Reasonable fare Sin/Kul?
Nov 11, 2003, 12:55 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 209
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jpatokal:
Air Asia now flies JB-KUL-JB twice a day, fares start at RM 19.99 -- that's $5!
The tough part is getting there fom Singapore, since taxis aren't legally allowed to make cross-border trips... but Comfort Taxi will arrange a two-taxi trip, where you get shuttled from the SG taxi to the MY one at the border, for SGD 60 or so. Coming back on a (dubious) Malaysian taxi is cheaper at around RM 80 (haggle haggle haggle!), or you can book a legit limo at the airport desk for a bit more. And yes, these will cost you several times the plane fare if going solo
Singapore's been doing all it can to kneecap Air Asia's Senai operation, it doesn't look like they'll issue permits for a cross-border bus operation to the airport, and they've even banned MAS's direct bus from picking up AA passengers.</font>
Air Asia now flies JB-KUL-JB twice a day, fares start at RM 19.99 -- that's $5!
The tough part is getting there fom Singapore, since taxis aren't legally allowed to make cross-border trips... but Comfort Taxi will arrange a two-taxi trip, where you get shuttled from the SG taxi to the MY one at the border, for SGD 60 or so. Coming back on a (dubious) Malaysian taxi is cheaper at around RM 80 (haggle haggle haggle!), or you can book a legit limo at the airport desk for a bit more. And yes, these will cost you several times the plane fare if going solo
Singapore's been doing all it can to kneecap Air Asia's Senai operation, it doesn't look like they'll issue permits for a cross-border bus operation to the airport, and they've even banned MAS's direct bus from picking up AA passengers.</font>
BTW seems to me that it would almost be as fast to cab down from KL to JB as it is to get to KLIA from the city, fly to Senai and then get to JB? Suspect that a taxi ride for 4 would be cheaper than the sum total of the flights+taxes+taxis!
Would only consider flying to KL if I was transiting from a long haul flight through Changi. In that case, obviously I wouldn't even bother going to Senai.
Nov 11, 2003, 2:42 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: BRU, SIN, PEK
Programs: SQ TPP, LH SEN
Posts: 3,235
AirAsia can't make the JHB-KUL sector cheap enough for me to justify the hassle. Gimme a bus anytime. Had to fly KCH-JHB once when I missed by KCH-SIN flight. Even with taking the MH shuttle from Senai to Singapore I thought the journey was a chore. At least the cost difference ex-JHB vs. ex-SIN is substantial enough for most travellers flying to Sarawak/Sabah. Not so for KUL since coach service is such an attractive option.
Nov 11, 2003, 5:55 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Agreed that JHB-KUL isn't terribly attractive for Singaporeans, especially without any decent public transport options; I live in Jurong and, while Senai is actually physically closer to me than Changi, my options of getting there are limited to a) 3 hours in various MRTs and buses or b) an illegal taxi that will cost me at least $50.
But for longer trips, esp. with a group of people, it's another matter. I've just booked three tix from JHB to Penang, and it's only a matter of time -- namely the end of the monsoon season
-- until I head out to Kota Kinabalu. JHB-KUL-Tawau (for Sipadan) is also a nice combo. And it's only a matter of time until AA gets its Thai destinations on line, rumor says JHB-BKK is in the works as we speak...
But for longer trips, esp. with a group of people, it's another matter. I've just booked three tix from JHB to Penang, and it's only a matter of time -- namely the end of the monsoon season
-- until I head out to Kota Kinabalu. JHB-KUL-Tawau (for Sipadan) is also a nice combo. And it's only a matter of time until AA gets its Thai destinations on line, rumor says JHB-BKK is in the works as we speak...
Nov 16, 2003, 7:01 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 209
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jpatokal:
Agreed that JHB-KUL isn't terribly attractive for Singaporeans, especially without any decent public transport options; I live in Jurong and, while Senai is actually physically closer to me than Changi, my options of getting there are limited to a) 3 hours in various MRTs and buses or b) an illegal taxi that will cost me at least $50.
But for longer trips, esp. with a group of people, it's another matter. I've just booked three tix from JHB to Penang, and it's only a matter of time -- namely the end of the monsoon season -- until I head out to Kota Kinabalu. JHB-KUL-Tawau (for Sipadan) is also a nice combo. And it's only a matter of time until AA gets its Thai destinations on line, rumor says JHB-BKK is in the works as we speak...
</font>
Agreed that JHB-KUL isn't terribly attractive for Singaporeans, especially without any decent public transport options; I live in Jurong and, while Senai is actually physically closer to me than Changi, my options of getting there are limited to a) 3 hours in various MRTs and buses or b) an illegal taxi that will cost me at least $50.
But for longer trips, esp. with a group of people, it's another matter. I've just booked three tix from JHB to Penang, and it's only a matter of time -- namely the end of the monsoon season
-- until I head out to Kota Kinabalu. JHB-KUL-Tawau (for Sipadan) is also a nice combo. And it's only a matter of time until AA gets its Thai destinations on line, rumor says JHB-BKK is in the works as we speak...</font>
As for Penang, it really is a toss up for me. The roads are good enough that I would almost rather drive and make a trip of it than fly..... especially with a family or a group of 4.
For a quick business trip, it's just easier to fly to Penang.
Jan 14, 2004, 11:42 am
#35
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
I'm doing a quick trip to SIN this weekend, and thought I'd do a day trip to KUL (no luggage) on Sunday. From the posts here it looks like I'd be better off buying one ways in each direction. Since the diff in fare is minimal (about $30) I was going to buy F.
Two questions:
#1 - Given the present security alerts, will my trip cause any problems or "raise any eyebrows"??
#2- If I book in F, will I have access to the First Class lounge in both directions?
(A friend suggested this was probably the best lounge in the system, and given a chance I shouldn't miss it).
Two questions:
#1 - Given the present security alerts, will my trip cause any problems or "raise any eyebrows"??
#2- If I book in F, will I have access to the First Class lounge in both directions?
(A friend suggested this was probably the best lounge in the system, and given a chance I shouldn't miss it).
Jan 14, 2004, 5:55 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: BRU, SIN, PEK
Programs: SQ TPP, LH SEN
Posts: 3,235
SIN-KUL is a shuttle service. A percentage of the plane is reserved for walk-ups. Take a number, & wait for the check-in counter to call you. Much of the plan is filled with business folks - going to KUL for meetings and back. Plenty of my colleagues have done the day trip shuttle. No worries about security problems.
If you buy F, yes, you will have access to the lounge. The KUL one is nothing to write home about at all, in the SQ hierarchy of lounges.
btw - as a walk-up, you aren't guaranteed a certain flight. You catch the first flight with an available seat for you, and that seat can be on MH. Also, the Lunar New Year is coming up next week, flights are already very very full and have been that way for months. It is very likely that there will be loads of people waiting for shuttle fares, you may have to wait for several hours unless you get there bright and very early for the very first flight. If you must go, I do advise you to book a confirmed flight.
[This message has been edited by fimo (edited Jan 14, 2004).]
[This message has been edited by fimo (edited Jan 14, 2004).]
If you buy F, yes, you will have access to the lounge. The KUL one is nothing to write home about at all, in the SQ hierarchy of lounges.
btw - as a walk-up, you aren't guaranteed a certain flight. You catch the first flight with an available seat for you, and that seat can be on MH. Also, the Lunar New Year is coming up next week, flights are already very very full and have been that way for months. It is very likely that there will be loads of people waiting for shuttle fares, you may have to wait for several hours unless you get there bright and very early for the very first flight. If you must go, I do advise you to book a confirmed flight.
[This message has been edited by fimo (edited Jan 14, 2004).]
[This message has been edited by fimo (edited Jan 14, 2004).]
Jan 15, 2004, 7:52 am
#37
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
Thanks for the info, as it turns out due to a family emergency I had to cancel my SIN trip outright, so my mini SIN-KUL will have to be put off till later in the year!
Jan 28, 2004, 1:41 am
#38
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
I am plan upon attending the Asian Aerospace conference in the last week of Febuary and would like to hop up to KUL overnight.
I would prefer to use the shuttle service and save a few bucks, but will swallow and pay full fare versus being stalled for 4-5 hours.
I arrive around 11am on Sunday Feb 22.
Will Chinese New Year crowds have subsided by then?
I would prefer to use the shuttle service and save a few bucks, but will swallow and pay full fare versus being stalled for 4-5 hours.
I arrive around 11am on Sunday Feb 22.
Will Chinese New Year crowds have subsided by then?
Feb 10, 2004, 11:51 pm
#40
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
i am confirming the KUL overnight trip in the next couple of days.
to weigh the economy of the shuttle versus the convenience of a booked fare when i arrive in SIN, does anyone know what the current cost of one ways from SIN and KUL would be?
the current SIN SQ fare is about $210USD.
any thoughts on the probability of having to wait for a couple of flights for mid afternoon departure and return?
to weigh the economy of the shuttle versus the convenience of a booked fare when i arrive in SIN, does anyone know what the current cost of one ways from SIN and KUL would be?
the current SIN SQ fare is about $210USD.
any thoughts on the probability of having to wait for a couple of flights for mid afternoon departure and return?
Feb 11, 2004, 8:33 pm
#43
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: OW, *A, Bonvoy, WOH
Posts: 810
IIRC, for SIN-KUL, confirmed = S$152 vs shuttle = S$115. Taxes (S$30) are not included.
For KUL-SIN, confirmed = RM222 vs shuttle = RM167. Taxes (RM64) are not included.
The shuttle savings is about US$40.
For KUL-SIN, confirmed = RM222 vs shuttle = RM167. Taxes (RM64) are not included.
The shuttle savings is about US$40.