In a media statement, Malaysia Airports announced that as of October 12, it has designated new pick-up points for ride-hailing services such as Grab, intended for passengers arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) 1 and 2 (KLIA2). This new measure coincides with stricter regulations for these services, which also came into force on the same date.
These pick-up points can be found at Door 3 and 4 on Level 1 for KLIA, and Door 5 on Level 2 of the Transportation Hub for KLIA2. These areas are also where the metered taxi and bus stands are located at both airports, as well as their respective KLIA Express/Transit stations. The points are said to be upgraded with “waiting amenities” for passengers (i.e. seats).
Ride-hailing drivers could previously pick up passengers from outside the arrival areas of the respective airports. The company says the move is intended to smoothen the often-congested traffic at both airports, as well as to ensure a more systematic public transportation flow.
“To implement this new initiative smoothly, we are providing facilities to both e-hailing drivers and their passengers such as an incoming control system, comfortable seating for the waiting areas and signage for easy navigation at the new designated pick-up points,” said chief executive officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin. “We hope that both passengers and the e-hailing community at KUL will enjoy a pleasant experience.”
Ride-hailing services drivers can use a free waiting area at the Landside Operations office, five minutes away from the terminals. Access to the pickup lanes requires the use of Touch ‘n Go cards with a minimum value of RM20 or contactless credit or debit cards. A RM10 penalty will be imposed on drivers waiting for more than five minutes in the pickup lane and an additional RM10 penalty for a further five minutes.
The News Straits Times has already reported confusion from both drivers and passengers, with many being caught unawares by the new pick-up points.
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Why make things so difficult? Grab is only dropping off and picking up passengers upon being hailed so there is no congestion caused by Grab drivers parking there for a short stop unlike taxi limos & private cars. I came back from airport and my Grab have to triple park becoz private cars parking along the stretch of arrival area. Why? Becoz Mesian people kaki patah, they cannot stand and wait for their cars to come & pick them up.
true, the congestion at the arrival hall of both airports is not caused by e-hailing drivers but common people parking their cars there to wait for their loved ones, ehailing cars usually are in and out within 5 mins,this whole issue is just not necessary and troublesome for customers who are going to irked by the need to take several floors down to board the ehailing cars,I’m afraid this is going to reduce the number of people opting for ehailing services.
I think thats the intention. Reduce so much the appeal of ehailing that people have no choice but to go for taxis no matter how bad they are. This is pakatan.
Precisely. Mostly private vehicles clogging up the pick up lanes. Or those passengers order Thier grab way to early. How would the grab driver know if Thier passengers dissapear or late to the pick up point?
You are forgetting something. Even though grab is quick to go in and out from the terminal, but they are moving in large numbers and therefore some control and regulations are needed.
At any time of the day at KLIA and KLIA2, there maybe 10 MAS airplanes landing in an hour, and 15 air Asia at the same time.
Let’s say every plane carries an average of 50 pax and 10% of them will use grab.
Now do the maths. It’s not as simple as it seems.
Simpler than having 50 private vehicles parking along the arrival hall for 30mins or more, clogging up the roads. How is multiple Grab cars coming in and out 5-10mins worse than that?