Coming in from my AirAsia flight from Miri to Kuala Lumpur, it was immediately time for me to catch my connecting flight, AirAsia AK6038 from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru to get me close enough to home at a cheap price, saving me a night bus ride back to Singapore.
My next flight was departing from Gate J9, just 4 gates away from my arrival gate from Miri.
As boarding for my flight hadn’t opened yet, I headed over to Gate J7 to get a shot of my aircraft.
Just as I headed back, boarding commenced. That’s how tight my connection was.
9M-AJW will be taking me back to JB from KL.
Queuing up to board the aircraft.
Looks like I’m all set for an on-time departure.
Heading down the aerobridge.
Hello klia2, bye klia2.
Boarding the aircraft.
ROKKI Wi-Fi is available on board this flight.
Oh, this is a surprise. I’m getting a refitted aircraft with Mirus Hawk slimline seats.
The Hot Seats feature additional padded headrests on the Mirus Hawk slimline seats.
Regular seats like mine don’t.
The legroom available on the AirAsia Airbus A320 with Mirus Hawk slimline seats.
The compact tray table on the Mirus Hawk slimline seats.
The blank view of the back of the headrests on the Mirus Hawk slimline seats.
Fuelling up for the short hop to JB.
A rather full Pier J for tonight as usual.
The view of boarding from my seat.
Just about a minute in my Mirus Hawk slimline seat, it was already starting to feel very uncomfortable. The seat was very upright and very hard. The thinness also makes you feel the person’s knees behind you. I hope Tony doesn’t install these new seats on all aircraft.
Boarding was done efficiently and on time, but the refuelling process delayed the pushback.
Some trainspotting from my seat.
Surprisingly, the plane was heading towards Runway 2 of KLIA rather than Runway 3 of klia2.
Looking at the almost-stalled operations of KLIA on the troubled weekend. It was a super short taxi from the gate to Runway 2 though, hence the cabin lights still on as the safety demonstration had just ended.
The lights were switched off hurriedly as the crew rushed back to their seats as the plane was taking off.
Goodbye Kuala Lumpur. It’s as if I just arrived.
Heading south to JB.
Flipping my tray table open in anticipation of my supper.
I pre-booked the TEC Sandwich (Turkey, Egg & Cheese) for this short hop. This time, the sandwich was packed in thin plastic like a convenience store package.
Touching down in the very dark Senai Airport.
Passing by the remote stands.
Uh oh, I think he’s waving to my plane.
Indeed.
Parked at the remote stand of Senai International Airport.
The mobile stairs coming in on the front and rear doors.
The last row looks like a disaster to sit in.
Heading down on to the tarmac.
Disembarkation was efficient with two doors opened.
Looking back at 9M-AJW.
Luckily, this was the nearest remote gate to the terminal building.
Heading into the marked footpath.
I’m not sure which is worse, to know that you’re walking on the tarmac from a remote gate or walking on the tarmac while stopping short of a gate.
Heading into the terminal building.
The entrance is just beside the baggage carousel loading area.
Appearing beside the baggage carousel.
Those who have check-in bags pick them up here.
Looking back at the small side door leading from the apron.
Heading out of the baggage reclaim area into the public area.
Continuing out quickly in the hopes of catching the last Causeway Link Senai Airport Shuttle AA1.
As I approached the counter at 11.37pm, the counter was well and truly closed.
Looks like the 5-minute early arrival didn’t help with catching the AA1.
Still, I headed out to see if there was a bus parked at the bus stand.
And indeed there was.
But it was not what I was expecting. When approaching the bus driver, he said that he was going to Desaru and the JB bus was gone. Ah, well.
Here, I caught a Grab to JB Sentral to catch the last bus to Singapore.
I cleared JB immigration at around 12.15am which leaves me a bit of time to catch a public bus to Singapore.
Click here to find out how to get from Johor Bahru to Singapore after midnight!
Lots of Bas Kilangs were already waiting for passengers.
I managed to hop on to a departing SBSTransit Service 170 in the nick of time, which was not the last bus.
Departing from JB Sentral.
Crossing the Malaysia-Singapore border on the Johor-Singapore Causeway.
Entering Woodlands Checkpoint back home.
Overall, this connecting flight offered me a super efficient way to get back to Singapore from Miri at night at a low price instead of a once-daily morning non-stop flight or an irregular and expensive non-stop flight from Miri to JB. Thanks AirAsia for the great schedules and cheap fares as always.