Flight Review: Malaysia Airlines MH720 from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 3 to Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Airbus A330-200 (ex-Air Berlin)
At the time of my trip, Malaysia Airlines MH720 was the only once-daily Malaysia Airlines flight from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur. With my return ticket on Malaysia Airlines, I took MH720 for the first leg of my trip back to Singapore.
Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 3
Check-in
Heading into Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 3.
Security checks are done just after this door for bags.
The departure hall of Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 3.
Check-in for Malaysia Airlines is at Row C.
This is shared with Singapore Airlines. Too bad there’s no express route to change lines like a busway here.
Heading to the check-in queue for Malaysia Airlines.
The 1 flight departing from Jakarta during the time of my trip was MH720, the once-daily flight from Jakarta to KL.
My boarding passes for my MH720 flight from Jakarta to KL and MH607 from KL to Singapore.
Immigration & Security Screening
Heading to immigration and security screening.
The “express” to Singapore was also departing at this time.
Heading down to the departure transit area.
Many food stalls were still closed during the time of my visit.
However, duty free and souvenir shops were already open.
Gate G8
My Malaysia Airlines MH720 was departing from Gate 8, which was not a far walk from immigration.
Toilets are available outside Gate 8.
The water cooler was still closed due to COVID-19 during my trip.
9M-MTY was flying me back again, having taken this same aircraft from KL to Jakarta on MH721 when I started my trip.
As I was seated at the rear of the aircraft, I was the first boarding group after those with priority boarding.
Heading down the aerobridge.
Boarding 9M-MTY.
Malaysia Airlines MH720
The interior of Malaysia Airlines’ ex-Air Berlin Airbus A330-200, still featuring the Air Berlin seats. The front seats are Air Berlin’s XL economy seats with the logo removed, and Malaysia Airlines sells it as Economy Class with Extra Legroom.
My window seat at 47K.
Headsets were already laid on each seat during boarding.
The regular legroom on board Economy Class on the Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-200.
Still being sort of in the pandemic, hygiene kits were given out to all passengers when boarding which contains a non-surgical face mask, a sachet of hand sanitiser, and a sachet of sanitary wipes.
My IFE screen at “start-up” was weird with a bar saying that I’m arriving in KL soon. I’m not sure if the screen had even been reset for this flight.
Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 3 was still quite empty for international flights at that time.
Loading up the last baggage container.
It was an almost-full flight from Jakarta to KL, and understandably so since during my time of travel, Malaysia Airlines was only operating 1 flight a day.
The outdated KLIA Health Screening Centre video for on-arrival COVID-19 PCR testing was shown once all passengers had boarded. But it seems like no one paid attention to it or everyone knew that this was outdated, as no one seemed to panic when on-arrival COVID-19 PCR testing procedures were shown.
The hygiene safety video followed after the KLIA Health Screening Centre video
Pushing back from the gate.
The regular safety video followed during pushback.
I was hoping to get the new 2022 Malaysia Airlines safety video, but this was not loaded on this aircraft yet.
Taxiing out of Terminal 3.
The cabin lights were dimmed to a shade of purple for take-off.
Taxiing to Runway 07L.
Just a short line of planes behind me as travel was just restarting in Indonesia.
Taking off from Runway Runway 07L.
My Malaysia Airlines MH720 flight departed from Jakarta at 4.25pm – 20 minutes delayed.
Flying past the huge Terminal 3.
Flying past the new East Cross.
Heading out of mainland Java.
Flying past the new Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK).
Flying high with Malaysia Airlines.
Lunch was served shortly after seatbelt signs were switched off.
A meal service was provided on this flight with 2 options. I forgot what the other one was, but both sounded like basic plane food.
I opted for the Chicken with Rice option.
I can’t remember the full taste of the meal since my flight was more than 1 year ago, but I remembered that it was basic.
For drinks, coffee, tea, Coke, Sprite, orange juice, apple juice, and water were offered from the drinks trolley. A basic selection.
Since Sprite was available, I decided to order a Sprite and apple juice to make my own self-declared mocktail which Singapore Airlines would do.
Behold, my Fruit Spritzer which is a mix of Sprite and apple juice.
It was a smooth and uneventful flight from Jakarta to KL.
The moving map for flight information was not available throughout the flight.
After the meal and drinks service, the cabin lights were dimmed to a shade of blue.
Arriving in KL in the evening.
The cabin lights were dimmed to a shade of purple for landing.
Flying past Port Dickson.
Heading inland at Sepang Gold Coast.
Approaching Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Landing on Runway 14L.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
My Malaysia Airlines MH720 flight arrived at Kuala Lumpur at 7.07pm – 18 minutes early.
Taxiing to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 in the sunset.
Passing by Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380s parked at remote stands along the way.
Parked at Gate C25 at the Satellite Terminal.
Disembarking from the aircraft.
Satellite Terminal
Heading up the aerobridge.
Taking the travellator down from the pier.
The arrival path design here reminds me a bit of UK airports.
Heading through the tight paths with closed shops and the BP Covid-19 Screening Centre in the middle.
The BP Covid-19 Screening Centre was no longer in operation as Malaysia had already relaxed entry rules.
My connecting flight to Singapore, MH607, was departing from Gate G8 on the Contact Pier at the Main Terminal Building.
KLIA Aerotrain
Heading to the Aerotrain station to get to the Main Terminal Building.
At the time of my visit, only 1 Aerotrain on 1 track was in operation, with the other track used for stabling only.
Boarding the Aerotrain with a crowd of arriving passengers.
Heading out of the Satellite Terminal through the Satellite Terminal.
Disembarking at the Main Terminal Building from the Aerotrain.
Main Terminal Building
This transit in KLIA marked my last joyride on the KLIA Aerotrain Bombardier CX-100. More information on the KLIA Aerotrain Bombardier CX-100’s history and demise here.
A BP Covid-19 Screening Centre was in operation at the Main Terminal Building, but it was empty. Perhaps this served passengers travelling to a destination which requires a COVID-19 test at that time, but then again, this is already past check-in.
The G gates are just ahead here.
With a long transit, I had a proper dinner at OldTown White Coffee before catching my next flight, Malaysia Airlines MH607 from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Conclusion
While airfares were high, I took the opportunity as an excuse to finally fly on the Malaysia Airlines ex-Air Berlin Airbus A330-200. In hindsight, this turned out to be a blessing as I managed to take the KLIA Aerotrain Bombardier CX-100 for 1 last time before it ceased operations due to all trains breaking down at the same time. So this flight was both to take the ex-Air Berlin Airbus A330-200, but I felt that in hindsight, I enjoyed my KLIA Aerotrain ride more.