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EXCLUSIVE: British Airways cancels return to Kuala Lumpur with four weeks notice

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British Airways was due to restart two routes to Asia this winter – Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

Bangkok is going ahead, with flights starting on 28th October.

Kuala Lumpur, which was due to launch on 10th November, seems to have hit the buffers.

EDIT: Whilst a few days old, we are keeping this article pinned to the top of the home page because of the amount of discussion in the comments about BA’s ‘issues’ over rerouting passengers.

British Airways drops Kuala Lumpur flights

Earlier this afternoon the flights were showing as bookable:

British Airways drops Kuala Lumpur flights

…. but five minutes ago it changed to this:

British Airways drops Kuala Lumpur flights

No flights are available until 1st April 2025.

Cancelling a route with less than a months notice is clearly not great news for anyone. However, with oneworld partner Malaysia Airlines offering double-daily flights from Heathrow, it should be possible to get most people on a same-day alternative.

Our 2022 review of the Malaysia Airlines service in business class is here.

Qatar Airways is also likely to be an option due to BA’s joint venture agreement. In fact, it is possible that BA tries to push Qatar Airways as its preferred alternative.

Note that it will take BA a few days to hammer out a formal rebooking arrangement with Malaysian. If you call today you will be offered an indirect alternative.

Why have the flights been pulled?

British Airways told us:

We’re disappointed that we’ve had such to make further changes to our schedule as we continue to experience delays to the delivery of engines and parts from Rolls-Royce – particularly in relation to the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines fitted to our 787 aircraft.

We’ve taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve for their travel plans. We’ve apologised to those affected and are able to offer the vast majority a flight the same day with British Airways or one of our partner airlines. 

We continue to work closely with Rolls-Royce to ensure the company is aware of the impact its issues are having on our schedule and customers, and seek reassurance of a prompt and reliable solution.

In terms of ‘why KL?’, competition is probably part of it. Malaysia Airlines offers a decent product on the route which also allows flyers to earn Avios and British Airways Executive Club tier points.

BA’s shortage of A380 aircraft is also likely to be a factor. As we have covered, the fleet is proving very unreliable.

Kuala Lumpur was scheduled as a daily service on a Boeing 787-9, which was a heavy commitment in terms of aircraft. Pulling what was always going to be a low yield route is a relatively low cost way of building some resilience in the schedule.

Let’s hope the 1st April 2025 date is firm.

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Comments (644)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Eucalyptus says:
    13 Oct13 October 00:10

    Currently booked on a 2-4-1 to KUL. If I’m rebooked to QR on a revenue fare will I get Avios & BA tier points if I credit the flight to BAEC?

    • LittleNick says:
      13 Oct13 October 00:53

      You may but don’t count on it. If you get a very competent agent who codes the ticket correctly you will not get any Avios/TPs but it may happen

      • Eucalyptus says:
        13 Oct13 October 09:26

        Thanks. And would you recommend crediting it into another programme instead as a potential workaround (e.g. QR / AA / AS)?

        • MarkH says:
          13 Oct13 October 10:38

          I’m in the same situation. On BA.com it currently has my BAEC details and states 0 Avios and 0 Tier point due.
          Going to credit to QR instead and see what happens.

          Have used Finnair in the past to do this but for some reason it isn’t recognising my booking ref (nor my return flight from SIN on a separate booking). Can’t see an option on BA, QR, QF or RJ to update the FF details.

          Which other airline sites are good for changing FF details? Qantas

          • Numpty says:
            13 Oct13 October 11:26

            Finnair MMB isn’t working, use Air Maroc but check/change mobile number before confirming otherwise it gives an error.

          • MarkH says:
            13 Oct13 October 11:34

            Thanks Numpty – managed to change on Royal Air Maroc

          • Bervios says:
            13 Oct13 October 11:49

            Is your booking ticketed? A recent 2-4-1 booking didn’t work on Finnaor untill it was .

    • Mark says:
      13 Oct13 October 08:03

      It may be easier to fly to Singapore and then get a cheap flight from there. You can then use your 2-4-1 voucher.

      • meta says:
        13 Oct13 October 09:31

        @Mark Please stop misinforming. Why would anyone do that? BA has to get them to KUL and doesn’t matter how one booked and what kind of ticket they have.

      • Johnny Tabasco says:
        13 Oct13 October 09:42

        They paid to go to Kuala Lumpur mate

      • Numpty says:
        13 Oct13 October 11:50

        Just to mention that flights from SIN to KL ain’t that cheap on the legacy carriers, especially when you are using business class baggage allowance. Air Asia is a good option, but arrives into KLIA at the low cost carrier terminal, which they’re now calling Terminal 2 (IIRC), not a huge inconvenience.

  • Claire says:
    13 Oct13 October 09:44

    Article from The Independent this morning…” People who have already booked will be offered a choice of switching to Malaysia Airlines or a full refund.”

  • Diydegsy says:
    13 Oct13 October 10:22

    We had CW 241 return tickets from Manchester via Heathrow to KL at end of December and when I called yesterday I had no problem in rebooking Qatar from Manchester to KL via Doha and on the flights we wanted. I looked at Malaysia airlines flights but the timing wasn’t good for us. I didn’t go through the avios line just the number to contact on manage my booking. All Q suite so far apart from last leg but I’m happy. The problem I think will be people getting the seats they want as there were very few left if you wanted to sit together but again we were lucky. Hopefully they won’t change the aircraft but we’ll see. We weren’t happy with the food on our last Qatar flight we much prefer BA but just glad we got the flights we wanted. Good luck everyone.

  • Just Nick says:
    13 Oct13 October 10:34

    I was told my only options were to cancel or go to Singapore and pay for my own onward travel. For those here that have accepted the Singapore option, has BA now started booking onward travel for you in business class. Feel quite annoyed that BA feel it is acceptable to just dump you in a different country without any way to finish the booked journey.

    • Kai says:
      13 Oct13 October 11:59

      Hi Just Nick, going to Singapore or cancel certainly aren’t your only options! Try live chat instead. I was successfully rebooked on QR

      • Kai says:
        13 Oct13 October 12:01

        Just make sure that you researched your routes and have the flight numbers/flight time that you want ready before you start the chat.

      • Muskysman says:
        13 Oct13 October 13:52

        So the only option I was given by agent for my 241 was SIN or bust. I obviously still need to get KL so seems my only option is to book connecting flight on MH myself but as arrival is 18:25 not really enough time to connect with 21:20 flight if I have to collect bags and check in again. I guess BA won’t even link the bookings so I don’t have to clear immigration in SIN … that would be asking for too much help as a premium customer……

    • Lady London says:
      13 Oct13 October 15:30

      illegal not just uncceptable

      do not accept any other destination without them also ticketing you onwards to KUL – any extra nights BA would be liable for accommodation and meals costs as well as transport to and from accommodation.

      Get them to ticket or make evidence clear that you accept only subject to BA paying or reimbursing (likely to take persistence energy and time to chase) extra costs of reaching your original destination.

      Obvs getting BA to honour its legal obligations they seem to be doing everything to provide less than, is by far preferable so stand your ground and get it upfront as takes less of your life in the long run

  • Muskysman says:
    13 Oct13 October 10:34

    Now rebooked 241 to SIN in J as only option given for dates required or refund . Once policy in place do I have the right to go back and ask for connecting flight to KUL to be added or is this now at my own cost???

    • Bervios says:
      13 Oct13 October 10:45

      You can ask, but they normally only allow one change per booking and you might get fobbed off.

    • Lady London says:
      13 Oct13 October 15:33

      I hate to say it but see comment.below. Amyone that doesn’t take the time to read tjis thread and accepts SIN if they didn’t want just SIN anyway, is a fool.

  • Lula says:
    13 Oct13 October 12:02

    I have called twice. Flights in club on 241 on 30 Nov. Told I could have BA to Singapore or Qatar to KL but in economy. Neither of those suit. Both agents adamant that they could only book into U class on Qatar.

    Confused as to what to do now. I was quoted the guidelines they’ve apparently been given and just repeatedly told they couldn’t book into a commercial fare bucket.

    Is it really worth trying again?

    • Mark says:
      13 Oct13 October 12:12

      Yes. They are legally obligated to reroute you in business class. U is business redemption class. They can’t limit you to that, so either try again or wait until they have properly sorted out a rebooking policy.

    • Kai says:
      13 Oct13 October 12:30

      Lula, do try again via Live Chat option. I tried it twice, got two different responses but did eventually get what I wanted.

      • Lula says:
        13 Oct13 October 12:50

        Thanks both. Will try again. Currently on holiday and don’t really want to spend time on this but will have to steel myself.

    • Dana says:
      13 Oct13 October 19:15

      This is also what I have been told twice.

  • Mark says:
    13 Oct13 October 12:22

    Out of interest, for those who have successfully rebooked a redemption in Qatar Airways in business class, what fare bucket is it showing? It will tell you in Manage My Booking under Your Flight Details, where it says QRxxxx Business ( ).

    • Mark says:
      13 Oct13 October 12:23

      The fare code will show in the brackets….

    • Kai says:
      13 Oct13 October 12:29

      I was rebooked on a R fare ie. Business Classic

      • Numpty says:
        13 Oct13 October 12:38

        No lounge access in Doha for R class I thought?

        • Mark says:
          13 Oct13 October 12:49

          No, there is. P class doesn’t these days. R class doesn’t include seat selection unless you have Sapphire or higher status. Kai, is that your experience (or do you have status)?

          Are others seeing the same result?

          • Jenny says:
            13 Oct13 October 13:09

            ‘ I’ class fare…for our rebooking.

          • Kai says:
            13 Oct13 October 13:52

            @Mark I only have Blue status with BA. Despite being booked on R fare I was able to select seats in advance – perhaps this is due to the fact that I had Silver status with QR

          • Mark says:
            13 Oct13 October 14:17

            Thanks Kai. Interesting. Silver status is only One World Ruby so should only get you a 20% discount. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to the same with only BA Bronze….

    • Eucalyptus says:
      13 Oct13 October 13:22

      I was rebooked on to BA codeshare for all the QR flights, on J fare bucket.

      • HertsCanuck says:
        14 Oct14 October 12:25

        I was also booked on BA codeshare flight number on a QR flight, in J class.

    • MarkH says:
      13 Oct13 October 13:49

      Mine says (J).

      My flight numbers are BA ones though – BA2303 & BA2308

    • Mark says:
      13 Oct13 October 16:27

      For those booked in J, are those short notice/peak Christmas flights and/or one-way?

      • Eucalyptus says:
        13 Oct13 October 17:55

        Outbound is week before Christmas and return week of NYE.

        Curious for those booked on QR flight numbers – do you see that you’d be rewarded Avios / Tier points on BAEC MMB? Or zero?

        • Kai says:
          13 Oct13 October 20:34

          @Eucalyptus it’s showing N/A on BA ‘manage my booking’ page, so I’d think I won’t be getting Avios/Tier points for the rebooked QR flights

      • MarkH says:
        13 Oct13 October 18:10

        Outbound 17-Nov, return 19-Sep so this flight hasn’t been cancelled

  • Supersub says:
    13 Oct13 October 13:47

    Currently have LHR-KUL in J on the 787 in April which is still in place (for now) but they’ve just changed the return SIN-LHR flight from CS on a 777 to crappy old CW on the dodgy A380.
    BA make it very difficult for people to love them. I’d be happy with a switch to QR at any stage.

    • Jenny says:
      13 Oct13 October 14:28

      @Supersub…. Your description of the A380, that would make a great tagline for a BA advert :)…we upgraded to F via the offer on MMB, what can I say, glutton for punishment!
      @Kai, we only have blue status with BA, as mentioned, the rebooking with QR done via live chat option was an ‘I’ but the agent told us we had to select seats via Qatar site, where we had to pay. ( The agent initiated refund of paid seat selection on original BA booking).

      • Mark says:
        13 Oct13 October 14:37

        Which is even odder as I class should include seat selection…

        https://www.qatarairways.com/tradeportal/en/NewFareFamilies.html

        • Jenny says:
          13 Oct13 October 16:34

          @Mark, thank you, yes I did subsequently spot that! Thinking out aloud, I wonder if it’s because it is a BA ticket, in our case- BA7002 and BA2308??……I just went into QR chat option, they checked booking and said correct seat selection charges as per our booking and to check with BA! I did a dummy booking on BA LHR to Doha and no charge for seat selection??
          Not sure if anyone on the chat has had the same thing or one of the HFP experts knows the answer?

          • Mark says:
            13 Oct13 October 16:53

            Whether or not there is should depend on the fare bucket. If you look at the booking in the Qatar app/website does that also show as I? Within the app, tap on Trips, select the trip (or add it via the + at the top right), select the Manage tab and scroll down to Manage your trip. Expand the bit under the booking reference and it will show the booking class in brackets after the cabin name, underneath the aircraft type.

        • Jenny says:
          13 Oct13 October 17:24

          @Mark, yep, shows as (I) in Qatar app with all other seats greyed out apart from our selected seats…..on the QR site , the middle ‘couple’ seats are showing as available??
          Something in the algorithms that BA have set so come what may, they’re going to get their seat selection money off me!!

    • John says:
      14 Oct14 October 01:49

      QR’s handling of this sort of thing would be far worse than BA’s has been

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