The Golden Lounge, Malaysian Airlines’ fashionable lounge at Kuala Lumpur’s international airport in Terminal 1, is certainly an imposing establishment and a retreat for passengers awaiting flights or with a short or long stopover. The lounge was opened in March 2018 and, in peak times, averages 1500 people in each 24-hour period.

The Golden Lounge is on the Mezzanine Floor, Level 2 Satellite Building, KL International Airport. The lounge can also be accessed by paying a walk-in fee for adults AUD$108, children $54. If purchased online, AUD$95 and $47. Children under two are free. This access is for a maximum of three hours.

The lounge reflects Malaysia Airlines’ commitment to building the brand, the business class and loyalty flyers by providing a spacious lounge that caters for every passenger’s whim. It features a great variety of food, alcoholic and soft drinks plus coffee and tea.

The sprawling KL airport can be a bit tricky to negotiate if you are not familiar with the layout it would be wise to check exactly where the lounge is in relation to your gate. The Golden Lounge is open 24 hours, seven days, and immediately above the Aerotrain station.  The trains are currently out of operation awaiting trackwork and buses fill the void. There are no flight announcements giving the area a break from most airports’ intrusive and muffled flight announcements and this provides a more sedate environment for those using the nap rooms. Rest, prayer, nap rooms and shower suites are all gender-based.

For the plane, there are ceiling-to-floor windows overlooking the tarmac to witness the aircraft movements.

The food is extraordinary, fresh and tasty and regularly replenished with a vast variety from sandwiches to soups and local dishes.  The menu mid-afternoon featured aloo chanta masala, buttered vegetables, beef korma, fettuccine arrabiata, roast chicken, creamy potato and leek soup, congee, and a variety of salads, cakes and fruit. The popular noodle station had the famous Sarawak laksa along with a chicken noodle soup. Be aware the Laksa is addictive. There is also a barista-made selection of coffee and tea. All dishes on the menu are changed weekly.

Just inside the entrance, there is a bar, also with tarmac views, serving a variety of beers and spirits. The spacious facility very rarely gets full as it is such a large area, with a selection of seating that includes workstations and chargers. There is a family area to entertain the children.

Staff, both at the front desk and in the lounge are very attentive and helpful. I asked if I could change my seat for my upcoming flight to an aisle and was very pleasantly surprised when I boarded to be shown to a premium economy seat.

This lounge is equal or superior to many of the business class operations around the world. It is comfortable, well-appointed, well-stocked and accessible to all Malaysian Airlines passengers.

Written by: John Savage

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