My Malindo Air Flight From Bangkok To KL
It’s no secret that I am a ‘ fan’ of Malindo Air, for keeping AirAsia on their toes. There are lots of things to like about them … so much so, that I choose to tolerate their shortfalls.
This recent flight marks my third or fourth time flying with them, and it’s for Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur route. Fasten your seat belt and read on …..
What I Like
The plane from KL, arrived in Don Mueang International Airport 35 minutes before scheduled departure time. I thought this is fantastic, with ample cleaning time, for passengers to board.
During boarding, they called for business class passengers first. Thereafter, passengers seated at back rows were called to board first. Front row passengers were called last. This, I like, and it makes boarding so much smoother, versus AirAsia. I feel that Malindo Air care about experience, more than AirAsia …
I like their color choice of brown and red, and the ample legroom is definitely appreciated.
Refreshment provided is definitely a good value. They have also upgraded the snacks provided, since the last time I flew with them from KL to Bangkok in Aug 2015. They do provide coffee, but I didn’t get to try it (again .. referring to my KK-KUL flight in June 2016). Flight attendant was apologetic, that she couldn’t serve the coffee I ordered. Believe it or not, the seat belt sign was switched on, not long after I ordered my cuppa of coffee.
USB port for charging gadget is included .. can’t use this during take off and landing yo, do note.
Who says that budget airlines’ flight attendant cannot look decent, or pleasantly groomed? It makes the flying experience more pleasant, no?
For shopperholics … rejoice! Free baggage check-in allowance is now 30 kg for international destinations, versus 20 kg previously. If you have lots of things to check-in, Malindo Air might be cheaper, versus AirAsia plus check-in baggage add-on.
Last but not least, no credit card processing fee levied!
What I Don’t Like
I’ve never managed to use their web check-in facility. It fails, EVERY single time. The consolation is the selected seat (Row 5C) I did online, was still assigned to me at check-in counter.
I had no choice but to go through the check-in process at Don Mueang International airport. It was a short queue alright, but staff who attended to me was incompetent, oops sorry for being blunt. She looks like she has yet to wake up properly. Not only that she took forver attending to the passengers before me, she (accidentally) kept my immigration card after checking me in. For whatever reason, I checked my passport after walking away … and went back to collect the very-important immigration card. If you are not familiar with Don Mueang International Airport, no immigration card is available at immigration clearance area.
The flight was delayed more than half an hour, which I suspected due to airport congestion at Don Mueang Airport. But, no apologies nor reasons were given to the passengers .. which I expected from pilot announcement.
I came prepared with my headphone for the inflight entertainment system. The system didn’t work throughout the journey.
Landing at KLIA (instead of AirAsia at KLIA2) has its merits … but this of course comes with higher airport tax RM 65, versus KLIA2 RM 32 for international destinations. But, it is a ‘superior’ airport than KLIA2 in many ways.
For my previous experiences flying with Malindo Air and Thai Lion Air, read here and here.
