Malaysia Airlines New A330neo. Is it Worth the Hype?
This is Peter, Chief Travel Officer at BolehMiles, with a full review of Malaysia Airlines’ A330neo Business Class on the Kuala Lumpur to Denpasar (Bali) route.
The Cabin
My first impression? The cabin looks quite different in real life compared to the marketing pictures and videos, which featured neon pink/purple lighting that made everything appear more dramatic.
My flight was in the early morning, and here’s a look at the cabin in all its natural glory, bathed in sunlight:
Cabin Overview
The Business Class seats on MH A330neo are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with 7 rows and 28 seats. Every seat is equal: same size, direct aisle access, and you don’t have to worry about getting a less desirable seat, unlike the older A330-300 and the A350-900.
Also, the window seats on the A330neos are angled slightly away from the centre, which is great for added privacy, while the middle seats angle toward each other – ideal for those travelling as a pair.
The Seats
Marketed by Malaysia Airlines as a personal “Mini Suite”, the window seat offers a decent amount of space, but noticeably less than the throne seats on the A330-300, especially in terms of counter and storage area.
Storage space is limited: you can fit small items like a wallet or earpiece, but there isn’t much room for a backpack or anything bulkier.
The tray table is decently sized and can be adjusted closer to you. It’s great for getting some work done on a laptop.
The middle seats are angled slightly toward each other, which is great for couples or travel partners. But if you’re flying solo, you can easily slide the partition for added privacy.
The Door
Let’s take a closer look at the door, which you can use to create a little private space for yourself.
When you’re seated, you won’t see your neighbors, and they won’t see what you’re doing either. However, the door isn’t particularly tall, measuring around 1 metre.
It’s not quite in the same league as Qatar’s latest Qsuite doors, which stand at 1.42 metres.
That said, an average adult walking down the aisle can still see into your suite, which does reduce the overall privacy factor. But hey, it’s still a door, and a low door is better than no door.
One minor detail: the toggle to unlock the door is located behind the seat, so you’ll need to stand up slightly to reach it before sliding the door shut.
The Bed
Malaysia Airlines describes the “Elevation seat as featuring proprietary comfort technology, with an ergonomically optimised suspension and cushioning system designed to offer seamless, smooth transitions from upright to lounge and fully-flat bed mode”
In my experience, the transitions didn’t feel noticeably special, but the bed itself was comfortable, and I managed to catch a short nap during this short flight.
The Food
As this was a short flight, there was no satay service. The meal began with a starter of Greek yogurt, fresh fruits, and a slice of banana cake.
For the main course, I had the Nasi Lemak with Chicken Rendang, served in a rectangular lunchbox-style container. It felt more like an economy-class presentation.
I would’ve appreciated better plating, but I understand the time constraints on a short flight. That said, the rendang itself tasted pretty decent.
The Entertainment System, WiFi and Power
The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system received a major upgrade from the old A330-300.
It is now a 17.3-inch screen with 4K resolution, which delivers noticeably sharper and brighter visuals. The movie selection also appears to be improved . I saw some titles available here weren’t listed on Malaysia Airlines’ standard entertainment catalogue online.
The WiFi performed surprisingly well, clocking in at 18 Mbps download and 0.63 Mbps upload.
I was able to make a WhatsApp voice call and browse the web.
The seat also comes with a 60W USB-C charging port which is perfect for modern laptops, tablets, and phones. A universal power outlet is also available, starting at 110V 50Hz, in case you need one.
The Toilet
There are three lavatories in the Business Class cabin. One located near the cockpit after the galley, and two more behind the last row. With 28 seats sharing 3 toilets, that’s actually a pretty decent ratio.
The lavatories themselves are fairly standard and on the smaller side, with no particularly fancy touches.
The Crew
Malaysia Airlines flight attendants are known for their warm and attentive service, and the crew on this flight were no exception.
They regularly offered drink refills and checked in to see if I needed anything.
Conclusion
| MH A330neo Business Class | ||
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| 😊 Pros | 😐 Cons | |
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I like the direction Malaysia Airlines is taking with its refreshed A330neo Business Class cabin, marketed as the “Mini Suite”.
While the hard product is not in the same league as Qatar’s Qsuite or Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite, it is still a comfortable Business Class product that represents a step forward for Malaysia Airlines.
Hopefully, we’ll see more of these aircraft deployed on existing MH routes, as well as new destinations. That’s all for this review.
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There are only 28 seats (7 rows), not 32