- Malaysia Airlines is keen to upgrade its A330s. Photo: Getty Images
Malaysia Airlines
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- MH/MAS
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport
- Year Founded:
- May 1st, 1947
- Alliance:
- oneworld
- CEO:
- Izham Ismail
- Country:
- Malaysia
I was invited by Malaysia Airlines to explore its home after the government of Malaysia announced that the country is open for tourism. I was keen to jump on board the airline’s Airbus A350 after writing about it for so long.
Arriving nice and early
The flight was scheduled to depart London Heathrow’s Terminal 2 at 11:00 on Tuesday 3rd May. The check-in and security process was smooth despite Heathrow’s reported operational issues in recent weeks.
There was practically no waiting time when boarding. We were given priority to hop on first and the whole process from gate to cabin took a few minutes, including a quick snap of the plane before entering!
First impressions
Upon boarding, my initial thought was how much room there was. The A350 is the definition of a widebody, and Malaysia Airlines did well to maximize space opportunities within the cabin. The privacy screens help make the experience even more personal and luxurious. From the beginning to the end, it felt like a suite, even though the business suites are in a section of their own.
There are plenty of storage compartments that can be found up above, adjacent to the seat, next to the window, near the legs, and on the side table. There was even a place for storage under the seat ahead.
Many customization points could be found. From the mood lighting and the adjustable lamp to the reclining buttons and side IFE controls. I didn’t need to use the IFE controls, as I controlled the touchscreen directly.
The crew offered drinks, and I agreed to a glass of orange juice followed by a round of champagne. The lights soon dimmed, and we took off at 11:24 BST. I was ready to enjoy my first trip to Malaysia.
Lunch service
As I settled in, I took time to explore the amenities kit. I was highly impressed with the Aspinal of London pouch - something I'm already packing for my next trip. A dental kit, a sleep mask, lip balm, mouthwash, earplugs, a comb, a pair of socks, and moisturizing cream can be found inside. I didn't opt for the earplugs, as the noise-canceling headphones helped do the trick.
The aircraft leveled, and the food service was ready to be prepared.
I must declare that I follow a gluten-free diet due to medical reasons. I’ve experienced the business class gluten-free options on other airlines, such as Qatar Airways and United Airlines, and didn’t feel like I was missing out. However, here it felt like I was given the basic option.
I pulled out the side tray, and the starter was a salad with some prawns hiding underneath. There was also a rice flour-based roll with sunflower spread. I heard that biriyani was a choice for the main dish, and I could soon smell it being prepared. I was excited but then was informed that the gluten-free option would be a chicken and tomato dish.
I was surprised that the biriyani wasn’t a gluten-free option since I always cook it without wheat or gluten-based sauces. I soon became envious of those around me as I also missed out on the chicken satay, which apparently also had gluten in it. I was instead offered a vegetable medley alternative, meaning I sadly missed out on Malaysia Airlines’ signature dish.
Anyway, the food was still tasty. The carrots and tomato sauce were the standout features of this meal.
Outstanding comfort
I was now fed and ready to sit back and enjoy the ride. There were plenty of decent TV and movie offerings, especially when it came to new releases. I considered watching King Richard after the Oscars scenario but opted for Judas and the Black Messiah instead. The film finished after two hours, and I then put on The Disaster Artist. Both were completely different films, but each was as entertaining and original.
Thus, it was time to catch some sleep. So, I just hit the lie-flat function and instantly fell asleep for at least four hours.
I woke up naturally, nice and refreshed. It felt like I woke up in a familiar setting, not like the usual half sleeps I get when flying when I can hear myself snoring or people talking in the background.
Additional food offerings
It was time for a coffee. I prefer mine without milk and enjoyed the fresh taste. I could soon hear chopsticks rattling and saw some passengers chowing down on noodles prepared by the airline. I asked the flight attendant if there were any gluten-free snack options. Around five minutes later they brought a fruit platter - the same option as the one I had after dinner.
The attendant felt a bit concerned that it was the same offering, but I said it was fine and concluded it would be good to top up my fruit intake. He asked if I would like to have my breakfast early as there were no savory gluten-free snack options apart from the peanuts. My hunger was increasing, so I happily obliged.
The breakfast starter was once again a fruit platter, but with an addition of a muffin. I must say that this was the best inflight muffin I’ve eaten, even during my pre-gluten-free days. It was nice and sweet. Not dry like onboard pastries often are.
The breakfast main course consisted of scrambled eggs, spinach, grilled tomato, and mushrooms. It was tasty, and the eggs were creamy, unlike the rubber eggs often found onboard across the industry.
Smooth landing
After a duration of 12 hours and 39 minutes, we landed in Kuala Lumpur to connect on a Boeing 737. Keep posted for this review in the coming weeks.
Altogether, it was one of the most comfortable experiences I’ve had in the air. There was a minor disappointment with the lack of attention to the gluten-free offering. It’s a shame as I know that if my food had the same care that the standard offering was given, it would have been a near-perfect flight.
It’s important to note that I could see that the presentation for the regular passengers looked fantastic. Yet, there are thousands of business customers flying with dietary requirements around the world daily. So, I feel I should highlight the difference as I’m only speaking from my experience.
Nonetheless, my peeves with the food have nothing to do with the staff onboard. They only work with what’s available to them, and they did the best they could to accommodate me. They gave me a practically unlimited supply of peanuts and kept handing over fruit platter after fruit platter. The famous Malaysian hospitality could be felt before I had even entered the country.
From my experience, the USP here is the comfort.
I had plenty of space for movement, caught two interesting movies, and had a prolonged nap. I entered KLIA refreshed and ready to enjoy what Malaysia will bring.
Have you flown with Malaysia Airlines on its Airbus A350? What did you make of the experience? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
Simple Flying traveled on this flight as a guest of Malaysia Airlines.