Review of Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuching to Singapore in Business

Greetings Flight Report community and welcome to the third installment of the "Great Swiss First Coup" series. Please feel free to visit the LAX-HKG segment for more detail on how our own Rewardflying contributor worked his magic and tuned Swiss F from a dream into a reality.

My side trip to Kuching was originally a round trip SIN-KCH-SIN in MH J. About a month before the trip MH sent a schedule update that rerouted the trip as SIN-KUL-KCH-SIN with a 4 hour layover in KUL. No thanks. The ticket was booked with Avios so I rang BA and they, of course, dropped the SIN-KUL-KCH leg and refunded some money and Avios and there was no charge for the change. I bought a $45 Air Asia Y ticket and the schedule was right again. 

MAS Golden Lounge - KCH

I arrived at KCH around 9:00. Turns out it's a compact airport and not very busy so I could have come closer to departure time. 

There was no wait for a boarding pass or security and immigration.

To access the lounge is a bit of an odd procedure as I guess it's in the domestic side of the terminal. At fist I could see it but it was partitioned by glass and I could not access that area. After asking an airport staff I was directed to a glass door where I was allowed to pass to the other side. Interesting.

The lounge is basically on large room. It's a bit run down and could use a refresh in the style of the KUL lounges.

Food and beverage are at the back of the room.

Guests can order hot sandwiches from the staff.

Prayer facilities.

Restrooms and showers.

Staying out of the hot sun.

The aircraft to SIN.

MH643 KCH-SIN

Boarding was announced in the lounge and I proceeded to the gate.

I selected 4A. I like the last row when possible as I like to observe the goings on in he cabin. The seat is a plush recliner akin to US domestic F a decade ago. There is a leg rest however I don't think it adds much value. A pillow and blanket were on each seat.

Decent pitch, certainly superior to US domestic F.

Leg rest and recline controls and leg rest.

Ahhh, air vents…

The cabin was 11/16.

Lots of glare on the IFE screen.

I enjoyed some water and a cold towel before departure. There were two juice options as well. Seat 4B remained empty so I had direct aisle access.

Pushing back slightly ahead of schedule.

It's a short taxi to the single runway.

The nose of the aircraft has already arrived in Singapore! It's a straight route.

Out over the South China Sea.

[div]Servie starts very quickly on this 60 min. flight. There were 3 choices of hot lunch. On a 60 minute flight! I was really surprised. The choices consisted of spicy chicken with rice, seafood noodle, or fish with potato. [/div]

Base tray with garlic bread.

The cake and salad are covered in plastic wrap so there is a glare.

Some water and tea to drink.

Unfortunately the seafood noodle didn't appear very appetizing. I only managed a bite or two.

Cruising.

Tiny F lav.

Short final to Changi.

Tourism Bonus: Enchanting (and delicous) Kuching.