(Edit to change thread title as it has evolved from my original enquiry and there are lots of knowledgeable folk here to help out)

Original Post

Flying in from SIN and connecting to Sandakan, both sectors MH. BA Silver card holder. Long stop over between flights.

Usually I go straight to immigration at the transfer to the domestic air side area and then use the Domestic Golden Lounge.

Can I delay this and use the Regional Golden Lounge before clearing immigration? (It has an omelette station in the morning!)

Yes you can, on account of OWS status. The agents there may direct you to the domestic lounge but just inform them that you have a long enough transit and you won't miss your flight.

However, be mindful that flights from SIN would likely arrive at G or H gates and, with the aerotrain down, you'd need to bus to C gates and then bus back.

There have been discussions here about being denied entry at the international lounges with a domestic BP. Just be mentally prepared for some pushback in case you encounter a difficult agent.

OP asked about the Regional lounge, which does make more sense as a OWS.

Not sure what time the OP will be arriving, but the evening SIN arrivals are a mixed bag, with C gate arrivals being fairly common.

What are the chances of being allowed into the Satellite Golden lounge as a one world emerald flying in business from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok - or will I only be allowed in the Regional lounge. If I can get into the former is it difficult getting to and from the satellite terminal (my journey starts in Kuala Lumpur). Thank you

Thanks, I get in at about 0700 and flight to Sabah isn't until about 1100. I've not yet experienced a C gate arrival from SIN, (I'm glad to say). Indeed yes, the regional lounge, where I spied a very nice looking omelette station in the service area last week.

Now a C gate departure to SIN would be good, (international lounge) I think Mrs. M must have done that once on a KUL - SIN flight as she was talking about the train not working a getting the bus to to the gate, I had always though it was confused blether, but maybe I should go and apologise.

OP�s situation is YMMV. Access seems to be accorded per OW rules, but MH has also pushed some passengers to the regional domestic lounge:

Denied access to KUL Platinum Lounge

Do share your experience after, possibly a useful datapoint (or not, if it keeps changing according to the whims of the person at the desk).


For Popinjay: Access rules are noted here - am unaware of any recent changes.

Malaysia Airlines Lounges Guide
and
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/malaysia-airlines-enrich/1896407-malaysia-golden-lounges-klia-post-renovations.html

OW elites can access Satellite & Regional lounge as noted, OWE can access Platinum side in Satellite. Bus Suites can access F area within Platinum.

[QUOTE=Midships;35689620]Thanks, I get in at about 0700 and flight to Sabah isn't until about 1100. I've not yet experienced a C gate arrival from SIN, (I'm glad to say). Indeed yes, the regional lounge, where I spied a very nice looking omelette station in the service area last week.[quote]Three hours between flights isn't really a "long stopover", especially since you have to clear immigration in between. If you do get admitted to the Regional lounge, I wouldn't cut it too close before heading to the domestic level.

If you're only eligible for J lounge access (as your BA Silver status implies), don't bother with the Satellite lounge unless you actually have C gate departure/arrival. The offerings are largely similar.

100%. You'll be reminded that your gate is likely a G or H one, but nothing to stop you from going into the Satellite lounge if you have the time. Not particularly difficult, just (depending on timing of the bus) somewhat lengthier.

With 4 hours (at least 3h30m if a long taxi / deplaning), one can do 2 hrs at the Regional Lounge if coming into G/H gates from SIN. 1.5hr for immigration & getting to the gate should be more than enough; the transit immigration desk is normally well less than 1hour (though I have come close to that once or twice), and the A/B gates are a slow-walk of at most 15mins.

Agreed.

Only if I wanted a shower and the Regional Lounge is full, or if I had >3hr of actual lounge time, would I think of going to the Satellite lounge (even if in the Platinum area), but would have to account for the >30mins extra needed to get to the lounge and then back to the Main Building.

The Regional Lounge is more than fine for <2hrs.

[QUOTE=SilverChris;35690489]Agreed, if I don't come into a C gate, I've got no intention of heading out there!

No issues what so ever, did the exact same itinerary recently.
Golden Lounge empty and the restaurant service was almost over eagerly attentive

Ok, I am sitting at the MH Satellite Lounge now only after a heated argument, and I want to report my experience here. Coming in on CX's HKG-KUL with an overnight transit for the MH domestic flight to MYY.

I called MH's contact centre creating the reservation, and the contact centre agent confirmed to me I could use the MH Satellite lounge overnight. I was deciding between whether to book a hotel room, but with that in mind, I decided against it.

Arrived at KUL last night and came to the Satellite Lounge and was denied access. The receptionist said since my departing flight is domestic, I can only access the domestic lounge. I said contact centre told me otherwise and could find the agent's name and the date and time I called. The receptionist said I should take it with the contact centre then, and it is not the lounge's responsibility to honour what the contact centre said.

I then said even if they do not allow me to enter the evening before, I should have the right to come back at midnight and access then. I showed her https://www.oneworld.com/airport-lounges, which says,
She tried to flip through her booklet and asked other colleagues to help, but they could not find any contradicting rules. I insisted that I am allowed access to any oneworld lounge in the same airport. International or domestic should not be relevant. She kept saying the word "departs" means domestic pax can only access domestic lounge. I told her that was not the right interpretation. She called a supervisor, who listened to me, and the supervisor then said he needed to discuss with someone more superior. After 1 hour, finally they agreed I would have access but only after midnight. I asked the supervisor to be sure this rule (int'l-to-dom overnight transit passengers are allowed access to the int'l lounge but only after midnight) is clearly explained to the lounge receptionist team as well as the contact centre, and he agreed.

Access to the Golden Satellite and Regional lounges before a domestic flight is a crapshoot as was noted above in response to the OP in this thread too, e.g. by SC in post #3, and also debated in the Denied access to KUL Platinum Lounge thread too.

Interesting to see the manager reversed the decision.

(The other responses to Popinjay in this thread last year were noting access as an OWE on a departing MH international flight.)

Below was an earlier post in the main Golden Lounge thread with which I responded to someone else a few months ago on the same topic.

(Also, as concurred with by others in the main Golden Lounge thread, the Satellite Lounge is honestly not the best for overnighting given it�s shared a rooms (whereas before there were individual sleep cabins). It�s doable, but the hotel will always give one better sleep.)

The MH site said at the point of departure only. This is open to interpretitation but myself and the staff I've spoken to understand that the point of departure is the domestic section hence your are supposed to that lounge:

https://www.askmh.malaysiaairlines.c...al-destination (updated 18 June 24)Passengers may enter the Golden Lounge at KLIA under these following conditions: -

MH Flights:

1. Business Suite
   

1. Business Class
   

1. Enrich Platinum and Guest - Enrich Platinum and +01 Guest irrespective Class of Travel
   

1. Enrich Gold and Guest - Enrich Gold and +01 Guest irrespective Class of Travel
   

 

oneworld Flights:

1. First Class
   

1. Business Class
   

1. oneworld Emerald and Guest - oneworld Emerald and +01 Guest irrespective Class of Travel
   

1. oneworld Sapphire and Guest - oneworld Sapphire and +01 Guest irrespective Class of Travel
   

This access to all Golden Lounges is applicable only at the point of departure only.

Note: Only Business Suite, Enrich Platinum and +01 Guest are allowed to utilize all Golden Lounges (Satellite, Regional and Domestic) for departure, transit and arrival.

I have indeed read both threads, hence I called. I thought since the contact centre agent confirmed it would be allowed and I got the name, it would be fine. I did not think MH lounge would say MH reservation needs to take responsibility.

I am glad I got myself well-versed with oneworld rules, though.

It was not too bad for me last night actually.

When I was at the domestic lounge this morning, it has the same egg station as the satellite lounge.