PETALING JAYA – Malaysia Airlines has been the target of online jokes following reports that they are now allowing passengers to bring their own food on board temporarily.
On August 30, Malaysia Airlines issued a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page on its meal services after the conclusion of the airline’s partnership with its longstanding caterer Brahim’s Food Services.
As it is in the midst of transitioning to a new catering service, the airline, effective September 1, has instituted several temporary measures.
“To ensure minimal disruption to our customers’ comfort and overall experience, we will be offering alternative F&B (food and beverage) options while actively exploring a new service provider that aligns with our unwavering commitment to delivering premium customer experiences,” Malaysia Airlines said.
Out of the 12 questions, 8 and 9 were the ones that attracted online attention, possibly because they appear to have been taken out of context.
It must be noted that FAQs are generally not press statements issued to the media, which would have been presented in a different format.
Question 8 addressed the question of bringing outside food during the catering transition period for Malaysia Airlines.
The question read: “Can I bring my own meals during this time?”
Malaysia Airlines explained that passengers can bring their own meals but are still subject to the liquids, aerosols, and gels (LAGs) requirements.
“LAGs must not exceed 100ml, per the requirements for international passengers departing from or transiting at international airports in Malaysia.”
Malaysia Airlines also touched on special meals, chef-on-call, meal upgrade and pre-booked meals.
As such services are unavailable during the transition period, Malaysia Airlines said they encourage passengers with “special dietary or medical requirements to bring their own meals onboard”.
This particular tidbit caused an uproar among social media users, with some jokingly sharing photos of nasi kandar, lemang with rendang, and banana leaf rice as meals they would bring on board their flights to destinations like London and Singapore.
me dlm economy class bila flight ke London. https://t.co/7xJKzE2KAz pic.twitter.com/Ax6Y9muCXU
— IzzullAdam ?? (@IzzullAdam17) September 3, 2023
me, after washing my hands in the aircraft restroom during my quarterly KUL-SIN flights: https://t.co/mRXhaoMxSO pic.twitter.com/qrPs9e5n6T
— sexy disposable wape (@tjoendy) September 3, 2023
Even former Permodalan Nasional Bhd chief executive Abdul Jalil Abdul Rasheed responded to the news, saying: “What a joke.”
What a joke https://t.co/gA1EfkSn7Q
— Jalil Rasheed (@jalilword) September 3, 2023
Malaysia Airlines has yet to issue a statement to address the backlash as of press time. – The Vibes, September 5, 2023
