Changing at Kuala Lumpar

[NellieEllie]

Hi, my daughter is going to volunteer on a sun bears sanctuary in Sandakan, Borneo. After being told “not to book flights yet” she’s been told this morning to book them now. She is travelling next week, so all is panic stations.
She will need to change at Kuala Lumpur and the only flight has a 3 hr stay over.
Does anyone know if this is long enough?
I understand that she may have to collect luggage and check it in at KL and this can be v time consuming.
If she travels with Malaysian Airways though, will they transfer it for her, so then she will need less time?
Also, does anyone know if connecting flight will be in same terminal or in terminal 2. She is very young and has not travelled alone before so any info would be welcome. We thought the volunteer company were going to arrange it all.
Any info on KL airport & above points much appreciated!

3 hours is perfect! It’s enough to allow for minor delays, but not too much that she’ll be having to kill loads of time.

If its all the same airline they should check baggage through and then 3 hours is plenty (although the shops are great haha). Fastest I have done it is in 1 hour. My bag made it on the next flight ... (hours later so no huge delay).

Agree great shops at KL!

When we went to Sandakan it was a different terminal into KL to out - we stayed overnight but 3 hours should be OK. We did different airlines and not connected so took luggage on and off but connected luggage should transfer but give the final destination when she checks in and check with them. I would also take a couple of days clothing in hand luggage, there's normally not an issue but covers you if there is. I found watching videos on the airport helpful things like this one. Our second flight was air asia and it was pretty much do everything yourself re check in. The sun bear sanctuary is a wonderful place.

I did Heathrow - KL - KK with Malaysian when I went to Borneo a couple of years ago. I was fine with an 2hr layover, even though the transfer train wasn’t working then so I had to get a bus as the gates were a long way apart in separate buildings. I just looked and the train is working again now so she’ll be absolutely fine with 3hrs!

Terminal 1 has a main and a satellite building. The flights may be in different buildings but not different terminals... Malaysian don’t use T2, the budget airlines do. So if you book with a budget carrier for the last leg you’d need to check the terminal first but if it’s Malaysian you’ll be fine.

Malaysian checked luggage through the whole way so didn’t need to collect/re-check it.

On the way back (all Malaysia Airlines again) my gates were close together in same building and it was super easy. The main terminal is nice with plenty of places to kill the time. Enjoyed the flight too!

Borneo and the sun bears are amazing - I’m sure she’ll have the best time!

It’s a while since I was there but it’s a modern airport with good facilities. 3h should be fine- a through ticket should mean that she doesn’t have to collect baggage

she will need to queue for immigration though. That could take an hour

Make sure it’s Malaysia airways all the way to keep it as straightforward as possible

Agree with @Clearinguptheclutterbook
Malaysia all the way as it’ll then be classed as a connecting flight and they’ll sort luggage etc out. She’ll have the most amazing time!

We travelled with Malaysian (both legs) and luggage was checked through to Borneo. We only had 70 minutes in KL and missed our connection (as we left London late) but they just put us on next flight.

One of our suitcases didn't make it onto connecting flight (last of the day) but arrived on first flight following morning so I agree with having overnight stuff/change of clothes in hand luggage.

When I phoned Malaysian airlines, they said she wouldn’t have to go through immigration - as she’s in transit, she just goes to the next gate? I didn’t really understand this as she’ll be in “arrivals” & then have to go to “departures” therefore through immigration?

There will be route marked "transfers" which and will take you from arrivals to departures without going through immigration. Its always very clearly marked. Three is hours is the perfect stopover time.

Thank you everyone for this information. It has been really useful. My daughter has only travelled long haul before on school trips & with us, so it’s her first time negotiating transfers & airports herself. I think though I am more anxious than she is! But she’s really appreciated the info about KL & the transfer. Thanks!

We've just flown back from KL. It's a great airport. Three hours will be more than enough.

One thing she can do to speed things up is to fill out an electronic landing card a day or two before travelling at https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. We did that and as a result we were able to just walk up to an e-gate and enter when we landed at KL. It took less than one minute - no photo, no fingerprints, we were amazed. If you don't do it online before getting on the plane then you have to fill in a paper form and go past an officer.

Incidentally, although it's an internal flight to Borneo, she might have to go through passport control again there. The regions of Malaysia that are on Borneo have a special legal status, including the right to restrict freedom of movement of Malaysians from the peninsula, so everyone needs a passport to go there. Nothing to worry about, but it's a bit weird when it happens on an internal flight.

She will stay airside, with no need to go through immigration. She'll arrive into one gate and then simply walk (or get the train) to the other gate.
Get the 'arrivals and departures' thing out of your head. There's no such thing when you're in transit. As a pp said, she will just need to follow the transit signs.

KL is a great airport, and very efficient. Three hours will be fine, especially if she gets a through ticket with Malaysian Airlines.

I did have to go through immigration at KL on a transfer to Borneo. Even though I was in ‘transit’. But it was straightforward as it was a queue just for people going straight to Borneo, so not busy and nothing to worry about. Left plane, saw my gate for connection and as I walked there I had to go through a check and get a stamp. My Malaysia and Sabah stamp were both done in KL.