Some travel to lose themselves, while others travel to find themselves, but one thing is certain, everyone comes home a different person. However, travelling can sometimes be daunting as the airport rules may change over time and new rules may be incorporated.

Here are a list of 5 basic things new travellers should know of and a good reminder to jet-setters who have collected enough air points under their wings. 

1. Shrink wrapping your luggage

Plastic wrapping service is being offered at different airports around the world, and it is starting to become popular in Malaysia as well.

Well, we’ve got the answer for you. This service serves as an additional layer of protection which could come in handy if you’re worried about luggage tampering, damage to suitcase or to prevent a full bag from bursting open.

This service can be found in Subang Skypark Terminal, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), KLIA 2 for RM10 per bag, Kuala Lumpur Sentral (for KLIA Express Check-in) with prices ranging from RM10 for normal sized bag, RM15 for large bags, and RM20 for extra large bags. In a minute or so, your luggages will be plastified and ready to rock the airport runway. 

While this could mean that your bag is being well secured, there are some downsides to such service. As for one reason or another, the security check requires your bag to be run through physically, they have the authorities to rip off the plastic with no questions ask. And if you’re wondering if they would wrapped it back for you, the straightforward answer would be, NOpe. 

However, out of courtesy, the officers will place a notice inside your bag to inform you that an inspection has been carried out.

there are some downsides to this service. 

[READ MORE : 5 rights you didn’t know you had as an airline passenger in Malaysia]

Besides, with the recent awareness on plastic hazards, Malaysia is the first country in Southeast Asia that has tabulated a zero-waste plan to abolish single use plastic by 2030 which leads to the concern of using this service as they are unfortunately not reusable and not always biodegradable. 

Other than these downsides, it works well for its initial purposes. Hence, if by hook or by crook, you’re very keen of getting that extra shields for your luggages, always opt for reusable fabric wraps as it is much more environmental friendly or goes to a company that uses recyclable material. 

TIPS : It is suggested that after you have collected your luggage from the baggage carousel, you are advised to remove the plastics so it could be recycled in the airport itself. 

2. Your passport must be valid for 6 months

No matter if you’re travelling by land, on foot, or by air transportation, you’re required to present your passport at the customs to cross the border. This means that travellers’ are required to hold a valid passport with the expiration date extending longer than six months from your intended departure date. With that being said, if the expiration date of your passport is shy of six months before you fly, you may be denied from boarding the plane. 

Thus, there is no harm to give a quick glance at your passport to ensure that it fulfills the requirement of the “six month passport rule.” If the date is eminently close to your travels, it is advisable to renew your passports at your earliest convenience. 

3. Check your immigration status

This might be more applicable for individuals who are facing bankruptcy charges, applied for PTPTN loan or being investigated by Lembaga Dalam Hasil Negeri (LHDN) body as you might be barred from travelling. Depending on what you’re facing, some government agencies have the legal rights to stop you from leaving the country. It is clear that if an individual is declared bankrupt, they are not allowed to leave the country for obvious reasons. However, you can also be stopped for the following two reasons, including PTPTN arrears and evading your income tax payment. 

The National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) is a study loan initiated by the government with the objective of assisting Malaysian students in furthering their tertiary educations. Loans are meant to be pay back just as it is for our car loans and credit cards. This means that students are expected to commence their paybacks 6 months after they have graduated. If borrowers default their repayments, they would be listed in the blacklist and consequently, barred from travelling out of Malaysia.

Having said that, the travel ban for PTPTN defaulters have since been lifted as of last year as part of Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto, but recently, this topic has resurface as there are on-going discussions and proposals to bring the travel ban back.

This travel ban is legally enforceable as seen under Section 115(1) of Income Tax Act 1967,

and Section 115(2), 

The above sections highlights that it is a crime to attempt to leave the country without the payment of tax, and the respective authorities have the rights to detain any tax evaders that commits this offence. Asides from the possibility of missing your flight, it also comes with a price to pay of up to RM200 to RM2,000 in fine and/or up to six months in jail. 

When planning a trip, finding out if you have been barred from leaving the country is probably the last thing in your mind, but it is necessary to avoid being caught in unwelcome situations. If you have any concerns about your income tax status, you can click on this link to check if you have been barred for this reason. 

4. Visa requirements

Visa requirements varies across countries. Malaysia’s passport is rank at number 9 in Global Passport Index. This ranking is calculated by a score of numbers, totalling to 119 countries where Malaysians can visit visa free, 42 countries with visa on arrival and 37 countries with visa required. 

Some examples of countries that requires visa for you to enter includes Australia, China, India and United States. However, it is also important to note that some countries such as India would requires transit visa even if you are just transitioning to get to your next destination if :

                (i). your layover is longer than 24 hours 

                (ii). you are leaving the specific transit area 

Conversely, many other countries have reciprocal agreements that allows Malaysians to travel visa-free for short visits. Countries such as Vietnam do not requires a visa if you stay for less than a month, whereas Hong Kong and Japan only requires a visa if you intend to stay longer than 90 days.

5. Airport Rules on Luggages 

Over the past few years, airports are becoming more stringent of what you can and cannot bring onto the plane. Even if you have travelled enough, the airport rules on luggages varies from country to country and it changes from time to time, so these are some of the latest updates in terms of the restrictions imposed by Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).

We all know that getting through the airport security can sometimes be dreadful, so the best way to get through the airport security fast is by knowing all of the facts at the back of your hand. 

1. All hand carry luggage must not weigh more than 7kg and it must fit the overhead compartment or the seats under you.
2. Liquids that you carry with you should not be over 100ml, this includes gels, aerosols, toothpaste, makeups and any gel-like food, with the exception for breast milk. Travelling moms are allowed to bring breast milk in quantities more than 100ml but just be sure to declare it at the security checkpoint.
3. According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) on “Transport of Lithium Metal and Lithium Ion Batteries Revised for the 2017 Regulations”, power banks are only allowed in carry-on luggage, not over 10,000mAh, and limited to two power banks per person.

One last thing : Keep track of your boarding time

There are times we have had to sprint through the immigration and boarding gates to catch a plane. So, the question is, what is the ideal time to reach the airport? The golden rule is to reach three hours before flying internationally, and two hours before your domestic flight. If you’re travelling during peak seasons and public holidays, you’ll want to leave extra time beyond the two or three hour guideline. You would rather want to have too much time at the gate than missing your flight. After all, you could always find plethora of things to do for entertainment and relaxation if you have time to spare at the airport. 

On the flip side, if you miss your flight due to your own negligence, you would probably have to burn your ticket as no compensation or refunds will be provided.

[READ MORE : 5 things you must get, if your flight from KLIA is delayed]

Be a smart traveller.

Bon voyage!