I had a recent trip to Bangkok with Malaysia Airlines at night, and decided to head to the airport early to revisit the Platinum Lounge at KLIA Satellite Terminal. You can read an in-depth review of the lounge here.
At around 6.30pm, the lounge was empty, despite it being a weekend. In contrast, the Business Lounge next door was completely packed, likely full of Oneworld Sapphire members travelling on various airlines. With majority of Malaysia Airlines' network mostly regional, you'll find that most Malaysia Airlines travellers are actually tucked away in the Regional Golden Lounge back at the KLIA Main Terminal Building.
Upon entering the Platinum Lounge, I was greeted by a friendly attendant whom ushered me to the dining room. The Platinum Lounge offers dine-on-demand ala-carte dining.
The menu looked decent. There were several Asian and Western options available. I sampled the Crab Meat soup and the Crispy Salmon Fillet.
Both options were decent, nothing spectacular in terms of taste, but decent. The service crew were immaculate, and were very attentive.
Improvements to F&B Offerings Needed
Here's my perspective on the shortcomings of the Platinum Lounge, particularly when compared to international first-class lounge standards. The primary issue lies in its culinary offerings. Although the Platinum Lounge serves à la carte, made-to-order meals, the variety and options are noticeably limited, especially when contrasted with the adjacent business class lounge. During my visit, I observed a striking difference: the business lounge not only featured a buffet with standard carbohydrate-rich dishes but also boasted an array of choices including dim sum, custom-prepared pasta, an Indian buffet, a comprehensive noodle bar offering specialties like Sarawak Laksa, and an in-lounge full bar.
This variety starkly overshadows the Platinum Lounge, whose main highlight is its à la carte service. For Malaysia Airlines to maintain its competitive edge, a significant overhaul of the Platinum Lounge is imperative. A comparison with Qantas’ offerings illustrates this point. The Qantas First Lounge, for instance, presents a more extensive menu and includes a full bar, encapsulating the essence of a true first-class lounge experience. This starkly contrasts with the offerings at the MAS Platinum Lounge, underscoring the need for enhancement to match global first-class standards.
