A 3-year absence from the sub-continent and the joyful occasion of a relative’s wedding required my presence in India.
One of my favorite parts of flying to India from the western United States is the sheer number of routing possibilities.
TPAC, one can fly to Asia, usually a 12-15 hour flight, then continue onward to India, which takes about 6-9 hours, ending up with about 21 hours in the air.
TATL, one can fly to Europe, about 11 hours, then onward to India, about 9-10 hours, culminating in the same 21 hours in the air.
Growing up, I flew several of these routes, through airports like Heathrow, Frankfurt, Charles de Gaulle, Incheon, Kai Tak, Narita, and Don Muang, all on a smorgasbord of airlines, aircraft, and alliances. Lax stopover rules allowed me to see much of the world en-route to the (grand)motherland.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but the majority of these trips were funded with miles and points, many courtesy of my father’s business AAdvantage Mastercard. A mysterious letter that came to our house one day, awarding us something called "Lifetime AAdvantage Gold" status, got me thinking more about miles and status.
However, since we were often 3 or 4 traveling at a time, all these trips were in the back of the bus. Boarding meant having to walk past the posh interiors of business class, as the curtains to the first class cabin were already rung up by the time I was lucky enough to board such marvelous jumbo jets.
No worries back then, as just being on a plane was joyful enough -- I could always bug my parents to let me have the window seat, and so spent many hours of my childhood peering out above the clouds (an activity I still enjoy to this date ;)). Not only that, but flying economy on airlines like Lufthansa and Cathay Pacific was actually a delight back then.
But on my last trip to India, I spent a rather dreadful 36 hours crammed into a small Delta Economy Discomfort seat from Atlanta to Mumbai on the old DL 184/185, the world’s longest economy class route at the time, just a tad shorter than the fabled all-business SQ non-stops to the U.S. While I had my usual window seat, the flight took off at midnight in Mumbai and landed at 6am in ATL, before the winter sunrise, negating any views. Not only that, but DL ran out of meals. Seriously.
Upon arrival, I left the airport and went directly to class, still in a daze, the usual post-flight high no longer apparent as it was when I was younger. That trip was the impetus to figure out how to leverage my miles and status that I had earned but not yet burned.
Of course, since those were Skymiles, I'd have to figure out another way to save up for a journey to India in a premium class. With various bonuses and promotions, that didn’t take long, especially with US’ grand slam promotion. Some unnecessary Hertz rentals and quite necessary Biscoff spreads later, I had more than enough miles for a relatively small cash outlay. Brilliant.
I had also been repeatedly asked by relatives in Hong Kong to come visit them, even just for a weekend on the way to India. The US award chart allowed me to utilize a comical routing to/from HKG for only 120K in F. Of course, my relatives' idea of "on the way to India" means flying CX and utilizing an HKG stopover. While I have been aching to try CX in F one-way via AA miles, US only allows round-trips. Well, they allow one-ways, but they charge the round-trip price, and I wasn't keen on throwing away 60K US miles.
My sister has also been bugging members of my family to visit Southeast Asia, so she and I decided to head to Vietnam for a few days after our time in India. From there, I had a few extra days before I could go to Hong Kong, so I decided to visit Thailand for the first time, mainly just Bangkok. I know the country has way more to offer, but wanted to save those places for when I had more time. US has an amazing box for intra-South Asia, which unlike UA includes India, so I booked an open-jaw for myself and a one-way for my sister in SQ J. Each was 30K US miles … all in all, 180K US miles well spent, although my US coffers are back to 4 digits, so I’m hoping for another Grand Slam soon :o.
From there, I just needed to connect my Hong Kong and Bangkok nodes. It’s funny how such opportunities arise. I soon learned that the great Emirates runs a BKK-HKG-BKK flight on the backend of their DXB-BKK service on the Airbus A380, an aircraft that I have yet to experience. While I’m not against flying Y on a stellar carrier, I soon saw that this route had some of the lowest-priced F/J tickets for any 3-hour route, let alone on an Emirates A380. For those of you not familiar with Emirates’ A380 … the thing has showers in First. Where you can take one. At 38,000 feet. At Mach 0.85.
I elected to book the outbound leg in F, to experience the suite and shower. I’ve never flown EK, and this would probably be the best/cheapest way for me to experience a great airline and my first A380. Normally, I wouldn’t pay such a high price for a 3-hour trip, but when would I ever get this opportunity again?! Not only that, but just the idea of flying a UAE carrier between Hong Kong and Thailand with an American passport on my way to India just seems so worldly. Thank you, fifth freedoms!
And thank you Alaska Airlines for giving me a worthy account to bank my first ever revenue F ticket! Double miles, too? You shouldn't have! ;)
In the end, I was able to get an itinerary that looked like this, with links to the posts already completed:
Outbound to India:
LAX-SFO-FRA on UA 747 F (1 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18601913-post2.html), 2 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18602010-post3.html), 3 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18602195-post4.html))
FRA Lufthansa FCT (4 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18602440-post6.html))
FRA-ZRH on LH European J, ZRH SWISS FCL, ZRH-HKG on LX A340 F (5 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18602562-post7.html), 6 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18603318-post12.html))
HKG-BKK on EK A380 F (7 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18603528-post16.html), 8 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18606159-post20.html), 9 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18606237-post21.html))
BKK-SIN-BOM on SQ J, with a day-long stopover to check out Singapore (10 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18606967-post28.html), 11 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18607103-post29.html), 12 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18608344-post37.html), 13 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18608359-post38.html))
Asia Side-Trip:
BOM-SIN-HAN on SQ J (14 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18623923-post46.html), 15 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18628427-post48.html))
5 days in Northern Vietnam (16 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18628565-post49.html), 17 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18628734-post50.html))
HAN-BKK on QR Y (yes, Qatar) (18 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18631688-post55.html))
4 days in Bangkok (19 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18636647-post58.html))
BKK-HKG on EK A380 F (20 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18639616-post62.html), 21 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18639699-post63.html), 22 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18639705-post64.html))
A weekend in Hong Kong (23 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18643342-post69.html))
Return:
HKG-BKK on TG 747 F (old) (24 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18647223-post73.html), 25 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18647435-post75.html))
BKK Thai FCL/Spa, BKK-FRA on TG 77W F Suites (26 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18648125-post79.html), 27 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18648355-post81.html), 28 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18648400-post83.html), 29 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18651221-post87.html), 30 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18651408-post88.html))
FRA-LHR on LH European J, with a 23h50m stopover in London (31 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18677455-post101.html))
LHR-LAX on UA 777 F (32 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18683677-post106.html), 33 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18683838-post107.html), 34 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18683863-post108.html))
15 segments, covering 34,335 miles. A lot of personal firsts along the way. Stay tuned ...
amolkold
May 18, 12, 4:15 pm
Have you ever had that “itching to fly” feeling? You know – the one that says, “I haven’t been on a plane in a while … I need to go somewhere.” I started getting that about 4 days before this trip, making it very timely.
A quick 15 minutes on the Metro rail to Union Station and a ride on the FlyAway bus brought me to LAX. On the way to the airport, we passed the 10 Freeway, which has a sign in Santa Monica calling it “the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway.” Unlike Chris, I would actually find India on this trip. Hopefully.
Flying United, I had to wait a while for my turn to disembark at LAX. I’m not a frequent UA flyer, as I’m more likely to fly DL or AA domestically. It’s been at least 4 years since I flew UA to Hawaii on a ghetto bird.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/c429a846.jpg
Arriving at LAX. Despite this building recently turning 50 years old, I can't imagine it not being here ...
This was my first time flying UA internationally in sixteen years, the last time being on the old UA #1: LAX-HKG-DEL on a 747, with the infamous Kai Tak approach. While I got off in DEL, the flight number continued with a 767 to LHR to JFK back to LAX. I found it fitting to be flying an LAX-HKG itinerary that included this aircraft, albeit going the other way (and sans checkerboard landing).
And yes, given that this flight was to FRA, I did try my best to change to an LH flight, but there wasn’t any availability. Okay, I’m lying: there was, via YVR or DFW on old-cabin A340s, but it involved a $150 change fee that I wasn’t keen on paying. I’m also not a fan of the short East Coast – Europe flights from IAD or JFK. A lot of FTers would smack me upside the head for not taking that up.
One half of me was holding out for surprise availability on LH’s A380 from SFO.
The other half of me was longing to stay on a Boeing 747. In the past 7 years, I’ve flown the 747 just once, compared to an average of over once a year before that. It was in AF Y, albeit on the more spacious upper deck thanks to my Skyteam status; my first time on the upper deck and it made me fall in love with the aircraft all over again.
I remember landing at CDG and seeing an AF A380, my first time seeing one in person, and yet I felt that I was in the more refined machine. Not only that, but I’m a huge fan of SFO and long for my (otherwise better) half of the state to catch up in airport infrastructure.
With UA placing F in the nose section, I could finally experience the front-most seat on an aircraft (including the pilots).
But back to the actual trip at hand...
I headed over to the left-most United line at T6, the one reserved for Global Services and Global First passengers. A United agent asked, “Global Services?” That was nice of her, since I really don’t look the part. “No, but I’m flying First from San Francisco to Frankfurt.”
“Global First or BusinessFirst?”
“First First.”
“There’s kiosks over there you can use.”
Sorry, but if there’s anything the past 3 months of reading FT has taught me, it’s to not trust UA’s “new” computer system. I’ll take my chances with an agent.
The agent at the GS/F desk did a double take as he looked up my reservation. “I’ve never seen a routing like this before!”
Unfortunately, SFO was under an ATC hold, and my original flight would get me in far too late. When I originally booked this ticket, I left a 4-hour stopover in SFO. A schedule change made that stopover longer, so I used this opportunity to squirrel my way onto an LH flight via SEA for free. However, phantom *A availability reared its ugly head, and I was unable to switch to that flight. Meanwhile, the US Airways rep decided to switch me to a later LAX-SFO flight, leaving me only about 2 hours before my flight to FRA. I didn’t realize this until after I hung up the phone, and when I called back, all earlier LAX-SFO flights were full, in both F and Y. I tried to explain that 2 hours at SFO is not enough due to the morning marine layer at LAX and fog at SFO, but the CLT-based agent would have nothing of it, explaining, “2 hours is plenty of time, sir.” :rolleyes:
The UA agent put me on an earlier flight, but since upgrades had cleared, only coach seats were available. I asked if there was space on the LH direct to FRA, which would be on the 747. He checked, but only business class was available. I had checked availability of several LH flights that morning, just in case of IRROPS, and most flights that gave me ample time at FRA had been 0’d out in F.
I got a bit nervous when the agent kept clickety-clacketing on the keyboard with a furrowed brow, only to realize that he was still having trouble with SHARES, 6 weeks after the transition. Fortunately, the Apollo-era computer system spit out 2 tags all the way to HKG. I was given an exit row seat to SFO and BPs to Zurich, as the HKG flight had yet to open. A baggage handler told me to take a picture of my bags, since it’d probably be the last time I see them, given the routing.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/f13a5a58.jpg
See you in Hong Kong ... hopefully!
Whilst my flight departed T7, I headed over to T6, since I know from experience that one line there doesn’t have the nude-o-scope machine. A civilized metal detector pass-through and a brisk walk down a hallway placed me in T7, with reps hawking the new Chase United Visa as I walked past.
The United Club was packed so I skipped that for the LAX International, err... Global First lounge a bit down the way. It’s not a particularly amazing lounge, but it had the peace & quiet that was otherwise lacking in the UC. At most only 4 people were in the lounge at one time. The staff was incredibly welcoming, and joked about how I was accessing the club as an Economy passenger to SFO.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0003.jpg?t=1337379438
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/bc221ad3.jpg
Peaceful and serene
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0006.jpg
A bit too early in the morning ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0001.jpg
View from the GFL
The lounge agent told me to keep an eye on the screens, but came by the tell me that she thought boarding would begin soon. Indeed, she was correct, as boarding began about 1-2 minutes after I arrived at the gate. Despite my new boarding zone number (7), I showed my F ticket from SFO to FRA and explained to the GA that I had been rerouted on an F ticket. Not that I absolutely need to board first, but on domestic routes in coach, I'd rather get my bags on as soon as possible.
UA 954
LAX-SFO, 1h26m
Airbus A320
Seat 21A, E+
There were several passengers on this flight who were in similar predicaments as me, as many had a tight connection to PEK. I was given 20A on my BP but mistakenly sat in 21A (the 2nd of the two exit rows). 21A later arrived and I had a “D’Oh” moment as a potential seat poacher. I then noticed that there was another passenger in 20A … the seat poacher got poached? Turns out we were both assigned the same exact seat on the flight. Way to go, SHARES. Fortunately, all parties were understanding, and the passenger assigned 21A found an E+ aisle seat he preferred open in row 22.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0007.jpg
At least it's better than Euro J ...
With ATC still placing holds on SFO traffic, we were placed in a taxi holding pattern, visiting parts of LAX I’ve never even seen before. Channel 9 kept me up to date, and the pilot actually told the truth as to why we were delayed. We were able to take off during a short window of availability.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0011.jpg
Taxiing in a before unknown area of LAX ... double alpha??
The flight was nothing to write about, just your normal LAX-SFO run.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0017.jpg
Phew ... finally at SFO.
A uniformed gate agent met the flight for those with tight PEK connections, the first time I've actually seen one when the FAs promised one. I still had about an hour to go until my FRA flight started boarding, so I headed toward the IFL. GFL. Whatever.
amolkold
May 18, 12, 4:33 pm
I’ve heard good things about UA’s F lounge at SFO and I can see why. It really is worth a visit if you have access, even if it’s only for a short while.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0022.jpg?t=1337379680
Nice sushi, cheese, wine selection. Although I wonder what made them put a sign about the shower ... :eek:
With about 15 minutes left until boarding, I decided to head over to the gate. I like SFO’s method of placing the gates one level below the main concourse, which gives both areas a little bit extra space.
Boarding was called for Global Services/United 1Ks/First Class and I made my way to my first First. Of course, this flight had the requisite DYKWIA who assumed that everyone in front of him was in the wrong line, and tried to jostle me aside. I let him go ahead; he must really have been in a rush to Frankfurt.
amolkold
May 18, 12, 5:13 pm
UA 900
SFO-FRA, 10h50m
Boeing 747-400 (N181UA, tulip)
Seat 1A, F
The cabin feels almost utilitarian. A lot of gray and then some more. I took my seat in 1A, and checked that item off my bucket list. Unfortunately, 1A is very close to seat 1K, and looking to my right side, I could made direct eye contact with seat 2K. A bit awkward.
The seat has a bunch of nooks and crannies to store things in; a large storage bin between the seat and aisle, a headphone stowage mini-closet, and a storage bin between the seat and window. The screen is a good size and very sharp. The IFE worked on the ground, so I started watching the movie “Hugo” (although with my own headphones, since the ones supplied by UA are rather pathetic).
As a first-timer in the nose section, I was glued to my window, facing partially forward due to the curvature of the fuselage. What a view. I would later be given a front row seat to the Aurora Borealis later that night. Unreal.
Unfortunately, my camera lost the videos I took of takeoff, but the image is still stuck in my head.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/Runway.jpg?t=1337381628
View down Runway 28
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0042.jpg?t=1337381065
Maybe next time ...
Service began shortly after takeoff and the meal was somewhat decent. I’ve heard that UA’s F menu is simply the J menu with another choice added on there, and I believe it after the meal. Perfectly edible, but no excitement in it either. I’ve had better lunch meals on Delta’s transcon J.
TO BEGIN
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0054.jpg?t=1337382032
Chilled Appetizer - Jumbo shrimp cocktail with wasabi-infused sauce. A bit colder than I'd like, but pretty good.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0057.jpg?t=1337381085
Soup - Mushroom Brie. Looks plain, but incredibly delicious. Probably the best part of the meal.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0058.jpg?t=1337381095
Fresh Seasonal Greens - Roasted tomatoes, Kalamata olives, mozzarella and croutons with blue cheese dressing.
MAIN COURSE
Grilled Filet Mignon - Port wine demi-glace, roasted rosemary potatoes and sautéed asparagus with sun-dried tomato
Pomegrandate-glazed Breast of Duck - Pomegranate sauce, jasmine rice with cashews and Chinese broccoli with carrots
Grilled Fillet of Mahi Mahi - Mushroom-Sherry wine sauce, sweet potato pie and sautéd spinach with garlic
In hindsight, the duck and mahi mahi look like good options, so I don't know why I chose the ravioli at the time. It wasn't that great of an option, but I wasn't hungry enough to ask for another option.
TO FINISH
International Cheese Selection - Amablu St. Pete's Select Blue, Four Year Aged Cheddar and St. Rocco Triple Creme Brie. Served with seedless grapes, crackers, and Graham's Late Bottled Vintage Port
I figured that one thing United couldn't mess up was the ice cream and they didn't! It was a great cap to an alright meal.
After the meal, I lazed around and watched another movie, Ocean’s 12, before going to sleep for a few hours. After awaking, I noticed the crew had placed a few snacks at the small bar area between 2A and 2K. It took about 25 minutes for an FA to notice I was awake (with my lights on) to come by and ask if I wanted anything. I didn’t, and I don’t mean to sound like a spoiled brat, but I’m just reporting on the trip. She did ask about why I had my camera out, taking pictures of the outside while it was so dark. This was why:
A couple of hours out of FRA, breakfast was served. I think breakfast is probably the worst meal to eat on a plane, and this was by no means an exception to the rule. I ate just a bit, knowing I’d have an upcoming feast in lounges and upcoming flights.
I ate just the egg and the bread. The rest was mediocre.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0082.jpg?t=1337381145
I still see tulips ...
Approach into FRA was just as good as the departure from SFO. If you haven’t yet been able to sit in row 1 on a 747, you absolutely need to. On products like UA's, you are literally up against the nose and the view is spectacular. Just get it done once. It’s a bit less space, but it’s an experience.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0083.jpg?t=1337381157
I wouldn't mind this routing on LH's SFO-FRA flight ...
UA’s First hard product is good, with a lot of space, storage space, and a good IFE. Lots of movie selections, in all sorts of languages. The service of the flight attendants is on par with an average business class – no sour attitudes as I’ve heard about, but no sense of proactive service either. No “thank you for flying UA” at the end. There really wasn’t much to say about this flight.
We arrived around 10am and were given a remote parking bay. Naïve visions of a Lufthansa Mercedes picking me up and whisking me to an FCL were quickly unfounded when the UA staff shepherded all passengers into a waiting bus, even keeping F pax waiting for J and Y passengers to get on. Needless to say, it was a scrum once we got to passport control.
vandiemen
May 18, 12, 5:49 pm
Great report, very informative!! Thanks a bunch and I'm looking forward to the other flights!
amolkold
May 18, 12, 6:07 pm
My onward flight to ZRH wasn’t until 4:35pm. While some FTers would head directly to the FCT the second they step on European soil, I figured that 6 hours there would be overkill, especially since I had another 4 or so hours at the FCL at ZRH. One can only lounge so much.
Since I had to sacrifice a passport stamp box to enter the Schengen zone, I figured I’d head out into the area. I decided on Mainz, a town about 25 minutes away on the S8 S-Bahn.
I spent a bit of time in Mainz before hopping on a train back to the airport. As I exited the Flughafenbahnhof, I found myself at the infamous taxi queue that marks the path from the main terminal to the FCT. Left turn to the promised land!
I took the elevator up and walked into an empty foyer, perfect for some pictures. I approached the check-in desks, where the security agents saw me and called over a personal assistant. Christoph arrived, a bit flustered as he explained they were short-staffed today. He clickety-clackitied on the computer for a while, making me a bit nervous. With my luck, they probably changed the access rules that day. Or maybe LH converted to SHARES, too.
Turns out he was just making sure my bags had arrived at FRA and were tagged to HKG. “Okay, Mr. amolkold, your bags are safely in our hands. I can confirm you have access to the First Class Terminal today. Please follow me inside.”
More beautiful words have never been said.
And a more beautiful lounge I have yet to see. It actually looks smaller in person than it does in the pictures, but it’s still plenty large enough for the privileged few who have access to it. After check-in is the world’s friendliest security screening. They even carried my bags for me through to the lounge.
My personal assistant arrived with my boarding passes to HKG in a Lufthansa First Class jacket and asked if I wanted a tour of the lounge. I obliged, even though nothing was very new having read many TRs here.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0126.jpg?t=1337383441
Gotta love real ticket jackets ...
I asked to have a shower, since I hadn’t had one since L.A., and was given room #1, the one with the bathtub (and the waiting rubber ducky!).
After my shower, I had a wonderful lunch at the restaurant. What a way to dine. There are waiters who take orders, although most of the menu is available at a buffet table at the back.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/fbfc5e35.jpg?t=1337383762
Menu
Afterwards, some time in the comfortable chairs facing the main terminal. One negative about the FCT is that there are no tarmac views, but I guess they make up for the location with how they take you to the plane.
I also tried to figure out one thing to order from the extensive bar, and after a thorough survey, decided on a glass of cognac to accompany an hour in the relaxation chairs at the far corner of the FCT. Ahhh, this is the life. It’s so easy to forget you’re in an airport.
I was about to nod off to sleep, until my PA came by and said, “Mr. amolkold, your plane is ready to board. Please follow me to your car.” I have never tried so hard to contain childish giddiness.
I shared the car with a HON Circle flyer in Y. He asked if I’d ever been to Zürich – I had at a very young age, but explained today I was going to Hong Kong, leaving out details of how I was coming all the way from Los Angeles and eventually going to India.
The car ride is spectacular. And the fact that it was in a Mercedes S-Class made it even more unbelievable. You could cram me in the back of a FIAT and drive through an airport like that and it’d still be an amazing experience. Probably have more legroom than a CRJ, too.
The coolest way to approach a plane. Period. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DbL8riotjc)
After the car ride, the HON and I bemoaned our respective frequent-flyer programs. He was mad that Y fares will no longer count toward HON status. I guess when you get used to Mercedes rides to planes, it’s hard to let go.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0127.jpg?t=1337384616
Auf wiedersehen
----
I've gotten a lot of PMs wondering how I got access to the FCT -- I explain it here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19366176-post149.html).
amolkold
May 18, 12, 6:39 pm
LH 1196
FRA-ZRH, 0h55m
Boeing 737-300 (D-ABEP, “Saale” … I only know this because of the video I took :o)
Seat 2A, “J”
Nothing really to call home about, as it’s just an economy class seat with business class service. The flight is only 55 minutes, and it seemed the pilots didn’t want it to be a minute more, since they sped along taxiways and runways to get to Zurich in a jiffy. I eschewed any service save for a glass of Coke Light, since I knew better things awaited me in the lounge and next flight.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/2012-04-18165053.jpg?t=1337384625
From a Mercedes to this ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/a7545b34.jpg?t=1337388667
I'd rather Lufthansa just drive me all the way to ZRH in the Benz
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/2012-04-18165630.jpg?t=1337386423
At least Lufthansa doesn't place their ads all over their napkins *cough*United*cough*
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/2012-04-19000211.jpg?t=1337387292
Landing shadow at ZRH
ZRH FCL
A quick deboard and a walk down the concourse put me in the HON Circle/F lounge before 5:40pm. My flight wouldn’t depart for another 5 hours, so I asked for a day room to have a nap and another shower (since it’d be about 20 hours until the shower at FL390 south of China). I was told that if I wanted a shuttle ride to the flight, that I should report at 10:05pm to the front desk.
Already, a huge difference between the men (Lufthansa) and the boys (SWISS), at least when it comes to ground service. Lufthansa would come to get you, while SWISS makes you report to them.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0128.jpg?t=1337386559
Day room in the FCL. Forgot to take a picture of the shower.
I napped for about 3 hours, catching up on the sleep that I didn’t get on my UA flight. The shower is great, and I love the Bvlgari toiletries they give you there. I ended up taking them with me and gave them to family members whose bags didn’t show up at BOM for a bit. They loved them as well.
A bit after 9pm, I indulged in possibly the best lounge meal I’ve ever had. That usually wouldn’t be saying much, but I’ll still say it. It was on par with a great restaurant – the presentation, the service, and the food. Though I forgot to take pictures of the menu ...
I ended my meal at 9:40pm and surveyed the rest of the lounge, awaiting the 10:05pm shuttle to the far end of the airport.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/a4239eae.jpg?t=1337391999
I'm like a kid in a candy store.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0135.jpg?t=1337387427
Waiting near the front desk for the van limo to the gate, since I wouldn't want to miss it and walk across Switzerland to my gate.
Myself and 3 others were escorted through a separate passport control (to exit the Schengen zone) then to a waiting Mercedes van. Two of us were on the HKG flight while the other two were on the flight to BKK. After a rather long drive through ZRH, we were escorted through a service entrance to an elevator and dropped off within the terminal to go find our gates. Again, boys (SWISS) vs. men (Lufthansa). Although the boys are better chefs.
The other F passenger to HKG asked if I knew where I was going. I responded to her … “I think so?”
“Good, I’ll just follow you.”
We talked on the way to gate, and she asked me why I wasn’t wearing a jacket since it was a chilly night in Zurich. I explained that I was just connecting and didn’t really mean to exit the climate-controlled airport.
“You’re connecting from California?!?!”
I gave a poker face as to how she knew and began to think how to convince this woman, about my age, that I wasn’t crazy.
“Your accent gave it away.”
Schieße.
calvinoeh
May 18, 12, 8:54 pm
Excellent Trip report and pictures!
I'm jealous you caught a glimpse of the Aurora. It's still on my bucket list :(
kstew
May 18, 12, 9:01 pm
Loving your trip report. Keep up the good work. Excited to see the rest of the story.
fieldeng
May 18, 12, 9:09 pm
Love it!!
Excited to see the rest of it.
What camera are you using?
blackmamba
May 18, 12, 9:22 pm
Wonderful pictures. Ditto with the question above, what camera are you using?
amolkold
May 18, 12, 10:02 pm
LX 138
ZRH-HKG, 12h05m
Airbus A340-300
Seat 2K, F
Boarding was called and I made my way to the line for First & Business Class, excited to ride in an A340. It’s such a sleek plane and I love the 4 engine look. It may not have the grandeur and elegance of the 747, nor the massive space of the A380, nor the power of a 777, but it’s still a cool plane to fly nonetheless.
Despite two jetways, the door to 1L was closed, so everyone boarded via 2L. Everyone in front of me had “C” all on his or her boarding pass, so as I entered the aircraft with a big “F,” I was given just a bit more attention. “Mr. amolkold, welcome abroad. Please follow me to your seat.”
I turned left after the galley and through the mini J-cabin at the front. Note: if you’re flying LX on the A340 in J, definitely go for this cabin. It looks splendid.
But this is an F report, so no pictures of that.
I walked into the cabin reserved for the first 2 rows and looked in awe. The shells surrounding the seats are bigger than a picture can properly show. Since there are no overhead bins over the center seats, the cabin looks massive.
I took seat 2K, while the woman from the FCL took 2A. At first, I thought it would be just us 2, but we were soon joined by 6 other passengers, which made it a full F class: 8/8. Still, it’s better than 172/172 down the back. Or 8/8 in one row on UA Business. I’m sorry: BusinessFirst.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia May 2012/Outbound/IMG_0138.jpg?t=1337397172
Spacious cabin
I was presented with an amenity kit, pajamas, and a glass of champagne alongside a welcome snack. Given the late departure, 10:45pm at ZRH, and between 2:15am and 4:45am for my upcoming destinations, I changed into pajamas before takeoff. They’re made by vanLaack and extremely comfortable … I’m wearing them at home right now! Fully black with a beige inner collar ... I wish it was acceptable to go out in these. The amenity kit is by Bally and has an odd double-zipper design. The amenities inside are the usual fare with some nice lotions and creams that I passed along to family at BOM.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0137.jpg?t=1337397108
Amenity kit, Laurent-Perrier champagne, and Amuse Bouche (after some of it went into my bouche)
Despite the 4-engined A340, it has one of the slowest takeoff rolls of any widely used aircraft. It took about 65 seconds on this try.
Soon after takeoff, the Maître de Cabine and 2 other First FAs began service. I asked for turndown service rather than the meal, especially since I had just eaten in the FCL. Despite this being the “old” product, the bed is mighty comfortable, and even without a suite format (no doors or walls shielding you from the rest of the cabin), I didn’t feel any bother at all from the dinner service for the other 7 passengers. The provided eyeshade and earplugs helped a lot in getting more than 5 hours of solid sleep.
Upon waking up, one of the F FAs was at my seat within a minute to ask if I wanted a sandwich or snack. Instead, I asked if I could be served a late dinner (despite it being 4am in Zurich and 10am in Hong Kong, it was 7pm in L.A.). Of course, I “asked” politely yet meant it as an “I’m not forgoing a first class dinner just because I wanted to sleep beforehand” inside.
Not to fear, some choices I was eyeing were still available, and I had a private dinner service.
The Swiss First Menu is a 20-page booklet showcasing meals, cheeses, and wines. Of course, the meal portion is given in 4 languages (English, German, French, and Chinese) so that adds to the length.
First Courses
*Fillet of Balik salmon with blinis and sour cream
--
Lobster coconut ball with a salad of mussel and octopus
Lemongrass panna cotta with curry mousse
Ticino speciality of ‘Farina bona’ cracker
--
Tagliatelle with creamy morel cognac sauce
Green asparagus
(Can also be enjoyed as a main course)
--
White asparagus cream soup
--
*Baby leaves with dried apricots and Swiss Sbrinz cheese shavings
WINE LIST
--
CHAMPAGNE
Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle
Laurent-Perrier; Champagne, France (50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir)
WHITE WINE
Vinattieri Biano del Ticino DOC 2010
Vinattieri Ticinese; Ligornetto, Ticino, Switzerland
Esporão Reserva, Private Selection, Reguengos DOC 2010
Herdade de Esporão Reguengos de Monsaraz; Alentejo, Portugal
Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu 2009
William Fevre; Chablis, Burgundy, France
--
RED WINE
Casimiro Svizzera Italiana IGT 2009
Agrioro SA; Arzo, Ticino, Switzerland
Quinta Nova Reserva Douro DOC 2008
Quinta Nova; Covas do Douro, Douro, Portugal
La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan AOC 2007
La Mission Haut-Brion; Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux France (64% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc)
--
PORT
Graham's Tawny 20 years
Symington Family Estates; Douro, Portugal
BEVERAGES
--
BEERS
Appenzeller Quöllfrisch
Heineken
Cardinal Sans Alcool <0.5%
APéRITIFS
Sherry La Guita-fino
Campari
Bacardi White Run Superior
Bombay Sapphire Gin
Grey Goose Vodka
LIQUEURS & DIGESTIFS
Single Malt Whisky, The Macallan Fine Oak 18 years
Blended Scotch Whisky, Chivas Regal 18 years
Cognac, Rémy Martin XO Excellence A.O.C. Grande Champagne
Grappa di Moscato Monovitigno Nonino
Zuger Kirsch Vintage Etter
Williams Etter
Baileys Irish Cream
I was interested in almost all of them, but only the salmon and salad were still available. At least it helped narrow down my decision. The Balik salmon was absolutely delightful – tender and moist, especially with the sour cream, and paired with the Portuguese white wine. The salad seemed a bit dry (though maybe that’s just my American taste).
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0141.jpg?t=1337397735
Look at the size of those salt+pepper shakers!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0142.jpg?t=1337397634
Balik salmon
Main Courses
Loin of lamb with Tagglia olive crust, Formaggini cheese
Rosemary potatoes, beans with raisins
--
*Corn-fed chicken breast with Maggia pepper sauce
Polenta and spring vegetables
--
Pan-fried sea bass, cavatelli pasta with basil
Stuffed artichokes
I was torn between the sea bass and chicken breast and eventually decided on the latter. Again, I was satisfied with the decision.
Leave it to LX to have an amazing selection. By far, this was the best part of the meal. I savored each and every bite alongside the dessert wine for the night, the Inniskillin Icewine from Niagara. Interweaving flavors of Valle Maggia and Ticino Mutschli with peach aromas and marmalade overtones … oh goodness, I’m drooling all over my keyboard.
Stuffed already, I skipped the desserts, which had the following choices:
Desserts
Amaretti cake with passion fruit mousse
Raspberry ice cream
--
Strawberry apple gazpacho
Apple marshmallow, strawberry jelly
--
Sprüngli pralines
Espresso and a selection of coffees and teas
I finished my meal somewhere above India, with the plane on course for BOM. If I didn’t know that LX runs A330s with new F to BOM, I’d have thought I was on the wrong flight. Or maybe LX knew I was being a mileage-maximizing idiot and was going to kick me out over Bombay with a parachute.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0151.jpg?t=1337398039
It would cost me 40,000 more miles to end my trip here
The A340 F has a smaller IFE screen than the newer A330 F, and the selection isn’t all that great. But the bed is still downright comfortable, so I went back to sleep for a couple more hours, getting a full night’s rest on just one flight.
I woke up and saw that a couple of passengers in row 1 were starting their breakfast service. The MdC came by within a few seconds and asked what I wanted for breakfast. I'd like to note that although it's 8am in ZRH at this time in the flight, it's already 2pm at the destination. But I just ate dinner 3.5 hours ago so who cares? I just ended up going a little light on the breakfast. I was given a small smoothie which was great.
IN THE MORNING
SWISS BREAKFAST
Assortment of breakfast breads, preserves and honey
Fresh fruits, yoghurts, muesli and cereals.
-
Choice of egg dishes, cold cuts and cheese
-
Coffee, tea and juices
One of the awkward things about flying First or Business is the whole window situation. I love window seats, even in Economy. When I'm flying in the back, I'll usually have just 1 window, maybe 2 if I'm lucky. Because seats are closer together, the light only shines on one row, maybe two. If it's an emptier cabin, you're not bothering people if you keep your shade a little bit open.
But in F, you have 4 windows until the seat in front of you. A small crack of the window shade invites the sun into all parts of the cabin as it freely enters. Despite it being 9:30am at our origin and 3:30pm at our destination, a few pax were still asleep, which made looking out kind of tough.
With preparations finished for landing, the MdC came by to thank each passenger by name for flying SWISS. I thanked her for an excellent flight.
I've flown into the new HKG plenty of times but I still miss the old Kai Tak approach. That was a thrill, even if I only remember it a couple of times. We arrived from the west underneath a cloud cover and light drizzle.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/17bac093.jpg?t=1337399593
Wall design at the back of the cabin, with a Swiss cross on ZRH
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/285573e4.jpg?t=1337399607
Good seats for a couple, but I'd stick with A/K seats for a single travelers
Upon arrival at HKG, F deboarded via a F-only jetway at 1L. I was greeted by a personal escort with my name on a tag. Rather than wait in line at immigration for about 10-15 minutes, I was taken to a side entrance, where my passport was processed within a few minutes. From there, I was escorted to baggage claim, though I’m sure I could have found the way myself.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/2012-04-19171432.jpg?t=1337400038
"No entry" is just a "suggestion"
amolkold
May 18, 12, 10:10 pm
Great report, very informative!! Thanks a bunch and I'm looking forward to the other flights!
Thanks vandiemen. My last TR hit 20 parts, so this might take a while :p
Excellent Trip report and pictures!
I'm jealous you caught a glimpse of the Aurora. It's still on my bucket list :(
Thanks calvinoeh! Having done plenty of West Coast USA - Europe polar route flights (LAX/SFO - LHR/FRA/CDG), Aurora Borealis can be almost counted upon to show up in some form. It's just that most people are asleep for the show.
The actual lights are a lot dimmer, but anytime you take a picture, longer exposures brighten the light. But it's an amazing sight just in person and I'm going to have to make a trip up north next year to see them in their full beauty.
Loving your trip report. Keep up the good work. Excited to see the rest of the story.
Thanks, kstew!
Love it!!
Excited to see the rest of it.
What camera are you using?
Wonderful pictures. Ditto with the question above, what camera are you using?
Thanks fieldeng and blackmamba ... I'm using a mix of an older Canon DSLR (a 7-year-old 350D) and my iPhone 4 (for videos and for when I don't want to be so obvious about taking pictures with others around). If only I could use my miles to get some nicer lenses :p
N830MH
May 18, 12, 10:55 pm
Wow! What a fabulous TR! I'm glad you have a great flight and a successful trip to FRA, ZRH, HKG and anywhere else. Did they delivery your bag to HKG on-time? You don't want to lost the bag.
Sorry, you can't get on entire A380 this time. Maybe next time. You should try to flying on KE next time. You can try to get on entire A380 from LAX-ICN-HKG next time. It's easy way to do it. You don't have to flying more than 48 hours.
amolkold
May 18, 12, 11:24 pm
Wow! What a fabulous TR! I'm glad you have a great flight and a successful trip to FRA, ZRH, HKG and anywhere else. Did they delivery your bag to HKG on-time? You don't want to lost the bag.
Sorry, you can't get on entire A380 this time. Maybe next time. You should try to flying on KE next time. You can try to get on entire A380 from LAX-ICN-HKG next time. It's easy way to do it. You don't have to flying more than 48 hours.
Thank you, Scotty. Indeed, my bags made it to HKG safe and sound.
I actually did look into KE but they had blackout dates for mileage tickets for the dates I needed. I didn't know they fly ICN-HKG on the A380 ... I'll keep that in mind for when I need to redeem my Skymiles.
The routing I took was mainly to get a flight via the Frankfurt First Class Terminal (which I got on account of a same-day Swiss F flight) and the Thai BKK First lounge. The Emirates A380 was just icing on the cake.
I'm actually flying the SQ A380 from LAX to Tokyo to Singapore soon, but that's in coach. Still looking forward to it :)
amolkold
May 18, 12, 11:27 pm
I had 2 bags to claim: 1 my own, the other sent ahead by my parents when they found out I could take more bags than they could. Theirs was heavier.
Yes, my parents were flying TK/LH Y, but only because they were incredibly inflexible on dates where J was available. Also, I sent Ma on an F/J trip to India 4 months ago, including TG 77W F/BKK Spa/ANA 77W F suites. So there.
Never reveal baggage allowances to relatives looking to save money on shipping. I would have interlined them all the way to BKK but I was afraid the complexity of it traveling the way they did would just send something in the system haywire. Ma has lifetime AA Platinum but all of a sudden refuses to fly OneWorld and prefers LH, yet wonders why I get elite benefits when I fly and she doesn't. I've set her on course for A3 *G, but she keeps asking me why her ticket isn't crediting to United. The problems FTers have ... :)
Anyway, EK was just about to send out a direct flight to DXB when I arrived, so the check-in counters were still open. I stood in front of the First carpet waiting for one of the desk agents to call me over, but none did. In fact, as soon as I arrived, the sole First desk agent left. I approached the agent at the Business desk and asked if I could check my bags for EK 385. She responded that check-in for that flight wasn’t open yet.
“But I just landed at HKG and am connecting to this flight. I really want to get these bags off my hands so I can go into the city for a bit.”
“Are you in economy or business?”
“First.”
Sometime during the progress of our conversation, check-in magically opened. I got my bags off my hands but was told the lounge would be closed for cleaning from 6pm to 7pm. No problems, as I was headed out to meet up with a friend from school. He wouldn't be in the city for my actual visit in a few weeks time and suggested the area around Kowloon station since it was a shorter Airport Express ride. Happy hour was upon us.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0160.jpg?t=1337401286
EK check-in counters at HKG
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/2012-04-19174109.jpg?t=1337401294
My first revenue First!
After a couple of hours of catching up with my friend and regaling of my experiences in Frankfurt/Zurich/Swiss First, I convinced him I needed to head back to HKG. I knew I wouldn’t care for the lounge but I wanted to board as early as possible to check out the suite. Back on the airport express … luckily a same-day return is the same price as a one-way ticket.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0162.jpg?t=1337402105
Kowloon, with the ICC on the right
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0168.jpg?t=1337401453
CX's new ads for Prem. Economy in the HK Airport Express ... "it's all right to turn right." Maybe from door 1L :)
Once back at HKG, I quickly went through exit immigration. Like I mentioned, this isn't my first time at HKG, but I still have the same feeling about how it was designed as when I first experienced it. I think this meeting took place sometime in the early 90s:
1) "We need to build a new Hong Kong Airport."
2) "Well, I have the blueprints for a gargantuan shopping mall."
1) "Good enough!"
I made my way to the upper level and through the labyrinth of lounges there, noting that the EK space is right next to the United Club and F lounge I've heard so many good things about. I'd visit that lounge in a few weeks time on a TG F ticket.
The Emirates lounge at HKG is pretty vanilla. It's as if there was a DL SkyClub there and they just plastered some gold panels on the walls. Limited food/drinks/space. No separation between First & Business class either. While that may not bother most people (myself included), I find it peculiar for an airline that has private suites in their First Class cabin. Just don’t expect a similar lounge experience ex-HKG (or ex-BKK for that matter).
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0171.jpg?t=1337401525
Part of the food selection. There was more near the drinks area, but a busy lounge meant things weren't as available.
There is a roaming lounge attendant who'll find a seat/table for you and bring you a drink at first. Once the lounge gets full, she'll begin to seat solo travelers with other solo travelers. I spent about 20-25 minutes in there to send some emails, then headed out the door to Gate 62 to get a glimpse of my first Emirates and first A380 ride.
Mrshnn
May 19, 12, 12:08 am
Great report,looking forward to next part
ORDnHKG
May 19, 12, 1:22 am
And yes, given that this flight was to FRA, I did try my best to change to an LH flight, but there wasn’t any availability. Okay, I’m lying: there was, via YVR or DFW on old-cabin A340s, but it involved a $150 change fee that I wasn’t keen on paying. I’m also not a fan of the short East Coast – Europe flights from IAD or JFK. A lot of FTers would smack me upside the head for not taking that up.
Definately not me, even though UA's food maybe subpar, but new F is way better than LH old F. LH old F have tiny PTV screen and no AVOD, no privacy at all. And since it is a day flight, you will only get PJ top but not PJ bottom.
I actually did look into KE but they had blackout dates for mileage tickets for the dates I needed. I didn't know they fly ICN-HKG on the A380 ... I'll keep that in mind for when I need to redeem my Skymiles.
Isn't DL prohibit its members to redeem F on skyteam partners ? All you are going to get is J right ? I don't know if the rules had changed or not, but a friend of mine switched from DL to UA just because of that reason.
KE J is ok, the food is average, OZ is much better when it come to food and service.
noniron
May 19, 12, 3:52 am
What a fantastic trip, very well written and am looking forward to reading the rest.
amolkold
May 19, 12, 1:37 pm
(Or, in honor of Macabus, "1.5 bottles of Dom from HKG-BKK on EK in F")
EK 385
HKG-BKK, 3h00m
Airbus A380-800 (A6-EDQ, according to the brilliant IFE)
Suite 2K, F
I’d never flown EK, had never flown a proper suite, and had never flown the A380, so I left the lounge with plenty of time to head to Gate 62.
I went to the window to take some shots of my first A380; a gate agent approached me and told me to go back in line, until he saw the big block letters starting in F and ending in IRST on my boarding pass. “Sir, please, come to the front of the A line.” Okay, I will be a gate louse, but only if you insist.
My excitement was palpable. Also, I was in dire need of a shower, having had my last one 20 hours prior in Zürich and before walking through Kowloon on a muggy night. So there was that.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/2012-04-19212528-2.jpg?t=1337422411
A horrible night shot of A6-EDQ
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0173.jpg?t=1337422337
All alone in the boarding queue. I guess the Suites signage is reserved for SQ.
Rather than announce boarding and invite a throng of passengers to start a mob at the gate, they quietly opened the door and allowed me in. I’d have first crack at this behemoth. Most excellent.
I stepped inside the mausoleum of flight and handed the FA my boarding pass for suite 2K, on advice from FTers than row 1 is narrow and windowless, while 3 and 4 are closer to the galleys. I was escorted to my suite and asked what I’d like to drink, thinking that something other than champagne would be inadequate for this momentous occasion.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0176.jpg?t=1337422480
Suite 2K
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0177.jpg?t=1337422515
The goodies in the suite, minus the seat
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0196.jpg?t=1337423258
The view behind
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0175.jpg?t=1337422548
I could get used to this
Not knowing how full F would be, I also requested my shower then, so that I could get it out of the way. “After takeoff, sir.” Well, yeah, what’s the fun in taking a shower on the ground? I requested to have it as soon as possible.
I sat in my seat and had a look-see around me. Just one word came to mind: “wow.” In the past 2 days, I had experienced my first 3 international first class products. The United 747 F suite was okay, reminding me of those “Trade Up to a Ford” commercials. Perfectly adequate. It’s comfortable but not very customizable. Limited service. A lot of storage space for the things you probably don’t have. An in-dash screen that has just recently come up to date. Fits 12.
Then there’s the Swiss A340 F. An older Audi, it has a style and grace to it, with the delight that architects and Type A’s find in the now-defunct Saab. Functional 4-engine Quattro, great service; while not as popular or refined as its Lufthansa/Mercedes counterpart, nevertheless a fantastic way to speed through the air.
Then there’s this. The Emirates A380 F suite. The Gold Cadillac Escalade. With 28-inch rims. That spin. It lets the world know that you are on top. You can’t be bothered to close all 3 of your window shades, you must have a button that does it automatically in one touch! The driver has a touchscreen remote control the size of a small TV for the entertainment that’s already at his fingertips – why? Because he damn well pleases. Welcome to Nouveau Riche Bling Airways, and by god, I love it.
The champagne arrived, at first Moët. I randomly commented, "Oh, I thought Emirates served Dom onboard," having read several TRs that mentioned that. I'd say the same thing if I received Dom instead of Krug on CX F, having read so many of those TRs here and just knowing what to expect. I really didn't care for the difference, but the purser noted that they indeed did have Dom, and would bring that instead.
The 2003 Dom soon arrived, just as business class passengers were entering the doors and turning right. Cheers, mates. The funny thing is that I was looking to book J on this leg but it was plum full once I decided to finally buy the ticket. Hurrah for my procrastination.
With the sheer number of buttons available within the suite, I did the only imaginable thing a human with a Y chromosome can do – I started pressing all of them. One unmarked button called the FA, and before I could deactivate it, I had a lovely Australian at my beck and call.
“Sorry, I didn’t know what that button did.”
“You know, we have a guide to the suite here,” as she pulled out a 24-page booklet on how to operate the suite from the suite's magazine rack. “You can read it on the way to Bangkok.”
“But I’m illiterate.”
“Oh, so you won’t be requiring a newspaper or magazine?”
I could tell I was going to like this crew.
A young Thai couple soon arrived to occupy 1D and 1K. That was it though, just 3/14 on this sector in F. Another FA, a Hong Kong native, welcomed me on board and asked if it was my first time on the A380 (I guess my constant photo snapping was giving it away). I explained it was not just my first A380 but also first Emirates flight. She asked if I was going to DXB before I explained I was just going to BKK and then heading to India on SQ. She then asked if I was a Hong Kong-er as well, and I responded that I was connecting from a flight on LX and specifically came through here to try out Emirates since I’d never flown with the airline.
“Well then, I have to show you a good time, so that you know that Emirates is better than Swiss and Singapore.”
Her first task: refill the Dom. A good first step. My meal order was also taken, which I believe was before takeoff only due to the short flight time.
My wish for a delayed departure went unanswered and our flight time of 3h00m was somehow reduced to just 2h45m when the captain made his remarks. With my early boarding, I did have enough time on the ground to soak in the bling.
While a lot is hunky-dory with the EK F suite, there are a couple of things that bothered me a bit, not much for a 3-hour flight, but would be annoying on a longer sector. The power port for computers/mobile phone chargers is located right next to the mini-bar on the side, so if you have an Apple-style laptop charger (with the “brick” that plugs directly into the wall), it won’t fit and won’t charge your device. You can avoid this by bringing the 3-prong U.S. extension, but I don’t like to travel with excessive things. Also, a lot of the input functionality for the suite works through the smaller touchscreen device to the side, which controls seat adjustments, IFE, suite doors, and more. While it is a fine-looking device, it can be slow to load, especially while on the ground. Since it is a wireless device, you can't take it out during taxi/takeoff/landing. The ex-9W 77Ws had older but better functioning style devices on my later TG F sector. Lastly, the windows are at such an angle that it can be difficult to look out.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0195.jpg?t=1337423070
The fact that the plane has engines is unknown to most F pax. This photo took a bit of acrobatics.
But that’s just in retrospect. I was having a blast in the present. The other 2 passengers must have gone light on the champers, as my new favorite FA came by and asked if I wanted to finish off the bottle before takeoff. Don’t mind if I do.
The Emirates cabin crew is definitely the most diverse bunch of folk I've seen man an aircraft, including my later short segment on Qatar. I've flown plenty of foreign carriers, and most are just a set of FAs from the home country plus one or two from the flight destination/origin country for language purposes. Not this flight - they all could have starred in a Benetton ad (save for the beige uniforms).
The announcements begin in Arabic, then in English, rather than the other way around. The purser mentions the list of languages spoken by the crew on each flight, and both of my EK flights could have been staffed by UN translators.
While I’m still partial to the 747 (and hope to fly the 748 soon), this A380 is something else. I turned on the tail-cam for my taxi/takeoff entertainment, as the windows on the upper deck are small to look out (and there’s a glass partition between the seat and window, making looking out a bit tough). After the quietest takeoff roll ever, we were up above Kowloon, ready to make the turn back toward Suvarnabhumi.
-----
Shortly after takeoff, I was told one of the most peculiar yet grandest things I’ve heard on a plane: “Sir, your shower is ready.” I grabbed my bag. And because I was planning a TR, my camera as well.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0186.jpg?t=1337423111
Water feature between the two shower lavatories
What else can be said about the A380 "shower spa" that hasn’t already been said? What a feature. The room is basically a 3/4-bath, larger than the bathroom I had in my house growing up. Immediately behind the door is the shower: 5 minutes, with an on/off button that allows you to control when you get water. There’s a meter on the wall that shows how much water is available. The water shuts off when 1 minute is left, as a warning. While it doesn’t sound like much, it’s more than enough. Just turn off the water while lathering.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0208.jpg?t=1337455841
First look
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0210.jpg?t=1337423989
"ARE YOU SERIOUS" - my reaction in person and most friends/family when I show them this picture.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0212.jpg?t=1337456114
View from the shower (don't worry, that shirt is the one I'd change into, so I'm still clothed while taking the pic. In case you needed to know ...)
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0213.jpg?t=1337423761
The location of my first airborne shower
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0217.jpg?t=1337423777
The set of "Relax" bath products. I took the "Revive" products before the pictures.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0218.jpg?t=1337423784
More shower spa amenities
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0221.jpg?t=1337423791
A 4-minute shower
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0216.jpg?t=1337423770
The amenities next to the sink. The shower spa also acts as a regular lavatory when the one at the rear of the cabin is occupied.
(continued below due to 20 photos/post limit)
amolkold
May 19, 12, 1:50 pm
I quickly took my shower, all the while amazed at how far aviation has come. From the Wright Brothers, to the jet age, to flat-beds, to in-flight showers. What’s next?
I soon returned to my seat and was greeted by new favorite FA within a few seconds. “How was the shower?” Sublime.
As soon as I sat down, my meal service began. Given the short sector, this probably isn’t indicative of a normal EK meal, but still miles better than anything you’ll find on a similar U.S. flight. For example, HKG-BKK is 1050 miles, shorter than LAX-DFW, MIA-JFK, and DEN-ATL.
I was also asked what I’d like to drink with my meal. I perused the wine menu but wasn’t really a fan of any of the selections. NFFA stated, “we have another bottle of Dom, in case you’d like to have that.”
Hey Lucky, I think I have a competitor for your favorite SQ FA.
I obliged. While the meal isn’t the best in the world, it’s still great for such a short flight. In fact, it was better than any meal I had on my two 11-hour UA F segments on this trip. Below is the menu (I took pics but they're tough to read if I don't post them at maximum resolution).
Light Meal
Appetizer
*Pastrami Salmon - freshly cured salmon, topped with aromatic oriental spices, served with a delicious mustard sauce and a creamy apple and potato salad garnished with quail's egg
Barbequed crispy duck - thin slices of barbequed duckling breast, glazed with plum sauce, served on sweet and sour fruit salad
Salad
*Seasonal salad - crisp fresh garden salad leaves with tomatoes, tossed in your preferred dressing
Main Course
*Prawns Asian style - stir-fried prawns dressed in lemongrass and ginger sauce, garnished with mixed chillies, served with egg noodles and fresh snow peas
Braised beef with black beans - prime beef tenderloin marinated braised with oriental black bean sauce, served with egg fried rice, pak choy green and carrots
Pan-fried chicken break - tender chicken medallions topped with a light chicken jus with sautéed mushrooms, served with garlic infused mashed potatoes, broccoli florets and pumpkin
Steamed sea bass fillet - fresh fish fillet steamed and topped with a mixed herb butter, accompanied by roasted red cherry tomatoes and steamed rice
Vegetables - we offer a selection of vegetables to your taste, including roasted red and yellow peppers, fine French beans, fried new potatoes and turmeric rice
Bread
Bread basket - choose soft, crusty, granary, garlic or Arabic from our variety of freshly baked rolls and breads
Cheese
Cheese board - a carefully chosen assortment of the finest boutique cheese from around the world; served with a selection of crudites, crackers, and dried fruits.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0235.jpg?t=1337425105
Table setting, with the logo facing myself.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0225.jpg?t=1337453579
Salmon appetizer. I don't know what it is about salmon on airplanes, but it's always a good selection. The salad was a bit dry (even with some vinaigrette) but the main appetizer was delicious in all ways.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0223.jpg?t=1337453585
I would visit restaurants with this setup. It took some fiddling with, but I was finally able to remove the seat controller a while after takeoff - massage functions, suite door controls, secondary airshow (when on the dock), lighting controls are all on there.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0229.jpg?t=1337453834
Prawn entrée. A good amount of spice, especially for an airline meal.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0234.jpg?t=1337453956
Raspberry gâteau. Small but tasty.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0236.jpg?t=1337454169
An unexpected box of Godiva
Service was quick, with a flight attendant walking down the aisle every so often to quickly clear plates and refill water/Dom.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0232.jpg?t=1337453943
Yes, Mr. Martin and Co. This could be Para, Para, Paradise. And Mr. Flo Rida (né Dillard), if you want a Good Feeling more than sometimes, I recommend booking an EK F ticket.
After the 40-minute meal service, we had just about an hour before reaching BKK. NFFA invited me to follow her to the full-service bar at the back of the J cabin. I obliged, and it is definitely something to be seen. I didn’t spend much time there, because at the moment, I was scheduled for a J return a few weeks later (I later upgraded to F but that's another part of the story ... and more pictures). Placing F and J together on one deck is also something that invites a much different experience; with Y fully on the lower deck, it gives an almost “full-premium” feel to the aircraft. The bartender offered up quite a selection, including some Moët. No thanks, I have some other good stuff awaiting me up front.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0244.jpg?t=1337454174
Packed forward J cabin with staggered setup. If I were a single traveler, definitely an A/K seat with both window and direct aisle access (set away from the aisle). For a couple, definitely E/F since it's direct aisle access but set away from the aisle as well.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0251.jpg?t=1337454190
Smaller rear J cabin. Closer to the bar but not as vast. I was booked for 23A (bulkhead window) on the return at the time, which seems to be a good selection.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0245.jpg?t=1337454182
For those who jumped on the ex-RGN F fares ... position using EK F?
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0246.jpg?t=1337454186
Full J = full bar
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/barbites.jpg?t=1337456920
Bar bites
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0253.jpg?t=1337454194
I'm not a club kind of guy, but I wouldn't mind dressing up and ordering bottle service on an A380.
I returned to my suite and loaded up the IFE. What a selection. I can see why people rave about it. I told many friends I’d fly EK on this trip, and each one of them raved about the airline, particularly the IFE, even though all flew in Y.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia May 2012/Outbound/IMG_0257.jpg?t=1337454502
The plane might have had a couple bottles of Dom as well
With less than a half-hour to BKK, NFFA came by and asked how the flight was. “Incredible,” I responded. “I need to make an excuse to come to Dubai soon with Emirates.” I also need to figure out a way to accumulate a ****load of AS or EK miles to do so, but I didn’t say that. There's no AS chart out yet, but it costs 210K KE via UR miles to fly F USA to Dubai rt, so I don't have high hopes for a longer mileage redemption.
She also brought along the rest of the 2nd bottle of Dom and left it with me. It was good for about 1.5 more flutes. As soon as I finished, it was collected for landing.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0264.jpg?t=1337454483
When you turn down the lights, the amount of bling goes down.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a flight to not end. Sure, the crew wasn't as formal as TG or CX or SQ, but they loved their work and the attitude was contagious. It also helps to have an amazing hard product. Would I fly EK again? Definitely, if I needed to go from North America to the near Middle East. Otherwise, I'll stick with the Asian carriers I've come to enjoy for trips further east.
We made a quiet descent into BKK and landed shortly after midnight. A quick deboard (with J pax held back for the 3 F pax to go first) and I was at immigration, the priority pass not needed. My bag arrived first, so “Priority First” actually means something on EK.
My SQ flight to SIN wasn’t until 9:40am, so I found a cheap airport hotel that provided free shuttle services. The 1.5 bottles of Dom hit me as I entered my room, perfect for a 6.5-hour siesta.
imm2b
May 19, 12, 2:34 pm
Wow! EK F rocks.
Nice report. You've inspired me to look at EK F HKG-BKK then AK to RGN for next year. Too bad the one-way ($700) ex-HKG priced almost as much as roundtrip ($950). But that's a small price to experience EK F. Two bottles of DOM is about $300-400? :D
Danile_Cher
May 19, 12, 3:58 pm
i think you bought some segments and redeem some segments.
Which airline program did you use for redeem the trip.
I will experience the UA 747-400 F from Sfo-icn
N830MH
May 19, 12, 4:01 pm
Wow! Another fabulous TR! I'm glad you flew on A380 from HKG-BKK but, it just a short flight. Your flight was so successful! More enjoyable for your flight. Keep it up the good work!
Danile_Cher
May 19, 12, 4:25 pm
great
finally I figure it out you maximize the utility of miles.
Bought the tickets
Han-bkk, hkg-bkk-hkg
others costed you 150kmiles and 30kmiles for your sister.
I am going to fly my way back to China,but I am in Miami,which outbound would cost me more than 2segments.
Mia-clt-sfo(22hoours layout)-icn(stop)-pek(22hourse layout for family visiting )-xmn(top 10beautiful city in china,which is my hometown)
Then xmn-bkk-fra-zrh(17hourse layout)-Mia
All In first lass but only with TG suite and Swiss A333 I think would be better.
Btw,I am arriving FRA at August 20th at night, take the FRa-zRH at same day, then fly back to Mia with LX F at August 21st, am I able to get into the FCL at FRA?
Best
Daniel^
amolkold
May 19, 12, 4:44 pm
Great report,looking forward to next part
Thanks Mrshnn. First EK flight is up. Will be a bit before the second EK flight (the return) with more pictures.
Definately not me, even though UA's food maybe subpar, but new F is way better than LH old F. LH old F have tiny PTV screen and no AVOD, no privacy at all. And since it is a day flight, you will only get PJ top but not PJ bottom.
Isn't DL prohibit its members to redeem F on skyteam partners ? All you are going to get is J right ? I don't know if the rules had changed or not, but a friend of mine switched from DL to UA just because of that reason.
KE J is ok, the food is average, OZ is much better when it come to food and service.
While LH old F has an old PTV, I can always figure out ways to entertain/occupy myself during a flight. I brought a laptop with me with enough tv/movies plus a few books (which I ended up reading during ground transportation in India and Vietnam). After having experienced a variety of *A F products, I'd take any foreign carrier over UA F, just for the friendlier and/or more thorough service. Also, west coast to Europe are all redeyes, so wouldn't you get full PJs for an 11-hour flight?
And yes, DL members can only redeem for J. However, they are well set up for redemptions to many places, such as Australia and Europe. Plus, I really like DL's domestic product ... most of my flights have great AVOD and I'm treated well by staff on ground and in planes as a GM. Their mileage program sucks, but there's more to them than just the miles.
What a fantastic trip, very well written and am looking forward to reading the rest.
Thank you noniron.
Wow! EK F rocks.
Nice report. You've inspired me to look at EK F HKG-BKK then AK to RGN for next year. Too bad the one-way ($700) ex-HKG priced almost as much as roundtrip ($950). But that's a small price to experience EK F. Two bottles of DOM is about $300-400? :D
It really does! I was actually looking for a one-way on EK and then Avios for CX in F/J on the return. However, the round-trip made much more sense. I bought mine in Hong Kong Dollars, but I think that a full F round-trip was a bit less than what you're seeing, only by a little bit. Perhaps it was my dates.
i think you bought some segments and redeem some segments.
Which airline program did you use for redeem the trip.
I will experience the UA 747-400 F from Sfo-icn
It's in my (long-winded) intro: 120K US for LAX-HKG and return. 30K US for BKK-BOM-HAN open-jaw. Paid ticket for EK F (~$900 rt ... Y was $300rt, J was $640 rt) and QR Y (~$115 one-way, cheaper than AirAsia with baggage). I've never paid that much for a 6-hour roundtrip, but you only live once! Plus EK's product is far better than TG's or CX's on this route.
I also used 30K for my sister for BOM-HAN one-way. She was on a DL open-jaw award from my miles (ATL-AMS-BOM on DL Y, open-jaw, HAN-CDG-IAD-ATL on VN J/AF J/DL Y) for 100K DL miles.
Wow! Another fabulous TR! I'm glad you flew on A380 from HKG-BKK but, it just a short flight. Your flight was so successful! More enjoyable for your flight. Keep it up the good work!
Thank you! Yes, the HKG-BKK flight is very short, but something is better than nothing. It was still an experience and well worth the $300 premium per direction over Economy. Emirates runs a similar SYD-AKL flight, about 45 minutes longer, but the prices for that in F are a bit higher than for this. Also, HKG-BKK F and J passengers don't get the chauffeur service that other passengers do (including on SYD-AKL). However, with the Airport Express in HK and Airport Rail Link in Bangkok, that point is moot.
Btw,I am arriving FRA at August 20th at night, take the FRa-zRH at same day, then fly back to Mia with LX F at August 21st, am I able to get into the FCL at FRA?
Must be same day FRA-ZRH flight as ZRH-MIA. If your LX flight is on Aug 21, you must fly FRA-ZRH on Aug 21 as well. I think that MIA flight is at 1pm from ZRH, so you could fly that morning to ZRH. I'd probably spend more time in the FRA FCT, though the dinner at ZRH was great.
Danile_Cher
May 19, 12, 5:06 pm
I did not realize I could not use the FCT at FRA
And I have paid $150 to change my itinery once because I need to back home early,so I gave up LH F.What a pity.
But anyway,you give me a bit inspiration and I would try something new next award ticket.hopefully.
Thanks for sharing
amolkold
May 19, 12, 5:10 pm
In retrospect, I should have booked this on TG rather than SQ, since TG J pax get access to the Spa for 30-minute massages while SQ pax don’t. However, despite decades of relatives flying SQ, I myself have never flown the airline, nor have I ever transited Changi or visited Singapore. Plus the best-timed BKK-SIN flight for my needs was SQ 973, as I wanted to maximize my time in the city before my late-night flight to BOM.
I reached BKK about 8:15am and checked in at the SQ counters. With a premium lane pass, I was through security and immigration in no time. Like the Preferente security line at SCL, the premium lane drops you off just in front of where normal security is, and it’s obvious that those passengers have a much tougher time through the process. Hooray for miles. And status.
I began to make the long walk to the SQ SilverKris lounge. While the lounge is nice and quiet, it was a bit of a walk, especially when I later realized a delay and gate change placed the aircraft right across from the TG lounge. The food selection here wasn't that great either.
With the SQ staff predicting a delay, I set up a notification on my phone for when the inbound flight arrived. Once it did, I made my way to the TG lounge to check that out, before seamlessly heading to the gate.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0274.jpg?t=1337463714
A loooooooong lounge. I got an awkward buggy ride through this hallway on a later visit to the F lounge, with J/*G pax looking on. But more on that later...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_3438.jpg?t=1337463936
A bit better food selection than the SQ lounge
I saw the words “Go to gate” on the FIDS and did just that. I was excited to board my first Singapore Airlines flight, though not as excited for the EK flight the day before. Part of it was that I knew it would be the old J product. Perhaps if SQ wants to start Dom service in J, the buzz can inspire some elevated eagerness.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0278.jpg?t=1337463948
777 for two hours. Better than a CR7
But anyway. Boarding was called for Business Class and I made my way to the jetway for Door 1L and eventually seat 14A. The aircraft doesn't have a 13th row because of superstition, but people in the 14th row, you know what row you're really on. Luckily, I’m not one of those superstitious types. Unless a sports team I love needs some divine intervention. Now where’s a ladder I can walk under?
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0280.jpg?t=1337463953
Old J seat. Still plenty comfortable, and much more comfortable than the garbage AA 762 J seats for 5-hour transcons
Pre-flight drinks and hot towels were passed out, though I wonder why hot instead of cold. It was burning up outside.
Okay, one cannot talk about their first experience on SQ without mentioning the crew. The J cabin was replete with Singapore girls as well as one male crew member. This crew seemed rather robotic at first but over the course of 4 flights with SQ, I realized that their FAs deliver a solid and reliable service. You get into the groove after a just a couple of flights.
I was offered a boarding drink, of which I took some sort of juice. I think it was the Tropical Fizz, a mix of pineapple and lemon juice. Whatever it was, it was cool and refreshing.
I perused the menu and found one dish that looked interesting. Unfortunately, I later realized it was for the SIN-BKK sector ... SQ prints one menu for both outbound and return sectors. Nothing interested me in the BKK-SIN menu. However, an FA came by and asked if I had ordered a Hindu meal. I didn't recall doing so, but ended up taking it anyway. I was also asked what I wanted to drink and asked for a cup of Indian Masala Tea, only to be told those are only served on flights to/from India.
Then why is it on the BKK-SIN menu? I ended up just going with a Diet Coke.
Here's the menu for both sectors. Not bad for a 2h flight, though I prefer the menu for the inbound flight:
Breakfast Menu: Singapore to Bangkok (SQ 970)
Prelude
A choice of apple, tomato or freshly squeezed orange juice
Sliced fresh fruit
Main
Warm green tea flavored Belgium waffle with strawberry compote and mascarpone cream
Kway teor gai kua pia meng grob (Thai fried rice noodles with chicken, cuttlefish, leafy greens and egg)
Poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce, bacon, ham, roasted tomato and roesti potatoes
Breads
Assorted breakfast rolls
Butter - Fruit preserve
Light Meal Menu: Bangkok to Singapore (SQ 973)
Starter
Tian of smoked salmon with cucumber and dill dressing
Main
Grilled beef fillet in red wine sauce, braised red cabbage, baby carrot, kenyan bean and cheese potatoes
Kurobuta pork katsudon (Deepfried breaded pork with steamed rice)
Fried prawns in honey chilli sauce, served with rice and vegetables
Finale
Mango parfait with raspberry coulis
In the end, I received my Hindu meal, which I wasn't in the mood for and ate only a few bites. I was looking forward to the hawker centres in Singapore.
I knew that the TV screen for the Krisflyer IFE was hiding somewhere and finally realized it was under the armrest. Seat 14B had a hefty American who decided to take up both his armrest and mine, and it took a few taps on his arm to get him to move out of the way. Hey buddy, it's not like you're in the middle seat.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0285.jpg?t=1337467887
Small IFE and my remote barely worked
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0286.jpg?t=1337467879
Not a fan of any business class with a middle seat
Before the mediocrity of this flight could get to me, we began our descent into SIN. It's a short flight, barely 2 hours, and much better than any 2-hour flight back home in the States. A 777, a full meal service, wonderful crew ... can you really ask for more?
One thing I will say about SQ, and pretty much all foreign carriers, is I love how they stick to a script for announcements. "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to Singapore, and to all Singaporean residents, a warm welcome home." If I were a Singaporean resident, that would warm the cockles of my heart. Just following a script makes for a more pleasant experience and gives me the information I need in a quick format. None of the "umm" and "we do ask you to..." stuff we get in the States. If you're a frequent flyer, you can drown out the script if you want to, since it's been engrained in your head as well.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0291.jpg?t=1337468301
In with the new, out with the old ...
Even with the 30 minute delay, we ended up landing right on schedule, 1:05pm. Our gate was at the end of the concourse and it was a long walk to the SQ SilverKris Business lounge. I checked my emails, loaded up some iPhone maps over the wifi, and headed out to immigration to catch the MRT into the city for the day.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia May 2012/Outbound/IMG_0292.jpg?t=1337468096
I love this table in the corner of the SKL
amolkold
May 19, 12, 5:45 pm
I passed through immigration, full of "Death to Drug Smugglers" signs. While I don't partake, I found it funny that I was visiting Singapore on April 20. Google it if you don't get it.
The MRT offers day long passes for S$10 (about $8 US), but you have to put down a S$10 deposit on the card and only cash is accepted. Considering that it was an incredibly warm day (about 34ºC), I figured I'd maximize my use of the air-conditioned train system.
I forgot to mention that I watched the Singapore episode of Anthony Bourdain’s “The Layover” a few days beforehand, and found it to be a great guide to visiting the city for just a day. I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_3455-1.jpg?t=1337470903
Maxwell Road Hawker Centre. I just realized there's a pic of Bourdain on the side.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0295.jpg?t=1337469876
Chicken rice. That chili sauce is amazing.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0302.jpg?t=1337469988
The Merlion.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_3453-1.jpg?t=1337470911
How 'bout some Instagram action? Facebook values this at $1 billion. How did their IPO go ...?
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0305.jpg?t=1337470057
The Marina Bay Sands.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0309.jpg?t=1337470112
Nasi Lemak on Arab St. Delish. And for only $1.20 US!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0314.jpg
Arab St. Café
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0321.jpg?t=1337470180
View from the top of the Marina Bay Sands -- S$20 / US$16. But couldn't access the cool roof infinity pool.
But then it was time to head back to the airport, again on the MRT.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/Durian.jpg?t=1337470471
But what's the fine?
Jimgotkp
May 19, 12, 5:58 pm
You will enjoy breakfast on a plane when flying F with CX.
amolkold
May 19, 12, 6:47 pm
You will enjoy breakfast on a plane when flying F with CX.
Or just not flying UA. My return from LHR had the most mediocre meals ... I even resorted to pulling out snacks I had in my bag for sustenance. In F!
Danile_Cher
May 19, 12, 6:55 pm
Waa..
Now I am kind afraid that I would Experience that while I am flying SFO-ICN
Hopo it would not happen
gpeso8
May 19, 12, 8:29 pm
Great report. It is really epic.
SgtRyan
May 19, 12, 11:52 pm
Great TR! Really enjoyed reading it!
On a side note, I have flown my fair share of various airlines in J class and F class over the years, and every time I fly a new airline I almost feel embarrassed for the likes of United and US Airways. Your write up and pics on EK is stunning, its how flying First class should be....even the J class looks amazing. I flew US Air envoy from PHL-LHR back in Dec and it was just "average"....everything from the food, to the FA.....I just don't get it!
The flight from HGK to BKK was only 3 odd hours and look at that meal, looked great! Yet I flew J class from HNL - SFO with UA a year and a bit ago and was only offered a crappy dirty salad...when I asked if I could buy some food I was told "no sorry we don't have anything"????
If only EK or QR flew LHR to the States! :(
ORDnHKG
May 20, 12, 12:44 am
While LH old F has an old PTV, I can always figure out ways to entertain/occupy myself during a flight. I brought a laptop with me with enough tv/movies plus a few books (which I ended up reading during ground transportation in India and Vietnam). After having experienced a variety of *A F products, I'd take any foreign carrier over UA F, just for the friendlier and/or more thorough service. Also, west coast to Europe are all redeyes, so wouldn't you get full PJs for an 11-hour flight?
And yes, DL members can only redeem for J. However, they are well set up for redemptions to many places, such as Australia and Europe. Plus, I really like DL's domestic product ... most of my flights have great AVOD and I'm treated well by staff on ground and in planes as a GM. Their mileage program sucks, but there's more to them than just the miles.
Not sure about that with LH, many people said they have inconsistent service, it is really hit or miss, and I had proved that is true indeed. I had awful service on LH F FRA-KIX, and excellent service for LH F MUC-ORD. The two FA on my FRA-KIX flight hide in the galley the entire flight once the meal is finish, no one approach me if I need something when I wake up, even when I asked, they lied about no mid-flight snack at all, food is lousy for Japanese option.
I don't know about west coast to Europe, but on a 10 hours MUC-ORD, only PJ top was given.
Well, *A can go to many places, and more options for just one route. With *A you can use miles even for F on LH's 380, F or TG's 380, and soon will be F on OZ's 380. With DL you won't be able to do F or AF or KE's 380.
Plus EK's product is far better than TG's or CX's on this route.
It is the hard product better than TG or CX, nothing else. From your photos, EK's own lounge in HKG is really pathetic, TG lounge and especially CX's F lounge wins hands down. For TG, you will always have a cart ride with escort to the plane, then another cart right with escort once you arrive. You don't even need any pass for immigration, the escort will bring you to the immigration for diplomats, or to wherever you need to go. TG F lounge in BKK is also the highlights, I am not sure EK F would even have access to that.
From you photos, I am not sure if it because it is short haul, I saw a tray, you shouldn't see a tray in F at all, it seems like J class service, everything in one tray. TG or CX certainly set everything up on your table without any trays for HKG-BKK, and you even get a bread basket !
Sure the suite and shower on EK's 380 is nice, but I can't see anything beyond that is better than TG or CX at all.
amolkold
May 20, 12, 1:41 am
Great report. It is really epic.
Thanks gpeso8!
Great TR! Really enjoyed reading it!
On a side note, I have flown my fair share of various airlines in J class and F class over the years, and every time I fly a new airline I almost feel embarrassed for the likes of United and US Airways. Your write up and pics on EK is stunning, its how flying First class should be....even the J class looks amazing. I flew US Air envoy from PHL-LHR back in Dec and it was just "average"....everything from the food, to the FA.....I just don't get it!
The flight from HKG to BKK was only 3 odd hours and look at that meal, looked great! Yet I flew J class from HNL - SFO with UA a year and a bit ago and was only offered a crappy dirty salad...when I asked if I could buy some food I was told "no sorry we don't have anything"????
If only EK or QR flew LHR to the States! :(
Thanks, SgtRyan. Indeed, wait for my final part, UA 777 new F LHR-LAX. It was terribly lousy, a sad ending to an otherwise great trip. My EK F segments were terrific, though the flight is a rare one (a stupendous A380 on such a short flight, with heavy competition on the sector driving down fares). However, even my 3h15m SIN-HAN flight on SQ J blew both of my 11h UA F flights out of the water.
LHR to the States is a tough one, since you're pretty much restricted to US and UK carriers if you don't want to backtrack (plus AC if you can connect or NZ for LHR-LAX). But I feel that even VS/BA/NZ J to LAX would have been better than my UA F flight.
Not sure about that with LH, many people said they have inconsistent service, it is really hit or miss
I would rather have hit or miss than likely miss. From now on, I'm avoiding UA internationally like the plague. I'll take chances with LH.
I don't know about west coast to Europe, but on a 10 hours MUC-ORD, only PJ top was given.
MUC-ORD is westbound. All eastbound flights from the west-coast are overnighters. I think you'll get more on those.
Well, *A can go to many places, and more options for just one route. With *A you can use miles even for F on LH's 380, F or TG's 380, and soon will be F on OZ's 380. With DL you won't be able to do F or AF or KE's 380.
Like I said, there's more to Delta than the miles. I like it as an airline so long as I have status, even after leaving ATL.
It is the hard product better than TG or CX, nothing else. From your photos, EK's own lounge in HKG is really pathetic, TG lounge and especially CX's F lounge wins hands down. For TG, you will always have a cart ride with escort to the plane, then another cart right with escort once you arrive. You don't even need any pass for immigration, the escort will bring you to the immigration for diplomats, or to wherever you need to go. TG F lounge in BKK is also the highlights, I am not sure EK F would even have access to that.
Actually with 2 TG F segments later on, I never got the cart ride within the airport. At either HKG, BKK, or FRA. The TG F lounge is great, but the product on my HKG-BKK flight on TG was rather old.
From you photos, I am not sure if it because it is short haul, I saw a tray, you shouldn't see a tray in F at all, it seems like J class service, everything in one tray. TG or CX certainly set everything up on your table without any trays for HKG-BKK, and you even get a bread basket !
There was a tray in the set up, but I don't really care. The faster the meal service on a short segment, the better. Let me enjoy the rest of the suite. My HKG-BKK TG F flight didn't have a tray and the meal service took a lot longer. There's also absolutely nothing else to do on the plane.
The EK flight also continues on to DXB and most people sleep through the 1-hour ground time. I'm sure that has something to do with it as well. My LX F flight had a tray, but that was only because I ate when 7 other pax in the cabin were sleeping and the FA wanted to minimize clinking.
Is a bread basket great? Yes. But with EK's flight attendant's constantly roaming, my plate was never empty, except when I declined more.
The TG F lounge at BKK is great, but of course it is, it's their main hub. So is the CX F lounge at HKG, but the same thing there. I can fly wherever I want ex-BKK on TG and ex-HKG on CX using my miles. Without an AS chart, I have no clue how to redeem for EK F, a product I've been wanting to try for a while. This HKG-BKK flight was the best option I had for the time-being.
I'll take the very small shortcomings on EK's flight (a tray and no bread basket) for the very superior A380 product. It was a fun flight. I'm glad I took it.
amolkold
May 20, 12, 1:42 am
For some reason, my mind had it that my flight to Mumbai was at 12:30am so I made it back to the airport at around 10:30 pm. It wasn’t until then that I realized it’d be quite a long time until we’d depart. On weekends, SQ 422 leaves at 2:30am and arrives close to 5am in Mumbai. I don’t think I’ve ever arrived to India at a normal time.
There are plenty of worse places to sit out a long airport stay than Changi airport, with or without lounge access. All the cool stuff is in T3, but India and Southeast Asia flights all depart T2, so I was relegated to the older terminal on this itinerary. In fact, I didn’t know if I could have gone to T3 … I imagine so, but didn’t question it until close to boarding time, way too late to go visit another terminal. It’s alright though, I’m scheduled to visit T3 again later this year in SQ Y, and with no *G status for the time-being, will just have the slum it out in the world’s best airport. Although I'm crossing my fingers on a potential status-match ...
But tonight I’m in J, so like a good business class passenger I kept to the lounge. A shower in a rather mediocre shower room was refreshing, while the food selection was satisfactory. I forgot to take a picture in my tired state. My mind was too focused on the breaking news on CNN that US had plans to merge with AA.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0357.jpg?t=1337490899
T2 SKL. Business to the left, First to the right.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_3467.jpg?t=1337491278
Can't get enough of this table!
After a while, it was apparent that the only two departures remaining were mine to BOM and SQ 406 to DEL. Both have departures past 2am on the weekends, which I can’t say for any other flight that departs T2. Since the SKLs are for only Singapore Airlines pax, the lounge was full of passengers heading to the subcontinent on either of these flights. Already, I was being reintroduced to the motherland.
With eyes drooping, I tried to get some shut-eye in the far corner of the lounge, devoid of any other passengers. This worked for about 10 minutes until a group of Delhi-ites joined the seats near me and started speaking loudly in Hindi. I asked them in their native tongue to keep it down, but got dirty looks instead.
So I moved to the other side of the lounge, where I was soon joined by a family of 6, including 3 playfully excited and loud children. Needless to say, I got up as soon as possible (and prayed they were on the DEL flight and not the BOM one).
After a quick dose of caffeine via the coffee machine, I decided to whip out my computer and check/respond to emails before being disconnected for lord knows how long. The business center in the SKL is right near the entrance – some of the stations have computers in them, while others are simply desk areas for work. I took one of the latter and was actually productive for 15 minutes, until getting distracted by a gentleman behind me who was blasting Indian Premier League cricket video highlights at full volume. Seriously, dude?? I tried to ask him to lower the volume, which he would do momentarily before raising it again a short while later. When his child joined him and began playing internet games at similar volume, I packed up my things and left the lounge and joined the peaceful serenity of an empty Terminal 2.
I made a visit to the duty-free store right below the lounge to get some chocolates for my family in India (and to get rid of the remaining Singaporean dollars I had). By then, it was 1:00am, and the two India flights were assigned F gates in the high 50s, about 15 minutes walk away. Frankly, I don’t blame SQ for sticking us at the end of the terminal. The behavior in the SKL shows we’re a loud bunch.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0356.jpg?t=1337491057
Indoor gardens and koi ponds. Non-lounge serenity.
I made the walk to gate F58 and was greeted by a long line for security check. It took about 10 minutes in line, but I was quickly let in and took a seat toward the gate, surrounded by all sorts of folks with green boarding passes denoting Economy.
One thing I love to do when I’m on my own is people-watch, and with the amount of people in the gate area, that was an easy task to do. While mostly Indians, there was a diverse array of folks around. Next to me was a young couple with a kid not older than 3-years-old. They were filling out the immigration cards and talking to their child in their native Marathi tongue, asking him if he was excited to go on the plane but also telling him to keep quiet when he shouted answers. Across were a couple of older Indian grandmothers, adoring the young couple’s child, mentioning that they each had grandchildren his age. On the other side was a group of three Australians, all excited to visit India for the first time on a volunteering trip. It’s surreal to think that I’d share a airborne vessel with these people for the next 5+ hours, yet would probably not see them due to a curtain separating our seating areas. They all seemed to have interesting stories, stories I’d never probably get to know deeply, yet knew only barely due to being outside the confines of a lounge. It’s easy to get jaded with all this premium class travel … sometimes a seat amongst the masses can be just as invigorating.
Oh what's that? Business class is boarding? Out of my way, everyone! :p
amolkold
May 20, 12, 1:47 am
SQ 422
SIN-BOM, 5h00m
Boeing 777-200
Seat 18K, regional J
On this 777, SQ has just business and economy. There is a large business class cabin at the front separated from a smaller business cabin at door 2L. I decided on the smaller cabin at the back, which turned out to be a good choice since there were only 4 of us compared to about 14 in the front. I was able to get a window seat and an empty aisle seat next to myself.
I guess this gate had just 1 jetway, so all passengers boarded at door 2L. This was the main reason I chose a seat on the starboard side, to avoid heavy traffic down the port side aisle during boarding.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0363.jpg?t=1337496928
Bulkhead Row 17, for comparison
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0365.jpg?t=1337497020
View from 18K
I was welcomed by an Indian FA, who had the biggest smile of the trip so far. No matter whom the FA flies for, if he/she has a great smile, it’s definitely a positive and welcoming feeling. I could be flying Allegiant Air in Y, it's still good. Though it helps if it comes from a SQ girl in J.
She offered some champagne and confirmed my Book the Cook meal selection. For both my ex-SIN flights, I went with Singapore Chicken Rice. A great decision. I was also given an “amenity kit,” which on SQ is just a sorry set of eyemask and odd-fitting booties to put over your feet. I know this is only business class, but I expect better. Some airlines, like Turkish, have better amenity kits in economy.
The regional business class seat itself is comfortable, more so than the old J seat, though it is an angled lie-flat product and not fully lie-flat like the new business. There are various places for storage but they all seem to be pretty useless. Rather than have one large storage place in the seat in front, SQ decided to place two small storage units that can’t really hold anything. The charging port is awkwardly placed in an area on the side of the seat, although they did put a good-sized space to keep a laptop computer.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0366.jpg?t=1337497141
Seat control panel within the armrest. Apologies for the blurriness
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/sqjlight.jpg?t=1337666184
Reading light, off and on.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/818def22.jpg?t=1337498306
Flowers in the lav. A nice touch.
Before takeoff, the FA came by to ask what I’d like to drink after takeoff, as I expected (I’m getting used to the SQ J routine). Since Mumbai is India, I asked for my Masala Chai that was previously unavailable, but due to the heat in the cabin (no individual air vents on SQ), asked for it iced. The FA acted as if I had requested the ice to be flown in from the north pole, commenting that “I don’t know if I could do that.” This despite the menu clearly saying that Asian teas are “[a]vailable hot or with ice.”
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0373.jpg?t=1337497255
The disappointing thanda cold chai tea. I'll stick to hot from here on out.
Our Boeing 777 took off toward the southwest with an incredible amount of thrust, pushing me back into the comfortable J seat. Somehow I think that Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor was part of the Boeing and Rolls Royce design teams … “MORE POWER” followed by lots of grunting. This plane is the anti-A340.
As soon as the seatbelt sign turned off, the sound of seat belts clicking open emanated from the galley and jump seat areas. Given the late departure and supper service, the FAs put on a quick service. Here’s the menu, for both this flight and the return:
Supper menu: Singapore to Mumbai (SQ 422A – 2:30am departure)
Starter
*Gravadlax with mesclun and grilled vegetables
Sweet mustard dill dressing
Main
Awadhi jheenghey, bhein palak, rajimah anardana and zaitoomi pulao
Saffron prawn, lotus stem with spinach, spiced kidney beans and olive pilaf rice
Chicken and salted vegetable noodle soup
Wheat noodles in chicken soup garnished with sliced chicken and salted vegetables
Lamb loin in thyme sauce with roasted bellpeppers, asparagus, red onions and leek potato grain
Indian vegetable biryani with mirchi ka salan
Spiced vegetarian basmati rice with braised green chilli and pineapple-onion salad
Finale
A selection from the fruit basket
Gourmet coffees & selection of fine teas
Breakfast menu: Mumbai to Singapore (SQ 421A – 7:30 am departure)
Prelude
A choice of apple, tomato or freshly squeezed orange juice
Sliced fresh fruit
Starter
Choice of cereals or yoghurt
Cornflakes with milk or Birchermuesli
Plain or fruit yoghurt
Main
Stuffed vegetable paratha, spiced paneer, vegetable dumpling and Indian pickles
Seafood rice noodle soup
Rice noodles in rich broth garnished with steamed seafood and vegetables
Spinach omelette with chicken sausages, grilled tomato, mushroom and sautéed potatoes
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0375.jpg?t=1337497395
Delicious starter. You can't go wrong with salmon on a plane!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0376.jpg?t=1337497438
I don't know why I took this picture. In my tired state, I must have forgotten that I took one before digging in.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0377.jpg?t=1337497497
AMAZING S'pore Chicken Rice. Look at those chili sauces!
A great meal – I definitely recommend the Singapore Chicken Rice for a BTC meal. After my setting was cleared, I put the bed down for 3 hours of solid sleep, or about as solid as one can get on angled lie flats. They’re not bad for a nap, but I wouldn’t want them on 8+ hour flights.
I was awoken as we made our initial descent into the Mumbai area, approaching from the east. I think. It looked like the east. It was dark. Frankly, I’ve never seen BOM during the day so I have no clue what it looks like. We parked next to a TK flight from IST and exited to a busy terminal. Immigration went quickly, mostly thanks to a dedicated business class line (though not that much faster than the line for the special type of Indian visa I hold).
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0378.jpg?t=1337497490
Too early of an arrival. I had half a mind to ask the captain to figure-eight around the Arabian Sea for 20 more minutes.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/photo.jpg?t=1337498808
I'm going to need more boxes for #13
I left the confines of the airport and entered the already 32ºC/89ºF temperature outside. At 5:30am. A quick location of my ground transport to take me to my family's home a couple hours away. I conked out for the extremely bumpy, hot, and loud car ride. Horn OK Please.
I left Los Angeles early on a Tuesday morning and arrived India early Saturday morning. Given the time change, it took in the ballpark of 84 hours to make a journey that normally takes less than 30.
Welcome to India. Finally.
-----
Post-Script:
A few months ago, in the dead of winter (which means 55ºF/13ºC at midnight in L.A.), I was discussing over drinks with a friend about how damn far India is for those of us in the states, particularly from California.
While those on the east coast have recently had more non-stop options, we on the west coast don’t share this. For us, it’s either a long flight to Europe followed by a long flight to India, or the same way around Asia. After a day’s journey, and upon landing in that twilight zone of the clock known as “midnight to 5am,” you simply move your watch a half-hour ahead, switching PM for AM. Lord help you if you’re seated behind the wings.
During that discussion, I pondered what was the furthest journey one could make to or from India. I pulled out my iPhone and brought up our friend, the Great Circle Mapper, and typed in the local LAX for its airport info. The farthest airport was on the island of Reunion, with the true farthest point a bit south of that, in a spot in the Indian Ocean along the PER-JNB route. Like a true travel nerd, I noted that island for the future.
I then searched BOM’s airport info, and was amazed when I saw that the farthest airport from there was none other than IPC – Mataveri Airport on Easter Island, in the South Pacific. The same island that, at the time, I’d be visiting (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/1316274-lan-j-peru-lima-machu-picchu-chile-easter-island-santiago-pics.html) in 2 weeks time. I searched the same information for IPC, to find that its farthest airport was in western India, very close to where I would be heading within India using ground transportation.
The travel geek in me lighted up; on two consecutive trips, I would be at 2 antipodal points of the Earth – from a tiny, isolated island in the South Pacific, home of the world’s most remote airport; to the densely populated motherland, considered one of the cradles of modern civilization. Excuse me while I say – HOW EFFING COOL IS THAT?!?
oliverckhaas
May 21, 12, 3:02 pm
An absolutely incredible report! I can never get enough of reading LX/LH and EK First reports as I mentally prepare for my first stint, which will I soon be able to plan after 7 years of dedicated mile collection.
Your prose is fantastic, as are your pictures. I really thank you for taking the time to share this trip with the community.
My favorite piece was the comparison of various F products to car brands. Awesome!
Flyingfox
May 21, 12, 4:41 pm
Nice report.
The UA food looks like it came straight out of a school canteen, as usual.
I'm sure the service was as good.
Flyingfox
May 21, 12, 4:42 pm
as I mentally prepare for my first stint, which will I soon be able to plan after 7 years of dedicated mile collection.
"Mentally prepare" for a flight?
It takes no concentration, really. You just sit back and the pilot does the flying!
amolkold
May 21, 12, 4:57 pm
So I'm ready to write up my next segment (returning from BOM) but I just realized I don't have any pictures from that. I've sent a note to my sister asking if she took any, but looks like it'll be a text report. I'll see if I can have some fun with that one ...
An absolutely incredible report! I can never get enough of reading LX/LH and EK First reports as I mentally prepare for my first stint, which will I soon be able to plan after 7 years of dedicated mile collection.
Your prose is fantastic, as are your pictures. I really thank you for taking the time to share this trip with the community.
My favorite piece was the comparison of various F products to car brands. Awesome!
Thank you, oliverckhaas for the kind comments! I enjoy the TR 2.0 formats on yours!
Nice report.
The UA food looks like it came straight out of a school canteen, as usual.
I'm sure the service was as good.
Thank you, Flyingfox. The UA food was by far even worse on my return segment on the 777. Geez. I've heard all the moaning and groaning about US carriers vs. international ones, but now that I've seen it in person, I totally get it.
"Mentally prepare" for a flight?
It takes no concentration, really. You just sit back and the pilot does the flying!
Not if you're an FTer. When I sent my mom on TG F/NH F out of BKK, I gave her a page-long list of things to make sure to do (like make sure you sign up for a massage pronto since the layover is only 3 hours, make sure you ask for a private living room, make sure ... blah blah blah) :p
Also, planning out a trip like this takes hours on EF/KVS/award engines, plus more hours with US call center. The LX/TG/SQ segments made them worth it.
wcalvert
May 21, 12, 7:32 pm
Absolutely fantastic and wonderful TR. Really really really excellent.
ThatJohn
May 22, 12, 6:24 am
Mate, this is an absolute stunner of a trip report. Thanks very much for sharing it with us all!
phillystudent
May 22, 12, 10:53 am
Absolutely fantastic TR; can't wait for the remainder. Thanks for sharing!
amolkold
May 22, 12, 2:51 pm
(Before I start this part, I have to say … I made a TR no-no. I forgot to take any substantial photos of this leg. Since I value continuity, I’ll still go ahead, but it’ll be a text report for this leg. I tried to have a bit of fun with it, as you shall see …)
What is there to say about India? It’s hot. It’s crowded. I feel like I’m going to die every time I go on the road. This trip was no different, but I still love it. Tons of family met and reacquainted with, some I hadn’t seen in over a decade. That’s both good and stressful.
A whirlwind 10-day trip including a week-long wedding covering 3 cities. No planes, just overnight buses and trains. Fortunately, these buses and trains all have flatbeds as well in "first class." And they seem to have as many berths in one section as United in a row of Business. Sorry, BusinessFirst.
I was excited to fly the SQ 77W in business and had reserved 11A/12A for my sister and myself. Those two seats are in the private mini-cabin right behind First, and honestly, there’s no big difference between the F and J seats on that aircraft except for the service. Not only that, but it would be my sister’s first substantial premium class flight, so I was definitely spoiling her with this.
I was turning giddy almost, until I got a phone call from SQ at about 6pm. I was told that we would be “downgraded” (their word) to the angled lie flat regional seats, as the inbound flight to BOM was not a 77W but a regular 772. A bit upset, since this would be a true red-eye (12:20a – 8:00a). I asked if there was any mile or voucher compensation for this change, and was told to enquire at the airport. Fiddlesticks. I had purposely routed through SIN for this aircraft since HAN via BKK would be a shorter journey and earlier arrival.
Our flight ex-BOM was a 12:20am departure. Like I said, I’ve never seen BOM during the day. Though given how hot it was in India the week we were there (approaching 40ºC, over 100ºF), I’m glad the sun was down when we needed to go to the airport.
I would hate to be a frequent flyer out of BOM, or any other Indian airport, just due to the amount of hurdles and bureaucracy involved in trying to fly out. Without the aid of pictures, here’s a my-eyes view of the journey from home to SIN. Follow along:
Spend hours on Bombay roads trying to even reach BOM, or CSIA as some locals call it. Get stuck in traffic behind a cow and an elephant. On separate occasions. Reach the international terminal.
Stand in a long line outside the airport, as only ticketed passengers are allowed inside the BOM check-in area. Convince the Air Force official that your iPhone itinerary and mobile boarding pass are just as good as everyone else’s paper ticket (after all, this is the 21st century).
Somehow come across people just standing around in the terminal, despite everyone having a ticket and having a flight to catch.
Stand in a long queue to check in, behind families who just cannot pack light. Or if you’ve mastered the art of miles, stand in a short queue for F/J/status holders. Place airline tags over every single piece of cabin baggage, including your small camera bag.
Ask the agent about compensation for the J product downgrade. Find out that she’s rather useless in any sort of service capacity. Ask for the station manager. Get referred to a person in a darker suit who is not the station manager. Ask her to get the station manager. Find out the station manager is at home, despite 2 of the company’s 3 flights for the day departing at this time. Ask pseudo-station manager if she can call Babuji to get an answer.
Walk toward exit immigration and stand in line for 20 minutes, regardless of cabin class or status. Have your passport stamped. Have your boarding pass stamped. Have your boarding pass stamped again on the other side.
Walk 10 feet past the immigration counter. Stand in another line to have another fella check your passport and boarding passes to make sure they’re stamped.
Head toward security, branching off into two sides covered by partitions. Make a gamble to head toward the right, hoping it’s shorter. Branch further into separate lines for men (long) and women (short). Wait. Wait some more. See some men headed for MCT mistakenly get into the women’s line. Roll your eyes until you see that an airport official has opened up a new line for these men and invites you and every man behind you to join the least populated area in all of India. Do a happy dance (but not too happy. Security is serious).
Pass your bags through the scanner and walk through the metal detector that's off, to get wanded by a security official of the same gender (hence, the separate lines for men and women). After you prove you’re not hiding something up your bum, get your boarding pass stamped twice more in blue, hiding the red immigration stamps.
Wait for your bags at the other end of the scanner. Wait some more. Watch the airline tags on your bags get stamped. Even the one for your small camera-bag that couldn’t fit a hamster.
Leave the security area. Walk 10 feet before having another securitywalla check your boarding pass and bags to make sure they were stamped. Watch him send another passenger back to security for not having his knapsack stamped.
Head down the escalators to a revitalized terminal, with a semi-decent amount of shopping and eating areas. Or if you’re a miles master, walk over to one of the lounges. As SQ pax, your pass is good for the Celebrations Lounge (huh?), the Star Alliance Lufthansa lounge (that sounds better), or a massage at one of the two vendors in the terminal.
Go to the business lounge while your sister who believes Silver Medallion is worth something heads for a 30-minute foot massage, and demands you leave the lounge after 30 minutes to meet her at the gate. And demands you bring back a banana. And texts you when it’s been 35 minutes, exclaiming “Where are you?!” Respond with a picture of the alcohol selection, negating to mention the crowded seating areas for the bank of late-night departures. It’s been a long 10 days.
Forty minutes before departure, head to the gate area and quietly guffaw while watching an Indian mother try to convince the gate agent that her pre-pubescent son growing a mustache qualifies them for early family boarding.
Hear the announcement for First, Business, PPS, and Star Gold passengers and walk to the gate. Have your boarding pass, passport, and bags checked for the proper stamps at the gate. Walk 20 feet to the jetway. Have the same documents checked again for the same stamps. Mentally face-palm.
(Want a lucrative business opportunity? Sell stamps and stamp pads to the Indian Airport Authority. You’ll be rolling in rupees. I contemplated all this checking and re-checking, since you never really leave a sterile area. Well, I guess nothing in India is really sterile...)
Board your 772, through the First Class cabin that didn’t get downgraded and to your angled lie-flat. Curse your luck until you realize that you paid the equivalent of a 30-pack of Natty Light for this segment. Then still return to cursing your luck.
Place your bag in the overhead and begin to sit in the window seat until your sister says, “No, that’s my seat.”
“Why?”
“I’m older.”
Right. Think about pointing out who spent the hours and hours on FT to learn how to get these seats, and then take the aisle because you like holding favors over your sibling’s head. Also because you’re sending her back home from HAN on Vietnam Airlines and feel mildly guilty about it. Gotta love the options Skymiles give you. It might be in J, but for all you know, the Socialist country’s flag carrier puts everyone in J. “Common ownership, maaaaan.”
Curse your luck again as the other two bulkheads groups are switched with bassinet families, and you no longer have the semi-private cabin you originally booked. Curse that SQ doesn’t serve alcohol on the ground in India. Drink something called a Fruit Spritzer. Hope that none of your friends are boarding this flight through the door in front of you to see you drink something called a Fruit Spritzer.
Psuedo-station manager walks in and sees you drinking something called a Fruit Spritzer. She informs you that there will be no compensation in form of cash/vouchers/miles “for the downgrade.” You thank her for following up, but quietly curse your luck. If this were Delta, you’d be rolling in Skypesos about now. Skypesos you could use to fly Vietnam Airlines.
Sister asks “what’s the big deal?” and you keep quiet that the whole point was to have her first business class experience be a bit more special, with a “both window and aisle seat” experience. Whatever. She’s still swinging her feet up and down, aghast at how much room there is at the bulkhead. And that there are hot towels and free drinks before takeoff. Even if the drink is something called a Fruit Spritzer.
Take off to the west and turn back toward Singapore. Turn on the “award-winning” KrisWorld to watch a couple of episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, only after 150 seconds of advertisements. Poke a fork at the murgh chicken rice supper, realizing that catering ex-India hasn’t ever been anything to fuss over. Focus your attention on the drink portion instead. Drift asleep, waking up only a few times as you slide down the angled seat. Wake up for landing. “Ladies and Gentleman welcome to Singapore, and to all Singaporean residents, a warm welcome home.” And once more in Hindi. Wish you were a Singaporean resident, just so that last sentence could warm the cockles of your heart.
Head over to the T2 SKL. Watch your sister’s eyes light up at all the amenities available. Tell her to have a go at everything while you take a shower in the mediocre shower room. Finish your short layover and head over to the gate for SQ 176 to HAN.
I promise pics from here on out!
phillystudent
May 23, 12, 7:18 am
I might still write in and explain your disappointment in taking a family member on their first trip in J and how this panned out in terms of the downgrade, for what it is worth.
At least they may throw you a bone...?
Regardless, nice alternative to pictures. Really enjoyed this installment!
amolkold
May 23, 12, 10:22 am
And back to the regularly scheduled programming …
SQ 176
SIN-HAN
Boeing 777-200
Seat 14K, J
We entered the aircraft to see the old business class, and already my sister commented, “This looks old.” My first reaction as well in BKK, but I’m a fan. As long as it’s a day flight and you avoid the middle seat in the center section, you really can’t complain. The seats recline pretty far if you just want to relax for a 3-hour flight. With the requisite amazing service expected from SQ, it turned out to be a great flight. That’s the thing I’ve realized about flying SQ. They set their expectations so high that an amazing flight is almost always expected. Hell, I’m flying them 22000 miles in Y next month and am actually looking forward to it :eek:. But only after having been matched to Star Gold from Skypeso Gold. See, you can make something out of nothing!
Anyway … with 4 SQ J flights in less than 2 weeks, I’ve gotten used to the pre-flight routine. Magazines, newspapers, pre-departure beverage, confirmation of BTC order, orders for post-takeoff beverage, the entire gamut. Wonderful service, as usual.
For this 3h05m sector to HAN, service was bit more relaxed than the shorter service ex-BKK. It still blew US airlines out of the water. Too bad they don’t “give away” the forward cabin. Then again, methinks that those two things are related ;).
Here’s the menu, though I kept with my BTC meal of Singapore Chicken Rice and my vegetarian sister stuck with the BTC Roasted Vegetables I had placed an order for.
Lunch menu: Singapore to Hanoi (SQ 176)
Starter
Vietnamese style seafood salad with dragon fruit
Main
Beef Oscar
Fillet of beef with white asparagus and prawn in hollandaise sauce
Gaeng phrik pla
Thai style red curry fish, seasonal vegetables and steamed rice
Braised chicken with bailing mushroom, beancurd with vegetables and fried ee fu noodle.
Finale
Opera cake with coffee sauce
Gourmet cheese with garnishes
A selection of fresh fruit
Gourmet coffees & selection of fine teas, with pralines.
And if you’re interested in the return sector …
Lunch menu: Hanoi to Singapore (SQ 175)
Starter
Sundried tomato-orzo salad with marinated scallops and greens
Main
Pan seared rolled beef with enoki mushroom, fine beans in xo sauce, mushroom rice
Cha ca thang long
Pan fried fish in rojak sauce with peanuts and rice vermicelli
Chicken stuffed with cheddar and spinach, roasted vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes
Finale
Dark chocolate crème brulee
Gourmet cheese with garnishes
A selection of fresh fruit
Gourmet coffees & selection of fine teas, with pralines
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0080.jpg?t=1337787912
Seafood salad. Starting a week of dragon fruit consumption.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0085.jpg?t=1337788005
Singapore Chicken Rice. Even better than the first time.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0086.jpg?t=1337788009
Roasted Vegetables. You can see my sister imitating the 'bon appetit' wave mentioned below.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0088.jpg?t=1337788093
Opera cake
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0075.jpg?t=1337789731
Okay, I lied about no pics from the BOM-SIN flight. This was the dessert on that flight, so I'll just sneak this in ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0089.jpg?t=1337788126
Small cheese plate. They ran a cart with selections, but I was already stuffed.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0090.jpg?t=1337788183
Chocolates. This is a 3-hour flight in Business!
Our Singapore Girl in the cabin was incredible throughout the flight. Even in a business class, our place settings were always prettied up just a bit between courses. After placing a dish down, she would perform a subtle wave of her wrist while saying, “Bon appetit” or “Enjoy.” It’s the little things that stand out.
After our meal service, we had about 75 minutes left until HAN. I dozed off in a food coma for a bit; upon awaking, my sister mentioned that they also ran a cart of ice cream through the cabin and was tempted to partake. This is almost too much food, but hey, who's complaining?
The FA came to talk with us about our upcoming trip for a while (we were the only non-business types or non-Vietnamese-origin passengers in the cabin, so our choice of destination made her quite curious). My sister explained how Ha Long Bay has been on her bucket list and how I got us her first J ticket.
“Well, sounds like you have quite a wonderful brother.”
Hear that, sis? ;) Now ditch that Discover card …
We were the first foreigners off the plane, so we were first in line for the Visa On Arrival. With an approval letter, the process was quick and we were through immigration within 10 minutes.
One thing about my sister is that she tries to act "budget traveler" as much as possible. While I travel with an actual suitcase (that was busting to the brim with gifts to/from family + airline amenity kits), she goes the backpacker route. It was a sight to see her pack with "business class" and "priority" stickers come off the belt.
A quick trip to the ATM made us instant Vietnamese Millionaires. If you take an adolescent male with you to Vietnam, prepare for giggles when you tell him the name of the currency.
Cabs from the airport to the city cost about US$18. Or 400,000 Vietnamese Dong.
Or you can take a mini-bus (with "bus" being a very generous description ... it's a van) for US$1.70 per person, which drops you off close to the city-center, where you can take a cab to wherever you need to go. After close to a week in Hanoi, I'll trust only one cab company - the green decaled Mai Linh company. Pretty much everyone else will try to rip you off...
amolkold
May 23, 12, 10:43 am
We were actually meeting another friend of ours in Vietnam, who had come a couple days early and stayed at the Sheraton with her SPG points. She gave good reviews of it, but it turned out that for the 3 of us, a local hotel was cheaper (even than the cash + points rate) and provided amazing hospitality. If you ever need to stay in Hanoi, I definitely recommend the Charming II (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293924-d1857804-Reviews-Hanoi_Charming_2_Hotel-Hanoi.html) in the Old Quarter. I don't have any pictures, but the ones on the TA site are true to their pixels.
As for Hanoi itself ... we stayed here as a jumping off point for Ha Long Bay, though the city is great to visit in itself. Enough talking, more pictures:
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0099.jpg?t=1337790884
Street-side Pho Ga
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0100.jpg?t=1337790885
This looks safe
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/14dfb3db.jpg?t=1337791309
And I mean everywhere ...
amolkold
May 23, 12, 11:08 am
It's hard to describe the beauty of Ha Long Bay in words. This has been on my sister's bucket list for a long time. This has been on my bucket list after seeing the Top Gear Vietnam Special. So you can see how differently we think ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0170.jpg?t=1337792116
Big enough to hold 8 pax + crew. Booked this through our hotel.
Awesome, amazing, and riveting TR. Love the pics and your writing style. Being a fellow desi, would love to see some pics from Bombay as well. Keep up the good work!
CMK10
May 23, 12, 2:51 pm
A truly wonderful report, one of the best I've read hands down, and I say that without any hyperbole. Can't wait for the rest!
amolkold
May 23, 12, 3:28 pm
Absolutely fantastic TR; can't wait for the remainder. Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely fantastic and wonderful TR. Really really really excellent.
Mate, this is an absolute stunner of a trip report. Thanks very much for sharing it with us all!
A truly wonderful report, one of the best I've read hands down, and I say that without any hyperbole. Can't wait for the rest!
Thank you all for your kind words and support. The TR still has quite a ways to go, but knowing that others are reading gives me motivation to finish soon!
Awesome, amazing, and riveting TR. Love the pics and your writing style. Being a fellow desi, would love to see some pics from Bombay as well. Keep up the good work!
Thank you. I actually didn't stay in Bombay too much on this trip as my family is a bit outside of Bombay (as well as other family in other states). I was only there for a few hours before heading to the airport. I was thinking of including a report of the portions of my trip that were on Indian Railways, but I used those overnight rides to simply conk out and rest during a bang-bang trip. Most to all of my pics are of a wedding which probably doesn't interest FT :p. I'll be back in a bit more than a month, though ...
FlyIgglesFly
May 23, 12, 7:18 pm
I'll be succint: Awesome report. One of the best both in terms of pictures and writing.
amolkold
May 23, 12, 7:21 pm
I get the idea of sticking to one airline or alliance for elite benefits … despite flights rarely taking up the majority of a vacation, elite status really can make a huge difference. If you fly a long haul in coach, you can at least enjoy the business class amenities on the ground. And you can earn a lot more miles that will get you into that business class seat sooner or later.
But for hotels, I don’t see the point. At least not at this stage in my life. I’ve collected hotel points in all the major programs – Hilton, Starwood, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, etc etc. If I had elite status at one of them, say Starwood, I would have been mightily tempted to stay at the Sheraton in Hanoi. And that would have been a bad thing.
Because you see, the hotel I eventually chose, the one with the Highest Guest Rating on Hotels.com, turned out to be absolutely fantastic. No, it wasn’t the biggest room in the city. No, I didn’t get Club Access due to a Club Room on the Club Floor. And no, I didn’t earn points on the stay (not even Hotels.com credits since I booked a cheaper rate by making an actual direct e-mail booking with the hotel). And yet, it was cheaper than the Sheraton's cash+points price (minus the points).
Why was it fantastic? Despite having 44 rooms, the staff knew everyone and were, like the name of the hotel suggests, charming. The desk agents offered to take me to their favorite local eatery, since I had a night after my sister and her friend left before my flight. I’m even friends with them on Facebook now. For all I know, I Couchsurfed in Hanoi with new friends.
Oh, and I still got Free Breakfast, Free Wi-fi, a welcome drink, a bottle of wine, and daily bottles of water. And was allowed to stay 8 hours past check-out due to a late outbound flight. And because I stayed 3 nights, a free airport cab. Who needs hotel elite status?
But it was time to leave Vietnam, a country I will definitely pay $45 again for a Tourist Visa sometime in the future. I needed to head to Bangkok, to get a glimpse of Thailand, and a taste of real Thai food (and also because I had an Emirates booking BKK-HKG later that week).
My first choice was actually Vietnam Airlines, since I’m a Delta Gold Medallion and Skyteam is a partnership of world-class airlines. But they wanted me to rob a bank before booking a one-way in coach. Thai Airways likewise, but I didn’t have *A status at the time.
So I went to Kayak, and saw that it was either the 9am flight on AirAsia or the 11:35pm flight on Qatar. Yes, Qatar. They fly a Hanoi to Bangkok flight, which then continues to Doha. If you’re in the south of Vietnam, you can fly Lufthansa or Turkish SGN-BKK. Though I don’t think Mr. Ho Chi Minh would approve of a separate First Class Terminal like in FRA, especially in his eponymous city. Anyway …
The AirAsia A320 flight had a better timing, but I’m wary of LCCs. Indeed, the final price, including a la carte options like baggage/seat selection/dignity, would have been halfway between Qatar’s prices for economy and business. Sadly, par for the course these days. I elected to go with QR, on their 77W. Gotta love fifth freedoms.
I thought about booking business for this leg, but the sub 2 hours flight time made me think otherwise. And unlike Emirates, QR places coach in 3-3-3, not 3-4-3. And the flight was less than quarter full. Coach it was! Back to flying with the masses!
---
Before I even get to the flight, or even the ground experience, I have to share a story. A story dedicated to Flyertalk, Social Media, and how small the world is.
I asked about the HAN-BKK flight on the FT QR subforum, about what was included in Y and J tickets for the short flight. Within 2 hours, I had a response from AlexCM, the QR company representative for FT. A plus to QR for understanding how to connect with its passengers in this day and age.
But it goes even further. For you see, I was having troubles checking in online the day of the flight. I would later find out this was in no fault QR’s, but actually United’s, since their new system wasn’t meshing with non *A partners on the mileage earning side. I ended up having to send the miles to US Airways. In the end, I would fly a flight between Vietnam and Thailand on a Qatari airline to bank in an American program that I use to fly European carriers to North Asia.
Anyway. When I get bored, I tweet. When I get excited, I tweet. When I get frustrated, I tweet. A mix of the first and third made me send out a tweet stating how QR’s website wouldn’t let me check in, something I wanted to do as soon as possible since I didn't have status or a premium cabin ticket.
Within minutes, I had a message from a QR twitter representative asking me if he could assist; it was the same AlexCM on FT. And within a few minutes, we were sending each other direct messages, basically text messages over Twitter. And within a few more minutes, after providing PNR code, seat preference, and mileage account number, I had a mobile boarding pass in my e-mail inbox.
Here I was, sitting at a café in central Hanoi by the lake, leaching wifi off a fancier café that actually had an internet connection, and checking in for a flight to Bangkok on a Middle Eastern carrier over Twitter with an airline representative. And had it not been for my daftness, I would have realized that during my stay in Bangkok, I passed by the same QR offices of AlexCM on Sukhumvit Road almost everyday on the way to my hotel. How small and connected a world we live in.
----
With an 11:35pm departure, I left my hotel in the Old Quarter of Hanoi a bit past 8pm, for the 30-minute drive to HAN, much calmer than the drive to BOM airport. As I expected, the driver and I were greeted by a madhouse at the terminal. The only oasis of calm in the check-in area was the QR counter. Excellent.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0406.jpg?t=1337820014
Watching large groups check-in seems to be a pasttime at HAN ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0405.jpg?t=1337820224
... but not at the QR counters.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0410.jpg?t=1337820333
I did a bit of a test, to see if Vietnam Airlines is aware of its alliance. A quick show of my Delta Gold card and I was allowed in to the much quicker VN check-in line. For the flight I wasn't booked for.
I made my way past exit immigration and into the small international concourse, simply a big room with gates toward the sides. In the middle was a large café, aptly named SKY CAFÉ. A bit of research beforehand and I knew the wi-fi pass code, to stay a bit connected before my flight. I found a corner to sit in, as most of the seating area was taken up by passengers taking up 2 to 3 seats each in supine position.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0412.jpg?t=1337820839
The opposite side of the concourse
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/8c80e217.jpg?t=1337820512
No seating available ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0411.jpg?t=1337820507
Difficult children need the most help.
I would have missed having lounge access upstairs had it not been for the following text messages from my sister the night before, during her lounge visit from being a VN J pax to CDG and her friend having DL Gold on a KE flight to ICN in Y.
Her: “To sum it up: 50 watt lightbulbs in lounge, food that’s less interesting than the restaurant 200 feet away, and the wifi doesn’t work, so [friend] and I are stealing it from the massage place outside the lounge. And the music playing sounds like it’s from a video game. But there are plenty of drinks! Just no real alcohol …”
Me: “That’s appalling.”
Her: “Oh wait. Sad red wine pairs well with the 50 watts. And comfy, minimally stained couches. I mean, it’s okay. I just think you (and anyone else) would be [Double You Tee Eff] about it.”
And 14 hours later …
Her: “Okay, I just walked into the Air France lounge at Paris, that Hanoi lounge was definitely bad. I thought I’d just been spoiled by Singapore …”
---
QR 611
HAN-BKK, 1h25m
Boeing 777-300ER
Seat 14F, Y
Boarding wasn’t really called; I simply approached the desk to make sure that my US mileage number was on the ticket, to which the desk agent replied, “Yes. You may board now.”
I ended up being the first one onboard since there were no J pax on this segment, and sat in a right aisle seat in the center section, mostly because it didn’t have an entertainment box underneath it like the other side. At first it felt tight, though you have to realize that since January, this was my first segment in over 20 that wasn’t at least Economy Plus/Comfort/Humane.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0421.jpg?t=1337820904
My Economy Class Suite.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0428.jpg?t=1337821083
Amenity kit ... for a 600-mile trip.
Without a pre-departure service, I simply turned on ‘The Descendants’ on the IFE, since QR turns their system on before takeoff. One thing that QR does (that EK doesn't) is they bleep out any profane language, which kind of changes the course of many scenes in the movie. Though throughout boarding, I was able to watch the movie in solemn isolation. For all the desire to fly in premium cabins, you sure are bothered a lot before takeoff. Champagne? Magazine? Hot towel? Menu? Massage? Okay, maybe not the last one. Or maybe on TG ...
The movie was interrupted briefly for what is quite possibly the most boring safety presentation in the world. Despite all my gripe about North American airlines, give me Deltalina’s finger wag any day. "Smoking is not allowed ..."
After takeoff, the flight attendants quickly went to work to give out hot snacks. Despite it being a very empty cabin, it felt very rushed. I wonder what it would be like if it were a full flight. And before you say that this flight time is unsocial, the flight departs in the early evening four days of the week. Still, you can’t complain about this for such a short flight.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0434.jpg?t=1337821194
Just missing some Biscoffs ....
On approach, the cabin lights seemed to go through a mood swing.
The winds were in our favor and we landed at BKK ahead of schedule. Unlike my EK HKG-BKK flight, we had to line up at the end of the jetway and “check-out” of the flight (basically, cross our name off a list of those flying just the first segment). Because so many people want to go to Doha over Bangkok ….
I hired a taxi at the departures level to avoid the 50 baht surcharge. Bangkok at 2am for a first-timer is definitely a fun but scary place. Add to the fact that the taxi driver was driving at 120km per hour through city streets and it was tough to get my bearings straight.
Alright, before I continue on, I have to explain how I ended up where I eventually did. I booked the QR flight about 5 days before I flew it, since I didn’t know when I’d want to leave HAN and go to BKK. I booked just 3 days in Bangkok at a Radisson property due to a Buy 2 Get 1 free promotion. When I eventually made my plans, I needed 2 more nights in BKK.
With my luck, those 2 nights happened to coincide with a large international convention. I won’t give the name away, but everyone I know who is part of this organization is well-traveled, so it’s no hyperbole when I say the city was overflowing with their members on these days.
And since the city was overflowing with them, so were hotel rooms.
And so when it came time to find a hotel room for these nights, it was a tough task. I didn’t want to pay an arm and a leg, especially in Bangkok where the supply more than outweighs demand and hotels are supposed to be cheap. So I eventually chose a place called “JustBeds” in Silom, at the attractive price of $24 a night near the Chao Phraya river. Despite the name, the rooms also come with a TV. And a bathroom. And a fridge, that’s inside the bathroom.
But why am I saying all this? Because this hotel, like many hotels in Bangkok, is on something called a soi. And if you haven’t yet been to Bangkok, the way they name their streets and sois can get confusing. I understand it now, but trying to map my way around the city beforehand was terrifying. And this coming from a guy who knows many cities better than his friends who actually live there.
As we approached the small soi where my hotel was supposed to be, my taxi driver uttered his first words of the trip, while pointing to a figure down the road on the sidewalk.
“Hehe. Lady boy.”
And yes. It was. Quite obviously, too. The driver stopped the car. I paid the ~320 baht fare and walked out, toward the soi where the hotel was supposed to be, according to my pre-loaded Google map. I walked only a few feet before I realized it was a dead-end with no businesses of hospitality offering rooms anywhere to be seen.
I returned to the main road. The only other character around? Lady boy. I soon heard something from down the road, something I’d rather hear backstage at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
“Heyyyyyy there big boy.”
“Uhh … hey," I respond. After the most awkward pause, I continue ... "Do you know where ‘JustBeds’ is?”
“It’s next to the restaurant behind you. Next soi over.”
“Oh. Thanks!”
“You’re welcome!”
Gotta love Thai hospitality. Welcome to Bangkok.
ayodeji13
May 24, 12, 1:41 am
omg great TR omg omg
the a380 shower pics were epic
ayodeji13
May 24, 12, 1:46 am
I'm not a club kind of guy, but I wouldn't mind dressing up and ordering bottle service on an A380.
#Winning
I lol'ed at this :)
amolkold
May 24, 12, 2:18 pm
Despite the awkward welcome into Bangkok, my stay there was the anti-Hangover II. On account of my love of Thai food, my first thing to do was attend a cooking class, which is probably the most kosher thing you can do, other than the fact that Thai food doesn’t usually qualify as kosher. Well, that depends … does the coconut milk in chicken green curry count as “milk?”
Anyway. My room in Silom was windowless, which was fine for a day because the proximity to the river made hopping on the Chao Phraya Express rather easy. But I soon moved from Silom to Sukhumvit Road, and stayed at the Park Plaza Soi 18 for easy access to the Asok BTS station, to head around the city rather quickly over the gnarliest traffic jams I’ve seen (and I’ve lived in cities known for traffic jams!).
For the deal they were giving, with a buy two nights get one free promotion, it was a great buy. And yes, I have Club Carlson Gold status (from asking nicely, not from mattress runs), but I ended up downgrading after one night because larger Deluxe rooms face an apartment complex 10 feet away while smaller Superior rooms have an open view of the city toward Sukhumvit Road. Perhaps that’s something they should have thought through …
Nevertheless, some photos of the hotel, as well as some from the tourist traps:
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0603.jpg?t=1337889748
Park Plaza Soi 18, Deluxe Room. You can see the less-than-deluxe view. Didn't take pictures of the superior room, but it was probably about 4 inches less space between the bed and window. Hardly a problem, and makes the Deluxe room not worth the small upcharge (or elite upgrade).
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0607.jpg?t=1337889847
I see a lot of newer hotels having windows between the bathroom and main bedroom. Fortunately, this one had shades (for when you double up on a room).
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0602.jpg?t=1337889937
A dark hallway made this a tough picture, but this is the "entry console" as the bellman described it. The keys are proximity keys, and the light switches upon entering the room have "Do not Disturb" and "Please clean room" buttons that light up the corresponding signal on the console. Cool!
I made some friends at my cooking class. What's the logical next place to go with new friends from a cooking class? Muay Thai boxing, of course!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0521.jpg?t=1337890137
I definitely recommend attending a match. The atmosphere is great, especially if you sit near the musicians.
We entered the aircraft to see the old business class, and already my sister commented, “This looks old.” My first reaction as well in BKK, but I’m a fan. As long as it’s a day flight and you avoid the middle seat in the center section, you really can’t complain. The seats recline pretty far if you just want to relax for a 3-hour flight. With the requisite amazing service expected from SQ, it turned out to be a great flight. That’s the thing I’ve realized about flying SQ. They set their expectations so high that an amazing flight is almost always expected. Hell, I’m flying them 22000 miles in Y next month and am actually looking forward to it :eek:. But only after having been matched to Star Gold from Skypeso Gold. See, you can make something out of nothing!
Anyway … with 4 SQ J flights in less than 2 weeks, I’ve gotten used to the pre-flight routine. Magazines, newspapers, pre-departure beverage, confirmation of BTC order, orders for post-takeoff beverage, the entire gamut. Wonderful service, as usual.
For this 3h05m sector to HAN, service was bit more relaxed than the shorter service ex-BKK. It still blew US airlines out of the water. Too bad they don’t “give away” the forward cabin. Then again, methinks that those two things are related ;).
Here’s the menu, though I kept with my BTC meal of Singapore Chicken Rice and my vegetarian sister stuck with the BTC Roasted Vegetables I had placed an order for.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0080.jpg?t=1337787912
Seafood salad. Starting a week of dragon fruit consumption.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0085.jpg?t=1337788005
Singapore Chicken Rice. Even better than the first time.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0086.jpg?t=1337788009
Roasted Vegetables. You can see my sister imitating the 'bon appetit' wave mentioned below.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0088.jpg?t=1337788093
Opera cake
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0075.jpg?t=1337789731
Okay, I lied about no pics from the BOM-SIN flight. This was the dessert on that flight, so I'll just sneak this in ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0089.jpg?t=1337788126
Small cheese plate. They ran a cart with selections, but I was already stuffed.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0090.jpg?t=1337788183
Chocolates. This is a 3-hour flight in Business!
Our Singapore Girl in the cabin was incredible throughout the flight. Even in a business class, our place settings were always prettied up just a bit between courses. After placing a dish down, she would perform a subtle wave of her wrist while saying, “Bon appetit” or “Enjoy.” It’s the little things that stand out.
After our meal service, we had about 75 minutes left until HAN. I dozed off in a food coma for a bit; upon awaking, my sister mentioned that they also ran a golf cart of ice cream and was tempted to partake. This is almost too much food, but hey, who's complaining?
The FA came to talk with us about our upcoming trip for a while (we were the only non-business types or non-Vietnamese-origin passengers in the cabin, so our choice of destination made her quite curious). My sister explained how Ha Long Bay has been on her bucket list and how I got us her first J ticket.
“Well, sounds like you have quite a wonderful brother.”
Hear that, sis? ;) Now ditch that Discover card …
We were the first foreigners off the plane, so we were first in line for the Visa On Arrival. With an approval letter, the process was quick and we were through immigration within 10 minutes.
One thing about my sister is that she tries to act "budget traveler" as much as possible. While I travel with an actual suitcase (that was busting to the brim with gifts to/from family + airline amenity kits), she goes the backpacker route. It was a sight to see her pack with "business class" and "priority" stickers come off the belt.
A quick trip to the ATM made us instant Vietnamese Millionaires. If you take an adolescent male with you to Vietnam, prepare for giggles when you tell him the name of the currency.
Cabs from the airport to the city cost about US$18. Or 400,000 Vietnamese Dong.
Or you can take a mini-bus (with "bus" being a very generous description ... it's a van) for US$1.70 per person, which drops you off close to the city-center, where you can take a cab to wherever you need to go. After close to a week in Hanoi, I'll trust only one cab company - the green decaled Mai Linh company. Pretty much everyone else will try to rip you off...
My wife to be and I are doing this, although the otherway round, we shall be doing BKK - HAN - SIN so thanks for the pics! Really looking forward to the trip!!
ORDnHKG
May 24, 12, 10:32 pm
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BOMHANVietnam/IMG_0428.jpg?t=1337821083
Amenity kit ... for a 600-mile trip.
Oh my, was the amenity kit in the seat pocket in front already ? Or the FA handed out once after everybody seated ? If it was the prior, I would assume J kit in J seats as well ?
amolkold
May 25, 12, 2:13 am
Oh my, was the amenity kit in the seat pocket in front already ? Or the FA handed out once after everybody seated ? If it was the prior, I would assume J kit in J seats as well ?
I don't remember. I think these kits were on the seats in Y. Didn't notice any kits on J seats, especially since there weren't any J pax in the cabin ahead of us.
Also, it's likely that the kits were meant for pax to DOH, but I just went ahead and took one.
amolkold
May 25, 12, 2:38 am
For a 1:45pm departure, I left my hotel at 11:20am, forgetting just how bad Bangkok traffic could get. Fortunately, the inbound flight from DXB looked like it would be late, so perhaps I could get away with it.
And get away with it I did, with the help of the Airport Skytrain from Makkasan station. The 15-minute ride took a bit over 18 minutes, enough to make a Swiss train engineer contemplate a new career but not so much as to put a dent in my travel plans.
I had originally booked this flight in Business and had been thinking about upgrading to First, after the surreal experience on my first leg. Indeed, the Emirates revenue managers must have read my mind as my e-mail inbox soon contained an offer to upgrade from J -> F for a seemingly low price. A quick Google search of “1200 HKD in USD” confirmed that it was a bit over $150. OMG, not too shabby! I had to double-check the carrier to make sure I wasn’t flying COdbaUA, because this looked like a TOD upgrade! I went through with the transaction, commenting “YOLO*” while my credit card processed.
*Urban Dictionary defines YOLO as: “Acronym for You Only Live Once. Mainly used to defend doing something ranging from mild to extreme stupidity.”
I made my way to the EK counters, empty in all 3 lines. Considering I arrived barely an hour before “shed-jeweled” departure, most passengers were already at the gate. The First counter agent commented, “looks like you’re the only passenger who is in F today.” Music to my ears, though I wouldn’t be sure of it until the doors were closed with just 1/14 in F. Especially since the Sequence Number on my BP was 0598. How many people can this plane fit?!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0675.jpg?t=1337932360
EK check-in counters
With a Premium Lane pass, I quickly passed through security and wandered around to find the EK lounge. Even with a printed map given out with the boarding pass, I made a few wrong turns.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0684.jpg?t=1337932451
I wonder if Tiger Airways got permission from EK to put their sign there ...
At first look, the BKK lounge is much better than the HKG lounge, though it helps that the number of pax here today were in the single digits. One thing BKK has that HKG doesn’t is a sit-down dining room. Though I’ll give HKG a hat-tip for its views over the concourse and the tarmac, while the BKK lounge looks inward to the Suvarnabhumi courtyard. Neither has a separate F lounge.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0712.jpg?t=1337996280
Massage chair of doom.
I waited out the delay with some lunch and some small talk with Atlas Air pilots on their way to fly a 747 freighter out of HKG. Now how cool does that sound?
A few minutes before boarding should have started, I began to exit the lounge … until the lounge dragon said it would be another 15 minutes until boarding would actually begin. But the expected value of a few more minutes in an A380 suite outweighed that of staying in the lounge for 15 minutes, so I went ahead anyway.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0702.jpg?t=1337932966
View of the concourse
I approached the gate waiting area and scanned my boarding pass to enter the small waiting area, with great daytime views of the A380.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0705.jpg?t=1337933023
A beluga whale with sunglasses
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0708.jpg?t=1337933104
Ground-level view of A6-EDF
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0709.jpg?t=1337933361
Ground workers put the size of the engines in perspective
Only after I "boarded" into the waiting area did the gate agent mention that it would be another 30 minutes until boarding would begin. While I would normally just stick around, the seating at the gate didn’t seem to take into account a fully loaded A380, so I requested to “de-board” of the flight. A quick show of my boarding pass and an explanation of my intentions to return to the lounge met no resistance.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0707.jpg?t=1337933068
A packed waiting area
But why am I explaining all this? As I sit now, at my desk in an air-conditioned room in the good ol’ U S of A, I’ve realized one thing about my country: we are incredibly liberal with air conditioning.
All this walking to-and-fro from the lounge in a world-class airport was like walking through the Mojave Desert. And more humid. This only made the prospect of another airborne shower oh so worth it.
I returned to the lounge and kept to bottles of water, the ones that spell “naivE” backward. I wanted to keep my palette pure for the eventual Dom.
After a 25-minute wait in the lounge, the dragon announced that boarding would begin in 5 minutes. I Usain Bolted out the lounge though slowed down when I realized the throng of economy class passengers already at the gate would use a separate jetway for the lower deck. My pathway to the suite would be mostly unhurdled.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/9Photo1.jpg?t=1337933452
Priority boarding for monks. Or maybe he has transcended even EK Gold.
amolkold
May 25, 12, 3:31 am
EK 384
BKK-HKG
Airbus A380-800 (A6-EDF)
Suite 2K, F
I walked in through Door U1L and presented my boarding pass for Suite 2K, the same seat I had 3 weeks prior. I had no desire to sit on the A side, since the views of Hong Kong are usually better on the right, and didn't require the extra headroom availed the center suites.
An Australian purser greeted me and escorted me to my seat. Ahh, home suite home, again. I soon heard more music to my ears: “You're my only First passenger today!” commented a flight attendant, yet another Australian. Is this flight going to SYD? Though I wouldn't mind, it would be a longer flight in the suite. The HK Airport Express stops at Botany Bay, right?
Anyway. I requested the Dom. Retail price: the upgrade from J to F. I turned on the air nozzles, one on the suite's wall and the other along the personal minibar. It was a hot day. In fact, I one-touch closed all 3 of my window shades (a very un-me thing to do) and turned on the tail-cam on the 23” screen in front. Though this is an Airbus, so even the screens in Y are likely larger than the windows.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0716.jpg?t=1337935801
Home suite home
The champagne arrived, along with an offer of Arabic coffee and dates. Not just some dates … the entire box, since I'd be the only one partaking. The Brazilian flight attendant offering the two explained the customs behind the coffee, explaining everything from the Dallah (the coffee pot with the extended spout) to the funjal (the handle-less cups) to the subtle elevated shake of the cup to indicate when I'd have my fill. The things you learn about Arabic culture from a South American on a flight from Thailand to a Chinese SAR…
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0726.jpg?t=1337935915
Arabic coffee (that I drank), dates, and short-haul amenities
My Australian FA returned, this time with the menu, stating that I could have anything I wanted, even multiple entrées since boarding had just completed and the other 13 suites were empty. Huzzah. Now let's fly the long way to Hong Kong. You sure this aircraft isn’t due for maintenance at DXB?
After another quiet takeoff, I headed up to have my shower. Not only was it hot and humid at BKK, but I also realized as I boarded that I'd be meeting distant relatives in Hong Kong, so I had to look somewhat presentable. And limit the alcohol intake. Okay, maybe just one bottle of Dom this time.
The EK shower spa is really just something else. I mentioned during the part of my first flight that the top deck is all F/J, giving an all-premium feel to the aircraft. But it's easy to forget that there’s a main deck below that’s all Y. And that somewhere above Row 43, there are two über large lavatories where passengers can strip down fully naked, with permission from the airline (though the shower dragon whose sole responsibility is to maintain the showers will limit you to just one person in the lav). I really think Seat Guru needs to take this into account. Something like:
Seats 43 ABCHJK
Advantages: Front of the cabin, bulkhead legroom, easy boarding and disembarkation from Door L1L.
Disadvantages: Placement underneath a shower while already in a cramped space may be mentally disturbing.
Or perhaps that’s what the blocked stairwell from Y to F is for. The curtain is for your own good, economy class! You do not want to know what’s going on up here!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0757.jpg?t=1337936539
You don't see this in many showers ...
Afterward, lunch! Though nothing too extraordinary … despite being the only F passenger, I didn’t go all out, mostly because TRs for this sector hadn’t really had rave reviews of the food. Here's the menu:
Bangkok – Hong Kong
Light Meal
Appetizer
Smoke trout and salmon with five pepper
aromatic smoked trout and salmon with distinctive five pepper flavourings, served with a crunchy refreshing apple and celery salad
Lemongrass chicken
tender chicken infused with delicate lemongrass flavours, roasted and served cold, with garden fresh salad leaves and roasted ripe cherry tomatoes
Salad
Seasonal salad
crisp fresh garden salad leaves and vegetables, tossed in your preferred dressing
Main Course
Chicken rogan josh
chicken pieces marinated and slow cooked in a delicate curry sauce, served with jeera basmati rice and vegetable makhanwala
Braised lamb leg in rosemary jus
tender pieces of lamb, braised and dressed with an aromatic rosemary jus, served with sautéed courgettes, roast pumpkin and creamy gratin potatoes
Stir-fried three flavor prawns
cooked in a tangy three flavoured sauce served with fried rice and stir-ried vegetables
Rotini with fresh tomato
fresh pasta spirals cooked al dente, served with a diced mixed vegetable sauce and sprinkled with fresh parmesan
Vegetables
Bread basket
Dessert
White chocolate cheese cake
Crisp base with a soft sweet cheese cake filling, served with a fresh strawberry coulis
Cheese
Cheese board
a carefully chosen assortment of the finest boutique cheeses from around the world, served with a selection of crudités, crackers and dried fruits.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0766.jpg?t=1337936915
Table setting, this time with bread basket
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0764.jpg?t=1337936849
I started off with the trout/salmon ... a solid decision.
I also ordered the lemongrass chicken to see if SFO777's findings from last year were still valid:
The chicken had apparently turned into something with the consistency of leather and I gave up, fearing a loss of a few teeth.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0767.jpg?t=1337936945
In the 16 months between our flights, the same holds true. Don't order the lemongrass chicken!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0770.jpg?t=1337937076
Chicken rogan josh. Not the same species as the lemongrass chicken, i.e, edible.
Now, being the only passenger in a First Class cabin has its benefits. For one thing, the space that normally holds 80 passengers down below is all yours. Because of this, I didn't require closing the suite doors, though the novelty of doing so just for the hell of it crossed my mind a couple of times.
And without other passengers in sight, you tend to act as if you're in your own house, because the area around you is no longer public space.
And with an extensive IFE, you will definitely find something that interests you in some way or form.
I'll admit. I’m a shower singer. The weirdness of the onboard shower was gone during my 2nd visit, and so I felt in my element. For some reason, the works of Oasis entered my mind, so I hope my reenactment of some of their songs did not penetrate the shower door and lav door.
During the course of lunch, I found Channel 2147, or the greatest hits from the band Oasis. A list of songs that I jammed out to in the car when I first got my drivers license a long time back.
And with some space to move about, a set of noise-cancelling headphones, and a few glasses of Dom, a list of songs that I was soon jamming out to in an airborne first class suite. And I mean humming melodies, tapping on the large table like a drum, jamming out. The space was all mine after all!
Well, except for the Brazilian flight attendant serving me lunch. The one who, I would later find out, stood in the aisle beside seat 2F for the course of my meal, out of view due to the staggered setup and the high suite door walls.
As I set down an empty glass, he stepped forward, almost out of the blue, in the middle of a rock-out session, to ask if I'd like more champagne. Awkward.
Although, “Some Might Say” that having a flute of Dom poured at your seat while the lyrics “Champagne Supernova in the sky” play just adds to the experience.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0782.jpg?t=1337937301
More dates and arabic coffee. And Dom!
I took a break from serenading an empty F cabin to check out the loo with a view and the bar at the back. Both J and the bar were empty compared to the packed flight to BKK. The FAs even insisted they take my picture behind the bar.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/99Photo1.jpg?t=1337937751
Lav between F and J on the starboard side
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/111Photo1.jpg?t=1337937757
Loo view
Then back to the seat for a continued jam session with the doors closed and to polish off the rest of the bottle of Dom.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0780.jpg?t=1337937256
Satellite wi-fi, though it didn't work on this short leg.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0784.jpg?t=1337937339
Methinks those are all the First Class suite consoles ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0791.jpg?t=1337937379
The amenities underneath the big mirror ... odd to see "shower in a tube" when you can literally have a shower in the aluminum tube in which you're flying
Upon landing, the purser (whom I didn't see for the duration of the flight since she was likely helping with a full economy class) came by and asked how my flight was, and thanked me for flying Emirates. I disembarked first before the (literally) unwashed masses, only to have to stand in line for 10 minutes at immigration. Unlike LX, EK didn’t provide a fast-track private immigration.
After 2 short-hauls on the EK A380 suite, I can say that the novelty definitely began to wear off as I landed at HKG. If this opportunity were to come up again, I'd probably stick with J. You still get direct aisle access, pretty much the same menu (minus a choice here or there), and still get access to bar at the back. Still, the experience is definitely amazing, especially just once, and the HKG-BKK sector is well-priced and long enough to get a good hard product experience. The crew can be great, though I found them to be a bit unpolished compared to SQ and TG crews.
I hopped on the HK Airport Express and met up with my relatives for a weekend in the city. Upon entering their flat, they asked me, “Do you want to take a shower before we head out to dinner?”
To which I replied, with a grin: “Already did!”
Worth it.
amolkold
May 25, 12, 3:33 am
I got bored and started snapping random pics around the cabin. Good lighting provided some shots I wanted to share ...
Suite Doors (HD) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksHXxG-RixM)
SMART51
May 25, 12, 10:24 am
Thank you
I am enjoying your trip report, and the pictures are a beauty.
Seat 2A
May 25, 12, 11:06 am
Wow! The "Light Meal" on that short 2 hour flight between BKK and HKG looks far superior to the "full" meals offered in "First Class" on most any transcon or Hawaii service by our lowly U.S. airlines. Very nice.
amolkold
May 25, 12, 11:26 am
Disadvantages...
I've gone back and fixed that.
Wow! The "Light Meal" on that short 2 hour flight between BKK and HKG looks far superior to the "full" meals offered in "First Class" on most any transcon or Hawaii service by our lowly U.S. airlines. Very nice.
Indeed! It's actually kind of sad to see how vast the difference is. I understand the cutbacks and a la carte charges for Economy Class, as many people flying that are simply flying for value and getting from A-to-B. But for First and Business Class, the style/elegance/FUN in flying I experienced on foreign carriers like Emirates, Thai, Singapore, and SWISS seems to have vanished on US-based carriers like United.
Due to factors out of my controls, I was never able to fly in the 1970s and early 1980s. I've read your "retro" TRs, Seat 2A, and the options given on those flights (even in Y) are incredible!
nycflyer75
May 25, 12, 4:26 pm
Amazing Trip Report with some awesome humor thrown in! :D
amolkold
May 25, 12, 5:23 pm
I think I have a new favorite city (and can see why so many TRs here rave about Hong Kong). It's fantastic! It's efficient yet still has that charm you get from visiting a foreign land. The small things really just make me love it ... a great transportation infrastructure (with the MTR and Airport Express), ideas like the Central/Mid-Levels Escalator (please copy this, San Francisco), and great food! AND the hometown airline is Cathay Pacific??? I'M SOLD.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/43f6a128.jpg?t=1337978252
Ngong Ping Cable Car
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/0474a217.jpg?t=1337988043
Requisite HK shot of The Peak
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/IMG_0878.jpg?t=1337987651
Heading down from the Peak
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/7cfed9e1.jpg?t=1337978252
Symphony of Lights
SFore
May 25, 12, 5:39 pm
Loving this TR, fantastic dream trip on some amazing airlines!
ORDnHKG
May 26, 12, 2:08 am
I had originally booked this flight in Business and had been thinking about upgrading to First, after the surreal experience on my first leg. Indeed, the Emirates load managers must have read my mind as my e-mail inbox soon contained an offer to upgrade from J -> F for a seemingly low price. A quick Google search of “1200 HKD in USD” confirmed that it was a bit over $150. OMG, not too shabby! I had to double-check the carrier to make sure I wasn’t flying COdbaUA, because this looked like a TOD upgrade! I went through with the transaction, commenting “YOLO*” while my credit card processed.
I am not sure if I misread anything, so you bought one way F and one way J ? How much was one way F for EK HKG-BKK and one way J BKK-HKG then ?
amolkold
May 26, 12, 10:44 am
I am not sure if I misread anything, so you bought one way F and one way J ? How much was one way F for EK HKG-BKK and one way J BKK-HKG then ?
One-way tickets were priced at about 75%-80% of round-trip, so I decided to buy an RT rather than try EK one-way and burn Avios for CX the other.
At first I bought a mixed-class RT (which was the average between RT F and RT J). That was $785 US before the $150ish upgrade I paid to go J->F in the return.
To put into perspective, Economy class RT for my dates was $295. J RT was about $630.
A lot of money for a round-trip that barely touches over 5 hours? Sure. But considering the novelty, an experience well worth it. The KE chart for EK flights looks tempting but they don't have redemptions for this route.
amolkold
May 26, 12, 5:13 pm
After an amazing weekend in Hong Kong, it was time to finally head home. Though while most people flying between HK and LA would just cross the Pacific, I'd go the Atlantic route, via BKK, FRA, and LHR.
Yes, that meant another HKG-BKK flight. Yes, it was repetitive, and my original plan had been to fly to BKK on the outbound, call it a stopover, then continue on to HKG after my trip to India/Vietnam. However, there just wasn’t anything available to BKK the dates I needed. I’m glad there wasn’t, though, as it gave me a chance to try EK F.
While the outbound segment centered around LX F and the FCT, the return segment of my 120K US award was built solely around trying out Thai’s F product, especially the ground services at BKK. I had quite a pleasant surprise when two weeks before the trip, I saw that the 747 I had booked from BKK-FRA was scheduled as a 777-300ER, with the Jet Airways suites. Of course, TG is known for switching out aircraft, so I held my breath. Since this was a US award, I couldn’t change anything once I flew my first segment …
Anyway. A winding red cab ride down the hills of the Mid-Levels brought me to the Hong Kong Airport Express station. After a month of traveling, I had a suitcase overflowing with goodies to bring home (mostly things given by relatives on one continent to get to other relatives on other continents … I tend to be a family courier when I travel due to free bags via status/F/J). Luckily, the Airport Express allows one to check-in bags at Hong Kong Station. What a concept!
Unfortunately, I got TG’d on my first TG flight. The seat map the day prior showed the newer 747 configuration, with seats similar to those on the Swiss A340. However, Thai subbed in an older 747 for this flight. Due to a light load in F, the desk agent said each set of 2 seats would have 1 blocked. In addition to boarding pass, I was also given a Lounge Pass to the Royal First Lounge and a “voucher” for a golf cart ride from airport check-in counters to lounge (though I never figured out how to use it … plus after a weekend of delicious HK food, I sorely needed to walk around their massive airport).
I hung around the HK Airport Express station to catch a few final post-working-hours drinks with the cousin I was visiting. That’s one thing I love about HK … many of the big shopping/food centers are built around MTR stations. Everything is so accessible. It really is ingenious.
Once at the airport, I bee-lined for the TG lounge. It’s a large space with a separation between Business and First passengers. Upon entering, I was shown to the right, to the F space, and asked by a staff member if I’d like a drink and/or snacks. The sole difference between the F and J space is pretty much the amount of people in each … it looks to be the same amenities, just with a partial wall in between.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0893.jpg?t=1338072797
Not much of a food selection
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0894.jpg?t=1338072754
Not much of a division between the F and J sides, either. Same massage chair as well.
I soon left the TG lounge since I’d heard good things about the HKG United Club, or RCC as some purists like to call it. Okay, “good things” for a United Club. I wasn’t expecting it to compete with the LH/LX FCLs. Fortunately, *A airlines tend to allow partner F passengers into many of their F lounges, unlike OW where one also needs to have top-tier Emerald status.
Upon presenting the boarding pass, a UA lounge dragon showed me to the separate International First Lounge, a separate lounge within the larger United Club, and offered up a drink as well. I had the entire place to myself for a while. The food was definitely better than the TG lounge and although it wasn’t as “open-air” as the TG space, I preferred it a lot more.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0904.jpg?t=1338073000
These are the "ad napkins" I dislike about NA airlines. Okay maybe not ads, maybe "empty slogan napkins"
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0902.jpg?t=1338073011
Facing food area and the entrance door
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0903.jpg?t=1338073004
TV room and hallways to showers
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0910.jpg?t=1338073310
Shower (I see a tulip ...)
I also visited the general United Club to take some pictures. I can see why so many people are fans … it’s a great business class lounge, even by international standards.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0914.jpg?t=1338073491
Looking down toward the Emirates lounge. For once, UA > EK ^
But it was soon time to board, so I made my way to the boarding area. Lines were already forming, one for Economy and another for First/Business, so I stood in the latter. A TG agent came down the line to check boarding passes and passports, and upon seeing my BP with a large “F” on it, invited me to form a new line to the side for first class boarding. So I did.
Now given my age and the fact that I travel with a big backpack rather than a rollerboard or other business traveler accessories, I tend to have people often tell me that I’m not in the right place. I usually ignore them.
But the guy in the front of the J line was one of those people that wouldn’t shut up. Despite being told to form a new line by a GA, he’d keep making comments toward me like, “There’s a line behind me.” I chose to ignore the first time, but after he repeated himself, I simply responded, “Yes. There is a line behind you.”
“Buddy. There’s a line, you gotta follow rules.”
"I was told to stand here."
I could not have timed it better, but right then, a TG agent walked up to me: “Mr. amolkold, we are ready to board First Class please,” as she waved her hand to welcome me to the jetway. As I handed my BP, I fought the urge to turn around and see the look on his face.
ORDnHKG
May 26, 12, 5:42 pm
A lot of money for a round-trip that barely touches over 5 hours? Sure. But considering the novelty, an experience well worth it. The KE chart for EK flights looks tempting but they don't have redemptions for this route.
I agree the experience well worth it on EK's 380 in F, I just wish I use my UA miles for that before they discontinue the partnership. I didn't know the shower is available on this short leg BKK-HKG-BKK though, as someone on Anet did a report for DXB-BKK-HKG on EK F, the FA mentioned to that person he could take photos but not actually showering for the short leg.
amolkold
May 26, 12, 6:25 pm
TG 607
HKG-BKK
Boeing 747-400 (old configuration)
Seat 1A, F
Before entering the jetway, I was gifted a "Star Alliance 15 Years" luggage tag, since I was flying a founding member on the 15th anniversary of that glorious day. Thanks for letting US have access to your award inventories, y'all!
I entered the 747 to a symphony of “Sawadees,” a bit familiar after having spent a few days in Thailand the week prior. It was an old cabin on the left, probably the anti-Emirates A380, but still plenty comfortable for a short 1000-mile journey. A flight attendant showed me to my seat, 1A, and I was soon warmly greeted by the purser with the firmest of handshake.
“Welcome, Mr. amolkold, we are very glad to have you onboard. How do you like the cabin, is it all right?”
Hey SQ, this is how you acknowledge a cabin downgrade. Then again, I guess TG has the process down pat … I mean, it's even called getting "TG'd."
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0921.jpg?t=1338076340
Bulkhead legroom. I would have switched to the K side for view of HK but saw from the Airport Express that the airport was doing reverse takeoff/landing patterns ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/efafe412.jpg?t=1338076767
A plus for simplicity?
Anyway. The purser soon returned with a glass of Dom 2002 (compared to the 2003 on EK’s flights). All this flying in premium class may make me become "AA'd."
Despite the aging hard product, I could tell the food would be much better than EK’s when I perused the menu.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0924.jpg?t=1338076405
Menu presentation
Menu (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/594db5e2.jpg?t=1338075959):
Hong Kong – Bangkok
Canapés
-
First Course
Salmon Gravlax
-
Main Course
Deep-fried Ling Fish Fillet and Eggplant with Chinese Black Bean Sauce
Steamed Rice
Pak Choy
or
Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Seasoning, Mushroom Brown Sauce
Lyonnaise Potatoes with Onion and Parsley
Roasted Asparagus, Carrot
or
Stir-fried Thai Noodles with Prawn “Pad Thai”
Grilled Lobster
Assorted Bread, Crackers, Butter
Cheese and Fresh Fruits Plate
Dessert
Apple Cherry Crumble Tart
Coffee Bavarois Cake
Tea, Coffee
Espresso, Cappuccino
And links to the wine menu:
Whites (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/7ecce0d7.jpg?t=1338075960) | Reds (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/88c6577b.jpg?t=1338075960) | Others (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/94f01072.jpg?t=1338075959) (a bit blurry)
Rather than order off the menu, I kept with my pre-ordered meal of Lobster Thermidor, which was pretty good! I’ve heard it isn’t that great when it’s catered out of BKK, so I made sure to order it from a different airport.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0931.jpg?t=1338076639
Table setting. One thing about the old product is that the table isn't as large as one would like
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0932.jpg?t=1338076644
Can't go wrong with salmon ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0935.jpg?t=1338076651
Lobster Thermidor, with a small side of noodles I requested
Although this flight had a heavier F load than both my EK flights combined (including myself: 3 and 1 on EK, 6 on TG tonight), dinner service was really relaxed. In between courses, the purser went around to each passenger, asking how the meal was, and engaging in conversation (ours revolved around my weekend in Hong Kong).
I sure hope that TG limits the use of these old 747s on long-hauls ... they're perfect for short-haul flights, but the table/IFE situation would downright upset me on a longer flight.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0942.jpg?t=1338076939
Resorting to emergency IFE
About 45 minutes out of BKK, I noticed the passengers in row 2 were American as well, and were talking about things that would make an FTer giddy. In particular, their conversation of the LH A380 piqued my interest. I soon joined in, surprised to hear that neither of them had heard of FT. We went in-depth comparing experiences of the Lufthansa A380 in F versus the Emirates A380 in F. It was a great conversation amongst 3 guys who just love to fly, and didn't devolve into an elite card throw-down a la ‘Up in the Air!’
Upon landing at BKK, we were given a remote parking position. TG provided a bus solely for F passengers and so I continued my conversation with the two other passengers from the flight. Unfortunately, I never got their names! As soon as the bus reached the terminal, we were each greeted by our own personal assistant who escorted us through fast-track at security and to baggage claim. Mine insisted on getting my bag for me and walking me all the way to my ground transportation meeting area.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0950.jpg?t=1338077066
So .... do I just awkwardly stand back here?
Despite the old product, it was still a great flight! Great food, great crew, and great conversation with fellow flying heads. The 1000 miles went by quickly.
imm2b
May 26, 12, 10:14 pm
I conked out for the extremely bumpy, hot, and loud car ride. Horn OK Please.
My first time in India recently. I noticed the "Horn OK Please" on every single trucks. I am curious for the purpose of the sign, is it because they want other drivers to honk?
amolkold
May 26, 12, 10:17 pm
My first time in India recently. I noticed the "Horn OK Please" on every single trucks. I am curious for the purpose of the sign, is it because they want other drivers to honk?
The way it was explained to me, it's for cars wishing to overtake slow trucks.
Give a Horn. Is it OK? Then Please proceed.
gpeso8
May 26, 12, 10:23 pm
This is hands down my favorite trip report of the year! Awesome pics and commentary.
amolkold
May 26, 12, 11:08 pm
My overnight stay was nothing spectacular – just a cheap place near the airport to crash after a late flight and a jumping-off point to go visit the airport early. While my flight wasn't until 12:45pm, I wanted to be at the airport by 8am to enjoy the lounge (which would likely be much better than my airport hotel).
I asked my ride to drop me off at the 1st door at BKK’s terminal, reserved for Royal First and Royal Silk (business) passengers. As soon as I exited the car, I had a TG employee ask me which cabin I was in. Once I responded First, he placed my bag on a cart and escorted me to the separate First check-in area. Once there, two agents guarding the entrance welcomed me with a couple of sawadees, while another requested my passport and asked me to have a seat. Another employee presented me a cold towel and welcome lemongrass drink while I waited. Not a minute in the airport and already the most personalized service of the trip – wow!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/2b6214c2.jpg?t=1338090130
Royal First/Royal Silk Entrance
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0951.jpg?t=1338090428
Royal First Class check-in area
This sounds excessive but it's all done with a warm sense of welcome. Though I like the blurb from Thai’s website describing the various cabin classes:
Royal First Class represents the ultimate in flying luxury, awarding privileged recognition to those who have achieved the pinnacle of social or professional status.
Please note that I don’t have a real career yet nor can I rent a car in several states. If this is my pinnacle, I've peaked too early, like a child star in Hollywood.
Anyway. I had selected seat 2K but was told that the passenger in seat 2A had been given 2K due to a malfunctioning 2A. I was offered seat 1K (though not really given a choice, since it was the only window seat remaining). I accepted, and actually preferred row 1 over row 2 once I saw the inside of the cabin. I could rest easy when the agent confirmed the aircraft would be the 77W with suites. I let out a "Yes!" that would make even Marv (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv1kApvEPiY) Albert blush.
I was given my boarding pass and lounge invitation, though the latter was unnecessary, since I was escorted all the way to the FCL by a TG employee.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0959.jpg?t=1338094787
I also don't see the point of a lounge invitation when the class on the ticket is very conspicuous ... I highlighted it, just in case you can't see it...
The First check-in area leads out to a priority security line. From there, we headed to the Royal Silk Lounge entrance. At the entrance awaited a modified golf cart and I was invited to get on to get a ride to the Royal First lounge down the way.
The path to the Royal First lounge is through the hallway parallel to the entire Business Class/Star Gold lounge, in view of almost everyone in the lounge. The ride seemed a good way to get a quick tour of the Royal Silk Lounge on video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FojszUa_HhM).
Upon entering the lounge, I was asked if I’d like to schedule an hour-long massage in the Spa across the hall. Now that’s something you don’t hear when you enter a Delta Sky Club …
I requested one of the many empty living rooms within the lounge … many passengers sorely need to spend too much time reading TRs before their trips, since a lot of them were in the general lounge area. But Mama didn't raise no fool ... in fact, Mama specifically told this unfool to get a living room after her visit in February on her first F trip (needless to say, I've begun to get a lot more phone calls about what credit card to use when she's at a store ...).
The living rooms aren’t exactly “private,” as the glass partition only covers about 50% of the entrance. However, they do have a very personal and home-like feel. The only thing missing is a comfier place to lie down – there are sleeping rooms down the hall, but I feel they should have a comfier “sleeping couch” in the living rooms. Also, the power outlets are in odd locations, as the only place to keep a computer is on the desk or in the corner of the room (i.e., no outlets near the sofa/coffee table).
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0952.jpg?t=1338090776
Main lounge area
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0954.jpg?t=1338090822
Only one thing wrong with this picture ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/77a8c63b.jpg?t=1338091685
Nicer than my living room in my apartment. TV's made by B&O and it creeped me out when it swiveled toward the sofa automatically when I walked into the room.
Once inside, I was given a menu that would put the LH FCT buffet to shame (though I am biased since Thai food is my favorite). It was tough to take pics, so here’s another video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ilmco0igAqA) of me thumbing through it.
Not really a fan of a big breakfast so early in the morning, I ordered just plain eggs and toast, saving room for a bigger and better lunch.
After finishing that, I had a bit of an appetite, and visited the buffet area (which I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t take pictures of, but it was basically where they kept items from the menu). In typical hospitable Thai fashion, the buffet attendant wouldn't let me pick up a plate and select items myself. Instead, I just pointed to whatever I wanted and returned to my living room. A couple of minutes later, a lounge angel came by with my food.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0958.jpg?t=1338091130
Chinese donuts
Every 10-15 minutes, a lounge attendant would come by to ask if I needed anything. Feeling bad to say no so many times in succession, I’d ask for a random drink here and there.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0960.jpg?t=1338091345
The detail in presentation for a simple cup of coffee
Soon, it was time for the massage, the real highlight of flying F/J on TG out of BKK (anyone flying *A F can access the F lounge, but the Spa is available only to TG F/J pax).
A lounge attendant fetched me from my room and escorted me just across the hall to the Royal Orchid Spa. F pax get an hour, while J pax get 30 minutes. This is the "menu," courtesy of the website:
• Touch Of Silk Massage (Full body oil massage - 60 minutes for First Class only) – Ler's start your journey with a relaxing Touch of Silk full body oil massage. Delivered with the unique 'Thai touch', this massage will help to prepare your body for your onward flight by increasing blood circulation as well as relieving muscular tension and helping to provide the necessary hydration for your skin. On leaving the massage you will be left with an overall sense of well-being and total relaxation.
• Neck & Shoulder Massage (30 minutes) – This is a great massage for passengers who are stressed, work at the computer too much or don't relax well. Neck and shoulder problems from routine activities are among the most common area for massage therapists to address. Using specific techniques the therapist will work to loosen tight muscles around the neck and shoulders whilst simultaneously assessing how much tension is held in the body and how best to release it. You will board your flight feeling more relaxed and a little lighter on the shoulders.
• Relaxing Hand Massage (30 minutes) – Are your hands tired from all that clicking, driving, messaging and typing? If so, how about offering them a break and giving them a massage they truly deserve? By massaging the major channels/meridians of the arms and reflex points in the hands, this deep hand massage is designed to thoroughly release tension that accumulates in the hands and arms from our daily tasks. Finishing with warm towels for both arms encourage muscle relaxation; this treatment can help to deliver a total sense of relaxation.
• Relaxing Foot Massage (30 minutes) – Let's help prepare your feet for your onward journey, by taking the weight of them and giving them a relaxing massage that they truly deserve. Foot massage is a well-known relaxation therapy to help take care of tired feet. With the gentle touch of the therapists' hands, a sense of overall relaxation is induced. Deeper pressure by the fingers will help to stimulate your vital organs.
I’m not too big a fan of oil massages, so I asked if I could have an hour’s worth of a combination of the other 3. My request was fulfilled without hesitation, and the massage actually ended up being almost 75 minutes (at least I think … I did snooze off for the better part of it …).
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/2340b802.jpg?t=1338091431
Waiting area in the Spa
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/6f919c29.jpg?t=1338091469
Door handle at the entrance to the Royal Orchid Spa
Afterward, I was escorted back to my living room. Massages really build up appetites, so lunchtime couldn’t have come at a better time!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0962.jpg?t=1338091549
Tom yum goong, green curry, and a Chang. Just looking at this makes me want to go back to Thailand.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0964.jpg?t=1338091588
Mango pastry one of the waiters brought by after lunch. Tasty!
I took a few minutes to look at the rest of the lounge, though forgot to take a picture of the dining area.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/464ad7fc.jpg?t=1338091972
Taking the term "lounge" literally
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/d6da4a15.jpg?t=1338092031
Work center
Boarding time on the BP was set for 12:05pm, but I requested to board a bit later (you’ll laugh why, but it’s because I wanted to sign up for the Radisson 50K promos when they opened up at noon and needed 15 minutes to let the sites load).
About 20 minutes before departure, a lounge attendant came to get me and escorted me to my flight. It was too short for a buggy ride, and after having eaten and knowing that the remaining deadly sins awaited me onboard, I preferred the walk.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0970.jpg?t=1338091786
The pictogram on the top right is definitely not an FCL pax ...
I’ve said that the LH FCT makes you feel as if you’re not in an airport … the TG FCL and Spa come very close to that, although there are the once-in-a-while flight announcements that serve as reminders of where you are. It really was a great place to spend a few hours. Get there early, I say!
amolkold
May 26, 12, 11:12 pm
Loving this TR, fantastic dream trip on some amazing airlines!
Thank you, SFore! Indeed, it was amazing in person ... and I haven't even gotten to the TG 77W flight, which was fantastic!
Amazing Trip Report with some awesome humor thrown in! :D
This is hands down my favorite trip report of the year! Awesome pics and commentary.
You are too kind, nycflyer75 and gpeso8. Thank you both!
amolkold
May 27, 12, 1:24 am
TG 922
BKK-FRA, 11h15m
Boeing 777-300ER (77W)
Suite 1K, F
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0971.jpg?t=1338098563
Looks like a seven seven dubya to me!
Quite possibly the best long-haul flight I’ve had to date. Sorry LX F, your reign was short-lived.
The attendant from the lounge escorted me all the way to my seat, 1K. I debated inviting her to stay for the flight. I mean, I’m ridin’ solo, no one’s using the buddy seat …
Anyway. I was the final person to board the jet, and enter the half-filled cabin. Only 4 pax in F today: 1A, 1K (me), 2F + 2K, though I don’t recall seeing the others in the F lounge.
The purser came by and greeted me, advising me of our flight time and the upcoming service. He offered a glass of champagne, once again the Dom 2002; I prefer it to the 2003 served on Emirates (oh lord, I’m turning into a Dom snob. And this from a guy who’s done something called a “Tour de Franzia” in the not-so-distant past...).
Another flight attendant tried to place my backpack in the closet, but the closet is more like a wardrobe hanger – not that much space. With no overhead bins in F, I ended up just keeping my backpack underneath the buddy seat. I can’t imagine where you’d put a large rollerboard, especially if it’s a full F class.
I was also provided a set of baby blue pajamas, not quite as fashionable as the sleek black ones on SWISS. In fact, a style more fit for an infant. Baby blue, really?! Good thing I could close the doors in my suite …
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1015.jpg?t=1338103055
I'll save you the torture of seeing a pic of these ON me ...
Ah yes, the 77W suite – it’s amazing, though credit should be saved for the designers at Jet Airways. It may not have all the bells and whistles of the Emirates suite, but it has a sense of revered class in it. Maroon seat with dark wood console and subtle gold trim. It’s easier on the eyes than an atmosphere full of bling.
Row 1 gets 4 windows, and I liked having a wall in front rather than the back of another suite, so I would select it over Row 2. The proximity to the galley is not bothersome at all.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0977.jpg?t=1338101197
Air vents! Though it’s a 9W plane, not a TG one.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0980.jpg?t=1338101202
Starting to show some age …
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0984.jpg?t=1338101429
Yikes at the condition
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0990.jpg?t=1338101439
More responsive than EK’s, plus it works on the ground (not wireless)
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0997.jpg?t=1338101570
Console area with power outlet
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_0998.jpg?t=1338101594
Area with entertainment remote + magazine/headphone storage
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1004.jpg?t=1338101674
Proprietary audio jack, so at least their noise-cancelling headphones are good.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1006.jpg?t=1338105590
Tiny portion of nuts
Given my late boarding, we were soon away from the gate and heading along the tarmac of Suvarnabhumi (love that name). A not-to-gentle reminder that I was once again in a triple seven and we were off, heading due northwest (video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTxHJyU74CQ))
Dessert
Apple Tart with Coffee Anglaise
Vanilla Ice Cream
Tea, Coffee, Espresso, Cappuccino
And the wine list, the same as the flight the day before (but with the Riesling):
Whites (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/7ecce0d7.jpg?t=1338075960) | Reds (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/88c6577b.jpg?t=1338075960) | Long-Haul List (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/5ba1cf04.jpg?t=1338075959) | Others (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/94f01072.jpg?t=1338075959) (a bit blurry)
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1011.jpg?t=1338101898
Dumpling and Spring Roll
It’s a bit tough to see, but there’s a reason for the next pic … the FA placed the cloth, then began to set the table. She then realized that the “THAI” logo and insignia weren't facing me, so she did it over again. It's the small attention to detail that really stands out.
I've had caviar just once in my life before, and figured I might as well try it again if it was on the menu. It was good, but it’s not really my kind of taste. I’d rather have the Balik salmon that LX served.
As for the appetizer, I wanted the salad at first, but turns out they only loaded 3 of them and every other passenger got to them before I did. The purser was extremely apologetic but sold me on the duck liver. It ended up being so good, I thanked him for running out of the other option!
Like the previous flight, I had selected an entrée beforehand on Thai’s website, probably designed by whoever concocted SHARES. Or maybe their grandfather. I thought I had ordered 2 things, one for each meal, but turns out only my first order went through. I ended up having a delicious prawn curry for this meal.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1033.jpg?t=1338102305
Wines (nothing clicked with me except for the Riesling and Port)
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1039.jpg?t=1338102322
Apple tart + vanilla ice cream. Absolutely heavenly.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1042.jpg?t=1338102459
Cue food coma in 3, 2, 1 ...
calvinoeh
May 27, 12, 3:19 am
Amazing TR!!!!
Dom 2003 sucks. Was dissapointed by it on my recent ek f flights (TR to come...). Much prefer the 2000 or the 2002.
Freebird
May 27, 12, 11:20 am
amolkold, I'm particularly enjoying your sense of humor that is peeking out between the pages of this great TR. ^
amolkold
May 27, 12, 12:13 pm
Amazing TR!!!!
Dom 2003 sucks. Was dissapointed by it on my recent ek f flights (TR to come...). Much prefer the 2000 or the 2002.
Thanks calvinoeh! Indeed, I agree on which one is the better one (though may have put a typo in posting that part late last night :eek: but it's been fixed). But with the superiority of the 2002, it seems to go a lot more quickly ... my HKG-BKK flight, the entire cabin finished the bottles before I could get into a Dom groove.
amolkold, I'm particularly enjoying your sense of humor that is peeking out between the pages of this great TR. ^
Thank you Freebird. I'm glad you're enjoying it. If anyone is going to read my ramblings, it might as well be good for a few chuckles.
amolkold
May 27, 12, 4:53 pm
During my second lunch of the day, I turned on the IFE, much better than the old 747 the day before with a lot of great choices available. I watched ‘Carnage’ during lunch (hilarious), and followed it up with the cult classic ‘Pulp Fiction.’ As for the screen, it’s not as sharp as the one on EK F, but still the same huge size at 23”.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1037.jpg?t=1338105513
Praying for headwinds
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1010.jpg?t=1338105665
Jodie Foster seems to be impressed by the suite as well.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1012.jpg?t=1338105658
Across the fuselage
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1071.jpg?t=1338106204
2K decided to keep his windows open (the entire flight), but I didn't notice it at all from my seat
The amazing 5-course meal began to induce a food coma. I changed into my pajamas in the lavatory, and walked out to find the FA waiting with 2 hangers to hang my clothes on. I walked back to see that my bed was already made.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1087.jpg?t=1338105839
My body clock is so confused right now
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1054.jpg?t=1338105814
New amenity kit with Tumi bag (I say "new" because they gave out Rimowa-style boxes on 77W flights a few months before).
This was my first time actually sleeping in a suite and I am definitely spoiled for any flight after this, after having some of the most restful hours of sleep I’ve gotten above 30,000 feet. As soon as I awoke and opened the suite doors, I had an FA ready with a hot towel asking me if I’d like anything to eat or drink.
I’ve come to the conclusion that First Class flight attendants treat me better than anyone in my family ever will. Well, foreign ones at least.
About 2 hours out of Frankfurt, it was time for the second meal service:
Menu (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1001.jpg?t=1338098143)
Second Serving
Amuse Bouche
First Course
Marinated Scallop and Tiger Prawn in Balsamic Vinegar
Soup
Chicken and Leek Soup
Main Course
Beef Massaman Curry (Contain Peanuts)
Steamed Thai Hom Mali Rice, Stir-fried Pak Choy with Garlic
Or
Munich Style Meat Loaf with German Mustard
Parsley Potato, Stewed Red Cabbage
Or
Mushroom and Ricotta Cannelloni
Tomato and Italian Basil Jam / Marinated Capsicum with Olive Oil
Or
Fried Chicken, Onion and Tomato Sauce
Egg Fried Rice, Vegetables
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1099.jpg?t=1338158056
Scallop and Prawn
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1103.jpg?t=1338158074
Chicken and leek soup
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1101.jpg?t=1338158063
Bread basket. The lighting in the suite is a photographer's dream.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1108.jpg?t=1338158068
Cannelloni. A delicious dish to signify my return to the western world.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/ThaiFirst/IMG_1109.jpg?t=1338158604
Hazelnut and Vanilla Bavarois / Cinnamon Anglaise
amolkold
May 27, 12, 5:54 pm
I sorely needed to take a walk after that last meal, but needed to change out of my baby blue jammies before doing so. I walked back but only to the front of the first mini-cabin for Economy, as service carts and a long line for mid-aircraft lavs blocked the path to the back of the plane. I returned to the F cabin to see the FA perplexed as to where I’d gone.
The remainder of the flight was simply a return to my childhood days of peering out the window, as we descended over Germany into a setting sun. Except this time, I’d have 4 windows. And the view wouldn’t be blocked by the wing. And I had an FA practically cheering me on to finish the rest of the wine bottle.
As we began our descent into Frankfurt, the purser and two flight attendants came by to thank me, kneeling down and wishing me a pleasant stay in Frankfurt (all 14 or so hours of it).
Once off, we were greeted by a Lufthansa agent who'd escort First Class pax through immigration. At least I think that's what she said - I don't know if she was speaking German or English. I'd been in Asia way too long.
But it was helpful, as immigration lines were packed, so using the crew line was advantageous, though one of the other F pax seemed to trigger every possible red light slowing us down. After getting my bags, I made it through customs check only to be called back and asked to do a secondary search (to the constant apologies of the LH agent).
Customs agent: "How much currency do you have?"
Me: "More than a Greek banker."
Customs agent: "Where all have you been on this trip."
Me: "I've been everywhere, man."
Customs agent: "Why have you come to Frankfurt?"
Me: "For the warm sense of welcoming hospitality."
I made my way to the S-bahn and made my way over to Messe, taking advantage of PC's PointsBreak for a room at the Holiday Inn Express --- 5000 points for a $200/night room sounds good in my book.
Superb report and photos amolkold. One of the best I've read on FT.^
vecta
May 28, 12, 10:50 pm
Wonderful report amolkold, thank you for taking the time to compose. ^
dcmike
May 29, 12, 9:59 am
Amazing report! Your descriptions and photos are astounding. Although I do think you should post some photos of the Tour de Franzia! :D
HMPS
May 29, 12, 1:25 pm
Execellent TR my desi friend.
Wondering if I can put together something like this on miles and Avios?
olafman
May 29, 12, 2:18 pm
Great epic report!
I'm a rock climber and often have a backback or some sort as I board in first class. When I was younger, I definitely would get looks and the occasional comment. I'm glad when the airline personnel politely ask in which class am I traveling. They are doing their job to keep first class exclusive. As for the fellow passengers who assume you are in the wrong place, just smile and ignore. It's a technique that will always win out.
A couple of years ago, I was teaching in Munich and had flown down to South Africa on Emirates in FC. The funniest moment came at the gate in Dubai on the way home when I ran into several of my students and their families who had spent the week there. The gate was chaos and the minute they called for the FC pax, I wished them a good flight. I didn't stick around for their reactions but I did hear whispers about it when I was lecturing the next week! :)
amolkold
May 29, 12, 6:35 pm
A lot less time this week, so I'm glad I got the good parts of the TR out of the way (still left are the LH Euro J and United "F" flight, but they were okay).
Superb report and photos amolkold. One of the best I've read on FT.^
Thank you Crampedin13A!
Wonderful report amolkold, thank you for taking the time to compose. ^
Thank you vecta!
Amazing report! Your descriptions and photos are astounding. Although I do think you should post some photos of the Tour de Franzia! :D
That was a few years ago, so no pics (thank goodness), but I couldn't look at grapes for a few days afterward. ;) The things we're able to do in our youth ...
Execellent TR my desi friend.
Wondering if I can put together something like this on miles and Avios?
Thank you HMPS! Avios would be tough, mostly because you can't find a non-stop OW flight from North America to India (you pay more for each segment you take). I burned most of my BA miles on a trip to South America since LAN doesn't have fuel surcharges down there. You could fly BA or CX to India on BA miles, but will pay incredibly high prices in terms of miles and fuel surcharges on both (BA's fuel surcharges might make a grown man cry). It's why I stick to *A for India trips, with some ST if I can find AF J space using DL miles.
Great epic report!
I'm a rock climber and often have a backback or some sort as I board in first class. When I was younger, I definitely would get looks and the occasional comment. I'm glad when the airline personnel politely ask in which class am I traveling. They are doing their job to keep first class exclusive. As for the fellow passengers who assume you are in the wrong place, just smile and ignore. It's a technique that will always win out.
A couple of years ago, I was teaching in Munich and had flown down to South Africa on Emirates in FC. The funniest moment came at the gate in Dubai on the way home when I ran into several of my students and their families who had spent the week there. The gate was chaos and the minute they called for the FC pax, I wished them a good flight. I didn't stick around for their reactions but I did hear whispers about it when I was lecturing the next week! :)
Thank you, olafman! Means a lot coming from you, as I followed your grand yearlong epic tour around the world. Your TRs about South America, Easter Island, and the Emirates AKL-SYD flight were very helpful for this trip and my previous one. ^
After years on FT, I've realized just how people end up flying F, especially long-haul. Most are either not paying for it themselves or have worked hard to learn how to use their miles that way. Does it make us more special? Not at all. But the knowledge helps escape the unnecessary hubbub involved in flying nowadays.
Though I still have a few people who don't believe how I got this trip to work out ...
SFO777
May 30, 12, 7:12 pm
Great report amolkold! Wow, what a wonderful experience sampling such a wide spectrum of premium products. Totally envious.
My favorite pic was of the exact same amazing chicken rice meal we enjoyed at Maxwell Centre. ^
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Outbound/IMG_0295.jpg?t=1337469876
Chicken rice. That chili sauce is amazing.
HMPS
May 30, 12, 7:32 pm
SFO O77
You can find Thai chilli sauce in US. Look for Sambal in Thai or Indian stores.
I spike mine with some great " Bhoot Jolakia " hot sauce.
launches you in an orbit. !:D
bikeNfly
May 30, 12, 8:17 pm
Awesome report, cant wait to see the rest!
vpat48
May 31, 12, 2:09 pm
Wow what an amazing TR. I wholeheartedly agree with others who said this is the best TR of the year.
I haven't been back home to India in about 5 years, wouldn't mind seeing some India pics with your great photo taking skills.
Angeleno228
May 31, 12, 2:32 pm
Are you trying to make us jealous? :D Great trip report!
amolkold
May 31, 12, 10:19 pm
Great report amolkold! Wow, what a wonderful experience sampling such a wide spectrum of premium products. Totally envious. My favorite pic was of the exact same amazing chicken rice meal we enjoyed at Maxwell Centre. ^
Thank you, SFO777! When's the next CX F goodness? :cool: Of course, for you the goodness is the flight; for us, it's the ensuing TR.
Are you trying to make us jealous? :D Great trip report!
Thanks Angeleno228! Not trying, but if it is .... ;)
Wow what an amazing TR. I wholeheartedly agree with others who said this is the best TR of the year.
I haven't been back home to India in about 5 years, wouldn't mind seeing some India pics with your great photo taking skills.
Thank you, vpat48! I have a few pictures of India but they're on a memory card that I left back there :o. Fortunately, I'll be back in less than a month and will likely update this then. No new TR, since that's in plain-old SQ Y (if SQ Y can be called plain-old ...)
Awesome report, cant wait to see the rest!
Thank you, bikeNfly, and welcome to FT!
amolkold
May 31, 12, 10:21 pm
As soon as my I disembarked my TG flight, the “fun factor” of this trip went way down. I’d have to overnight in FRA, hop on a Euro J flight to Heathrow, spend a (planned) 23 hours and 45 minutes in London, then get on a United flight to Los Angeles.
From the Holiday Inn Express Messe, there’s a bus stop just in front that goes to the main train station, and from there, a train to FRA. One thing that always confuses me about Europe is where and when I pay for public transportation tickets. I spent probably 20 minutes online trying to figure out the fare from hotel to airport, and even got exact change in Euros. At the bus stop, I got on with two locals who promptly sat down – no payment, no validation of monthly pass, no nein nada. Does anyone here pay for transport??
Once at the train station, I fought with the ticket machine only to realize it wouldn’t take my chip card. I ended up buying a ticket with the few coins I had, and I’m glad I did, because I would later find a tall, thick German lady barking at me on the train for my fahrkarte. Though once I figured out what she was saying, I got a polite “dankeschön” out of her.
Check-in was relatively easy at FRA, given the number of LH J passengers flying out of there (hint: it’s a lot). I wish I’d gotten my FCT PA’s number last month, if only I could call him up and sneak in today …
Anyway, after a long security line that would make LAX on Memorial Day blush, I went through to the LH Business Lounge. With no *G status at the time, the Senator Lounge was off-limits, though I found it funny that the line to enter stretched 15-deep when I passed by, only to get into the J lounge unhindered.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/83cb13d9.jpg?t=1338521033
Never too early for one of these ...
A bit of luck placed my gate right before the J lounge and I headed on down shortly before boarding to find the J line - the J line which didn’t exist. It was a mad free-for-all at the gate. Gate lice were being trampled. Star Golds were foaming at the mouth. DYKWIAs did not know who they were themselves.
I made it through. Unscathed. But only to find the largest business cabin I’ve seen on an A321, “business” being economy without a middle seat. It went back all the way to the exit row door 2L. I guess the 10am LHR run is mighty popular.
The sole highlight of the flight was catching a momentary glimpse of ANA's 787 parked at its gate, a bit too brief and distant for a good picture though.
Well, that wasn't really part of the flight, it was just part of the taxi. So I guess the highlight of the flight was breakfast, only because it was a short flight.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/a409200c.jpg?t=1338521541
Canary Wharf (I think?)
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/Photo1.jpg?t=1338522215
Just my luck, the most interesting parts of the city are tiny (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/Photo1.jpg?t=1338522186) and covered by clouds
After disembarkation, I made it to yet another long line, this time for UK immigration. I finally understand the horror stories of Heathrow immigration. It took about 30 minutes on this try, cutting down on the time I had in London. As I snaked my way to the front, I could hear immigration officers grilling everyone with a funny looking passport about their purpose of visit, address in the UK, who they were meeting, how many goats they owned at home. Maybe not the last one. So I walked forward with a bit of trepidation, and placed my blue passport down.
Immigration officer, looking at my arrivals card: “Just here for a day?”
Me: “Yeah. Continuing to the U.S. tomorrow.”
Imm off: “Oh, right then. Have a good day in London.”
A part of me wishes that immigration would give me a tough time now and then, but c'est la vie. I made my way to baggage claim and to the Heathrow Express, which I had gotten a coupon for that made it not that much more than the Connect. A quick trip to Paddington Station and a walk around the corner to the Quality Crown Hyde Park, just 8000 Choice Points (or a transfer of a few thousand MR points during a bonus period to top off my account) to save the £170/$260 every other hotel in London wanted. A decent steal for the number of points, and it's just behind the Hotel Indigo that many love for its location.
The rest of the day was spent in a city I hadn’t visited since I first got to know it almost a decade ago. The <24h connection rule really is amazing. A few pics ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1174.jpg?t=1338522591
A long way from home. Though it did take a more direct route from HKG than I did ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1193.jpg?t=1338522571
The flag and the flag carrier
cas_de
Jun 1, 12, 1:21 am
I spent probably 20 minutes online trying to figure out the fare from hotel to airport, and even got exact change in Euros. At the bus stop, I got on with two locals who promptly sat down – no payment, no validation of monthly pass, no nein nada. Does anyone here pay for transport??
Regarding public in Germany transport things can be very confusing (even for locals), because there are so many types of fares and tickets available and it is very hard to get the full picture re:which type of ticket you need. So don't worry, it even happens to me and I am German. Plus, depending on the type of ticket you don't necessarily need to validate it or show it to the driver - that's normal here. If someone passes the driver and sits down immediately it doesn't mean that this person does not have a valid ticket. To verify that we have on the spot ticket checks by transit personell and if they catch you without a valid ticket they fine you EUR40 I guess. If you are a repeat offender you will be charged and have to appear in court.
I hope this makes things a little bit more clear (at least from a local's perspective). Thanks for posting such an excellent trip report with so many phantastic pictures!
The scotsman
Jun 1, 12, 9:53 am
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your TR in its entirety this afternoon (quiet day in the office before a long weekend courtesy of HM) - great photos and wonderful narrative. Well done.
^ ^
dat4life
Jun 1, 12, 6:46 pm
amolkold, thanks for the great detailed report. I've gotten quite a few ideas from this TR and your Easter Island TR for my upcoming trips. It's nice to see another recent college grad with the ability to do things like this.
You've officially made my "must read" list, alongside Seat 2A, SFO777, and eightblack.
amolkold
Jun 2, 12, 12:18 am
I hope this makes things a little bit more clear (at least from a local's perspective). Thanks for posting such an excellent trip report with so many phantastic pictures!
It does clear it up, cas_de, thank you!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your TR in its entirety this afternoon (quiet day in the office before a long weekend courtesy of HM) - great photos and wonderful narrative. Well done.
^ ^
Thank you, The scotsman. Enjoy the long weekend. We in the U.S. just had one, gotta love 3-day weekends ^
amolkold, thanks for the great detailed report. I've gotten quite a few ideas from this TR and your Easter Island TR for my upcoming trips. It's nice to see another recent college grad with the ability to do things like this.
You've officially made my "must read" list, alongside Seat 2A, SFO777, and eightblack.
Thank you, harrison1186! I honestly think this is the best time for me to travel, before I get bogged down in "real adulthood" (I'm lucky to be working a job that requires full work weeks only certain months of the year).
It's humbling to be placed in amazing TR company as those 3. They're on my shortest of shortlists.
amolkold
Jun 2, 12, 12:19 am
Over the course of a month, I had eaten waaaay too much. I needed to go on a diet. Good thing I was about to fly United.
I made it off the Heathrow Express and took some kind of service elevator to get to the departures level. Except the door close button wouldn’t work. And every 15 seconds, a new passenger would come running toward the elevator to catch it, stopping the closing doors. That scenario repeated about 4 times. Door close buttons on elevators are just about as useful as the “Search” button on the Delta award engine.
Once I made it to the departures level, I wandered around like a chicken with its head cut off before finding the United desks. What’s this? A separate check-in area for Global Services and First passengers then? Not too shabby! I entered the area to have an airport employee ask me a bunch of nonsensical security questions before a quick check-in (due to no lines). I had actually checked in on the mobile app and changed my seat to 2A from 1A, which the agent confirmed. A check for an empty 1K or 2K yielded a negative response … I love sitting on the starboard side on approach to Los Angeles, especially on a clear day (which, I’ll admit, is rare especially in the middle months of the year). I was given a pretty vanilla boarding pass that’s quite possibly the anti-Thai Airways BP, with a tiny “F” denoted after the flight number.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1222.jpg?t=1338616255
LHR GS/Global First check-in
I was also given directions to the Star Alliance lounge, which the check-in agent ensured “has a great breakfast.”
Security went by quickly, with the use of the fast-track lane. While putting my belt back on, a government official approached me, and this actual conversation ensued:
G.O.: “Good morning, sir, I’m from the government.” (if I were Ronald Reagan, I’d be terrified about now).
Me: “Uh, hi.”
G.O.: “You’re traveling to Los Angeles?” (after a peek at my boarding pass)
Me: “Yes.”
G.O. “How long were you in the UK?”
Me: “Less than a day.”
G.O.: “Why so short?”
Me: “Because then I don't have to pay you £130 for the APD” (actual answer and reasoning).
G.O.: “I see. May I ask how much you spent in the past day, especially your lodging?”
Me: “My hotel was on points, so £0. Kill the APD, I’ll stay longer next time.”
Seriously though, what a stupid levy. :td:
I headed off to the *A lounge and was told to turn right toward the F side. While I’ve now been spoiled by the likes of the LH FCT and the TG FCL, this was still a pretty sorry excuse for an F lounge. Sure, it’s quieter than the J side, but it’s not much nicer in any other way. The food options were pathetic. I stayed for about 10 minutes to take some pictures, then left.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1225.jpg?t=1338616366
F side
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1226.jpg?t=1338616371
F side
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1227.jpg?t=1338616555
Where is this "great breakfast?"
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/2c799553.jpg?t=1338615600
No type of lighting could make this look good
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/25d6b0c2.jpg?t=1338616560
J side. Same food though ...
I was about to roam the halls of T1 until it hit me: BMI! They’re still part of *A, right? They’ve got to have a lounge somewhere here … a few looks around and I found signs to their international lounge, quite a walk away at about 15-20 minutes, but I was determined to check it out.
Indeed, it is quite a walk, through some hallways and areas of Heathrow I’d think were off-limits to passengers if I wasn’t blinded by going to what must be a carrier’s flagship lounge. I made it and presented my boarding pass, which the lounge dragon took a while to peruse.
“What class are you flying?”
“First.”
“Where does it say that?”
“It’s that tiny ‘F’ after the flight number.”
“Now why would they put it there? That doesn’t make any sense. But seat 2A to Los Angeles, so I believe you.”
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/b20b588b.jpg?t=1338616661
The only indication of cabin on the new UA boarding passes ...
The BMI lounge is nicely appointed and has character that was missing in the large *A lounge. It's what I imagine a British home to be like, if designed by an airline and placed near a runway. Best yet, it has great views of the tarmac.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1232.jpg?t=1338616785
Seating area near entrance (The Lobby)
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/0b2625b2.jpg?t=1338616779
Bar area (The Local)
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/b6215d99.jpg?t=1338616763
Better than the *A Lounge selection
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/33289215.jpg?t=1338616770
Yes, still better.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1235.jpg?t=1338617446
Daybeds with tarmac views (The Slumber)
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1236.jpg?t=1338617005
Tarmac views. I'm going to say that this pic has symbolism (BMI caught between OneWorld and Star) but that's just lucky timing.
The only problem with the lounge is that it would take a long time to reach my flight, so I had to leave with about 20 minutes left before boarding.
UA 935
LHR-LAX, 11h05m
Boeing 777-200 (new configuration)
Seat 2A, F
I got to the gate just as the gate agent was describing the United boarding “process.” What was said was that they’d board by zone numbers. As an F passenger, I had Group 1 on my BP, so when the gate agent announced, “we’d like to board the first group, Global Services,” I took the comma in that phrase as an “and.” I was turned away, as 4 eager GS members walked ahead to board first. Two of them were in business. Remind me again what “First” and "One" mean? I know I’m lucky to be flying ahead of the wing due to miles, but already this is an experience I wouldn’t ever put down money for if I needed to buy a ticket and UA was one of several options.
A bit later, I was invited to board as an F pax, and walked through the jetway. Two bridges were attached, one for F/J going to 1L and the other for Y going to 2L. I took my seat at 2A. Despite seeing 2 empty seat assignments at check-in, all 8 seats were eventually taken.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1238.jpg?t=1338618833
Seat 1A, a bit different from 1A on the 747
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1241.jpg?t=1338618923
F/J Divider behind 2A. Klassy with a K.
I don’t know if this is because this was a U.S.-bound flight, but there was just a lot of hubbub and commotion within the cabin. It seemed like the aisle was a fashion runway and everybody wanted to strut their stuff. Ground staff plus crew members (both service and cockpit) were running throughout the cabin – even though we boarded 50 minutes ahead of schedule. What’s all the hubbub about? It’s another reason why I prefer 747s, either the top deck or the nose section.
I wasn’t really welcomed onboard, just asked if I would like anything to drink. Since it was barely 10am, I stuck with a cold glass of water, delivered in a plastic cup. At least the FA placed the advertisements on the napkin downward. I went to place my carry-on in the bin, but found that the bin directly above my seat was filled with crew baggage. I instead put it one bin over. Not a big deal, but seriously?
After having traveled around the world for the better part of a month, I’d noticed a few things about Americans compared to other citizens of the world. We are a talkative bunch, and our flight pursers are no different. The crew was London-based, but the purser definitely spoke with a U.S. accent. In the time it takes for a TG or SQ or EK purser to read through a script in 2 languages, it takes that much time for a UA purser to formulate a coherent message in 1 language. Add in their some filler phrases like, “we do appreciate your cooperation throughout this flight.” No need to say that … just a simple “thank you.” Want me to fasten my seatbelt? I’ll do it. Want me to put my bag away? Certainly. Why wouldn’t I cooperate? Is it because you have an unwelcoming service environment? Oh right, I forgot about the poor souls down the back. Someone should teach them that foreign carriers like BA, VS, and NZ fly this route as well ….
But back to the commotion … it’s tough to get ready for a flight when there are so many people running up and down the aisles. Sure, I usually fly economy, but it’s only other passengers slowly walking down the aisles, finding their small parcel of space for the next few hours. There’s a lot of camaraderie in the affair. But the F and forward J cabins were like a warzone. I tried to escape to the forward lav, but it seemed like it was the pilots’ second home for the entire flight. Add to the fact that there was only 1 for the F cabin … “there used to be 2” said the purser while I was waiting. But more on that later. I entertained myself by reading the flight plan left out near the galley.
Once the “ground crew, please leave the aircraft” announcement was made, I headed back to my seat. Ahh, now this is more F. Well, except for the plastic cup of ice next to me. Menus were handed out, but not before I saw the FA ask the purser in the galley, “So … when do I pass these out?”
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1242.jpg?t=1338619055
You guys, it's okay! This man says the product is getting better! Then "Rhapsody in Blue" played!
We began taxiing toward the runway, along side the UA departures to IAD and SFO. One thing I really don’t like about the UA F seat is the shoulder strap you have to wear during taxi/takeoff/landing. It’s incredibly uncomfortable.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1243.jpg?t=1338619247
I LIKE YOUR MILES.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1250.jpg?t=1338619429
Following a company twin, headed to the other California hub
While takeoff was to the east, we immediately made a left turn to head back toward the west, so no views of London. With the sun shining brightly, I soon closed all 3 of my window shades, something that seat 1A decided not to do. Since there’s no barrier alongside the windows (like with TG/9W 777s and EK’s A380s) the sun shined brightly in my face. Not one to tell another passenger in another row what to do, I made do by placing my menu in between the gap. Again, lucky to be in F, but things like this should have been caught in the cabin design.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1303.jpg?t=1338621468
Bright in my eyes.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1304.jpg?t=1338621474
The UA menu is good for something ...
But hey, at least I was in a solo seat next to the windows. Since the seat faces toward the aisle, you get to know whoever sits across the aisle from you. Today, 2C placed his bare feet up on the console, right next to 2H's space. Glad I wasn't over there.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/e6078dc2.jpg?t=1338620342
After he put some socks on ...
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1253.jpg?t=1338620074
MacGyver-ing a privacy divider via the seat storage compartment door. Also, the wine glass is empty, not a chance event on this flight.
Having had 12 segments on foreign carriers since my last UA flight, I had forgotten just how long it takes for the captain to turn off the fasten seat-belt sign. The FAs did not follow this sign, and started service soon after takeoff. Meal orders were taken as 1A, 1C, 2C, 2A, then the right-aisle, and so I guess some preference to the GS members around me (which is fine).
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/whatllyahave.jpg?t=1338620417
Taking orders. I'll let you surmise what I think is wrong with this picture.
I was given a ramekin of hot nuts, which were delicious, but drink orders weren’t taken until after they were delivered, so my glass of wine arrived while I was almost finished #FirstClassProblems.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1252.jpg?t=1338620210
Wait, then what's that circular part for?
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1254.jpg?t=1338620607
Table setting. LX's salt + pepper shakers probably beat up UA's on the Star Alliance playground.
Menu:
TO BEGIN
Chilled Appetizer
Citrus-infused smoked peppered salmon with micro greens
Soup
Wild Mushroom and Asparagus
Fresh Seasonal Greens
Tomatoes, artichokes, black olive and croutons with you choice of classic Caesar dressing or roasted garlic red wine vinaigrette
MAIN COURSE
Grilled Filet Mignon
Herb and Parmesan compound butter, tomato balsamic sauce, pumpkin mash, carrots, and artichoke
Indian-style Mango Chicken Curry
Pea and cumin rice, pumpkin curry, potatoes with spinach, cucumber and mint raita.
Asian-style Fillet of Salmon
Asian-style sauce, egg fried rice, green beans and red bell pepper.
Vegetable and Ricotta Roulade
Roasted tomato sauce, sautéed asparagus and Parmesan cheese
TO FINISH
International Cheese Selection
Roubilliac, Smoked Cheddar and Stilton
Grapes and crackers served with Graham's Late Bottled Vintage Prt
Dessert
Ice cream with your choice of toppings
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1255.jpg?t=1338620706
Salmon. A bit cold, but still good.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1257.jpg?t=1338621014
The designers of the UA F seat must have forgotten that tables should be level, since mine (and others) sloped downward. The soup was alright, though not as good as the mushroom brie soup from SFO to FRA.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1261.jpg?t=1338621075
Salad was decent.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1269.jpg?t=1338621120
The salmon was good, but where's the egg fried rice??? United's definition of "Asian-style" means "put some soy sauce on the side..."
I actually was enjoying the cheese plate but wanted another set of crackers (since they only give 2). Before I could ask, the FA took the plate away. Again, kind of annoying. Every other flight, they’ve asked, “are you finished” or “may I take this?” I feel as if this crew just wanted to get the service done with, since I was the slowest eater in the cabin (others were getting their entreés while I got my soup or salad).
amolkold
Jun 2, 12, 2:06 am
After I finished lunch and a movie, I put the seat into flat bed mode and got some snoozes. Meal service finished about 2 hours in and I woke up with a bit more than 4 hours to go, so I slept for a good 4.5 hours. The UA F seat is alright for sleeping. They may not have a turndown service. Or mattress pad. Or pajamas. Or a decent duvet - I've had better on DL transcon J. But hey, it's better than Economy, right?? In truth, I guess the pillow is big?
I'll say one positive thing about Global First - the new amenity kits are pretty nice. They're practical and full of stuff I'd actually use on a long flight:
Upon awaking from my slumber, I really wanted a Diet Coke … rather than wait for 20 minutes, I prepared to push the call button, right after saying my last rites. Fortunately, the Diet Coke arrived, although the empty can stuck around for a while after I was finished.
Another annoying thing, like I mentioned, is that there’s only 1 lav in the new config, which is right next to the cockpit and the crew rest area. For the better part of the flight, that lavatory was inaccessible since the FAs set up a fence-like barrier whenever the cockpit was open. This meant that F pax had to use one of the two J lavatories … but I thought you can’t leave your ticketed cabin? Or is this one of those times where that’s okay?
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1308.jpg?t=1338622096
NO LAV FOR YOU
To further blur the lines between “Global First” and “BusinessFirst,” there were absolutely no curtains drawn at either the forward or rear part of the F cabin. That means that light from the galley was quite bothersome (and made me glad I switched from 1A to 2A the day before). From my seat, I could see all the way down to the front of Economy. Again, lucky to be here, but I don’t see the price or mileage premium in this seat over Business. Sorry, BusinessFirst.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia May 2012/Return/aefa07e8.jpg?t=1338622150
Taken from next to Door 1L, while waiting for the lav.
But anyway. As we crossed into the western United States, 'twas time for the second meal service. Remember BKK-FRA on TG? This flight was a mere 150 miles shorter, and only 15 minutes shorter time-wise. Compare that (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18651221-post87.html) to this:
Menu
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
Cajun-spiced Chicken and Juraregal Cheese Sandwich
Mediterranean-style potato salad.
Ploughman's Selection
Cottage loaf, cheese wedges, tomato and red pepper chutney, fruit and garnishes
Scones and clotted cream with butter and fruit preserves
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1310.jpg?t=1338622297
That's it.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1311.jpg?t=1338622733
I think I saw this in the Lean Cuisine selection at my local grocer's freezer.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1312.jpg?t=1338622757
LHR catering knows how to do scones, but the salad was an affront to taste buds everywhere. Blech.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1314.jpg?t=1338622807
The best part of the meal. I grabbed it in the BMI lounge. The UA FAs didn't bat an eye to it, but I wouldn't dare pull outside food out on a TG/SQ flight.
As the line for the F lav grew, we began our approach into LAX. Smoggy. Hot. Lacking greenery. Good to be headed home!
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1316.jpg?t=1338623696
There's an ocean somewhere there ...
Before landing, the team of FAs came by to thank every passenger for flying Uni ... LOL, JK, NOTHING OF THE SORT. Though there were suddenly a lot of Y and J FAs who marched through the aisles to do whatever it is they needed to do up front. Probably to use the F lav.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/7ae95ea0.jpg?t=1338623879
Through the parade of FAs, this somehow fell on the ground and remained for the duration of the flight. I would have picked it up, but the seatbelt sign was on ...
We made our way to a gate at T7, and were asked by the purser over the PA to close the window shades to keep the aircraft cool. I made my way to Immigration - I don't have Global Entry but our flight was the first to arrive, so there wasn't any line. I still didn't receive the "back-room treatment" that I sadistically want one day (only to validate the craziness of the trip); instead, I got a polite "welcome home" from the CBP officer.
It took about 20 minutes to get my bags out. I stepped outside to a refreshingly warm and dry 72º day in the Southern California area, with cool ocean breezes waving the palm trees toward the east.
There's no place like home.
amolkold
Jun 2, 12, 2:10 am
I guess I should wrap us this TR. It was a fun trip, and I sincerely have FT to thank (yes, sincerity in a TR that was lacking it in many parts).
I joined this forum over 4 years ago, to ask a naïve question about upgrading a Delta flight from LAX to ATL to F with miles. That’s it. That was the extent of my creativity and imagination. Upgrading a 4-hour domestic flight. After some reading, I learned all about the tricks of frequent fliers. Less than two years later, I got a free upgrade to F on that LAX-ATL route thanks to medallion status.
My last trip to India, I paid a certain price for an open-jaw trip from Los Angeles to Bombay to Atlanta, all in Delta Economy Discomfort. Three years later, I was able to fly to Bombay, and visit Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and London for about the same price, but this time in First and Business. With showers, lounge massages, and transfers from special terminal to plane in a Mercedes. I probably ate enough free delicious food (and also some United food) to make up for the airport taxes.
I use this Trip Reports subforum for inspiration and the various other FT subforums for information. Let this be a testament to the newbies … if you dedicate the time and effort to doing some research, a trip like this is within reach.
SFO777
Jun 2, 12, 11:59 am
amolkold, what an amazing trip and truly sensational report. Great pics and terrific narrative. Just loved your LHR-LAX United section. What a pathetic excuse for an airline. No one in their right mind would pay retail for such a substandard product. Once one experiences how great airlines treat their premium pax, flying UA or any NA carrier TATC/TPAC is a last resort.
amolkold
Jun 2, 12, 4:02 pm
Just loved your LHR-LAX United section. What a pathetic excuse for an airline. No one in their right mind would pay retail for such a substandard product. Once one experiences how great airlines treat their premium pax, flying UA or any NA carrier TATC/TPAC is a last resort.
Considering that the cabin was 5/8 until 3 days before, I'm sure the last 3 were just J pax using a GPU (or whatever UA calls their SWUs). I hope the other 4 didn't waste extra miles/$ on this :eek:.
I've always heard the gripe with NA intl F classes and finally understood it with that LHR-LAX flight, especially after experiencing LX/TG/EK F and SQ J (which beats UA F). The SFO-FRA flight on UA wasn't bad -- I think the 747 is a great hard product and for an overnight flight, still decent. Next time, though, I'll take the east coast LH flight, even if it is less time in international F.
It also shows how big of a pitfall that "no change after first segment" policy on US really is. Otherwise, it's a very lucrative program.
Logan^
Jun 2, 12, 9:48 pm
Awesome report amolkold, I have loved reading your TR, its been a great write up.
I look forward to future reports!
JMN57
Jun 2, 12, 10:45 pm
Great trip report & a great read.
Like many good things in life, it evokes what we know so we can relate but brings something new so we can grow. All with a keen eye and wit. You spoil us.
Don't keep us on the hook too long before your next report, you may cause the voyeur crowd to take up a collection to get you on the road (or in this case up in the air) just for the entertainment.
Shuttle_Endeavour
Jun 3, 12, 1:45 am
Amolkold, thanks for taking the time to write this, I've greatly enjoyed reading it.
Is the TR 2012 competition open for nominations yet?
CMK10
Jun 4, 12, 3:09 pm
Thanks for finishing this up, one of the best TRs I've seen all year, hands down. Your humor at the United segment was truly hilarious too.
mtkeller
Jun 4, 12, 3:30 pm
Bravo on an outstanding trip report! I love the way your sense of humor comes through everywhere, and the photographs are great.
Regarding LHR lounges, come through T4 some time on SkyTeam with your ST E+ status and check out the food in the ST lounge. It puts the *A and BD lounges' breakfast to shame, as you can get most of a full English plus a continental breakfast. I hear BA has some nice lounges over in T5, too, so I'm rather astounded at the lack of quality of the *A lounge product. Guess UA premium cabin pax should be using the LHR-EWR/IAH flights that still leave from T4 because of gate access issues in T1, since I believe they get to use the ST lounge.
former230
Jun 4, 12, 8:01 pm
Great TR! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your adventures in the air and on the ground....especially as a One World guy myself who might not experience these same carriers anytime soon. Looking forward to your next report.
amolkold
Jun 5, 12, 5:09 pm
Awesome report amolkold, I have loved reading your TR, its been a great write up.
I look forward to future reports!
Thank you Logan^. I look forward to future trips!
Great trip report & a great read.
Like many good things in life, it evokes what we know so we can relate but brings something new so we can grow. All with a keen eye and wit. You spoil us.
Don't keep us on the hook too long before your next report, you may cause the voyeur crowd to take up a collection to get you on the road (or in this case up in the air) just for the entertainment.
Thank you, JMN57. You spoil me with your compliments.
Amolkold, thanks for taking the time to write this, I've greatly enjoyed reading it.
Thank you, Shuttle_Endeavour.
Thanks for finishing this up, one of the best TRs I've seen all year, hands down. Your humor at the United segment was truly hilarious too.
Thank you, CMK10. FT is the only place that will understand the #FirstClassProblems I encountered on the last UA flight. All of my friends (who all fly Y/Y+ for the most part) did a :rolleyes: at my rant when I told them about my experience later that week. Then they saw my pictures of TG/LH/LX/EK/SQ ...
A year ago, my family would have smacked me upside the head when I complained about the UA flight, but all of them have now experienced a 4*/5* Asian carrier at least once in J (thanks to FT ;)) so they get it.
Bravo on an outstanding trip report! I love the way your sense of humor comes through everywhere, and the photographs are great.
Regarding LHR lounges, come through T4 some time on SkyTeam with your ST E+ status and check out the food in the ST lounge. It puts the *A and BD lounges' breakfast to shame, as you can get most of a full English plus a continental breakfast. I hear BA has some nice lounges over in T5, too, so I'm rather astounded at the lack of quality of the *A lounge product. Guess UA premium cabin pax should be using the LHR-EWR/IAH flights that still leave from T4 because of gate access issues in T1, since I believe they get to use the ST lounge.
Thank you, mtkeller. Indeed, the *A lounge at LHR was very disappointing and now that BMI has left, there aren't any good alternatives. I don't give ST enough credit as an alliance and don't really use them abroad as much. Most of my ST flying is domestically -- frankly, I think DL has the best domestic hard product amongst all the legacies. I'm looking forward to my 5900 miles over the next week. Hopefully I can experience the LHR ST lounge sometime in the future, probably on a flight to the European continent in Y to lower that darned APD.
Great TR! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your adventures in the air and on the ground....especially as a One World guy myself who might not experience these same carriers anytime soon. Looking forward to your next report.
Thank you, former230. OneWorld is beckoning me. LAN J was a great product earlier this year, but now I'm ready to graduate to a OW F product. My AA balance isn't growing quickly enough and I still haven't found an excuse to include CX 888/889 on a coast-to-coast trip yet ...
wainza1
Jun 6, 12, 12:11 am
Loving this TR. I really enjoy your writing style, looking forward to the rest of it :D
oneeyejack
Jun 6, 12, 10:12 am
But it was soon time to board, so I made my way to the boarding area. Lines were already forming, one for Economy and another for First/Business, so I stood in the latter. A TG agent came down the line to check boarding passes and passports, and upon seeing my BP with a large “F” on it, invited me to form a new line to the side for first class boarding. So I did.
Now given my age and the fact that I travel with a big backpack rather than a rollerboard or other business traveler accessories, I tend to have people often tell me that I’m not in the right place. I usually ignore them.
But the guy in the front of the J line was one of those people that wouldn’t shut up. Despite being told to form a new line by a GA, he’d keep making comments toward me like, “There’s a line behind me.” I chose to ignore the first time, but after he repeated himself, I simply responded, “Yes. There is a line behind you.”
“Buddy. There’s a line, you gotta follow rules.”
"I was told to stand here."
I could not have timed it better, but right then, a TG agent walked up to me: “Mr. amolkold, we are ready to board First Class please,” as she waved her hand to welcome me to the jetway. As I handed my BP, I fought the urge to turn around and see the look on his face.
You are a GOOOOOOD man. ^
So many things you could have done to this guy while you were walking down the jetbridge. Would have loved to see his priceless face.
BTW, great trip report! Loved the commentary and humor.
tomy77
Jun 6, 12, 5:31 pm
Excellent TR ^
Teefaf
Jun 10, 12, 4:48 pm
Dude, this was awesome. Just finished reading the whole thing through.
You've done so many things right here that I feel spoiled to have been able to enjoy the fruits of your efforts for free - an awe-inspiring journey, wonderful mix of content, great photos and grounded, witty prose with a great pictures-to-text ratio... I could go on and on.
The praise you have received so far has been richly deserved - many, many thanks for a truly wonderful piece. Looking forward to the next one!
Omar84
Jun 10, 12, 11:56 pm
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/BKKHKG/9Photo1.jpg?t=1337933452
Priority boarding for monks. Or maybe he has transcended even EK Gold.
Awesome Report amolkold, love the pictures and the writing.
This picture and caption to me was pure gold HAHA
amolkold
Jun 14, 12, 10:35 pm
I'm now back to the less-than-stellar grind of domestic traveling ... sadly, my streak of consecutive First/Business class flights ended yesterday, as I barely missed upgrades on LGA-ATL-LAX. Although I did get LAX-JFK-DCA in Delta BusinessElite/First over the weekend ... would you believe me when I say that the quality of the midnight snack on DL's LAX-JFK red-eye in transcontinental J was better than the stuff UA decided to serve as lunch from LHR in international F??
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/Photo1-1.jpg?t=1339734220
Poor lighting with a camera phone, but still pretty good. Hey United, look at that salad and tiramisu ... learn from the guys down in Atlanta.
Compared to this:
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q635/amolkold/Asia%20May%202012/Return/IMG_1310.jpg?t=1338622297
Plus, the DL FAs were terrific, offering multiple Pre Departure Drinks (none of this "just 1 PDB" on UA with an hour of boarding time) and keeping glasses topped off throughout the night. It still doesn't hold a candle to the likes of SQ J, but sadly, they don't fly Los Angeles to New York (without stopovers in Singapore and Frankfurt ... although now I have an idea for a future trip ...).
---
Loving this TR. I really enjoy your writing style, looking forward to the rest of it :D
Thank you, wainza1. Hope you enjoyed the rest.
You are a GOOOOOOD man. ^
So many things you could have done to this guy while you were walking down the jetbridge. Would have loved to see his priceless face.
Thank you, oneeyejack. In retrospect, maybe if I had had my camera out ... :p
Excellent TR ^
Thank you, tomy77.
Dude, this was awesome. Just finished reading the whole thing through.
You've done so many things right here that I feel spoiled to have been able to enjoy the fruits of your efforts for free - an awe-inspiring journey, wonderful mix of content, great photos and grounded, witty prose with a great pictures-to-text ratio... I could go on and on.
The praise you have received so far has been richly deserved - many, many thanks for a truly wonderful piece. Looking forward to the next one!
Thank you, Teefaf, for the very kind words.
Awesome Report amolkold, love the pictures and the writing.
This picture and caption to me was pure gold HAHA
Thank you, Omar84. I think reaching airline elite status can definitely instill a sense of nirvana :p.
SgtRyan
Jun 15, 12, 2:09 pm
After reading your trip report and a few of the other EK/BA reports, how can you ever go back to DL or UA........with a few of the American based airlines getting new planes, you'd think they would learn from the others...
TexasTea
Jun 15, 12, 3:14 pm
What a phenomenal trip report! Excellent photos, as well as writing. I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing! ^
econometrics
Jun 16, 12, 10:21 pm
As your LAX based sports radio persona would say: IN-credible trip report. RI-dicluous!
One of the best I've ever read. The LHR-LAX segment was hilarious... in a tragic comedic way. Reminded me of a recent FRA-ORD trip I had on UA where the FA literally told me that she did not think they had enough water for the rest of the flight if she were to give me some 3 hours after takeoff from FRA.
Cheers, and thanks for sharing! ^
amolkold
Jun 17, 12, 11:21 pm
After reading your trip report and a few of the other EK/BA reports, how can you ever go back to DL or UA........with a few of the American based airlines getting new planes, you'd think they would learn from the others...
I've had some good DL crews - a terrific LAX-JFK crew in J last year comes to mind. I also had a great AA crew on JFK-LAX in J earlier this year. Maybe it's my expectations, though. It's a lot more "hit-or-miss" with U.S.-based crews, especially with international routes.
What a phenomenal trip report! Excellent photos, as well as writing. I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing! ^
Thank you, TexasTea.
As your LAX based sports radio persona would say: IN-credible trip report. RI-dicluous!
You mean Mr. FCO? "PHE-nomenal!" :D
One of the best I've ever read. The LHR-LAX segment was hilarious... in a tragic comedic way. Reminded me of a recent FRA-ORD trip I had on UA where the FA literally told me that she did not think they had enough water for the rest of the flight if she were to give me some 3 hours after takeoff from FRA.
Cheers, and thanks for sharing! ^
It was definitely a comedy of errors. I wish it had been earlier in my trip, just so that I could tell the story to my SQ/TG/EK flight attendants. I wouldn't be able to imagine the horror on their faces :D
Cheers, econometrics (even if you were one my lesser favorite classes in college ;)).
corporateslave
Jun 18, 12, 11:10 am
Excellent report--LX food looks great.
econometrics
Jun 18, 12, 11:41 am
You mean Mr. FCO? "PHE-nomenal!" :D
HA! Nicely disguised in aviation terminology! ^
Cheers, econometrics (even if you were one my lesser favorite classes in college ;)).
Yes, to each his own in the nerdy areas of life, lol!
ExpatSomchai
Jun 18, 12, 1:01 pm
Fantastic TR. Many thanks for sharing.
isaifan
Jun 19, 12, 6:21 am
Over the course of a month, I had eaten waaaay too much. I needed to go on a diet. Good thing I was about to fly United.
Ha ha. I love the line above. Great Report.
thepixinator
Jun 21, 12, 5:19 am
Already, a huge difference between the men (Lufthansa) and the boys (SWISS), at least when it comes to ground service. Lufthansa would come to get you, while SWISS makes you report to them.
*giggles* my sister used to live in Zurich...this is so Swiss!
1) "We need to build a new Hong Kong Airport."
2) "Well, I have the blueprints for a gargantuan shopping mall."
1) "Good enough!"
That's hilarious.
I've also never flown Emirates, but after seeing the adverts for their suites, I have been daydreaming about:
Welcome to Nouveau Riche Bling Airways, and by god, I love it.
“Well then, I have to show you a good time, so that you know that Emirates is better than Swiss and Singapore.”
Shortly after takeoff, I was told one of the most peculiar yet grandest things I’ve heard on a plane: “Sir, your shower is ready.” I grabbed my bag. And because I was planning a TR, my camera as well.
Great TR! And this is just classic:
I passed through immigration, full of "Death to Drug Smugglers" signs. While I don't partake, I found it funny that I was visiting Singapore on April 20.
flood
Jun 21, 12, 8:58 am
Wow, incredible TR amolkold! Thank you
robofski
Jun 23, 12, 10:34 am
Wonderful trip report, the pictures were fantastic, but the quality of the writing and the humour contained within is what kept me reading. I think this is the first report of yours I've read, and I will certainly be looking up more.
Thanks for taking the time to share this with those of us who can only dream of this kind of travel.
garfield0
Jun 23, 12, 11:25 am
Awesome TR, your humor, sarcasm and details made me read all the 9 pages (including the feedback from others). love how you stop to take a picture and then remember to report it back.
amolkold
Jun 24, 12, 7:49 pm
Excellent report--LX food looks great.
Thank you, corporateslave ... indeed, LX's food was sublime, especially with their vast selection of great wines.
Fantastic TR. Many thanks for sharing.
Thank you, ExpatSomchai.
Ha ha. I love the line above. Great Report.
Thanks, isaifan. Combine United's lack of good food plus the ability to walk the length of the plane without having to bother with curtains ... it's a good exercise regimen. :rolleyes:
*giggles* my sister used to live in Zurich...this is so Swiss!
<snip>
Great TR!
Thank you, thepixinator. I forgot to mention that at the front desk at the ZRH FCL, you can give a time to be woken up. Since the shuttle was at 10:05pm, I asked for 9pm, so that I could quickly shower, eat dinner, then hop on the van. I woke up before that, but I imagined I'd have a stern-sounding Swiss woman knocking at my door shouting, "VAKE UP YOU FLY TO HONG KONG ZOON."
Wow, incredible TR amolkold! Thank you
Thank you, flood!
Wonderful trip report, the pictures were fantastic, but the quality of the writing and the humour contained within is what kept me reading. I think this is the first report of yours I've read, and I will certainly be looking up more.
Thanks for taking the time to share this with those of us who can only dream of this kind of travel.
Thank you, robofski. I'm rather new to the TR realm, and will definitely continue writing about my travels (at least, the travels that are worth writing about).
Awesome TR, your humor, sarcasm and details made me read all the 9 pages (including the feedback from others). love how you stop to take a picture and then remember to report it back.
Thank you, garfield0. A while back, I was a photojournalist in school, so I'm used to using pictures to tell stories. And it's a lot more fun when a picture has a story ^
qbrain
Jun 25, 12, 12:35 pm
Wow, took me a while to finish that up but it was awesome (well, not United, but you said that already). I have off to hunt down you other trip reports.
sfducati
Jun 26, 12, 5:38 pm
Thanks for sharing your experience with us, amolkold ^. Really enjoyed reading your TR!
Zol
Jun 28, 12, 12:38 am
amolkold, a great TR. Well done, I enjoyed the read.
EK 384
BKK-HKG
Airbus A380-800 (A6-EDF)
Suite 2K, F
The champagne arrived, along with an offer of Arabic coffee and dates. Not just some dates … the entire box, since I'd be the only one partaking. The Brazilian flight attendant offering the two explained the customs behind the coffee, explaining everything from the Dallah (the coffee pot with the extended spout) to the funjal (the handle-less cups) to the subtle elevated shake of the cup to indicate when I'd have my fill. The things you learn about Arabic culture from a South American on a flight from Thailand to a Chinese SAR…
N.B. I believe it is Funjan and not funjal
aleksir
Jun 29, 12, 2:31 pm
amolkold, a great TR. Well done, I enjoyed the read.
Same here !
icycoldice
Jun 29, 12, 7:52 pm
this was an amazing trip report and being a HK-native I have to agree with you the same day Airport Express return ticket is a steal :)
amolkold
Jul 3, 12, 5:33 am
Wow, took me a while to finish that up but it was awesome (well, not United, but you said that already). I have off to hunt down you other trip reports.
Thank you qbrain. As of now, this is just my 2nd and latest trip report. My first one was a few months ago, and is in my signature -- LAN J to Peru (Lima/Machu Picchu) and Chile (Easter Island/Santiago) with Pics (http://bit.ly/A1mXnW)
Thanks for sharing your experience with us, amolkold ^. Really enjoyed reading your TR!
Same here !
Thanks sfducati and aleksir.
amolkold, a great TR. Well done, I enjoyed the read.
N.B. I believe it is Funjan and not funjal
Thanks Zol. I'll trust you on the correction ... I can't find a proper spelling that yields the result I want on Google.
this was an amazing trip report and being a HK-native I have to agree with you the same day Airport Express return ticket is a steal :)
Thank you, icycoldice. I am jealous of where you grew up. I yearn to return to HKG soon.
movingimage
Jul 8, 12, 2:24 am
amolkold many thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. For reasons lost in the midsts of time, Mrs movingimage and I share our flying hours with BA and so were both curious as to what life might be like up at the sharp end on other carriers. Your TR has really helped to open our eyes. Breath-taking in part, and hilarious in others; I could not believe that the service on United F was so unfocussed. Unlike your photos which were also excellent. Mrs movingimage particularly liked the reassurance that you were not naked when taking the ones in the shower! ^
amolkold
Jul 8, 12, 2:31 am
amolkold many thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. For reasons lost in the midsts of time, Mrs movingimage and I share our flying hours with BA and so were both curious as to what life might be like up at the sharp end on other carriers. Your TR has really helped to open our eyes. Breath-taking in part, and hilarious in others;
Thank you, movingimage. I have yet to experience BA F and really would like to sometime in the future. Reading this subforum is like being in a candy store, because a few miles here and there and we can all experience each airline through some method.
I could not believe that the service on United F was so unfocussed. Unlike your photos which were also excellent.
Indeed, there is somewhat of a mistake fire sale of SQ awards going on right now (see: UA forum) and a lot of people are asking if they should give up UA F for SQ J. After my experience, that isn't even a question on my part!
Mrs movingimage particularly liked the reassurance that you were not naked when taking the ones in the shower! ^
Those pics are for FTafterdark :eek: j/k! :p
Zoui21
Jul 8, 12, 4:17 am
Wow, so now that I've finished up reading this TR, I seem to have noticed that its been around 3.5 hours since I began, and it is now 6 in the morning. With no sarcasm intended, I thank you amolkold for such a great read.
This is definitely some of the most intriguing reporting I have read. On that note, I was wondering if you could drop me a PM (to which I'll reply to after an appropriate amount of sleep) about how I can start-up travel writing at 15. There's obviously limitations considering school, etc. But I feel like I actually have a love for writing about my occasional experiences around the world. To be perfectly honest, I'm more in love with the actual act of getting to a place, rather than being there.
Cheers,
Zoui21
amolkold
Aug 10, 12, 11:02 pm
Wow, so now that I've finished up reading this TR, I seem to have noticed that its been around 3.5 hours since I began, and it is now 6 in the morning. With no sarcasm intended, I thank you amolkold for such a great read.
This is definitely some of the most intriguing reporting I have read. On that note, I was wondering if you could drop me a PM (to which I'll reply to after an appropriate amount of sleep) about how I can start-up travel writing at 15. There's obviously limitations considering school, etc. But I feel like I actually have a love for writing about my occasional experiences around the world. To be perfectly honest, I'm more in love with the actual act of getting to a place, rather than being there.
Cheers,
Zoui21
Thank you, Zoui21. I don't know why I didn't respond to your post earlier, but I'm glad I did -- your TR was great!
In regards to the bolded part (my bold), I'm reminded of this quotation:
"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." - Robert Louis Stevenson
T3pleShot
Sep 22, 12, 1:39 am
"Hey Lucky, I think I have a competitor for your favorite SQ FA."
Zing! love it!
amolkold
Sep 22, 12, 6:05 pm
"Hey Lucky, I think I have a competitor for your favorite SQ FA."
Zing! love it!
Hehe, all in good fun :p
----
So I've gotten about 10 PMs in the past couple months asking how I got access to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal since I didn't fly Lufthansa First on this trip. I thought I'd write an addendum here to help answer that:
FCT access rules say you must have a same-day Lufthansa or SWISS First Class ticket.
(A) If you are flying Lufthansa First out of Frankfurt, you're good.
(B) If you are flying Lufthansa to another LH hub (like Munich) and flying Lufthansa First out of there, you're good (as long as it's same day).
(C) If you are flying Lufthansa or SWISS to Zurich and flying SWISS First from there, you're good (as long as it's same day).
(D) If you are inbound on Lufthansa First to Frankfurt and then connecting to a Lufthansa Business flight from there (like to somewhere in Europe without First), you should have access.
The same can be said the other way around. If you are flying ZRH-FRA on LH/LX then FRA-SIN on LH F, you will get LX FCL access at ZRH.
If you do not have a Lufthansa or SWISS First ticket at all that day, you do not get access. If you are flying United First to Frankfurt, then connecting to Lufthansa Business and ending your trip, you do not have access since you do not have a Lufthansa/SWISS First segment on that day.
I accessed the FCT via (C) -- I took the 4:35pm LH flight from FRA to ZRH, then the ZRH-HKG flight on LX in F later that night.
johndoe123
Dec 6, 12, 12:21 pm
I love your trip reports.
If you can, I'd certainly enjoy an overview of how you utilized mileage to book these routings. Namely, what programs, awards, and how many miles. This is great information for anyone trying to replicate a similar trip.
Carfield
Dec 8, 12, 12:52 am
Thanks for an amazing trip report!
It made a great Friday read!
Carfield
correctioncx
Dec 8, 12, 8:55 am
Excellent TR? Just wondered r u Chinese or Indian?
amolkold
Dec 10, 12, 12:38 am
I love your trip reports.
If you can, I'd certainly enjoy an overview of how you utilized mileage to book these routings. Namely, what programs, awards, and how many miles. This is great information for anyone trying to replicate a similar trip.
Thank you johndoe123, especially for bumping this to page 1 ;)