Announcement

**ycp81** · 26 January 2016, 10:36 PM

Malindo has a 12-seat Business Class cabin on their B738 aircraft. Even though being a hybrid airline, Malindo has fitted its Business Class with comfortable leather recliner seats with 42" seat pitch. The seats are the exact same model as fitted on Silkair's new B738, but Malindo has included IFE screens in the armrests as well. A pillow was preset on each seat. Today, there would only be 4 pax in Business Class, and 129 pax in Economy (overheard the flight despatcher). Power sockets and USB port (on the IFE screen) are available as well. Cabin was spanking clean and seats still looked brand new.

Seated in Row 1, the legroom was definitely more than generous!

At the gate.

Inflight magazine and BOB menu were in the seat pocket. However in Business Class, BOB was not necessary as food and beverages were included. But in Economy, only snacks were served and any other meals were on pre-order/BOB only.

After boarding was almost completed, a selection of orange or apple juice was offered, served in proper glasses. I had an apple juice.

Newspapers were offered.

Doors were closed right on schedule and we pushed back.

**ycp81** · 26 January 2016, 10:58 PM

Safety video was shown on the overhead monitors. For the rest of the flight, the flight map was shown on the monitor.

Taxi to runway and spotted NZ's B789!

Holding short of Rwy02L for Etihad B789 and AirAsia A320 to land.

And then it was our turn. Departing from Rwy02L for the very short flight to Ipoh.

Video of the takeoff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kcr1Fqyvlk

Decided to explore the IFE system. System is touchscreen based. No headsets were offered on this short flight though.

**ycp81** · 27 January 2016, 09:37 PM

Only TV shows, games and flight info were available on this flight. On longer flights, movies would be available as well.

Quick visit to the lavatory. Clean but basic.

Refreshment was served shortly after departure. Initially, I was only expecting at most a cold sandwich to be served on this short flight, but was surprised when the whole Business Class works was offered. First, a tray linen was laid on the tray table, and a refreshment tray of a warm muffin and blueberry yoghurt was served. Quality cutlery was used as well, just like any other premium Business product out there. Beverage orders were taken prior to departure and my coffee and orange juice were served together with the refreshment.

Watching silent Just for Laughs.

We were soon flying over Kuala Lumpur. Spot KLIA.

Spot Subang now.

Airshow. We have started our descent into Ipoh.

Descending into Ipoh. Weather was very good today.

Video of descent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DThY6P1xzCg

**ycp81** · 27 January 2016, 10:16 PM

On finals and touchdown on a bumpy Rwy04.

See the landing into Ipoh below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtAVK0xipGY

A few cars with families were at the fence admiring our huge aircraft (in Ipoh terms) landing and taxiing in.

Parked at the stand.

Last look at the very comfortable Business Class seat before disembarking.

Being a small regional airport with at most 6 or less arrivals a day, there are no aerobridges in Ipoh. It was down the stairs and a short walk to the very small terminal building.

It was a very pleasant Business Class experience on Malindo. Service, though not too polished, was fine, seats and cabin were comfortable and catering was sufficient. Plus the lounge access was an unexpected bonus. Considering the fare paid, the 49min flight experience was definitely more than value-for-money!

Firefly's ATR72, which departed Changi 20min earlier than us, arrived later instead.

As we were one of the first to reach the tiny immigration hall, which had 4 immigration counters opened, there was no wait at all and within a couple of minutes, I was through immigration and customs. Beat that, Changi, haha. However, I wonder how they will cope if 2 full load of flights were to arrive at the same time.

Arrivals and departures of the day. 4 flights each, with 3 to Singapore.

**ycp81** · 27 January 2016, 10:48 PM

Small terminal building.

A mere 8 min cab ride away, and we were right smack in the center of town at the hotel. Stayed at the rather new WEIL Hotel, which is beside one of the major shopping centers, Ipoh Parade. During the ride to the hotel, also sighted Pullman Hotel under construction opposite the shopping mall, plus few smaller ones. Ipoh is surely gearing up for more tourist arrivals.

Sweeping views of Ipoh town from hotel rooftop.

Time to start my 28hrs Ipoh exploration trip! Ipoh Old Town, where all the good food are, is just a short walk away from the hotel.

One of Ipoh's most famous dish, steamed chicken and beansprouts. This was from Ong Kee.

Famous soya bean milk stall just down the street.

Old school pastry shop, famous for its kaya puffs.

Pomelos, which Ipoh is also famous for.

**ycp81** · 27 January 2016, 11:41 PM

Dinner at Ipoh Tuck Kee restaurant, famous for its rice noodles "Hor fun" dishes.

Supper at Tong Sui Street, translated as sugar water street. Aptly named as there are many dessert stalls apart from the normal hawker fare.

Savoury chee cheong fun.

Egg in herbal sweet soup and a chng tng dessert.

The next morning, we went to the very popular Thean Chun coffeeshop for breakfast. It was real crowded. We ordered from all the stalls within the coffeeshop.

Two styles of chee cheong fun.

**CarbonMan** · 28 January 2016, 12:02 PM

Thank you, ycp81, for the trip report! Looking forward to the rest of it!

One correction though, WEIL Hotel and restaurants like Ong Kee are situated in the New Town. The Old Town, on the other hand, is across the Kinta River where coffee shops like Thean Chun are. Sorry for being anal on this, but I lived my first 7 years of my life staying no more than 200m from the latter coffee shop.

Ipoh continues to be a food paradise but one needs to locate them as some of these old hotspots, while still popular with tourists, have tragically lost some shine serving good food.

**ycp81** · 28 January 2016, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by CarbonMan View Post

Thank you, ycp81, for the trip report! Looking forward to the rest of it!

One correction though, WEIL Hotel and restaurants like Ong Kee are situated in the New Town. The Old Town, on the other hand, is across the Kinta River where coffee shops like Thean Chun are. Sorry for being anal on this, but I lived my first 7 years of my life staying no more than 200m from the latter coffee shop.

No problems for the correction. With the frequent and affordable flights now, Ipoh is perfect for a weekend getaway!

**CarbonMan** · 28 January 2016, 11:01 PM

Originally posted by ycp81 View Post

No problems for the correction. With the frequent and affordable flights now, Ipoh is perfect for a weekend getaway!

Fares unfortunately are very reasonable only on weekdays. On weekends, prices go up to around S$300+. For the upcoming CNY, it was around S$600 when I checked in Dec, but I do understand that it's an extreme peak.

On a separate note, I wish they would've more landings from the overland route via Runway 22. From that direction, one can see more of the beautiful limestone hills that surround Ipoh.

**ycp81** · 28 January 2016, 11:08 PM

Satay up next.

Curry noodles

"Kai see" (shredded chicken) hor fun. This is the most popular, with a wait required of more than half hour for this bowl of simple dish.

Ipoh white coffee and caramel custard to end. What a heavy breakfast!!

Want to get a concubine?

One of the wall murals in Old Town.

Due to the rather warm and sunny weather, we chose to stayed within Ipoh Parade mall after checking out of the hotel. For a late lunch, we had some Penang fare at the Penang Road Teochew Chendol chain. Though not the original stall, the dishes still tasted rather authentic.

We left the hotel at nearly 4pm for the airport to catch the 5.20pm flight back. Airport was again a less than 10min cab ride away. It was the 'peak' hour with a Firefly and a Tiger flight departing for Singapore within an hour.

**ycp81** · 28 January 2016, 11:17 PM

Originally posted by CarbonMan View Post

Fares unfortunately are very reasonable only on weekdays. On weekends, prices go up to around S$300+. For the upcoming CNY, it was around S$600 when I checked in Dec, but I do understand that it's an extreme peak.

On a separate note, I wish they would've more landings from the overland route via Runway 22. From that direction, one can see more of the beautiful limestone hills that surround Ipoh.

Guess would have to book pretty early for get great fares. I booked mine more than 2 months in advance and it was less than $150 all-in over the weekend. A couple of days out, Malindo was still offering Economy fares of $99 one-way for departure on the Saturday I was flying. Not sure of Tiger prices though, but both are definitely cheaper than Firefly.

As for the landing, I observed that landings were performed on Rwy04 and departures from Rwy22. Not sure if landings on Rwy22 are performed regularly?

**ycp81** · 28 January 2016, 11:53 PM

Receipt-style boarding pass.

After immigration and security, we were housed in this small and packed waiting lounge, which filled up nearly to capacity with the passengers of both Firefly and Tigerair SIN-bound flights.

Firefly being prepared for departure to Singapore.

Our plane arriving early from Singapore.

Firefly taxiing for departure.

24 January 2016
Tigerair
TR 2483
Ipoh (IPH) - Singapore (SIN)
A320
9V-TAF
Budget Class
Flight Time: 1h15m

With the early arrival of aircraft, boarding was called ahead of schedule as well. Priority "Board-me-first", though announced, was not enforced as the waiting lounge was pathetically small and passengers were crowding to board. So much for priority boarding.

Again, a walk across the tarmac to board the aircraft.

Note the difference in colours on the engines and the tailfin. The fuselage and engines were repainted with the new corporate identity but not the tailfin.

Boarding in progress. The original cloth-cladded seats on this older aircraft was refitted with leather covers. Flight ended up rather full and overhead bins were filled up as most passengers did not have check-in luggage.

Out the window.

Legroom, was expected, budget-style tight.

Tiger mags.

**ycp81** · 29 January 2016, 11:35 PM

Boarding completed and doors closed way ahead of the STD. Short taxi to Rwy22 for departure.

Taxi and takeoff from Rwy22, 7min ahead of schedule.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJiEBopInRg

BOB was offered. Did not get anything but a few purchases were observed.

Cruising

All too soon, we were descending. However due to congestion, we were put in a holding pattern for almost 20min!

Approaching Changi's Rwy02L.

Landing on Rwy02L, 12min ahead of schedule.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9J6tdKpGUM

Taxi to Gate F31 at Terminal 2.

A standard and punctual LCC experience on Tigerair.

Thanks for reading and comments are welcomed.

Announcement

Malindo Business Class Experience to Ipoh (& Tiger back)

Malindo Business Class Experience to Ipoh (& Tiger back)

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment