Malaysia Airlines' pushes back Golden Lounges re-opening to March

By David Flynn, February 21 2018
Malaysia Airlines' pushes back Golden Lounges re-opening to March

Malaysia Airlines has once again delayed the debut of its flagship first class and business class Golden Lounges at Kuala Lumpur.

The Oneworld member last week published an opening date of February 20 for both lounges, which have been closed for a major make-over since October 2017.

However, that date came and went with the hoardings still in place.

A spokesman for Malaysia Airlines has today advised Australian Business Traveller that "the customer experience team have confirmed soft reopening to occur March 2," which will be followed by  an official ribbon-cutting event on March 12.

PREVIOUS | Malaysia Airlines will open its new-look Golden Lounge at Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday February 20.

Located in the airport's satellite terminal, which is used for international flights, the revamped Golden Lounge will contain two wings.

The Platinum Lounge – also known as KLIA Satellite Platinum – is the exclusive domain of first class passengers on Malaysia Airlines and other Oneworld carriers flying out of Kuala Lumpur, such as British Airways flight BA33, along with Oneworld Emerald-grade frequent flyers.

That list includes Malaysia Airlines' Enrich Platinum, Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum, BA Executive Club Gold and Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club Diamond members.

The Platinum Lounge will include "a fine dining area offering a selection of local and continental food" plus an open kitchen and Laksa Bar...

... serving up four versions of the spicy Malaysian noodle dish, which will be rotated on a weekly basis.

Other features of the former first class lounge making a return to the refreshed space include showers, a cigar room, and a 'slumber room' where passengers can grab some shut-eye during long stopovers.

The larger Business Lounge will cater for business class travellers and Oneworld Sapphire cardholders such as Malaysia Airlines Enrich Gold, Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club Gold and BA Executive Club Silver.

Here you'll find the usual business class lounge offerings such as a  self-service buffet, business centre and showers, plus a smoking room and even a  "nursery and baby care room."

PREVIOUS | Malaysia Airlines hopes to open its new-look first class and business class Golden Lounges at Kuala Lumpur at the end of February.

Located in the airport's satellite terminal, the flagship lounges have been closed since October 2017 and were originally set for a ribbon-cutting last month.

However, a spokesperson for Malaysia Airlines tells Australian Business Traveller that both lounges are now expected to re-open by February 28 (although we suspect nobody will hold it against them if that slips another few days into early March).

The first class and business class Golden Lounges will boast a similar style as the recently-revamped domestic and regional lounges in KLIA's main terminal and showcase a rich 'Malaysian heritage' palette.

A focal point for the new lounges will be an open 'demonstration kitchen' where chefs will whip up Malaysian and international gourmet dishes for travellers; a “bistro service” in the business class lounge and upscale "fine dining experience" in the neighbouring first class lounge; and traveller-friendly amenities such as faster WiFi and plenty of AC and USB outlets.

 

 

 
David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles

08 Jun 2014

Total posts 262

Wireless charging too? =)

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

19 Jan 2018

Total posts 88

Good to see MA Berhad (formerly MAS Berhad) finally getting their act together with this. I was last in the old KL lounge about 2 years ago and even then it was very tired and in need of refurbishment.


It is an airline I would dearly like to succeed. I suspect, however, that their product in J hasn’t really kept up with recent developments during their last few years of rebuilding.

Visited the new regional MH lounge in KL last week and found it to be excellent. Noodle bar, cocktail bar and general ambiance is great. New first lounge long overdue but will surely be excellent based on what they have done with the regional lounge.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

10 May 2017

Total posts 4

I have used the "old lounge" last year and agree it was very tired with a long walk to the bar to get a drink. Recently used the Domestic lounge which was the offering while the refurbishment was taking place and it was very crowded. The best thing they could also fix is the signage which in both terminals is very confusing. I really enjoy flying with MAS as they are super competitive on price in international business class

CX

05 Jun 2012

Total posts 127

"Recently used the Domestic lounge which was the offering while the refurbishment was taking place"


I doubt it, as the Domestic lounge is in a different terminal again and separated (unsurprisingly) by customs and immigration controls. I think you meant the Regional lounge in the "Main" Terminal, which is freely accessible from the Satellite Terminal by aerotrain.

Regret, while the old, tired and dirty J class Lounge may have been revamped, the constant confusion of flight and

aircraft changes and now the safety aspect ( a la Alice Springs) have turne us off what was once our favourite airline.

Qatar Airways

06 Jul 2016

Total posts 47

Does anyone know if the Regional J lounge at KUL will continue serving alcohol now the satellite lounges are reopened? Up to my last visit 1 year ago they didn't do grog there. And if they've changed their lounge grog policy, might that mean we'll also get it on flights of less than 4 hours?

@pointyend - there is a dedicated cocktail bar area in the new regional lounge and it is quite smart. Looks like drinks will be continuing.

Qatar Airways

06 Jul 2016

Total posts 47

Thank you for this good news Meridiengroup

27 Jul 2017

Total posts 17

Great! Just booked flights in April on MH.

New fancy Lounges will not make up for old planes, terrible flight times out of Perth and poor food.

Malaysian have lost us having been loyal for nearly 50 years

24 Mar 2016

Total posts 11

Couldn't agree more. As a OW Emerald would love to use them out of PER but they need to get the A330 back, sort the QF status earning out for economy tickets and fly to KUL and back at sensible bloody times. There must be so many people in the same boat it's ridiculous that they lose all this business.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Sep 2013

Total posts 188

Kevin stole my thunder, I don't think I would bother flying at 0205 on an old 737 to enjoy what looks like a nice lounge. We were also once fairly frequent MH fliers, but it's hard to get enthused about them now.

27 Jul 2017

Total posts 17

Hah, that's the exact flight I'm booked on. Oh well, it was significantly cheaper than anyone else.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

18 Oct 2012

Total posts 132

Unfortunately i also agree with the more negative comments on this forum. I, too was a loyal j class customer for many years, however confidence and perceptions is everything to a regular user and to the success of an airline. A new fleet and a knowledge on flight training and aircraft engineering would go a long way . I,m not sure a brand new lounge will. I didn't think their last one was that bad.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

02 Jul 2011

Total posts 1374

Well that delay is embarrassing

21 Feb 2018

Total posts 1

Here is what really happened:


The CEO inspected the new lounge the day before opening and found certain things not in place. He decided not to reopen it until it is fully equipped.

MH's corporate communication did not follow through with the media outlets covering this story to advise their readers on the delay.

Another major screw up by Malaysia Airlines corporate communications team. Where are the old guards gone who made MH one of the premier airlines in the past!

MarkJohnSon Banned
MarkJohnSon Banned

19 Jan 2018

Total posts 87

What an absolute shambles by the team over at Malaysia Airlines Berhad. How many times has this lounge opening been delayed now?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

19 Jan 2018

Total posts 88

As David said though Mark, noting that the soft opening is on 2 March, one would blame them for pushing it back a few days into March.

02 Mar 2018

Total posts 1

Are you sure? Flew from kul to melb on feb 28 and the lounge was fully accessible.

CX

05 Jun 2012

Total posts 127

I am in the lounge now (2 March). I have checked with the staff who said the first day was yesterday - 1 March. This is a soft opening, the formal launch will be later. I'm in transit so don't know what passengers checking in at KUL are being told but the lounges (F and J) are quite quiet. Perhaps passengers are still being directed to different lounges.


The J lounge has had a major makeover, with own cooking stations and a variety of seating. The part with the brightly painted bentwood chairs is unsurprisingly deserted - another triumph by an idealistic designer who is clearly never going to use the lounge and can't see that someone wanting to relax before a flight is unlikely to think "gosh, a brightly lit, garish area with uncomfortable seats - YES!!".

The F lounge is depressingly familiar. The layout for the main part of the lounge is basically the same, with new chairs and carpets, and the addition of a few screen partitions. Why this took four months is a mystery - I could have done it in four days. The substantive changes are that the smoking room has been turned into a true first class lounge (ie F passengers only), and the area where the toilets and showers used to be is now a nap area with loungers. The toilets and showers are now located behind the reception area between F and J.

Overall it is an improvement, but IMHO it's not going to win any prizes.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum

09 Jun 2011

Total posts 64

I have to agree with Ian_from_HKG, I made a quick detour in between flights on the 03/03/18, the biggest change is in the J lounge. The F lounge apart from the Nap area and much needed new bathrooms is same layout (some of the old furniture still greets you as you enter), the buffet was even the same range on display in the regional J lounge. I was a little disappointed after all this time in the F lounge outcome, although any refresh to this space is positive.


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