Hello from Vietnam, as I just flew Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 business class on the 1hr55min flight from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) — it should’ve been around 15 minutes shorter, but a fun go around gave us a free tour of the city.
While the oneworld carrier’s Airbus A330-900neo business class impressed me, the carrier’s 737 business class definitely has less of a wow factor. For a short journey, it’s not worth avoiding, though it definitely pales in comparison to what its competitor 184 miles to the southeast offers.
In this post I’d like to share some initial thoughts, and then soon I’ll have a full review.
In this post:
Malaysia Airlines’ 737 business class seats are basic
Malaysia Airlines has been retrofitting its Boeing 737s in recent years, so you’ll find the same product on the entire fleet (including the new 737 MAXs). The business class cabin consist of 12 seats, spread across three rows, in a 2-2 configuration.
Essentially think of it as very similar to first class within the United States, except the seats are a bit more comfortable — they have 39″ of pitch, there’s a leg rest, and there are USB-A, USB-C, and AC power outlets. The seats also have a shell design, so when you recline, the base of your seat moves forward.
Of course for a short journey like I was on, this more than does the trick, and no one should really be uncomfortable. The 737s do fly some longer missions, where this product is perhaps more worth avoiding. But ultimately the main criticism would be competitive in nature, which is that this doesn’t compete with the flat bed business class products you’ll overwhelmingly find on many Asian carriers.
Malaysia Airlines’ 737s have streaming entertainment, no Wi-Fi
Unfortunately this is another area where Malaysia Airlines’ 737s don’t impress. All 737s don’t have seat back entertainment, while 737-800s don’t have Wi-Fi (meanwhile the 737 MAX 8s do have Wi-Fi). All 737s do have streaming entertainment, though. Again, that’s not a huge deal for a short flight, but for a longer flight, that’s probably going to be a deal breaker for more people.
To facilitate easy streaming, the seat backs do have little personal device holders, so that you don’t have to hold your phone or tablet in your hand. I did find “The Nevermets” on the streaming entertainment system, which is nearly like a British version of 90 Day Fiancé (a show I’ve seen every episode of… sorry not sorry).
Malaysia Airlines’ business class soft product is quite good
Malaysia Airlines staffs the 12-seat business class cabin with two flight attendants, and they both couldn’t have been lovelier. They were friendly and attentive, and the flight attendant working the aisle even memorized the names of most passengers.
Menus were distributed on this flight, and there were three options to choose from. I chose the nasi lemak with prawn sambal, which was served with yogurt, fruit, and a selection from the bread basket. The meal was quite good for a flight of this length.
Unfortunately it’s the drink situation that’s a bit less ideal. First, Malaysia Airlines doesn’t serve alcohol on regional flights, which is… whatever. I can live with that, it’s just odd, because it seems to be somewhere between a cost saving measure and something out of respect for religion.
What was a little more annoying is how the airline doesn’t serve hot drinks when the seatbelt sign is on. I totally get it, as Malaysia Airlines isn’t the only airline to have such a policy.
The issue is that the flight was actually incredibly smooth, yet the seatbelt sign was on for two-thirds of the journey. We had hit a couple of bumps shortly after departure, and I’m not sure if the pilots just forgot to turn the seatbelt sign off, or what. After all, the captain announced before takeoff that it should be a smooth flight. That meant that the flight attendants could only serve hot drinks at the start of the descent, when the seatbelt sign went off.
I did manage to sneak in a teh tarik before landing, one of the more fun non-alcoholic drinks served by any airline.
Bottom line
Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 business class is pleasant, but unlikely to impress. It features comfortable enough recliner seats, friendly and attentive service, and pretty good food. However, there’s no seat back entertainment, Wi-Fi, or alcohol, and if the seatbelt sign is on, you’re not getting hot drinks either.
As a connecting flight on a bigger itinerary, I’d gladly fly Malaysia Airlines’ 737 business class again. However, I’d probably avoid it on some of the longer five-hour sectors these planes operate.
I absolutely don’t mean to complain about what’s ultimately a nice experience for such a short flight (especially compared to what we get in the US), but just competitively, this pales in comparison to some other Asian carriers (like Singapore Airlines business class on a comparable flight).
What’s your take on Malaysia Airlines’ 737 business class?
I unfortunately have to storngly warn from flying with Malaysia Airllines. On my last flight I paid for some extras. The airline then refused to provide those extras but also refused to refund what I paid for them. The airline did confirm in writing that they didn't provide those extras but yet refused any refund. Contacting their head of customer service and their CEO didn't help, either. Same response.
Definitely there are loads of alcohol in Economy - Beer, Red wine and White wine - on the trolley! I fly Economy on these short routes as the Business Class seats do not do justice.
President Trump would allow such low standards on US carriers. President Trump is the greatest leader the world has ever seen.
Yo, stop imitating me. I didn’t write this, and anyone who knows my schtick knows Trump is not my guy. (Also, I’m good with MH, and think they’re doing just fine fine these days.)
—O.G. 1990
Its worth mentioning that MH regional business class tends to be much cheaper than its competitors, often priced less than $100 more than economy.
I've been flying the SIN - KUL route for years. Initially on SQ, but now almost always on MH. I appreciate that MH manages to serve a full hot meal on this very short route, in contrast to SQ who usually serve cold 'snack' dishes like wraps instead. A small point of difference, but a point of difference nevertheless..
But both normally fly that Boeing Max disaster tube on that route John, the ETSP is much nicer don’t you know …. :-)
There’d have to big a big discount compared to other SEA carries business class before I booked this.
Flown this product many, many times and you nailed this review. Staff amazing…food decent…no booze ( definitely cost cutting not religion…otherwise why is there booze in their lounges) …hold on hot drinks when the seat belt sign is on is SO infuriating. Wish someone at MH would address these very fixable issues.
Friendly crew. But geez, with each flight, its like pulling teeth to get the miles correctly posted to my Alaska account.
Even for a short haul flights in South East Asia, MH serves alcohol. Sometimes they bring wines on the trolley. If not, you can ask it to the attendant. They are happy to serve wines and beers.
The 737 MAX 8 fleet being introduced has the same cabin but also has Wifi with an Internet connection. Sadly the 737-800's will not receive this and will be replaces the MAX 8's.
Some routes which are less than 3 hours do have alcohol but you need to ask.
Just give me Air Asia...
Thanks for the review. I have biz class flights coming up on MH CGK-KUL and then KUL-DEL a few days later, both on MH 737s. I’ll be sure to load up the iPhone with a couple of movies before the DEL segment, thanks for the heads up!
KUL-DEL, if you take the one served by a 737 (the other daily service is with an A330), is usually the Max, which does have internet connectivity. For CGK-KUL - some services are served also by the Max, although internet tends to be available about 20mins after departure due to coverage issues with Indonesia (and may be the same with India!)
« Teh tarik » not Tek
The alcohol thing is cost savings masquerading as piousness. You can buy a beer virtually anywhere at any time in Malaysia. It's not a teetotaling country at all.
This takes me back. Your original review of Malaysia Airlines 737 business class from 2015 was the first blog post from you I ever remember reading - and I’ve now been reading this blog daily ever since.
Our experience of MH, was mainly between SIN & PEN, for many years. We also took the occasional regional flight to other locations. That was before they introduced that Boeing Max disaster of a plane, now we fly Batik (ID).
ID only 12 J seats and for an hour+ flight it is perfectly acceptable.
Batik M’sia (OD) do operate 737 max as well as 738s (OD was the first airline that operated the max).
I don't think Batik Indonesia (ID) operates flights between SIN & PEN.
You are absolutely right Hb010, I have my ‘O’s’ and ‘D’s’ mixed up …. apologies to both. We fly the 8’s because they have 12 J seats.
They actually do serve alcohol on all international flights now; you just need to ask. It's a limited menu so don't expect champagne but they do have wine and beer.
@ Kmct111 -- Wait, they serve it, but there's literally a beverage menu they hand out, and it doesn't include drinks? And the drinks aren't placed on the cart? Fascinating...
That is correct.
Alcoholic beverages are available on BKK, CGK, DPS etc runs, but not listed in the beverage section of the menu.
Yeah they dont advertise it - cost cutting I guess. But they have one red and white wine available and beer on all sub 5 hour flights. Over that there should be a drink menu as well.
Not really, it depends on the previous mission of the aircraft. If you are departing KUL and the aircraft has done a leg of more than 3 hours on the previous flight, they are able to scour what’s remaining of the previous leg. Otherwise the catering doesn’t load alcohol at all. Besides that, if your regional is flow by a wide body, it has alcohol on board as well too since they preload beverage catering...
Not really, it depends on the previous mission of the aircraft. If you are departing KUL and the aircraft has done a leg of more than 3 hours on the previous flight, they are able to scour what’s remaining of the previous leg. Otherwise the catering doesn’t load alcohol at all. Besides that, if your regional is flow by a wide body, it has alcohol on board as well too since they preload beverage catering on whatever flights these wide bodies make just in case of a route swap.
@JW, this is also my understanding. Flights of more than 3hrs all get alcohol catered. BKK and CGK also get alcohol catered, although they are under 3hrs. The outbound to DPS is over 3hrs, so it always gets catered, but I don't know if the inbound, which is slighly under 3hrs, gets catered (i.e., the quantity is increased) or only serves the left overs from the outbound. So yes, it is an economic decision.