AirAsia X, KUL-MEL Premium Flatbed (1-2-1 config) and a KLIA T2 fiasco (or how to nearly miss your flight)

[Austman]

1. Initial international departures entrance check.

Unlike KLIA T1, KLIA T2 first rounds you up according to the airline you are flying. So into the AirAisa line I go. Here they have someone who rigorously checks carry-ons for size and weight.

Me: My single carry-on is over 7kg but, as I have paid for 14kg, I was told it would be OK.
Attendant: Who told you that! (in a very snappy tone)
Me: The AirAsia staff at the Premium Flatbed check-in desk just over there.
Attendant: Read the signs here. 7kg max.
Me: OK, I can move some kg into a second bag if you insist. Do I need to do that?
Attendant: Do it over there (pointing to a spot on the floor).

I wasn't going to win, so I just complied. A bit of unzipping and repacking to create 2 bags. Then zipping them up again. Then back to the attendant.

Rather grumpily, I was then given the green light. But my bag rearrangement did take a while. And now I had an extra one to deal with.

 

[Austman]

2. Passport control.

Now this was curious. After getting through step 1, I looked up and saw, immediately in front of me, lots of attended passport control counters stating "Foreign Passports" or the like. There was only a short wait. I handed over my Australian passport and BP as usual.

The official then went though every page of my Australian passport. Two or three times. And then took some more time. It took so long I thought I must be in trouble for something. Eventually I was asked:

Officer: Did you enter Malaysia via e-gates?
Me: Yes.
Officer: Then use e-gates to exit Malaysia.
Me: Oh! But where are the e-gates, I couldn't see them.
Officer: They are down the end (pointing the direction).
Me: OK!

I could see some green lights down the end. So it was down to the e-gates at the end and then through in the usual e-gate time.

So another delay. I did later wonder about what the officer said. Considering e-gates aren't even available at many international border points in Malaysia, could it be true? Maybe it's "if you arrive using e-gates you must exit using e-gates where they exist"?

 

[Austman]

3. Customs/initial security check (bags only). I'm not sure what this even does?

I'm actually not too sure if this was done in KLIA T2. But I think it was. It's just a bags only x-ray check. Not a problem except I now had an extra bag to deal with.

Then it was the long walk over the the Q pier. First to get to the Skybridge. Then the Skybridge which alone is apparently a 300m walk. And then there is the length of the Q pier if your gate is towards the end of it. My gate, Q10, was.

 

[Austman]

4. Final full security check (you and your bags).

Here is where KLIA T1 and KLIA T2 differ again. At KLIA T1 this is done at the actual gate. But in KLIA T2 it's done at the entrance to the Q pier, not at the actual gate. I suppose the other piers are similar?

The Q pier is international only so they have semi-centralised the final full security check. It's probably a reasonable idea but if something goes wrong that holds you up at this check in KLIA T1, you are at least at the gate. And the gate staff can see what's happening. But If something goes wrong that holds you up at this check in KLIA T2, you might still be 300m or more from your gate! Big difference!

There was zero waiting when I arrived. Two lanes were open. So I put my bags etc into the trays as usual. Then I went though the body scanner OK.

On the other side however a previous pax was causing security some issues. Security was going through his bag. Meanwhile my bags were actually stuck inside the X-ray machine. Security were finding several, of what looked to me to be some sort of power bank. And they were not happy with them. Perhaps there was a language barrier but the owner of the items stayed quiet and looked perplexed. Security called for more of there staff to come over. There was quite some discussion and further bag searching. Meanwhile I was stuck. I couldn't even switch over to the other (empty) lane.

After some minutes I informed security that my Q10 gate would be soon closing. The pax causing the issue was taken aside and my bags appeared.

Then, as quickly as I could, still holding my belt, it was off to gate Q10. Still quite a distance away.

5. Gate BP and passport check.

When I eventually arrived at Q10, staff were beginning to rope it off. But I made it. Whew.

After the gate BP and passport check, I looked at the time. It was 12:15, exactly 20 minutes before departure and when AirAsia advise their gates will be closed.

 

[Austman]

On reflection, I should have allowed a lot more time to get from the lounge to the gate.

Things can go wrong and LCCs can be pedantic with their processes. I know all of that!

I was also unfamiliar with KLIA T2.

Lesson learned!

 

[Austman]

You're walking past the check-in desks which is presumably still open (>60min before dep), and yet worried about making the flight! Waiting for your next reveal episode.

I was thinking about this. So looked it up.

AirAisa X advise that check-in closes one hour before departure and to be at the gate 90 minutes before departure. Malaysia Airlines advise that check-in closes one hour before departure and to be at the gate one hour before departure (advice printed on the BP).

It seems those airlines know a bit about teleportation and time travel.

Of course it's not wise to check-in at the last moment. But it should be realistically possible to do so if it's allowed.

 

[dajop]

AirAisa X advise that check-in closes one hour before departure and to be at the gate 90 minutes before departure. Malaysia Airlines advise that check-in closes one hour before departure and to be at the gate one hour before departure (advice printed on the BP).

I've always taken the view that what is printed on the boarding pass (if it is) as the time the gate closes is the most important metric. Leave the "be at the gate" timing to the rarely travel crowd or those travelling with the kitchen sink in economy class.

So it seems you had the timing perfect.

 

[moa999]

Interesting. There used to be an AirAsia Red lounge out near the P/Q gates beyond the main escalator that takes you down.

But seemingly this has been closed. So I'm getting that the only lounge now is airside in the main terminal

 

[Austman]

I've always taken the view that what is printed on the boarding pass (if it is) as the time the gate closes is the most important metric.

Indeed. And that I knew was 12:15. I started from the land-side Plaza Premium lounge some 50 mins before the gate closed. Shortly after 11:25.

It was the distances involved - the land-side lounge adding to that - and my 3 x minor hiccups that were the issue.

Still, KLIA T2 is a bit of a monster if you have one of the the far Q gates!

 

[Austman]

There used to be an AirAsia Red lounge out near the P/Q gates beyond the main escalator that takes you down.

That would be a much better lounge location! With most of the KLIA T2 processes and distances done.

I remember leaving the land-side Plaza Premium lounge with still about 70 minutes to departure and thought it's an very odd early time to be leaving an airline provided departures lounge!

 

[elanshin]

Indeed. And that I knew was 12:15. I started from the land-side Plaza Premium lounge some 50 mins before the gate closed. Shortly after 11:25.

It was the distances involved - the land-side lounge adding to that - and my 3 x minor hiccups that were the issue.

Still, KLIA T2 is a bit of a monster if you have one of the the far Q gates!

I think you also got relatively lucky. It's not unknown for KLIA2 to have lines 1h + long to get past security that stretches out into the main check in.

 

[dajop]

Luckily last time I passed through KLIA2 it was a same plane return on Sccot. Transit security was a breeze ! But have been there a couple of years ago with some time to get through.