We’re doing a cruise in December from HK to Singapore. We’ve been struggling to find any availability in club class to HK and back from Singapore on the dates we want. We’ve finally found 3 club class return flights to KL using our companion vouchers. For the return leg it’s great as we want to have a couple of days in KL so we’ll either taxi or fly there after the cruise.

Going out we’re going to get a flight from KL to HK. Our BA flight lands at 17.30 and there is a Malaysia Airlines flight at 19.50. Is that doable? I believe they are one world so is it possible to do a transit without going through immigration again? If so how does it work with suitcases etc? Also can the flights be booked through BA? Not done a flight like this before where I’m taking another one straight after so a bit clueless.

If it’s pushing it we’ll just get a hotel at KL airport and get a flight the next morning as the cruise isn’t for a couple of days. I’ll also monitor seat spy on the very very slim chance 3 club seats become available to HK at the beginning of December and we’d just fly direct.

Thanks for any help and tips.

Malaysian are Oneworld but BA will not, 100%, through check bags unless it is all booked together on one ticket. This means you'll have to pass immigration, collect your bags, recheck them and go back airside. Family that live in KL and travel in and out reguarly allow an hour for inbound immigration and bags, so you don't have a huge amount of buffer in the event of a delay to your inbound. Personally I'd stay overnight at KLIA and fly the following morning. Why make things more stressful than they need to be?

It this was one ticket (and I'm reading it is not) then this would be absolutely fine, you don't clear immigration, just a fairly informal security scan at the departure gate in KUL, bags go all the way through. But if you are on separate tickets then bags cannot be through checked, and thus have to be rechecked in KUL and thus you must go landside in KUL and thus you clear immigration then exit again. It's still possible if the flight was on time, but there's only about 20 minutes wriggle room on that, so for many people it's too risky. There is an airport hotel and many others close to the airport. Also like HEX it may be easier to choose one of the many hotels near KL Sentral and use the express train service.

BA doesn't allow luggage to be connected on separate bookings meaning you have to re-check in again I wouldn't recommend 2hrs 20mins from KL airport Their immigration is fine as they have a dedicated line for business and above but their baggage handling is unreliable

Generally, KL's wide-body aircraft arrive at Satellite and from there to the main terminal, you should count at least 20 minutes to get to the main terminal. I wouldn't recommend separate bookings, so as others have advised, if you can't connect your bookings, I'd recommend sleeping in.

Thanks to all of you for your replies - no point in the stress and risk so if we can’t get direct to HK, we’ll stay over night.

Glad you decided to play it safe and not risk the tight connection in Kuala Lumpur. Dealing with immigration, bags and potential delays would be way too stressful. Enjoy your time in KL instead - there are some great hotels and things to see near the airport too.

Wanted to update as everyone has been so helpful. This morning availability has come up for direct flights to HK so we’ll have a couple of days there before our cruise. When we arrive in Singapore (we’ve been there twice before) we’re going to either hire a taxi or fly to KL and have 3 days there at the end of the trip, which was longer than we originally planned. So we’ll be looking to stay in KL instead of the airport and seeing it properly.

I had to read your sentence twice. Taxi from Singapore to KL whilst not unheard of, but it's a rather unusual way to get from Singapore to KL. I don't know how much it'll cost but most likely more than an air ticket if you buy it now. And if you want to save some money, it might be better for you to take a taxi to Johor Bahru and then switch to a Malaysian taxi from Johor Bahru to KL. If you are hiring a private transfer from SG to KL, then that's a bit different.

If I were you, I'd just fly because you don't know how long border crossing can take at the Causeway. I think 3 days in KL is good. If you are worried that you might spend too much time in KL, you can split your journey somewhat halfway in Malacca and spend a night there en route to KL from SG.

I read it a few times too and thought he might be talking about a taxi from Singapore to KL, but then I assumed I was misinterpreting.