nov11

We need a wiki for this page like that of the BA page

kt74

Glad you made it. Sounds like you wouldn't recommend it though? It would be great to hear your comments here, as it is particularly relevant to MH, especially given their recent fares (TG back-to-back at HKT would be exclusively BKK, so slightly different scenario). Safe travels.

ermen

hi does anyone know if you can get a return boarding pass at KUL (either from the outside check in counters, transit desk or the lounge?)

wolf72

How long before your return flight? Within 24 hours? Or longer?

ermen

within 24 hours. KUL - TPE (turnaround in TPE)

wolf72

Yes, you certainly can from the departure counter in departure hall for MH or from the auto check in machine also located on the same level.

If you are a gold/silver/platinum traveller, you should be able to get your return boarding ticket from the transfer desk as well.

Never tried doing it at the actual golden lounge as I don't think they actually have a reservation system there and always refer to the transit desk located 50 meters away from the domestic desk.

Guy Betsy

I don't know if you can get a return BP for an international flight. I've just arrived in TPE and you need to go to a transit counter and go through security and then back to the gate again.

But note that turnaround for TPE flights are about an hour.

RttlnSnK

That is one very expensive BKT including the taxi fare! Senghuat is the most famous stall but the taste is quite simple. I always use the expressway to KUL because the back roads are just too bumpy and uncomfortable.

ermen

Did you try getting a BP in KUL?

I'm actually worried about going to a transit counter in TPE because I think the counter is in section A, which is pretty far away from section B (IIRC, that is where the MH flights land).

ashkale

You should be able checkin online and print your own bp, your documents will be checked at the gate. Just that MH gates are right at the end or they might use bus gates so will need brisk walking. I did this last year and was rather easy apart from the lot of walking!

Guy Betsy

All international flights on MH cannot be pre-printed. It apparently requires document check so you still need to pick up the BP at the airport.

You may try to get it at KUL but I have a feeling that it is not possible to do so.

There is a transit counter at both A and B piers. The last three times I was in TPE, MH arrived at the A piers.

MH also uses the CI lounge which in my opinion has a better food selection that the CX lounge.

ashkale

I have printed my own BP and any document check required was done at the gate,twice having done the tpe turnaround.

kaffir76

Hello! I'm back
Sorry it took so long but I've been traveling & trying to find time to sit down to do the write up on my laptop is pretty hard
Before I started writing and posting, I nvr knew that it takes so long to post trip reports/updates. So I really appreciate those comments much more now ^

There's lots to update, so I've broken it down into sections for an easier read
If there are any specific questions or if anything here is unclear, just ask & I'll be more than happy to reply

p/s I'll also post my experience on the KUL-LHR-KUL on the forum, I just need to pick the right thread to update - I'm thinking the "LHR cancellation" thread isn't the right one tho'

Flight info.
4/13 KUL-HKT-KUL-(LHR)
Original -> MH 790 to MH 791
Changed to (via paid upgrade from Y to J class) -> MH 794 to MH 791

4/18 (LHR)-KUL-HKT-KUL
Original -> MH 786 to MH 787
Changed to -> MH 786 to MH 795

So instead of the 45 min to 60 min turnaround time, I had 3-4 hrs between flights which I spent at the Coral Lounge

Check in (OLCI + in town KL Sentral + KLIA airport)
I originally tried to "go show" for an earlier flight to HKT, but they were both fully booked and even oversold in Y (MH 786/794) as I was told by the check in counter staff @ KLIA
So I had no other option except to pay for an upgrade to J (which cost me RM 2,000 - Blah ...)
FYI - go shows can only be done at the airport, not at KL Sentral check in counters so just head to KLIA directly

There were some questions re: BP issuance + OLCI
Yes, I was able to OLCI for all flights, and BP were issued either via the MH app or sent to my email when it didn't display in the app
I even got my BP ex-HKT even though KLIA staff couldn't print those BP that were not ex-KUL
With the BP, I was able to exit immigration and enter the HKT airside area without waiting for the check in counters to open (2 hours before dep. which was really late considering that the HKT-KUL flights were full)
I also noticed that the paper BP sent via email were not required to be endorsed or validated by the airline (a stamp of some kind usually), and there was no issue with using them to clear immigration or board my flight at the gate.

Coral Lounge
All J class pax will be escorted straight to the Coral lounge by their staff after check in & this includes using the Premium lane which incidentally was the same lane as APEC/ABTC cardholders
Really not much to do at the lounge, good for 1 hours or so but not more than that
The hot food selection was so so (unless you like sweet n sour fried chicken AND sweet n sour fried fish, some raw veg & salads, fruit, soup, cakes etc.), tho' the staff did go around offering neck & shoulder massages for tips)
And because I had my BP printed via email on the return (4/18), I didn't have to wait for the check in counters to open, & I went straight to the lounge.
Except the lounge staff look surprised and said that I was "too early" to use the lounge.
After a few phone calls & speaking to someone at MH HKT office, it was OK
Lots of Duty Free shops & F&B options at HKT airport which brings me to the next point ..

HKT airport + Immigration
First up, thanks to those who pointed out that there was no turnaround route for transit.
It would seem that was the case except ... if the stars in the universe aligned, there might actually be one!
So HKT staff don't really speak English as well as the ones in BKK but on 4/13, when I explained to the the TG & MH ground staff who greeted our arriving flight what I was trying to do
They understood & did genuinely try to help get me to transit instead of to immigration, and they went off to review my bookings. However when they asked the officers, they said I had to clear immigration because I was on 2 separate bookings
There was a suggestion to get the airline to help link my bookings for the return so that it would be clear that I was in transit, which I did when I got back to KUL
I asked the MH transfer counter at KLIA to help, but she said there was no way to "link the bookings" but she did add the remarks in my bookings that I was in transit.
However on 4/18 there were no airline reps that greeted our flights, & when I approached the VoA (Visa on Arrival) counter for help, the lady officer insisted that there was no transit at HKT, and that I had to clear immigration while at the same time, sticking the immigration form to me and shoo-ing me away
At the end of the day, I just gave up. I figured between the language barrier, small-ish regional airport (though it was international) & lack of airlines that actually DO really transit at HKT, and explaining what I was trying to do to the staff
I would be better off if I just went thru' immigration and back into dep./airside area.
Perhaps a Thai speaker can try this and let us know how it goes .. ?


Conclusion
Someone asked if I would do this MR again - the answer is yes but only if I got the fantastic price I paid ex-HKT, otherwise it's not worth the time & effort
Especially on the return, when I was really tired coz' I didn't get much sleep on the LHR-KUL sector (MH003) as it was a day flight
Trying to fight the Zzzz monster while waiting for the return flight from HKT-KUL was no joke!
Looking back, and this was the kicker - I could have done the short turnaround time in my original booking for the following reasons (please don't take this as advice in case u miss your flight coz I said so .. LOL)
1. HKT airport immigration lines were really short for morning & early afternoon arrivals, not sure about other times
2. I had the APEC/ABTC card so there was a separate line for cardholders
3. MH is really patient with late arriving pax & baggage, and the pilots would actually hold the plane & wait while late pax were coming from immigration & bags were loaded.
I guess this was the general impression I got from my experience. I mean opening the check in counters 2 hours before dep. is really just asking to be delayed esp when I noticed that fewer than 5 pax each time did OLCI and bag drop, while the rest of the pax just waited in the regular line & it was super long!
Anyway it was a really short flight 70 min. but the block time was way more (90 min.) so they made up for it anyway into KUL.

Final Thoughts + Lessons Learnt
So I still can't decide if I want to live on the edge with a short turnaround time (45-60 min) or be safe and spend 3-4 hrs waiting in the lounge
I'm leaning towards the former only because it is MH, any other airline (ahem .. SQ!) would shut the door at T-10 and tell u to bugger off ..
However, 1 lesson I did learn was that because of travel uncertainties & low pricing of fares on MH (and my weak heart), I will not be doing anymore go shows, & instead take the hit earlier & book a new Y or J class tix even if it meant forfeiting the original booking
It would cost me less than what I paid for the upgrade at the airport (e.g. RM900 vs RM 2,000)
Also if u have a tight turnaround, then book J class & select row 1 for speedy exit.
Anyways, as someone on another thread has pointed out, the MH promo fares lately (ex HKT/BKK) aren't as cheap as before, so there may not be another chance to do this turnaround again ex-HKT

kaffir76

While some airlines may be more strict with the rules of check in, I find that MH isn't in this respect. I got all my BP via OLCI for KUL-HKT-KUL-LHR & there was no document verification until boarding for my flight at the gate.

kaffir76

So soon since the last multiple domestic runs

Did u get a good fare?
Hope this MR is easier & less time consuming than the last
Good luck! ^