Eye in the Sky: Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2

Showing posts with label Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) - Departing Malaysia from a Gorgeous Airport

The check-in counters of Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) aren't like any other counters you've seen. Adorning them are parasol-like structures decked with bright, color-changing lights that would seem like you're walking along Boulevard de Clichy at night, with all the incandescence surrounding Moulin Rouge in the french capital. But make no mistake, this is Muslim-country Malaysia.

KLIA2 is spacious and chic, and quite relaxed. After finding your check-in counters, you can actually grab a meal and there's so much to choose from. There's a Nyonya restaurant, Kenny Roger's Roasters, KFC (my favorite overseas "comfort" diner), McDonald's, Nando's (this unusual mix of Portuguese-African cuisine I first tried at the Gold Coast in Australia), etc. It was quite surprising to find that many people still refuse to do their online check-ins and the queue to this counter was long. Fortunately, I took my time to actually do my web check-in then have my boarding pass printed somewhere in Bukit Bintang. This allowed me to do my formal bag drop in less than 5 minutes. Otherwise, It would have been a long wait at the queue.

After check-in, it was time to explore the departure hall a bit. KFC was in the same level, as were a pharmacy and some other shops. The different counters also had their parasols, uniformly changing hues every time, from pink to orange, from blue to yellow. Waiting for your flight has never been this interesting.

International pre-departure area is through a bright hallway with artistically designed ceiling - tree branches on bright white panels. Once you get through this cordoned area, you will be walking along duty-free shops. And just when you think that's all of it, there's another area with even more shops further on, including a Michael Kors boutique.

Cebu Pacific check in is situated at Counter Z, the very last counter in the departure hallway (turn right and straight ahead to the end of the hall). If you can find internet shops to do your online check-in, do so! The bag drop counter will be a breeze compared to queuing at the regular check-in counter.

After these shops, you try to find your gate, assigned as letters, e.g. Gates L to T. My Cebu Pacific flight was at Gate Q. In my recent flight, our Cebu Pacific boarding gate was L1, the very first gate after the security check of the L gates. You will see the Gloria Jeans shop near the L1 boarding gate.

L1 is so small you feel like a pack of sardines and boarding gets really congested because there's no ample space for the queue. Unlike the KLIA1, there are no train rides to your boarding gates here. Despite that, anticipate long walks to your boarding rooms. The management of KLIA2 has walking times pasted all over:

WALKING TIME TO GATES:

International Departure

Immigration/Customs to Security Check (Pier L) - 3 minutes
Immigration/Customs to Pier P/Q - 10 minutes
Pier L/P/Q to Gates L1-L22, P1-P21, Q3 to Q23 - 2-3 minutes

Domestic Departure

Domestic Security Check to J1-J22 - 2 to 10 minutes
Domestic Security check to K2-K18 - 7 to 15 minutes (now that is a long walk)

There are TRIVIAS about KLIA2 which I find interesting:

KLIA2 accommodates 45 million passengers annually, 2x that of LCCT.

KLIA2 has 68 aircraft stands. LCCT had 0. This occupies 257 square meters, 4x that of LCCT.

KLIA2 is home of 200+ shops. LCCT had 60.

Malaysia Airports have the lowest charges in the world. The aerobridge charges 25 cents per domestic passenger since 1981. Airport tax levies 6RM ($1.80/PhP82) per domestic departing passenger. Aircraft landing/takeoff at 3RM per domestic passenger. Free aircraft parking for the first 3 hours. Charges are levied after that.

KLIA2 is 23% cheaper to build than LCCT. LCCT's construction cost RM334 million with a terminal size of 60,000 square meters. Cost per meter is RM 5567 ($1,700.63/PhP79,240). KLIA2 cost RM1,100 million with a terminal size of 257,000 square meters. Cost per meter is RM4280 ($1,307.50/PhP58,609). Had this been NAIA, it would have involved billions of pesos and crappy designs employing substandard materials.

KLIA2 is a gorgeous airport and a fair representation of a dynamic nation that continues to better itself. I would miss LCCT but KLIA2 is by no means welcome in my existence.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Check out the ceiling design.

One of the first shops you find after the immigration counter.

An unfinished area leading towards Gate Q.

After this shopping hallway, you walk down a ramp to get to the last security x-ray check leading to your boarding gate, gate Q for my Cebu Pacific. Then get to Q5. Gate Q has 23 gates so be sure to be at your specific gate number.

Security check. Phones out. Belts off please.

Once within Q gate, there will be few shops. Dunkin Donuts is one of them.

Gate Q5's door out to your plane encircled.

Related posts:

Arriving in KLI2 - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/10/kuala-lumpur-international-airport-2.html

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

Saturday, October 4, 2014

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.)