Malaysia Airlines has two lounges at KLIA for premium travellers: the Golden Lounge and the Platinum Lounge. I recently traveled through Kuala Lumpur and had the chance to try both lounges on separate occasions, so I was curious to see how they compared. Let’s just say that neither is quite as you might imagine: one’s an all-singing-all-dancing buffet hall accessible to a broad cross-section of business travelers; the other’s an intimate, quiet lounge with table service and a few decent extras here and there.
Here’s my experience of them both.
My Review of the Golden and Platinum Lounges
MAS Golden Lounge
The first thing that struck me upon entering the Golden Lounge was its resemblance to the lobby of a crowded hotel. Finding the entry wasn’t difficult… It’s well signposted in the satellite terminal and is located exactly where you’d expect post-gate clearance.
There was a Mercedes-Benz card promo by the door, as well as some oneworld branding on the wall. That told me that this is, in fact, an airline lounge. Who is it for?
Well, it’s for business class flyers, oneworld elites, and maybe one or two other credit-card holders.
The wide range of eligible travelers explains why there were so many people here. The interior featured a series of marble-topped tables and leather armchairs arranged into multiple clusters throughout. There were some open areas, I liked the variety as it allowed me to decide whether I wanted to sit tucked away or in a more social spot.
All the seats was comfortable enough, but everywhere I walked, the lounge seemed crowded.
Off to one side there was a dedicated dining room with chairs of different colours that gave the area a less serious cafeteria feel. It was perfect for those who wished to grab a plate and watch the departure screens from their seat. Passing through an exit corridor, I stopped briefly at the departure screens to see which gate I’d been assigned.
The screens were easy to read and refreshed frequently, useful if, like me, you’ve lost track of time while deep in the lounge. I was happy to see that there was an actual bartender on hand, pouring drinks in the bar area. I got a beer and observed some of my fellow passengers ordering cocktails.
When someone else is actually pouring you a drink, it makes the whole experience feel slightly less self-service than most lounges.
This place is all about the buffet, and what a buffet! There are hot dishes, live cooking stations, salads, desserts… I walked around the counters a few times just looking at everything…
It was like a good hotel breakfast spread… only for lunch and dinner.
First, there are the baked goods. In a glass case were samosas, while a wood bread box held slices of pandan cake waiting to be served. Next to that were wholemeal bread, soft rolls, multigrain, and sourdough.
These provided more than enough options for those who simply want to grab something simple.
I noticed a condiments station for porridge, featuring peanuts, fried shallots and various other toppings. Although I didn’t order porridge myself, I did see some passengers loading up their bowls, so it must be popular at this time of day.
The Annalakshmi section offered rainbow pulao, carrot chana and potato masala curry. I tasted the potato masala, which was mild but tasty… A good vegetarian option if you want something filling.
Ratatouille, stir-fried cabbage, fried tom yum bee hoon, black pepper beef and marmite chicken followed around the hot buffet table. All good: the bee hoon was tangy and filling; the black pepper beef had a decent kick to it; the marmite chicken was sticky and sweet. The vegetables were all fine but not special.
I spotted another item that sounded good: a live noodle station serving up asam laksa. It took a little while to make (not something you want to rush to get through if your plane is about to board), but when it arrived, it was delicious. The fresh, slippery noodles came with a sour, fishy broth done just right in the best way.
There was also the standard selection of toppings and some romaine lettuce and other greens at the salad bar. I quickly assembled a side salad to offset all of the heartier things I’d eaten so far.
There were bowls of whole fruit… Oranges, apples, a few others… Sitting around.
I took one of those apples for later.
Beverages were set up at multiple stations. There were dispensers for lemongrass and mint water, and I poured a glass.
The chillers held Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, Eversses, and more, and I took a bottle of that. It was nothing fancy, but there were plenty of choices. For coffee, there was an automatic machine that dispensed espresso, cappuccino, Americano, and more with the push of a button.
I got a flat white and while it wasn’t exactly barista-quality, it was passable (better than instant).
Dessert time! There was green tea cake, banana cake, and some jars of dried apricots, mangos, etc.
The cakes were moist but a bit bland.
Under a glass dome sat a cheese platter that was calling my name. There was also a chiller of pre-wrapped sandwiches for people looking to grab and go, along with a tray of cut fruit on ice.
MAS Platinum Lounge
Eventually, I found my way to one of the window seats facing the satellite terminal. The plane watching action helped pass the time quicker; not to mention that I liked having some natural light. If you’re looking for a comfy seat and a hot meal prior to your flight, then the Golden Lounge is big, busy, and well stocked, it does the job.
The Platinum lounge experience started differently.
I followed the signs in the main terminal for first and business class, then walked down a long corridor lined with digital ad screens. The terminal seemed quiet here, like I was walking backstage. There was a glass revolving door.
Step through that door and this is where the Platinum experience began.
Once there, I waited for my ride: a white Mercedes-Benz EQS that sat parked on the tarmac waiting to take me to the terminal building. I jumped into the back and was struck by how clean it was, which is certainly not what you expect from an airport shuttle service. I also noticed the entertainment screens embedded in its headrests and its curved digital dashboard.
Looking back at the terminal, past the parked planes, we pulled forward onto the apron and continued driving. The interior was high tech and polished, and I played around with the touchscreen in the back while admiring the door trim. It was a brief journey that felt entirely different than your standard walk or lounge bus.
As the EQS rolled smoothly along the tarmac, I saw it come to a halt outside the lounge entrance. A slightly over-the-top experience overall but not gonna lie, it was enjoyable.
As for interiors, they were lined in decorative clay and softly lit to create a dimness inside. There was a plaque explaining who was eligible for Platinum status. Only those who fly first class or are top-tier elites qualify.
Immediately it felt far more exclusive and calm than the Golden Lounge.
As I entered the main seating area, I spotted plush wingback velvet armchairs in private nooks with sofas in front of large pieces of art. There were just a few other passengers scattered about, and the furniture was far enough from each other that it felt more like a boutique hotel lounge than an airport.
One section of it was lined with numbered relaxation pods, private leather chaises inside a curved shell that provided you with your own space. I reclined in number five and settled down on the cushion. While I didn’t take a nap (I’m not sure I’d actually do that), I could imagine this being ideal for a long layover.
There were armchairs near the windows overlooking the tarmac so people can watch planes taxi past. I spent some time sitting in them, watching the ground crew going back and forth outside.
There was also a proper restaurant experience. The dining room featured white linen tablecloths. There was no buffet here, I was given an a-la-carte menu and was told to order what I want.
There were a couple of self-serve options at a small buffet counter in the dining room, along with jars of dried fruit, but table service was definitely the highlight here. The menu booklet offered a good selection of dishes, including everything from starters like salads and soups to mains and dessert.
To get things going I ordered a glass of orange juice and a latte which was delivered swiftly on a tray from a helpful waitress.
There was also a selection of Carlsberg and Tiger beers on ice, plus a domed cheese platter on the counter. While waiting for my meal I got myself a beer and a plate of cheese.
My Caesar salad was properly dressed and fresh, and then I received a bowl of oxtail soup that was deeply flavoured and rich. It is no surprise since it was one of the highlights; it was hearty, thick, and meaty. I had the grilled portobello on top of pumpkin puree for mains as well as the beef brisket stewed in rice.
While the mushroom dish was well seasoned and earthy, the brisket fell off the bone and was super tender. They’re definitely more than your average lounge food, these are restaurant-quality dishes. For dessert we had death by chocolate cake and an apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.
The chocolate cake was rich and decadent, while the crumble was comforting and warm. I ate them both, so you know they were good. I headed over to one of the chairs near the windows that look out onto the tarmac after dinner.
It had gotten dark outside and the ground lights illuminated the planes parked there. The lounge remained empty for my entire stay. There were no more than a handful of others there at any given moment, and they were all quietly working or whispering away.
Overall, there’s nothing wrong with the Golden Lounge. The buffet is good. It is big and busy.
It caters to those who like a bit of everything and aren’t bothered about crowds. However, there are a few things to keep in mind: The Platinum Lounge is much more private. The food is better, and the space is much smaller.
Whereas the Golden Lounge is busy and big, the Platinum Lounge is small and quiet. Both lounges are comfortable, but cater to very different requirements. For me, given the option, I’d say that Platinum Lounge is worth the extra effort if you have access to it.
Did you visit either lounge at KLIA? Would you prefer spending your time in the Golden or Platinum Lounge on an extended flight?
