Stopover Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal Experience


Our long journey to Yogyakarta from Manila took a stopover at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which I believe it is one of the largest airports I’ve seen in Southeast Asia. Since we took Cebu Pacific to KL, we landed not in the spanking brand-new terminal fondly called KLIA, but at the airport’s budget terminal called LCCT or Low Cost Carrier Terminal, which is on the other side.


The old check-in counters of KLIA LCCT
KL’s LCCT is the hub of operations and the terminal for Southeast Asia’s budget carriers such as Air Asia (which calls it its home), Cebu Pacific, and the like. The main KLIA terminal is located across LCCT. However, getting there needs a 20 kilometer ride. That’s how big KLIA is!

The shop areas was somehow small
 It was June and the forest fires of Sumatra were raging on. It seems that we were greeted with thousands of chicken satay barbeque stands at that time when we disembarked. The scent went through inside and into immigration.
It was hazy back in 2013. The control tower of KLIA2 as seen from LCCT

While our immigration experience in NAIA Terminal 3 upon leaving Manila was…grumpy and a bit nasty, the Malaysian immigration was pleasant and no-nonsense. After all, we were only in a transit.

Selamat datang ke Negeri Malaysia! This country is proud of their language, unlike the country where I came from (nakakainis isipin, kung minsan nakapang-gigigil)

My first impression with LCCT was, it looks like a big air-conditioned warehouse. Nothing fancy like its main terminal counterpart, with great interiors. No matter, we accepted the fact that it is a budget terminal.
Information display

We had a 9-hour layover. It’s a good thing we managed to have a lounge access at Plaza Premiere Lounge. Treated with Malaysian food (yes, nasi lemak was present), we gorged in. It has free WiFi internet access and a comfy lounge for both air side and land side parts of the terminal. Some of us slept, others went around.
The airside of the pay lounge of KLIA LCCT

What took my attention in LCCT was Old Town White Coffee. Being a fan of Ipoh’s famed coffee, tried one, rather than Starbucks. It’s also pretty affordable to warm up our early morning—not overpriced, IMO.
The Malaysian brand

Also, Malaysia has its own answer to Jollibee and McDonalds, Marrybrown! It’s a fast food resto serving curry and some chicken.
Soon to open (back then)

It is also advisable that when you reach Malaysia for a long layover, you may try to convert some of your dollars to Malaysian Ringgit. Some shops may accept US Dollars but may be a bit expensive.
Good morning Sepang!

As the sun rose and our departure to Yogya were nearing, the horizon has become…uhm hazier.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) on the other side of KLIA, at Terminal 1 (2013). Eerily, this was my photo of MAS's Boeing 777-200 9M-MRO, the aircraft that disappeared as MH370 in 2014.

The enormous check-in area was a mix of people from different areas of Asia and beyond. Upon entering the pre-departure area and the immigration process, again it was easy. No questions asked!
The pre-departure lounge at KLIA LCCT

Then we waited in the pre-departure lounge of the LCCT for our Air Asia flight bound to Yogyakarta. In fairness, the pre-departure lounge was a bit spacious for the international leg. We don’t have problems with crowding at the time.

There were no aerobridges/tubes back at KLIA LCCT
And as fast as we came in, it was our departure time. Stepping out of the tarmac, the hazy and smoky atmosphere lingered. Sometime in the near future, when the KLIA Terminal 2 will be finished, I heard that LCCT operations will transfer there, including that of Air Asia and Cebu Pacific.
Waiting for the flight

We already saw the terminal being constructed, and it was huge! Goodness, when will Philippines realize we need to perk up our aviation industry, especially our very own Premiere Gateway? It was a short stop over, but technically speaking, I have been to Malaysia, even though I only had a stopover in Sepang. I’ll surely go back here, time and budget permits.

Loading bays of KLIA LCCT. KLIA Terminal 1 on the other side of the airport.

This article was posted on November 2013. Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, and most of the low cost carrier airlines have moved to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (klia2) since the previous year. The old LCCT has then shut down.