Malaysia Airlines Lounge Kuala Lumpur Domestic

The Domestic terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport has been recently refurbished with a larger range of shops added. Around the same time the domestic lounge also had a bit of a face lift. The lounge is spacious and rarely busy. The food offering is respectable, though nothing too grand. On domestic flights, and in the domestic lounge, there is no alcohol available. One of the changes in the update was the installation of soft drink fountains rather than cans in a fridge. All very well, but no low calorie drinks were included. fortunately, within days, cans of pepsi light appeared back in the fridge. The lounge is conveniently located very close to a number of gates, and is pleasant place to spend time in before a domestic flight.

One point to note, is that when transferring from an international flight to a domestic flight in KLIA there can be a long and slow moving queue as you go through immigration. If this is the case, you may find it more pleasant to go landside with those passengers who are remaining in Kuala Lumpur and then simply walk through domestic departures- there is almost never queues at the main immigration points, the only place that can be a problem is transiting to or from (but mainly to) a domestic flight.

Cathay Pacific Lounge Kuala Lumpur

One world passengers can also make use of the Cathay Pacific lounge in the satellite building. As you would expect this lounge is a lot smaller than the Malaysia airlines lounges in the airport. However, it may be worth a visit for a number of reasons. First, if you are not flying with Cathay, you are likely to find the lounge empty or almost empty. Secondly, if you are a beer drinker, they offer a better range- usually tiger and heineken, than the Malaysia Airlines. The food offer is well presented, and again, makes a change from what is on offer in the nearby Malaysia lounges.

The Malaysia Airlines flights to both London and Paris leave around midnight. However, my connecting flight to KL arrives around 18:00. As a result, I often have a lot of time to kill at the airport- for this reason I do visit the Cathay Lounge, really just for a change of scene. However, if you are only going to be in a lounge for a couple of hours it probably makes sense to choose the Malaysia Lounges. Of course, an emerald one world member has a potential "lounge crawl" if they wish. A visit to the regional lounge, the Malaysia Business lounge, the Cathay lounge, and then finally back to the Malaysia First class lounge will keep you busy for some time.

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.

One way Europe to Asia

Finding one way long haul flights at competitive prices can be a chore- in fact, the lack of such fares often enhances significantly the value of Avios which can be used to book one ways when needed. Getting from Europe to Asia in Business class, in August, with no return attached is proving interesting. Currently Cathay Pacific is looking for £795 from Stockholm to Kuala Lumpur. Not too bad, but the route is long, going via both Doha and Hong Kong- but it will pick up 320 tier points which may come in handy. If you are willing to drop down to Economy, a one way from Berlin to KL can be found for £359 with Qatar airways, this should come with 80 tier points.

Miri airport lounge

Miri airport has a  lounge, which is accessible to oneworld emerald and sapphire customers travelling in Economy on Malaysia Airlines, as well as those flying on Business Class- though I have been unable to take a guest in. The positives are that it is rarely busy, and there are two PCs that offer a convenient way to catch up with work if necessary. Other than that, though, this must be one of the worst lounges in the oneworld network. The food offering is truly dreadful. and the drinks disappointing- there is never any alcohol in domestic Malaysia Airlines Lounges, but even the soft drinks here are a disappointment- mediocre coffee or local soft drinks out of two litre bottles kept in a luke warm fridge. At least there is water.

Do think twice before using miles/avios to take a business class flight from Miri- (Especially using MHupgrade, as you may lose tier points!) Certainly don't upgrade for the lounge. That having been said, once in the sky, Malaysia Airlines domestic and regional product is very good indeed- and far better than you would find most European Carriers. 

topcashback rebrand

Today topcashback have updated their website to include a new hummingbird logo. The website looks good, and has a more sophisticated look about it. The way the website functions and the cashback rates do not seem to be affected. As suggested before, using the website to generate avios or cash from spending you would undertake anyway is highly recommended. My topcashback account tells me I have so earned over £1,200. If you join using this link ASEAN Loyalty will receive a small commission- thank you.

Miri Marriott

The Miri Marriott is an interesting one. It has a great swimming pool- the surrounds of which have recently been refurbished making it quite a bit more pleasant- and also safer for any little ones with you. The rooms are fine- though are coming up for needing refurbishment. The recognition of Marriott status is mixed. The basics are met, in that free breakfast is offered, but unlike in most Asian Marriotts kids are charged for. There is no lounge.....for a time a drinks voucher was given in lieu. That seems to have gone now. (Though its disappearance coincided with me moving from Gold to platinum status.....which has always been a bit concerning.)

If you are coming to Miri, it is the place to stay. Would I recommend you made a special journey to visit? No. However, the new Marriott in Mulu might be worth a visit. I'll post a review as soon as I have managed to get up there. If you do go to Mulu you will probably have to overnight in Miri- and the Marriott is probably your best bet.