Transit time help

[robtheblade]

I am in the process of booking flights. I will(hope to) arrive in KUL at 8.50 am and depart 10.50am from the LCCwith Air Asia. I need to be at the Air Asia gate by 10.10 latest.given that the low cost terminal is quite a way from the main airportam I being too optimistic.

Thanks in advance. RTB

[Hotel Tango]

Sounds a tad tight to me. You should really build in the possibility of a delay to the arrival of you flight into KUL. Since your onward connection is not an interline one but an entirely seperate contract you would have to rebook and pay again (probably a much higher fare). I know it's a pain having to hang around between flights but if I plan a connection between a legacy and an LCC I tend to give myself plenty of buffer time (minimum 4-5 hours). Even that is of course no guarantee.

[Hartington]

Hotel Tango is entirely correct. If you miss the Air Asia flight you will have to pay to get on a later flight because your inbound is on a completely separate ticket. I would almost go so far as to suggest a night in KL.

Of course if you can buy one ticket all the way from your home to your destination for only a little more then, if the inbound is delayed, the delivering carrier is responsible for finding you a flight to your destination at no extra cost.

[Anansis]

Transferring between the main airport (KLIA) and the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) is not a straightforward process. Although they look like they are physically close, traveling between the two involves a journey around half the perimeter of the airport (no airside connections ). The is a bus connecting them but it only runs every twenty minutes or so and the journey takes twenty minutes- a bit of bad luck with the connection could result in quite a lengthy delay.

If you are determined to book this connection, your chances of making it will be boosted by using a taxi to get to the LCCT. As a British passport holder I've found that KLIA arrivals tend to be quite efficient- hopefully you should be able to get going pretty quickly after landing. Boarding pass gate times are usually quite conservative to you should have 10-15 minutes leeway with the 10.10 gate time (although obviously this cannot be guaranteed).

It's do-able but if I were you I would seriously consider finding a longer connection. There are too many variables which could go wrong.

[750XL]

I've arrived into the LCC with Air Asia and departed from it again with a 2 hour gap, I only just made my flight. Immigration in the LCC terminal can be horrible depending upon the time of day and easily take two hours to pass

[robtheblade]

Thanks for your replies. I've taken all the advice given and booked an evening flight. Having been through KUL many times I've found it a boring and sterile airport.

The thought of spending ten hours waiting for my next flight has me asking my next question. Any ideas as to pass the day?

[Anansis]

Sepang International racing track (home of the Malaysian Formula One and Moto GP races) is adjacent to the airport- you might even see from the air on approach. They offer tours of the facilities for RM50 when there are no races taking place. I've never done this but would probably consider it if I were in your shoes:

Circuit Tours : Introduction | Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia

Sepang reputedly has some beautiful beaches too which might be worth asking about. If motor racing and beaches aren't your thing then ten hours is plenty of time to catch a bus/train to Kuala Lumpur and hang around the city (if memory serves me right it takes around an hour each way).

[robtheblade]

Thanks for thesuggestions Anansis, unfortunately I have no interest in motor racingand am heading off for five weeks of beaches. I have been to KL manytimes and have always enjoyed it, so KL it will be.