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I had just landed after my second favorite flight ever at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
See Trip Report: Paris to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia Airlines First Class on an A380.
It was 6:30 AM, and I was tired, hungry, and in need of a shower. Kuala Lumpur was my final destination, but I didn’t want to try to secure a check in at 8 AM at my hotel, so I looked for an arrival lounge.
How was the Malaysia Airlines Satellite Golden Lounge? How were the showers? How was the food? How can you use an arrival lounge to your advantage?
I followed signs for a Malaysia Airlines lounge and found my way to the Malaysia Airlines Satellite Golden Lounge.
I presented my boarding pass from my just-arrived flight, and I was admitted.
The Satellite Lounge is divided into several sections with First Class passengers having access to the Platinum Lounge section.
When I arrived at the lounge, it was mainly empty with only a few attendants. I headed straight to the washroom in the back for a shower. Before reaching the washroom door, I passed an unattended Housekeeping area where kits with a towel and toiletries were laid out.
I grabbed the first shower stall I found, which was plenty spacious for a shower, a shave, and a changing of clothes.
After refreshing myself, I headed back into the lounge to see what food was on offer. The first thing I saw was the Haagen-Dazs display, but 7 AM isn’t ice cream time for me.
The food spread was impressive for 7 AM. There were scrambled eggs, sausages, and hash browns, which I think of as breakfast food.
And there was also a chicken curry and rice, which was nice since my body clock was on midnight.
Besides the hot foods, there were sandwiches, v
I loaded up my plate with the chicken curry, rice, tomatoes, and hash browns.
I grabbed a seat at one of the dining tables, and an attendant quickly took my drink order.
I polished off several plates of food. The chicken curry was one of the absolute best meals I ate in my two weeks in Southeast Asia. That should hardly have been surprising since I enjoyed the food onboard Malaysia Airlines so much also.
After my dinner for breakfast, I grabbed a seat in a chair overlooking some Malaysia Airlines planes at their gates and answered email for a few hours before taking a train to the city.
When I finally got to my hotel at 10 AM, early check in was no problem. And I had a great stay at the under-categorized DoubleTree in Kuala Lumpur.
This was my first trip to an arrival lounge. Most of the time I don’t want or need one, but landing in Kuala Lumpur, all I wanted was a meal, a shower, and some internet to pass the time. The Malaysia Airlines lounge delivered that and delivered it very well.
Do you take advantage of arrival lounges when offered?
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My wife and I are traveling LAX-SYD in March of 2014 on Virgin Australia. Our arrival is early in the morning as well. Does SYD have arrival lounges like the one you visited above?
My wife and I are traveling LAX-SYD in March of 2014 on Virgin Australia. Our arrival is early in the morning as well. Does SYD have arrival lounges like the one you visited above?
Is this an arrival lounge (landside) or were you just using the airside departures terminal lounge on your arrival? If it’s an airside lounge, how did you access this from your arriving international flight?
Airside, by showing my arriving boarding pass.
Is this an arrival lounge (landside) or were you just using the airside departures terminal lounge on your arrival? If it’s an airside lounge, how did you access this from your arriving international flight?
Airside, by showing my arriving boarding pass.
Hi Scott,
Good to see more post regarding M’sia related travel as I was born there and often travel back there every once a while. Are you settling in K.L for now ^^?
Also are you using AA miles for most of the travel?
I spent a week in Malaysia about two months ago. It was a great trip. Click on the link to the flight trip report to see the miles used.
Hi Scott,
Good to see more post regarding M’sia related travel as I was born there and often travel back there every once a while. Are you settling in K.L for now ^^?
Also are you using AA miles for most of the travel?
I spent a week in Malaysia about two months ago. It was a great trip. Click on the link to the flight trip report to see the miles used.
what’s the best way to figure out whether or not an airport has an arrival lounge?
Google “arrival lounge [airport code]” without quotation marks.
what’s the best way to figure out whether or not an airport has an arrival lounge?
Google “arrival lounge [airport code]” without quotation marks.
Great report. Were you travelling with luggage? I may be flying in to KUL in a few months’ time, and it would be useful to grab a shower in the lounge before heading to the city. However I don’t like the idea of my luggage going round and round the baggage claim carousel whilst I’m in the shower. Are there any kind of special arrangements for this?
I was not traveling with luggage.
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