Travel Club Lounge KLIA Terminal 1 is a relatively new airport lounge managed by SSP Malaysia, a collaboration between SSP Group and Travel Food Services (TFS). Since securing a contract with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) in 2021, SSP Malaysia has expanded its portfolio to include six lounges across the country, notably at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) in both Terminal 1 (KLIA1) and Terminal 2 (KLIA2), as well as Kuching International Airport (KCH).
For those unfamiliar, SSP Group is a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in over 600 travel locations (mainly airports and train stations) worldwide, across nearly 40 countries. Travel Food Services (TFS), a prominent leader in the F&B industry, operates over 380 F&B outlets and 27 Lounges at major travel hubs across India and worldwide. With their combined experience, it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about operating travel lounges.
This review is based on two separate visits to the Travel Club Lounge KLIA Terminal 1 within a month, providing insights into the lounge’s offerings and overall experience.
Location
Travel Club Lounge is located on the mezzanine level of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Satellite Building (airside). To reach the Satellite Building, passengers must take a shuttle bus from the Contact Pier of KLIA 1 Main Terminal. Once at the Satellite Building, proceed towards Boarding Gates C11 to C17 and you will find a flight of stairs up to the mezzanine floor, just before the boarding gates. After reaching the top of the stairs, keep to the left and walk about a hundred meters, where you will find the Travel Club Lounge.
Currently, the KLIA Aerotrain, which typically connects the main terminal to the satellite terminal, is undergoing a replacement exercise scheduled to be completed by March 2025.
Ambiance and Design
The Travel Club Lounge is spacious and has a seating capacity of 140 (my unofficial count of seats available), divided into several sections.
The main seating area is located on the left side of the lounge when walking in from the entrance. Here you will find multiple rows of single-seater armchairs lined up against floor-to-ceiling windows that offer unobstructed views of the airport tarmac. These armchairs may be great for watching planes arrive and depart while lounging but they’re impractical for having meals. For that, the lounge offers several small dining tables in the main area, so you can enjoy the tarmac view while you have your meal.
Right next to the main seating area is the bar with several bar stools lined up against the counter. Surrounding the bar counter are several more single-seaters, coffee tables and a row of booth seats equipped with electrical power sockets.
To cater to larger groups of travelers, the lounge has a semi-private area furnished with a round communal table, additional small dining tables, wall-mounted workstations and another row of booth seats with power sockets.
The wall in this section is adorned with a batik motif adding a splash of color to the space.
View of the bar from the semi-private section.
Hidden behind a wave-shaped wall directly in front of the lounge entrance, is a quiet area offering privacy for those who prefer to be away from crowds. Several small dining tables, armchairs and booth seats are oriented towards the windows to provide guests with unobstructed views of the tarmac. Personally, I found this section to be the highlight of the lounge, drawing me in during both of my visits.
The flight information screen in the quiet area is conveniently located to help you keep track of your flight.
To the right of the lounge is the dining area, conveniently located next to the buffet section. The dining area is furnished with several dining tables and a communal dining table for larger groups.
Amenities
The lounge has private restrooms for men and women, a disabled-friendly restroom and diaper-changing room. The restrooms are clean and well-maintained.
Complimentary shoe shine is available in the lounge courtesy of an electric shoe shine machine. I noticed that the machine was located in different places during both my visits, near the entrance on my first visit and inside the men’s restroom on my second visit.
An interesting addition to the lounge is an entertainment corner featuring Virtual Reality (VR) Golf and Wanderlust VR Games. This is not included as part of the lounge access and is priced between MYR 39 to 49. Perfect if you need to satisfy a golf itch.
The lounge offers Wi-Fi, but the speed is quite basic. It’s adequate for browsing the internet and checking emails or social media, though you may experience lag with bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming videos. There are charging points located throughout the lounge but several in the quiet area were not working during my visit.
Food and Beverage
As part of the lounge access, guests can enjoy an unlimited buffet with a selection of hot and cold dishes, non-alcoholic beverages (coffee, tea, canned soft drinks) and canned beer.
Laksa is available upon request at the Live Station.
Selection of cold dishes.
Make your own salad.
Selection of desserts and fruits.
Coffee and tea station.
The lounge offered a limited selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. While the variety wasn’t extensive, it was adequate for a satisfying meal. The dishes were quite tasty too, as evidenced by my second helping below. That said, the Travel Club Lounge has a better vegetarian and vegan selection compared to Plaza Premium Lounge in KLIA Terminal 1.
My second helping of mee goreng mamak, steamed rice, sweet and sour tofu, garlic mashed potatoes and pesto tossed vegetables. Tastes better than it looks, I promise.
In addition to complimentary canned beer, guests can order liquor, cocktails, and wine from the bar for an extra charge. I noticed that the bar has a draft beer dispenser. However, it was unfortunately not operational during my visit.
Lounge Access
Travel Club Lounge KLIA Terminal 1 is open 24 hours a day and provides several ways to gain access:
- Pay-Per-Use
- Malaysian Issued Credit Cards
- Airport Lounge Memberships
Pay-Per-Use
Travel Club Lounge charges MYR 215 for 2 hours of usage. If you need to spend over 2 hours at the lounge, topping up an additional MYR 30 gets you the 4-hour package. For comparison, Plaza Premium Lounge in KLIA Terminal 1 charges almost similar rates at MYR 209 for a 2-hour visit.
Malaysian Credit Cards
Holders of selected credit cards issued by UOB Malaysia, Maybank Malaysia, Alliance Bank and Bank Muamalat can access the lounge for free, as part of their credit card benefits.
Airport Lounge Memberships
Priority Pass, DragonPass and LoungeKey memberships can be used to access Travel Club Lounge KLIA.
Overall Experience
Overall, the Travel Club Lounge at KLIA Terminal 1 provides a comfortable environment with a relaxing ambiance, making it an appealing choice for travelers seeking a peaceful retreat from the airport’s hustle and bustle. During both of my visits, I found the lounge pleasantly uncrowded, especially compared to the bustling Plaza Premium Lounge in the Main Terminal, which was near full capacity during my visit in February.
While some amenities, such as cubicle workspaces, shower facilities, and sleeping pods, are not available here, the lounge still offers sufficient amenities for those looking to unwind and enjoy a meal with panoramic views of the tarmac. Overall, it’s a solid option for travelers prioritizing comfort and tranquility over extensive facilities.
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