Introduction: New Year 2020 In The South Pacific
After spending a short night in Kuala Lumpur, I headed to the airport and checked in my Malindo Air flight. Initially, I was going to redeem miles for my positioning flight to Kathmandu, but I also found a reasonable ticket on Malindo Air business class.
Check-in was a breeze. Upon receiving my boarding pass, I inquired about the lounge invitation, but I was told that I was not eligible for lounge access due to the fare type I purchased. So I visited Plaza Premium Lounge with Prioritypass membership.
Upon boarding, I settled in my seat 3F and was offered pre-departure beverage the options were water, orange juice, and apple juice.
Right off the bat, I could tell all the crews working in the business class cabin were fun, friendly, and charming, which didnt surprise me. The flight attendant even offered to open the blanket packaging for me, which was unnecessary, but it was a nice gesture.
In terms of seats, they look nearly identical to the typical business class seats in North America, except they have a lot more legroom and equipped with leg rest. The cabin also seemed very well cared despite being six years old.
The door closed at 9:50 am sharp as scheduled, and we began to push back shortly after. However, due to a morning rush and congestion, it took a while to get to the runway. We eventually took off 30 minutes later.
It was such a lovely day for flying!
The captain then turned off the seatbelt sign 7 minutes after we were airborne. The flight attendant came around the cabin to introduce themselves and asked how Id like to be addressed.
There was a breakfast service on this nearly-5-hour flight, though there was no menu. Out of 3 choices, I had Nasi Lemak served with pastries, fruit, and yogurt.
Nasi Lemak is one of my favorites, and it was no exception. I wish the portion were bigger! Once the table was cleared, I reclined for a little bit and just enjoyed the remainder of the flight.
I also checked out the lavatory, which looked pretty standard. Unlike Malaysia Airlines, toiletries were not available, which would have been a nice touch. On a positive note, the lavatory was cleaned after each use.
The cabin crews walked through the cabin to check if the passengers needed anything. They also made sure the glass was never empty. Other than that, the rest of the flight was pretty uneventful.
Looking out, the sceneries during descent were stunning.
Based on my experience flying into Kathmandu, I would highly suggest you assign your seat strategically. When you look out of the window, make sure the sun is behind you, not in front of you. So it all depends on what time a day your flight is.
Before landing, the cabin crew walked through the cabin one more time, offering a pre-arrival beverage and a hot towel.
We landed 25 minutes late and parked at a remote stand.
I learned a lesson from my first trip to Nepal a few years ago that immigration was chaotic. I would suggest you fill out all the necessary immigration forms instead of using the kiosk. Surprisingly, this time around, there was no line at passport control. I needed to hand my printed transit visa form, pay the fee (Cash only in USD), and give the receipt and all documents to the immigration officer. Within minutes, I made it to the arrival hall.
My T-Mobile plan doesnt include Nepal in the International roaming list, so I would have to pay extra if I wanted to text or make a phone call. The easiest way to get to the city is to arrange your taxi ride with the hotel you will be staying in. You can pay it directly to the hotel. In my experience, it was relatively inexpensive around $5.
Conclusion
Malindo Air is a regional airline that offers solid products and services, as well as great values. If I remember correctly, I paid around $200, a steal for a business class ticket on a nearly 5-hour flight.
That said, there is room for improvement, such as offering some amenity and toiletries in the lavatory. I also think that lounge access should be included, even for a discounted fare.
All in all, I had a great flight and will fly with them again.
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