Plaza Premium Lounge, Kuala Lumpur 🎫✈️ A Balanced Review
In the ever-busy Kuala Lumpur International Airport, travelers often seek refuge from the hustle and bustle. The Plaza Premium Lounge promotes itself as a haven, promising a blend of comfort, amenities, and service… Is it really?
Join us as we delve into the features, both the commendable and the not-so-great, of this prominent airport lounge.
Highlights
- Locating the Plaza Premium
- Arrival and Ambiance
- Comfort and Seating
- Dining and Refreshments
- Amenities and Services
- Customer Service
- Value for Money?
- Hotel Deals in Kuala Lumpur
- A Layover at Sama-Sama
- Things We Carry on the Plane
Locating the Plaza Premium Lounge
The Plaza Premium Lounge is located in the Main Terminal Building (Terminal 1) of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), just a short walk away from Gate G.
There is also a Plaza Premium First Lounge located directly next to the Plaza Premium Lounge.
Entrance to the Plaza Premium Lounge
The only other realistic alternative to the Plaza Premium Lounges is Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge in the Satellite Terminal, which is a lot more up-market (and more expensive). Also, the Golden Lounge must be booked in advance, online.
Arrival and Ambiance
Stepping into the Plaza Premium Lounge, you are greeted with a busy but functional environment. The decor is modern, with an emphasis on clean lines and a soothing color palette.
Immediately after the entrance in the main canteen area offering buffet-only service. It is reported that during peak times the lounge can feel a bit crowded, which detracts from the overall sense of tranquility.
In actual fact, this is always the case. I spent 6 hours there, and there was always a constant stream of visitors entering and trying to find seating.
Do you see many free tables?
Comfort and Seating
The seating options in the Plaza Premium Lounge cater to a variety of needs, from simple canteen-style chairs to private booths for up to 4 people and plush armchairs perfect for relaxation. The dedicated resting areas with more comfortable seating are a plus for those needing a quick nap.
Despite this, during busy hours, finding a seat can become a challenge, and the noise levels can rise, somewhat compromising the lounge’s intended peaceful ambiance.
The canteen area is constantly busy. The best tactic is to immediately occupy the first available seat, then wait until the better seating options become available. But you’ll need to stay alert and be quick, because none of the better seating options stay free for very long.
The small booths look promising and provide a little more privacy, but the way they are built means that you’ll feel every movement of the people sitting behind you, which quickly becomes very irritating.
There are more accessible seating options in the lounge areas behind the canteen area. A better choice if you’re not too concerned about running up and down to get refreshments.
Travelling Alone?
If you are travelling alone you will have additional concerns to deal with. Once you eventually find a suitable place to sit, how do you safely use the canteen?
You can either leave your bags (and laptop) unattended on the table while getting your snacks (so that nobody takes your place) or you take your bags with you, then look for somewhere else to sit.
Taking into account the sheer volume of people constantly arriving and leaving, this is a serious worry.
Finally! After half an hour I nabbed a booth
Plaza Premium Lounge – Food & Drink
One of the lounge’s highlights is its dining area, offering an array of local and international dishes. The diverse buffet spread includes Malaysian staples like nasi lemak, as well as Western options such as salads and pasta.
The quality and taste of the food were generally commendable, though at times, the buffet items were not replenished quickly enough, leading to empty trays during peak periods.
You can choose from a variety of coffees and teas from the self-service machines.
The overall impression is like negotiating your way through a very busy cafeteria – except you have to queue at the buffet to serve yourself.
Their advertising indicates that passengers may opt for spirits, draught beer, white, and red wine (all complimentary as part of the access) or opt for cocktails at an additional charge. The reality is considerably different, and will depend on how long you stay and how much you pay.
Amenities and Services
The Plaza Premium Lounge prides itself on its comprehensive range of amenities. There are shower facilities (which I didn’t try), which come at an extra cost but may be useful after a long flight.
The Wi-Fi is good enough, but there are not enough prominent flight departure boards to keep you informed about your flight.
Customer Service
The staff at the Plaza Premium Lounge are professional and courteous. From check-in to departure, we found the service to be efficient and friendly. The staff’s attentiveness and willingness to assist with any inquiries contributed positively to our experience.
Nonetheless, during busy periods, the staff can appear stretched thin, leading to longer wait times for service.
The staff are friendly and work hard to keep everything running smoothly for the constant stream of customers coming through the doors. Even so, it can take them a long time to clear the tables of the dirty dishes.
Value for Money?
Evaluating whether or not the Plaza Premium Lounge is value for money is a difficult one. Though it offers a good balance of amenities and services, you can get the same or better in one of the many airport cafes and restaurants.
While the lounge provides some conveniences, the overcrowding and slower service during peak times might make some travelers question the premium price tag.
Though their website quoted $56 for a 6-hour stay, as a walk-in customer they offered me just 5 hours for RM 247 ($55). I was told that this was a special discounted offer which included a complimentary glass of wine and a cocktail.
Hang on! Isn’t wine supposed to be included in the price?
At least the beer was free-flowing, although do you really want to be drinking a lot of beer when you’re travelling?,
Relaxing in the rear lounge
Seriously, for this kind of money you could eat and drink well at the airport cafes, many of which are not as crowded as the Plaza Premium Lounge.
Despite these drawbacks, the overall experience remains positive, particularly for those just looking for a break from the busy airport environment.
Plaza Premium Lounge – Final Thoughts
There’s not much premium about the Plaza Premium Lounge. It gets just as crowded as anywhere else in the airport, and it can be difficult to find a place to sit.
The lounge offers a range of services designed to cater to diverse traveler needs, from dining to relaxation and work. But there are areas that need improvement, such as managing the sheer numbers of customers that overwhelm their canteen area.
Having said that, once you’ve found your spot you’ll have a table to open your laptop, and can help yourself to (mainly Indian) snacks and dishes, juices and free-flowing beer.
Is it worth the money? Probably not in view of how busy it gets, the comparatively mediocre refreshments and the stingy alcohol restrictions.
If getting away from the crowds to a relaxing environment is one of your main reasons for choosing an airport lounge, then this isn’t it.
If you enjoyed Plaza Premium Lounge, Kuala Lumpur, take a look at our other Tropical Travel Plans. You may also like:
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