Asia 7: Going Beyond Expectations. MH KUL-DAC on the A330



Previous Reports in this series:

Part 1: Limoncello with Alitalia. BA/AZ LHR-MXP-FCO-NRT

Part 2: JALing it to Beijing. JL HND-PEK 772 Business

Part 3: Around China with China United, China Eastern & Grand China

Part 4: First with Cathay Pacific: HKG-TPE F on the B744

Part 5: Fine Dining on Scoot. TPE-SIN on the 777

Part 6: Silk Air and Firefly around the Malay Peninsula. SIN-LGK-SZB

Hi!

Thanks for clicking on Part 7 of my Autumn Asia series.

As already mentioned, I decided to book a flight with Malaysia Airlines from Kuala Lumpur up to Dhaka. Of all the flights in the world that i’ve booked (which is many) this flight probably showed the most bizarre availability of them all.

Approximately 1 month out I started looking. It seemed every date had the same low fares. Brilliant. However, a week later when I came to book, I noticed that in a sort of chronological cascade effect, availability would go from the cheapest fare (or something nearby) to sold out. Nothing in between. No high Y fares to be seen. It was either cheapest seats, or sold out. Everyday I checked, and the corresponding day, 2 weeks or so later, would now be sold out….not a standard sort of sales approach. Odd. As my original preferred date had vanished, I went for one a few days later (hence ending up with 9 nights on the Peninsula, rather than the original 3).

One major benefit for leaving later was that at the magical changeover from summer to winter, the times also changed. The flight would now leave some 4 hours earlier than before, departing KUL around 6pm, arriving into Dhaka sensibly around 8pm. The summer times I might have ended up with was 10pm to midnight…not so nice.

For the DAC-KUL pax, the times got worse for winter. Instead of approx. 1am-7am times, now it was 9pm to 3am…urgh. Still, not an issue for me.

The map, courtesy of GC Mapper, of this report:


The map, courtesy of GC Mapper, of what is currently booked for this series:


I stayed my 3 nights at the beautifully designed Royale Chulan Hotel. This is a 5* Malay style hotel, and it was done very nicely. The service wasn’t always 5* though. The prices were better than most of the Western chain competition.

The room….clean, spacious and elegant, with some colonial styling






I was promised a pool view room….this is the view


Obviously, something was amiss. The next day I was able to change to a pool view room.

Much better…




And you can even see the Towers!


And the Towers from the front


I wonder if Mr.Berlusconi has enjoyed the spa here?


I was lucky enough to catch up with Singaporean a.netter Ryanair!!! and some of his friends whom happened to be in KL for the weekend. We had a good time eating and drinking…thanks for the tour guiding too!




We had a few drinks in the Hilton….are they allowed to sell Cuban cigars in a US chain hotel?


A trip to KLCC




Lots of tasty food to be had in Malaysia. Street food at 3am:


A poolside burger




Traditional nasi-lemak


I met up with some family friends who’ve done pretty well for themselves…their house is amazing


We drove out to Port Klang for a steamboat dinner




After a pleasant few days in KL, it was time to head to Dhaka. The loads were looking pretty busy in economy (there were no seats for sale, availability in Y was 0), whilst business looked pretty empty. When I checked in online, I decided to just go for the closest aisle to the front (I guessed it’d be night, so no point going for a window). My arrival into DAC would coincide with Tiger from SIN, and CX from HKG, so immigration could be busy…I’d need to be fast getting off. Anyone think the white splodge at the top looks a bit CXesque?


I was happy (and very surprised) to see that the seat map corresponded with the newer A330s on the MH fleet. Unlike their older counterparts which lack PTVs, and have dubiously coloured seats, the new A330 have the latest edition entertainment systems. Excellent! I would have thought that the rather unprestigious route to Bangladesh would have been the last to get the top of the range plane.

Ryanair!!! was kind enough to drop me off at KL Sentral Station for the express train to KLIA. MH (as well as BI, EK and CX) maintain a check in desk at the station.


I enquired about an upgrade to C, but the rate was a bit higher than I wanted to pay. If the flight was full, I might as well play seat roulette and see if I get a better seat at the gate.



On the train…it’s pretty nice on board…certainly beats taking a taxi through the traffic




They even had wifi aboard


I was very glad I’d checked my bag in at the station, as the queues in the terminal were pretty long.




After a quick visit to the post office for stamps, I headed to the viewing area. Not too much of interest this afternoon (as always).


So, what do we all this of this livery?


Or this one?


Or the original?


MH seem seriously confused in this regard. The old livery was rather boring, but I find it preferable to the two newer ones. They need to go on an expedition to BKK to see how to paint a plane nicely.


A brand new A330-300….this would actually be my plane, the newest in the MH fleet (9M-MTJ), being just over a month old.




The (mainly) domestic pier. My flight from Hong Kong arrived here a few years ago…easy for a domestic connection.


The Firefly 737 is no longer operating for Firefly…not sure what it’s up to


The best holiday of my childhood (that I can recall) started on an MH 744 on the lunchtime LHR-KUL service….I think I was around 9, and the crew took a photo of my siblings and I with a polaroid….very cool!

“Kuala Lumpur” resting before another long-haul trek




KUL….empty




Overlooking departures from the corridor to the viewing area


FIDS








After clearing security and immigration (which was pretty quick and easy), I stopped at the nice gaggle of models




Then took the train over to the international satellite


Time for a quick walk in the jungle






Inside the satellite building. There wasn’t an awful lot to do…sadly KUL lacks the cinema etc unlike SIN.


As I was lacking a louge, I paid a visit to the Fauchon café…the eggs benedict was pretty good


KL is in town. I think this one continues to DPS?


And CX


Dhaka…hopefully boarding soon


Walking down to the gate


Plenty of people waiting to be let into the lounge


My shiny new plane


After a final security check, I was let into the lounge….sadly no beep, no upgrade.

October 2012
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Dhaka (DAC)
Malaysia Airlines MH 196
Scheduled: 1810-2000 (3h50m)
Actual: 1819-1946 (3h27m)
Airbus A330-300 9M-MTJ
Economy Class



The interior of this brand new plane was, unsurprisingly, very nice. Nice soothing colours on the comfortable and well connected seats.










Notice anything? No IFE (obvious) box!


Before my seatmate arrived, I got a shot of the neighbouring EY


The IFE






I was quite surprised to hear the “boarding completed” announcement made when there were still quite a few empty seats around me. Erm, why has Y been sold out for days, and availability down to Y0 if we push back with so many empty seats? Even checking in, I was told the flight was full. Did a load of people misconnect? Hmmm, something is a bit fishy about this. I guess it’s clear now why they didn’t need to upgrade anyone to C.

Still, it was good for me. I initially moved to the other side of the aisle (centre seats), before I noticed an empty window pair a few rows back…bingo!

Safety demo


Safety card




Cabin from my new seat


Passing the A380




And the previous A333 in the MH series






AK taking off before us


Off she goes


Our turn


Nice to see KUL with 2 A380 operators




The climb out was slow, but the views were spectacular. I’m so glad I moved to the window…gorgeous views.










An MH propaganda video




Moving map








Cabin view. Busy, but not full


My film choice for this flight was Blind Side….not new, but a reasonable film to watch


Arrivals forms were handed out


I had to laugh when I saw the tiny line for me to put all the countries I’ve been to in the past 3 months…er, can I use a separate sheet!?


Bit unfair that Bangladeshis can’t import booze. The friends I met in Dhaka were all desperate for me to bring some in for them.

Lovely evening outside








With the seatbelt signs off, the crew came round with juices on a tray, and peanuts




Obviously, my drink of choice wasn’t on the tray, so I requested a G&T, which was brought soon after (although without a smile)


I also got some sparkling water. The Bangladeshis sitting in the centre seats kept staring at me (it was like I’d already arrived!)….not sure they knew that you could order more drinks on demand.


Before long, dinner was served. The rather sour FA that delivered my G&T was handing out the trays. “Chicken or beef?”. “Um, what’re they served with?”. She cracked a smile. “They’re both the same…curry!”.

I went with the chicken…tasty meal it was too (save for the rather odd “appetiser”).






Time for another G&T and water


Nice to have some local style after-dinner mints. Scrumptious


“Sugar and spice and all things nice”


Continuing our progress to Bangladesh














Time for another water and G&T. By this time the crew are warming up to me, the token booze-addicted Westerner amongst a passenger manifest nearly exclusively Bangladeshi male, aged 25-50. From what I can see, few of the other passengers speak English (or Malay), and none are drinking.


With Blind Side over, I switch over to Modern Family


And then flick through the paper


Ahead of schedule, we begin our approach into Dhaka.








Welcome to the land of DC10s!






Disembarkation is fairly organised, and before long, I’m heading to immigration.




Business Class


This time, I elect to attepmt to get a visa on arrival. The process was far easier than imagined. I was the only person applying, and after a short wait, I’m stamped into the country, actually beating people in the queue with pre-arranged stamps. Certainly beats dealing with the High Commission in London.

Sadly, the wait for bags in very slow.


Lots of people seem to have stocked up on hideous fleece blankets whilst in Malaysia




Who owns all these bags? Why are they just sitting there? There were thousands all piled up along the walls of the arrivals area.


After about a half hour wait, but mag finally appeared. After negotiating for a taxi, I was soon on my way into town.
So, MH certainly went beyond expectations. I booked expecting an old clapped out A330…but got a brand new one. IFE was great. The seats were comfy. Despite being led to believe the flight was full, it wasn’t, so had plenty of space. The meal was tasty, and the drinks free flowing. The crew were a little cold to start with, but improved during the flight. And we landed early. What more could you want? I'm looking forward to trying MH out again longhual.

Throughout the flight, all announcements were done in Malay then English. Given the passengers makeup, I’m sure they could have skipped the Malay (are they allowed/empowered to do this?), and maybe introduce Bengali instead – I’m sure it would be more helpful to the majority of the passengers. Hopefully, their fares/loads/availability phantom isn’t a standard feature across the board on MH… why would you stop selling seats on a plane that isn’t full?

Future reports include:

4H DAC-ZYL DH8-100 Y
9W DAC-CCU B737-700 Y
AI CCU-DEL B788 Y
SV DEL-RUH-LHR B777 Y

As always, all comments and questions welcome!

Some of my other TRs:

Part 6: Silk Air and Firefly around the Malay Peninsula. SIN-LGK-SZB
Asia Part 5: Fine Dining on Scoot. TPE-SIN on the 777
Asia Part 4: First with Cathay Pacific: HKG-TPE F on the B744
Asia Part 3: Around China with KN, MU & CN
Asia Part 2: JALing it to Beijing. JL HND-PEK 772 Business
Asia Part 1: Limoncello with Alitalia. BA/AZ LHR-MXP-FCO-NRT
Va BeNe with Cityjet. RTM-LCY Fokker 50
Truly Great Britain: FlyBE EDI-IOM on Saab 340 & BA IOM-LCY on Saab 2000
Cyprus with Aegean. Business on the A321, LHR-LCA-LHR
Scotland In A Day: FlyBE GLA-BHD-LGW. DH8 & E190
Tegel A.Net Meet. SN LHR-BRU-TXL, LH TXL-BHX
Bye Bye Baby: easyJet LTN-BFS, bmi Baby BHD-BHX
Air One and Alitalia to Sicily – LGW-MXP-PMO-LIN-LHR
Part 12: Sun Air of Scandinavia & BA, DUS-BLL-MAN-LHR on the J31, D328 and A320
Part 11: Thai Airways BKK-FRA, B77W First Class & LH FRA-DUS Business
Part 10: Thai Airways Kathmandu-Bangkok, B772 Business Class
Part 9: Yeti Airlines “Everest Express” on the J41
Part 8: Biman Bangladesh A310 Dhaka-Kathmandu
Part 7: United Airways ATR Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar & Regent Airways Dash Chittagong-Dhaka
Part 6: Biman Bangladesh DC10 Calcutta-Dhaka
Part 5: SpiceJet B739 & Jet Konnect B738 Calcutta-Bagdogra rtn, with Darjeeling
Part 4: Singapore Airlines A330 Business Class Singapore-Calcutta
Part 3: Sriwijiaya Airlines & Lion Air Boeing 737-900ER Banda Aceh-Medan-Jakarta-Singapore
Part 2: Valuair/Jetstar Asia SIN-MES and Garuda MES-BTJ
Part 1: U2 LTN-BCN, SQ BCN-SIN 77W Business
Africa Part 7: British Airways Club Europe B767, LCA-LHR
Africa Part 6: LX ZRH-ATH, A3 ATH-LCA. A Greek Tragedy
Africa Part 5: Dar es Salaam – Nairobi – Zurich with Swiss First
Africa Part 4: Fly 540 DAR-ZNZ in Y, and Zanzibar photos
Africa Part 3: ET KGL-EBB-ADD-DAR-ZNZ, A to Z with Ethiopian Airlines in C
Africa Part 2: SN BRU-BJM, SA BJM-KGL, Business to Burundi and Rwanda
Africa Part 1: BD LHR-CMN, TP CMN-LIS, SN LIS-BRU in Y and C
A.net meeting in snowy Tallinn. U2/FR STN-TLL-LTN
easyJet and bmi up to Aberdeen, LTN-ABZ-LHR
The Costa del Sol with British Airways. LGW-AGP-LCY
Mysterious Moldova (and Transnistria). Lufthansa LHR-MUC-KIV
BA to the Austrian Alps. LHR-MUC, INN-LGW
I can't get no Jetisfaction: LH LGW-FRA inaugural
Colombia Part 4: Colombia to London via FRA/MUC/HEL on LH & BA
Colombia Part 3: Colombia with Avianca (AV). SMR-BOG-MDE-BOG
Colombia Part 2: Colombia with Avianca (AV). BOG-MDE-CTG
Colombia Part 1: London to Colombia via ARN/MUC/FRA on BA & LH
USA and Mexico Part 4, British Airways Mexico City – London, World Traveller Plus
USA and Mexico Part 3: Around Mexico with Aereo Calafia Cessna 208B & Viva Aerobus B733
USA and Mexico Part 2: Sightseeing tour of SAN, and AA San Diego - LA – Dallas - San Jose Cabo
USA and Mexico Part 1: easyJet Luton to Paris, and BA Paris to San Diego via LHR in World Traveller Plus
British Airways to Scandinavia (LHR-CPH,GOT-LHR)
Where’s my bag? British Airways, Milan to London
What airline am I flying again? Bmi/Lufthansa Italia LHR-MXP
Albania and Macedonia: Austrian LHR-VIE-TIA, Macedonian Airlines SKP-ZRH, Swiss ZRH-LCY
Part 1, Lufthansa London-Munich-Frankfurt-Nanjing, Economy Class A321 and A343
Part 2, Cathay Pacific Shanghai to Tokyo via Hong Kong, Business Class A330 and B747-400
Part 3, ANA Boeing B767 Tokyo to Shanghai, & Air China Airbus A340 Shanghai to Beijing, Business Class
Part 4: Chinese domestics, inc. Joy Air Xi’an MA60, Tianjin Airlines ERJ, and China Express Airways CRJ
Part 5: Lufthansa Beijing-Frankfurt-London City, Economy Class A388 and E90
5 Countries, 5 Flights, 5 Days, with Ryanair (FR)
bmiFriday: Welcome to Sunny Norway, London to Bergen, A319)
Royal Jordanian, London to Aqaba via Amman. A330 and A320
Royal Jordanian, Amman to London, A330
London City to Antwerp with Cityjet and the Fokker 50
Croatian Airlines, LHR-ZAG,PUY-ZAD-ZAG-LHR, A319 and Dash 8
British Airways, Iberia & Binter to Tenerife and Gran Canaria, LHR-MAD-TFN-LPA-MAD-LHR, A320,ATR, A321
British Airways, London To Amsterdam, LGW-AMS-LHR, B737 & A321
British Airways up to a snowy Glasgow, with a change of flights and delay, LHR-GLA-LCY A321 and E90
Turkish Airlines Business Class from London to Istanbul. From Terrible To Fantastic
Turkish Airlines Business Class from Istanbul to Batumi (Georgia). Not again!
bmi Business Class, Tbilisi to London via Azerbaijan
Tallinn to London, with Estonian Air and BA, via ARN
Cuba! BA/IB London-Madrid-Havana, Business Class
Aerocarribean, Baracoa to Havana
Asia Trip, Pt 1: Qatar Airways Business Class (LHR-DOH-ICN)
Asia Trip, Pt 2: China Southern and Hainan Airlines (A321/A346)
Asia Trip, Pt 3: Malaysia Airlines, Hong Kong to Penang
Asia Trip, Pt 4: Qatar Airways Economy (HKG-DOH-LHR)
A weekend in Transylvania with Blue Air (LTN-SBZ)
Helsinki for the weekend on BA and KF
Easter in Ukraine with Austrian
UAE and Oman with BA and Air Arabia. Y & Y+
HKG-LHR-HKG Air New Zealand, Premium Economy and Economy
US Airways LGW-DCA-MSP-LGA-LGW
London Heathrow - Zurich - Venice on Swiss Business for the weekend
Chasing the Eclipse on China Eastern
Taiwan: EVA Air (HKG-TPE rtn), UNI Airways (TSA-HCN), Daily Air (TTT-KYD rtn)
UA HKG-SIN-HKG Y Class, SQ KUL-SIN C Class
Bangkok to Beijing, Egyptair Business Class
Air China Beijing to Harbin, B777 Economy outbound, A330 First Class return
Tiger Airways, Singapore to Darwin return
A selection of Chinese Domestics; China Eastern, Air China and Shenzhen Airlines
Hong Kong to London on Singapore Airlines (744/380/77W)
Qatar Airways Beijing-Doha-London Heathrow (A330/A340)
Air China First Class. Beijing-Guilin via Xi’an
Armenia with Austrian Airlines. LHR-VIE-EVN
Round Asia Trip. URC-HTN,OSS-FRU,ALA-URC-LHW-KMG-JHG-KMG-SYX,HAK-NKG-PEK-NRT-LHR,
Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Lucky Air, ANA, Economy and Business Class.
SAS and Lufthansa Business Class, LHR-OSL-FRA-FRA, B73G and B744

Thanks for your report, I will be flying on MH in C next week- MEL to HKG. The first sector is in the A333 you were on, while the next is on the old-style A333 with the coloured seating. I tried the new A333 in April and it was great so I'm looking forward to what should be some great flights with MH. Thanks also for the preview on what to expect in KL.

Quoting themit9 (Reply 3): Thanks for your report

No problem!

Quoting themit9 (Reply 3): I will be flying on MH in C next week- MEL to HKG. The first sector is in the A333 you were on, while the next is on the old-style A333 with the coloured seating. I tried the new A333 in April and it was great so I'm looking forward to what should be some great flights with MH. Thanks also for the preview on what to expect in KL.

I hope you have a good flight!

Hi Gabriel,

nice report, MH's Y Class product on this new A330 looks fine.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Excellent! I would have thought that the rather unprestigious route to Bangladesh would have been the last to get the top of the range plane.

There were only three old ones left by late October, so your chances for a new one were good.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The Firefly 737 is no longer operating for Firefly…not sure what it’s up to

Two 734s are still parked at KUL - allegedly intended for MH, but I'm skeptical about that considering that they keep adding new 738s quickly.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): KL is in town. I think this one continues to DPS?

No, only CGK is served from KUL. The DPS flights go through SIN.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Notice anything? No IFE (obvious) box!

Emirates already got rid of the boxes some years ago (on newly delivered planes), good to see the crowd starts to follow.


PH

I do believe MH is required to do announcements first in Malay and then in English. Its a shame that they didn't include Bengali considering most of the people on that flight wouldn't know either language.

Hi Gabriel,

I agree with PH here, the new cabin looks quite nice. Basic but adequate. But where has the famous MH hospitable crew gone?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Lots of tasty food to be had in Malaysia.

And spicy too I guess?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Or this one?

The A380 livery is nice imo, the rest just OK.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I stopped at the nice gaggle of models

Nothing liberated 

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Notice anything? No IFE (obvious) box!

How nice. So it really IS possible to get rid of it. Hear that AZ  

Sultanils

Thanks for the comments!

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): nice report,

Thanks!

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): MH's Y Class product on this new A330 looks fine.

Indeed, it is very nice.

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): No, only CGK is served from KUL. The DPS flights go through SIN.

Noted!

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): Emirates already got rid of the boxes some years ago (on newly delivered planes), good to see the crowd starts to follow.

yes, nice to have such "innovation" being more widespread.

Quoting Malayil (Reply 6): I do believe MH is required to do announcements first in Malay and then in English. Its a shame that they didn't include Bengali considering most of the people on that flight wouldn't know either language.

Yeah, I thought as much. SQ do it better, with just English required, plus the local language. I'm surprised that there was no Bengali speaker onboard

Quoting sultanils (Reply 7): I agree with PH here, the new cabin looks quite nice. Basic but adequate. But where has the famous MH hospitable crew gone?

I guess they're saved for the "better" routes

Quoting sultanils (Reply 7): And spicy too I guess?

No, not really. Not like Chinese/Indian food

Quoting sultanils (Reply 7): Nothing liberated

Ha, no, they were massive!

Quoting sultanils (Reply 7): How nice. So it really IS possible to get rid of it. Hear that AZ

Yes, the AZ one is WAY too big

Hey Gabriel,

Thanks for your report!

Gonna be on MH in a couple of months, though on a 5th freedom route (NRT-LAX) and on a 772.

I'd've expected a better crew on MH to be honest. Meal looks really good, and indeed good to see there are none of those enormous IFE boxes. Cabin looks good, but as you mentioned, the approach to the livery seems a bit confused... that's one ugly 380...

Looking forward to your next reports, especially SV!

Thanks again, Gabriel!

Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 9): Thanks for your report!

No problem, glad you liked it

Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 9): Gonna be on MH in a couple of months, though on a 5th freedom route (NRT-LAX) and on a 772.

I didn't know they did that route. I did SQ on NRT-LAX many years ago...was a great flight

Quoting dc9northwest (Reply 9): Looking forward to your next reports, especially SV!

I'm wiriting the next one as I type...the SV ones will be out in a week or two

Nice to see that MH's newer product is a lot nicer than their tired old Boeing widebodies. Loved the photos out the window.

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 2): Who owns all these bags? Why are they just sitting there? There were thousands all piled up along the walls of the arrivals area.

All those invisible passengers who were supposedly filling up Y in your flight?  

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The Firefly 737 is no longer operating for Firefly…not sure what it’s up to

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): Two 734s are still parked at KUL - allegedly intended for MH, but I'm skeptical about that considering that they keep adding new 738s quickly.

Those Firefly 737 are used for charter now.

Quoting Malayil (Reply 6): I do believe MH is required to do announcements first in Malay and then in English. Its a shame that they didn't include Bengali considering most of the people on that flight wouldn't know either language.

Not really. It all depends on the inflight supervisor/leading steward(ess). There are times that the announcement is made in English follows by Malay. Same goes to the captain of the flight.

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 10): I didn't know they did that route. I did SQ on NRT-LAX many years ago...was a great flight

MAS did KUL-NRT-LAX many years ago but dropped it to focus on KUL-TPE-LAX. But they had a change of mind and now they no longer do KUL-TPE-LAX. All LAX flight goes via NRT now.

By the way, were those crews on your flight mostly senior ones ? It seems that most MAS flights operated by wide-body aircraft these days have almost all senior crews even in Y. Flew on MAS 333 a few months ago and there were like 5 inflight supervisors working in the Economy Class!

Great report, by the way  

Thanks for all the comments!

Quoting allrite (Reply 11): Nice to see that MH's newer product is a lot nicer than their tired old Boeing widebodies

Yes, a missive leap forward.

Quoting allrite (Reply 11): Loved the photos out the window.

Thanks! THe sunset was amazing

Quoting allrite (Reply 11): All those invisible passengers who were supposedly filling up Y in your flight?

Ha, maybe!

Quoting TreeHillRavens (Reply 12): Not really. It all depends on the inflight supervisor/leading steward(ess). There are times that the announcement is made in English follows by Malay. Same goes to the captain of the flight.

Interesting to know. Still sad there wetre no benglai speakers (or even pre recorded announcements)

Quoting TreeHillRavens (Reply 12): By the way, were those crews on your flight mostly senior ones ? It seems that most MAS flights operated by wide-body aircraft these days have almost all senior crews even in Y. Flew on MAS 333 a few months ago and there were like 5 inflight supervisors working in the Economy Class!

No, not particularly senior

Quoting TreeHillRavens (Reply 12): Great report, by the way

Thanks!

Hey there, gabrielchew! Awesome report. MH's new A330s look fantastic, and it's nice to see their service continues to be top-notch. If only they could get their finances in order.

It looks like you had fun in Kuala Lumpur. I was there in 2005, and my experience was not so great. The Indonesians were setting their farms on fire, and the smoke was blowing over to Kuala Lumpur. The air quality was the worst I've experiened out of any city I've been do. KUL as an airport looks great, however, I just can't get over how empty it looks!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Approximately 1 month out I started looking. It seemed every date had the same low fares. Brilliant. However, a week later when I came to book, I noticed that in a sort of chronological cascade effect, availability would go from the cheapest fare (or something nearby) to sold out. Nothing in between. No high Y fares to be seen. It was either cheapest seats, or sold out. Everyday I checked, and the corresponding day, 2 weeks or so later, would now be sold out….not a standard sort of sales approach. Odd. As my original preferred date had vanished, I went for one a few days later (hence ending up with 9 nights on the Peninsula, rather than the original 3).

This is pathetic, and probably a flaw in their IT system if I had to guess. I'd imagine it has cost MH a considerable amount in potential revenue.

Thanks for sharing!

Hi Gabriel,

What a surprise from MH! Maybe all that 5* fanfare isn't hot air after all, isn't it? I'm quite surprised to see how valid the Y product looks like. Do you know whether they'll be refurbishing their existing fleet as well?

J class, from the blurry image you posted, reminds me about Air France, can you confirm? If so it'd be a massive letdown.

Quoting MHTripple7 (Reply 14): Hey there, gabrielchew! Awesome report

Thanks!

Quoting MHTripple7 (Reply 14): MH's new A330s look fantastic, and it's nice to see their service continues to be top-notch.

Yes, it was a great flight.

Quoting MHTripple7 (Reply 14): It looks like you had fun in Kuala Lumpur. I was there in 2005, and my experience was not so great. The Indonesians were setting their farms on fire, and the smoke was blowing over to Kuala Lumpur. The air quality was the worst I've experiened out of any city I've been do. KUL as an airport looks great, however, I just can't get over how empty it looks!

Yes, I enjoyed KL. I guess the smoke from Indonesia is never fun. Fingers crossed KUL might get some more visitors soon!

Quoting MHTripple7 (Reply 14): This is pathetic, and probably a flaw in their IT system if I had to guess. I'd imagine it has cost MH a considerable amount in potential revenue.

Well, the flight was still quite full. The lack of felx Y tickets on their website was a little perplexing though

Quoting I39OO (Reply 15): What a surprise from MH! Maybe all that 5* fanfare isn't hot air after all, isn't it? I'm quite surprised to see how valid the Y product looks like. Do you know whether they'll be refurbishing their existing fleet as well?

Yes, MH's Y product is pretty good. I don't think they'll be refitting the older fleet...aren't they retiring the 744s? Not sure about the 777ERs

Quoting I39OO (Reply 15): J class, from the blurry image you posted, reminds me about Air France, can you confirm? If so it'd be a massive letdown.

No idea I'm afraid. Looked a little similar to CA C, but I passed in a bit of a drunken haze, so can't be sure

Hi Gabriel,

Another nice addition to your Asia trip. Looks like you had a great flight on MHs new A333, nothing beats flying in a brand new plane every now and then!
The service looks great and the food looks quite good. You also come some very nice views upon take-off and sunset  

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): So, what do we all this of this livery?

Its OK

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Or this one?

Ugly

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Or the original?

Still the best of the 3!

cheers,

Brendan

Hey Gabriel,

good to follow your trip along SE Asia. Again a good read and some really nice pictures, especially the ones from KL and the sunset pics from the plane. Looks like you had a really nice flight with MH here, good that you got a new A330.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): MH seem seriously confused in this regard. The old livery was rather boring, but I find it preferable to the two newer ones.

Actually I find the new one quite stylish, think it beats the other two.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Time for a quick walk in the jungle

That's very nice to have such a thing at an airport.

CaptainRed

Hi Gabriel,

Nice read and pictures, thanks for sharing.

I'm planning on flying MH from LHR next March, last A380 operator I need.

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): The interior of this brand new plane was, unsurprisingly, very nice. Nice soothing colours on the comfortable and well connected seats.

- Much nicer interior than the multi-coloured ones they used to have.

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): Notice anything? No IFE (obvious) box!

- Same as NH 787's, no IFE boxes taking up valuable foot space.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Bit unfair that Bangladeshis can’t import booze. The friends I met in Dhaka were all desperate for me to bring some in for them.

- Odd they can't even bring in a bottle yet can bring in a plasma TV!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I went with the chicken…tasty meal it was too (save for the rather odd “appetiser”).

- What was the appetiser?

Cheers

Mark

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 17): Another nice addition to your Asia trip

Thanks

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 17): Looks like you had a great flight on MHs new A333, nothing beats flying in a brand new plane every now and then!

Yes, was a very pleasant flight

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 17): You also come some very nice views upon take-off and sunset

Thanks!

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 18): good to follow your trip along SE Asia. Again a good read and some really nice pictures, especially the ones from KL and the sunset pics from the plane

Thanks!

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 18): Looks like you had a really nice flight with MH here, good that you got a new A330.

yes, always nice to get the newest plane in the fleet

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 18): That's very nice to have such a thing at an airport.

Yes, great feature

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 19): Nice read and pictures, thanks for sharing.

Glad you liked it!

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 19): I'm planning on flying MH from LHR next March, last A380 operator I need.

Just a straight rtn LHR-KUL-LHR? Or going somewhere else?

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 19): - Much nicer interior than the multi-coloured ones they used to have.

Yes, a definate improvement

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 19): - Odd they can't even bring in a bottle yet can bring in a plasma TV!

Well, that's how Bangaldesh works!

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 19): - What was the appetiser?

No idea!

Hey Gabriel, Good to follow the progree of your trip once more.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): No high Y fares to be seen. It was either cheapest seats, or sold out.

Surely a cheap Y seat is no different to an expensive Y seat?! Unless you're after the extra tier points?

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): “They’re both the same…curry!”.

That would be me telling them I wouldn't be eating then!

Looking forward to the next part.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 21): Good to follow the progree of your trip once more.

Hope you're enjoying them!

Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 21): Surely a cheap Y seat is no different to an expensive Y seat?! Unless you're after the extra tier points?

Well, of course the seat is the same. But standard logic would dictate that once the cheap seats are sold, there'll be more availbility at a higher price....not here though.

Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 21): That would be me telling them I wouldn't be eating then!

It was a tasty meal! You'd have loved it!

I can only think of one reason with regards to your YCL booking kerfuffle - travel agents. They normally purchase these seats en bloc.

I hope you enjoyed KL as much as I did. Food is always an attraction - with my friends there a close second. That place I brought you to at 3am, man I've been waiting for a few years already to go back there. Glad we made the trip.

Despite it being a white elephant, I still think KLIA is one of the world's most beautiful. Did you know they are building a third runway? Hahahah yes they are... So the empty traffic will be spread out even more. There is a gigantic LCC terminal being build so instead of constructing it within the confines of an already large airport area, they've decided to clear out some more land outside. How awesome is that? Nah... All jokes aside, all these increases in traffic volume is largely due to Air Asia. I'm sure they'll fit right into the large LCC terminal.

Quoting Ryanair!!! (Reply 23): I can only think of one reason with regards to your YCL booking kerfuffle - travel agents. They normally purchase these seats en bloc.

Ah, that makes sense. If I were MH, I'd be pretty pissed off that other customers who want to book a flight can't, then they go out with empty seats.

Quoting Ryanair!!! (Reply 23): I hope you enjoyed KL as much as I did. Food is always an attraction - with my friends there a close second. That place I brought you to at 3am, man I've been waiting for a few years already to go back there. Glad we made the trip.

The food was great....want to go back so much!

Quoting Ryanair!!! (Reply 23): Despite it being a white elephant, I still think KLIA is one of the world's most beautiful. Did you know they are building a third runway? Hahahah yes they are... So the empty traffic will be spread out even more. There is a gigantic LCC terminal being build so instead of constructing it within the confines of an already large airport area, they've decided to clear out some more land outside. How awesome is that? Nah... All jokes aside, all these increases in traffic volume is largely due to Air Asia. I'm sure they'll fit right into the large LCC terminal.

I don't know what some of these people are thinking. Wasn't KLIA originally deisnged to have another 3 satellite buidlings?

Hello Gabriel


Seems like I missed this one, thanks for sharing this report as well. KUL looks great!
It looks like the MH 333s have been refurbished recently. The new seating looks to be very comfortable in both classes.
Service looks to be very nice and professional, need to fly them one day.

Greetings
Marc

Really enjoyed reading your TR, Gabriel.

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 2): Bit unfair that Bangladeshis can’t import booze. The friends I met in Dhaka were all desperate for me to bring some in for them.

Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 19): - Odd they can't even bring in a bottle yet can bring in a plasma TV!

It's the same in Brunei. In these cases, the government knows best, and so since most of you are Muslims, why does the need to import alcohol even arise, eh?

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 2): I went with the chicken…tasty meal it was too (save for the rather odd “appetiser”).

In this age of overzealous cost cutting, I found it interesting that they gave such a large bar of Toblerone, when there's a smaller size available! Did the Indian-style flat bread really need butter?

Quoting themit9 (Reply 3): Welcome to the land of DC10s!

Ah, glad to see they're still alive and kicking somewhere!

Quoting themit9 (Reply 3): Throughout the flight, all announcements were done in Malay then English. Given the passengers makeup, I’m sure they could have skipped the Malay (are they allowed/empowered to do this?),

Never failed to hear them say it in Malay. I guess it's got to do with nationalistic linguistic "pride". On this note, Air Canada also does their announcements in English and French, even if there may not be many French-speaking pax on routes like YVR-HKG.

Quoting themit9 (Reply 3): Thanks for your report, I will be flying on MH in C next week- MEL to HKG. The first sector is in the A333

MEL-KUL used to be 744 territory for MH; later it shrunk to 772; and now, we have arrived at twice daily A333! It sure is a bad trend here....... what next? 738?

Quoting MSS658 (Reply 25): Seems like I missed this one, thanks for sharing this report as well

Glad you liked it!

Quoting MSS658 (Reply 25): It looks like the MH 333s have been refurbished recently. The new seating looks to be very comfortable in both classes.

Not refurbished, brand new!

Quoting MSS658 (Reply 25): Service looks to be very nice and professional, need to fly them one day.

You do

Quoting 777MAS (Reply 26): Really enjoyed reading your TR, Gabriel.

Thanks 777MAS!

Quoting 777MAS (Reply 26): It's the same in Brunei. In these cases, the government knows best, and so since most of you are Muslims, why does the need to import alcohol even arise, eh?

Because not all Muslims like staying stone cold sober! Surely it's the people's right to choose to obey whatever religon they were born into. I've certainly discouted and ignored mine for the most part.

Quoting 777MAS (Reply 26): In this age of overzealous cost cutting, I found it interesting that they gave such a large bar of Toblerone, when there's a smaller size available!

It wasn't that big! Maybe they get a good discount on those size bars?!

Quoting 777MAS (Reply 26): Did the Indian-style flat bread really need butter?

No

Great report Gabriel! On to part 8!

MH also went beyond my expactions last year as well. Choice of hot meals on a 1.30 blocked flight from HKT to KUL. Very friendly crews as well.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): KL is in town. I think this one continues to DPS?

Nope, CGK. The DPS tag-on is from SIN  

Quoting roberts87 (Reply 28): Great report Gabriel!

Thanks Robert!

Quoting roberts87 (Reply 28): MH also went beyond my expactions last year as well. Choice of hot meals on a 1.30 blocked flight from HKT to KUL. Very friendly crews as well.

You just can't beat the Far East for their excellent catering!

Quoting roberts87 (Reply 28): Nope, CGK. The DPS tag-on is from SIN

Duly noted!

Hello Gabriel!

Great report as usual, and I'm glad to hear you were impressed by MH. A shame we don't see them at ARN anymore.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Lots of tasty food to be had in Malaysia. Street food at 3am:

Can't beat Asia when it comes to street food! Looks good, the dish in the middle reminds me of something I ate in Singapore.

Martin

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 30): Great report as usual

Thanks Martin

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 30): A shame we don't see them at ARN anymore.

yeah, shame they droped the route. TG seems to be able to make Scandinavia work very well, wonder why MH can't.

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 30): Can't beat Asia when it comes to street food! Looks good, the dish in the middle reminds me of something I ate in Singapore.

Mmm, it's so tasty! The middle is kuey tiao noodles. Yum!