Review: Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge (International Satellite) in Kuala Lumpur

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• Supersub says:

  19 May19 May 05:24

  It’s a nice lounge but, 2 weeks ago, they refused entry flying on a business class ticket with Qatar Airlines (no OW status). Told this doesn’t match OW rules but they were firm, saying it was some disagreement between them and Qatar.

  • John says:

    19 May19 May 06:47

    Which lounge did QR tell you to go to?

    • AJA says:

      19 May19 May 07:29

      That’s not the point.
      From the article:
      “Anyone travelling in Business Class on Malaysia Airlines or any of the oneworld airlines can use the Golden Lounge at KLIA.

      If the dispute between MAS and QR continues then that statement is wrong

      • John says:

        19 May19 May 08:30

        Well it is also the point as I wanted to know which lounge you would have to go to in practice, since there isn’t any recourse (you aren’t going to get anything out of MCOL/CEDR for airlines breaking oneworld rules)

  • numpty says:

    19 May19 May 07:26

    I had exact same experience, even when i challenged them on it – then i was told i’d have to have status if i wanted in. My guess, was it was due to the QR flight departing after the MAS lounge closed and them not wanting to attempt to throw the passengers out.

    Plaza Premium First was very average and the food low quality (the roti being served was still dough in the middle). By chance spoke to pax at table next to me to warn them off the roti and had a chat and they too had been refused entry by MAS.

    • Eve says:

      20 May20 May 05:10

      They only give access to Qatar passenger Frequent Flyers holding Emerald n saphire tiers(Written on the boarding pass)
      Not every business class OW airline passengers entitle the access .

      • numpty says:

        20 May20 May 13:28

        Look up the oneworld lounge access rules for KUL MAS Satellite terminal lounge. Qatar are listed, same as BA are – and i have used the lounge as a BA passenger, in business with no status ever since the route was relaunched.

  • Eve says:

    20 May20 May 05:16

    You probably got it wrong.They only allowed QR passenger with their Frequent Flyers EMERALD AND SAPHIRE level.or any OW Frequent Flyer level the same as EMERALD AND SAPH..Its printed on the boarding pass your ff status.thats how they know.

• Matt says:

  19 May19 May 06:33

  A brief review of immigration procedures in our post Covid world would have been useful. Did you need to download their immigration app?

  • Rhys says:

    19 May19 May 08:35

    Yes, but it was never checked at any point apart from at check-in.

    To be honest, it’s a bit of a faff. I’m hoping they’ll ditch it soon.

• immunedata says:

  19 May19 May 06:47

  “small selection of fruit and vegetables” – I think they self-identify as crudités actually.

  Rhys – did you make it to Kuching on this trip? The lounge there was sorely due for renovation prior to CoVid and the year+ it was closed would have been the ideal time to renovate but not holding my breath.

  • Rhys says:

    19 May19 May 08:43

    I didn’t!

• numpty says:

  19 May19 May 07:36

  You missed a bit on lounges. Domestic lounge indeed is for domestic flights, but then there is the regional lounge (which I prefer to the international lounge) which is for short international flights e.g. Singapore. Its a good way of dividing up the passengers and works well.

  There is also the MAS First lounge to the right side when walking up to the counters, its not as good as the Business lounge in terms of food offerings as it has a restaurant, with a bit of a mixed east/west menu.

  The MAS Golden lounge (in review) is a good lounge, it got a fair bit of criticism after the renovation (a few years ago now) as it didn’t look much different than from before.

  Normally the food options and quality are very high in the lounge, and they will even do a proper pulled tea tarik if you ask (but still out of a packet).

  • numpty says:

    19 May19 May 07:54

    and just to add, it is always worth a reminder that KLIA has a separate immigration queue (entry and exit) for business class passengers. It is never mentioned at check in, but just follow the sign at immigration counters (or look for the counter with a carpet!)

  • Rhys says:

    19 May19 May 08:36

    First Class lounge was closed, as I mentioned above! Otherwise I would’ve gone tehre 🙂

  • Robert says:

    19 May19 May 22:37

    Then it is not a proper one is it!!!!!!

    • numpty says:

      20 May20 May 13:29

      its not, but i do appreciate the effort in pulling it.

• Supersub says:

  19 May19 May 08:23

  They directed Qatar business passengers to “Plaza Premium First” lounge which, as mentioned above, is pretty terrible despite the name – even the other nearby Plaza Premium lounge was better.
  Have finally got OW status now so hopefully won’t happen again – but something to be aware of at KUL.

  • Robert says:

    19 May19 May 22:45

    All the lounges in Malaysia are absolutely lousy and always have been. The food is sub par and sometimes uncooked and handled incorrectly hygiene wise. Malaysian Airlines particularly break all the Oneworld rules especially with lounge access, refunds, baggage etc etc. They are bankrupt many times over and exsist off customer ticket revenue that was never refunded after they cancelled all flights when covid hit, it will never be refunded as it is spent.

• Iain says:

  19 May19 May 09:52

  Rhys, since you had a PR flight with MAS perhaps you could ask them to confirm lounge usage and if being denied why are they breaking one world rules (if they are)

  • tony says:

    19 May19 May 13:37

    I think you can add that to the growing list of questions – like withholding passenger money after cancelling flights – that HFP wouldn’t dare ask the gift horse that provides them with a steady supply of content, sadly.

    • Robert says:

      19 May19 May 22:51

      Exactly!!!, well said. They consolidate and cancel flights daily. They sell eight flights a day on some routes and then cancel all the flights and fly just one, this is a daily practice for MAS now and no longer is anything other than a low coat bankrupt airline. Rescued countless times by government and private companies. They should have been shut down years ago but are a very well used service by Malaysian Government officials who use Government warrants at inflated prices to give kick backs to certain unnamed officials. Has been like this for years and will never change. Welcome to Malaysia.

      • Romi says:

        20 May20 May 03:49

        If you dont like the way they run the business then go to other airlines.Why the hell do you still care about them.If you can provide proved that they are not good enough for you then prove it.Every tom dick can say they open eight flight..they cancel 7 flight everyday same route..bla bla bla..such a di*k.How in the hell the airlines can survive if they cancel 7 flight out of 8 flight same route everday till today?Use you brain.There are departure screen everyday in the airport.Now you can Show the world they are doing that everyday. Whats wrong with you dude?

  • Romi says:

    20 May20 May 03:37

    They are following the policy..so by that ,the passengers who can get an access to the lounge for passengers that those who have the higher Frqnt flyer tiers (EMERALD AND SAPHIRE-Printed and stated on your borading pass)of the One world..The frequent flyers programme that set by one world.These lounges are Malaysia Airlines lounge..Exclusively for Malaysia Airlines Business Class passenger and their own FF. so they cant accept every business class passengers from all of one world Airlines.Only the passenger with higher frqnt flyer tiers.Thats the policy plus the place will not be enough space if they accept every business class pax of any One World Airlines(QR/CX/QA/UL up to total 14 airlines).If the passenger still insist lounge access they can ask from the Check in counter itself while you get the boarding pass(Person In Charge at the Check in)..Because every passenger access there are chargers that lounge will claim to the airlines from the ticket fare.Even their own Malaysia Airlines passengers ticket.That the way they run the lounge.Good thing is MAS Golden Lounge give the passenger to enter by morning to midnight..Others only allow you to enter for 3 hours max.

    • Numpty says:

      20 May20 May 13:16

      Regardless, MAS are breaking oneworld lounge access rules for business class passengers. But are happy to sell access to economy pax.

    • Numpty says:

      20 May20 May 13:18

      I’ve used MAS lounges plenty of times when flying BA out of KLIA, with no FF status.

      • Romi says:

        22 May22 May 08:56

        They are also following the contract agreemnt n policy between airlines and Lounge..It depends on the WO Airlines that you flying with.If BA agreed to give their BC pax the lounge access then lounge will claim the entrance/access fee from BA BisCls passengers.The contract agreement between Airlines and lounge is renew yearly or 6 months.So you have to ask the staff during check-in wether the lounge access is still available for BC passenger of OW.Currently airlines like British Airways/Japan Airlines(OW) they still allow their BC pax to enter because these Airlines agreed to pay(Chargeable contract) for their BC pax access.For others like Qatar/Sri Lankan/Cathay only for higher tiers FF Members of OW they will definitely get the access for free only no agreemnt for their BC pax yet.

  • Iain says:

    21 May21 May 22:22

    Rhys, did you get back to MAS for a confirmation of their position ?

• jjoohhnn says:

  19 May19 May 13:02

  At busy times in this lounge there can be a long wait for showers although my experience is from 5-years ago.

• Jason lee says:

  22 May22 May 00:05

  Avoid as much as possible. Bad expensive.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.