Malaysia Airlines Brunei to KL

Malaysia Airlines fly to and from Brunei from KL four times a week. They go on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (I wish they would go everyday) The flight is often busy, with lots of workers connecting through from other parts of the Malaysia Airlines network. I rate Malaysia Airlines Regional product quite highly and the Brunei route is no exception. Relatively modern 737-800s with spacious 4 row 2X2 seating in Business Class. The food is pretty good, there is usually a choice of three meals and there is a limited bar available as well. Business Class also gets you off the plane quickly- which can be very useful in Brunei.

Business class tickets can be quite steep on this route- almost £200 each way. Sometimes there are promos that bring it down to about £100. (Economy is about £60 each way). If using avios it is worth the extra 7,500 to get in the front. If you are offered MH upgrade it could be worth putting in a low bid (I have never not been successful) though don't forget you may lose the tier points and avios you may have earned on your economy ticket.

MHupgrade: a test

I have previously written about the problem with both MHupgrade (where you are invited to bid for an upgrade, and the decision made 48hrs prior to departure) and the paid for instant upgrade at check in or in the lounge- that is you are booked into I class and do not receive elite miles or tier points. It could also be the case that such as upgrade will cost you the economy tier points as well. The theory has been tested. A return was booked and flown in V bucket, and a successful MHupgrade bid made only on one leg (no bid was made the outbound leg). In an ideal world 10+40 tier points would be earned. Perhaps a fair outcome would be 10+10 tier points. However, I am expecting 10+0 tier points- meaning that paying for the upgrade has cost the price of the upgrade (£40) + 10 Tier points plus around 400 Avios.

The positive about MHupgrade is that it can get you into the very good domestic and regional business class offered by Malaysia Airlines very cheaply- but do factor in the cost of those lost tier points- especially if it means you end up having to do  tier point run later in the year.

MHupgrade- is it worth it?

MHupgrade is Malaysia airline's version of last minute paid for upgrades. After you have booked an Economy ticket (or Business ticket, where first is also available) you sometimes (often) receive an invite to bid for an upgrade. I have made bids on a number of short haul routes- and even though my bids have been the lowest possible amount, or very close to it, they have always been successful. The new Business ticket is issued about 48hrs before departure, and does inlcude the increased luggage allowance. (The instant upgrades available at check in or in the lounges do not include the higher luggage allowance.)

The big drawback of MHupgrade is that it can cost you tier points (and avios) The same is true for the instant upgrade. For example, if you are booked into a v-class economy ticket on a short haul flight you will pick up 10 BA tier points. If you do an MHupgrade, or an instant upgrade you ticket usually changes to I class, which will earn zero tier points. So upgrading has actually cost you tier points and avios. As a result I no longer make use of the upgrade facility.

If you are doing an instant upgrade, perhaps at the lounge, I do wonder if the agent has some control over which booking class your ticket goes into. I have done two instant upgrades that did receive full tier points. The first was a long haul from London to KL- I was unwell and booked in Economy. I paid a significant amount for the upgrade to Business- and received the 160 tier points. The second time, I explained my frustration about the upgrades booking into I class to the agent- but, because I needed some sleep having flown in on a red eye I went ahead with the instant upgrade anyway. I was booked into Z class, and I received the 40 tier points- so it may be worth asking the agent if they can book the upgrade into Z class for you.

If I am flying the sector anyway (so it is not a tier point run) I am willing to pay up to £3 per tier point. So if they always gave full tier points for an upgrade I would be willing to pay £90 more than the usual £50 or so I offer- and I would bid for an upgrade every time. Its a shame they don't.