Long-haul J experiences on MH

[MH_fan]

I've decided to start a general thread on this, so people can put up their experiences on MH's medium and long-haul flights.

So, I've just come off MH140 (SYD-KUL). MH use the A330-300 on this sector. It's an overnight flight that gets into KUL at the ungodly hour of 3:20am! Flight left on time but supper was served a bit later than usual because of turbulence. What was a bit different on this flight (and I have been on this particular flight quite a number of times) is that the crew checked with passengers after the supper service finished whether they wanted to be woken for breakfast refreshments. Almost everyone said no and preferred to get as much sleep as possible. They left passengers alone and kept the cabin dark until 30 minutes before landing. I managed to get about 4.5 hours of good sleep (despite the angled-flat bed) as a result. Mind you, there was a major rush for the toilets just before landing. Previously, they would've turned the cabin lights on almost 1.5-2 hours before landing to serve breakfast! A step in the right direction here.

I'm connecting to LHR on MH4, so will give my thoughts on that after that one's done.

 

[Phillippe M]

In the last 4 weeks we (should) have done four MH flights, but changed to 3.
19/12/13 - MH144 (B738) - DRW-KUL - Flight was about an hour delayed out of Darwin, onboard service in J was fine.
19/12/13 - MH004 (A380) - KUL-LHR - Flight was delayed by 6+ hours (this would have been known when we checked-in in DRW), different reasons given for the delay, ended up being a delayed flight from CDG (although there was a spare A380 sitting there), service was better then the earlier flight, nice food and better seat etc. Checked in bags totally destroyed once we arrived in London, and in KL they told us to contact the LHR ground staff to arrange a transport voucher, after the baggage issue, and then making it to ground staff, the line was massive, so gave up on that option and paid for a taxi (rather then the Express Train).
12/01/14 - MH21 (A380) - CDG-KUL - flight was cancelled and then re-timed to the following day, spent about an hour on the phone to them and got put on an EK flight to KL, which was a much nicer experience then the first two flights. Did try to get on the QR flights, but they were wait listed out of CDG.
15/01/14 - MH145 (B738) - KUL-DRW - flight was delayed by 90mins, crew weren't really that great, to busy talking to other crew (or friends) that were put in the last row of J. Although, they did offer supper and kept the lights off till about 25mins before landing which was good.

Overall, we wouldn't rush to fly them again, unless the price was great. Still have to contact them about getting the SC for the CDG-KUL flight, as we couldn't get on to QF flight No's with EK.

 

[DrA]

All of the flights below are on the order of 5-5.5 hours, so probably count as medium haul rather than long haul.

12/2013 MH124 PER-KUL: Aside from attitude issues with the gate staff at PER (Toll Dnata staff on behalf of MH), the flight was great. Check-in was easy, but the J check-in was extremely crowded (presumably from OW status) and I am glad I checked in online the night before and could use the web check-in line which was empty. Cabin service was great - not overbearing, but not non-existent either. The VGML I was served on this flight was probably the best VGML I've ever eaten on a flight anywhere.
12/2013 MH170 KUL-KTM: No issues to speak of. There was no priority boarding at KUL, but not a massive problem. The regional MH J product is a little dated and I would have liked a bed rather than the recliner (even though this flight is approximately the same length as PER-KUL), but it is what it is. And the VGML in no way lived up to the one I got on the PER-KUL flight, it was pretty bad.
01/2014 MH115 KTM-KUL: No priority boarding at KTM and lounge access is terrible (got kicked out of the - admittedly shared - lounge an hour before they even called for boarding because they wanted to go home early). On board J service was roughly the same as the KUL-KTM flight a month earlier. Average seats and a pretty bad VGML offering. About 2 seconds after confirming they had my VGML loaded on board, I was asked if I would like the chicken satay to go with that...She still didn't get it when I said no and that I actually really was vegetarian. ​Yes, a true WTF?!?! moment. 01/2014 MH125 KUL-PER: Priority boarding strictly enforced at KUL which was nice. The Golden Lounge had just reopened when I passed back through, but the lounge was overcrowded and really didn't impress me at all. No powerpoints, the wi-fi was worse than dial-up if you could even get it to work at all, food offerings almost non-existent really early in the morning. On board, the service was great. Managed some sleep and the VGML was pretty good.

I flew MH because they went to KTM with minimal connection hassle and I got a cheap business promo fare. I'd fly them again, but only in J.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I've decided to start a general thread on this, so people can put up their experiences on MH's medium and long-haul flights.

So, I've just come off MH140 (SYD-KUL). MH use the A330-300 on this sector. It's an overnight flight that gets into KUL at the ungodly hour of 3:20am! Flight left on time but supper was served a bit later than usual because of turbulence. What was a bit different on this flight (and I have been on this particular flight quite a number of times) is that the crew checked with passengers after the supper service finished whether they wanted to be woken for breakfast refreshments. Almost everyone said no and preferred to get as much sleep as possible. They left passengers alone and kept the cabin dark until 30 minutes before landing. I managed to get about 4.5 hours of good sleep (despite the angled-flat bed) as a result. Mind you, there was a major rush for the toilets just before landing. Previously, they would've turned the cabin lights on almost 1.5-2 hours before landing to serve breakfast! A step in the right direction here.

I'm connecting to LHR on MH4, so will give my thoughts on that after that one's done.

I did this flight last November in Y, my 4yr old was startled awake by those lights and had a very unpleasant trip from there on, he now says he will not go any planes where you have to sleep...

I'm on MH122 and MH143 next week in J so will offer my comments too.

 

[prozac]

1. Angle-flat seats left me feeling tired on arrival.
2. 2 departures ex KUL both at least 1 hour delayed and poor communication regarding this.
3. Lighting. They dial-in the colour settings for different kaleidoscope lighting in the window pelmets for different sages of flight, ie. taxi, take-off, wake-up etc. On one setting the wavelength of the LED lighting was just too harsh for a tired traveler giving me a headache.
4. It bothers me that security is so lax at KUL that you can (wife did) take a litre plastic water bottle through ALL security checks and finally onto the plane.

All this kind of defeats the purpose (to arrive refreshed) of flying J.

Edit: I did not like the apparent sexual discrimination between CAs. On some flights male CAs seemed to pass all lower level tasks to the female CAs. I don't think this was a seniority thing...maybe it was inter-racial. Anyway I did not like it.

 

[Duffa]

MH 128 MEL-KUL Dep 00.05
Angled lie-flat seat was firm and uncomfortable despite a Temazepam and some Cruiser Elite "sedation" in liquid form in the lounge prior.
Row 7 - last row next to galley was noisy
Only ate the Satay and declined the Shepherds pie for supper
Not even close to SQ J for comfort but the points to Europe are very attractive.
Would take day flight up to KL next time and then overnight on A380 to CDG or LHR - seems a better option with the "flatter" bed

 

[MH_fan]

Agree with you, Duffa. Those angled-flat seats are terrible! Fine for a day flight but definitely not for an overnight one. Best option is to take the day flight and connect to the lovely A380 for the overnight flights to LHR or CDG.

 

[mannej]

But aren't the MH A380's angled flat as well?

 

[hrs027]

MH 128 MEL-KUL Dep 00.05
I am taking this flight MH128 MEL-KUL Dep 00.05 in couple of weeks. Do you remember if they gave you satay on this flight and then a main meal and later breakfast before landing?
I was under the impression that they didn't offer satays on this particular flight due to late midnight departure timings.
I would be glad if they did offer satays as that is the only food I look forward to on MH.

 

[MH_fan]

But aren't the MH A380's angled flat as well?

They're not angled flat. They are flat. There used to be a kink in the footrest part but that's been fixed so it's almost level now. I don't notice the kink anymore.

 

[mannej]

They're not angled flat. They are flat. There used to be a kink in the footrest part but that's been fixed so it's almost level now. I don't notice the kink anymore.

Google isn't my friend on this one - it would suggest after further digging they are fully flat.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Sorry but you are incorrect, they are angled flat and the MH website confirms this.

I am interested in this as in June doing the day flight to to KL and then overnight to LHR was told the A380 was a lie flat bed. (OWE Award)

 

[deka2]

I am interested in this as in June doing the day flight to to KL and then overnight to LHR was told the A380 was a lie flat bed. (OWE Award)

We're doing the a same thing in a week.

I was going to ask for an extra blanket to put under my legs to level that part up a bit.

If the Footrest drop has been fixed all the better.

 

[MH_fan]

Just to confirm... The J seats on the MH A380s are fully flat. The kink that used to be in the legrest bit has been fixed on all six of the planes. I'm on these birds (in J) about twice a year, the most recent being in January.

 

[ij05]

MH 128 MEL-KUL Dep 00.05
I am taking this flight MH128 MEL-KUL Dep 00.05 in couple of weeks. Do you remember if they gave you satay on this flight and then a main meal and later breakfast before landing?
I was under the impression that they didn't offer satays on this particular flight due to late midnight departure timings.
I would be glad if they did offer satays as that is the only food I look forward to on MH.

I recently took this flight and can report that yes they do offer satays shortly after departure, along with supper.

 

[MH_fan]

I love the stays! The chicken ones are my favourite and I love the thick and chunky peanut sauce. That's the way it should be!

 

[Flying Fox]

I love the stays! The chicken ones are my favourite and I love the thick and chunky peanut sauce. That's the way it should be!

Totally agree.

Sauce must be chunky & thick !!!

 

[Duffa]

Just to confirm... The J seats on the MH A380s are fully flat. The kink that used to be in the legrest bit has been fixed on all six of the planes. I'm on these birds (in J) about twice a year, the most recent being in January.

Thanks MH! Mrs D is off to LHR tomorrow on MH 004 and I PROMISED her it would be as flat as SQ!!

 

[Duffa]

I love the stays! The chicken ones are my favourite and I love the thick and chunky peanut sauce. That's the way it should be!

Agree the satays are, indeed, FABULOUS!
But I'll still pass on the supper, preferring a bit of shut-eye.
As I posted previously, Mrs D on her way to LHR via KL tomorrow. I haven't done MH 380 J so will wait for her feedback.
Maybe I should ask her for a TR, as recompense for not turning right at the door??!!

 

[knightman7]

Can confirm that they have fixed the seat on the a380. My wife flew KUL - LHR a couple or days ago and said the seat was perfectly flat.