If you have never flown Malaysia Airlines short-haul business class, this review walks you through exactly what to expect. We took the 15:00 departure from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur on a 13-year-old Boeing 737-800, in row 2, returning from a holiday in Malaysian Borneo. This product turns up on the airline’s regional aircraft, flying between Kuala Lumpur and provincial cities on hops of one to four hours. We picked it because Malaysia Airlines is the only full-service carrier on the route, with Batik Air, AirAsia and Firefly all flying as low-cost alternatives. Read on to see whether the seat, the food and the service justify the upgrade.
In this review
Flight Details
Flight No: MH2641
From/To: Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Departure time: 15:00
Ticket Class: Business
Flight time: 2 hours 30 mins
Frequent Flyer Points: 1,018
Status Points: 128 (Credited to British Airways)
Aircraft: 9M-MLK
Aircraft type: Boeing 737-800 (approx. 13 years old)
Number of classes: 2
Number of seats in flying class: 12
Seat: 2F
Position: Right-hand side, window
Airport Experience
Check-in at KK airport ran through dedicated business class desks, and we found no queues at all. The agent was helpful and switched on. She linked our onward British Airways booking, so our bags checked straight through to London and we avoided collecting them in Kuala Lumpur.
Business class passengers could use the Travel Club Lounge, which we have reviewed separately. For anyone new to lounge access, it means a quiet seat, free food and drinks, and somewhere to wait away from the gate crowds. It was fairly busy when we arrived, but we still found a free table.
Once seated, we found the buffet had hot and cold options, and a fridge held cold soft drinks. Canned beer was available at the counter, though we had to ask rather than help ourselves, and there was no wine or spirits on offer. The toilets were clean throughout. Overall, it was a rather basic “cafeteria” type of lounge that’s fine for a quick pitstop before boarding, but not somewhere you’d want to spend more than an hour.
Boarding & Welcome
Boarding was already well underway by the time we reached the gate for our Malaysia Airlines short-haul business class flight. Even so, we used the priority lane – reserved for business class and frequent flyer status holders – and passed through quickly to the jet bridge that led to the aircraft. That priority lane is one of the more tangible perks of paying up front, and it worked exactly as it should.
As we took our seats, a crew member offered us a glass of juice or water.
Seat
The cabin was a surprise, and not a good one. The seats looked knackered, as though they had been upcycled from a much older 737. The first thing we noticed was the missing headrest doilies. Every seat had a sad little patch of Velcro marking where one used to sit.
Located beside the right (starboard) windows, the generous 42″ seat pitch meant we had two full windows to gaze out of. The legroom was also good; we could stretch out under the seat in front without touching the next passenger’s ankles, which never happens in economy. The footrests on both our seats would not stay up, though. The seat itself was a soft, cushioned armchair, which reclined a decent amount (8 inches) and was fine for a nap. The headrest sat too low against our shoulders and would not adjust.
The seat back pocket was more like a seat back sack. It offered amazing storage, but looked ridiculous, and it reminded us of the drawstring gym bag we were sent to school with in the 80s.
Worth knowing: newer aircraft in the fleet carry a refreshed leather upholstered seat, so your cabin may look more modern than this one.
There was no USB or mains charging, and Malaysia Airlines forbids power banks too, so you cannot win. Bring a fully charged device or a paperback.
We found the overhead storage bins were smaller than we’re used to wide bodies and Airbus short-haul aircraft. We managed to squeeze everything in once we’d rearranged everyone’s badly loaded suitcases – wheels first people! Wheels first!
What is the best seat on Malaysia Airlines Short-haul Business Class?
Row 1 wins. Seats 1A and 1C have the best legroom and 3 windows. The crew also served them first. Our seat, 2F, was a right-hand window in row 2, one row back and perfectly fine.
Onboard Experience
There were 12 seats in the business class cabin, which made for a peaceful flight.
The single forward lavatory was clean and contained upgraded hand wash and moisturising lotion. Amenity kits aren’t provided on Malaysia Airlines’ short-haul routes, as with most carriers.
Cabin service was a touch slow, but it was friendly and thorough throughout. The crew were attentive and clearly cared about getting the meal service right.
Food & Drink
Crew handed out a hot towel and cleared it before a full meal service arrived from the trolley about 25 minutes after takeoff, which is prompt for a flight of this length on Malaysia Airlines short-haul business class. We chose the beef, and it held its own against most short-haul business meals we’ve had elsewhere; the fish and chicken rice dishes both looked equally solid as they passed down the aisle. Each came with a squid and mango salad, and a warm bread roll or garlic bread on the side.
Dessert was carrot cake, with tea and coffee to finish. Vegetarians and vegans should pre-order a meal at least 48 hours before departure, as most food contained meat or fish, so plan ahead if that applies to you.
One thing to expect: this route ran dry. The trolley offered water, juice, soft drinks and sparkling water, but no beer or a G&T. In our experience, some longer regional flights do serve alcohol with the meal, though it is not typical on hops within Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
In-flight Entertainment
There was none at all: no seatback screens, no onboard streaming and no Internet. For a first-timer, that means one thing: download your films, shows and podcasts to a personal device before you board. We relied on a downloaded film and a podcast between us, and both did the job; we didn’t miss the screens, but first-timers used to long-haul kit might feel the gap. This ties straight into the charging problem above, so make sure you fully charge whatever devices you bring.
Arrival
We landed back at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at the B gates domestic pier, and from there the onward connection ran smoothly. Thanks to our hold bags already being tagged through to London, all we had to do was clear international immigration and head directly to the C gates satellite terminal. With a couple of hours to connect, we were glad to be heading straight to the lounge rather than the check-in desks.
Read our Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge (International) Kuala Lumpur Airport Review
If you have an onward flight but your bags aren’t checked through, you’ll have to detour to collect your bags from the carousel, then take the lift up to the departures area and re-check your bags with your airline. If you’re unsure, take a photo of your baggage tag when checking in; that way you can show it to airline staff at your arrival airport and they can confirm whether or not you need to collect your bag.
BG1 Verdict
The great Malaysian hospitality was somewhat let down by an ageing hard product. The seat was a museum piece. Even the upgraded seats now partially rolled out across the fleet feel more like a refresh of the existing setup than a real step up in comfort. If you are stepping off a flagship long-haul lie-flat to connect onto this, temper your expectations sharply.
Is it competitive? Somewhat. Competitors like Scoot (part of the Singapore Airlines Group) and AirAsia only offer economy cabins, so Malaysia Airlines has an effective monopoly for business class to Kota Kinabalu. This probably explains why the seat product is lagging behind the industry trends. That being said, it’s usually sold at a reasonable price, and the extra space, cabin service and food improve the overall score. Who is it for? First-timers and laidback travellers who value space and warm service over a modern seat. Would we book it again? Yes, but only when the fare prices are around the average.
BG1 Tip
Charge every device fully in the terminal before you board. There is no USB, no mains and no power banks permitted, so a flat phone stays flat.
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