I love just about all things Malaysian – well, all things except LCCT, Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal – a terminal I’ve been through far too many times. I often fly Air Asia from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, which usually has cheap prices. The bad news though is they fly into Kuala Lumpur’s Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), one of the worst airports I’ve ever flown into. In fact, whoever designed KL’s Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) should burn it to the ground, go back to the drawing board and rebuilt it, and here’s why.
The Design of Kuala Lumpur’s LCCT – Kuala Lumpur’s Low-Cost Carrier Terminal looks like an airport hangar. It’s huge, it’s ugly and everything in it is basic. it’s also designed with no covered areas to waiting aircraft so, if you arrive or depart LCCT in rain, guess what, you get to get on or off the plane in the pouring rain and walk a fair way across the tarmac to get into the building or onto the plane.
Of course, the low-budget airlines usually provide umbrellas, (which don’t help much!), but there’s nothing worse than arriving on a plane for a long flight already soaked through and upset.
The Bathrooms at Kuala Lumpur’s LCCT Are Always Dirty – I’ve now flown through LCCT at least 10 times. Every time, I have needed to use the bathroom and every time I’ve had to wait in a long line (there’s only four or five stalls for about 30 people in line) and, when you do get into the toilet, they’re really dirty.
Now, coming from Thailand, where surprisingly toilets are always clean, I’m amazed that LCCT has toilet attendants yet the bathrooms are swimming in water and the toilet seats are dirty. Soiled tissue is usually overflowing from the baskets too. Really nasty when you’re already struggling with carry-on bags, to have to struggle to avoid the dirty water and gross tissues.
Shops and Restaurants at Kuala Lumpur’s LCCT Are Horrible – Unlike KLIA, Kuala Lumpur’s International Airport, LCCT has horrible shops and restaurants.
At KLIA, you have a choice of at least 50 restaurants in all price ranges and most with excellent food. At LCCT, you have a choice of Coffee Bean, McDonald’s, Asian Kitchen which serves completely tasteless Malaysian food, a couple of food stalls, or a food outlet shop where you can buy terrible coffee and over-priced cardboard sandwiches. That’s about it.
As far as shopping goes, there are a couple of expensive duty-free shops and a shop selling sundries (postcards, toiletries, medication etc.). Part of the fun of being at an airport is being able to browse the shops and spend the last of your Malaysian currency.
At LCCT, I never buy anything. Instead, I usually go to KLIA first, eat there, drink there, and spend the last of my ringgits in the shops there on books, magazines and candy. Then I take the bus to LCCT where I spend nothing, just wait for the plane to leave.
Flights Are Always Delayed at Kuala Lumpur’s LCCT – In the 10 times I’ve flown out of LCCT, I have never once been on a flight that was on time. Now, I don’t mind a few minutes, but an average late time of 45 minutes to two and a half hours is annoying. I now usually arrive at LCCT later than I normally would, as there’s absolutely no likelihood the plane will leave on time.
Check-In Is Fast – One good thing about LCCT however is that check-in is usually fast. I’ve always just walked right up to the check-in counter and never had more than one or two people in front of me and the staff has been very efficient.
Immigration at LCCT Is Efficient – Another nice thing about LCCT is that immigration is efficient. I usually walk straight into immigration and, unlike other airports, will find there are no lines and usually at least five immigration officers waiting to help me. They are all always friendly and professional.
Other than fast check-in and efficient immigration, though, Kuala Lumpur’s LCCT has little to offer. In fact, if you have any choice in the matter, schedule a flight that flies into Kuala Lumpur’s main airport, KLIA, instead.
Your flight and time spent at the airport will be much more enjoyable and less ‘low-budget’ because, after all, I may want a low-budget flight but I don’t want to be treated like cattle before I take it.
