Kuala Lampur, Sept. 23 -- I thought it was just a coincidence. But after four of my usual Grab drivers or ride buddies told me they could take me to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) but weren't free to collect me from the airport, I sensed something was amiss.

When it finally clicked, I wondered why it took me so long to grasp a truth almost every driver knows but not many passengers may take to heart: Unless you're financially desperate, picking passengers up from KLIA may not be worth the trip.

This is because unlike picking people up from their houses and sending them to the Departure Terminal, the opposite route can be a lot more complicated.

First, unlike waiting for you at your residence, a driver cannot "wait" at KLIA f...