What’s It Like Flying MH Business for the First Time as a Regular SQ Flyer?
This is Peter, Chief Travel Officer of BolehMiles, back with another trip report. You can check out my previous trip reports here.
Singaporeans love Singapore Airlines. One Singaporean colleague told me, “My wife’s pregnant, so we chose Singapore Airlines because the landing is smoother, no sudden bumps like other airlines mah”. Another said, “I sked of flying, so I only take Singapore Airlines, because they got less turbulence!…”
Malaysia Airlines has its own loyal fans too, but probably not quite the same love. And the Enrich program? Yikes. As one miles guru bluntly put it: “Enrich has devalued so much, I’d be stupid to convert to Enrich instead of KrisFlyer or Asia Miles.”
Yes, Singapore Airlines clearly offers a better product than Malaysian Airlines. And giving up Carbs when Meat is on the table is not a good move. But I do think it’s shortsighted to completely write off Malaysia Airlines or the Enrich program. Why? I’ll explain why at the end of this post.
But for now, here’s my flight experience:
Trip Overview
Route summary : Singapore (SIN) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Seoul (ICN) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Singapore (SIN)
Duration: ~10 days
Miles Spent: 55,000 Miles (per pax)
Cash Outlay (Air Ticket)*: RM2466
| Seg. | Route | Carrier | Class | Miles | Cash Outlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIN – KUL | Malaysia Airlines | Business | 5,000 Flying Blue Miles (Mistake Fare) |
RM250 |
| 2 | KUL – ICN | Malaysia Airlines | Business | 50,000 British Avios (Peak – 1st May) |
RM250 |
| 3 | ICN – KUL – SIN | Malaysia Airlines | Business | Revenue Ticket | RM1,966 (Mistake Fare) |
| 55,000 Miles | RM2,466 | ||||
Segment 1 (SIN–KUL) was booked during the Flying Blue mistake fare incident in December 2024 — which we covered in the BolehMiles Telegram. Normally, this route costs 15,000 Flying Blue miles, but due to a glitch, it was going for just 5,000 miles for a short period of time.
Segment 2 (KUL–ICN) was on 1 May — a peak travel day. Enrich redemptions were going for over 100,000+ Enrich, but I managed to redeem it via British Airways Avios instead. There was no availability on Cathay, so Asia Miles wasn’t an option.
Segment 3 (ICN–KUL–SIN) was a small mistake revenue fare booked through an OTA, and the “loophole” only lasted a few days. I paid SGD596 for this one-way Business—almost unheard of for peak travel, especially when flying into/out of Singapore. That said, you can normally find KUL-ICN return fares for around RM4,000 during non-peak periods, which works out to roughly RM2,000 one-way if you’re starting from Kuala Lumpur.
These mistake fares pop up from time to time — some big, some small. This one’s a small win, but it’s a good reminder that with a little knowledge and luck, you can save some money.
Review of MH Business B737-8
Let’s briefly review the Business Class cabin on the short SIN-KUL hop. Malaysia Airlines operates only narrow-body aircraft on this sector, either the Boeing 737-800 NG (NextGen) or the newer Boeing 737-8 (MAX). Both cabins are nearly identical, except that the Boeing 737-8 (MAX) offers WiFi. For this review, we’ll focus on the Boeing 737-8 (MAX).
With its 2-2 narrowbody layout and recliner seats, it wouldn’t be fair to compare this to Singapore Airlines, which offers much posher flatbed seats, including throne seats, even on their B737-8. These MH seats here are made of “genuine lightweight leather,” which likely isn’t top or full grain. The texture and finish feel noticeably less plush compared to SQ’s seats. You can especially tell the difference in lumbar support and overall ergonomics, which are more refined on SQ.
That said, these seats are still comfortable, and I really have no complaints for such a short flight.
Overall, it’s a decent and comfortable cabin. Nothing fancy, but perfectly fine for short-haul flights. In my opinion, this MH narrowbody Business Class cabin is better compared to “Budget Business” on Batik Air or AirAsia X, rather than premium long-haul products like Singapore Airlines.
I wouldn’t mind flying MH Business again for routes like this. I mean, who really needs a full flat bed for a 55-minute hop? That said, I wouldn’t recommend burning 20,000 Enrich Miles (Saver) or 15,000 Flying Blue Miles on this MH KUL-SIN sector. If it weren’t for the 5,000 Flying Blue miles glitch, I probably wouldn’t be here either.
Review of MH Business on A330-300
The A330-300 is Malaysia Airlines’ most common widebody aircraft, with 15 currently in the fleet. It features the much-preferred Business Class cabin, equipped with 27 Thompson Aero Vantage seats arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 configuration. Best of all, there’s free Wi-Fi onboard. Here’s a look at the Business Class seat map:
The Seats
The Business Class seats are arranged in a staggered layout, alternating between 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 configurations. The window-side throne seats offer the most personal space and are definitely the most desirable. I was seated in 1K — one of those prized thrones.
In contrast, some seats in the middle section have noticeably narrower widths. I like to call these the “Sad middle seats”, and you’ll see what I mean in the seat map. If you’re traveling solo, I highly recommend selecting a throne seat as soon as you redeem or purchase your ticket — it makes a big difference and adds value to the experience.
There are also the “Sad window seats,” where two seats share the same space as a single throne seat. They’re not bad by any means — the seat itself is just as comfortable — but you lose out on the generous counter space.
If you’re flying with a partner and want to sit together, your options are the middle row or these paired window seats. I’d go for the window couple seats for a touch more privacy.
The Bed
The seat converts fully into a flat bed, and Malaysia Airlines provides a bed cover, blanket, and pillow. It was comfortable overall, though the bed padding felt a little soft for my liking. Still, I managed to get some decent sleep.
That said, the pillow was noticeably thin and flat, offering almost no support. I asked the crew if I could have an extra one, but to my surprise, they said no — apparently, they’re not allowed to give more than one pillow per passenger.
Another small gripe: the front row seats are quite exposed, being right next to the galley. With crew and passengers frequently moving in and out, it’s not ideal if privacy matters to you.
The Food
The meal kicked off with satay — a staple I always enjoy. I won’t say whether MH or SQ does it better, to avoid triggering another Singapore vs Malaysia food war. I was served a mix of chicken and beef, paired with a helping of peanut sauce. Yummy stuff, no complaints.
I had the fried cod fish with curry sauce as my main, and it was flavorful and satisfying — though it leaned more toward comfort food than fine dining. One thing to note: unlike Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines doesn’t offer a Book-the-Cook service. You’ll typically get just two main course options onboard. That said, you can still pre-order special dietary meals, like gluten-free, ahead of your flight.
Dessert isn’t served by default on Malaysia Airlines, but you can request ice cream or fruit anytime during the flight.
The WiFi
For wide body aircrafts, Wi-Fi is available for all passengers on Malaysia Airlines’ A350s and selected A330-300 aircraft. Fortunately, this flight had it — and the speed was surprisingly good. I managed to browse the web, get some work done, and even made a WhatsApp voice call without any issues.
Conclusion
Overall, I found the Business Class hard product to be noticeably less posh compared to Singapore Airlines. The service was also a little less attentive by comparison. That said, the crew were genuinely friendly, even outside of formal service times. They were warm, approachable, and happy to chat without the stiffness you sometimes get on more polished carriers — and I really appreciated that.
While I won’t trade Meat for Carbs, I also wouldn’t hesitate to fly Malaysia Airlines Business Class again — especially when you’re looking for a more cost-effective way to travel comfortably. I say cost-effective because the Enrich program still has its sweet spots, as highlighted in our Enrich Guide (read here). And let’s not forget those last-minute Business Class upgrade tricks we regularly share in the BolehMiles Telegram group.
For Malaysians based in KUL, there’s also the simple convenience of flying direct without having to transit in Singapore.
That’s all for this trip report. Stay tuned for our next one, where we’ll be reviewing the brand-new Malaysia Airlines A330neo Business Class cabin!