Flying the Firefly
 

Just back from a business trip to Malaysia and thought I would post a few notes-

I had to get from Penang to Kuantan, and the only way to do this without going through KL and wasting a whole day was to use Firefly - a new low-cost subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines. They're based in Penang and fly from there to several cities in north Malaysia as well as Medan in Indonesia and Phuket and Samui in Thailand.

The flight left on time using a new Fokker 50 - it still had that new plane smell. Seats were comfortable enough.

In KL, I stayed at the Impiana KLCC. I picked it out because it was close to the Petronas towers on the map, and it turned out to be a good choice. My deluxe room was very nice, with all the mod-cons including free Internet. It was just a couple of blocks from the towers, and a couple blocks in the other direction from the new Pavilion shopping mall, a really fabulous big center with a fantastic "restaurant street". At Rm 270 (about $80) a night, the Impiana was quite a deal.

Thanks for your quick report - especially about Firefly!

how did you like kuantan?? i guess you have been there before? i think you have a shop in the mall?

Last Fokker 50 was built in 1996. :)

From the planespotter.net database, the two F50 Firefly has were delivered new to Malaysia Airlines in 1990 and 1992 respectively.

Michael
Thanks for that we fly FF in November and have been reading some not great reviews but i thought i would book anyway as their time is convenient and prices cheap.
What was the name of "restaurant street" would be keen to go when we are in KL and any recommendations?

Thanks
Smeagol

Actually, I'm now convinced the plane was a new ATR-72. It looked an awful lot like an ATR, but the MAS magazine said Firefly was using Fokkers, so that's what I wrote down. No way that plane was more than a year old.

Based on my one flight, I'm not sure what there is to complain about. Our late afternoon flight was more or less on time.

I'm in no position to offer any opinion about Kuantan. We arrived in town around 7:00 pm, went to the new mall to see our new branch (but didn't eat there because it was full), then left for KL the next morning.

The "restaurant street" is a feature of the new Pavilion Mall. I believe one end of it is on Bukit Bintan Road, but I entered from the other end near the Novotel. It's like a covered street, with several restaurants opening on to it.

There's a Madam Kwan's serving local favourites at the basement. It's less crowded than the outlet at KLCC (Petronas Twin Towers). The nasi lemak and nasi bojari are recommended. For desserts should try the chendol and bor bor cha cha.

At KLCC can try the Little Penang Kafe. It's diagonally opposite Madam Kwan's. They serve Penang food.

sounds lovely and i will get to try Penang food in penang too, heard its very nice

So, Smeagol, you convinced him to fly or did you not tell him yet?

My Firefly F50 flight Langkawi-Penang was delayed a couple of hours but they gave me a meal voucher and, given that the ticket price was about $17 all in, I can't complain.

Mr W
Havent actually mentioned it just yet!!!! figured i would leave it till the morning of the flight!!! (that way if it is delayed Or he objects we can get the ferry.) Cost was only £24 for both of us.