THE ROUTE
Flight MH128, Melbourne (MEL) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
THE AIRCRAFT
Airbus A330-300: the airline has 24 A330s in its 106-strong fleet.
THE LOYALTY SCHEME
Enrich is the airline’s personal frequent flyer program, and Malaysia is a part of the oneworld alliance, which incorporates Qatar, Fiji Airways and Qantas.
CLASS
Enterprise, seat 5K (window).
DURATION
8 hours, half-hour. We push off 10 minutes late, which the pilot attributes to congestion at Melbourne Airport.
FREQUENCY
This night time flight, departing 11.30pm, runs 5 instances weekly. In complete, Malaysia Airways runs 10 flights every week from Melbourne as much as KL and expects to go double-daily by 12 months’s finish.
CARBON EMISSIONS
2.0 tonnes for one enterprise class passenger flying Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur. Pay to offset emissions at myclimate.org
HEALTH
Malaysia has dropped its vaccination necessities, however travellers nonetheless have to obtain the MySejahtera app and listing any COVID-19 vaccinations. Test-in is the one time in all my travels in Malaysia that I am requested to provide it. Masks are nonetheless obligatory in public locations in Malaysia, and everyone seems to be masked up on this night time flight. A hygiene package with masks and wipes is equipped to all passengers, whereas I rating a cute Aspinal of London bag with Payot Paris toiletries to maintain pores and skin and lips plumped and primed.
CHECKING IN
The financial system check-in line is lengthy, however I am straight to the highest of the queue as a business-class traveller, and check-in is snappy. Enterprise passengers are often accommodated within the Qantas Enterprise lounge at Melbourne Airport, however for causes unknown, I am despatched to the neighbouring Marhaba lounge, owned by Qantas’ stablemate Emirates, which has an honest unfold, however is wanting fairly careworn.
THE SEAT
There are 27 seats in enterprise class, configured as singles or pairs. alternating between a 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 format. The seats are 20 inches (51 centimetres) extensive and convert to a 76-inch (193-centimetre) lie-flat mattress. My seat is a window seat in a set of two – fortunately the seat beside me is vacant so I can sling my package round. The one seats (generally known as ‘thrones’ within the avgeek neighborhood) are sizzling property, and all are occupied. The seats embrace a therapeutic massage characteristic (which I initially mistake because the knees of the passenger behind – it has been some time since I’ve seen a business-class seat), a USB port and a number of other AC shops.
BAGGAGE
I am entitled to a strong 40kg checked baggage restrict, in addition to 14kg in two items carry-on. Blissful to report that on all 4 flights all through Malaysia, my checked-in baggage dutifully follows me, no losses or delays.
ENTERTAINMENT
A 16-inch display seems to have an honest vary of current films, and Wi-Fi prices from$US2 for 10MB, however after the meal service, I am the one one awake and utilizing it on this night time flight.
SERVICE
Polished and charismatic, the business-class workforce is pleasant and obliging. “Let me serve you satay, watch a film,” says the cabin captain, as he lays white linen on my tray desk and swishes a bottle of Bruno Paillard champagne in my path. All through the night time, the crew’s attraction by no means waivers. This part is filled with what appear to be passengers nicely used to this route: going wheels-up simply earlier than midnight, it is blankets on and beds down as the entire cabin – besides yours actually – snuggles down for as a lot shut-eye as they will get between take-off and landing.
FOOD
A famend foodie vacation spot, Malaysia’s enterprise class is all concerning the satay cart, which has been serving up satay sticks on this class since 1975. The 2-person service workforce has it down pat, and the hen and beef satay, served with cucumber and onion, could be very, superb. “As we speak, about 15,000 sticks of our satay are loved all over the world,” the inflight information system inform me. Snacks together with a cheese board and Caesar sandwich can be found all through the flight, however everyone seems to be already curled up and sleeping. Breakfast is contemporary fruit, yoghurt, French toast and an Earl Gray tea: served two hours earlier than arrival into KL at 6am, it makes for a brief night time’s sleep.
ONE MORE THING
Malaysia Airways is changing its ageing A330 fleet with 20 new Airbus 330-900s (A330neo) to return into service from late 2024 till 2028 for a extra fashionable fleet that meets its environmental targets. For travellers, which means much less noise and more room. And in current information, the airline gained finest enterprise class in Asia on the World Journey Awards. The airline attributed that to aggressive fares, the “chef on name” service, its Golden Lounges and… that satay.
VERDICT
Properly priced, with charming service as much as the well-connected hub of KL, with baggage at all times in tow.
OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE
★★★½
The author travelled as a visitor of Malaysian Airways.
