I’d planned to catch the KLIA Ekpres fast train (taking 28 minutes) to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and make my way over to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal – KLIA LCCT. However, KLIA LCCT is located around 20kms from the main airport terminal and my taxi driver, taking me to Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station, where the train departs from, advised me that if I took the train I would then need another bus or taxi to take me those extra kilometres and the best thing was for me to catch a bus.
Aerobus – one of the airport transfer bus companies, which departs from downstairs at KL Sentral station – leaves every half hour or when a bus is full, takes 1 hour and costs MYR8 (AUD$2.75) The fare, versus the KLIA Ekpres train at MYR35 (AUD$12) plus taxi fare across to LCCT, represented excellent value! The coach was clean and very comfortable and dropped me right outside the terminal.
The Low Cost Carrier Terminal – LCCT – was opened in 2006 to keep up with the growing number of low cost carriers, such as Malaysia’s Air Asia, Air Asia X and Singapore’s Tiger Air. Previously a cargo area, the terminal is located at the opposite end of the airport and is basically a large hall with a couple of shops, cafes, fast food outlets, duty free stores, foreign exchange counters and ATM’s. The terminal does feature one lounge – The Plaza Premium Lounge.
If you are travelling with Air Asia, you can purchase the Red Carpet Service – MYR100 (AUD$33.45) online or MYR125 (AUD$41.80) walkup – which includes many benefits including 2 hours in the Plaza Premium lounge. Stupid me, wasn’t thinking straight and after checking in normally I headed to the Lounge and paid my entry direct – MYR128 (AUD$42.81) for two hours.
There wasnt a huge amount of food or drinks on offer, but what there was, was fresh and tasty. In the drinks fridge were soft drinks, juices and water and Carlsberg beer, tea and coffee was also available. There was a salad bar with a choice of dressings, a cold pasta dish named Oglio Oglio and a contruct your own Malaysian dish (I forget the name) with cucumber, roasted nuts and a spicy peanut sauce. From the hot fod selection, there was mushroom soup, steamed rice and ginger chicken. The Chicken was delicious and was washed down with one of the Carlsberg’s 😉
It wasnt long before it became time for me to clear Malaysian immigration and customs and head to my gate. Interestingly there is a Plaza Premium Lounge airside and with my receipt I was able to enter the lounge again for one quick final Carlsberg before my flight was called. The airside lounge was smaller with seating for about 30. there was less food on offer, however the entrance fee, should I have just come into this lounge, was MYR81 (AUD$27.24). Kuala Lumpur International Airport is building a new terminal KLIA2 to replace the Low Cost Carrier Terminal and is slated to open in early 2014.
Matty Somewhere 
The low cost lounges are a great idea! Sometimes you’re stuck there for ages and you just want internet and a cold drink!