Malaysia Airlines introduces BMW chauffeur-drive transfers
The all-electric BMW i7s bring a luxury touch for business class travellers and top-tier frequent flyers.
By David Flynn, January 25 2024
Malaysia Airlines’ premium passengers can look forward to a dash of luxury at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, with a fleet of electric BMW i7 sedans whisking them from the main terminal and the satellite terminal hosting most international Malaysia Airlines flights.
Beginning February 1, the white chauffeur-driven Beemers will collect eligible travellers from a signposted pick-up point located at Gate G1 of the main terminal.
G1 is also where an airport-operated ‘VIP’ shuttle bus awaits first class and business class passengers on all airlines, while everyone else gathers on larger buses.
KLIA has been forced to provide bus transfers between the main and satellite terminals since the Aerotrain which previously connected them broke down in March 2023.
The chauffeur-driven BMW i7s will be available around the clock “exclusively for Malaysia Airlines, in addition to the Premium Bus transfer currently provided by the airport operator following the temporary suspension of the Aerotrain service.”
Malaysia Airlines' new BMW i7 fleet for chauffeur-drive transfers.
“Passengers can enjoy the assurance that the premium service is intricately tailored to ensure individualised experiences, eliminating any concerns about sharing rides,” the airline states.
“This exclusive service guarantees dedicated transportation, with vehicles allocated for solo travellers, couples, and families up to four passengers per car.”
So who is eligible for Malaysia Airlines’ ritzy BMW rides?
- Business Suite passengers on the A350 (Business Suites is Malaysia Airlines’ rebranding of the A350’s four private first class suites)
- Business Class passengers
- Malaysia Airlines Enrich Platinum members (but not their Oneworld Emerald siblings such as Qantas and Qatar Airways Platinums or Cathay Diamonds).
The Oneworld member – whose passengers on the daily flights from Seoul now enjoy access to the newly-opened Oneworld lounge at Incheon – says it plans to extend the BMW service to also cover arriving passengers “in the near future.”
Malaysia Airlines' new BMW i7 fleet for chauffeur-drive transfers.
As previously reported, Malaysia Airlines will launch a new international business class this year on its freshly-arrived Airbus A330neo jets, which will replace its ageing A330s by the end of 2026.
Malaysia Airlines has settled on the Elevation model from manufacturer Collins Aerospace, also seen in British Airways’ latest Club Suite and Etihad Airways’ A350 Business Studio suite.
The same seat “will also be retrofitted to the A350,” Chief Commercial Officer Dersenish Aresandiran tells Executive Traveller, adding that Malaysia Airlines is considering leasing more A330neo and A350 jets to underpin its expansion plans, “because demand is booming right now.”
Malaysia Airlines' forthcoming A330neo jets will include the same business class as BA's Club Suite.
Aresandiran has also affirmed that Malaysia Airlines has no intention of introducing lower-cost ‘unbundled business class’ fares which strip out perks such as checked luggage, lounge access and a full serve of frequent flyer points.
“What we want to do in the premium sector is actually improve the offering, to give you something better,” Aresandiran explains.
He cites Malaysia Airlines’ recent move to offer free inflight WiFi to all passengers as one example of giving travellers more, rather than less.
Malaysia Airlines’ approach to inflight Internet also bucks the trend to insist passengers be members of the airline’s own loyalty program and have their membership number entered into their booking.
“Most airlines enable WiFi (only) for frequent flyer members,” Aresandiran says, while also citing restrictions such as messaging only or being limited to a few hundred megabytes of data.
“We are probably one of the few in the world right now that offers WiFi to everybody, in business and economy as well.”
“If you go on other carriers, you're limited to X amount of usage either by size or by time, and our speeds are amazing as well.“
03 Nov 2023
Total posts 8
From reading another article elsewhere, this is intended to be expanded to arrival passengers transferring from Satellite Terminal back to Main Terminal, once there are additional BMWs in their fleet. This is also only temporary until the Sky Train is working again next year.
18 Mar 2016
Total posts 39
MAS used to be way up with the best in the “old days” and I flew exclusively with them in 2A in the Jumbo, but of course things have changed - dramatically.
When are they going to put a “BIG” plane on the Perth/KL service instead of those “wind up toy 737’s” ?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Dec 2014
Total posts 2
They have a daily A330 Flight from perth at 02:00 hrs arriving in KL at 08:00 Hrs , the flight to Perth leaves at 19:50 hrs and arrives in Perth at 01:25 Hrs..
15 Nov 2023
Total posts 2
The word on the ground is that the Skytrain didn’t “break down”. The service was initially contracted to a Mahathir crony; the contract expired or is under dispute, and the current rulers are playing hard ball. Bugger the travelling public when an important political point is being made….
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