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As of September 2001, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is the only carrier operating direct flights between North America and Kuala Lumpur.
From the West Coast, MAS flies daily from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur, with a refuelling stop at Taipei. From the East Coast, MAS flies thrice-weekly from Newark-Liberty Airport via Dubai. Incidently, this is one of the world's longest one-stop hops operated by the twin-engined Boeing 777.
Unfortunately, Northwest Airlines stopped its DC-10 service between Osaka and KL in September 2001 and has no current plans to return for the immediate future. This has resulted in the disappearance of services from Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego and Seattle via the Pacific. However, as Northwest Airlines and Malaysia Airlines are now partners with KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines, convenient connections can now be made via Amsterdam-Schiphol for travellers from the East Coast. From Amsterdam, KLM and MAS offer up to twice daily service from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Northwest Airlines places its 'NW' code on KLM operated flights between the two cities.
Owing to the advances in airline alliances however, both American Airlines and Delta Airlines have started offering fares and tickets to Kuala Lumpur, whilst not physically flying there themselves. American Airlines offers fares with its OneWorld partner Cathay Pacific, whilst Delta offers tickets with its SkyTeam partner Korean Air.
Reasonable fares are often available through discount agents like STA Travel and Council Travel. Check the major dailies like LA Times or New York Times for up-to-the-minute deals.
As Singapore’s Changi airport is more established as a major Asian hub, there are more flights available between the US and Singapore. Singapore Airlines (SIA) flies twice daily from both Los Angeles and San Francisco with refuelling stops in East Asia. SIA also flies daily from New York-JFK and Newark-Liberty via Europe.
United Airlines flies daily into Singapore from its San Francisco hub, whilst Northwest Airlines continues to offer a daily direct service into Singapore from its hub in Tokyo, with its range of US departure points.
From Singapore, SIA and MAS operate a frequent shuttle-service between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, with flights departing throughout the day for the 35-minute journey.
Travellers from the East Coast may find good alternative routes traveling via London, Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt. Only KLM/NWA, Virgin Atlantic and Austrian Airlines offer true on-line connections via their hubs and fares offered by these airlines tend to be fairly competitive.
A cheaper alternative may be possible with two return tickets - flying into Europe first, before purchasing another ticket for Kuala Lumpur. A note of caution however - flights between Europe and Kuala Lumpur tend to get very busy during the holidays (both European and Malaysian holidays) and you would thus be advised to check for onward availability, to avoid being unnecessarily stranded in Europe for days (perhaps weeks)!
From the West Coast, the most convenient transit points would be in East Asia. Many US and Asian carriers operate Trans-Pacific routes from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle into Hong Kong, Manila, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei or Tokyo. From these points, onward connections can be found into Kuala Lumpur with Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Southern, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air or Malaysia Airlines. Thai Airways also offers a good alternative transit point at Bangkok, with frequent services out of Los Angeles and onward connections into Kuala Lumpur.
Interestingly, Canadian tourists make up one of the larger groups in Malaysia but since Malaysia Airlines' withdrawal of its services between Vancouver and Kuala Lumpur a few years ago - there have been no direct services between the two nations. Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are probably the most convenient alternative carriers. For alternative options, see Flights from the US.
T:1-800-223-7776. Flights from New York-JFK and Toronto to Mumbai and onwards to KL six times weekly. Air-India also code-shares with Malaysia Airlines on MAS' daily LAX-KL service.
Flights from New York-JFK, Los Angeles and San Francisco to Kuala Lumpur via Hong Kong with its Oneworld partner Cathay Pacific.
T:1-800-247-9297. BA flies from various US, Canadian and Caribbean airports to London and on to Singapore twice daily. Connections to KL will then have to be picked up with MAS or SIA.
T:1-800-233-2742. Flies from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Vancouver and Toronto to Hong Kong with connections to KL up to four times a day.
T:1-800-334-6787. Flies from Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York to Taipei with connections to KL twice daily.
Flights from Atlanta, Los Angeles and San Francisco to Kuala Lumpur via Seoul with its Skyteam partner Korean Air.
Flights from Vancouver, Los Angeles and San Francisco to Kuala Lumpur via Seoul.
T:1-800-525-3663. Flies from various North American cities to Tokyo and Osaka, where daily connections are available to KL from both Japanese cities.
T:1-800-374-7747; T (Canada) : 1-800-361-5073. Operates with its US partner Northwest Airlines from various US and Canadian cities into Amsterdam with connections to KL with its Asian partner MAS 13 times a week.
T: 1-800-552-9264. National carrier flying daily from Los Angeles with refuelling stops either at Tokyo or Taipei. Also code-shares with partners Northwest Airlines and KLM via Amsterdam.
T:1-800-225-2525. Operates daily from San Francisco into Singapore via Tokyo and code-shares with KLM via Amsterdam.
T:1-800-742-3333. Flies double-daily from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York-JFK and Newark (New York) with onward shuttle services into KL. Also flies from Vancouver to Singapore three times a week.
T:1-800-426-5204. Flies Los Angeles to Bangkok with onward connections for KL.
T:1-800-538-2929. Part of the STAR-Alliance group offering flights from major US cities to Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore. Connections with partner airlines (Thai and SIA) can be made for KL.
T:(203)750-2000. Flies from Barbados, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, New York (JFK and Newark), Washington DC and Toronto to London, with onward connections twice-daily to KL with partner MAS.
