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Robert

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Posts posted by Robert

  1. Posted · Report reply

    20 minutes ago, JuliusWong said:

    Ahhh, the cats are now out of the bag. I can see them placing an order for 25 B737MAX-10 (they don't need them urgently, can wait for Boeing to get it certified) and another 15 A330-900neo, keep another 5 options. As for the three A350-900s, I am as lost as you. All pre-used A350s have all been taken up, unless there are some current operator which is not renewing lease.

    If they go for the max 10 then I wonder if they will fit a better cabin and use them on longer routes?

  2. Posted · Report reply

    14 minutes ago, jahur said:

    MAG realigning future network, to issue RFP for 25 planes in 2Q24

    Am not sure where he is going to pluck 3 more used a350s out there cause there is currently none only thing i can see is them getting lessor unit directly from airbus which means they will only enter in at best Q1 2027.

    This "senior aviation journalist"  never usually has any breaking news stories or scoops or appears to ask challenging questions. Maybe Im being unfair but having seen their online content its pretty weak.

  3. Posted · Report reply

    18 hours ago, Craig said:

    They can build something inferior. No granite floor tiles, no high ceilings etc. but does not cause any inconvenience to passengers. Having to walk through a shopping center to get to check in desks whilst carrying all your luggage is plain dumb. Passenger flow is just not there. 

    Same. Other than the bus, I don't think T1 is bad. It flows nicely. You only have to go down the escalator once for either domestic or international departures from check in to gate and down the escalator once for international arrivals from gate to meet & greet area. One thing I would say is poorly designed is the C/Satellite concourse. All the airline lounges are on the 2nd level and passengers will have to find the obscure lifts/escalators and take it up a floor (MH's lounge is even worse where you have to do quite a big u-turn). You never really have to walk far for gates at T1. Longest walk is probably G10 to H10 if you are on a transit and that's maybe 1 km?  Even from check-in to C27 is not that bad of a walk. Train station is just below where you exit the sterile area or just before check-in. 

    T1 was designed by a world-renowed architect (Kisho Kurokawa).T2 was designed by well, the same company that brought you Paradigm Mall in Kelana Jaya. Same confusing layout, parking that doesn't work, lifts and escalators that are not conducive to people flow. And the best part is? They will be the one redesigning the re-construction of Subang Airport.

    T2 lounges (IIRC, only they only have PPL in T2) is located in the shopping center itself. Passengers have to lug their bags through the whole complex and check-in, and then go back to the shopping center with slow incline escalators instead of those steps but shorter escalators (there are step escalators but you have to find it and it's not the most easy place to find them). If I read MAHB's report correctly, YTD (Jan-Feb. 2024), T1 handled 4,885k pax where as T2 handled 4,117k pax. But if you are on the ground at the airport, it always feel like T2 is busier and more chaotic. I'd like to think bad design contributes to part of it. T1 whilst busier just looks calmer and more serene.

    Agree with you. 
    T1 doesn't seem to have been built with retail and F&B in mind because the airside unit spaces are generally quite small. If the aero train was working then most of the T1 noise would go.
    Not sure how they can fix T2 without knocking king it down. 
     

  4. Posted · Report reply

    54 minutes ago, kandiah k said:

    Terminal 1 is surely in a mess with incompetent planning and people manning it too. I recently flew back twice from an international flight and there was a 'mini brawl' at the queue to take the bus to the MTB. People were cutting the lines and no proper instructions from the "Ask Me" Staff. Eventually all passenger boarded the bus, albeit a tired set of passengers. It is no wonder they are ranked 71st and keeps slipping away. Jaguh kampung managing and manning it, what else can you expect; and yet, MAHB makes profit year in year out with abysmal services at their main gateway. As for Terminal 2, it is expected to have the least of excellent services yet they meet better standards than that of Terminal 1. Oh well 😂

    Personally I don't think T1 is that bad. Yes the bus can be a pain but other times its not really much if an issue. KLIA seldom uses remote gates but other airports do and I generally dislike a cramped bus ride to a remote stand and then dealing with the stairs.

    My issue with T2 is the general poor design and finishing.
    Walkways are too narrow, compounded by the fitting of travelators 
    Gate waiting areas are too small and narrow
    Ramps to the air bridges are too narrow and just depressing
    Far too much walking with a lot of up and down secretions
    Taxi pick up area is a shambles 
    If you have a trolley you need to queue for a lift to get to the taxi area. The lift is badly signposted
    Walls are full of scuff marks
    Security queues are usually very slow when I travel there
    When you exit there is a ramp. What didn't they build it on teh same level
    Crappy airconditioning 
    Confusing arrival immigration hall
    People sitting/sleeping on the floor before you get arrival immigration
    The list could go on and on. 

    Personally I cannot understand how somebody came up with this design and whichd10t approved it. 

  5. Posted · Report reply

    5 hours ago, Craig said:

    I have used that function during covid as well (granted they were all domestic flights then). I don't recall a huge schedule change or cancelations with MH for my post covid travels with them, so I wouldn't know. My MH experience is usually delays on the day of travel and it's too late to do anything about it. But a travel waiver is a bit different. It allows passengers to rebook themselves if they are flying on these dates, whether or not their flight is canceled/delayed. 

    They would advertise 3 or 4 flights a days and cancel most of them and use a wide body. 

    When you need to commute its a pain when the only flight of the day was at lunchtime or 5pm

  8. Posted · Report reply

    1 minute ago, Craig said:

    Seems like EK still hasn't recovered from their meltdown a few days ago. Pictures of people sleeping on the terminal floor, bags taking forever (if they are ever found/delivered), no communications from EK, poor IT, no weather waiver. There has been a few people complaining about how MH handled this Mt. Ruang situation too. They can't rebook online nor can they cancel online (not too sure if they booked via OTA). MH could learn a few things from American/European carriers by issuing travel waivers due to force majeure and enable their IT to allow passengers rebook themselves (rebook themselves to another day within a window or full refund if their flights are canceled).

    Post covid many flights to/from Singapore were being cancelled. 99% of the time I book via the MH site and in the event of a cancellation you or put on another flight and given the choice of alternative flights.dates. Either the system has an issue or its caused by booking it via an OTA.

    On a side note MH needs to be more competitive against the OTA prices and then more people will book directly.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, KK Lee said:

    Klia was among top 5 a few decades ago, has been regression like our country :(

    I think there are 3 things dragging it down based on conversations with friends and colleagues.
    1. Aerotrain replacement buses 
    2. Immigration queues
    3. Just about everything in KLIA 2

    The latter is a terrible terminal and unless it's made a separate airport it will forever drag down KLIA down the down the rankings. 

  13. Posted · Report reply

    59 minutes ago, Craig said:

    Seems like a few regional flights have been affected due to partial closure around Kota Kinabalu FIR. MH603 to SIN and MH784 to BKK  has been canceled. As a result, MH788 to BKK will be up gauged to 332.

    Wonder why MH603 was cancelled. 

    I was that MH704 to Manila was delayed by 5 hours. Aircraft used had sat on the ground for ages. I thought the route used was farther north of the ash cloud

  14. Posted · Report reply

    3 minutes ago, Craig said:

    That and also this was once in a century storm. Not saying that they shouldn't invest in proper drainage system, but countries do not usually build drainage to handle a year's worth of rain in 24 hours. If KL had 140+mm (5+ inches) in 24 hours, it'd overwhelm our drainage system too but of course it wouldn't be as bad as what Dubai experienced, but good luck to Sri Muda or Puchong.

    Are there still a lot of post-raya demand? I still see MH 7xxx series flying around so I assume there will be some backlog. What does black/blue box on your map indicates? 

    I am curious how many South Africans end up in JHB when they are supposed to buy a ticket to JNB (JHB is often referred to Johannesburg in South Africa with the exception of air travelers, just like how 99% of Malaysians call Air Asia AA *facepalm*).

    many years ago I worked for a major courier company. Many of the misrouting issues were simply due to people dropping a small package/document into the wrong bag. Dublin / Dubai were always getting mixed up. There were one or two others but the names escape me right now. 

  15. Posted · Report reply

    54 minutes ago, Craig said:

    But then again, I don't know if Malaysians are tech savvy enough to change their flights themselves when a Gen Z doesn't know how to read 24 hour clock system. 

    LOL - Im waiting for one to change their flight to DUB and get upset when they end up in the  wrong place. 

  18. Posted · Report reply

    17 minutes ago, jahur said:

    No but its been shared by another pilot on a middle eastern based airline heading to turkey. Again seasonal winds are usually one of the issues with long haul.

    yes as well at it being all uphill to Europe (joke)

  19. Posted · Report reply

    17 minutes ago, jahur said:

    This is the near direct headwind that persisted for nearly 2.5hours for the westbound trip yesterday at 101knots!. Technically anything past Austria, Poland, Italy requires some adjustment to the commercial payload for the A339Neo now made worse with the instability with Iran and Ukraine there's not a lot of direct straight tracking. Again unless MH consistently flies with less than 220 pax on the intended westbound routes then there should be no issues even down to LHR AMS or even Nordic or to start from BKK with even greater safe margins. 

    WhatsApp Image 2024-04-17 at 00.00.27_e701ebd6.jpg

    Thanks. Presume that you are a pilot as you have captured this pic?

  20. Posted · Report reply

    8 hours ago, JuliusWong said:

    Yes, politically correct answer. The planned Euro routes are Paris and Amsterdam, which are slated to return in 2025/2026. 

    MH is partnering with Manchester United for brand awareness purpose since Man U is one of the most well-known football club. Unlike SQ brand which can sell itself, MH needs a "larger" brand to sell their own brand.

    Am I correct that the A339 can't do these routes without payload restrictions?

  22. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, Craig said:

    That's supposed to be the new TBS but for north/east departures instead 😱

     

    Indeed it is and it opens soon. The left and right hands don't know what they each other is doing. 

    Sort of reminds of the Bangkok airport train to Phaya Thai. You have to lug cases up and down stairs to get to the Skytrain.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Craig said:

    I am trying to remember if the Express and Transit is actually on the same track but just further up for the Transit at KL Sentral. If only they planned more platforms at KL Sentral instead of a mall next to it! Would be helpful of "ERL" change their name or at least the logo so it has a plane next to it. Non Malaysia residents would have no idea what ERL meant when they are on a public transit in KL, especially when arriving at KL Sentral/Muzium Negara it will just announce "change here for the ERL". And maybe put up signs on the train which terminal to alight for which airline. I have so many things that I'd like to change for KL transit that doesn't cost a lot of money, like getting rid of "MRT/LRT". Just the name of the line will do.

    And where would passengers pick up their bags at KL Sentral 😅 I remember it was built as a check out facility too with the IATA code "XKL" but how do passengers clear customs then?

    hey use the same tracks with the Express switching left upon arrival and the Transit taking the middle 2 platforms. The Express then pulls forward into a headshunt and then reverses to the departure platform. 

    Yes I find LRT/MRT messy and they should create simple names for them.

    As for the location of the arrival area it's on the right as you exit the KLIA Express barriers into the KL Sentral arrival hall. Not sure that it was ever used or even fitted out and 2 mins on google hasn't found any pics. Now i'm curious I will keep looking.    

  24. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Craig said:

    Which station is that if I may ask? I am curious if this is due to the cost cutting by then unpopular Finance Minster, who of all things, cut the connected paid interchange at Ampang Park between Kajang and Kelana Line. And cut the mostly underground MRT 3 project which was projected to cost less than what the current mostly above ground MRT 3 will cost.

    Gombak - https://www.facebook.com/groups/mlptf/permalink/2767129700111228/

  25. Posted · Edited by Robert · Report reply

    32 minutes ago, BC Tam said:

    Malaysian version of forward planning ... 😁

    haha if only...

    Slightly off topic but on a FB group and local land transport group were the lack of planning and forward thinking at an LRT station considering that a new adjacent bus terminal is opening soon. Seems that there is only 1 escalator up, stairs down and a single 5 person lift.
    Good luck with that 

    KL Sentral with the entrances for Transit and Express far apart is confusing for many but not really fixable.

     

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