In December 2022, I reviewed the much-acclaimed Plaza Premium First at the Satellite Terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1.
Back then, I was impressed by the elevated luxury and comfort the lounge offered compared to its standard Plaza Premium Lounges. Since then, that lounge has closed due to Plaza Premium not renewing the lease, and instead chose to reopen their lounges at the Contact Pier of the Main Terminal Building of KLIA Terminal 1.
This proved to be a huge success, as the ongoing replacement of the Aerotrains at KLIA Terminal 1 has left many passengers fuming.
The newly opened Plaza Premium First in KLIA Terminal 1 is situated right next to the also newly opened Plaza Premium Lounge. Both lounges opened simultaneously in March 2023, and Plaza Premium also took the liberty to shut both lounges at the Satellite Terminal.
The lounges are now located on the right side after clearing immigration, towards the 'G' gates.
Upon arrival at the reception, there will be dedicated counters for passengers eligible for the Plaza Premium First lounge.
Access to Plaza Premium First
As of March 2024, the only credit cards which offer complimentary access to Plaza Premium First are as follows:
CIMB Travel Mastercard
Maybank American Express Platinum Charge Card
Alliance Privilege Visa Signature Credit Card
Interestingly enough, Plaza Premium First is not on the list of eligible lounges on many affluent credit cards across Malaysia. This includes the immensely popular Maybank 2 Cards Premier.
I was able to gain complimentary access to the lounge using my CIMB Travel World Elite Credit Card. Again, much to my surprise, CIMB has also extended access to this more exclusive lounge to its entry-level cardholders, so if you're holding the CIMB Travel Platinum Credit Card, you'll be pleased to know that you have complimentary access to the lounge.
Of course, if you're holding the other CIMB Travel credit cards, you'll also have complimentary access.
Lounge Seating
Seating is aplenty in this lounge. The overall layout is somewhat similar to that of a long rectangle, and with plenty of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows on the right-hand side, you'll find yourself at bliss at the bespoke lounge.
It was certainly a luxury to see the lounge completely empty while the Plaza Premium Lounge next door was packed to the brim due to the morning crowd!
Most seating in the lounge is also adjacent to power sockets and USB charging ports.
Dining
As with all Plaza Premium First lounges, dining is in the form of ala carte with no restrictions on how many items you can order. The menu was extensive, with a mixture of Asian and Western options.
The food was delicious. I'm particularly critical about food served in lounges as I find that most of the food at buffet spreads are below par or just plain lazy catering. In most lounges across the West, you'll likely only have typical American/Continental breakfast options, and most of the food is processed.
I'm glad that Plaza Premium First has such a wide offering, and even better that it tastes as good as it looks. Reminds me alot of the equally spectacular Cathay Pacific lounges.
The Aerobar sits in between the Plaza Premium Lounge and the Plaza Premium First lounge, so if you peek across you could see how crazy packed the lounge next door is, and you'll be forever thankful to have a CIMB Travel credit card!
Washrooms and Shower
The washrooms for both genders are separated from one another, with the Gents located further towards the back and opposite the showers.
The Showers at Plaza Premium First are excellent, and there are two available suites. You will need to enter a waitlist in advance, but generally the queue moves pretty quickly as the lounge is mostly empty.
The shower suits are generally roomy and spacious, but the highlight is the cleanliness of the suites. These are in my opinion, far greater than the shower suites at the Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge Regional close by.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Plaza Premium First is nothing short of spectacular. This is one lounge that I'd come to the airport hours in advance for, given the exclusivity and upscale luxury offered in contrast to the ordinary Plaza Premium Lounges.
Again, I highly recommend that you consider the CIMB Travel credit cards, given that these credit cards are (to my knowledge) the only cards that grant you complimentary access to the Plaza Premium First lounge.
At this point, you may be wondering, what's the difference between the UOB Private Lounge and the Plaza Premium First? Well, the difference is that you don't have hoards of UOB credit card holders swarming the lounge, and have an exclusive space together with Business and First Class passengers on premium airlines such as Singapore Airlines that contracts the Plaza Premium First.
For those who are departing from the 'C' gates, keep in mind that you'll need to take the buses to the Satellite Terminal, so if you intend to visit the lounge prior to your flight, I recommend heading to the gates a little over an hour before your flight.
