It depends on the route and when you fly. A short regional hop and a long-haul run to Europe are different products, and the same seat swings a long way across the year, so any number quoted here would be wrong for most readers on most days. Instead we track what each route normally costs and only post a fare when it drops well below that, every price in the table above is a live tracked fare, not an estimate.

Malaysia Airlines flies nonstop to Australia, the Gulf, South Asia and London. Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Thai, Turkish, Singapore Airlines and KLM all operate premium cabins from KL too. The map above shows who flies where.

February, May and September tend to show the softest premium fares out of KL, avoiding the December and July peaks. Each route has its own low month, and we email you the moment a specific date drops.

KL is warm and humid all year (28–33°C), so there's no bad time weather-wise. The drier, quieter stretches are roughly December–February and June–August; the wetter months bring short afternoon downpours rather than washouts. For the flight itself, February, May and September are usually when premium fares are softest.

The KLIA Ekspres train runs from both terminals to KL Sentral in about 28 minutes, and connects onward to the city's rail network. A private airport transfer or taxi takes 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. Both KLIA1 (full-service) and KLIA2 (low-cost) are on the train line.

KLCC puts you next to the Petronas Towers and the Suria mall; Bukit Bintang is the dining and nightlife heart, with hawker streets like Jalan Alor; and KL Sentral is best if you want the airport train and rail links on your doorstep. All three sit within a short ride of each other.

Two to three days covers the headline sights (the towers, Batu Caves, Chinatown and a night market or two), with room for the food. It also makes an excellent stopover of a day or two on the way to Australia, the Gulf or Europe.

Many nationalities (including Australia, the UK, the US, the EU, and much of Asia) can enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 90 days (30 for some). Malaysia also asks arrivals to complete the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online before flying. Always check the current rules for your own passport before you book.

On the long Gulf and Australia sectors (7–8 hours) a lie-flat seat makes a real difference, and our best-seen fares run 30–42% below the usual price, often only a little more than a flexible premium-economy ticket. On short regional hops it's more about the lounge and priority than the seat.