International Flights - Short Stopovers Okay?
Hi All! For our upcoming trip, we have a couple of options for flights. Malaysian Airlines has a flight from Penang-Tokyo with a 1 hour stopover in KLIA (all booked on one ticket). 1 hour seems a very short time - but I could also just be unfamiliar with the process. Do we have to go through customs/immigration etc. since it's an international flight, or is it just a matter of getting off one plane and getting onto another? I'm also aware that there are different terminals at KLIA.... are these short stopover flights advisable? Do airlines fast track us through to get us onto the next flight?
Alternate option would be a longer stopover (2-4 hours at KLIA).
The MH 1 hr connection may be a bit tight if the PEN-KUl flight is running late (more likely later in the day). Otherwise it's just potentially walking a long way to passport control (you should be able to use the automated gate) and then transfer (either bus or if the new shuttle is working by then) to the satellite (not too distant walk to the farthest gates). 2 hrs might be better.
I prefer the 2-4 hours option.
There is a separate passport control area for domestic to international transfer passengers right in the domestic concourse, just follow the signs to international departure gates C, G, H.
The flight to Tokyo may leave from either the G and H gates at the main terminal building (upstairs from the domestic concourse after passport checks), or the C gates at the satellite building (head downstairs after passport checks to get the bus which is frequent), so check the flight information screens. A security check is conducted at the gate, no liquids allowed.
As 1 hour is the minimum connection time at KLIA, it is doable but tight. A 2-hour connection would be better.
