For once, I decided to take the bus to reach the satellite terminal where my flight to Sydney would be departing (and also to head towards the MH first class lounge where I could enjoy a real dinner and a shower…)
I don’t really get why KUL airport has two different means of transportation between the main terminal building and the satellite, and obviously most of the passengers decide to take the aerotrain, which seems faster. Since I was not in a rush, I opted for the bus transfer and I was the only passenger in there, besides one security agent and the driver.
The scenic option to reach the satellite terminal
Almost a private transfer bus !
Feels like a second home !
I was greeted by the waiter upon entering the first class lounge dining area (who asked me where I was flying to this evening - I guess to see if I was in a rush or not) and got a seat with a view on the tarmac.
F lounge entrance
MH F lounge menu
Some bubbles to start my dinner...
I opted for a glass of Bubbly from the Maison Drappier, and a mushroom soup as a starter and this was followed by some soy-marinated salmon, and both were pretty good. For once, I did not finish my meal with a sweet touch and went towards the showers located in the first class lounge to find them all busy (I think they actually have only one or two only). That’s where the attendant there told me to go to the business class lounge where more showers were available.
Table setup, initially for 2
Soup as a starter
Followed by the Salmon
Heading to the business lounge next door to take a shower.
Indeed, there were more showers in there and I got only only after a few minutes. But it was quite the rush hour there and I have to say that the condition of the bathroom I was given must have got better days, it was not very clean, there was still the towel from the previous user and the place was quite wet. The attendant there did not care in providing more service than just a new towel (but for his defense, it was quite rush hour in there). Well, I was still happy to take a shower, but for sure I have seen better airport lounge bathrooms in other places. The fact that the doors are not « full ones » (in a sense that you can hear everything happening outside, like if it was a fitting room) did not contribute to the cosiness feeling of the place.
Anyway, it was about time to go towards my departure gate to Sydney and the security screening associated with it, which was for once not very busy…
Gate C34
The bird. With the queen of the skies, this is my other favourite aircraft
Let's go !
I cleared security at 2300 and the MH Airbus 350-900 9M-MAC was already at the gate. Boarding began about 10 minutes later with the usual priority boarding procedures in place, and 2 jet bridges connected to the aircraft.
9M-MAC Airbus 350-900
Malaysia Airlines MH123 - January 7th 2019
Kuala Lumpur Intl KUL - 23:40
Sydney Kingford Smith Intl - 10:55
Airbus 350-900 - 9M-MAC - Seat 05K, « Throne » seat - Business class
As far as I am aware of, the Airbus 350-900 of Malaysia Airlines is the only one of it’s kind which features a first class cabin (4 seats) at the front of the aircraft. At least, it was the initial intent as a couple weeks before this flight, Malaysia Airlines decided to rebrand those seats as Business class plus, which would feature similar soft services than the regular business class, but the seat would obviously be more comfortable, private and… exclusive. MH tried to upsell my cheap business class ticket to one of those Business plus class seats but with a price tag of 800 USD, I decided not to go for it - The throne seat 5K will be good enough for this 9 hour flight !
Talking about « throne seats »… The business class cabin is configured « a-la-Swiss » in a 1-2-1 followed by a 1-2-2 configuration, dispatched between the 6 front cabin rows and the mini cabin of 3 rows located after the second galley. The left side seats are all alone seats but you only have one side table, on your left (below the window, meaning that your seat will be on the aisle) or on your right (meaning that you have more privacy as your seat will be at the window, but you still have only one table). On the right side of the cabin, the seats 1K, 3K and 5K are definitely the seats of choice if you are travelling alone (and seats 9 or 11K in the mini cabin), as you have one table on each side of the seat (which are the foot rests of the two seats behind), providing lots of storage and privacy. You will therefore have the benefit of a direct aisle access and the window view, together with plenty of privacy and storage !
First/Business class seat map MH A350-900 (source : Malaysia Airlines)
This flight was quite full in business class and I did not visit the mini-cabin.
A sneak peek on the First class cabin
The left side of the front business class cabin
My "throne" seat 5K
View from seat 5K
Seat legroom
There was indeed lots of storage on the side consoles, and the one next to the window could accommodate a small backpack. The privacy was as expected pretty good, especially in flat bed position. A small cabinet, containing the noise cancelling headphones was present on the left side of the seat. Together with the headphones was provided a test SIM card with a 100MB of data to be used almost anywhere in the world (at least at your destination !)
The console on the left side
Remote control for the IFE
Right side console (below the window)
Welcome drink, cannot recall alcoholic options being offered. I opted with a mint-lemon juice.
Please call me "King 5K" :-D
A 100MB SIM card is provided with the headphones. Surprisingly no WiFi voucher was offered...
Another thing I appreciated is the presence of individual air vents, which is rarely the case on wide body aircrafts.
After the last few passengers embarked, the safety movie was played. We pushed back at 23:50 and took off a few minutes later from KUL.
Air vents are not common on wide-body aircrafts
Seen that one too many times...
Push-back from KUL
Like on many new business class seats, this one was equipped with a second strap to place on the seat belt. No airbags though, unlike some seats.
About 10 minutes after take off, the crew provided us with the Aigner amenity kit (a quite big and pretty complete pouch, which could be hang on a hook), together with the food and beverage menus and immigration documents.
Wifi was available on board but no complimentary vouchers were provided and I did not have the need to use it during this flight.
Wifi prices.
That's going to be a shorter night than expected !
Aigner Business class amenity kit
Quite large, bt can be reused.
Immigration documents and fast track arrival card (but did not need to use it)
MH business class menu KUL-SYD (night flight) - Left page only !
I cannot recall that they used the wake up card though.
Given the late evening departure, only satay and snacks were offered after take off, as the main meal of this flight was considered to be the breakfast.
I had a couple chicken satay sticks together with a small vanilla ice cream while watching a movie…
Chicken satay with a glass of French Viognier. Both good. The Goji berries bag looks a bit cheap though.
Little movie snack
Given Malaysia is a muslim country, some "explicit features" are blurred and any offensive verbal references, including towards god are blanked.
After this sweet touch, it was time for me to start my night… which lasted 3 hours only as the entire cabin was lit at 5am (KUL time)
Sleep mode features
The seat in bed position (after a 3-hour night). Was comfortable enough thanks to the topper available.
The crew decided to lit the cabin at 5 am KUL time to start distributing the breakfast. The lit up was not really done in a soft way to say the least…
The bad was however comfortable thanks to a small mattress topper provided.
I eventually had my breakfast around 5.30, but was informed by my flight attendant that the option I wanted, the Belgian waffles, were no longer available. Damn… I should have woke up earlier ?! I had something else instead, and I recall that was fish (not my fav for breakfast !). Honestly, more than 1 year after this flight, I cannot really recall what this was, and cannot match the dish picture with any description of any items on the menu !
Breakfast starter
Fresh fruit over Alice Springs and the Australian red centre
I wanted the waffles ! :-/
As we were approaching our destination, I could enjoy the outside nose camera views on the IFE, together with the window views…
Nose camera view
Total route KUL-SYD
The best IFE !
Final approach into SYD
Good morning Australia !
We landed at 10:35, slightly ahead of schedule and taxied towards the international terminal of SYD with great plane spotting on the way...
Qantas A330-300
I don't get to see that one every day ! Cebu Pacific A330-300
Collection of remotely parked international aircrafts...
9M-MAC at the gate in SYD
9M-MAC in full size
Immigration was not so crowded.
Nope, this is not a metro ticket...
After collecting my bag and being questioned briefly (like many other passengers waiting at the belt) by a quarantine/customs officer, I was at the train station in no time and got to my hotel after a 45 min train ride (Holiday Inn Sydney Potts Point)
View from my room at the Holiday Inn Potts point Sydney
Overall, and given the price paid and the BA Tier points accumulated, I could not argue much about this flight, besides the fact I did get my first meal option. Would have been nice if the crew would have take breakfast orders at the beginning of the flight, like some airlines do. The service was ok, I do not recall about anything specially great or bad. I was however happy to secure a throne seat on a new aircraft !