Malaysia Airlines Business Class review: Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok

This was my first time flying with Malaysia Airlines and indeed my first visit to Kuala Lumpur. I came away genuinely impressed.

The airline feels professional, the aircraft were exceptionally clean and the service was consistently good throughout the journey. In fact, Malaysia Airlines is one of the cleanest airlines I can remember flying with in recent years. The flights were smooth, the crew were attentive and the overall experience exceeded my expectations.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

A taxi from central Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Lumpur International Airport takes around an hour and costs approximately 90 Malaysian Ringgit using Grab, including tolls. The distance from the city is something to factor into any trip, as it adds considerably to the overall journey time. Like most travellers, I prefer airports that are closer to the city centre, although this is a common issue with major cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, London and Bangkok.

One of the biggest advantages of travelling in business class is the dedicated check-in facility. Malaysia Airlines operates a separate business class check-in area away from the main international departure counters. While economy queues can be lengthy during busy periods, the premium check-in area was almost empty.

The priority immigration lane is also a useful benefit. It is separate from the main queue and helps speed up the departure process. Kuala Lumpur Airport has also introduced automated passport gates for eligible nationalities, although the system can be confusing for first-time visitors.

One unusual aspect of Kuala Lumpur Airport is that security screening takes place at the departure gate rather than immediately after immigration. This can be surprising if you're unfamiliar with the airport, as passengers proceed directly from immigration into the departure area and lounges before any security checks take place.

Lounge Experience

The lounge itself is functional and offers a good selection of food and drinks, but it is beginning to show its age. The reception area appears to have been renovated recently, however the main lounge spaces feel somewhat dated.

This is perhaps reflective of the wider airport. Kuala Lumpur International Airport was designed in the early 1990s, with construction beginning in 1993. While modern upgrades have been added over the years, certain areas now feel overdue for refurbishment.

The gate security process can also become somewhat chaotic during busy periods due to the lack of a clearly defined queuing system.

Overall, I felt that the airport experience did not quite match the standard of the airline itself.

Onboard Experience

The flight was operated by a Boeing 737 and the business class cabin was arranged in a 2-2 configuration across three rows.

The seats may look relatively simple compared with some of the latest premium products, but they are significantly more spacious than economy. Seat width is approximately 53cm with 107cm of pitch, compared with economy seating at around 43cm wide and 73cm of pitch in a tighter 3-3 configuration.

The seats are finished in synthetic leather rather than fabric upholstery, which helps them feel cleaner and cooler during the flight.

The additional space was immediately noticeable and made the journey considerably more comfortable. Combined with attentive cabin crew, welcome drinks and meal service, the experience felt premium without being excessive.

Malaysia Airlines may not provide the same level of luxury as carriers such as Emirates, but for a short-haul flight within Southeast Asia, the service was more than adequate.

Booking, Cost and Flying Blue Points

For the outbound flight from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, I redeemed KLM Flying Blue miles for an economy ticket. The redemption cost was 7,000 Flying Blue miles plus US$36 in taxes and fees.

The equivalent cash fare was approximately 5,500 Thai Baht, 680 Malaysian Ringgit or US$167. Based on these figures, the redemption delivered a value of around 1.87 US cents per Flying Blue mile, which represents a solid use of points.

For the return flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, I purchased a business class ticket with cash. The fare was 11,665 Thai Baht, 1,425 Malaysian Ringgit or approximately US$355.

In other words, business class cost roughly twice the price of economy on this route.

Miles Earned

The business class ticket was booked through Trip.com, and I added my Flying Blue frequent flyer number to the reservation.

The flight credited successfully and earned 948 Flying Blue miles, equivalent to 125% of the route distance. However, no XP status points were awarded.

This is because Malaysia Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance rather than SkyTeam. While Flying Blue will credit redeemable miles from eligible Malaysia Airlines flights, it does not award XP towards Flying Blue status.

This is worth considering if you're actively working towards Flying Blue Silver, Gold or Platinum status.

Verdict

So, was business class worth it?

For me, yes.

The dedicated check-in area, priority immigration lane, lounge access, larger seat and improved onboard service combine to create a noticeably better travel experience than economy.

On a short route such as Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, it is difficult to deliver the full long-haul business class experience. In many ways, it feels more like a premium economy-plus product than traditional international business class. However, because the flight is relatively short, the jump in price from economy to business class is also much smaller than on long-haul routes.

Malaysia Airlines also represents excellent value. Economy fares are often only slightly more expensive than low-cost carriers, while business class fares can be significantly cheaper than competing full-service airlines on the same route. On my travel dates, Malaysia Airlines business class was between 3,000 and 6,000 Thai Baht cheaper than comparable fares offered by Thai Airways.

Would I return to Kuala Lumpur? Absolutely.

Would I fly Malaysia Airlines again? Definitely.

And would I pay extra for business class on this route? Yes, I would.

Malaysia Airlines exceeded my expectations and delivered a level of service and value that is increasingly difficult to find in modern air travel.

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