• 

  Malaysia Airlines

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  MH/MAS

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Kuala Lumpur International Airport

  Year Founded:

  May 1st, 1947

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  CEO:

  Izham Ismail

  Country:

  Malaysia

After 13 hours in the air flying with Malaysia Airlines from London Heathrow (LHR) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) on an Airbus A350, it was time to switch over to a Boeing 737 to head to my final destination of Kota Kinabalu (BKI), in the region of Sabah.

Easy connection

I was invited by the flag carrier of Malaysia to explore its home after the country announced that it is open for tourism. With a few nights in Borneo on the agenda after a connection in Kuala Lumpur, I was eager to board the Boeing 737-8H6.

This unit joined Malaysia Airlines in May 2014 with registration 9M-MLV. The aircraft could be spotted from the lounge, arriving earlier that morning from Kuching (KCH).

Boarding the aircraft was smooth. The jetway’s design allowed for an expansive view of the ground, and I managed to spot Malaysia Airlines’ parked Airbus A380s, which were famously put up for sale last summer.

With the 737-800 narrowbody being an older unit than Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A350 widebody, the business class products differ. That being said, there is plenty of comfort and space to be had for a single-aisle cabin. MH2614 left Kuala Lumpur two minutes early, at 12:53 MYT, and I was able to truly experience the comfort myself.

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Generous recline

In this article, I will primarily include photos of my outbound trip, but I will also insert a few snaps of the return journey.

The business class cabin hosts 16 seats, all of which recline. The pitch is 42" and the width is 21", allowing for a relaxed ride on the 2.5-hour flight. The pitch is supported by plenty of recline with a leg rest and foot bar, which can be adapted by controls at the end of the armrest.

The cowhide leather seat covers add a touch of luxury, and I also made use of the individual in-seat AC power to recharge my phone following the long-haul leg of the trip.

Inflight cuisine

After the aircraft leveled, the flight attendants began preparing food service, and the aroma got my appetite going. In my Malaysia Airlines international A350 review, I noted that the gluten-free meal was disappointing and felt there was room for improvement. These remarks were met with some debate in the comment section, with some mentioning that my thoughts on the foodservice were invalid due to my dietary requirements. However, this domestic flight alone highlighted the potential to be had with gluten-free offerings.

I was highly satisfied with what was served on both the outbound and return flights. For a short-haul trip, there was a great balance, and I could tell some extra thought went into it.

The tomato sauce paired well with the potatoes on the outbound main course. The additional vegetables were also cooked perfectly, complementing the protein underneath.

The rice cake is the same standard offering that most airlines place on gluten-free trays, but the creamy margarine helped to avoid it being dry. The pudding was a nice surprise, with the syrup and strawberry finishing off the meal with plenty of sweetness.

The return main course was also tomato-based, and consisted of potatoes, and vegetables, but with a different preparation. The chicken was tender and the sauce tasted nice and rich. The gluten-free bread was moist, something that restaurants, let alone airlines, often struggle to obtain.

It was a healthier option for the dessert this time, with a selection of fruit on display. The watermelon particularly stood out, providing a refreshing mouth feel.

Despite the healthy meal, I finished it off with a can of full-fat Coke before stowing the tray away to the side. There’s something about the way this drink tastes while up in the skies!

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Relaxing journey

I considered watching a movie on the 10.6" IFE screens but opted to save The Matrix Resurrections for the flight back to London - watch out for my verdict on this in the coming weeks. Instead, I cleaned up with help of the airline’s sanitizing kit and sat back to catch some rest.

Time passed by quickly, and the aircraft landed at Kota Kinabalu at 15:27 MYT. I was refreshed and ready to see what wonders Borneo would bring, something I will share more of in the final part of this review series.

Overall, there was a classic business class feel on this flight. The crew members were welcoming and attentive just as they were on the A350, adding another layer of comfort to the whole journey. I had anticipated that I would feel a bit cramped having linking from a widebody business cabin, but I appreciated that there was still plenty of space with this 2x2 formation.

Have you flown with Malaysia Airlines on its Boeing 737-800 aircraft? What did you make of the experience? Let us know what you think in the comment section.

Simple Flying traveled on this flight as a guest of Malaysia Airlines.