Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) - Arriving in a Swanky New Low Cost Terminal

Who knew? I didn't see it coming. But Malaysia has done away with an award-winning low cost airport, the LCCT which used to service budget airlines plying the region. This is the new home of Air Asia as well as Cebu Pacific. The move to get rid of LCCT, an airport that annually wins awards for being efficient and functional, is of course a bit of a mystery. I liked arriving and departing from there mostly because I have gotten so familiar with it; I could walk the premises with eyes closed (well, almost). The only logical explanation for this new terminal is: they want a better looking airport that provides more comfort and convenience than the previous one. "In with the new, out with the old," so they say.

They simply call it KLIA2, Kuala Lumpur international Airport 2, which couldn't be an inferior terminal compared to KLIA. This airport is just gorgeous; the design well thought of. The train service to the capital, the KLIA Express, is within short walking distance, conveniently designed alongside the arrival hallway unlike LCCT where you had to get into a shuttle bus to get to the train station.

The airport's design is similar to the anatomical configuration of an insect, like a dragonfly. From a main trunk of hallways, the arterial branches spread out into bays and piers where the airlines could directly dock. No more shuttle buses or long tarmac walks under the scorching sun or drenching rain. You step out of your airplane and walk straight inside the airport hallways. The walk is, by no means, near, but at least it's within a sheltered and airconditioned hallway. I don't mind this. The halls are decked with plants, incandescent panels, and glass windows - there is so much for the senses to take in.

The immigration hallway looks way smaller than the old one, but there are several of these, located beside each other. Like the previous system, arriving into KL is paperless: no disembarkation/immigration card to fill up. You just have to do your biometrics, i.e. your 2 pointing fingers will get finger-printed, a couple of questions ("how long?", "reason for visit"? - but usually, you will hardly get asked), then off you go.

From here, you walk further (another longish walk) to get to the vast spread of baggage claim. Once you've cliamed your check-in baggage, these go through a security x-ray machine, then out the exit door and into a shopping mall. Just before exiting, there's a Malaysia Tourism counter that can help you with your queries.

RESTAURANTS, MONEY CHANGERS AND TRAINS

One of the first restaurants to greet you out is a familiar name, Old Town White Coffee, followed by Gloria Jeans. There are a good number of shops and restaurants to enjoy. There's a row of ATM machines, and a couple of Money Changers (CIMB Bank usually has good rates. Hong Leong is elsewhere). The best rates are of course in the city; not here, where your $100 always gets the vicinity of 290 ringgit. At the Berjaya Times Square mall in Bukit Bintang (near Imbi, Jalan Pudu), your $100 will get you 310 ringgit. You can also find another Currency Exchange counter at the Bus/Taxi Terminal at the basement, if you're taking the bus to the city (9-10 ringgit per person). A taxi ride to the capital will set you back between 90 ringgit to 110 ringgit (more expensive after 6 to 7PM). KLIA EXpress train tickets will cost you 35 ringgit for a very fast 20 minute ride to KL Sentral. The way to KLIA Express is even closer.

TAXI RIDES VIA BUDGET TAXI QUEUE AT KL SENTRAL

Once in KL Sentral, proceed to the Budget Taxi queue (close to where McDonalds is, then through an escalator). This is a taxi counter near one of KL Sentral's exit doors. There is additional payment if you have bulky luggages, but if it's just a hand carry and a regular-to-medium sized baggage, there will be no additional cost. What usually costs 20 ringgit by metered taxi will only cost you 13 ringgit or so. This is in the Bukit Bintang area (Imbi, Pudu, Bukit Bintang, Thambi Dollah, the BB malls, etc.) However, rides to the KLCC area (the financial district where Petronas Tower is) will probably be between 15-20 ringgit. And you don't have to haggle!

FASTER TRAVEL TIME

There's a Left Luggage Facility called (surprise!) "Luggage Storage". Spacious lifts will take you to basement parkings and the bus terminals. If you're into renting cars, proceed to the bus terminal. A row of counters will provide this service. Tune Hotel is also closer here than it was in LCCT (so you know that KLIA2 is actually in the vicinity of the old budget terminal). But travel time (as per traffic) is considerably faster. Bus rides from LCCT to KL usually took 1.5 to 2 hours. My return (this time around, via KLIA2) always took 1 hour.

TRIVIAS

There are plenty of interesting trivias concerning KLIA2 and we shall feature them on our next post - "Departing from KLIA2." You can check that out next.

This arrival from Manila was more than pleasant. I strolled and observed instead of rushing away. In fact, I enjoyed checking out this new airport mall. And why not? Beauty is always a joy to behold.

This is the Eye in the Sky!    

Your plane docks in one of these piers.

You'll see these X-ray machines at the pre-departure bays.

Queue at the immigration counters. Fingerprint of your 2 pointing fingers are taken.

Baggage Claim Hallway

Tourist Information Centre is located just before exiting to the shopping mall.

Left Luggage facility located inside the mall.

ATM machines

Currency Exchange

Shops and restaurants spilling over. This airport has around 200. LCCT had 70.

Elevator button to bus terminal and parking. 

Buy your bus tickets (to KL, the highlands, etc.) here.

Rent your cars here.

Currency Exchange at the bus terminal. The terminal is spacious and has a sprawl filled with chairs. This is a good place to wait. There are also restaurants and convenience stores here. The buses to the city wait just outside (through sliding glass doors) and follow departing hours religiously.

Waiting bays of buses outside. You have to remember that buses to KL stop operation sometime at 1AM and resume at 5-5:30AM; shorter time actually. Compare with LCCT's buses which would stop at 1AM and resume operations at 3:30-4AM.

Taking the train, KLIA Express from the airport to the city (via KL Sentral) is one of the options. Of course if you're scrimping, the bus is the best choice since it will only cost you 9-10 ringgit for a ride that will take between 1 to 1.5 hours, same destination. If you want to go straight to your hotel or a specific destination, then taxis are it. However, this sets you back between 90 to 120 ringgit, more from 6-7 PM onward. Midway between the bus and the taxi is the train, the KLIA Express. It is fast (35 minutes), comfortable (from your airport exit, it's just a few walks away) and it will cost you 36 ringgit.

KLIA Express to KL Sentral has 3 stops: Salak Tinggi, Cyberjaya-Putrajaya, and Bndar Tasik Selatan. From KL Sentral, you can head straight to the Budget Taxi booth where you can avail of 13-15 ringgit rides within the city center. If your destination is Imbi or the Berjaya Times Square area, it will cost you 13 ringgit. The same applies if your hotel is in or near Bukit Bintang, Pudu  or Jalan Alor (Izumi, Radius, Novo, etc.)

Uniqlo is the shop right across the entrance of the KLIA Express ticket counter.

Platform 2 of KLIA Express trains

Platform 1 of KLIA Express trains

Comfort and convenience - and free wifi - could be had in your KLIA Express train.

More Information:

Departing KLIA2 - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/10/kuala-lumpur-international-airport-2_7.html

Shops at KLIA2 - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/10/kuala-lumpur-international-airport-2_9.html

Flying Malaysia Airlines & Avoiding it Like the Plague

Sumptuous chicken noodle with shreds of carrots, 3 slices of fruits, etc. at my Manila-KL flight.



DOCKING OFF TRAVEL TAX

When Malaysia Airlines (MAS) offered promo rates last November, I jumped at the chance of flying with Malaysia’s flag carrier for several reasons: discounted fares that forego payment of the stifling PhP1,620 travel tax, arriving at a decent hour in KL, it’s a non-budget service and has perks (food, good leg room, bigger plane, in-house movies). I also got MAS tickets for my onward journey - the Manila-KL flight, then the KL-Dhaka, then Chennai to KL. My KL-Manila was with Cebu Pacific because, after checking out the rates, Cebu Pac offered cheaper fare from KL to Manila. I was all set to experience MAS.

A few days before I was scheduled to leave, I got an email message from Malaysia Airlines’ Manila office.
Here’s the message:
“Please assist to advise if above passenger is definite to travel on the aforementioned date and ensure holding valid documents to travel using one way ticket only to avoid immigration problem. For verification purposes, may we request you to provide at least a copy of the credit card used in purchasing online ticket and any valid ID of the credit card holder.You may send it thru this email address or thru fax 02-8450600.

Please don’t hesitate to call us at our reservations number02-8873215 if you have any queries and concern.

Thank you,
EMILY Malaysia Airlines- Manila”
SUSPICIOUS GITS
WHICH airline company in the Philippines asks for a copy of the credit card used as well as an ID, even prior to the scheduled date? I am aware that some airlines need them (credit card and ID/passport) but NEVER before even setting foot at the airport. And what immigration problem? Being Filipino, I don’t need a visa to visit KL. In all my travels – and I travelled heavily – no Asian immigration counter asked for any return tickets before. But I always have them anyway because what idiot wouldn’t prepare for such eventuality?
ARE YOU USING THE TICKET YOU PAID FOR?
aka ASKING STUPID QUESTIONS 101

As to their (MAS) message, they wanted me to advise them if “the above passenger is definite to travel”? Again, I would be an idiot to pay for my plane ticket and NOT use it, wouldn’t I? Provide them with a copy of my credit card and ID? Even before checking in? If you ask me, I am just annoyed with this so-called “firm check”. If I have to call their local office for EVERY flight that I am taking with Malaysia Airlines, I would schedule a half day just calling all their local offices (in KL, in Dhaka, in India) just to reconfirm my flight. It’s just a waste of time!

So I rang them.

Lady in waiting, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) pre-departure area.

RE-CONFIRMING AND WASTING MY TIME

It turns out that they wanted to ask me why I only got an outgoing flight from Manila with MAS. I wasn’t aware I had to inform them of my flight details that leave Malaysia - “Cebu Pac on this date” and so on. “OK, sir. We shall inform our office of such,” said Emily, the girl at the other end of the line. I have never been asked to call an airline office just to “confirm” an already confirmed flight. It was their responsibility to inform us if there are changes in the schedule, NOT when there’s status quo. It’s a LOT of trouble and wasted time trying to call them. Imagine if I have 5 flights in a long haul itinerary, I have to “re-confirm” and give all their offices a call? The thought really bothered me. It's hard enough calling home from an international destination. And now, I have to try calling airline companies to re-confirm all my onward flights? It annoyed me! If all they really wanted was to remind us, a mere email would suffice. People actually read emails and understand english in this part of the world, after all! BUT no! They want you to pick up the phone and ring them! And then they want you to fax them a copy of the credit card and an I.D. They want all of that! People at MAS should realize how inconvenient this system is. My travels with Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Air, Air India, Air Asia, British Airlines, and Cathay Pacific never had such time-wasting practice. Now, is this all the trouble they’ve caused me?
CHECK-IN TOUGHER THAN IMMIGRATION COUNTERS

Apparently not. Upon arrival at the NAIA on the date of my departure for KL, the people at the MAS counter were even more condescending! I gave them all my papers – onward etickets, visas (I had several), hotel accommodations, etc. AT A MERE CHECK-IN COUNTER! Jesus! You would expect this from an immigration counter at an airport, NOT a check-in counter!
MOROSE-LOOKING CHECK-IN STAFF

They checked every page of my passport including 3 visas for my onward journey and meticulously interrogated me on my itinerary. Even my European sojourns weren't this bad! Apparently, these MAS ground crew aren’t used to long-haul travelers from the Philippines and are suspicious of any Pinoys traveling abroad. Kumbaga, mga ignorante ang MAS-Manila. It’s not that I wanted red carpet rolled before me, but dealing with morose-looking, suspicion-laden people to start a long haul journey is just not very pleasant! It’s not very welcoming. I don’t want their plastered smile. Heck, what do I care if they look like “walking grief”. They had stricter demeanor than the immigration – by leaps and bounds. Mas matitigas pa ang mukha. Hey, people, this is an airline industry, and you somehow have to let your customers feel comfortable – instead of alienating them with your “very welcoming” demeanor. If these idiots can do this to a working professional who travels a LOT like me, do you expect them to behave better with the less fortunate? Nu-uh! Their paranoia towards locals is just grating! Don’t you just hate Pinoys who act as though they are better than the very same people who buy their services and ultimately pay for their employment?

Upon arrival , on the way to the immigration counters, at the slick Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).


MAMMA MIA!

The 3 ½ hour flight to KL was a pleasant experience altogether. The attendants were friendly. The seats were comfortable – and there was a good leg room for me to stretch my legs. My aisle seat was beside a huge amorous woman who absolutely enjoyed her meal. During the flight, packets of peanuts were given before the main meal – so you could hear crackling at the deck at one time. Then, they started to play Meryl Streep’s “Mamma Mia”, before serving the sumptuous meal. This chronologic system would be duplicated at my onward flights into Dhaka and then Chennai (India) to KL. All showing “Mamma Mia”! Malaysia Airlines once on air has got it all right – everything well planned and meticulously thought. I got a chicken noodle with shreds of carrots, orange juice and 3 slices of fruits (watermelon, papaya and pineapple). The flight arrived 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, taking 3 hours and 25 minutes to navigate the skies! Immigration was a breeze. Didn’t even take 10 seconds. No questions. I felt calm and relaxed. After all, this wasn’t my first time in KL. There were no unnecessary butterflies in my stomach. They didn’t even check my onward flights and etickets. I was already out of the beautiful Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by 9:40 PM (I tried the bus this time so I waited for its departure schedule). I just wanted to experience taking the bus from KLIA to the city center (at just 10 Malaysian Ringgit or $2.70 or PhP131.50). I took the KLIA Express (state-of-the-art train) upon my departure from KL to Dhaka – at 35 ringgit or $9.46 or PhP460.70. And then I took the taxi from Bukit Bintang to LCCT upon my departure a month later from KL to Manila – at 100 ringgit – or $27.03 or PhP1,316.40. I wanted to experience all modes of transportation getting out and into KLIA or LCCT.
SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR PINOY CUSTOMERS

As it turns out, all my other check-ins with the Malaysia Airlines in Kuala Lumpur (for my trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh), and in Chennai, India back to KL were uneventful. Gone were the suspicious and askad-looking ground staff and check-in crew that we encountered in Manila. The MAS staff of those foreign airport check-in counters were swift and friendly. To the very least, I would accept a business-like, non-smiling demeanor from these people, but it’s always a welcome surprise to find friendly people in your travel-weary journeys. Kung sino pa ang Pinoy, sila pa ang matitigas ang mukha. It really all boils down to how much they look down on their countrymen, which is really sad and ignorant. And I may as well look down on the educational attainment and financial capabilities of these MAS-Manila people. After all, ano lang ba sila to treat their kababayans with disdain. They are hospitable to their Caucasians and foreign customers, but treat their Manila customers with disrespect and suspicion. You know exactly why they are mere ticket-punchers. Makikitid kasi ang utak! If they were geniuses, would they end up with a job that sees people off to see the world – instead of traveling themselves? I would travel with Malaysia Airlines anywhere, except those leaving Manila.

They may reason out with an inane excuse of “just doing our job”, but one may do so without annoying or insulting your paying customers! This is a relatively easy, albeit painless task unless your brain approximates the nervous system of a Hydra, which is pretty much nonexistent. One thing is sure, I will NOT step on a Malaysia Airlines flight from Manila. Not ever again. I have 4 scheduled trips this year and I am very pleased none of them with Malaysia Airlines.

Check-in counters of Malaysia Airlines at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for my outgoing flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh!

Delicious chicken meal with dhal and saffron rice, yoghurt (lassi), etc. at my Chennai-to-KL flight.

Pinoy bigots in the Manila sky!

HOW TO TREAT PAYING CUSTOMERS
To my fellow travelers, especially the Pinoys, you can do away with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) in Manila. Give them a miss and avoid like the plague! It’s a shame the way they treat THEIR Pinoy customers. Or don’t they just need some lessons in tact, diplomacy and plain courtesy? Or just a seminar on “how to treat your paying customers right”? It's so hard for some people to practice decency coz it is something that isn't taught in schools.

This is the Eye in the Sky.