UPDATE | Malaysia Airlines is temporarily closing two of its home hub lounges in Kuala Lumpur as it completes extensive refurbishment works to breathe new life into the spaces.
MAS' regional Golden Lounge in KLIA's Main Terminal is up first – primarily used by passengers on shorter international flights such as to Singapore – closing its doors from May 12 until August 15 2017, with eligible passengers instead directed to the airport's Satellite Terminal for lounge access.
There, business class guests and Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald frequent flyers (including Qantas Gold and Platinum cardholders) can choose to visit either Malaysia Airlines' international Golden Lounge (open 24 hours) or the Malaysia Airport CIP Lounge near gates 31-37 (open 6am-10am and then 6pm-10pm).
AusBT review: Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge, KLIA Satellite Terminal
Under Oneworld's lounge access rules, a third option is also available in the Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge: again found in the Satellite Terminal, which is accessible from the Main Terminal via Aerotrain.
Malaysia Airlines' domestic Golden Lounge will also be shuttered from June 2 until August 15 2017, but as these passengers cannot access the airport's international departures area where the other lounges are located, a temporary lounge space will be created at gate B3.
There, lounge-eligible travellers will find light refreshments available along with dedicated seating, wireless Internet, newspapers, magazines and flight information screens.
Toilets, showers and prayer rooms won't be offered within this temporary space, although the nearest restrooms can be found just outside the gate area, with the closest prayer room aside the Malaysia Airlines Gate A transfer desk.
Refurbishments to these lounges were originally due for completion by "late 2016", being approximately eight months behind schedule.
PREVIOUS | Qantas partner Malaysia Airlines will reinvigorate its business class and first class airport lounges in Kuala Lumpur and at London’s Heathrow Airport over the coming year with an all-new design and premium amenities for business and high-end leisure travellers.
Central to the Golden Lounge upgrades are new demonstration kitchens, where chefs will whip up Malaysian and international gourmet dishes while interacting with guests and customising meals to their personal tastes.
Joining that is a “bistro service” in the business lounges and a revamped fine dining experience in the Kuala Lumpur first class lounge, with all locations also receiving faster wireless Internet and additional universal power sockets, allowing visitors to easily recharge their devices without an adaptor.
Adopting a design created by internationally-renowned firm Duoz – the same company behind the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur and the Marriott Sydney Harbour at Circular Quay – guests will notice patches of greenery for a touch of colour throughout.
“Delivering a holistic experience for our guests which starts from the lounge lies at the heart of the redesign,” said Malaysia Airlines’ CCO Paul Simmons.
“We want the space to encapsulate the richness of travel with the airline, a luxurious contemporary Malaysian style that our guests will be able to experience when they enter any Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge around the world,” Simmons added.
Malaysia Airlines’ regional and domestic lounges at Kuala Lumpur will be first with the new design and amenities by late 2016, followed by the international business and first class lounges in the KLIA Satellite terminal and also the airline’s London Heathrow lounge in mid-2017.
The carrier’s ambitious lounge overhaul follows the debut of all-new business class seats on Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330 flights between Australia and Kuala Lumpur, with the fully-flat seats fitted to all MH A330s by late September this year.
Reviewed: MAS' new Airbus A330 business class, Kuala Lumpur-Sydney
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Jun 2014
Total posts 37
Hooray! The current lounges in KL are very dissapointing. A bit hanger like, and with inconsistent service - no real co-ordination of inadequate shower facilities, and food that ranges from edible to abominable. It was the only downside to excellent flights partially in their A380 between Sydney and London, at an extremely competitive price.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2015
Total posts 121
This looks excellent. Along with the new Business Class seats, I look forward to visiting the lounge when I travel to KL again.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Hooray indeed, although I would have been doing the International Satellite lounges first, the Regional/Domestic lounges have always been OK in my experience
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
Really? I find the regional lounges by far the worse. The bathrooms particuarly are simply terrible.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
That's great that they've got a plan.
What they need to work on is implementation and follow-through. I don't think MH has been good at those things the past.
As part of ensuring effective and timely implementation, I hope they are having a good look at their procurement procedures and vendor assessment/management. If you hire numbnuts, you're going to get a crap results no matter how lovely the plan and designs are.
08 Mar 2013
Total posts 28
Pity the man behind this turnaround - christoph mueller has just resigned.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
I have a gut feeling that, after the re-structure and concentrating on what counts, this is going to be an exceptional airline in the future.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
16 May 2011
Total posts 111
Any news on the MEL lounge? Would love to see that lounge get a total revamp as its quite dire, and has been for a while now. I think it was mentioned before that the lounge will also get revamped alongside LHR and KUL.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
Just use the Qantas lounge in MEL.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
Which itself needs TLC. Better still a new lounge period.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
A long overdue but nevertheless welcome announcement.
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 36
Hi there
24 Mar 2016
Total posts 11
Hey Chris
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 352
PerthFlyer if you're going to be in KL next week you'd be better off contacting MAS about this rather than expecting AusBT to answer your questions as if they are an on-demand travel advisory service. Maybe you can even check this when you are in KL and report back here.
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 36
Hey PerthFlyer - any updates on the lounge upgrades?
24 Mar 2016
Total posts 11
No work had taken place while I was there however there has been a press release from Malaysia Airlines and it appears that work is commencing very soon - https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/travel_advisory/golden-lounge-upgrading-works.html
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Tip to Paul Simmons: Focus on execution. Malaysian contractors aren't good on detail and finesse. Keep the heat on and get it done till it's right.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
A little annoying there are no shower facilities in the interim if you are travelling domestically. A shower always helps when you are coming off a long-haul journey before you connect to your final domestic destination.
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 36
Woo hoo! Overdue but finally happening, looking forward to checking out the new facilities in September!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 May 2016
Total posts 3
I'm flying through KUL on my way to Shanghai on the weekend.... what's my best option for 5 hrs lounge time...International Golden Lounge or Cathay?
14 Oct 2017
Total posts 2
I'm travelling Dec-Jan for holidays and will have 4.30hr stopover at KLIA on the way to Europe and 2.30hr stopover on the way back. Noticed that the Golden Satellite Intl lounge where I could access showers in the First Class section will now be closed during that peak travel time. Seems that the Regional Lounge may have showers (Cathay don't) and because the Regional lounge is smaller, I can just see the queues now :0) ... as a OneWorld FF (Emerald), can I use the Emirates Lounge when travelling on a OneWorld partner airline (Malaysia Air)? Thanks.
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