KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has been named one of the world’s more affordable airports to be stranded in, placing it in the lower-middle tier of global costs.
According to a study by flight compensation service AirAdvisor, KLIA ranks as slightly more expensive than Bogota, Colombia, but cheaper than Doha, Qatar.
The total cost for essentials at KLIA was recorded at RM242.06.
"A hotel nearby KLIA averages RM188, coffee at a cafe costs RM14.00, while a 500ml bottle of water can cost up to RM7.80," the study noted.
The analysis covered the cost of six essentials, including a three-star hotel stay, a fast-food meal, water, coffee, public transport and a toothbrush.
AirAdvisor chief executive officer Anton Radchenko said major Asian hubs like Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, and Seoul remain affordable despite their global importance.
"Lower hotel costs, efficient services and strong local competition keep basic expenses far below the levels seen in New York, London, or Hong Kong," he said.
The study found a massive gap between the most and least expensive hubs, with New York's JFK costing nearly RM1,325 for a day's basics compared to just RM102 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International.
Radchenko estimated that up to 30 million passengers worldwide were stranded overnight at airports in 2025.
He advised travellers to carry small essentials like snacks and refillable bottles to avoid inflated airport prices once past security.
He also reminded passengers of their rights under the Montreal Convention, which allows for the reimbursement of documented expenses during disruptions.
The top three priciest airports were New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Zurich (ZRH), while the cheapest were Delhi (DEL), Bangkok (BKK), and Beijing Daxing (PKX).
AirAdvisor noted that United States and European airports dominate the expensive end of the spectrum, while Asia generally remains budget-friendly.
