Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, Malaysia is a nicely designed, efficient, competitive and world-class hub airport. This new large airport, complete with the latest technology and state-of-the-art facilities seems to provide maximum passenger safety, comfort and convenience. It is unique because it has within its boundaries all that is needed for business, entertainment and relaxation. You have to see the beautiful airport yourself to believe me. KLIA is a great place to look around!
This ultra modern airport seems to have been opened in mid 1998, and is considered as one of the most modern airports. I have no doubt about that after seeing this fabulous airport. I have seen the Riyadh airport, Jeddah airport and Dhahran airport, but I don’t think they can match the beauty of KLIA in any way. KLIA is fully computerized in its airport management system including baggage handling. This airport has many high tech features.
We had the opportunity to wait at this airport as transit passengers, when we landed there from London, on our way to Chennai. We had fourteen hours to catch our connecting flight to Chennai. Since my husband was not comfortable with the idea of going out of the Airport to see Malaysia, I settled with just going around the airport to see all the duty free shops and other food and retail outlets. It was fun!
KLIA also provides the necessary traveling amenities such as travel boutiques, hotel desks, banking kiosks, airline ticketing, ATMs, taxis and car rental services. Don’t you think that makes your traveling experience more pleasant?
I liked the mini train, which somewhat looked like the electric train of India, but was very grand and look sleek in structure. It is called KLIA Express and it is very fast and takes the way to the city through the airport. These high-speed trains depart and arrive every day from KL City Air Terminal. (KL CAT). At KL CAT, you can check in your luggage and receive your boarding pass if you are flying with Malaysia Airlines. Then, you can ride the KLIA Express within half an hour, which runs every 15 minutes. You don’t need to worry about missing your flight. This train service is another wonderful thing, which I liked at the airport.
There are three main complexes in the airport. They are Main Terminal Building, Contact Pier and the Satellite Building. Numerous food and beverage outlets serve the airport and they are situated on the Departure and Arrival levels of the Main Terminal building as well as the Satellite building. The main terminal and the satellite building are linked by a 180-people capacity ’’aero train’’ that leaves every 5 minutes.
KLIA is designated as a non-smoking airport. However, two specially designed public smoking lounges are provided for the convenience of travelers.
I went around looking at all the shopping outlets, from duty-free to specialty shops. Lots of shops selling perfumes, balms, and chocolates of different flavor, cosmetics, liquor, wine and cigarettes. There are some Body Shops also. Other stores offer jewelry, electronic and leather goods, watches, CDs, books and magazines, pewter items and batik clothing.
Inside the airport, there are convenient foreign exchange and telecommunication facilities as well.
When we were there at the KLIA, it was raining outside, which we could see through the glass partition of the structure.
The Malaysian currency is called RM, which means the Malaysian Ringgit. It comes in denominations of RM 1 To RM 100. I bought a Malaysian made paperweight as a souvenir to remember my stay at KLIA. It cost me RM 6, which looked quite cute, with a floral design, carved inside.
Hundreds of public phones are located throughout the airport, mainly at the Arrival and Departure areas, and are generally in good working order. These phones accept Amex, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa cards, as well as smart cards that can be purchased at the airport. The change required for a call to the city is 30 sen (1 ringgit = 100 sen).
Food and beverage outlets are located at the main terminal and satellite buildings, both before and after Immigration and Customs checkpoints. They include McDonald’s, DeliFrance, and other restaurants, bars and cafes. We had our breakfast at DeliFrance, a quick snack restaurant. The tuna sandwiches we had there was very tasty.
The very striking thing, which I noticed in the airport, was its cleanliness. It was so clean and kept neat. At every nook and corner, I could see a washroom, which were again clean and kept tidy.
Since we were waiting there for quite a long time, we were able to meet many other passengers and chat with them to spend the time. Most of them were traveling from the U.S to Chennai, and some from Australia. It was tragic to meet a lady, who was crying all the time, as she was rushing from Malaysia to Vellore, in Chennai, to see her son, who had met with a motorcycle accident. I was praying with her and consoling her for her son to regain consciousness and get cured soon.
Another instance I can remember is about seeing a famous personality at the airport. It was none other than our own film Director, Maniratnam. He was sitting in a corner, alone. Our people from U.S, on seeing him got so excited that they went to him, shaking hands and talked with him for sometime. He looked exactly like how we have seen him in photos, with his gray hair.
Well, I must say, I enjoyed my time spent at the beautiful Kuala Lumpur International Airport. I recommend it to you also if you get a chance to try flying by the Malaysian Airlines, to be able to enjoy seeing the grand Malaysian airport along with the services offered by the Malaysian Airlines.