Pleasure over the Pacific aboard Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines’ Economy Class seat design spells quality all the way featuring adjustable reclining positions, footrest, lumbar support, headrest and retractable armrest. Other features within easy reach include a 6.5-inch in-seat personal TV, individual overhead reading light and a coat hook for each seat. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia Airlines)

By Rhony Laigo

Weekend Balita/US Asian Post

The sarongs are beautiful, elegant and the prints are but a glimpse of the colorful and varied cultures of the Malaysian people yet united in peace and harmony. The hairstyle of the female crew, tied all the way up in a bun to show a complete and wonderful smile, exudes simplicity and grace and when they walk down the aisle, their sarongs flow that you can't help but notice and appreciate their complete hospitality.

At first, knowing that you will have to travel for more than 18 hours of flying time from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur (the capital of Malaysia) with a two-hour layover in Narita would understandably make someone cringe; just imagine buckled up for several hours up in the sky. It’s presumed that most if not all would feel the same, however, I admit I was a bit excited to experience how Malaysians – our friendly neighbor down south – would treat their harried passengers, including a Filipino just like myself. Besides, Malaysia has earned the reputation of being one of the best tourist Meccas in Southeast Asia as it is able to welcome 22 million visitors a year, according to Tourism
Malaysia Vice President for Western USA and Latin America Mazlan Araju, while my Motherland the Philippines could only manage a little less than five million this year. No need to compare that.

Aboard a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, my first since my travels across the Pacific have always been a 747 (yeah, I don't travel a lot across oceans, but I plan to do more), was also another experience as the well-appointed aircraft has higher overhead bins that retract further hydraulicly as they close revealing a more open space all around you in the otherwise usual claustrophobic tube ride. Each seat had its own monitor with probably more than 30 movies to choose from, which by the way, were translated in several languages. There are also movies in their original language – from Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Malaysia, etc. – satisfying all, if not most of the passengers that fly Malaysia Airlines.

Since it was a 777, the lavatories were not as cramped I think compared to the older 747s, not to mention much newer facilities inside. But what's great is that each time I visited the lavatory, it was always clean. I'm pretty sure it is because of the character of Malaysia Airlines passengers, although the airline crew makes sure that the facilities are always spic and span each time they’re vacant.

Meanwhile, Malaysian cuisine may not yet be as popular as that of Thai, Japanese or Chinese I guess to a lot of Filipinos, but Malaysia Airlines' unique way of preparing what is reputedly the most maligned food you'd ever get when you're an airline passenger is a window of just how varied the make-up of the Malaysian Peninsula is – they’re surprisingly delicious, healthy, and they come with fresh fruits and vegetable salads that one might think as if they were prepared by the Ironmen at the Food Network. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if they are indeed dished up by top Malaysian chefs.

Moreover, as someone of Filipino heritage, eating buttered rice was uncommon (there’s always a choice of two meals by the way). But the Malaysians do, at least in a Malaysia Airlines flight that I took. And I'm glad that was served as the rice alone could stand out as a separate dish in all by itself. They were clever enough to top it with sliced almond and voila!, I got myself an authentic
Malaysian rice dish which I am fortunate to have enjoyed with, what else, chicken curry! But it was not just an ordinary chicken curry meal. Apart from the buttered rice, diced red and yellow paprika, dried parsley and steamed okra – yes, okra – and eggplant Malaysia Airlines made what was supposed to be a "bland" airline meal into a sumptuous dining experience that you get to savor up above the clouds.  

Oh, don't even worry about thinking that Malaysia is predominantly a Muslim country. Malaysia Airlines has wine, whiskey and beer for those who want to stay "spirited" while in the heavens. And that just suits me fine. And I’m not even talking about the Business Class or First Class for that matter.

No wonder, Malaysia Airlines was awarded as one of “The World's 5-Star Airlines.” Apart from earning the title of “World's Best Cabin Staff 2012,” and did I need to mention winning the “Best Airline Signature Dish” for 2012? – all by United Kingdom’s Skytrax. Last year, it was chosen as the “World’s Leading Airline to Asia.”

Landing on Kuala Lumpur International Airport or the very popular KLIA is another experience but that is another story. For those who want to try one of the best in Asian hospitality, Malaysia Airlines flies from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur five days a week until October this year, according to its website. Reputed to be having the largest fleet of airlines in Southeast Asia, Malaysian Airlines travels to 60 destinations all over the world, according to travel.com. For more information, please visit http://www.malaysiaairlines.com.