alect
Jul 4, 06, 6:35 pm
We had bought one way F tickets BKK-LAX on OZ after shopping around. Originally NH had a pretty low C fare but they raised it. The reason for the one way fare was that we were ending our OW DONE4 in BKK and needed to get home - this would be our last RTW as mini-alect was going to be 2 soon and we couldn't really justify 3 DONE4 tickets.
BKK-ICN OZ742 C - Seats 1A/C
Check in at BKK was fairly quick, although I had to fill in a form with our US address and we could not be provided with BPs for ICN-LAX for some reason.
We soon bought the tax/fee sticker for leaving BKK and went through into passport control. There were maybe 20 lines, and they seemed to be moving very slowly - ours more slowly than all of the others. I am not sure why it takes so long to process departing pax!!!
Once through we went to the lounge we got an invitation to (VIP C lounge - shared among several airlines) - I know we could have used the TG Business lounge, but at the time it just didn't enter into calculations. The lounge was not particularly nice, a (sort of) self service bar, some food etc… We weren't that hungry as we had just come from dinner with friends. I did a little shopping as I had Baht left over (N.B. children travelling without seats do not have to pay the BKK service/departure fee). The terminal was a zoo, and the stores likewise. Some of the duty free stores had more assistants than customers, but none of them seemed helpful. And btw the prices were not that great either.
We were soon boarding. When I had bought the tickets the TA had told us that no F was available BKK-ICN (which I knew). When I looked at seatmaps, it looked like our flight would be operated by a 747 so I asked for 1A/C on the hope I was right and we would score F seats. As we boarded I could see the a/c was definitely a 747 and as we entered the cabin I was satisfied to see the F seats. This would be really helpful for the overnight short flight to ICN with mini-alect.
Slippers and amenity packs were provided (even for such a short flight). The front cabin was full by the time we departed. We decided go forego the food and go straight to sleep and reclined our seats to flat beds. Others in the cabin were eating. I can't comment on the food. In retrospect though, there was a distinct difference in the service we experienced in C on this segment, to that in the same seats on a real F segment ICN-LAX. Unfortunately there were some noisy pax in the cabin for that flight (snoring, snorting, laughing, fidgeting) which prevented me from sleeping well. Meanwhile mini-alect was quiet asleep :rolleyes:.
Arrival into ICN was on time or a little early. It seemed to take forever for our gate-checked stroller to be brought up (which could easily have been put into the front closet as it folds up like an umbrella stroller). We proceeded to the Immig/Transit signs. Transit was fairly quick as there weren't many pax and the line through security short.
But here came the problem - we walked into the terminal at around 5.50am. Not a soul. Nothing seemed to be open. Some stores were just opening. None of the transit desks were open. We finally found an OZ lounge (above Transit Desk B) but it was closed. We had no BPs and nowhere to even eat. There were not even anyone around to ask for help. I don't quite understand how an airport that is trying to make itself an Asian hub can allow this to happen when clearly there are flight coming in at this time of day?
We kept walking and finally found the OZ Business lounge by Gate 12. They told us the F lounge would not open till 7am, but we were more than welcome in the J lounge. We grabbed some snacks (which were few and far between - the J lounge throughout that day did not have too much in the way of food other than chips, cookies, driedn noodles) and I tried to get our BPs for ICN-LAX. This seemed to take forever for what should have been a simple task. The lady in the lounge did not speak a lot of English. She had to make 2-3 calls in order to finish up.
We had originally wanted to go into town and found out there was a city tour for transit passengers. I asked but she seemed to either/both misunderstand me and/or did not know. She suggested a hotel etc… Finally I found out they would not be open till 9.00am.
Just before 7am we were invited into the F lounge which was still being opened. The food options were much more varied - eggs, chinese breakfast, porridge. Later sushi and cold cuts were brought out. The staff would serve you if you preferred, or you oculd serve yourself. Some Korean pax ordered noodles which the attendants made for them. We had showers (shower rooms are just outside of the F entrance). The shower rooms are very large and extremeley well stocked - all sorts of toileteries toonumerous to mention.
We decided not to go on a tour because we were pretty tired and the weather wasn't looking that great - it soon rained very heavily. That meant spending the entire 11 hr connection at the airport and mainly at the lounge. We had a look at the shops but did not see anything interesting or well priced. There is a kids play room just next door to the OZ lounges. The attendants in the lounge were extremely nice throughout the day. At various points during the day several Korean pax entered - they seemed a business group, as you could definitely see the hierarchy.
At a time which could not come soon enough, we finally were ready for boarding. The gate agents insisted on gate checking our stroller (not sure why as it would easily fit into the closet in the fornt once folded). We were shown to our seats (3A/C) and were instantly asked whether we wanted a bassinet - we explained that mini-alect was too bog for the bassinet and wojuld sleep with us. Drinks were offered. Amenity packs were handed out - quite well stocked (Bulgari) in a greay eather rectangular case. Slippers and PJs were also handed out - silk looking - taupe in colour and the tops with a zipper, though the colouring (gold-esque stripes) looked a little OTP. Immediately the difference in service for F (compared with our experience BKK-ICN) was evident. The attention to detail, provision of everything required and anticipation of needs stood out.
There were 7 pax in the 12 seat F cabin. A pax in 2 D/G moved to 1 D/G, and I chatted with the FAs that I would move to one of those seats once finished with the meal so that mini-alect could sleep in my seat. I had pre-ordered the Royal Korean Meal. When the meal service commecned, linens and metalware was laid out as well as a rose for each pax. Unfortunatel mini-alect fell asleep on my chest/lap as the meal started so I had some trouble eating it. But even mrs-alect was impressed with the tray when it came. It had been preceded by some other dishes (the delay in writing this has obliterated my memory unfortunately). The main course (I had chosed then seafood) was an array of 10 side dishes around a main dish. There are other pics on FT of the meal but I can highly recommend it. I really had trouble finishing the meal - and it takes a lot to get me full and not wanting to finish my food. Mrs alect had a western meal (either beef or lamb) and enjoyed it very much. They also had lobster tail as an option.
At all times the Fas would come over and ask whether they could help in any way with mini-alect. They made my bed (with duvet/sheet/blanket/pillow) in anticipation of me finishing my meal, and I put mini-alect down in the seat and went to get some shut-eye. I slept for a decent 7 hrs or so, as did mrs and mini alect. The seat is very spacies, especially as a seat/lounger. As a bed in goes flat and was sufficient for me (5'10") to stretch out on. But the seats are old and worn, and I experienced (in 3 seats I tried) some cushion alignment issues in the bed position where there were gaps in the cushions so I did not have an uninterrupted soft surface to sleep on. But in general the bed was comfy to sleep in and I slept quite well.
I did not get a chance to sample the IFE - but it is in-seat cycling channels variety.
Breakfast was served before touchdown - standard breakfast fare but done and presented very nicely. Landing was uneventful and F pax disembarked first - we were through immigration and with our bags and out in no more than 15 minutes.
Overall I can highly recommend the OZ F experience - it's not the best seat or IFE in the world, but the overall service, food, and attention to detail is excellent. The value for money is outstanding especially ex-BKK - we paid US$1300 one way BKK-LAX per person (plus lap infant of 10%). The BKK-ICN flight is a hassle (especially with a child) as it is late night overnight and then 11 hr transit, but if you are lucky and then BKK-ICN a/c is 747 and you can snag one of the seats in rows 1-3, you get a sleeper F seat which makes it much more tolerable.
Two areas for improvement - the seat, and the transit/connection experience in ICN early in the morning (eg would have been nice to be met by an F agent disembarking from our inbound flight from BKK and escorted to the lounge, because otherwise there is scant information and help provided a that hour of the morning).
We did not take any specific photos other than those of mini-alect, but I can provide links to those if anyone is interested - there are other photos on airliners.net and on FT which are far better.
BKK-ICN OZ742 C - Seats 1A/C
Check in at BKK was fairly quick, although I had to fill in a form with our US address and we could not be provided with BPs for ICN-LAX for some reason.
We soon bought the tax/fee sticker for leaving BKK and went through into passport control. There were maybe 20 lines, and they seemed to be moving very slowly - ours more slowly than all of the others. I am not sure why it takes so long to process departing pax!!!
Once through we went to the lounge we got an invitation to (VIP C lounge - shared among several airlines) - I know we could have used the TG Business lounge, but at the time it just didn't enter into calculations. The lounge was not particularly nice, a (sort of) self service bar, some food etc… We weren't that hungry as we had just come from dinner with friends. I did a little shopping as I had Baht left over (N.B. children travelling without seats do not have to pay the BKK service/departure fee). The terminal was a zoo, and the stores likewise. Some of the duty free stores had more assistants than customers, but none of them seemed helpful. And btw the prices were not that great either.
We were soon boarding. When I had bought the tickets the TA had told us that no F was available BKK-ICN (which I knew). When I looked at seatmaps, it looked like our flight would be operated by a 747 so I asked for 1A/C on the hope I was right and we would score F seats. As we boarded I could see the a/c was definitely a 747 and as we entered the cabin I was satisfied to see the F seats. This would be really helpful for the overnight short flight to ICN with mini-alect.
Slippers and amenity packs were provided (even for such a short flight). The front cabin was full by the time we departed. We decided go forego the food and go straight to sleep and reclined our seats to flat beds. Others in the cabin were eating. I can't comment on the food. In retrospect though, there was a distinct difference in the service we experienced in C on this segment, to that in the same seats on a real F segment ICN-LAX. Unfortunately there were some noisy pax in the cabin for that flight (snoring, snorting, laughing, fidgeting) which prevented me from sleeping well. Meanwhile mini-alect was quiet asleep :rolleyes:.
Arrival into ICN was on time or a little early. It seemed to take forever for our gate-checked stroller to be brought up (which could easily have been put into the front closet as it folds up like an umbrella stroller). We proceeded to the Immig/Transit signs. Transit was fairly quick as there weren't many pax and the line through security short.
But here came the problem - we walked into the terminal at around 5.50am. Not a soul. Nothing seemed to be open. Some stores were just opening. None of the transit desks were open. We finally found an OZ lounge (above Transit Desk B) but it was closed. We had no BPs and nowhere to even eat. There were not even anyone around to ask for help. I don't quite understand how an airport that is trying to make itself an Asian hub can allow this to happen when clearly there are flight coming in at this time of day?
We kept walking and finally found the OZ Business lounge by Gate 12. They told us the F lounge would not open till 7am, but we were more than welcome in the J lounge. We grabbed some snacks (which were few and far between - the J lounge throughout that day did not have too much in the way of food other than chips, cookies, driedn noodles) and I tried to get our BPs for ICN-LAX. This seemed to take forever for what should have been a simple task. The lady in the lounge did not speak a lot of English. She had to make 2-3 calls in order to finish up.
We had originally wanted to go into town and found out there was a city tour for transit passengers. I asked but she seemed to either/both misunderstand me and/or did not know. She suggested a hotel etc… Finally I found out they would not be open till 9.00am.
Just before 7am we were invited into the F lounge which was still being opened. The food options were much more varied - eggs, chinese breakfast, porridge. Later sushi and cold cuts were brought out. The staff would serve you if you preferred, or you oculd serve yourself. Some Korean pax ordered noodles which the attendants made for them. We had showers (shower rooms are just outside of the F entrance). The shower rooms are very large and extremeley well stocked - all sorts of toileteries toonumerous to mention.
We decided not to go on a tour because we were pretty tired and the weather wasn't looking that great - it soon rained very heavily. That meant spending the entire 11 hr connection at the airport and mainly at the lounge. We had a look at the shops but did not see anything interesting or well priced. There is a kids play room just next door to the OZ lounges. The attendants in the lounge were extremely nice throughout the day. At various points during the day several Korean pax entered - they seemed a business group, as you could definitely see the hierarchy.
At a time which could not come soon enough, we finally were ready for boarding. The gate agents insisted on gate checking our stroller (not sure why as it would easily fit into the closet in the fornt once folded). We were shown to our seats (3A/C) and were instantly asked whether we wanted a bassinet - we explained that mini-alect was too bog for the bassinet and wojuld sleep with us. Drinks were offered. Amenity packs were handed out - quite well stocked (Bulgari) in a greay eather rectangular case. Slippers and PJs were also handed out - silk looking - taupe in colour and the tops with a zipper, though the colouring (gold-esque stripes) looked a little OTP. Immediately the difference in service for F (compared with our experience BKK-ICN) was evident. The attention to detail, provision of everything required and anticipation of needs stood out.
There were 7 pax in the 12 seat F cabin. A pax in 2 D/G moved to 1 D/G, and I chatted with the FAs that I would move to one of those seats once finished with the meal so that mini-alect could sleep in my seat. I had pre-ordered the Royal Korean Meal. When the meal service commecned, linens and metalware was laid out as well as a rose for each pax. Unfortunatel mini-alect fell asleep on my chest/lap as the meal started so I had some trouble eating it. But even mrs-alect was impressed with the tray when it came. It had been preceded by some other dishes (the delay in writing this has obliterated my memory unfortunately). The main course (I had chosed then seafood) was an array of 10 side dishes around a main dish. There are other pics on FT of the meal but I can highly recommend it. I really had trouble finishing the meal - and it takes a lot to get me full and not wanting to finish my food. Mrs alect had a western meal (either beef or lamb) and enjoyed it very much. They also had lobster tail as an option.
At all times the Fas would come over and ask whether they could help in any way with mini-alect. They made my bed (with duvet/sheet/blanket/pillow) in anticipation of me finishing my meal, and I put mini-alect down in the seat and went to get some shut-eye. I slept for a decent 7 hrs or so, as did mrs and mini alect. The seat is very spacies, especially as a seat/lounger. As a bed in goes flat and was sufficient for me (5'10") to stretch out on. But the seats are old and worn, and I experienced (in 3 seats I tried) some cushion alignment issues in the bed position where there were gaps in the cushions so I did not have an uninterrupted soft surface to sleep on. But in general the bed was comfy to sleep in and I slept quite well.
I did not get a chance to sample the IFE - but it is in-seat cycling channels variety.
Breakfast was served before touchdown - standard breakfast fare but done and presented very nicely. Landing was uneventful and F pax disembarked first - we were through immigration and with our bags and out in no more than 15 minutes.
Overall I can highly recommend the OZ F experience - it's not the best seat or IFE in the world, but the overall service, food, and attention to detail is excellent. The value for money is outstanding especially ex-BKK - we paid US$1300 one way BKK-LAX per person (plus lap infant of 10%). The BKK-ICN flight is a hassle (especially with a child) as it is late night overnight and then 11 hr transit, but if you are lucky and then BKK-ICN a/c is 747 and you can snag one of the seats in rows 1-3, you get a sleeper F seat which makes it much more tolerable.
Two areas for improvement - the seat, and the transit/connection experience in ICN early in the morning (eg would have been nice to be met by an F agent disembarking from our inbound flight from BKK and escorted to the lounge, because otherwise there is scant information and help provided a that hour of the morning).
We did not take any specific photos other than those of mini-alect, but I can provide links to those if anyone is interested - there are other photos on airliners.net and on FT which are far better.