Wondering how to get from KL Sentral to KLIA 1 or 2 by bus?
You’re in the right place!
In this article, I walk you through everything you need to know to get from KL Sentral station to the main international airport, whichever terminal you need to depart from – KLIA1 (often referred to as KLIA M just to confuse tourists!) or KLIA2.
Let’s get started.
Where does the bus from KL Sentral to KLIA depart from?
Buses from KL Sentral to KLIA depart from the bus terminal located under the main hall at KL Sentral, towards the Nu Sentral end of the hall.
If you’re standing in the middle of the busy hall at KL Sentral and can see various train lines and people EVERYWHERE, just walk to the end of the hall where the escalator goes up into Nu Sentral and then walk around the back of the escalator and then head downstairs.
You’ll see a bunch of buses parked as soon as you go down the stairs there.
How much do bus tickets cost from KL Sentral to KLIA?
Bus tickets from KL Sentral to KLIA1 or KLIA2 usually cost 12rm. However, sometimes the price might be different.
In the video below, I managed to get a ticket for only 5rm from KL Sentral to KLIA2. I don’t know why it was so cheap, maybe I just got lucky that day.
How long does the bus take to get to the airport?
Typically, it takes about an hour for the bus to get to the airport from KL Sentral.
However, if you’re lucky it might only take 50 minutes, or if you get stuck in traffic it might take an hour and a half or more to get to the airport.
Plan your trip accordingly, you don’t want to be stressed out the entire way to the airport because you’re cutting it fine for your check-in time.
I only recommend taking the bus if you have time to spare or if you’re on a tight budget.
If you can’t afford the chance that the bus trip might take 90 minutes or more due to traffic, take the express train from Sentral instead – that takes around 33 minutes with no guessing what the traffic will be like.
Where do you buy bus tickets from to get to the airport?
You can buy tickets from the booths next to the buses that are parked underneath KL Sentral.
Same instructions as above, find the main hall at KL Sentral, walk to the Nu Sentral mall end of the hall, walk around the back of the escalators and go downstairs.
You’ll see a bunch of booths on your right-hand side, just find one selling tickets to the terminal that you want to go to.
Is the bus airconditioned?
Yes, the bus that runs from KL Sentral to KLIA1 and KLIA2 is air-conditioned.
It’s actually quite comfortable, with big seats. In many parts of Asia the seating configuration would be called a “VIP bus”.
In any case, you’ll only be on the bus for about an hour, maybe an hour and a half during peak times, so I’m sure you’ll be able to survive for that long.
For 12rm, I don’t care if I’m on the roof of the bus holding on with my fingernails!
It’s a really cheap way to get to KLIA for your flight.
Do the buses run 24 hours a day?
No, it seems like the earliest bus departure from KL Sentral to KLIA is at 3am and the last departure heading towards the airport is at 10pm.
If you plan on taking a bus from Sentral to the airport before about 6am, I suppose you’ll need to take a Grab from wherever you’re staying to get to Sentral, because the MRT stations don’t open until 6am.
I’m not sure about the LRT and KTM, but the MRT doesn’t get going until 6am each day.
KL Sentral to KLIA summary
Here’s how getting from KL Sentral to KLIA2 by various means sits in my books:
| Method of getting from KL Sentral to KLIA | Price | Time | Stress factor |
| Bus | 12rm | 60mins | highest |
| Express train | 55rm | 35mins | lowest |
| Grab (car) | 80rm | 50mins | medium |
The bus is definitely the cheapest option. If you’re on a budget, just give yourself an extra 30 minutes or so for your travel time and you’ll save yourself a decent chunk of change.
If you’re not on a budget, the bus is still a decent option if you have time up your sleeve and aren’t in a rush.
However, if you simply want to get from Sentral to the airport in the shortest amount of time with no stress or hassle, I recommend that you take the airport express train instead.
I hope this article was helpful and enjoy your time in KL.
Safe travels!