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Malaysia Airlines

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

4/5

Lie flat seats, fresh gourmet food, portable media players

Family Traveler

4/5

Infant baggage allowance, user-friendly airline

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

4/5

Interesting destinations

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Competitive pricing

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

4/5

Above average accessibility

Long Term Traveler

3/5

Comfortable economy class, fresh food

Novice Traveler

5/5

Very user-friendly

Introduction

Malaysia Airlines is a government owned airline.  It is the national carrier of Malaysia. The airline began after World War II under the name Malayan Airways.  The name was changed to Malaysian Airlines in 1987. It was originally incorporated with Singapore Airlines and the Singapore government but was un-incorporated in 1972.  It has survived several decades of hard financial times and are still going strong now as one of East Asia’s most successful airlines.

The latest news is that Skytrax rated the airline as having the Best Economy Class in the World in 2010. Currently the airline is working on installing portable entertainment screens in all classes of its planes.


Ratings

Important Factors 5/5

Average Delay

17%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

Less than 1%

Customer Satisfaction Rating

5 out of 5 stars

Types of Aircraft

Airbus A330-200, A380-800; Boeing 737, 747, 777

General 4/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

118

Number of International Flights (Daily)

114

Size of Fleet

32

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Perth, Los Angeles, Taipei, London

Location of Hub

Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Countries Served

Malaysia, Australia, Germany, Italy, US, UK, Taiwan, China

Number of Routes
Most Popular Routes

Kuala Lumpur-London; Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne; Kuala Lumpur-Perth; Kuala Lumpur-Bangalore; Kuala Lumpur-Frankfurt

In-Flight 5/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

Long haul and intercontinental flights

Food Quality

Above average

In-flight Menu

Fresh fish and lamb, satay

Average Leg Room

30-36 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

Movies, television, video games, audio on seat back screens on most flights. Business class also has new portable entertainment devices

Baggage 4/5

Baggage Fees

None

Number of Bags Allowed

1st and business classes: 2 bags Economy class: 1 bag

Weight Limits and Restrictions

1st class: 40kgs Business class: 30kgs Economy Class: 20kgs

Web Site 4/5

Online Check-in

Yes

Web Site Usability

Average, some information hard to find

Special Needs 3/5

Handicap Accessibility

Assistance available with prior notification. Pre-boarding at the gate possible with pre-boarding pass.

Pets

In cargo hold only. Fees are based on the weight of the animal

Special Offers /Partners 3/5

Airline Alliance Membership

None

Hotel Partners

Enrich Grads

Competing Airlines

Singapore Airlines, Air Asia

Strengths
  • High quality airline
  • Good service to Southeast Asia
  • Good trans-Pacific flights and prices

Weaknesses
  • Not part of an airline alliance
  • Competes with budget airline Air Asia, so it does not have lowest regional fares

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

Malaysia’s frequent flier program is known as Enrich. Fliers can earn miles on all Malaysia Airlines flights. Though Malaysia is not part of an alliance, partner airlines like Jet Airways, Delta and Air France allow Enrich members to earn miles on their flights. Malaysia Airlines also has the Grad program that is specifically designed for students. Malaysia’s Golden Lounges are located at airports in Malaysia and also at major airports that the airline serves with long-haul flights.

Conclusion

Malaysia Airlines is a good choice for trans-Pacific fliers headed to Southeast Asia. It is a high quality airline that has overcome its financial problems and is now a major player in the air travel industry. Unfortunately, the rise of budget airlines in East Asia has given people more choices for regional flights. Malaysia Airlines is a good alternative to Singapore Airlines, the region’s other high-quality trans-Pacific carrier.