KLIA2, Too Much Walking
KLIA2, the new low cost terminal that replaced the old LCCT, started operations on May 2nd, 2014 and designed to handle up to 45 million passengers a year. Measuring almost 2.76m sq. ft. (257,000 sq. m), which is about the size of 24 football fields, it is currently the world's largest purpose-built terminal for budget and low cost carriers. Hence, expect to do a lot of walking.
With several different floor levels depending on whether you arrived through the main entrance, or by bus, taxi or the express train; you will be walking up and down ramps, stairs, and escalators. Likewise when you arrived by plane, you will be walking up the sloped ramp from the plane to the terminal building, and up and down the escalators.
If you are on the international flights and your plane is at Gate P or Q, you will have to walk the 984-foot (300-metre) skybridge from the main terminal building to the satellite building. Although part of the skybridge has 197 ft. (60 metres) of walkalators, there are still a fair bit of walking.
Too much walking and need to take a short rest? Unfortunately, there are not enough chairs for you to enjoy this luxury. There's hardly any, even at the arrival and departure halls. But there are plenty of seats at KLIA2 shopping mall, gateway@klia2 (see detail of gateway@klia2 below).
Hence, if you are an expectant mother, an elderly or have restricted movement, asked for a wheelchair or other support facility from the airline or airport authorities. For now, there is a buggy service immediately after the immigration checkpoint, but this service may be on a temporary basis.
So give yourself an extra 30 minutes in between checking in and getting on board the plane.
UPDATE #1: KLIA2 airport operator, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has announced the installation of three additional walkalators by the end of 2014. This is good news and shows that they are listening to the customers' grievances. To date they have installed four and with the additional three walkalators, these will greatly benefit passengers at both the departure and arrival areas.
UPDATE #2 14th Oct 2014: As per press report dated 13th Oct 2014, MAHB managing director had announced another 16 walkalators that will be installed by 2015. These are in addition to the three walkalators that will be completed by end of 2014, as highlighted in UPDATE#1. He also announced the availability of free eight buggy pickup services for passengers. These are good news for all travellers especially the elderlies, the disabled, pregnant women and parents with small kids!
KLIA2 Location
Where Is KLIA2?
KLIA2 is adjacent to the existing Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and by road, about 1.24 miles (2 kilometres) away.
Driving to KLIA2
KLIA2 is accessible through the same highways as KLIA. After the KLIA toll plaza, there are no signboard for KLIA2. Don't worry. Just follow the signage for KLIA. Just before the Petronas petrol station, the signage for KLIA2 starts to appear! Follow the direction and take this slip-road and drive through the overhead ramp that will lead you to KLIA2.
Low Cost Carriers That Operate Out of KLIA2
Currently, the following low cost airlines flies in and out of KLIA2:
- AirAsia, Air Asia X, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia Zest
- Indonesia's Lion Air
- Tiger Airways Singapore (Tigerair)
- Cebu Pacific Air
- Malindo Air
- Indonesia's Mandala Airlines
More airlines are expected to use KLIA2. This information will be updated as and when it is available.
KLIA2 Main Terminal Building Floor Level Guide
Check this out for a quick guide on what are available on different floor levels of Main Terminal Building:
Level 1: Transportation hub for buses, taxis, car rentals and trains Level 1M: Airport link-bridge that connects KLIA2 main terminal building to Tune Hotel Level 2: Express Rail Link (ERL) ticket office with train platform one level down Level 2: Arrival hall, shops, restaurants, prayer roomsLevel 2M: Relaxation zoneLevel 3: Departure Hall, shops, restaurants, prayer rooms
KLIA2 Floor Plan
Facilities at Departure Gates/Piers
There are 68 departure gates at KLIA2 and the facilities available at the respective piers are:
Gates/Piers | Designated for | Facilities Available @ Departure Hall Level 1A | Facilities @ Arrival Halls Level 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
Pier J | Domestic Flights & Domestic Transfer | F&B Outlets, Prayer Rooms, Toilets, Baby Nappy Change, Retail Shops, ATM, Phone Booths | - |
Pier K | Domestic Flights & Domestic Transfer | F&B Outlets, Internet Kiosk, Prayer Rooms, Toilets, Baby Nappy Change, Retail Shops, ATM, Phone Booths | - |
Pier P | International Flights | F&B Outlets, Internet Kiosk, Prayer Rooms, Toilets, Baby Nappy Change, Retail Shops, ATM, Phone Booths | Toilets, Phone Booths, Baby Nappy Change Room |
Pier Q | International Flights | F&B Outlets, Internet Kiosk, Prayer Rooms, Toilets, Baby Nappy Change, Retail Shops, ATM, Phone Booths | Toilets, Phone Booths, Baby Nappy Change Room, ATM |
Pier L | International Transfer | F&B Outlets, Internet Kiosk, Prayer Rooms, Toilets, Baby Nappy Change, Retail Shops, ATM, Phone Booths | - |
Services & Facilities at KLIA2 Concourse Area and Mall
With over 200 retail spaces and other facilities at KLIA2, there are too many to list them here individually. So here is a summary of what to expect:
- Banks
- Bureau De Change (BDC) / Money Changer
- Pharmacies
- Supermarket
- Retail shops
- Fast-food outlets
- Restaurants
- Photo shops
- ATMs
- Prayer rooms
- Baby care rooms
- Loan of wheelchair and baby stroller
- Bookshops
- Plaza Premium Lounge
- Container sleeping facilities (opening soon)
- Smoking room
How To Get to KLIA2 from KLIA
The only way to KLIA2 from KLIA or vice-versa, is to travel by road or by ERL's inter-terminal train shuttle.
Frequency on the train shuttle is seven services per hour during peak hours, and five services per hour during off-peak. For a 3-minute train ride, the wait is too long. If you are in a hurry, it is best to take a taxi for the inter-terminal transfer.
For the bus shuttle, the frequency is every 15 to 20 minutes.
At KLIA2, go to the transportation hub located at Level 1 for both the bus and train shuttles, which will cost you RM2 per person.
Can I Walk to KLIA2 from KLIA?
There is no dedicated walkway linking the two terminals and the only way is by road or by rail, as described earlier.
Train Service on ERL's KLIA Ekspres & KLIA Transit
From Kuala Lumpur city center, you can get to KLIA and KLIA2 from KL Sentral train station on either the express train KLIA Ekspres or KLIA Transit that stop at various stations.
On the express train, the traveling time is 33 minutes with one stop at KLIA. On the KLIA Transit, it is slightly longer at 39 minutes as it will stop at four stations.
Train Fare
Fare on both the Ekspres and Transit are RM35 for one-way.
However, if you have time to spare and are on a budget, but prefers train ride, then buy ticket from KL Sentral to CyberJaya/PutraJaya. Get down and buy another ticket for CyberJaya/PutraJaya to KLIA2. This will cost you in total only RM15.70, but it will take you longer time to reach the destination. Likewise for the KLIA2 - CyberJaya/PutraJaya - KL Sentral rides.
Train Frequency KLIA2 to KL City Center and Vice Versa
The KLIA Ekspres departs KLIA2 at 4:55am every morning, every 15 minutes during peak hours of 0600-0900 hrs and 1600-2200 hrs on Mondays to Fridays. On weekends and during off-peak hours it runs every 20 minutes. Last train from KLIA2 to KL Sentral train station (city center) is at 12:55am.
From KL Sentral it departs for KLIA and KLIA2 at 5:00am every morning. Last train from KL Sentral is at 12:40am.
On the KLIA Transit, it runs every 20 minutes on Monday to Friday peak hours, and every 30 minutes on the weekends and off-peak hours.
First train departs KLIA2 at 5:48am and last train at 12:59am. First train from KL Sentral is at 4:33am and last train at 12:03am.
Which Ticket To Buy?
Train tickets on both the ERL KLIA Ekspres and Transit are only good for ERL trains and cannot be used on the city's Light Rail or Mono Rail trains and the KTM Inter-City train.
Hence, if you do not use the airport train on a daily basis, just buy the one-way ticket.
The main ticket counter is on Level 2 of gateway@klia2 with smaller counters at the Domestic and International Arrival Halls.
The ERL waiting platform at KLIA2 is not enclosed, except for a small room that is air-conditioned. On a hot day, the humid weather can be challenging, so grab yourself an ice-cold mineral water.
Car Park and Parking Rates at KLIA2
KLIA2 has 5,690 car parking bays and 800 motorcycle parking bays in its adjacent 8-storey car park building. From here, you exit at level CP4 and walk through the shopping mall to enter KLIA2 departure area at Level 3.
These 24-hour secure parking facilities should be more than sufficient to cater to the needs of the travelling passengers, visitors and staff who worked there.
Valet Parking at KLIA2
The parking rates are slightly higher than the old LCCT rates because it is now a covered carpark. KLIA2 must consider the long-term parking rates for passengers who will be away for more than four days. Now long-term parking is only available at KLIA main terminal building. If you choose to park your car here, then take the RM2 bus shuttle from KLIA to KLIA2 that goes at 15-minute interval.
If you are in a hurry, KLIA2 have valet parking, so use this facility.
Currently the parking rates at KLIA2 (inclusive of 6% service charge) are:
- RM4 per hour for the first three hours
- RM3 per hour for the next fourth to ninth hours
- RM2 per hour for the tenth hours and above
However, maximum daily rate is RM46 per day. If you lose your ticket, you will be charged RM50 per day.
Do not forget to pay your parking at the Autopay machines located at car park levels CP1, CP4 and CP7 only. If you have Touch & Go card, you can use this and avoid this hassle.
Taxi at KLIA2
Both the metered taxis and coupon-based taxis are at Level 1 transportation hubs. You buy tickets at taxi counters at the domestic and international arrival halls at Level 2. For coupon-based taxis, the ticket is inclusive of toll charges, if any, and there will be NO other charges to be paid to the driver.
For metered taxi, you pay RM2 for airport service to the ground staff who then directs you to the waiting taxi. He will also take note of the taxi registration number in case of future complaints. Your taxi fare is calculated through the taximeter and total cost will include toll charges, if any.
As a guide, budget taxi (using the small Proton Waja, about the size of VW Polo) from KLIA2 to most hotels in Kuala Lumpur City Center will cost about RM85, inclusive of toll charges.
By Bus to and from KLIA2
There are 20 bus lots at KLIA2 with services to Kuala Lumpur City Center, the neighboring townships and areas within and outside the Klang Valley, which currently are as follows:
- SKYBUS: From KL Sentral to/from KLIA2 at RM10 per trip. Frequency at 30-minute interval. From 1 Utama bus terminal to/from KLIA2 at RM15. Frequency at1-hour interval
- Aerobus: From KL Sentral to/from KLIA2 at RM8
- Star Shuttle: From Batu 3 Jalan Ipoh KL (RM10), Puduraya KL (RM12), Ipoh (RM42), Teluk Intan and Sitiawan (RM45) to KLIA2. Check out the website for bus schedules
- Jetbus: From Bandar Tasik Selatan Terminal Bersepadu Selatan to/from KLIA2 at RM8
- Airport Liner: From KTM Nilai to KLIA2 at Rm4.00. The bus stops at designated areas along the way. See website for these stops and their respective fares and schedules
- YoYo Bus: From Ipoh (Bercham, Aman Jaya), Taiping, Johor Bahru and Yong Peng to KLIA2. Check the website for respective fares and schedules
- Transnasional: KLIA2 to/from Malacca (Melaka Sentral) at RM21.90
Bus terminal is at Level 1 transportation hubs and ticket counters are at the international and domestic arrival halls.
Please take note that bus companies will wait for the bus to be filled before departing. During peak hours that usually take at about 10minutes, otherwise it might go to about 20 minutes. Travel time from KLIA2 to KL Sentral is about 50-60 minutes, but may take an extra 15 minutes if traffic is slower.
Hotels at KLIA2
Currently, there are three hotels in and adjacent to KLIA2 and a 'capsule hotel' for budget traveler.
Sama-Sama Express Hotel KLIA2
If you are on transit, you can use Sama-Sama Express Hotel KLIA2, which is an airside transit hotel located at Satellite Building, next to Gate C5. It is part of the 5-Star Sama-Sama hotel group.
This express hotel has 80 rooms that are rented on an hourly basis with a minimum stay of 6 hour. If you are on transit, you don't have to clear Malaysian Customs and Immigration.
Check the Sama Sama Hotel website for room availability, rates and promotions.
Tune Hotel KLIA2
This budget hotel is adjacent to KLIA2 and is only 10 mins walk to the main terminal building. You don't have to worry about the weather as you will be walking through a covered walkway.
It has 312 double rooms, 84 twin rooms, and four family rooms. It also has its own 167 car park bays with an affordable rate of RM2 per hour as compared to the airport rates that starts at RM4 per hour.
Room rate varies, so it is best to check the hotel's website for the current rates or for any promotional rates.
Sama-Sama Hotel
This 5-star hotel is about 5 minutes' walk from the KLIA arrival hall. If you take complimentary buggy-ride, it is only 2 minutes from the arrival hall.
With its 442 rooms of varying types and rates, you will have a choice to fit your budget and if you are a hotel guest, you get a complimentary train shuttle to KLIA2.
Check out the hotel's website for the latest room rates, availability and promotions.
The Capsule by Container Hotel
Need a cheaper option while on transit?
Then, try The Capsule by Container Hotel that offers 79 capsule bedrooms. You have the option of booking for three hours at RM45, six hours at RM70 or 12 hours at RM90.
If you don't need the room, you can also buy a la carte rates for shower at RM15 or locker rental at RM20 per day.
The Capsule by Container Hotel is located on the 1st floor of the gateway@KLIA2 shopping mall.
What is gateway@klia2?
gateway@klia2 is a shopping mall within KLIA2 integrated airport complex and has a good tenancy mix of medium to high-end product brands. With over 350,000 sq. ft. of net retail area, it has over 200 shops that spread over 4-levels.
Located in between the drop-off and the Main Terminal building, it targets shoppers from travellers, visitors and the residents from the neighboring townships.
If you have any last minute shopping or want to 'loose' the local currencies, then you will be spoilt for choices here.
KLIA2 F&B Outlets too Expensive for You?
There many food outlets at gateway@klia2 as well as at the airport areas. If you find the prices too steep for your budget, you can go to the food court or buy drinks and food at the supermarket, which might work out cheaper.
Or head over to 7-Eleven at KLIA2 for affordable snack and ample seating area for you to eat, while enjoying their complimentary WiFi!
Free Wi-Fi and Charging Station at KLIA2
Wi-Fi is free at KLIA2, but only for the first hour, which should be more than sufficient for transit passengers. If your flight is delayed and you required additional surfing time, try to logout and login again after 10 minutes (or go over to 7-Eleven for their complimentary WiFi!)
Charging stations are available only at the departure and arrival areas. If you are not at these areas, then you will have to find wall plug points to charge your laptops, handphones, etc.
Why Is KLIA2 so Huge?
KLIA2 Review
As I had mentioned earlier, there is a lot of walking when you are at KLIA2 and there are not enough seats for people to take a short rest.
This is bad for the elderly, parent with kids, pregnant woman, if you have mobility problems or even if you are fit and healthy. The airport authorities MUST provide these basic needs, and do not forget to have more walkalators!
The airport was designed to be an airport within a mall, hence the sheer size of the place. Premium spaces are rented out and passengers got narrow passageways, small waiting areas and the inconvenience of the long walk, and walking up & down ramps & escalators. Okay, there are lifts available for those who cannot use the stairs or escalators, but still it is one hell of a walk.
KLIA2 is beautiful with many good facilities (that generate incomes for the airport), but to make it even better, I hope the authority will do something on the above issues...to start with!
No comments:
Post a Comment