International connection at KUL - not checked through

[esseeeayeenn]

I will be flying into KUL with MH, arriving at the satellite terminal, and have four hours in transit before flying out with EY.
I have conflicting information on which terminal EY use but I think it is also the satellite.
For various reasons it is not possible to have the two sectors on one booking, so I will have to collect luggage and check in again.
Has anyone done this in KUL?
Will I have to go from the Satellite to the Main Terminal and check in as if for a standa alone flight?
Or is there some arrangement to do this as a connection, even without the onward boarding pass?

 

[JohnK]

Interesting question and there is some conflicting information available.

The official KLIA website mentions that you need to go to check-in counter if you do not have onward boarding pass while a couple of third party websites have information that mentioned transfer counter.

Transits & Transfers

TRANSIT

Transit passengers are not required to go through any formalities. As you disembark, you will be issued with a plastic transit card. You will be free to walk around the Satellite Terminal Building (STB) until it is time for you to board the flight for your onward journey. Baggage can be automatically transferred to your connecting flight by checking them in at the Transfer Counter.

First class passengers and frequent flyers, could make use of the lounges. Papers, magazine, refreshments, snacks, telephones and television would be made available at these lounges. So relax and enjoy the facilities in these lounges until boarding time. During transit you are also welcome to do some duty free shopping.

TRANSFERS

International to Domestic - International flights arrive at Satellite Terminal A or at the International Level of the Contact Pier (MTB). Proceed to the transfer desk and collect boarding pass for the next flight. Board the Aerotrain TTC to MTB if arriving at Satellite A. Proceed to immigration for inbound clearance at the Arrival Level one floor below. Customs Checkpoint is located just beyond the Immigration area. After clearing customs, proceed to departure gate of the next flight.

Domestic to International - Domestic flights arrive at the Domestic Level of the Contact Pier (MTB). Collect boarding pass for onward journey from the Transfer desk and proceed to exit Immigration clearance. Proceed to International level of the MTB or board Aerotrain TTC to Satellite A. Proceed to departure gate of the next flight.

International to International - International flights arrive and depart at Satellite Terminal A.

Domestic to Domestic - Domestic flights arrive and depart at Contact Pier of the MTB.​

I do not remember seeing transfer counters but then I wasn't looking for them either. Perhaps someone that has done that type of transit can help out.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Thanks yes I found this information online but it isn't completely clear.
In particular it seems baggage retrieval is in the main terminal, not the satellite.
So if my bags are not checked through I may have to go out there to get them.

I was indeed hoping someone had done this before!

 

[JohnK]

If there is a transfer counter they should be able to tag bags through like SIN and HKG.

 

[bigfoot786]

I will be flying into KUL with MH, arriving at the satellite terminal, and have four hours in transit before flying out with EY.
I have conflicting information on which terminal EY use but I think it is also the satellite.
For various reasons it is not possible to have the two sectors on one booking, so I will have to collect luggage and check in again.
Has anyone done this in KUL?
Will I have to go from the Satellite to the Main Terminal and check in as if for a stand alone flight?
Or is there some arrangement to do this as a connection, even without the onward boarding pass?

There is a transfer desk in the Satellite terminal. It is very close to Center where the "rain forest" type display is close to where the satellite train stops. I have seen it manned at various times for varying airlines depending on the time of day, usually around the times that particular airlines have their flights leaving.

Having said that, it is very likely that you should be able to check your bags all the way from Australia onto the next flight. I traveled from Mel to AMM mid last year using MH from MEL to KUL and then EY from KUL to AMM and was offered the option to check the bags all the way through. Although it transpired that we couldn't do it on my flights (my transit in KUL was more than 12 hours), that I was offered the option means you may be too. Just let the staff at the check in counter know you have a connecting flight with EY out of KL.

Regards

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Thanks bigfoot786 - can I ask two questions?
First - were your flights on one PNR / ticket or separate?
Second - if my bags are NOT checked through, can I do everything within the satellite terminal or do I need to go to the main terminal?

 

[Austman]

The main terminal is a few minutes train ride from the satellite. The train runs every few mins. Most (all I think) long-hauls use the satellite.

There are also transfer desks in the main terminal and perhaps they won't be able to re-direct your luggage, but you can always ask!

If you need to migrate, collect luggage and check-in from scratch again, that's always done in the main terminal.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Thanks Austman.
A new question while I have your attention- in a four hour layover, should I consider leaving the airport?

 

[Austman]

Thanks Austman.
A new question while I have your attention- in a four hour layover, should I consider leaving the airport?

It's a bit too short IMO. Express trains to KL Sentral take just under 30 mins, so there's 1 hour gone already. Plus train waiting times. Plus airport passport and security times (in both directions). So you'd be lucky to get an hour in Sentral! Which is NOT KLCC (the twin towers area). There's nothing much around the airport as far as I can see.

 

[bigfoot786]

Thanks bigfoot786 - can I ask two questions?
First - were your flights on one PNR / ticket or separate?
Second - if my bags are NOT checked through, can I do everything within the satellite terminal or do I need to go to the main terminal?

When I was offered to check the bags all the way through, the flights were on two separate PNR's. In fact it only came up as during part of the chit chat with the check in lady I mentioned I was not actually staying in KL on that trip. So best to mention it and ask. As mentioned before, the problem for me was the next flight was more than 12 hours after scheduled arrival.

If it cant be checked through all the way, then you will need to get the train from the satellite building to the main terminal, clear immigration and collect bags and re check in. The whole process should not take more than an hour (quicker if your bags are fast tracked off the plane), as after getting the bags, you can go up one take the elevator up one level and pretty much check in straight away, then come straight back in off on the satellite rail. Of course it's still pain in the butt!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Thanks for the info.
Sounds like I'll just be enjoying the lounge.
I will be flying in on MH (Business class and OW Emerald) and from what I have read you can access the Golden Lounge after the flight?
My flight out is with EY and I gather they also use the Golden Lounge but for various reasons that boarding pass might not give me access.

 

[Austman]

Thanks for the info.
Sounds like I'll just be enjoying the lounge.
I will be flying in on MH (Business class and OW Emerald) and from what I have read you can access the Golden Lounge after the flight?
My flight out is with EY and I gather they also use the Golden Lounge but for various reasons that boarding pass might not give me access.

I don't think so... where did you read that? Was it OW international F/J long haul to international short haul rules? I suspect the international short haul needs to be under 5 hours... But I guess they might not check...

 

[esseeeayeenn]

A variety of places online including this tripadvisor thread.

Since your reply I have looked further and note that in the MH About Enrich webpage (and in the downloadable pdf Enrich Tiers Guidebook) it refers to "Platinum and Golden Lounge access for you and one guest who is travelling on any MH or OW flight". Later it refers to "Access to the network of Malaysia Airlines Shared Lounges for you and one guest travelling on MH or OW member airlines (for departures only)".
The omission of "for departures only" from the statement about their own lounges seems to imply arrival access is permitted.
Of course benefits to OW Emerald may or may not match the Enrich Platinum benefits.

Curious if anyone has tried?

 

[JohnK]

e lounge.
I will be flying in on MH (Business class and OW Emerald) and from what I have read you can access the Golden Lounge after the flight?
My flight out is with EY and I gather they also use the Golden Lounge but for various reasons that boarding pass might not give me access.

You won't have arrivals lounge access.

Not unless you ask nicely and get lucky.

 

[bigfoot786]

Unless it has changed recently, you can access the Golden Lounge with an MH Business Class boarding class on arrival as well as departure.

 

[dajop]

A couple of comments, arriving on MH there is no guarantee that you will arrive at the Satellite terminal (unless on A380 from CDG or LHR). There's always a chance of arriving at the main terminal. I've certainly arrived from and departed on MEL flights from the main terminal, and also seen SYD services depart from there. However I wouldn't be too preoccupied about the differences between main and satellite, the time it takes on the train is no more than the time it takes to traverse 3-4 travellators. There's plenty of airports with longer transits although all the one terminal (BKK!).

As for through checking, it is certainly worth asking. I did last month from MH to MI (Silk Air) on separate PNR's, checking in at CDG, but could not of course get my MI boarding pass (which I had from OLCI anyway). Not sure if EY contract staff at a transfer desk in either main or satellite terminal, if not you will need to go to EY gate to get BP and have luggage tags entered.

If you do have to leave airport, it is not worth the trip into KL, but one shorter option is to visit the shopping centre at KLIA2, a reasonably large shopping centre (landside) with an airport terminal attached to it.

 

[Austman]

Unless it has changed recently, you can access the Golden Lounge with an MH Business Class boarding class on arrival as well as departure.

Good to know! Thanks.