KLIA eighth best airport to snooze in, says survey

PETALING JAYA: An online survey ranked Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) the eighth best airport in the world to sleep in this year, while the nearby Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) was recognised as one of the worst in Asia.

Drafted by the Guide to Sleeping in Airports website (www.sleepinginairports.net), the Oct 2013 survey said travellers enjoyed dozing off on KLIA's long benches and reclining rest chairs.

"The best sleep can be had in the designated rest areas (airside) and the benches on the fourth floor (landside). Showers are available for a fee. Food is available 24-hours," said the website Friday.

Travellers such as online user hilman91 praised the airport's comfortable surroundings.

"Pleasantly long movable benches were available and we pushed some vacant ones creating a small bed," the user said.

The user added that KLIA was "extremely quiet" and that the airport dimmed its lights after midnight.

The airport was ranked by the website as the world's fifth best last year, and fourth in 2011.

The Star previously cited Malaysia Airports saying that the airport was designed to give every person coming to KLIA about 55sq metres of free space.

Three other airports in Asia were also in this year's top 10 list, with Singapore's Changi crowned the world's best, followed by South Korea's Incheon at second and the Hong Kong International at fourth.

Meanwhile, the LCCT climbed two places to seventh under the "Worst Airports in Asia" list this year.

Some travellers even advised others to take a 20km bus ride to KLIA instead of roughing it out at the LCCT.

Commenting on it, reviewer 5ftman said: "It's a barebones basic low cost budget terminal. No frills. I'd advise turning up as late as possible or dying from the sheer tedium of the place!"

The Sleeping in Airports website is dedicated to advising travellers or people stuck in transit about the best and the worst airports to sleep in.