In July 2024, I traveled from Ipoh, Malaysia, to Johor Bahru by domestic flight and then from the airport to the city by bus. This article explains my experience moving from the airport to the bus terminal and then transferring to a city bus line.
Accessing Johor Bahru City from Senai Airport (Bus Travel)
Searching for Destinations with Google Maps
At the airport’s arrival hall, I searched for routes to my hotel using public transportation as the condition. The result was a route that involved taking a bus from the airport to the bus terminal (JB Sentral) and then transferring to a city bus line.
I found out that I could take the Causeway Link A1 line bus from the airport to JB Sentral, which runs once every hour. Although I had researched beforehand that I would need to buy a bus ticket, I couldn’t find any ticket counters. So, I asked the staff at the information desk in the arrival hall, and they told me there were no tickets; I would just pay 8 Malaysian Ringgit in cash on the bus.
From the Airport to the City Bus Terminal (JB Sentral)
Follow the bus stop signs above the arrival hall exit to head outside. After passing through the car pick-up/drop-off area and walking straight, you’ll reach a dead end where you’ll see the bus stop sign.
When I arrived at the bus stop 10 minutes before the departure time, the bus was already there, but I couldn’t board yet. Passengers gathered, and when the time came, the driver arrived, opened the front door, and we boarded. At this point, you put the fare into a box next to the driver. Since this is a direct, non-stop bus to JB Sentral, show 8 Malaysian Ringgit to the driver and put it into the fare box. The bus departed on time and arrived at JB Sentral without any delays, taking 40 minutes.
Transferring to a City Bus Line at JB Sentral
The area where the bus from the airport arrived was lined with many city buses. I had to find the correct bus line for my destination. Google Maps indicated transferring to the T14 line, so I waited at the spot marked T14.
When the bus arrived, the front door opened. I told the driver my destination stop. The driver stated the fare, and I put the money into the fare box. At this time, you might need small coins, including those less than 1 Malaysian Ringgit. If you don’t have exact change, you won’t get any change back if you put in more. Once the bus started moving, I monitored my location with Google Maps. When I reached the stop where I needed to alight, I stood near the door in the middle of the bus and pressed the stop button. The bus stopped at the designated stop, the door opened, and I got off.
Important Notes
The most challenging part of this journey was transferring from the JB Sentral bus to the city bus line. If the name of your stop is difficult, it might be helpful to show the driver your screen.
In this instance, some of the information I researched online beforehand differed from reality. Public transportation information can change, so always try to get the latest updates. It’s also essential to ask staff for accurate information before you get stuck on site.
