Lounge Review: Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

The aerotrain between the Satellite Terminal and the Main Terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) has been suspended since early 2023 and is expected to resume by March 2025. While Singapore Airlines flights previously arrived and departed from the Main Terminal, passengers now have to travel between the Satellite and Main Terminals by bus (unless traveling in Business Class), adding extra time to the journey. Although Singapore Airlines passengers depart from the Satellite Terminal, their designated lounge is the Plaza Premium Lounge in the Main Terminal. Despite being one of the better airport lounges at KLIA, the Plaza Premium Lounge is often busy. A private area for Singapore Airlines passengers has been established with some additional dishes on offer. However, passengers still need to allow sufficient time to travel from the Main Terminal to the Satellite Terminal by bus before their flight.

Main Seating Area
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

When I flew out of KLIA last week on Singapore Airlines, I opted to visit one of the airport lounges in the Satellite Terminal instead of the usual Plaza Premium Lounge. The Satellite Terminal houses Malaysia Airlines' flagship Golden Lounge as well as two Priority Pass lounges: the Sky Suite Airport Lounge and the Travel Club Lounge. My flight was departing from gates C11 to C17, so I checked out the Travel Club Lounge, conveniently located on the mezzanine level near these gates.

Main Seating Area
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

The Travel Club Lounge at the Satellite Terminal offers free access to holders of various credit cards issued in Malaysia. Unfortunately, my American Express Platinum Card, issued in Singapore, did not qualify. However, many Singapore-issued credit cards, like the Citi Prestige, offer unlimited Priority Pass lounge access, so I used my digital membership card to enter.

View from Lounge
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

The Travel Club Lounge at KLIA is relatively new and well-furnished, with plenty of natural light during the day. It wasn't particularly crowded during my visit, and certain seats offer a great view of the tarmac, perfect for aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters. Various seating areas are available, but the seats by the window are especially popular. If you want to snag one of these prime spots, be sure to arrive a bit earlier.

Semi-Private Area
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

There is also a semi-private seating area located between the dining and main area of the lounge. The single seats are perfect for solo travellers and I really like that the Travel Club Lounge has plenty of seats by the window which are usually a rarity in airport lounges.

Dining Area
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

The lounge also features a dedicated dining area next to the self-service buffet, equipped with proper tables and chairs suitable for dining. While some seating areas are designed for lounging or enjoying a coffee, eating at these tables may be challenging as they are comparatively lower, requiring you to either lean over or lift your plate. Most of the tables here cater to a single or couple, but you will find a handful of tables here that are suited for larger groups of travellers.

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Unfortunately, the food and drinks at the Travel Club Lounge are quite disappointing, possibly the worst I've encountered at KLIA. Most of the offerings consist of highly processed carbohydrates with little nutritional value. There is a live station offering laksa upon request, but given the overall quality of the buffet, I did not bother trying it.

Poor Quality of Food
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

Honestly, the most appetising items I could find from the buffet spread were potato wedges, chicken nuggets that could benefit from a little more time in the deep-fryer, a few limp salad leaves, and some chicken breast. While it's understood that restaurant-level food is not expected at an airport lounge, especially a contract lounge, the food offerings were definitely below average.

Bar
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

For those seeking an alcoholic beverage, the Travel Club Lounge offers complimentary canned beers at the bar, available upon request from the staff. Other drinks, such as wines and cocktails, are also available but come with an additional cost (e.g., MYR 56 for a cocktail).

Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

Regarding non-alcoholic options, the lounge provides a selection of full-fat canned drinks in the fridge at the end of the lounge; however, there are no sugar-free options available, including Coke No Sugar. Given that my flight was departing in the evening, I opted for a bottle of water to avoid consuming any more caffeine before the flight.

Restrooms
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

The restrooms are located at the other end of the Travel Club Lounge. To the best of my knowledge, there are no shower facilities available, although this was not something I specifically sought during my visit. An interesting feature for some passengers is the Virtual Reality Golf zone, starting at MYR 39.

Virtual Reality Zone
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

Those traveling with children or seeking additional entertainment options might consider the Wanderlust VR Game, priced at MYR 49 for 30 minutes. Although the space was not in use during my visit, it could be an entertaining option for those with some time to spare.

Reading Zone
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

Adjacent to the entertainment area is a relatively spacious and semi-private Reading Zone, intended for passengers to enjoy some quiet time. However, there are no clear signs discouraging talking or noise. Although it was comparatively quiet during my visit, it would be beneficial if clear signs were posted to designate it as a quiet zone, allowing people to read or work in peace.

Interiors
Travel Club Lounge (Terminal 1 Satellite) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)

The Travel Club Lounge in the Satellite Terminal is visually appealing, and while I might revisit it in the future if I have a flight departing from this terminal, it would be solely to find a place to sit and wait for the boarding gate to open. The food and drinks here are subpar, and I would not recommend paying for access to this lounge or using your Priority Pass lounge entitlements unless you already have unlimited access through the right credit card. In the meantime, I will make a deliberate effort to fly with Malaysia Airlines instead of Singapore Airlines when traveling between Singapore Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Flying with Malaysia Airlines means arriving and departing from the Main Terminal, which can save significant time, especially during peak hours.