If you are flying into or out of Terminal klia2 (Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2), you’d be forgiven for thinking that you have landed in a shopping mall rather than an airport. That’s because Terminal klia2, currently the world’s largest terminal serving low-cost carriers, has an airport-within-a-mall concept. Everything about it caters to savvy travellers who are looking for that single-stop facility to get all their needs met upon departure or arrival.
To get your bearings right, note that Terminal klia2 is located about 50 minutes by car from downtown Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. If traveling via the KLIA Ekspress, it is just 33 minutes. It is situated about 2 km away (or between 4 and 10 minutes away depending on mode of transport) from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Terminal klia2 consists of gateway@klia2 Mall, the shopping mall; the Main Terminal building on the landside where the arrival and departure halls are located, along with the check-in counters and security and immigrations; and the airside of the terminal where the departure and arrival gates are located.
Overwhelmed? Don’t be…read on to see our favourite picks of outlets and services within Terminal klia2 that will make your trip here smooth and breezy.
NAPPING ZONES
Maybe you are in transit in Malaysia, or your flight back home got delayed. For whatever reasons that you need a place to rest, there are more than a couple of options in the vicinity.
Within gateway@klia2 Mall, Aerotel (myaerotel.com) offers 78 cozy wood-panelled guest rooms with ensuite bathrooms for the solo traveller, the couple or the family, with flexible check-in times. Rooms are between 20 and 34 square metres and start from RM280. Don’t rush it, the airport check-in counters are just 5 minutes’ walk away!
Aerotel: Level 2M, gateway@klia2 Mall, Terminal klia2
Capsule Transit (capsuletransit.com), also within gateway@klia2 Mall, is similar to a backpacker’s hostel where you get to make friends with neighbouring guests. Minimalist in nature, it offers a bed, a shower and luggage storage, too, with “pod” rentals in chunks of 3-, 6- or 12-hour stays, starting at RM89. For solo female travellers, there is a females-only zone for extra privacy.
Capsule Transit: Level 1, Lot 1-5, gateway@klia2 Mall, Terminal klia2
On a layover between flights? Then, Sama-sama Express (samasamaexpress.com) at Terminal klia2’s Satellite Building is the perfect solution. Hotel guests do not need to clear Malaysian Customs and Immigrations if they are on a layover between flights. Comfortable rooms — some with spectacular views of the airport runway – between 17 and 48 sq metres are available for a minimum of 6-hour stays. As a plus, this hotel has been acknowledged as a Green Building for its environmentally-friendly practices!
Sama Sama Express klia2: Level 3, Satellite Building, Terminal klia2
Just want a place to relax and refresh while waiting for your flight home? Escape the buzz of the airport by checking into Wellness Spa (plazapremiumlounge.com) to pamper your body, from head to toe. Their menu of spa services includes massages (for neck, shoulder, back or foot), manicures and pedicures, and hair treatments, along with light refreshments and power showers. The lounge offers private resting areas where you can also catch up on the latest news on TV or some light reading. Weary travelers will find this quiet place a haven to relax while you freshen up and recharge your body.
Wellness Spa: Level 3, International Departure, Terminal klia2
CONNECTED IN MALAYSIA
If you have just arrived into Malaysia and are looking to explore the country with uninterrupted Internet connection, then WIYO (wiyo.my) and Samurai Wifi (samuraiwifi.com.my) are a blessing to you with their pocket wifi rental service. So, if you think international data roaming is expensive, local prepaid cards are troublesome and public wifi is insecure, try out this service by making a booking online at their websites a few days before your arrival into Malaysia then pick-up the device upon arrival at their outlets in Terminal klia2. Promotion rates are available, so check out their websites frequently.
WIYO: Level 2, L2-13, gateway@klia2 Mall, Terminal klia2
Samurai Wifi: Level 2, Lot S2-2-211, gateway@klia2 Mall, Terminal klia2
HEALTHY EATS
When traveling, the last thing you want is to have tummy troubles. Why not go for healthy options to avoid any possible problems?
Eat smart, eat fresh and eat healthy at The Green Market over at the Departure Level, a modern dining setting with Japanese, Korean and Malaysian offerings. Expect ramens, udons, Malaysian noodles, kimchi soups, bibimbap, donburi bowls and bento boxes to savour within an open-plan kitchen where you can see the chefs in action. Complete your meal with fresh, slow-pressed juices to set you up for the rest of the day. Oh, and you will love the charging stations, flight information boards and free wifi provided, too!
The Green Market: Departure Level (Level 3), Public Concourse, Main Terminal Building, Terminal klia2
If you think vegetarian food is boring, you probably haven’t tried the selection at BMS Organics. They’ve established themselves as a café serving healthy, organic vegetarian food since 2007, and currently have more than 20 organic cafes around Malaysia and in China. Their KLIA2 café has about 40 healthy meal options including rice meals, soup noodles, and smoothie bowls. Favourites are the Curry Laksa made with soy milk broth; light and refreshing quinoa salad; and brown rice nasi lemak. The café is located at a quieter part of the terminal where you can eat in peace.
BMS Organics Grab ‘n Go: Level 3, L3-22A, gateway@klia2 Mall, Terminal klia2
LOCAL TASTES
Flying home and can’t get enough of Malaysian food and drinks? There’s plenty of local bites to feast on at Terminal klia2, but check out these local flavours which are popular favourites.
Nyonya Colours offers bite-sized local kuih or sweet treats made from tapioca, yam, sweet potato, mung beans, rice flour, sticky rice, coconut milk, brown sugar, desiccated coconut, and local ingredients that result in rich, sticky treats worth remembering.
Nyonya Colours: Level 3, Lot 34 37, gateway@klia2 Mall, Terminal klia2
At Kluang Station Cafe, you can cherish the nostalgia of olden day train stations while savouring the fusion of Chinese culture and tradition in its Hainanese takes on laksa noodle soup, fried Mee Siam noodles, and nasi lemak, all washed down with a strong cup of Kluang coffee.
Kluang Station Cafe: Level 2, L2-23, gateway@klia Mall, Terminal klia2
Crazy about coffee and want something with a local twist? Kofi Kraze2 uses their own Maxtract process, a gradient-diffused method to optimize the smoothness, aroma and intensity of their premium Cold Brew coffee with unique tropical flavours. Try out coffee in durian, yam, chili, jackfruit or pandan flavours – all typically reminiscent of Malaysia!
Kofi Kraze2 Premium Cold Brew Coffee: Level 3, L3-23, gateway@klia2 Mall, Terminal klia2
BOREDOM BUSTER
The next time you are stuck at the airport, head over to World Game Museum to pit your skills against friend or foe in a gaming play-off. There’s a good range of more than 100 games available here from classic games using the Atari console, or lose yourself in modern Virtual Reality dimensions. Family favourite card games for kids of all ages such as Old Maid and Snap, and famous board games like Ticket to Ride, offer an awesome collection for everyone. Overall, a great place to hang out if you’re not into shopping!
World Game Museum: Level 3A, Departure Hall, Main Terminal Building Terminal klia2
SOUVENIRS GALORE
Looking for quality Malaysian souvenirs to bring home? There’s plenty to choose from at Terminal klia2, from chocholates to biscuits, from traditional batik to unique arts and crafts, but let’s give you some cool ideas here…
You will never go wrong with chocolates and over at Fidani Factory (fidani.cc), there are some amazing Malaysian-made chocolates under the brands of Fidani, Danson and Farell’s. Look out for popular local flavours such as Musang King durian chocolates, which is guaranteed to be a huge hit!
Fidani Factory: Level 3, L3-17, gateway@klia2 Mall
Royal Selangor (myroyalselangor.com) pewter products also make great take-home gifts due to their quality and legacy in Malaysian history. The Malaysian Landmarks collection will remind visitors of their holiday in Malaysia and include the Petronas Twin Towers pocket lighter, Sarawak-motif coasters, key chains, photo frames and tankards.
Royal Selangor: S2-3-L18, Departure Hall, Main Terminal Building, Terminal klia2
How about doing a good deed while you shop and support a special group of artists with disabilities? These super talented artists have put their skills to use by producing handpainted shoes and bags. Their handiwork can be seen at Amaze Creative in quirky and colourful designs for sneakers, flats, children’s shoes, ladies’ shoes and handbags. Totally unique and one-of-a-kind gifts!
Amaze Creative: Level 2, L2-77, gateway@klia2, Terminal klia2
EXPLORING MALAYSIA
From Terminal klia2, the rest of Malaysia is easily accessible in a variety of transport modes. The Level 1 of gateway@klia2 Mall is dedicated as the Transportation Hub for Terminal klia2, providing access to public transportation services like taxi, bus, rail and car rental. The Express Rail Link (ERL) Train Services is a high-speed train that connects airline passengers to Kuala Lumpur in 33 minutes.
The ticketing counters for buses and taxis are available at this level. The buses transport passengers to KL Sentral, Bandar Tasik Selatan, One Utama shopping mall, Nilai and Seremban, and to other states like Johor, Melaka and Perak.