Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) is Malaysia’s main international airport and is one of the major airports in Southeast Asia and worldwide. It is located in the Sepang District of Selangor, approximately 45 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur city center. This airport is the gateway to the incredible hotels in Kuala Lumpur, and we have already reviewed the best hotel club lounges in Kuala Lumpur.
Free Airport Lounge Access
If you have not paid for Business Class or First Class, you can still access several brilliant lounges at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for a fee or for free if you have a Priority Pass. Priority Pass Lounges at Kuala Lumpur Airport include KLIA2 two Plaza Premium Lounges and the KLIA1 Satellite Plaza Premium Lounge.
Paid entrance is also sometimes possible using cash, or you can get in for free if you have a Priority Pass, which comes free with the Amex Platinum card. To get extra referral points when you apply for this card, have a read of our best credit cards for luxury travel.
Below, I outline the very best airline lounges at Kuala Lumpur Airport:
1. Emirates lounge
The Emirates Business Class lounge at Kuala Lumpur Airport is situated on the upper level of KLIA and is open 24/7. The decor is in the golden and brown signature colors of Emirates. You can access this lounge if you’re flying in Business and First Class or are a Skywards Gold member traveling in Economy.
The shower rooms in this lounge are excellent, with good shower pressure and nice toiletries. The seating is comfy and stylish, split between an armchair area, a cafe, and a restaurant area, and the views are great of the tarmac and planes.
The food and drink are excellent, with the best food in Kuala Lumpur airport of any airline lounge. Gourmet, fresh food is presented beautifully. The wines are expensive, and the Champagne is French. Emirates offers the best airline lounge in Kuala Lumpur Airport.
2. Malaysia Airlines First Class Golden Lounge
Coming in at number two but also one of the best airline lounges at Kuala Lumpur Airport is the flagship Malaysia Airlines First Class Golden Lounge. There is a First and a Business Golden lounge located in the international Satellite terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). International flights depart from Kuala Lumpur’s Terminal 1 Satellite terminal.
Malaysia Airlines is a British Airways Oneworld Alliance partner, meaning you can earn and spend Avios (and earn British Airways tier points) on Malaysia Airlines. British Airways only operates a once-daily service to and from Kuala Lumpur, so there is no exclusive British Airways lounge. As a One World airline, you can use the Malaysia Airlines Business and First Gold Lounges if you are flying with BA. The specific lounge access depends on which class you’re flying.
The First Class part of the lounge can be accessed by Malaysia Airlines First Class customers and BA First Class passengers and the Business Class section by Business Class customers. Oneworld Emerald status holders with airlines like British Airways can also use this lounge, even when flying in lower classes.
The First Class side of this airline lounge offers an a la carte dining area with a buffet and a beautiful view of the planes. The look of the lounge is stylish and Asian. The seats have plenty of power sockets and USBs for charging devices.
The menu itself mixes Malaysian and Western items. The food is of high quality and enough to fill you up. There are also plenty of magazines and papers to read if you so wish.
Bathrooms can be found within the lounge with toilets and shower suites; they are decent if you need to freshen up.
Being Malaysia Airlines’ flagship lounge, this lounge should be extra special. It’s very good and is one of the best airport lounges at Kuala Lumpur airport, but it is not overly special on a worldwide scale. If you are a Oneworld emerald, this is a great lounge to get access to.
3. Malaysia Airlines Business Class Golden Lounge
Malaysia Airlines has several lounges at Kuala Lumpur airport in the domestic and international terminals. International Business Class flights on Malaysian tend to depart from the Satellite, so this is probably the lounge you’ll have access to if you’re flying Business Class.
Business (and First) Class passengers flying on Malaysia Airlines can access this lounge along with other Oneworld Airlines high-tier members e.g., BA Emerald members. Malaysia Airlines passengers can also purchase access, which is a better option than paying for a Priority Pass lounge but is quite expensive nonetheless. It is worth buying access to this lounge when it is empty, but if it’s busy, the atmosphere can be frantic with few seats, which may not be worth the price on the door.
The lounge is a classy, relaxing lounge if a little too large. The only problem is that it can get very full. The lounge can be found on the upper mezzanine floor, which is where most of the international airport lounges can be found at Kuala Lumpur Airport.
Within the lounge, there’s a fairly decent bar that serves alcohol (not in abundance, but enough variety to satisfy), plenty of windows with views of the planes, loads of seating with charging points, and some USB sockets. Bear in mind, even with its size and volume of seating, at times. It can still be hard to get a seat.
The lounge also stocks newspapers and has a really nice noodle cafe serving curry, various noodles, and chicken dumplings. Separately, there is a food area where chefs prepare grilled sandwiches like cheese and veggies on paninis, tuna sandwiches, and various wraps. The buffet offers pasta, potatoes, dim sum, veggie dishes, and soft and hot drinks.
4. Cathay Pacific First and Business Class lounge
A small Cathay Pacific First and Business Class lounge is located in the international Satellite terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). This lounge is close to the Oneworld Malaysia Airlines lounges, but it can be quieter if the Golden lounges are busy.
Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members and those traveling in Business or First class on a Oneworld carrier from KUL have access to this lounge. Things to note about this lounge are the clean toilets but no showers. The problem with this lounge is the food offered. Although there’s both hot and cold food (mainly noodles), it is a significant downgrade from the Malaysia Airlines lounge food. Alcohol and other drinks are self-serve. If the Malaysia Airlines lounges are rammed, try this one, but bear in mind that you won’t get a shower and may be disappointed by the food.
5. Malaysia Golden Lounge Regional
There are two additional Malaysia Airlines lounges, the Malaysia Golden Lounge Regional, located in Kuala Lumpur Main Terminal (KLIA). This Oneworld Malaysia Golden Lounge Regional lounge gets good reviews.
6. Golden Lounge Domestic
There’s also a Golden Lounge Domestic in the Kuala Lumpur Domestic (KLIA) area.
7. Plaza Premium Lounge (KLIA)
Plaza Premium Lounge (KLIA) is located in the International Satellite Building, Airside, near Gates C11 – C17. This is a Priority Pass lounge. This spacious and cozy lounge in KLIA is their flagship lounge in Malaysia. It offers guests the signature services and facilities of the world’s first independent airport lounge, regardless of ticket or travel class.
Affording guests an amazing view of the airport runway while enjoying the services and facilities on hand, such as comfortable seatings, delectable selections of food offerings all day, freshly brewed coffee or tea, soft drinks, work stations, and Wi-Fi connectivity, business center services, shower facilities, local and international magazines and TV channels for entertainment, relax and refresh in comfort before your onward journey.
8. Plaza Premium First Lounge
Plaza Premium First Lounge is located in the International Satellite Terminal, Airside, near Gates C21 – C27. It’s open 24/7.
There’s also a Plaza Premium Lounge (KLIA2, Arrivals) located in KLIA2m opposite the Aerotel Kuala Lumpur, a Plaza Premium Lounge (KLIA2, Level 3) located in KLIA2, International Departure. See more details of the Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium lounges here.
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