Malaysian Airlines v Singapore

[Coloursmartsolutions]

I'm looking at booking a business class rewards flight from Syd to UK in July '17. Due to Virgins increase in taxes I'm now weighing up between Malaysia or Singapore. My wife is really nervous about Malaysia though (any current insights on these guys would be great). The choice is (for 4 people 1 way) Malaysia Air, total of 460,000 points and $1,537 in taxes flying MH122 - A333 & MH002 - A380. OR Singapore Air, total of 510,000 points and $1,726 in taxes flying to Manchester on SQ242 (Boeing 777) and SQ52 (Boeing 777).

I'd love to hear what people think is a better in-flight plane experience and better option from the about 2 choices?

Thanks all,

 

[bsb]

Are you using AMEX points? I ask because they're 2 different alliances.

Anyway...I guess it depends on your preference and whether you want to blow that many more points. SQ is a much better soft product (although I haven't tried the new 330 J which I believe is good) and MH can be variable with service. I'd go MH and keep the points

 

[Coloursmartsolutions]

Are you using AMEX points? I ask because they're 2 different alliances.

Anyway...I guess it depends on your preference and whether you want to blow that many more points. SQ is a much better soft product (although I haven't tried the new 330 J which I believe is good) and MH can be variable with service. I'd go MH and keep the points

Thanks bsb,

Yes I'm using AMEX points through Westpac Altitude. Ideally I'd be able to find the 95,000 point seats in the Singapore option but the only option there for 4 seats is waitlist which I don't want to risk. Availability on Malaysia for 4 business rewards seats is much better. I flew Malaysia last year and not having a fully flat bed were annoying. I hoped on their A380 they would have fully flat bed, do you know by any chance if they do?

Cheers,

 

[Mattg]

You should get a fully-flat bed on the Malaysian A380, and in fact they are also upgrading their A330s so you should get a flat bed on that aircraft as well.

I would also go Malaysian and save the points. Singapore probably offers a slightly better overall service, but I don't mind Malaysian at all. The satay sticks they serve in business class are great too.

 

[Coloursmartsolutions]

Haha, yes the satay stick weren't bad at all.

I think if I could be sure we had fully flat beds I'd choose the MH option and save the points.

You should get a fully-flat bed on the Malaysian A380, and in fact they are also upgrading their A330s so you should get a flat bed on that aircraft as well.

I would also go Malaysian and save the points. Singapore probably offers a slightly better overall service, but I don't mind Malaysian at all. The satay sticks they serve in business class are great too.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Haha, yes the satay stick weren't bad at all.

I think if I could be sure we had fully flat beds I'd choose the MH option and save the points.

If you want a flat bed with Singapore airlines you need to stand up and put it into bed mode whereas Malaysia is lazyboy mode and you can fall asleep while watching a movie and recline into dreamland.

I'm a big fan of SQ and you'll likely have better service but if flat beds are a big deal I would go MH

 

[Austman]

My wife is really nervous about Malaysia though (any current insights on these guys would be great).
I'd love to hear what people think is a better in-flight plane experience and better option from the about 2 choices?

Thanks all,

MH now have a solid long haul J-class product Australia-UK. It's A330s Australia-KUL and A380s KUL-LHR.

MH's A330-300s have good and modern fully flat seats complete with supplied duvets (and blankets) and a Porsche Design kit. MH's inflight service is very good, their food offering are substantial and they have quite good drinks. But no champagne before take off however!

MH's J-lounge in KUL is OK but their F-Lounge (access for OWE) is now approaching Qantas Flounge standards. A wine list, a substantial menu and top-notch, restaurant style, service!

A few pics:


A330-300 leg room is certainly long enough - but cramped at the feet end. Some seats offer great privacy!



Signature satay appetizer


Smoked duck starter


Filet Mignon main. From chef-on-call.

 

[Austman]

Some more pics:


Seat Gruru MH A330-300 - seats 2A, 5A, 7A and 1K, 4K, 6K are good choices for singles.



KUL Flounge wine list which is similar to the on-board J-class wine list



KUL Flounge lunch/dinner menu. Quite a good selection. There is a different menu for breakfast.

 

[MH_fan]

Good to see that the MH F lounge in KUL now has a wine menu. I made that very specific suggestion to them last year (having a wine list and having at least a choice of 2 reds and 2 whites) and am very pleased to see that they took that on board because I told them that offering a "red or white" and the staff not knowing what they actually were was simply not good enough for a lounge such as this.

As for the OP, I would go with MH. I've always had a very good experience in J and now that their A330's have fully flat beds, you'll get flat beds all the way to LHR. I really like J seats on their A380. It is one of the few J seats where I can comfortably sleep on my side, as it's wide enough.

 

[dajop]

If you do go with MH, just be aware their schedules in July 2017 are incorrectly loaded. At some point they will be retimed. This affects MH 122 SYD-KUL (probably will be moved to depart SYD 2 hrs earlier, still arrive in KL at same time) and MH 123 KUL-SYD (probably will arrive in SYD 2 hrs earlier, but leave KL at same time.)

 

[Rigs]

Last time I flew with MH I was very disappointed. SQ can be impersonal and remote but it is very consistent.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Last time I flew with MH I was very disappointed. SQ can be impersonal and remote but it is very consistent.

Every airline has the same problems. Kind of like saying you don't like cars because the air conditioning was too cold in a Toyota you once rode in.
I think it would be fair to say you can't put any weight on crew friendliness as a factor in what airline you fly. I mean - if people did really care, BA would be out of business already.

 

[clifford]

Last time I flew with MH I was very disappointed. SQ can be impersonal and remote but it is very consistent.

Last time I flew with MH (SYD-KUL-HKT) a couple of months ago in paid J I was more than happy with the flights. Great seats on the 333, excellent service and passable lounge in KUL. I have subsequently flown SQ business class class several times, including on the 77W, and find that comfort/service is not at all better, and that SQ can skimp on little things such as amenities packs, etc, etc.