Batik Air A330 Business Class Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur Review

Batik Air, previously branded as Malindo Air, is a joint venture between Indonesia’s Lion Air and a Malaysian partner. This review covers my experience flying in Batik Air A330 Business Class from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL). The airline’s business class cabin, which includes old recliner-style seats, provides a detailed look into the services, amenities, and overall journey, reflecting the transition and current state of Batik Air’s premium offerings.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

Flight Details

Flight No: OD1003
From/To: Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Departure time: 06:20
Ticket Class: Business
Flight time: 2 hours 30 mins

Aircraft: 9M-LFD
Aircraft type: Airbus A330-343
Number of classes: 2
Number of seats in flying class: 56
Seat: 1A
Position: left hand side of the aircraft at the front

In this review:

Airport Experience

There was one business class check-in desk alongside 4 desks for economy class passengers. I was checked in fairly quickly as there was only one passenger in front of me. No fast track security was available. Batik Air doesn’t offer lounge access with its business class ticket, but I accessed the Travel Club Lounge using my Priority Pass. It was fairly basic, but functional with plenty of staff keeping the place tidy.

Boarding & Welcome

The boarding process was nearly complete when I arrived at the gate 35 minutes before departure. I was directed to board through door 1 of the two connected jet bridges. After being greeted and directed to my seat, I was offered water or orange cordial, and introduced to the crew. A cold towel followed shortly. The business class cabin looked quite aged, and strikingly similar to Air Asia. The aircraft, originally with Air Asia since 2013, was sold to an aircraft leasing company and then operated by Batik Air five months before our flight, with no evident cabin refresh.

Seat

The Batik Air A330 Business Class cabin featured old recliner-style seats, common before the widespread adoption of lie-flat seats. The automatic recline controls were non-functional on both my seat and my partner’s seat, requiring manual adjustment by the crew. Overhead storage bins were smaller, fitting only compact bags. Despite having power sockets, none were functional, and only the overhead reading light worked.

What is the best seat on Batik Air A330 Business Class?

Seats 1A and 1C are bulkhead seats with ample legroom, served first by the crew.

See the seating plan on SeatGuru.

Onboard Experience

The single washroom at the front lacked hand soap but had paper towels. Seats 2H and 2K were curtained off for crew rest. The crew was friendly and kept the window blinds closed on one side.

Food & Drink

Drinks service included tea, coffee, water, and soft drinks, with no alcohol available. Meal options included chicken curry, grilled chicken, or chicken rice, with no vegetarian option. The food was tasty, with grilled chicken served in a peanut and coconut sauce and chicken rice in a soy-based sauce. Dessert was a red velvet cake with vanilla sauce.

In-flight Entertainment

The advertised inflight entertainment via onboard Wi-Fi was non-functional, and there was no internet connection available. Batik Air enforced a policy to switch off mobile devices for takeoff and landing.

Baggage troubles

Arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s domestic area, our priority-tagged luggage was not on the carousel. No Batik Air representatives were in the baggage hall. After locating a handler, we were told all bags had been unloaded. After persuading someone to do a final check, our bags were found still on the aircraft. This mishandling confirmed my overall poor impression of the flight.

BG1 Verdict

Despite the friendly and helpful crew, the outdated Batik Air A330 business Class cabin, non-functional seats, and poor hygiene made this one of the poorer premium cabins I’ve flown in. The baggage mishandling at the terminal further solidified my negative view. I’m glad to have tried Batik Air for comparison but will opt for Malaysia Airlines for future short-haul travel.

BG1 Tip

If you have to fly with Batik Air, consider whether an economy seat will provide better value for money than business class.

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