A few weeks ago, Maybank announced that several of its credit cards would now offer complimentary access to Travel Club Lounges.
This benefit is available starting today (1 November 2024) and runs through 31 December 2024, offering a limited-time perk for the next two months.
Participating Lounges:
Travel Club Lounge KLIA Terminal 1 Satellite
Kuching International Airport
Kota Kinabalu International Airport - Domestic Departures
Kota Kinabalu International Airport - International Departures
Notably, the Maybank World Elite Mastercard, which I covered in a separate article, already includes Travel Club Lounge access, so the main benefit here is directed toward Maybank Visa Infinite cardholders. Previously limited to 5x access to Plaza Premium Lounges, Visa Infinite cardholders can now enjoy this added Travel Club Lounge access, albeit temporarily.
However, for American Express-branded Maybank cards, there’s little incremental value, as the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express Platinum credit card already includes Star Alliance lounge access.
Nevertheless, with the holiday travel season upon us, this is a welcome addition, particularly if you’re departing from the Satellite Terminal at KLIA Terminal 1, which lacks a Plaza Premium Lounge.
Hopefully, this new lounge option will help alleviate some of the congestion typically seen at the Plaza Premium Lounge in the Main Terminal Building. But for those serious about consistent lounge access, other credit card options from UOB or CIMB might still offer superior alternatives.
Additionally, note that the American Express Platinum Charge Card is excluded from this promotion, as it already grants 12x annual access to Travel Club Lounges.
Given that this is a limited-time incentive, I will not be updating my Ultimate Airport Lounge Guide to reflect these changes.
Are Travel Club Lounges any Good?
If you’ve visited any Travel Club Lounge, you’re likely aware that they fall noticeably short of the experience offered by Plaza Premium Lounges.
In fact, it’s wise to be selective with your 5x lounge access passes, choosing only the more reputable Travel Club Lounge locations. The Travel Club Lounge at KLIA Terminal 1 Satellite Terminal is a reasonable choice due to the absence of private contract lounges in that terminal.
While there exists the presence of a Global Lounge and Global Lounge First at KLIA Terminal 1 Satellite Terminal, at the time of writing no credit cards in Malaysia offer access, with entry exclusive to premium passengers from airlines such as Emirates or Etihad Airways.
However, if you’re departing from KLIA Terminal 2, you’re out of luck, as this promotion does not include the Travel Club Lounges at KLIA Terminal 2.
To be honest, you aren’t missing much—I’ve found the Travel Club Lounge at Gate L in KLIA2 to be one of the least impressive lounges I’ve visited, so much so that I didn’t even bother to review it on Refined Points.
Interestingly, this promotion excludes the Travel Club Lounge in KLIA2’s Satellite Terminal (near Gates P and Q), which, while decent, still pales in comparison to Plaza Premium Lounges. One can only speculate that Maybank executives may have visited and opted to exclude these lounges due to their subpar standards, haha.
Final Thoughts
Maybank’s limited-time Travel Club Lounge access promotion is a decent seasonal perk, particularly for Maybank Visa Infinite cardholders looking for extra comfort options during peak travel months.
However, it’s clear that the Travel Club Lounges vary greatly in quality and generally don’t match the more elevated experience of Plaza Premium Lounges.
For cardholders planning to take advantage of this promotion, prioritizing lounges based on terminal location and expected quality is key. And if lounge access is a priority, options like UOB for its Private Lounge or CIMB for its Plaza Premium First access might still offer better consistency.
Overall, this initiative reflects Maybank’s effort to enhance its value proposition for cardholders, even if only temporarily. For frequent travelers, it’s worth checking your Maybank card privileges to see how you can maximize this benefit. But as with all things, a bit of strategy will go a long way in making the most of this promotion.
Be sure to check out my Ultimate Airport Lounge Guide to compare the best credit cards for Airport Lounge Access in Malaysia.
