Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer - SQ or MH for Specific Malay Peninsula Trips?

I'll be booking first class trips from SIN to Penang, and from KL to Singapore. FC isn't that much more than coach, and AirAsia from Johor is too inconvenient. Should I travel SQ or MH? Prime considerations are flight times and lounge facilities at SIN and KUL. At each of these airports, what lounge facilities can I access, and how do the facilities compare re space, decor, food, special amenities? (I'm *G if that makes a difference to SQ). Are there any differences in on-board catering between the airlines?

Thanks for replies!

I'll be booking first class trips from SIN to Penang, and from KL to Singapore. FC isn't that much more than coach, and AirAsia from Johor is too inconvenient. Should I travel SQ or MH? Prime considerations are flight times and lounge facilities at SIN and KUL. At each of these airports, what lounge facilities can I access, and how do the facilities compare re space, decor, food, special amenities? (I'm *G if that makes a difference to SQ). Are there any differences in on-board catering between the airlines?

Thanks for replies!

SIN-PEN does not have F class. Only C. So you'd end up in the Silver Kris Business Class lounge only.

KUL-SIN. Depends on who you'd prefer to fly with. SQ uses 777s. MH uses a mix of 737s and A330s. SQ has a small lounge in KL. MH has a huge lounge in KUL. And I mean HUGE. Food offerings better at MH KUL lounge than SQ's of course.

On board catering: SQ serves a hot meal between SIN & PEN.
KUL-SIN is only 25 minutes flying time so you get either a some sort of panini sandwich or salad on SQ, and usually some noodle or rice dish on MH.

Bear in mind that MH only have F and Y class services out of SIN, so only one lounge. I was in there last year and it was somewhat uninspiring to say the least, so whilst the trade-off between MH & SQ on the SIN-PEN flight would be the fact that you would be in F or C respectively, you're probably better off being in the SQ C lounge as the MH offering...

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Thanks for detailed replies.....

I recently took SQ 179 PEN-SIN in J, and flying time is about an hour. They had a menu and served either fish with mashed potatoes, or a chicken in I believe curry sauce, with a salad, and small desert. They had onboard the J class Champagne that they serve in the J lounge in SIN along with wine etc. I do not fly MH often, but I am always impressed with SQ on their services to KUL and PEN. If you fly out of SIN you can use the J SKL which is quite nice, or if you go to KL you can use the F SKL which is also nice, and a bit more quiet. The SQ lounge in PEN is nice with a small food buffet, and drinks including Guniess (Spelling...) Carlsberg etc. I cannot comment on the MH lounge. Also flying out of KUL SQ has a decent little lounge, and so does TG. I would recomend though that you do fly MH first as you get to use their huge lounge as someone previously mentioned. If you have no luggage.... Maybe check in for MH flight (with paper ticket) Then before SQ flight take your ticket to them and fly with them ;)

I have flown both. Generally I only use MH if I am going to Sabah & Sarawak. For such short flights, I would not worry about lounge facilities, etc. Just go with the airline where you are more likely to bank more points and with the likelihood of you redeeming these points. For me that means SQ. By the way, MH service is as excellent as SQ.

I am headed over to that region Dec 2: Jakarta, Singapore, Siem Reap, Malacca.

If you have not been to Penang before, you will enjoy it.

Cheers,

Z

...If you have no luggage.... Maybe check in for MH flight (with paper ticket) Then before SQ flight take your ticket to them and fly with them ;)

Not a good idea... just to check out the lounge?

SQ's flights are generally full in F. So this option may not work.