British Airways returns to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok
The newly-restored connections end a four year hiatus between London and the Asian hubs.
By Chris Ashton, March 6 2024
Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are finally back on the British Airways departure board, with the airline confirming its imminent return to the capitals this year. However, there are some changes worth noting.
For starters, the Oneworld member will now lift off three times a week to Bangkok – and it’ll be flying from London-Gatwick, rather than the previous London-Heathrow airport, making it arguably less convenient for onward travels.
From October 28, the London-Bangkok schedule will be as follows:
- BA2231 jets off from Gatwick at 9pm every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, touching down at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3:55pm
- On the return, BA2230 takes flight at 10:55pm every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, landing in Gatwick at 5:30am the following morning
Rather than newer Club Suites, as seen on the Boeing 777 between Sydney and London, Bangkok will instead get the older 777 Club World business class, which features 32 front and rear-facing seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.
The Boeing 777's rather cosy Club World business class.
In Bangkok, lounge-worthy passengers will find Oneworld partner lounges from Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways (the later restricted to business and first class flyers).
As for Kuala Lumpur, flights will be daily straight out the gate as of November 10, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Heathrow fitted featuring a four-class layout with eight first class suites, followed by 42 front and rear-facing Club World berths, then premium economy and economy.
British Airways' Boeing 787 Dreamliner first class.
Flights will dart between London and Kuala Lumpur as follows:
- BA33 sees wheels up from Heathrow at 8:45pm, and wheels down at 5:30pm
- BA34 jets off from Kuala Lumpur at 11:20pm, arriving into Heathrow at 5:35am the next day
For visiting Kuala Lumpur, passengers will now have to complete a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within three days of travel, with the now-mandatory requirement intended to speed up processing at immigration; on the return leg, BA will use the Malaysia Airlines Golden Wing lounges.
Malaysia Airlines already flies twice-daily between KL and London Heathrow, so the route will be very well served indeed.
British Airways’ long-awaited return to Bangkok and KL was revealed at the same time as an ambitious £7bn (AUD$13.6bn) transformation plan, which also includes a new A380 first suite, investment in a fresh lounge in Dubai, and free onboard messaging.
25 Jun 2021
Total posts 29
If only we had more flights from BNE to these locations.
21 Jul 2020
Total posts 21
BNE to KUL is much missed.
03 Mar 2023
Total posts 38
Hopefully when Malaysian re-starts flights to Brisbane we OneWorld flyers can connect to the BA flight in Kuala Lumpur.
CX
16 May 2015
Total posts 23
If you have an APAC card, do you still need to fill in the MDAC card?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Nov 2018
Total posts 117
Too little, too late , BA. Not to mention those clapped out 777’s with those horrible business class “club world” (rolls eyes) seats. They were innovative decades ago. Now they’re just painful. And when BA does have First Class, it’s no better than an average business class seat and service. I let my status lapse and haven’t looked back.
Not worth the dosh. Nor the points
25 Jun 2021
Total posts 29
I did BA many years ago economy to Bangkok 747, very average not so much the plane the service, plus they decided to leave the tail APU in London so a hour on the deck coming home was a tad moist. Last year had the unfortunate chance to grab there Singapore to Sydney flight in Biz, I thought QANTAS were bad but wow it was sub zero. Thank god it was points. QATAR, Singapore or Emirates are miles ahead of these 2. In the last 6 years (less 2 for that COVID thing ) I have 90% of the time flown Emirates or Singapore. Last year I even had the chance to change my QANTAS 1st class out of LHR for $1000 to Emirates 1st class back to BNE, thats how much I dont like them.
13 Sep 2019
Total posts 14
Clapped out indeed
Some of these 777 relics are over 25 years old and 3 over 27 years.
Of the BA fleet of over 50 X 777 aircraft the average age is 21 years !
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