April 30, 2026
Peter is 70, well-travelled, and not remotely done yet. These are his Notes — small observations from the road.
Like all good stories this has a beginning, a middle and an end. In this one the beginning is considering what to pack, and what not to pack given the destination, the flight itself and then finally lessons learnt.
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Part the First.
So, what to pack for 40 days away from the comfort of my wardrobe? Very few clothes as laundry services are easily found and very inexpensive. So just things that make my life easier or perhaps would be difficult to find when I would rather be adventuring than hunting for stuff. I have a definite division in my clothes. Wearing for the flights and then for in-country. Aircraft can be cold as one sleeps through the night, so layers are the way to go. Don’t rely upon an airline blanket to keep you warm, they rarely do. So, for me a T-shirt, a presentable long-sleeved shirt over (also useful for visits to temples and shrines) and a blazer type jacket with plenty of pockets.
I pack in three’s. Three sets of underwear, socks, t-shirts and trousers with lots of pockets. Three travel bags packed empty and three things in my wash bag, toothpaste tablets, Peptol and hand sanitizer. Everything else can be bought in-country as part of your initial explorations and many hotels will provide them in your bathroom.
I carry a beaten-up leather work bag containing a laptop and work stuff and a small backpack with compressing straps. No need to buy the extra packing bags advertised. Those with straps, external pockets and a backpack format are widely available.
[See. “‘What has he got in his pocketses‘ demanded Smeagol?”]
Don’t stress yourself. Book an overnight hotel even if an afternoon flight. There are four hotels of varying expense directly connected to T4. The following morning one can simply walk a few minutes by covered walkway to Heathrow departures. One might save a few GBP by staying further away but never so much as to make the cost of the convenience of a short walk seem expensive.
Do some research on your destination. Travel books are useful but also check out YouTube. Once one gets past the “how to retire to” and “how to date a local” there is some useful YouTube content on multiple subjects from general what so see and eat to the more specific “how to use the metro”.
Shoutout to Van Vu; whatthepho on YouTube.
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Part the Second; the Flight.
I flew Malaysia Airlines economy class. I booked my seat online as soon as it opened and checked in online as soon as that opened. Always an aisle seat and preferably towards the very front of the section. Engine noise can be a real factor back from the wings. This gave me boarding passes on my phone and I never even saw the check-in but went directly to the gate – hand luggage only remember.
Greet the flight attendants. They are of course going to welcome you aboard but take a few moments to ask how they are. A ‘good morning, how are you today?’ may make you a little more memorable. Not a bad thing when you are reliant on them for victuals for the next twelve hours.
If the safety presentation is live rather than on the seat screen, then I do the courtesy of at least watching the flight attendant. No longer air hostesses and never the 1980’s “trolly dollies”.
I’ve not flown with Malaysia Airlines before. Usually, my choice has been Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific, but the routes and times pointed me the Malaysia way. The offer of a free flight in Malaysia (paying only a very small tax) was the deciding factor. I like to visit second cities so selected Kota Bharu from seven options, and this was a gentle introduction to spicier food and the really warm temperatures that I expected in Vietnam.
[See: 42 and ¾ hours in Kota Bharu]
The food offered was as one would expect and okay for airline food. But I am probably hyper-critical having worked back-in-the-day the Clipper Line for Pan-Am producing really nice hors d’oeuvres. I had expected an evening meal but only a cheese wrap was given about 17.00 and then no food until breakfast some 5 hours later. I always travel with a Twix or two, and they got me through.
The seat was ok, the choice of movies so-so, music included Miles Davis and a small selection of classical and lots of world music but the headphones poor. A USB charging point is below the screen and a power outlet at knee level between the seats.
The drop-down table and food tray are not good companions. Use the polythene bag that contains the blanket to secure one to another and incidentally get the food nearer to you.
A flight is a flight is a flight. And this one proceeded as one might expect. As long as one does not think too long about a few hundred tonnes being supported by nothing more than air one can relax and sleep – trust the physics.
KUL is a large airport. I thought that Schipol was large, but this hub is massive. Arrivals is in a separate building reached by a very quick shuttle service. One does not have to go through immigration if an international transfer but for a transfer to a domestic flight one must remain in the main building and find Gates A and B that are down one level from the main concourse. Here, for digital passports, one can simply scan at the e-Gate as in Europe.
About upgrades.
First thing to be aware of is that it is likely if you have booked by a travel agent or anything other than direct on the airline website you are unlikely to be able to upgrade your seat with either Malaysia or Singapore Airlines.
Is it worth upgrading as everyone gets to land at the same moment? The main consideration is the width of the seat. Yes, the food may be a little nicer and more flight attendants assigned to the business class section but it is the width of the seat every time, and if it also fully reclines better yet. Upgrading used to be reliant upon looking business and checking availability at check-in. Now it is a closed auction online. Enter what you think the upgrade is worth. Check with an online search an amount likely to be successful; it may be much less than you anticipate. The airline will come back with an acceptance, or not. In April 2026 no upgraded seats were available at all as all airlines flying the northern route over Europe, the ‘stans and India were full as people were rebooked away from the US attack on Iran.
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Part the Final; things learnt.
Every flight is a little different and this time I booked seven flights via The Flight Centre as a convenience not realizing that one must book direct for an upgrade option and add to one’s promotional points.
As with other flights I found that the queues are much shorter at the toilets behind your seat – most people seem to walk forward only.
Economy class always has less attendants per seats than business class so top up one’s water bottle in the nearest galley. Otherwise, one is depending upon a spasmodic offer of a plastic cup of water.
A neck cushion really is essential in Economy class. Horseshoe shape or full wrap around, don’t worry about a blowup neck support unless you have one that you really like.
Always have some snacks packed, they can be a very essential stop gap if there are long periods between meals.
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