Skip to first unread message
Thomas Latt
Nov 12, 2012, 2:20:29 AM11/12/12
to travelmyanmar
Whatever happened to KLIA? For a short time at least, the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport set a
new global standard for airports. Upon opening in 1998, KLIA was hailed as shining vision of the future
of air travel. It even contained its own rainforest (Heathrow had a
Wetherspoon’s). But less than 15 years after opening, something has
gone wrong. Leaving KLIA is fine, but aren’t so many departure halls rather
impressive nowadays? How strange it is that countries spend millions
on improving their departure areas, while the arrivals hall – that
perfect chance to create a good first impression – is almost an afterthought.
I have travelled through KLIA four times in the past six months,
and the long immigration queues now come as no surprise. But with
fingerprint collection having replaced the old-fashioned immigration
cards, you would think waiting times may have been cut. They
haven’t. Then there’s the baggage claim signage, which is small
and sometimes inaccurate, and the new airport taxi booth location
(before the arrivals hall) which is just bizarre.
The arrivals hall itself is full of shrieking taxi touts. And these
aren’t just the usual ‘privateers’ – these are official hotel drivers! The
actual taxi queue – for those people still daft enough to risk an hour’s
drive in a 20-year-old Proton – usually involves a 30-minute wait in a
snaking queue.
It is perhaps a little unfair single out KLIA. All airports have their
problems, but it is just a shame that KLIA, after promising so much,
is now delivering so little. It was, and can still be, a wonderful airport.
The facilities are still in place, but - in the arrivals area at least -
processes are not. In the past I have been critical of Suvarnabhumi
airport, but it has recently made great improvements to the arrival
experience, including the removal of taxi touts from the arrivals hall.
KLIA would be well-served carrying out a review of its arrival
processes, if it wants to keep its position as one of the world’s
leading airports.
Follow Mark Elliott on Twitter - @MarkTDA
new global standard for airports. Upon opening in 1998, KLIA was hailed as shining vision of the future
of air travel. It even contained its own rainforest (Heathrow had a
Wetherspoon’s). But less than 15 years after opening, something has
gone wrong. Leaving KLIA is fine, but aren’t so many departure halls rather
impressive nowadays? How strange it is that countries spend millions
on improving their departure areas, while the arrivals hall – that
perfect chance to create a good first impression – is almost an afterthought.
I have travelled through KLIA four times in the past six months,
and the long immigration queues now come as no surprise. But with
fingerprint collection having replaced the old-fashioned immigration
cards, you would think waiting times may have been cut. They
haven’t. Then there’s the baggage claim signage, which is small
and sometimes inaccurate, and the new airport taxi booth location
(before the arrivals hall) which is just bizarre.
The arrivals hall itself is full of shrieking taxi touts. And these
aren’t just the usual ‘privateers’ – these are official hotel drivers! The
actual taxi queue – for those people still daft enough to risk an hour’s
drive in a 20-year-old Proton – usually involves a 30-minute wait in a
snaking queue.
It is perhaps a little unfair single out KLIA. All airports have their
problems, but it is just a shame that KLIA, after promising so much,
is now delivering so little. It was, and can still be, a wonderful airport.
The facilities are still in place, but - in the arrivals area at least -
processes are not. In the past I have been critical of Suvarnabhumi
airport, but it has recently made great improvements to the arrival
experience, including the removal of taxi touts from the arrivals hall.
KLIA would be well-served carrying out a review of its arrival
processes, if it wants to keep its position as one of the world’s
leading airports.
Follow Mark Elliott on Twitter - @MarkTDA
Nyi Nyi ®
Nov 20, 2012, 12:34:49 PM11/20/12
to travel...@googlegroups.com
May this be heard at least to Mandalay International Airport.
Ko Nyi Nyi
Nov 23, 2012, 5:03:08 AM11/23/12
to travel...@googlegroups.com
This news is true . I am at Mdy airport today . Only one A/C was working . Other ac are out of order . No one take responsibility .
Ko Nyi ( သရ၀ဏ္)
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Travel Myanmar (Tourism information, activities, idea exchange inside Burma)" group.
To post to this group, send email to travel...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to travelmyanma...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/travelmyanmar/-/xKPJ6koEnm4J.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages