Transfer at KUL - Air Asia to Air Asia
Sep 28, 2018, 8:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 38
Transfer at KUL - Air Asia to Air Asia
I've been going over threads and reviewed the KLIA website and just can;t figure this out. I've only been in KLIA once, a couple years ago.
On an upcoming trip, I am looking to travel LGK-KUL-CNX. Air Asia has this itinerary, but it is only allowed to be booked on separate tickets.
As a result, I understand that we would land, collect bags, check in for new flight, pass immigration/security, proceed to departure gate.
What I can't figure out if transit between terminals is required and is there any advantage to having both legs on AK, or I can mix and match different airlines with the same result.
Finally, AK suggested a 3-hour MCT..
Thanks for any assistance!
On an upcoming trip, I am looking to travel LGK-KUL-CNX. Air Asia has this itinerary, but it is only allowed to be booked on separate tickets.
As a result, I understand that we would land, collect bags, check in for new flight, pass immigration/security, proceed to departure gate.
What I can't figure out if transit between terminals is required and is there any advantage to having both legs on AK, or I can mix and match different airlines with the same result.
Finally, AK suggested a 3-hour MCT..
Thanks for any assistance!
Sep 28, 2018, 8:40 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 38
Great - thanks for that quick reply! What is your typical time to execute that? I have an option of a 2 hour vs. a 3 hour connection. Of course, the 2 hour connection has more desirable times, but KA receommended have 3 hour MCT.
Sep 28, 2018, 9:35 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
I'd go for 3hrs, just because the queues at immigration on arrival can be quite long (I arrived early morning, around 7am), though it can be done quicker. I had about 4 hours in both directions and had time for breakfast landside (within the terminal) and in one direction had to send some urgent documents for which I had to switch to the main KLIA terminal to go to the Malaysia Post office (spoiler, the documents never arrived). 2hrs is tight but possible, but just go for 3 and don't worry about it, especially as they won't sell it on one ticket (same in my situation, so essentially 2 separate return tix which I nested)
Sep 29, 2018, 2:09 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SE Asia
Programs: Thai ROP GOLD, SIA Silver Kris, QANTAS FF, Velocity Rewards, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 340
Yup as per posts above you'll be only in one terminal - KLIA2
I've done AirAsia connections on separate tickets as quick as 60 minutes (arrival gate to departure immigration) and as long as 2 hours, but its generally 90 minutes at a relaxed pace
When you come through arrivals customs door into the downstairs area, you'll see the Maxis mobile shop straight in front of you. Turn immediately right in that corridor and walk along keeping right - there is a set of lifts hidden behind the escalators
Take that lift up to the departure floor, it comes out adjacent to the AirAsia check in counters
I've done AirAsia connections on separate tickets as quick as 60 minutes (arrival gate to departure immigration) and as long as 2 hours, but its generally 90 minutes at a relaxed pace
When you come through arrivals customs door into the downstairs area, you'll see the Maxis mobile shop straight in front of you. Turn immediately right in that corridor and walk along keeping right - there is a set of lifts hidden behind the escalators
Take that lift up to the departure floor, it comes out adjacent to the AirAsia check in counters
Sep 29, 2018, 10:27 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 38
When you come through arrivals customs door into the downstairs area, you'll see the Maxis mobile shop straight in front of you. Turn immediately right in that corridor and walk along keeping right - there is a set of lifts hidden behind the escalators
Take that lift up to the departure floor, it comes out adjacent to the AirAsia check in counters
Take that lift up to the departure floor, it comes out adjacent to the AirAsia check in counters
Sep 29, 2018, 12:37 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SE Asia
Programs: Thai ROP GOLD, SIA Silver Kris, QANTAS FF, Velocity Rewards, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 340
No problem - probably a small thing, but if you have to walk through the arrivals level looking for the way up to departures, you end up outside and crossing the street to get back to where you were (one floor up)
Oct 1, 2018, 4:29 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Not sure with AK, they make a big deal about not permitting airside transit if you didn't purchase as one ticket, one issue might be the requirement for BP and doc verification, if you self print your BP usually has a mark that it must be verified (there's a dedicated counter in the check-in area for this) and security won't let you through without the stamp, not sure if this would be an issue at transit security, and as you say, it may be depending on the destination (had this both going to HAN and to HYD, both times on passports requiring a visa for the destination, which might explain it)
Oct 1, 2018, 4:49 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,097
No, this has been possible for two or three years now. I have done it several times on separate tickets, including this year.
As I said, there are exceptions. Some destinations, India in particular, do require a document check out in the check-in hall. You'll know this when you printout your ticket. I don't believe this is required on flights to Thailand on Western passports, hence my advice to the OP.
As I said, there are exceptions. Some destinations, India in particular, do require a document check out in the check-in hall. You'll know this when you printout your ticket. I don't believe this is required on flights to Thailand on Western passports, hence my advice to the OP.
Oct 1, 2018, 8:01 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
MH Internartional to MH domestic
First time ever I'm doing a direct transfer, on a single MH ticket, from Jakarta through KUL to Penang (theres a direct Air Asia service I've used before, but the timings don't work). How does the MH-KUL INT DOM transfer process work?
I had the fanciful idea I could go through some sort of transfer immigration and checked bags would go their own way and appear by magic in PEN.
Reading this thread I'm feeling nervous. Enter Malaysia proper at KUL pick up bags and check in again?? Sounds like a nightmare
I had the fanciful idea I could go through some sort of transfer immigration and checked bags would go their own way and appear by magic in PEN.
Reading this thread I'm feeling nervous. Enter Malaysia proper at KUL pick up bags and check in again?? Sounds like a nightmare
Oct 1, 2018, 8:32 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
First time ever I'm doing a direct transfer, on a single MH ticket, from Jakarta through KUL to Penang (theres a direct Air Asia service I've used before, but the timings don't work). How does the MH-KUL INT DOM transfer process work?
I had the fanciful idea I could go through some sort of transfer immigration and checked bags would go their own way and appear by magic in PEN.
Reading this thread I'm feeling nervous. Enter Malaysia proper at KUL pick up bags and check in again?? Sounds like a nightmare
I had the fanciful idea I could go through some sort of transfer immigration and checked bags would go their own way and appear by magic in PEN.
Reading this thread I'm feeling nervous. Enter Malaysia proper at KUL pick up bags and check in again?? Sounds like a nightmare
As for MH, I've not done INT-DOM with MH at KUL but probably like in most countries you need to collect bags, go through immigration and customs, then re-check the bags before the domestic flight, this is assuming Malaysia has a similar setup to most countries where one clears customs at the first port of entry.
Oct 1, 2018, 5:01 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
I had the fanciful idea I could go through some sort of transfer immigration and checked bags would go their own way and appear by magic in PEN.
Reading this thread I'm feeling nervous. Enter Malaysia proper at KUL pick up bags and check in again?? Sounds like a nightmare
Reading this thread I'm feeling nervous. Enter Malaysia proper at KUL pick up bags and check in again?? Sounds like a nightmare
Oct 1, 2018, 8:15 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Your fanciful idea becomes reality. You'll clear immigration at KUL whilst your bags will be checked all the way to PEN (custom clearance in PEN). It's almost like flying KUL-LHR-MAN (clear immigration at LHR, collect bags/custom clearance at MAN). Don't follow the masses to arrivals, there's another escalator that brings you directly into the domestic departures at the main building (near gate G2).