Once in Asia, the choice of routes to get to Kuala Lumpur are as many as the modes of transport available.
Still rather far from Kuala Lumpur, the only real way of getting to Kuala Lumpur would be to fly. Flights from Seoul are operated by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Korean Air. From Japan, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) operates twice daily from Tokyo-Narita, five times a week from Osaka-Kansai, along with flights from Nagoya and Fukuoka (twice weekly each). All Nippon Airways flies in four times a week from Osaka (via Bangkok), whilst Japan Airlines offers both a daily Tokyo-Kuala Lumpur and Osaka-Kuala Lumpur service. From Taiwan, both MAS and China Airlines fly up to three times a day each between Taipei and Kuala Lumpur and compete with EVA Air’s daily Taipei-Kuala Lumpur service. MAS and China Airlines also fly from the Southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung to Kuala Lumpur.
Cathay Pacific offers up to three flights a day between Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, but have begun code-sharing with Malaysia Airlines to offer at least 4 departures a day. China Southern Airlines also operates a Hong Kong-Kuala Lumpur service in addition to its direct services from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen.
By Air
Airfares between South East Asian cities are reasonably priced and do save you the hassle of combined bus, boat and rail journeys, not to mention time. Frequent services link Kuala Lumpur with the most major cities in the region. Major South East Asian carriers offering frequent flights into Kuala Lumpur include Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and of course Malaysia Airlines (MAS). Other carriers like Garuda Indonesia, Lionair (Indonesia), Royal Brunei Airlines, Vietnam Airlines also fly into KL whilst Philippine Airlines only code-shares with MAS on flights between their respective countries.
A new ASEAN AIRPASS has been designed to offer passengers unbeatable value for air-travel between the member countries. Coupons start from as low as US$90 with a minimum purchase of 3 coupons and more details can be obtained from participating airlines like MAS, SIA, Thai and Garuda.
From Brunei
Both Royal Brunei Airlines and MAS code-share daily from Bandar Seri Begawan to KL.
From Cambodia
MAS flies four times a week from Phnom Penh.
From Indonesia
MAS and Garuda Indonesia have signed a code-share pact that will now see all services between Jakarta, Medan, Denpasar-Bali and Surabaya carrying both MAS and Garuda flights numbers.
MAS flies up to four flights a day to KL from Jakarta, whilst Garuda Indonesia retains a daily Jakarta-KL service in its Malaysian network. From Bali, MAS expanded to provide a double daily service from Denpasar(Bali). Elsewhere in Indonesia, MAS is now the only airline continuing to fly from Medan (twice daily) and Surabaya (twice a day) into KL. MAS has withdrawn its service from Ujung Pandang into KL but is continuing its Pontianak-Kuching and Tarakan-Tawau routes. Merpati Airlines, another Indonesian airline maintains its daily evening Jakarta-KL service and offers an alternative choice. Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Saudia are two other carriers that fly between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. Lionair, a new Indonesian carrier operates into Jakarta and Surabaya from KL using either DC9s or ex-Soviet Yak-42s - interesting option.
From the Philippines
Reeling from its recent malaise, Philippine Airlines has down-graded its service to offer only code-share services into Malaysia with MAS. MAS operates up to two flights a day from Manila to KL and thrice weekly from Cebu via Kota Kinabalu. KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines also flies Manila-KL five times a week as its Manila-Amsterdam services now call in at Kuala Lumpur.
From Singapore
MAS and SIA operate a joint-shuttle service with flights operating about every 60-90 minutes for the 40-minute flight. Reservations may be made for a surcharge or just turn up and join the 'Shuttle' queue. Note that at peak hours and during any holiday - advance reservations ARE recommended. Seats are available in First Class which include a snack or in Economy which provides a beverage service only. Japan Airlines also operates a daily service between Singapore and KL and tickets must be booked direct from JAL or through a travel agent. JAL usually sell their KL tickets as part of a package and often includes hotel accommodation. A cheaper alternative from Singapore is to cross the Causeway and fly from Johor Bahru (Malaysia). Johor Bahru being a domestic route offers local fares at more affordable prices. Malaysia Airlines operates numerous flights from Johor Bahru to KL and also provide passengers with coach transfers from its city office in Singapore. Pelangi Air also provide Johor Bahru-KL flights (albeit less frequently than MAS) but does not provide the coach transfers at Singapore.
From Thailand
MAS and Thai Airways fly at least four flights a day from Bangkok under a joint-service agreement. This agreement allows a passenger booked on either carrier to travel on any flight. This arrangement also extends to the daily Phuket-KL and Hat Yai-KL flights offered by the two national airlines. All Nippon Airways also flies four flights a week between Bangkok and KL.
From Vietnam
MAS and Vietnam Airlines operate daily flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and KL under a joint-service agreement – some flights being flown by MAS whilst others being flown by its Vietnamese counterpart.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), the national railway company, operates the International Express train service from Bangkok and Singapore into Kuala Lumpur.
Another operator of the Bangkok-Penang-Kuala Lumpur-Singapore line is the Eastern & Oriental Express luxury rail service operated by Venice-Simplon.
A ferry connects Port Klang with Sumatra. Ferry services also operate from Malacca to Dumai, Sumatra. Alternatively, a frequent Jetfoil service operates between Penang and Belawan (Sumatra) and Langkawi and Belawan. Unfortunately, there is no longer a ferry service linking Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah & Sarawak.
The motorway system in Malaysia is excellent - although not available nationwide. The North-South Expressway offers a comfortable drive from the Thai border right down South to Singapore. Many Bus operators ply this route and most operate via Kuala Lumpur. Most companies offer air-conditioning - but a word of warning - many can become moving meat-lockers where temperatures dip to well below freezing during the journey - so a lightweight jumper may be recommended for such journeys.
From North Asia
Airlines operating from North Asia & Discount Agents
From South East Asia
Airlines operating from South East Asia
Discount Agents
Getting there by Rail
By Sea
By Road
