1. Cut the cost of travelling from the airport
The cost to travel from KLIA to home can be costly, especially if you have multiple luggage. The idea of having to pay an astoundingly expensive ride to get home from a wonderful holiday or a tiring business trip can be a splash of iced water. Not exactly a smooth transition back to your routine!
The answer to that problem can be found in the use of a good travel credit card. If chosen properly, you can enjoy free rides home from KLIA, free concierge and limousine service, access to Premium Lounges, and even preferential booking at luxury hotels worldwide. You must make a wise choice. A key advice is to carefully compare different types of travel credit cards offered by banks.
2. Pre-book airport parking
Parking can be expensive at the airport, whether for short or long stays. Why not get organized and park at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan for just RM4.00 per day for a car? You will have to take a bus ride to the airport but think of the cost savings you’ll get. If you were to park at the airport, you would pay RM42-RM60 for 24 hours of parking for a short stay.
Just think of the cost savings by planning your route. If you park your car for a long stay (minimum of 4 days) you would still be paying RM144.00 plus RM15.00 per additional day. Before your journey to the airport, we would suggest you call the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan to check if you can leave your car there for the period you require.
3. Make sure you are fully travel insured
You never know what’s going to happen when you’re going on holiday. It’s all well and good that your flights are booked and you’ve got all your travel accessories sorted – but what if the airline loses your luggage or your flight is delayed? Or worse still, what if you need urgent but expensive medical care while abroad?
Don’t ever travel without insurance – it’s simply not worth it. A good travel protection plan is important to cater for both healthcare discounts and travel inconvenience coverage, you’ll be covered for any unforeseen circumstances.
4. Eat before you leave – Pack snacks!
Airport food and restaurants tend to be more expensive, so it’s a good idea to have a good meal before you go (especially if you have hungry kids in tow). Remember you can take your snacks to the airport too.
Although you won’t be able to take any drinks or liquids through security, you can take your drinks and have them before you head for the departure lounge. Many airports also have public water fountains so keep your empty bottles and fill them up for free.
5. Be prepared for security
There’s nothing worse than cutting it fine with your flight time and waiting impatiently to get through security – only to see the person in front of you being made to unpack their whole bag! Some Malaysian airports do have a fast-track service but you will have to pay for this per person.
So leave plenty of time to get through security, and bring your re-sealable transparent bags for liquids, as some airports in different countries charge up to £1 (around RM 4-5) a bag.
6. Avoid getting your travel money at the airport
Don’t exchange your money at the airport – although it may be advertised as ‘No Fee’ the exchange rate you will get will not be as good as elsewhere as the airport knows they have you as a captive audience. There are lots of money exchange booths and services in Malaysia, just shop around for the best rates.
7. Do not use their WiFi
Unfortunately, most airports still charge for WiFi – so if you’re planning to get a bit of work done while you’re waiting for your flight, why not save any web pages you need in advance – then you can view them at your leisure offline without paying a penny.
8. Don’t Go Over Your Luggage Allowance
Image source: Air Asia
If you’re just taking hand luggage, make sure you don’t go over the allowed limits, as you’ll be charged extra. (Weigh your luggage before you go if you’re in any doubt). There is nothing quite like getting stung on extra baggage charges and it can put a real downer before your trip really starts.
There is a baggage protection service inside Kuala Lumpur airport but this does carry a fee. Also, you will need to allow extra time to check in excess baggage so be sure to build sufficient time into your schedule so you don’t get stressed.
9. Be Careful At Duty-Free
While it’s true you can get some good deals at duty-free, some duty-free shops aren’t as competitive as you might think. What’s more, how good the deal is will also depend on what the exchange rate is at that point in time.
If you’re planning on buying something expensive – like spirits, jewellery or gadgets – make sure you research what the going rate is online and on the high street first. Don’t just blindly trust that duty-free will automatically be cheaper because that’s not always the case. Read up on duty-free prices at Kuala Lumpur airport.
Plan ahead and travel smart
Travelling abroad can be full of pitfalls. One wrong step and your trip could be ruined by a sordid hotel room, wasted time at a tourist-trap attraction, or an overnight flight crammed in the middle seat. So, guarantee yourself sufficient time to plan thoroughly for a smooth trip.
You don’t need to sell all your worldly possessions to travel. If you enjoy travelling, buying a travel credit card can be your golden egg-laying goose. You can enjoy healthcare and travel protection plans (which include coverage for flight delays, missed flight connections, and baggage delays). Furthermore, you can redeem complimentary flights at over 90 airlines, and in-flight meals, among other fabulous privileges.
Happy Travels from the team at us!
*The above article is intended for informational purposes only. Loanstreet accepts no responsibility for loss that may arise from reliance on information contained in the articles.
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