Malaysia Airlines Has 99 Problems… This Isn’t One Of Them

As one who has flown Malaysia Airlines for the past 10 years I can't miss the chance to lay down a few lines. The love and hate relationship between myself , team members and MH is ongoing. I have flown about 10,000,000 miles in my years on the planet and as pilot we are always looking for ways to make our lives a bit easier. Even if it is turning off the noise in our heads for 30 minutes after leaving a war or disaster zone by being able to sit in a place where 100 others are not screaming on mobile phones whilst their babies are crying and soiling their nappies/diapers. The Malaysia Airlines System is mostly mismanaged because of a general lack on know how and CANDO spirit. The first word in English language that they learn is , NO! The country is greatly divided into three different groups by Tamils, Malay and Chinese heritage. Whilst they fake it most of the time you can hear and see them showing the division in open face public. It is must worse when you speak to Tamils who were born in Malaysia who are not allowed to get loans because they are not "Bumi Putra" or son's of the land. The Chinese call the Indian's/Tamils "Dogs" and openly. The Malay are mostly Muslim and that opens an entirely different pack of hard butter on a business class meal! HA! HA! My cure for that hard frozen butter is simple. One needs only to set in under the hot tray for a few mins and it will melt rather nicely. The cure for the Malaysian division , racial discrimination and general "CAN NOT" attitude is much more difficult to sort out. Now, back to MH or Malaysia Airlines System and their lack of understanding about how frequent flyers want to feel. To keep this as positive as possible I want to see throw them a bone or two before I let them have the cold slap they deserve for making my life more difficult or numerous flights and visits to ticketing and check in kiosks. I note last week on one of my MH flights that a flight attendant came to move a gold member of their program to a more comfortable seat than where he was sitting. I also noted that used my name without my knowing her personally. Since most of the time I'am the sole white face on the aircraft and my very frequent trips I have come to know hundreds of MH employees and they are most telling to say the least. Many just call me , Captain or Cap as they know my history and are trying to be decent. I must say that many of MH's crew air and ground are so much like spoiled children much of the time. There is the idea in most Malaysian's head that ALL whites and Westerners are rich and if you are a little stocky then you are really rich! I'am about the least demanding fellow that I know coming from a military flying background and then transitioning to civilian humanitarian work around the world. I have lived in and operated from some of the most horrible places in earth where nothing at all could be taken for granted , not even one's next breath. I do require common respect and not to be jacked about by those I have paid to receive services from. This makes life with MH a little more rugged than it needs be. The rest of my negative notes will be listed in bullet form below. 1. Malaysia Airlines is 80% percent of the time 20 to 40 mins late on departure. I have been as fair as possible here but that is true. There never seems to be a great sense of urgency especially when going to one of their to tourist hot spots like Langkawi for example. 2. The idea that they are doing you a favor by taking you where you want to go is ever present in their behavior. No matter what class or level you are in the system you will be trampled by old ladies and people with 3 or more children. 3. Lack of unity or belonging to something in rarely demonstrated by even the most senior MH folks. Smiles even fake ones are missing and not attempt to make one feel welcome aboard at least 50% of the time. 4. The Enrich Frequent Flyer program is a black hole and means basically nothing even when they have spent loads of money advertising it. I currently struggle every single week for proper credit to my accounts for segments and miles. They always seem to find new rules that are that disqualify my flights for miles and segments. I call them #FEWS False Entirely Without Substance is kin to FAKE NEWS that hear so much about from U.S. President Trump these days. 5. It seems to take at least 3 people there to make a decision about even the smallest of matters. Forget getting any extra consideration if they are on a TURN&BURN flight to one of their hot spots. It is better not to ask for anything thus saving yourself the heartburn. 6. The in seat entertainment displays malfunction 30% to 40% percent of the time. When I clearly have my smart phone connected via USB I can not get access to my files as they boast so much about. Award Winning? Not so much by this man's rules. 7. General status and condition of the aircraft is of great concern to me. If they have not placed two 80 year old grandmas with 3 carry on bags each in the emergency/exit row (where I'am always planted) then I often find the carpet pulled up , the reflective strip on the floor damaged, the seat belts badly frayed or INOP. Safety write ups would be all that I do if I were to allow myself to go down that road. 8. Safety concerns are of great importance to all of us and myself as well. I see the things through a pilot's eye that would shake the boots off folks in the industry in Europe and North America. People allowed to stand up whilst taxing at high rates of speed , PAXS being allowed to deplane on a dark ramp at night only guessing which way to go to the terminal. Langkawi, Kota Bharu and many others have only stairs for deplaning and there is a general lack of proper ramp procedure. So, I will be with MH for another 4 ups and 4 downs in the next 48 hours and if it is superfine and delightful run then I shall state so in my next posting. The reality is that when one needs to fly in SE ASIA we all know to steer well clear of Air Asia leaves few options other than swimming with the sharks. Oh, yes give that man a bloody cup of coffee, MH won't you? One of the world's most traveled people to more than 170 countries and states, G

@Bill: If most of their customers don't drink, how will eliminating alcohol be a significant money saver? Also, your statement "Not everyone is an alcoholic like yourself" is quite judgmental. Just because you disapprove of alcohol consumption doesn't mean the rest of the world has to abstain. No doubt there are things you do that others wouldn't approve of.

@Bumi Sorry, which part of my reply exactly said you were wrong about your own culture? Please explain. Thanks

@Marcus Thank you for informing me that I am wrong about my own culture. #whiteprivilege

@marcus My native tongue is not English and i dont know much about branding philosophy, but after reading the full post of which 85% is not about the lounge/coffee/admission fee i get your point, and agree.