Malaysia Airlines

[sunja]

Has anyone flown with them recently? We've had very mixed reviews so would like to hear some recent experience if possible.

TIA

I'd be keen to hear too. Flying to NZ with them at Christmas but recent reviews are rather worrying...

Bump

Anyone?

We flew LHR-KUL return last month with them, what did you want to know?

@TheElementsSong thank you.

We fly to Bali with them shortly and I was wondering if everything was running smoothly? Cancellations/delays/baggage issues etc?

Thanks again

Heathrow airport T4 departures was generally terrible (slow bag drop queue, hours for the security queue), but that's not the fault of the airlines. I don't know if it's improved since.

The flights themselves were perfectly fine. In both directions, departed and arrived on time (in fact landed a bit early both times). All our baggage made it.

On board service was friendly and attentive, the food was pretty tasty (although, I always choose the Asian option, so I don't know whether the "Western" meals are as good). The seat width and pitch are comfortable for me (but obviously this depends on individual size/height). I've seen people saying that the in-flight entertainment options are less good than other Asian/Middle-Eastern airlines, but I had enough films to entertain me in between naps so no complaints there. Air quality and cabin pressure seem better than I recall from long-haul flights before COVID, maybe it's my imagination or maybe all airlines have improved their cabin air-handling.

We also had two short domestic flights with them. One got cancelled, we were offered an alternative flight but chose to make a road-trip instead. The second flight was again perfectly fine - on time, good friendly service.

@TheElementsSong thank you! That's really put my mind at rest. Our flight is at 11 so thinking to get there for maybe 6? Hopefully that should be OK with the delays.

Really looking forward to it now!

Havent flown Malaysian since it had that ‘unlucky’ spell a few years ago but have taken a few long haul flights from LHR in the past few months & 6 seems too early to get there for an 11 am flight. You won’t be able to check in that early & will just be standing around. 8am would be fine.

I think if I recall correctly at LHR they opened the check-in/bag drop counter 4 hours before departure, can't recall exactly, it was very slow-moving took us around an hour maybe.

The slowest part was the security queue - in fact the queue was in multiple parts, so we had a queue for the queue for the queue for the security queue. That took another 2 hours or more. We only had time for a quick snack and drink before going to the gate.

So I'd say that 5 hours before the flight is pointlessly early if the counter isn't open, but 3 hours might be cutting it fine. Of course, things could have improved at LHR by the time you fly, we were travelling in early July.

(Short version - the flights were fine, the airport was not )

Thank you! We will get there for 7 then and hope for the best. One of my favourite parts of going to the airport is my sit down brunch! Seems like that won't be happening this time @TheElementsSong 😂

@sunja I'd be really interested in how you found your experience if you wouldn't mind updating. We're flying in December and I'm scaringyself silly with the terrible reviews. And T4 sounds shambolic!!