Lim Kar Yong

New Biz class amenity kit, refreshed cabin and wifi on A330 too. The new amenity kits look great, and I wonder how the "renewed soft furnishings" would look like. Good to now there are more improvements. https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/news-article/2019/malaysia-airlines-launches-refreshed-cabin-in-flight-offerings.html

I can imagine the confusion for check in - domestic at one end and international at the other. I like the B and C rows and there is always a choice which row to go to when one row has a longer queue. I thought occupying B, C for economy and D for premium passengers make better sense as one see the presence of MH in one section of the airport. If there is a need to move, I was thinking maybe retaining C might be better (C, D, and H) rather than having B, D and H. Is Row H any closer to the international departure? Just wondering the reason/logic behind the move.

Last night, I was trying to do online check in for my flight on A330 from Melbourne to KL, and noticed that rows 9 and 10 are now payable even during online check in, likewise the bulkhead rows as well. Just last week, I was still able to select these seats during online check in without paying extra for my flight to MEL, and now, it costs me RM280 for one of seats in rows 9 and 10. One way to earn extra revenue! I wonder if I would have to pay if I request for these seats at the counter. Will find out later.

I wonder how the final price would be if credit/debit card/online banking charges were to be included. Air Asia imposes different charges for different modes of payment. Do they need to include the highest charges in the final ticket price on display, then give a discount if one uses online banking payment which attracts lower charges?

See the link to the screenshot: https://500px.com/photo/302586323/mh-by-kar-lim

I did a booking on Lite fare to Pen - it shows that there is no check in luggage, but it does include snacks and drinks https://500px.com/photo/302586323/mh-by-kar-lim To be honest, at RM90 one way without check in luggage, I think I won't complain. Even if I go for the Basic fare with RM48 extra, it is still less than RM140 one way. For my monthly trips to Penang last year, I used to buy cheapest fare for about RM130-RM180 one way. So it does seem the Lite fare is cheaper now.

Yes, it is updated on their website: https://mhcare.malaysiaairlines.com/faq/s/article/How-much-is-my-free-baggage-allowance?language=en_US For Lite fare, no more free 5kg, 10kg and 15kg for elite members as posted earlier

MH updated the baggage allowance here for elite status: https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/enrich/news-promotions/revision-economy-class-free-baggage-allowance/revision_economy_class_free_baggage_allowance.html?cid=PDM85519&bid=1291446414 So for Lite fare, elite status customers are still entitled to check in luggage it seems: silver: 5kg gold: 10kg platinum: 15kg. 5kg free check in baggage allowance? seriously? It is a bit of a joke, right. True. I don't even take the peanuts and orange juice offered for domestic flights in Peninsular. But I would appreciate a meal for flights to East Malaysia, and I would always order a meal whenever I take AK flights to East Malaysia, especially if the flights are early morning or around meal times.

So bottom line: international flights see a reduction of free baggage allowance on economy class to 20kg, depending on fares. I think most airlines do this now, I recall SQ also offers something similar - please correct me if I am wrong. domestic flights see the elimination of free baggage allowance for the cheapest fare. If it is a day or overnight trip, I think I would not mind this since I would not be checking in any baggage. But it affects those who are on longer trips/holidays, hence advanced planning might be required what fare to purchase or if additional baggage allowance might be needed for domestic lite fare, it seems those with elite status have no added advantage with additional baggage allowance, except for priority boarding. Summary, MH is moving ahead with what many Europeans and American carriers are doing. Next - meals/drinks to be purchased for domestic flights?

Looks like this is for domestic flights only. I tried doing a dummy booking for international flights, luggage is still included. However economy basic luggage is now reduced to 25kg.

I think Air New Zealand has something like this - may not be meal selection during meal times. But in between meals and if you want a drink or snack, just touch, touch, touch on the screen, and select what you want from the menu, and it will be delivered to your seats.

It strikes Malaysia Airlines too on codeshare flights on Emirates to Dubai - only that MH cancelled the ticket and offer refund and free Y class ticket: https://loyaltylobby.com/2019/01/14/reader-question-cancelled-emirates-first-class-error-fare-ex-kuala-lumpur-issued-by-malaysia-airlines-compensation-offered/?omhide=true

BigPay is only free at the moment. Under the T&C, there is a list of charges which are waived for the moment. Who knows when TF will decide to charge. Worse, if you don't use your card in a calendar month, there is a fee to be paid, which is waived for know. Verdict: Useless prepaid card.

Only once I had a full refund because Air Asia changed the flight time and I decided to opt for refund. In another time, I did not board the flight and I did not get any refund for airport tax despite me submitting a claim for it.

Finally Perth is getting A332!

MH official statement on the BS: https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/news-article/2018/malaysia-airlines-business-suite-launch.html It states that from 12 Dec, the BS is available, but I tried to do a dummy booking for a flight to London in January, I still see First Flex pricing being offered. And I wonder how would those who have purchased first class tickets would have felt. Anyway, hope that all goes well.

When I read MH BS - something else comes to mind ...

Agreed. Apart from the noise level, the typical seating arrangement of 2-4-2 in A330 suits me well as I am an oversized person (and can't afford to sit in the front cabin). The 787 3-3-3 seating is too cramped for me and I pity the person next to me as I would have encroached into his/her space. The typical 3-4-3 seating in 777 doesn't help either as most airlines now offer this configuration, except SQ (and who else?) that still offers 3-3-3.

No wonder I could not book any flights to Singapore on FY yesterday. Hope they resume flights to Seletar soon

Not sure if this is also due to language command and overall attitude, or typical way Malaysians speak. In a recent flight a few weeks ago, a cabin crew told two guys sitting next to me to remove their phones from the seat charger. She just said, "Guys, pull that out from the charger." You just don't address your customers as "guys" - a bit too casual for me. One crew, after requesting for water, addressed me, "boss, your water" Yet on other flights, I had outstanding crew who were extremely cheerful and polite. Yeah -you are right. Inconsistency is what MH is known for. I could have the same medium haul flight with pillows and yet some without pillows.

I just survived the flight KUL-PER return last week. It was pretty OK for the seat pitch with the passenger in front of me reclining (and I am an oversized person) and, yes, agreed that the only horrible thing is the toilet queue. I think MH has improved the catering and I had decent meals on both flights (Nasi goreng with satay for outbound and Nasi lemak with rendang chicken plus half a hard boiled egg for return - certainly not telanjang). Cabin service was so so - crew disappeared after meals. Again, with the price that I paid for, I didn't expect anything else - just get me to my destination safely and on time - and both flights landed 15-20min ahead of schedule. I was a happy customer.

Saw a note to say that if it is international flights to domestic and vv will not be affected - the 30kg allowance remains.

I wonder how many pax actually max out the domestic flight luggage allowance for flights within Peninsular Malaysia - perhaps those greatly affected by this new ruling would be KUL-East Malaysian flights.

MH service is rather inconsistent ... on some flights I really had great service, and the crew were really nice. Some flights, they were just almost non existence -they just greet you when you board, do the meals in a rush manner, then say goodbye after you land. On one flight to London last year, I noticed that they served a snack box to pax up to a few rows in front of me, then they disappeared, and didn't serve the rest. I had to ask them for it later on in the flight, and I was given two boxes!