Malaysian Airlines A350 Business Class Initial Thoughts Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo
Intro
I recently had the opportunity to fly Malaysian Airlines business class from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo and wanted to share my initial impressions of the product. While I will have a full review in the coming months, I found this airline to be quite disappointing compared to its SE Asia competitors. In no way did they stand out in any category...
The Lounge
I'm not one to write badly about lounges, but I do thoroughly enjoy lounges. However, I have to say that the Malaysian Airlines lounge was one of the worst flagship lounges I have ever been to throughout my time alive. Heck, American Airlines serves Piper Heidsick, while Malaysian doesn't have sparkling wine??
Okay, champagne selection aside, the back bathrooms were closed, the showers were not operating, and the lounge was packed to the brim (in the late hours)... Horrendous. The only good aspect was the food, as there were multiple stations where you could grab freshly made dishes.
The Seat/Cabin
Most of the major SE Asian carriers operate their flagship aircraft with a 1-2-1 in business class. Stepping onboard, I was disappointed (not surprised) to see a business class cabin in a 1-2-2/1-2-1 configuration.
Thankfully, I had booked early and reserved a true window seat, but this seating arrangement could prove problematic for business travelers who tend to book late. Paying thousands of dollars for a business class ticket isn't a great look.
For those interested in the "business suite," here are some pictures below:
Looks like a perfectly great product. Is it First Class worthy? Probably not, hence the name.
Bedding
Okay, I've talked pretty badly about Malaysian Airlines, and I understand that I have. However, a great aspect of Malaysian Airlines is that they offer a thick mattress pad, a comfy blanket, and a pillow on a flight of just over 6 hours.
My seat, 10A, allowed me to get some fantastic sleep for the whole duration of the flight. The legroom wasn't too constrictive, and the mattress pad was the game changer.
Props where it is due!
Food
Malaysian Airlines is notorious for a number of reasons, including its food. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to try their food for two reasons:
It was a short red-eye flight and my 2/4 in a row
Malaysian Airlines has a lot of dishes that contain peanuts, and thus I decided to err on the side of caution due to my peanut/hazelnut allergy (it sucks and I hate it).
The menus looked stunning, with plenty of options, and for a flight of this length, it was probably the most extensive menu I have ever seen in my time of flying.
WIFI+IFE
Malaysian Airlines currently operates a fleet of six A350s, serving the likes of Tokyo, London, Doha, and Sydney (sometimes). On these aircraft, passengers in business class gain access to complimentary internet. This has been a developing trait in premium cabins across SE Asia, so this is another aspect of Malaysian Airlines that impressed me.
In terms of IFE, the options were good and right in the same category as what you might find on Thai Airways; however, it was not up to the likes of Singapore Airlines.
Final Thoughts
This is just a first impression of the airline, and I need some time to fully reflect on the full review. However, I found the lounge the Malaysian Airlines operates to be well under sub-par and the seating configuration to be uncompetitive. As someone who prefers the lounge and hard products, I am disappointed with the airline. On the flip side, the service on Malaysian Airlines is great, the menu seems delicious, and the bedding is fantastic.
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