omelet and chicken sausage with vegetables.
In-flight entertainment / Wi-Fi
I was grateful for the free and fast onboard WiFi. I did get a little sleep, but I watched an old movie (I chose The Goldfinch because I loved the book) and a new movie (Barbie dolls – okay on a plane, but I’m glad I didn’t bother). There was a wide selection of items, so I mostly just relaxed and watched movies. at the movie theater).
There was a great atmosphere before we even landed. The crew lined up and bowed at the front, then came down the aisle to thank us individually and allowed us to respond.
We felt this showed an admirable pride in their brand. I am reminded of how LNER train staff would line up outside the first class carriages of the Arbor train as they entered King’s Cross station.
Domestic flights to Langkawi
By nightfall, I was sitting in the domestic lounge at Kuala Lumpur Airport.
Immigration was easy as I was thankfully able to get through the domestic section (the lines for international arrivals seemed long). The food and drink provision seemed sufficient, but nothing more was needed at that stage.
We were also able to find a quiet corner with a charging point within the lounge, but sometimes that’s all you need. His flight MH1432 to Langkawi was a pleasant one-hour journey north with beautiful views of the archipelago. Boeing 737-800 in business he had a 2-2 configuration.
There was also satay (yay!), peanuts, and chocolate squares. Drinks were provided, but no alcohol was served on this leg.
Langkawi Island is a small airport, so it took about 10 to 15 minutes to clear the airport.
Read more tomorrow for more about Jane’s trip on Malaysia Airlines.