From Singapore to Kuala Lumpur I flew on Malaysia Airlines Business Class Review 737-800. The 184-mile flight still includes a full meal and excellent service onboard.
Malaysia Airlines Business Class 737-800 Review (SIN-KUL)
Singapore – Kuala Lumpur is one of the busiest routes in the world and Malaysia Airlines has up to 10 daily flights. I booked my seat for 12,500 British Airways Avios and $53.80 in taxes, which was a better deal to me than the $320 price for a business class ticket.
After arriving from Bali on KLM, I checked in for the flight on the Malaysia Airlines mobile app, but later picked up a paper boarding pass at the transit desk.
Boarding began 25 minutes before takeoff, but I was in the Qantas First Lounge and did not show up until midway through boarding.
Malaysia Airlines 616
Singapore (SIN) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Thursday, March 13
Depart: 7:30 PM
Arrive: 8:30 PM
Duration: 1hr, 00min
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Distance: 184 miles
Seat: 3A (Business Class)
The jet bridge was clogged: I should have just waited and boarded last.
Seat
The Malaysia Airlines 737-800 contains four rows of 2-2 seating in business class. Seats are similar to domestic first class seats in the USA, with slightly more legroom (I’d estimate about 42 inches). Seats also have a footrest.
A power outlet and a USB-A charger are available and the seat can be reclined or footrest raised through buttons on the armrest.
Reading lights and air vents are available over each seat.
IFE + Wi-Fi
No wi-fi is available onboard. Each seat, however, does have a screen and a (very limited) library of music, TV programming, and movies. Headphones were available by request.
I’ve reviewed this flight before, but last time my flight was during the day and afforded excellent views out the window. This time, it was dark so I had to focus on the IFE…thankfully I found some great music.
Food + Drink
Despite the quick flight up to KUL, dinner was served after takeoff. I’m not sure what I ate (there was no menu or choice), but I am sure one of you will tell me. And I ate it…and I liked it.
I did find it a bit surprising that in a world of peanut allergies, Malaysia Airlines still serves peanuts onboard. That’s not a complaint…it’s just something we see less of these days.
The cabin was so steamy…I apologize for these somewhat clouded pictures.
Malaysia Airlines does not service alcohol on these shorter flights, but soft drinks, coffee, and tea were available. I had a glass of water before departure and another one with my meal.
Service
Flight attendants were pleasant and not only quickly sprang up after takeoff to serve the meal, but offered refills on beverages.
Lavatory
I did not get up to use the lavatory, but here is a picture from a previous flight on this aircraft from Jakarta to KL.
CONCLUSION
We landed on time in Kuala Lumpur and I was once again impressed by how much airlines can actually do on a 184-mile flight. In the USA, carriers like American, Delta, and United do not serve meals on flights under 900 miles. Quite a different business model than in North America…
I know people with chime in with the “why do you need to drink constantly” nonsense, but the fact that MH doesn’t serve alcohol makes them uncompetitive in the region. Despite being a OWE, I more or less want to avoid them. Alcohol is freely available all over Malaysia and not serving it on board is either cheap or preachy.
They don’t serve alcohol on shorter flights, not on all flights. Given the religious diversity of the area, there might be a decent sized demographic that they cater to who doesn’t mind if there is no alcohol.
“Quite a different business model than in East Asia…”
And Europe. The crew definitely hustles on short flights, and you also have to hustle to finish your F&B in under 10 minutes.
Bangkok Airways surely wins the prize here? They manage a full meal service on the 45 minute USM-BKK flights.
That’s precisely the problem. The ‘decent sized demographic’ might not want a beer or glass of wine with their meal, but why should that dictate what others may enjoy? As a carrier that caters to customers from all over the world, MH surely understands this. So it’s either government pressure, cost cutting, or both.
I don’t think they are dictating, just that they could a decent sized customer base which doesn’t make them as noncompetitive as Jerry makes them out to be on short haul routes.
The meal you were served looks potentially like Roti Canai.
@Interested … with an overloaded ladle of grease ?
Correct that is roti canai with chicken curry, utterly delicious pan fried flatbread, the perfect complement to gravies.
I’m not sure why he just didn’t ask the FA.
Too much trouble. They were wearing masks which makes communication quite difficult.
Difficult? You’re just asking what the dinner is, not inviting them to a discussion about the allegorical symbolism of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales lol Granted this is something that seems to be common with many travel bloggers, whether on the plane or in the lounge…
Chicken, ginger and sweet potatoes?
I love the peanuts. MH is my preferred carrier because of the peanuts. The peanuts here in New Zealand and Australia are no where near as good, I think the peanuts here are a very different variety.
On short flights like this, I would just skip the meal and ask for extra peanuts. I hoard them like a chipmunk.
Intra-Europe business class is simply the most overpriced and uncompetitive product ever. Paying so much more for no extra legroom or a wider seat is beyond a joke, simply Economy seating with the middle seat blocked. At the very least they could provide a product that Matt has reviewed here, reclining armchairs with decent legroom. But hey, who cares about your customers when you can make a buck…
You had roti canai (flat bread) with chicken curry
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While informative, the timing of this article mere days from the 10 year anniversary of the elephant in the room for MH is rather unfortunate.
The meal you had is Chicken Curry with (depending on whether you are from Singapore or Malaysia) Roti Pratha or Roti Canai (respectively), same thing, different names… MH peanuts are actually famous apparently – so much so you can buy them from their online shop: https://temptations.malaysiaairlines.com/product_info.aspx?pid=45515949545347545043555B4A562D4F322F2E2F