Tight transit in KL

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks jase. I was somewhat astounded that this change was able to be included in a revised itinerary and that Qantas initially thought 25 mins for the transit was fine. And yes, thanks again for all the good folks providing the helpful advice. Much better a 15 hour layover, than stranded in KLIA begging for the next available flight out, which almost certainly would not have been on J class.

The initial revision would have been done by computer, QF agents outside australia have little or no knowledge about anything unfortunately

 

[Take me home]

MCT appears to be 60 minutes, so no way it would be allowed.

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com

Minimum Connect Times: Connecting at KUL, Incoming airline QR, Outgoing airline MH, Flight type International to International

STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE   1.00  1.00  1.00  1.00
OFFLINE  1.00  1.00  1.00  1.00
** OR * ARE ALL
QR-MH II   SUP ALL - CAN

[/QUOTE]

Post automatically merged: Aug 10, 2022

Thanks serfty. excuse my ignorance, but how does MCT work and is it required to be applied/followed by airlines?

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Any tips on how long I should wait for the e-tix before going back to Qantas?

Don’t wait. Call now.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Post automatically merged: Aug 10, 2022

Thanks serfty. excuse my ignorance, but how does MCT work and is it required to be applied/followed by airlines?

MCT is minimum connecting time. It is set by airlines and airports to ensure you have enough time to transfer between flights… both you and your luggage.

Tickets cannot be issued unless MCT is achieved. MCT depends on the airport, airline and destination of your flight, so can vary quite significantly. Some can be as little as 25 mins, some three or more hours.

On the day of travel MCT can sometimes get breached if the inbound flight is late for example. But prior to travel a ticket shouldn’t be allowed that breaches the times. They are set for good reason.

 

[JohnK]

And what would be your SMCT for KUL?

I wouldn't take anything less than 3 hours at any airport.

In saying that I didn't have much choice on award availability and I've got about 90 minutes in SIN next month. Any schedule change or any delay and I'd be sitting in airport until next morning.

 

[Take me home]

Does anyone know if there are usage restrictions on the Malaysia Business Class lounge at KLIA? Given we are flying J class and have a long layover, can we go direct from plane to lounge on landing and stay there until take off 15 hours later?

 

[Quickstatus]

security issue

Exactly, in reality the time added to the gate security xray scanning would have only maybe added a minute or two. Maybe even nothing if everyone is past the xray and are at the aircraft door. BUT the callcentres likely would not know that..

The point of mentioning the "gate security issue" was to plant a little but very fast growing seed of doubt

 

[Quickstatus]

Malaysia Business Class lounge at KLIA

The MAS Golden lounge for J and less than platinum FF (entrance is left of counter)

The MAS Platinum Lounge for platinum FF and MAS business suites (which replaced their first class) passengers (entrance is right of counter)

Open 24hrs. It will be a very boring 15hrs though.

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone know if there are usage restrictions on the Malaysia Business Class lounge at KLIA? Given we are flying J class and have a long layover, can we go direct from plane to lounge on landing and stay there until take off 15 hours later?

No restrictions from memory. I think there's also a sleeping area but that may be on the First Class side.

There used to be a transit hotel pre-covid. Not sure if still available.

 

[Take me home]

Exactly, in reality the time added to the gate security xray scanning would have only maybe added a minute or two. Maybe even nothing if everyone is past the xray and are at the aircraft door. BUT the callcentres likely would not know that..

The point of mentioning the "gate security issue" was to plant a little but very fast growing seed of doubt

Thanks QS. Are you in the “25 mins would have been fine” camp?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks QS. Are you in the “25 mins would have been fine” camp?

I won’t answer for QS but there are two issues here. On the day of travel, if your inbound is late… can you still make the connection? Some airlines like Cathay Pacific will have someone to meet you and escort you to the next plane. I’ve done a connection in HKG with just under 20 minutes. Your bags may not be as lucky.

The other issue is minimum connecting time and what’s allowed to be ticketed, before the day of departure. If the ticket does not meet MCT one or both airlines may cancel the ticket if they can’t meet the requirements. It’s not a case of allowing an invalid connection… the onward connecting airline doesn’t want to be responsible for providing accommodation, rebooking and everything else such as getting your bags delivered to you if you miss their flight.

A friend recently flew Finnair connecting to qantas in singapore. The inbound finnair flight was running late and landed five minutes after MCT. The airlines cancelled the qantas flights and reaccommodated them on Jetstar… a far inferior business class product. Could my friend have made the connection in SIN in 55 minutes? Absolutely. Would the airline allow it? In this case, no.

 

[Quickstatus]

Are you in the “25 mins would have been fine” camp?

As per @MEL_Traveller . Too many ducks have to line up for that to happen.

It was all about giving the call centre a operational reason why it can’t be done.

 

[wandering_fred]

The relatively inexpensive hotels available at KLIA and KLIA2 allows me to book a latish flight in and a reasonable morning flight out. It does mean entering Malaysia but as things return to "normal" that is fairly straightforward.
And the overnight allows for delays short of a full cancellation.
An easy choice when wandering
Fred

 

[Quickstatus]

Some airlines like Cathay Pacific

I was a QF SYD-MEL-SIN connecting to an MH SIN-KUL. As usual flight delayed out of MEL

Was met by Changi agent who escorted me to the next terminal. Was WP at the time. Not sure if it was airline instigated. It would not have been QF as the MH flight was a different PNR. I didn’t ask the agent who she represented but she has a vest on but I didn’t “stare” for obvious reasons.

Another time KUL-SIN-SYD but EK on the second leg. Also different PNR. A electric buggy turned up and took a few of us to the EK gate. At gate I was told see desk. Got upgrade J—F.

So I suspect some airports might have some syst to facilitate passenger transfer

 

[Take me home]

The fun continues. Despite me accepting the change AND a new e-ticket being issued for the original 25 min transit, QR have now cancelled the DOH-KUL leg. QF can’t find a replacement, so I can now pay for that leg or scrap the other 2 award legs (was coming from Europe via DOH-KUL to SYD), get refund and pay for J Class out of Europe to SYD.

One option I like is OMAN AIR to KUL and then 1 hour transit to MH on to SYD. It sounds like the 1 hour is on limit of MCT so, appreciating that if inbound flight runs late this is a risk, is it probable that MH would find an alternative if we could not make the KUL-SYD flight? Would we be any better served buying the tickets from MH rather than OMAN?

Any thoughts from the assorted brains trust here much appreciated.

 

[Quickstatus]

I would see what MH has out of DOH/EU
(If you want to keep KUL-SYD)

 

[Take me home]

I would see what MH has out of DOH/EU
(If you want to keep KUL-SYD)

Thanks QS. But i think for the cost of EU-SYD on OMAN J Class, not worth keeping KUL-SYD award flight and paying for MH J class for EU-KUL

 

[JohnK]

@Take me home the risk with short connections (1 hour may meet KUL MCT but comes with issues) is that if you miss the connection there may not be availability on the next flight.

We once pushed back in MNL and then sat in queue for ~1 hour before take off. CX didn't bother waiting in HKG for 30+ passengers to last flight to BKK then DEL. When we landed can see the aircraft at the gate but they chose to leave.

Another time had short connection SYD-ICN-MNL on Asiana and flight departed SYD late. Arrived in ICN and someone waiting for me at gate and we ran to aircraft waiting for me. I was in business which helped but very stressful. Still don't know how luggage made it.

 

[Take me home]

Thanks John. Yes, not ideal i acknowledge and would certainly prefer say 2hrs.

 

[Simo]

Me personally would ring QF... I have had a tight connection at KLIA but I was on Malaysian airlines for both sectors and they knew we where on our way. We did SIN to KL and do customs and then go to Lang Kawai. But I would make sure you have a good supply of what you need when you get to Sydney as they didn't get all of our bags on the flight.