Fast Track Arrival/Departure Kuala Lumpur?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,601
Fast Track Arrival/Departure Kuala Lumpur?
Similar to BKK does CX off J passengers a fast track for arrival and departure or is the only recourse to use the not too badly priced VIP arrival services? And for the latter would you book ahead or pay when you see the touts?
I do like the VIP KLIA Airport Express option but I don't see that tied into the clearing immigration and customs side of things being linked at all.
I do like the VIP KLIA Airport Express option but I don't see that tied into the clearing immigration and customs side of things being linked at all.
#2
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: AY Plat, HH D, BW DS
Posts: 323
KLIA has dedicated immigration lanes for business/first class passengers, both arriving and departing. Boarding pass is enough to access, although yellow passes are occasionally handed out (perhaps to remind people they can indeed use the fast track).
Departure security is handled at gates, with no priority queues. Sometimes can cause long waits if two widebody flights are leaving at the same time from gates next to each other.
Departure security is handled at gates, with no priority queues. Sometimes can cause long waits if two widebody flights are leaving at the same time from gates next to each other.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,601
KLIA has dedicated immigration lanes for business/first class passengers, both arriving and departing. Boarding pass is enough to access, although yellow passes are occasionally handed out (perhaps to remind people they can indeed use the fast track).
Departure security is handled at gates, with no priority queues. Sometimes can cause long waits if two widebody flights are leaving at the same time from gates next to each other.
Departure security is handled at gates, with no priority queues. Sometimes can cause long waits if two widebody flights are leaving at the same time from gates next to each other.
At a long haul gate (like a 777 departure) how many X-ray machines etc., are at the gate? Just one?
Though I'd be going to HKG so maybe not that many. I think it's all KA flights, might be wrong.
New question: is the KLIA airport express similar to HKG? I am thinking at the arrivals end downtown is there a sensible queue of taxi to hotels? I see a VIP service where it looks to me like a porter goes with you and your bags aboard the train itself to the terminal in KL and then you are put in a "chauffeur driven" car which I bet is an Uber more or less. It is not hugely expensive vis-a-vis hailing a cab if they are organized at the terminus, but I have no idea of what a cab would be to say a major downtown hotel, Sheraton, W, Marriott, etc.
#4
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: AY Plat, HH D, BW DS
Posts: 323
I wonder who thought of having every one of 50-100 gates in a huge airport set up to screen passengers? What a strange system.
At a long haul gate (like a 777 departure) how many X-ray machines etc., are at the gate? Just one?
Though I'd be going to HKG so maybe not that many. I think it's all KA flights, might be wrong.
New question: is the KLIA airport express similar to HKG? I am thinking at the arrivals end downtown is there a sensible queue of taxi to hotels? I see a VIP service where it looks to me like a porter goes with you and your bags aboard the train itself to the terminal in KL and then you are put in a "chauffeur driven" car which I bet is an Uber more or less. It is not hugely expensive vis-a-vis hailing a cab if they are organized at the terminus, but I have no idea of what a cab would be to say a major downtown hotel, Sheraton, W, Marriott, etc.
At a long haul gate (like a 777 departure) how many X-ray machines etc., are at the gate? Just one?
Though I'd be going to HKG so maybe not that many. I think it's all KA flights, might be wrong.
New question: is the KLIA airport express similar to HKG? I am thinking at the arrivals end downtown is there a sensible queue of taxi to hotels? I see a VIP service where it looks to me like a porter goes with you and your bags aboard the train itself to the terminal in KL and then you are put in a "chauffeur driven" car which I bet is an Uber more or less. It is not hugely expensive vis-a-vis hailing a cab if they are organized at the terminus, but I have no idea of what a cab would be to say a major downtown hotel, Sheraton, W, Marriott, etc.
KUL is indeed practically all KA nowadays.
KLIA Express is similar, with perhaps a bit more walking at ends. The end point is KL Sentral, and it's easy to get taxis outside the main entrance there as well. I always use Grab myself. 10-20 MYR should get you to most downtown hotels with Grab, and I assume the normal taxi prices are similar.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: HKG
Programs: CX MPC, AC Aeroplan
Posts: 82
KLIA Express is similar, with perhaps a bit more walking at ends. The end point is KL Sentral, and it's easy to get taxis outside the main entrance there as well. I always use Grab myself. 10-20 MYR should get you to most downtown hotels with Grab, and I assume the normal taxi prices are similar.
But I agree Grab is an excellent alternative and you'll want to have it on your phone for your other trips within KL.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,601
As long as I can get a SIM before arriving at Sentral, Grab would be fine.
Though first time, this KLIA service might be a reasonable expense. It costs RM155 (so 100 over the train alone) which is less than I pay just for a car service at home to the airport, and pays for the train, porter and taxi at Sentral. So 100 more for the service vs. just the train fare. To me that's not bad.
Though first time, this KLIA service might be a reasonable expense. It costs RM155 (so 100 over the train alone) which is less than I pay just for a car service at home to the airport, and pays for the train, porter and taxi at Sentral. So 100 more for the service vs. just the train fare. To me that's not bad.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 213
I'd summarize the choice of KL Sentral aerotrain, or Grab car, down to the simple question of cost: if it's a personal trip, I'd just do Grab.
If it's a biz trip, I'd use the KLIA express aerotrain to get into town, then Grab/taxi my way to my final destination.
If fuss-free convenience takes utmost priority, then I'd just Grab my way to my final destination (so I don't have to bother with trudging bags from KL Sentral drop-off aerotrain point, to the Grab pickup location).
If it's a biz trip, I'd use the KLIA express aerotrain to get into town, then Grab/taxi my way to my final destination.
If fuss-free convenience takes utmost priority, then I'd just Grab my way to my final destination (so I don't have to bother with trudging bags from KL Sentral drop-off aerotrain point, to the Grab pickup location).
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,601
I'd summarize the choice of KL Sentral aerotrain, or Grab car, down to the simple question of cost: if it's a personal trip, I'd just do Grab.
If it's a biz trip, I'd use the KLIA express aerotrain to get into town, then Grab/taxi my way to my final destination.
If fuss-free convenience takes utmost priority, then I'd just Grab my way to my final destination (so I don't have to bother with trudging bags from KL Sentral drop-off aerotrain point, to the Grab pickup location).
If it's a biz trip, I'd use the KLIA express aerotrain to get into town, then Grab/taxi my way to my final destination.
If fuss-free convenience takes utmost priority, then I'd just Grab my way to my final destination (so I don't have to bother with trudging bags from KL Sentral drop-off aerotrain point, to the Grab pickup location).
I was thinking this VIP thing looks like a fair compromise - RM100 for a navigator and a car awaiting when off the train.
#9
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 213

You could simply do the best of both worlds - pre-book your KLIA Express ticket online with a credit card, and get the RM100 return deal (head from KLIA to Sentral via Aerotrain, and back via Grab).
My point earlier was...if you're on a biz trip.... costs probably isn't that big of a concern to you. And I'd imagine convenience and fuss-free connectivity would be more important to you. That's why I was recommending, if you're on biz travel, to just take a Grab to your final destination. Point to point, and hassle free.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: SQ AA TK
Posts: 1,375
Grab charges a fixed price for all trips from KLIA to the city. Standard grab car - 65RM + tolls. grab car plus (slightly newer cars) - 75RM + tolls. Premium cars like a Toyota Camry goes for - 155RM + tolls. Tolls should not cost more than 12RM.
The thing about grab car is, it's really the draw of the luck. You can get really ...... and beat up cars. On the other hand, the point-2-point hassle free convenience is worth considering.
The airport operated cars are I think between 100-120RM, and are decent cars.
The thing about grab car is, it's really the draw of the luck. You can get really ...... and beat up cars. On the other hand, the point-2-point hassle free convenience is worth considering.
The airport operated cars are I think between 100-120RM, and are decent cars.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 4,182
I fail to comprehend why people would want to take the KLIA Express followed by taxi to hotel, with walking and waiting in between, especially for solo passenger. Isn’t it more convenient to pay marginally extra $10-15 and take a budget KLIA limo straight to hotel? For me, KLIA Express only makes sense if I’m staying at a KL Sentral hotel - Aloft, Hilton, Le Meridien, etc.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
KLIA has dedicated immigration lanes for business/first class passengers, both arriving and departing. Boarding pass is enough to access, although yellow passes are occasionally handed out (perhaps to remind people they can indeed use the fast track).
Departure security is handled at gates, with no priority queues. Sometimes can cause long waits if two widebody flights are leaving at the same time from gates next to each other.
Departure security is handled at gates, with no priority queues. Sometimes can cause long waits if two widebody flights are leaving at the same time from gates next to each other.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP & Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+, SPG Plat, Hyatt Globlalist
Posts: 2,440
HellO! Could you please let me know where are the lanes for business/first class passengers? I was in business class twice for my last two trips to KLIA and i waited in immigration lane for an hour. I will look for the priority lane in the next trip. I cannot believe i missed that.