"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens;
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens;
Brown paper packages tied up with strings;
These are a few of my favorite things.
...
When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad."
-- My Favourite Things, Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers (http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/favorite.htm)
Later this week, I will be continuing my DONE4 which now takes me to NZ, the Middle East and Europe. All part of what-was-then a superb value oneworld 4 continents RTW ticket I'd commenced out of MNL in July, with the exception of the QF F flight which is an AAdvantage redemption to position me back to MEL at the end of the trip to "suspend" the DONE in Europe.
However, due to forseeable time constraints, this TR will unfortunately have to be scaled down and I will not have the time to write up long, rambling prose like the few I did last year. Instead, I'd be selective, and hope to present to you, dear reader, my eagerly anticipated experiences on 2 of my all time favourite carriers: Qantas and British Airways.
Flights:
SYD-(SIN)-LHR, Qantas, Business
LHR-(AUH)-MCT, BA, Club World
MCT-(AUH)-LHR, BA, Club World
LHR-(HKG)-MEL, Qantas, First
The QF A380 experience most unexpected, as I didn't think QF would open up the A380 for RTW ticketing (which isn't the most lucrative source of revenue). I'm holding out for New Generation Club World for the BA 777 flights between London and Muscat, but even then, its predecessor, New New Club World is still an experience to savour. And the QF F experience, a treat to be had after giving up my precious AAdvantage miles, a reward to be cherished after hours of scouring Sabre, qantas.com and ba.com for Award availability in First on QF - F availability was easy, but F availability on QF the whole way through without having to combine with the other oneworld carriers was tough and involved some tweaks to my itinerary.
As always I also hope to provide some insights into some of the accommodation I'd experience along the way.
Hotels:
Starwood:
Westin Auckland
W Istanbul
Sheraton Belgravia, London
Westin Grand Berlin
Le Meridien Munich
Westin Palace Madrid
Sheraton Diana Majestic, Milan
Le Meridien Budapest
Others:
Shangri La Muscat
Hotel Josef, Prague
Look out for these reviews in the appropriate hotel sub-forums.
Next: QF31 SYD-(SIN)-LHR J
flyer121
Jan 11, 09, 8:23 pm
QF009 your previous trip reports have been superb. I look forward to following this one.
gladstoneyoung
Jan 12, 09, 4:26 am
Ditto flyer 121's comments. I eagerly await your offerings, Keith.
adampenrith
Jan 16, 09, 10:58 am
Keith
what a life you have swanning around the world in premium cabins.
Enjoy enjoy enjoy - for at least we are enjoying your splendid trip reports
Adam
hairpeace
Jan 17, 09, 6:45 am
I'll definitely be following this thread :)
chris78cpr
Jan 17, 09, 8:22 am
Yeah i will be following this thread too.
Chris
QF009
Jan 20, 09, 2:18 am
Inaugural Qantas A380 Service to Singapore and London Heathrow
Sector - SYD-SIN-LHR
Flight number - QF31
Class - Business
Equipment - A380 ("VH-OQC/Paul McGinness")
Seat - 25B
To be back on the airline which offers an experience that's second to none? Ace.
To sample a brand new product on the same airline? Double Ace.
To be on an inaugural service for the first time in my life? W00t!
So it was back in October that I noticed the 16 January launch date of the Qantas A380 service on the LHR route, and this coincided with my trip. I had to decide between losing a day in Istanbul and giving up the rare opportunity to sample the Skybed mk 2. I concluded that whilst Istanbul will always be there (bar Armagedon *knocks on wood*), D or award availability on the Qantas A380 isn’t as much of a certainty. The flight was showing only a single seat availability as it was. So carpe diem as they say – a quick call to the AA Around The World desk to change my itinerary and I was all booked on the Big Fella.
The first hint of something special was when the cheerful ladies at the SYD Flounge congratulated me and everyone else on the same flight for joining the inaugural. We were also told that we had a vantage point from the Flounge if we wanted to take pictures of the plane, as our departure gate was simply below us and our birdy was already parked there. Sure enough, the Flounge was indeed spotters galore and even a member of the media filmed the plane from the Flounge restaurant.
I’d arranged to meet up with adrian of AFF, so it was nice to have someone to share the Flounge experience with. A visit to the Flounge is not complete without pigging out at the restaurant, though I was going to take it easy after having had a full meal on the trans tasman (I’d originated the journey in AKL), and I wanted to save some room for the onboard meal. So a fruit platter for me it was.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01352.jpg
my attempt at being a quasi health nut
OTOH poor adrian was flying onwards to HNL with the Big Orange Star and was determined to fill himself up prior to departure – it was only fitting that his onestar experience be preceded by a five star experience a fellow oneworld emerald is accustomed to.
I decided to leave for the gate a little earlier in case there was something special going on there, but alas the only form of celebration was a private function in the QP. Took a few pics of the rather well-organised boarding area.
Not much movement at the gate and boarding doesn’t seem to be anytime soon, so I headed back to the Flounge for more champers. After downing a few glasses of the rather yummy Devaux Blanc de Noir, the boarding call for QF31 finally came and the lovely SYD First Host encouraged us all to “keep the cameras rolling.”
A handful of actual FCL pax were whisked off to the boarding gate by one of the First Hosts, whilst us second class Floungers tried our best to keep up. It seems like half the plane enjoys priority boarding these days, since whY+ pax also get that privilege. The First Host escorted the FCL pax past the queue and got them boarded ahead of everyone else, whilst the rest of us were left to fend for ourselves; this is a great perk for actual FCL pax I reckon, after all the rest of us who got into the Flounge via status are only entitled to the oneworld/QFF priority lanes.
whY+ pax boarded with J pax, as these cabins are located on the upper deck. Despite the very full aircraft, boarding was v orderly and efficient. There were also a fair few peeps stopping to take pics with/of the aircraft on the aerobridge; it was evident that a significant number of pax had no idea that they’d be riding the Qantas A380 (let alone its inaugural service on the Kangaroo route) - judging by the surprised reactions both at the Flounge and at the gate. The ushers on the jetway were only too happy to assist with photo requests.
looks gr8 so far, eagerly waiting for the remainder of your TR..
cheers
BiziBB
Jan 20, 09, 10:13 pm
Thanks, Keith! Your reports keep us hanging on for more.
MORE!!!
(please sir,...)
:p
QF009
Jan 21, 09, 3:28 am
Inaugural Qantas A380 Service to Singapore and London Heathrow; Part II: The Onboard Experience, Sydney to Singapore
I was greeted at the entrance to the aircraft by a rather flamboyant FA who made a fuss of making sure that every entry to the aircraft was a grand entrance. Upon entering the aircraft, I instinctively looked for stairs without realising that I was already standing on the upper deck – so used I was to boarding a 747. According to another FA, I was apparently not the only one with that ‘doh!’ moment.
I walked through the bright red JCL cabin until I reached my seat which was in the last row. JCL was split into 3 cabins; rows 11-13 were in the front mini cabin, rows 24 and 25 were in their own little cabin at the back, whilst rows 14-23 were situated in the main cabin which reminds me a bit like the youth hostel configuration on a BA 777 in Club World, though this dormitory feel is somewhat negated on Qantas by the large shell enclosure around each Skybed which almost obliterates your view of the front of the cabin.
In my attempt to nab a better seat a few days prior to departure, the reservations agent had inadvertently “lost” my prior seat assignment in the 2nd row of Business (foremost mini cabin) before realising that the computer would not accept specific seat requests within 80 hours of departure. At AKL check in I was assigned row 17, in the middle of the dormitory. One of the SYD First Hosts had managed to place me in row 25, which was in the backmost cabin and a better choice than the main cabin. Or so I thought at that time...
The seat pitch on the A380’s JCL cabin was simply massive – this was rather obvious when I settled down into the seat and found that my legs couldn’t even stretch out halfway to the seat in front. Privacy in the new JCL cabin, for those who want it, is enhanced by a large divider between the seats which could be adjusted at the touch of a button. The Skybed mk2 had noticeably more buttons to play with than its predecessor – you could now adjust the intensity or focus of your massage, as well as “save” when you’ve found that comfortable seating angle to “recall” it later. The massive PTV screens are no longer mounted on the seat in front, but pop out from your seat upon pushing a button. Love the v space age-cool IFE controller. And finally, the seat belt resembles car seat belts, presumably for the benefit of the infrequent pax.
My seat mate was already at her seat when I arrived. She didn’t seem to mind my constant picture taking, and was in fact slightly bemused. Upon introducing ourselves, I realised that she was the editor of the Qantas inflight magazine. A very pleasant lady, unfortunately we didn’t get to chat much the entire flight as she seemed busy with her work. Also at our seats was a Marc Newson coffee table book on design, compliments of Qantas as a “precious momento of this flight” as the CSM later announced.
An FA by the name of Ritchi, who personally introduced himself to each pax, soon appeared with the pre take off drinks service. The champagne was of a darker colour than usual and looked suspiciously like a rose, and after a sip I realised that this was a rather nice drop; Ritchi confirmed that Dom Perignon Rose was being served to celebrate the inaugural. Unfortunately it was only meant for pre take off, but he promised to come back with more post take off if they had any left.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01386.jpg
Dom Perignon Rose
Departure was delayed by some late connecting pax from the domestic terminal. But without too much of a delay, we were finally taking off down the runway – a take off I hardly felt! I’d thought when I was on the lower deck of the A380 last year, that it’s the quietest take off I’ve ever experienced. On the upper deck OTOH, I felt nothing more than a gentle murmur. The whole thing felt more like a cruise liner than a jet.
Bar service quickly came around after take off, and I got another glass of Dom Perignon Rose as promised. And a third. And +1. And alas we had to go back to the standard Charles Heidsieck MEC thereafter, for the JCL cabin was then devoid of all of the special bubbles.
Dinner was soon served. Seated in the last row, it took a long time to be fed. An FA explained that although the airline had worked out the crew : pax ratio in terms of mandated safety standards, they’d failed to take into account that there was a workload imbalance in having all 75 JCL pax in what’s effectively one cabin served by the same set of crew. Not to mention the fact that LHR flights are always chockablock. JCL requires a greater level of service than whY+ or whY, and has a higher concentration of pax than FCL. Profuse apologies were offered for the slow service, though it was rather remarkable (and a relief!) that they had time to top up empty glasses whilst the service cart slowly trundled its way down the cabin.
Menu for this flight here (http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=81196&postcount=13).
This was a full dinner rather than a ‘supper’ service so we got a proper entree to begin with. Then came the main – I picked the most delicious and fresh beef fillet. Switched to the Cabernet Merlot for my main; v generous flavours. I felt pretty full and had decided to skip dessert, but got talked into having something anyway – picked the fruit platter as it seems the lightest option. Along with some Bailey’s .
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01393.jpg
Mmm... lots of fruits in this report
Decided to check out the IFE whilst waiting for food. There was an expansive selection of programs in the new entertainment system; I was spoilt for choice and probably spent lots of time trying to decide what to watch. Watched The Duchess on this leg, as I’m rather fascinated by the life of Georgiana Cavendish (nee Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire and had read the biography this film was based on; Keira Knightley’s portrayal of Georgiana was hauntingly impresive, as was Ralph Fiennes’ performance as the passive aggressive Duke of Devonshire and Dominic Cooper in his role as Earl Grey. The chemistry was simply spellbinding.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01396.jpg
PTV screen with new and improved flight path
After a few more glasses of Charles Heidsieck, the day started to catch up with me. I decided to have a short nap as well as check out the new and improved Skybed. As promised, the bed reclines to a 180 degree position. As well, it has a lot more padding and feels more solid than many other JCL flat seats. Best of all, it is most ergonomically friendly and contours itself to your body shape. The NZ Business Premier seat still had the edge in sleeping comfort (mainly because NZ lays a mattress pad on the seat when in bed mode), but the Skybed’s one big advantage was the ease of adjusting everything with the seat controls unlike the latter which required an FA’s intervention to switch from seat to bed mode and vice versa. There were also easy-to-reach buttons inside the seat shell to facilitate changing the form of the seat.
I woke up with 2 hours to go before landing in Singapore. Despite the numerous self serve bars, Ritchi and his colleagues still came around with platters of snacks and drinks. I decided to pay the onboard lounge a visit. It was a nice little space away from the rest of the cabin, with a nice selection of magazines and newspapers, and a large TV screen. The lounge was surprisingly busy, though it could hold no more than 6 pax at a time. The FAs kept coming around to check if people needed food or drink, all this despite the self serve bars – it’s great that the FAs don’t see the self serve bars as an excuse to slack off.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01412.jpg
self-serve bar (x 3, maybe 4? in JCL)
Shortly after I got into the lounge, possibly the youngest pax on the inaugural decided to pop in – 8 month old Baby Josh. He was full of cheers despite it being way past his bedtime, and charmed everyone he met with his cheeky grins and playful chuckles. His dad consented to my taking a pic of him.
All too soon, it was time for descent. The crew went around the cabin, seeking our individual feedback and apologising once again for the slow meal service. Ritchi gently advised us to “go easy” on the UK crew who’d be taking over for the onward sector, as it’d be their very first time on the A380.
The final approach to Singapore was extremely bumpy, but we made a rather smooth landing at Singapore’s Changi Airport. The CSM advised over the PA that we should sit down and chill out as it’d take at least 10 minutes for the aerobridges to be connected. We were also told that we have to take everything off the plane for the transit at SIN. Finally, off we went – to be welcomed by a banner at SIN commemorating the inaugural Qantas A380 service to Singapore. Changi Airport staff were also handing out baggage tags as souvenirs to all pax of QF31.
Great Report so far. The QF A380 product looks great. I must say, I am a little bit disappointed in that in J-class QF didn't really upgrade or introduce a new service-style like SQ and EK did with their introduction of the A380. Nonetheless, enjoy the rest of your trip! You know....I am yet to even see the QF A380 in person....I am such a failure of an aviation enthusiast! :eek::p
QF009
Jan 22, 09, 12:06 pm
Inaugural Qantas A380 Service to Singapore and London Heathrow; Part III: The Onboard Experience, Singapore to London Heathrow
We were advised at the jetway that reboarding would happen in 45 minutes. I made my way to the joint QF/BA Flounge at T1 to take a shower before the long overnight sector to London. The place was fairly empty and I basically had the pick of shower cubicles. Pretty nice and spacious showers at the SIN Flounge, with the usual array of Molton Brown amenities.
I waited till the 2nd boarding call arrived to board the flight, as IME the boarding calls at SIN are made before boarding actually began. All well and good to ensure people had time to made it to the gate except today we were boarding at C23 which isn’t that far away. I arrived just after FCL had boarded, and they’d started making the call for JCL/whY+/shiny cards. The boarding gate was a bit of a zoo, as there were scarcely enough seats for everyone in the holding area.
As noted earlier, the UK crew took over for the onward sector to London and it was their very first time on the A380. They seemed just as excited as many of us were. QF handpicks its crew for the A380, and the crew members on this particular sector were handpicked from QF’s little outpost in London itself. Given that the UK base is reputedly the best in the system as is, we’re indeed served by crème de la crème on this flight. Indeed – throughout the flight, the enthusiastic crew were only too happy to render any assistance that pax might require and seemed to be doing so because they are genuinely fantastic and fabulous people, not simply because it’s part of the job.
On this flight, the crew was an even mix of Australian, British and continental European nationalities. They were led by CSM Nicki who had a voice most suited for making PAs. My part of the cabin was served by a rather chirpy and dedicated young woman who took delight in emptying as many champagne bottles as she could for pre take off drinkies. As take off was delayed not once but twice, this meant she was most successful in her endeavours. We could not take off at first due to the unexpectedly short flight time due to favourable winds and hence had to delay departure to avoid landing out of turn at LHR. Then just when we were ready to push back, a pax announced that he was rather unwell and asked to be offloaded. The FAs also took the opportunity to hand out PJs, amenity kits and collected brekky order cards whilst we were stuck on the ground.
We were finally ready to go after an hour and a bit. I’d decided that I was simply too tired to have supper, and in any case I wasn’t at all hungry. I took the opportunity to change into PJs whilst we were on the ground, so immediately after take off – I’d reclined my seat and went straight to bed. Had a good solid sleep, and woke up with 5 hours to go.
I went towards the self serve bars to scavenge for some snacks. (note to self: rows 11-13 has a more direct access to the self serve bars, and more importantly – they put out champers at the self serve bars...) On my way there, I was stopped by an FA who noted that I’d missed supper and would I like to have something fixed up then and there – as they still have a few bits and pieces of supper items that they could cook. As I’d ascertained that it’d only be 3 hours to go before brekky was served, I instead opted to have some sandwiches from the refreshment menu to tide me over rather than a full hot meal. Snacked on some freshly made tuna mayo baguettes which were pretty tasty. Like the previous flight, the FAs also circulated the cabin with trays of snacks and drinks in spite of the self serve bars.
Whilst sitting in the lounge, I came across Nicki, the v amiable and excitable CSM who immediately sat down for a chat. She was evidently v happy about working on the A380 for the first time, and urged me to have a tour of the a/c. Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to enter the FCL cabin, but she indicated that it was possible to go down the stairs after arriving at Heathrow to check out the cabin before disembarking. Aside from that I was allowed practically free rein of the entire plane.
You do start to appreciate how massive the A380 actually is after doing a tour of almost the entire plane. The galleys all looked similar to the old ones in terms of features, except they had a lot more groovy buttons to press now. I also noticed an espresso machine in the JCL galley. Pics from my little tour:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01411.jpg
front stairwell/ “Stairway to Heaven”
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01422.jpg
whY+ - lots of space in the emergency exit row
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01423.jpg
self serve bar in whY+
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01424.jpg
back stairs
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01425.jpg
gate at the top of back stairs to keep the riff raff from downstairs out
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01428.jpg
a packed whY cabin
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01427.jpg
self serve bar in whY
Whilst touring the aircraft, crew I encountered in other parts of the aircraft would always be eager to ask if I needed anything or be rather keen to explain to me what various things were. FAs also regularly popped into the JCL lounge to offer snacks and drinks at least once every 30 mins.
Soon, the smells of breakfast being prepared waffed across the cabin and I decided to retire to my seat for the rest of the flight. The usual hot towel service was performed to signal that food was ready. There was a slight delay after theyd done the row ahead of us as the crew had misplaced the brekky order cards of my seatmate and I, so we had to fill up another one. They were most apologetic but assured us that there was more than enough of everything to go around so we needn’t worry on that front. Breakfast, as usual, was wholesome and scrummy.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC01434.jpg
my order of crossiant with strawberry jam and butter, fruit salad, Charles Heidsieck, grinders coffee (was able to get a soy latte later), scrambled eggs, English spinach, baked beans, sausages
There was then the usual post-brekky scramble to change back into street clothes and wash up before preparations for landing had gotten underway. All too soon it was time for descent, but not before the ATC-mandated holding pattern due to congested airspace. We then made another v smooth landing at London Heathrow. Despite the rather delayed departure and the ATC hold, we managed to make up some time along the way and hence docked at the gate a mere 20 minutes behind schedule. It was with a tinge of regret that I finally tore myself away from the aircraft, with its new products and features reinforcing Qantas’s role as my preferred supplier.
1 Dec 1947: Qantas debuts the Kangaroo route with Lockheed Costellation aircraft carrying 29 pax and 11 crew from Sydney to London via Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo and Tripoli. This created "one of the most important events in the history of Australian commercial aviation." (Daily Mirror)
1959: Qantas introduces the 707 on the Kangaroo route.
1971: Qantas 747s were introduced on the Kangaroo route.
16 Jan 2009: The Qantas A380 debuts on the Kangaroo route.
“Thanks for being part of history with us today,” concludes Nicki.
Next: BA73 LHR-(AUH)-MCT J
Lovecraft
Jan 22, 09, 12:34 pm
Wow, that was a great report! I'm booked to SYD next May in the A380 in J, and I can't wait!!!
I can't believe a FA really offered you to cook you some food, after realising you hadn't had dinner because you were sleeping!!! Can't imagine what's like in F!
One question, have you used the on-board internet? Do they charge you by minute or for the whole flight?
QF009
Jan 22, 09, 12:36 pm
One question, have you used the on-board internet? Do they charge you by minute or for the whole flight?
Doh! I'd totally forgotten about that feature and so didn't check it out whilst onboard. :o:(
jarinzfin
Jan 22, 09, 4:25 pm
fantastic reading, thanks!
we're booked to fly the SYD-SIN portion in March and I can't wait!
matthandy
Jan 23, 09, 5:28 pm
Great report as always thanks! I'm interested to know how you found the UK crew as opposed to the Oz based crew? Were they more friendly?
QF009
Jan 23, 09, 9:45 pm
Great report as always thanks! I'm interested to know how you found the UK crew as opposed to the Oz based crew? Were they more friendly?
I thought both sets of crew were simply fantastic. Only difference is superficial - the UK crew is on the whole rather much younger than the Oz set. In the past though, I have often had more "wow" flights with the UK and WLG crew than Oz based; not to say that the Oz ones aren't good - just that flights that "stood out" have tended to be crewed by the LON or WLG bases.
dcmike
Jan 24, 09, 6:23 am
Great trip report, as always! I can't wait to see more.
baysidegirl
Jan 25, 09, 7:16 pm
Wonderful report and so detailed. Great information to help planning trips.
I am curious to hear if you would have preferred a seat in the front 3 rows of business. I am allocated 12K LA - Melb later in the year and was wondering if the lounge and bar area get busy and hence noisy. I'm not a good flyer - tend to her every little noise even with ear plugs, so any comments/suggestions would be welcomed.
Looking forward to the next installments.
chanp
Jan 26, 09, 12:02 am
Great report and pics.
roadwarriorafrica
Jan 26, 09, 5:24 am
Great report. Loved every bit of it so far, and looking forward to the rest.
nomoreiphone
Feb 4, 09, 7:33 pm
Excellent Report QF009.
Just a few questions on your flight.
1) So did they offer the Nespresso coffee to J pax?
2) Other than the sandwiches, did they offer any other substantial hot snacks/salads etc.. eg ala Club Kitchen on BA and the CX noodles/pies, pizzas, soups etc...
3) in the J Class lounge on board, what facilities do they offer there? I heard there is a LCD screen in there where u can plug in your laptop? Can you eat and drink inside?
I think I will give QF 31 a try next time I fly SYD-LHR. I normally take BA10 because of the NNCW and the upper deck experience.
How do you find the bed when compared to NNCW and CX's new J Class?
Kiwi Flyer
Feb 4, 09, 7:53 pm
How do you find the bed when compared to NNCW and CX's new J Class?
Of these my ranking (best to worst) would be
QF skybed mark II (A380)
QF skybed mark I (747)
CX new suites
BA nncw
nomoreiphone
Feb 5, 09, 3:43 am
Of these my ranking (best to worst) would be
QF skybed mark II (A380)
QF skybed mark I (747)
CX new suites
BA nncw
Thanks. However I don't understand how can the old Skybeds better than the fully flat beds? Is it a length issue you have?
brahms77
Feb 5, 09, 5:04 am
Thanks. However I don't understand how can the old Skybeds better than the fully flat beds? Is it a length issue you have?
I agree... while it's difficult to comment on BA's new new lie-flat seats, it's hard to believe that older new business seat on QF beats BA's new new lie-flats. Perhaps, it's an issue of the length and width of the seat?
There is no doubt that older new business seat on QF is one of the best amongst the slanted lie-flats, however.
Kiwi Flyer
Feb 5, 09, 9:15 pm
Thanks. However I don't understand how can the old Skybeds better than the fully flat beds? Is it a length issue you have?
I find both the BA nncw and the new CX J seats to be shoddily made with a number of design defects that impact on passengers, and they are both quite narrow and claustrophobic. I can sleep on any slope so don't mind the QF skybed mark I.
QF009
Feb 7, 09, 4:50 am
I find both the BA nncw and the new CX J seats to be shoddily made with a number of design defects that impact on passengers, and they are both quite narrow and claustrophobic. I can sleep on any slope so don't mind the QF skybed mark I.
I agree. I sleep v well on both Skybeds mk I and II. BA NNCW felt rather narrow and limiting. I don't like the anti-social and claustrophobic nature of the CX cabin either (I'd admit to being a chatter on planes :p). However, I'd rate the BA NGCW hard product above Skybed mk I as it's quite an improvement over NNCW - v much broader for starters.
Summing up:
QF Skybed mk II
BA NGCW
QF Skybed mk I
BA NNCW
CX new J
Sorry for the delay folks. Next update is in progress over in Word. Will try to complete it ASAP. :)
QF009
Feb 7, 09, 4:57 am
Excellent Report QF009.
Just a few questions on your flight.
1) So did they offer the Nespresso coffee to J pax?
2) Other than the sandwiches, did they offer any other substantial hot snacks/salads etc.. eg ala Club Kitchen on BA and the CX noodles/pies, pizzas, soups etc...
3) in the J Class lounge on board, what facilities do they offer there? I heard there is a LCD screen in there where u can plug in your laptop? Can you eat and drink inside?
Oops missed the rest of your questions in my earlier post:
1) They offered Grinders coffee. ^^
2) The only substantial hot snacks were the 2 kinds of sandwiches. You can also make your own from the ingredients available (some rather creative suggestions from one of the crew). Other snacks available were light tidbits like choccies, biscuits, cakes, fruit etc.
3) Yes there's a large LCD screen there with USB ports for plugging in your laptop. The LCD screen is also connected to the IFE system, and there's a remote control for the IFE. Yes you can defo eat and drink in the lounge - I spent a fair bit of time doing just that. It's also a great place to mingle and socialise with fellow pax and the crew.
Moomba
Feb 7, 09, 6:26 am
Great report as ever QF009. I am looking forward to the day I get to ride in the big beast.
Russell Corr
Feb 8, 09, 5:03 am
Hi QF009 you mentioned earlier in the report that being in row 25 turned out to be a mistake...what was the problem back there as I have been allocated that row for a trip in June and am thinking of moving into the main cabime if there is not space in the front one (which is my preferred option)??
Also if I take a window seat how hard is it to get past the passenger next to me if he is in sleep mode on the new J flatbed?
Cheers and great report ^
QF009
Feb 8, 09, 6:48 am
Hi QF009 you mentioned earlier in the report that being in row 25 turned out to be a mistake...what was the problem back there as I have been allocated that row for a trip in June and am thinking of moving into the main cabime if there is not space in the front one (which is my preferred option)??
Also if I take a window seat how hard is it to get past the passenger next to me if he is in sleep mode on the new J flatbed?
Cheers and great report ^
It simply took a long time to get fed in row 25. If you can't get into the front cabin, I'd recommend being as far forward as possible in the main cabin. You also get better access to toilets (in front of the bulkhead in the main cabin) and the self serve bars by being further forward. Other than that there didn't seem to be any difference between the seats in the main cabin to me, or perhaps I wasn't observant enough. :o
My seat mate seemed to have no trouble getting in and out of her seat with my Skybed fully reclined so you should have no worries on that front.
Thanks for the kind words. :)
QF009
Feb 21, 09, 2:48 am
Sector – LHR-AUH-MCT
Flight number – BA73
Class – Business
Equipment – B777-200
Seat – 10G
London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi
After a fairly quick bus transfer from T4 to T5 (no waiting for the bus involved for I was lucky with timing), I arrived at the fairly crowded transfer area at T5. I rocked up to the relevant desk to get my documents vetted – BA had trouble reading my boarding pass which was issued by QF in AKL, and so it was duly destroyed and replaced with a new bp on BA stock.
Security was relatively straightforward, though the attitude of one of the BAA staffers left a lot to be desired – literally screaming, in a rather condescending manner, at an elderly female pax who seemed unfamiliar with the security screening process. Plenty of people were shaking their heads at the completely unnecessary and unhelpful unfriendliness.
The first thing I did after clearing security was to head to BA’s Galleries Flounge (South, I think) to have a shower. After a long overnight flight of more than 12 hours, freshening up with a shower was my top priority. The showers were actually outside the Flounge, adjacent to Elemis Spa.
I'd taken much longer in the shower than I'd thought, for when I emerged it was almost time for boarding. I'd just realised that my flight departs from the satellite terminal and so took the train over there, a quick and painless train ride. When i arrived at my gate the flight was already boarding, so it was straight to the plane, settling down at centre aisle seat 10G and to another glass of Charles Heidsieck MEC.
As I stood up to grab some magazines, I'd accidentally bumped into the cocktail tray, which sent my glass of champers flying into the aisle with its contents partially spilled on to my jeans. An FA immediately rushed over with some wet towels, and poured a new glass of bubbles for me. Minutes later my seatmate across the aisle managed to do the exact same thing, so I didn't feel so embarassed about being such a klutz after all.
The amenity kit was also handed out. It contained the usual Elemis stuff, but the design of the kit itself had changed. I had a smart looking nylon and leather brown kit last time I flew Club World but now I got a rather dowdy clothed, blue kit.
In no time at all we were taxiing for departure, and we were off after minimal queueing for our go on the runway. After take off I lowered the ottoman and stretched out to a more comfy position. The usual bar service occurred after take off, so I had more bubbles along with a pack of nuts. I also checked out the IFE but I'd already watched most of the programs on offer on my last flight, which in some ways was a good thing as it wouldn't have been as enjoyable trying to watch IFE on that tiny PTV screen.
I enjoyed the service on this flight; the cabin crew were a rather charming and efficient lot. We had a good laugh about my champagne spilling incident from earlier. Also got some tips about things to do in Muscat as one of them had operated that particular sector a few times.
Lunch service promptly began after the cessation of the bar service. Menu for this segment here (http://www.sqtalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=82051&postcount=5). Some quality Australian drops on the wine list. I switched to the delicious McLaren Vale shiraz for my meal. Lunch commenced with the smoked salmon and salad - salad had a weird, bitter taste. I had the oxtail for my main course - despite the crew warning me against that choice (I couldn't pick the fish choice as it contained prawns, and the other options didn't really appeal), I actually quite liked it. Generous portions of meat, and full of flavour - enhanced nicely by the shiraz. Feeling rather full and also extremely sleepy as all the flying had caught up with me, I skipped dessert/cheese.
I changed into the PJs I got from the QF flight and got a kip. The NNCW bed felt rather narrow, as the handrests don't go down with the seat as it's reclined. My small frame fitted into the seat quite nicely, but anyone much bigger would have no choice but to sleep on their sides. Nonetheless I managed to get a rather good rest; I guess the fatigue and all that boozing helped a bit.
I woke up just as afternoon tea was served. It consisted of sandwiches served in their plastic wrap. A pretty poor effort with presentation, I thought. I quite enjoyed the sweets though - we were served both the tart and the scones.
We landed promptly at Abu Dhabi. About half the plane disembarked there, however continuing pax were not allowed to get off the plane. So I sat onboard and watched the cleaners do their thing.
Not v much to report about this rather short tag flight of a mere 50 minutes' flying time. We got a plate of canapes in Club. I also managed to fit in a few glasses of champers.
There were zero aerobridges at MCT, and so everyone was bussed to the terminal. Oman has a visa-on-arrival facility, and so there were 2 queues to get through - one at Travelex to get an entry visa (which cost OMR6 or approximately AUD24), and another for passport control.
And finally, after almost 2 days sitting on air planes, I was at my destination. Wouldn't have it any other way either.
Next: BA72 MCT-(AUH)-LHR J
faithwins
Feb 21, 09, 12:25 pm
Great TR, Thanks for posting!
QF009
Mar 3, 09, 7:21 pm
Sector – MCT-AUH-LHR
Flight number – BA72
Class – Business
Equipment – B777-200
Seat – 10G
Muscat to Abu Dhabi
Check in took an age as the agent wasn't sure whether I satisfied the Turkish immigration regulations (no visa, weird itinerary), as IST was my final destination for the day. It took the BA ground manager at MCT to sort it all out, and finally I was on my way.
BA utilises the Oman Air lounge at MCT, which wasn't spectacular but pleasant and adequate. Limited selection of beverages but that's understandable.
Boarding calls for all airlines using the lounge were made, and it was a fairly short walk to the boarding gate. There was a security check point at the boarding gate, before we boarded a bus which delivered us to the aircraft.
Serving in my aisle was a delightful lad with a Scottish (at least that's what I think it was) accent but a French-sounding name. Phillipe acted like a fatherly figure and made sure everyone had plenty to eat/drink; my champers glass was topped up before I could even blink. Because I boarded the a/c very early, I think I got through half a bottle prior to take off.
We got the same plate of canapes on this short tag flight as on the way over. There wasn't much for the FAs to do since the cabin was so empty. Only 2 FAs were working (Phillipe and a girl in the next aisle) whilst the rest were passing lollies to each other in the galley.
Arrived in Abu Dhabi ahead of schedule for our transit.
Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow
I changed into my PJs whilst waiting on the ground. After the ground crew were done cleaning and loading, Phillipe commenced with the drinks service. The a/c soon filled up, and we were probably 75% full on this flight. Got another amenity kit, as well as the menu for this flight - unfortunately I left it on the plane.
Not that there's much to report on for the catering, as this was a Sleeper Service. Meaning you'd only get a light snack after take off, with a hot brekky prior to landing. Sleeper Service flights ex-North America get a pre-flight supper in the lounge, but because the Middle Eastern flights depart so ridiculously late we don't get the lounge supper. I'd already eaten prior to the flight as I didn't think I could wait till 1am to eat something, and feeling rather tired all I wanted to do was sleep.
Nonetheless I was talked into having some of the snacks post take off, and had some yummy cookies with hot cocoa.
A few more nightcaps of the bubbly nature were consumed before the day and the alcohol intake had caught up with me and I settled down for a solid sleep.
I didn't awake till the smells of brekky woke me up. I had the traditional English fry up. Unfortunately it was far too moist and soggy, so I didn't really enjoy it.
Chatted with Phillipe some and found out that he was also a crew trainer for safety procedures. He revealed that he'd also trained the UK-based QF crew; seems to me like the UK base is one outsourced operation through and through.
Arrived at Heathrow ahead of schedule, but we took an extremely long time taxiing and waiting for the Gate Guidance God to work his magic.
Next: QF30 LHR-(HKG)-MEL F
aks120
Mar 8, 09, 3:23 pm
QF009
Thanks for a great insight into these flights. I am certainly going to book a Qantas A380 business class flight soon based on your review!
Regards AKS120
MilesDependent
Mar 11, 09, 6:25 pm
Chop chop :D
I really like your trip reports (in fact you've become one of my fave authors on here). So am particularly looking forward to reading about the next flights.
It's been, what, > 3 weeks already. Hurry up!! :D
QF009
Mar 12, 09, 10:25 pm
Chop chop :D
I really like your trip reports (in fact you've become one of my fave authors on here). So am particularly looking forward to reading about the next flights.
It's been, what, > 3 weeks already. Hurry up!! :D
Sorry... been pretty busy. :o
Thanks for the v kind words, I'm chuffed...:o :)
Now here ya go...:)
Sector - LHR-HKG-MEL
Flight number - QF30
Class - First
Equipment - B747-400
Seat - 3A (and a bit of 4A on the LHR-HKG segment)
London Heathrow to Hong Kong
It's been a fair while since I've flown QF F now, and since then major changes to the already-fantastic soft product have been instituted, to rave reviews. QF F is indeed a rare treat, and I'd had to alter my itinerary in order to get the full QF experience. If i was going to spend that much miles I wanted the best bang for the 'buck.' Annoyingly though, F on both QF30 and QF10 opened on the original date desired a few weeks before departure by which time I'd already made non-refundable arrangements to visit Prague. No worries, I'd always wanted to check out Prague's famed nightlife anyway. The night before the flight, I was like a kid anticipating his first visit to Disneyland, and could hardly fall asleep.
I got my bp for the QF segment with BA at PRG, who was operating my first segment PRG-LHR. Bizarrely, BA claimed that they could not print my bp with my originally reserved seat in it, and kicked me out on to one of the 2 seats in the middle! Fortunately the situation was rectified at the QF transfer counter at LHR T4 and I was restored to seat 3A. I suspect it'd not had been as easygoing had the flight been fuller.
T4 was fairly empty, as most BA flights had shifted to T5. Only 1 lounge was open, the gate 1 lounge. I looked for the Flounge, only to be told that they'd merged the FCL and JCL lounges and there was no longer an actual Flounge. In spite of the subpar lounge facilities compared to T5, I actually quite enjoyed the peace and quiet at T4. No queues at transfer security, and the BAA staff were actually friendly for once! Perhaps they were so bored that they were glad to see the odd human being.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC02031.jpg
empty BA lounge
We boarded at gate 8. The line for whY snaked halfway around the terminal, whilst FCL/JCL/whY+ and persons with special needs boarded at a different counter which was empty when I got there. Saw the first glimpses of the Red Tail when I made my way down the jetway, and felt instant relief. After 1 month in strange foreign lands, it felt like I was home already.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC02032.jpg
first glimpse of home
I was greeted by name, directed to another FA, who led me to my seat. My coat was whisked away as soon as I took it off, similarly with my bags as soon as she saw that I was done with organising myself, before I could even stop her. The FA looked a lot like Anne Hathaway, but with an English accent. She offered me a drink, and who was I to say no to a refreshing glass of Krug. She did the whole 5 star routine of showing me the bottle before pouring the drink, and laid down a plate of nuts to accompany the bubbly. Ah... F is still F...
The usual amenity kit/PJs dance was also performed. We chatted whilst she was settling me into the flight, and she seemed at once surprised and pleased that I insisted to be called by my first name. She then proceeded to introduce herself as well as her colleagues in the cabin. We also shared some tips about where to hang out in HK, and of course I enthusiastically recommended the W Living Room in the faint hope that it'd have become established as the new QF crew hangout by the time I next visit HK LOL.
The 744 FCL seats are the previous generation individual seat pod type seats launched in the early 2000s. Though they've become dated and aged, the ones on QF are still in tip top condition as the seat fabrics have been refreshed not long ago with brand new seat coverings. The seats were a bit narrow but had plenty of legroom. A pretty light load today as there were only 4 of us in FCL on the LHR-HKG portion of the flight, everyone had at least 2 seats to themselves and liberal use was made of the spare seats.
And very soon after take off the festivities commenced with the handing out of the menu and more importantly - the wine list. Anne Hathaway-look-alike had disappeared, presumably to help in some other cabin; apparently whilst FCL was fairly empty, the other cabins were heaving. Bar service quickly occurred to save us from thirst, and I got my glass of Krug as requested. Canapes were also served, remembering my shellfish allergy they'd replaced the scallop item on my serving with more of the pear and cheese tarts.
The CSM came over to have a chat at this point, and we had a a pretty pleasant discussion - v nice lady who's been with Qantas for yonks and recently decided for a change of scenery and transferred her contract to London.
I was asked when I'd like to have my lunch, and as I was starving (for I'd skipped much of the rather unappetising meal on my previous flight) I requested for it to be served at once. My orders were taken and my table was laid for lunch. I was a bit confused by the new menu, as there seemed to be too many accompaniments with any one of the main course - the FA explained that I had a choice of a few accompaniments along with my mains. Apparently they were simply suggestions and I could even mix and match as i wished and ignore the menu, at my own risk of course she cheekily adds.
Menu and wine list here. (http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=85320&postcount=8)
The meal service on the whole was beautifully executed, with a wide variety of choices showcasing the finest of Modern Australian cuisine, featuring high quality ingredients and exemplary presentation. Easily the best fine dining in the sky! I am not a Neil Perry fan by any means, having been underwhelmed at his establishments in both Sydney and Melbourne, but the QF menu is easily the most creative, diverse and just generally all round top drawer onboard menu I've ever seen. Only airline that comes close catering-wise IMHO is LH's rather classy and also inventive FCL menu.
And of course the all-Australian wine list meant there was lots of quality drops to choose from. I alternated between champagne, the sultry Stonier Pinot Noir, the v flavourful but hard to find Coriole Cab Sauv which I'd last come across when I visited the winery as part of the AFF RADelaide DO back in November, and the v refreshing Coldstream Hills Chardonnay.
I started with the most delicious Iberico ham; the FA suggested a vinaigrette to go along with it as it was rather dry and so I had a bit of the palm sugar vinaigrette as a dressing.
Next came the chicken and shiitake mushroom soup. I was warned that this was "just a little bit spicy" but it was in fact VERY spicy by my standards and I had to have it sent back after a few sips.
I was offered something else from the list of starters but chose to move on to the main course so as to avoid overeating. Soy Braised Duck - tasty, tender, beautifully presented and delicious accompaniments!
Dessert and cheese were next, always a delightful conclusion to any meal but one which I'd more often than not failed to reach; some serious encouragement as well as the tempting selections got me over the line this time. And a marvellous conclusion to the meal it was!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b248/QF009/jan09%20europe%20and%20ME/DSC02055.jpg
Assiette of Desserts
Watched some Thank God You're Here on the IFE, as well as Australia - even though I'd already seen it on the big screen, it was such a beautiful movie that I just had to see it again. After another bottle of Krug was consumed as well as a few glasses here and there of the pinot, the food, booze and fatigue had caught up with me. I asked for my bed to be made. You now get an actual mattress on top of the seat, with a snuggly duvet - v comfy! I'd never had such a solid sleep on a plane ever.
I woke up 2 hours before landing feeling peckish and thirsty. Quenched my thirst with yet another glass of Krug. The FA offered to make me a snack and suggested a few things on the menu; but I noticed that she had all the brekky items out in the galley and realised that brekky was going to be served soon - I simply opted for a few of the coffee eclairs to tide me over until brekky time. The CSS, a fellow Melbourne boy, was chilling out in the FCL galley, as it was a lull time in whY before the morning brekky rush.
As 4A was vacant I was able to keep my bed for a bit whilst I moved to 4A to snack and watched some of the IFE. I think I prefer 4A to 3A after comparing the 2 side by side; I like the vast amount of shelf space at 4A.
I noticed a v cosmopolitan crew onboard today, more so than usual even though I've had a few flights crewed by the UK base. The only Aussies I met were the FA at the aircraft door, the CSM, and the CSS. From their accents, I'm sure that all 3 crew members in the FCL cabin were British. The CSS mentioned that indeed there were FAs today from all over Europe. Quite a different feel from the mainly Aussie crew on non-UK crewed flights; but in a way also v Australian as we're such a cosmopolitan nation anyway. (cue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuKpJv0PlSE)
Though the UK crew were fantastic in most ways (most importantly, v prompt and eager with top ups), I note that the girls serving in FCL were trying a little too hard to come across as all polished and refined and were also comparatively formal. Perhaps they felt like they had to act in a different way in FCL, but I've also had more relaxed crew in FCL. Or most probably, perhaps due to their youth they've not had the experience and hence confidence that more experienced crew members have. Although v friendly, I thought some of them seemed to tread on eggshells just a bit too much. OTOH this is a rather minor complaint in the grand scheme of things, after all the service is still amongst the best I've had in the sky.
Brekky was served some 20 mins after I've finished my eclairs. As in JCL, we also had the freedom to put together our favourite brekky items except of course there's a wider variety of stuff in FCL. I was also able to pick out individual items from the smoked salmon concoction to add to my brekky platter. Brekky was a thoroughly enjoyable affair.
I changed back into my street clothes and gave my pearly whites a clean after brekky, and all too soon it was time to descend and bid farewell to the wonderful crew members who looked after us so well. One advantage transitting in HKG over SIN is that you're required to remove everything from the plane at SIN whereas this is not needed at HKG - handy! QF029 shall be my choice flight to LHR in future over QF009. *ahem*
To be continued...
I promise it'd be quicker than 3 weeks before I post the continuation (which is already in progress! :p).
QF009
Mar 13, 09, 1:20 am
QF30 LHR-MEL Part II: Hong Kong to Melbourne
Got a cheesy QF sticker on my shirt from the ground staff, as well as a transit card. Boarding would occur in about an hour which would be just about sufficient time for some fragrance shopping and a shower. No queue at security. I ignored the ground staff ushering people to the QF/BA lounge, and made my way to one of CX's Flounges, the Wing for a shower. On the way there I picked up some duty free colognes, a spiffy Dior Homme and a sensual Terre D'Hermes.
All the cabanas at the Wing were booked out but in any case I had no time for them anyway. Had a quick wait for the showers, and of course took some obligatory pics whilst I waited.
My v spacious shower stall was soon ready. I think I still prefer the QF/BA showers at SIN which had some nice Molton Brown amenities, though the Wing's shower seemed better appointed - I was able to request for deodourant, which I'd mistakenly checked in.
I went back to the gate feeling rather more human. Boarding was about to occur and so there wasn't any point lingering in the Wing, as nice a Flounge as it's. And this way I get to drink more of the premier QF champers. I'd hoped that my fave bubbles would be onboard today, the Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires '95 - a great drop and, anecdotally, seemed to appear a fair bit ex-HKG.
The flight boarded shortly after I arrived at the gate. Was enthusiastically greeted at the door of the aircraft, and once again shown to the FCL FA who led me to my seat. I was quickly offered a drink as I got settle, and on this segment we were offered a choice of Dom Perignon 2000 or Krug. I was disappointed that there was no CH, oh well. Went for the Dom for a change. I was given another set of amenity kit and PJs, whilst the pax behind me asked for a female kit as he was “under strict orders” from SWMBO to collect one to which the FA was more than happy to oblige.
The cabin was much fuller on this segment, as there were only 2 empty seats. We were looked after by the Australia based crew. Despite the much fuller cabin, an extremely high standard of service was maintained throughout the flight with a noticeably more relaxed approach by the more experienced crew members. The v amiable FA serving my aisle couldn’t do enough to serve and added his own personal greetings to every pax along with those of the CSM’s.
Take off was once again on schedule. As per usual I changed into my PJs after take off.
The post take off bar service quickly began. I got chatting with the FA and couldn’t help but express my slight disappointment at the lack of CH. He had a thoughtful look, and explained that it’s a Russian roulette game as to what’s loaded so much so that even the FAs themselves couldn’t really work it out. He poured me a glass of Krug and promised to see what he could do. Next thing I know he was sweeping through the champers cupboard in the galley. And returned triumphant with a bottle of CH on the flight, which he put aside to chill whilst I worked through the glass of Krug. He discretely advised that it’s the only bottle on the plane and that he’d put it aside for me; in return I promised to finish the entire bottle.
At last, after much anticipation I was going to sip on one of the most heavenly elixirs known to humankind...
I was once again asked when I'd like to have my meal. I wasn't v hungry, so elected to have a light meal then and a heavier meal 2 hours before landing.
Once again, menu and wine list here. (http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=85320&postcount=8)
I had the cauliflower soup and the steak sandwich. The latter was a bit too spicy for my liking. A spicy steak sandwich? Seriously?! i think Neil Perry is taking his "Asian influence" concept a bit too far. I love QF's v creative menu, but I also do think that some things are best done the traditional way. It was much better with the chilli relish scrapped off. The beef was v tender and fresh.
I tried to stay awake in an attempt to normalise my body clock. I had my bed made so that I could watch TV and sip on champagne or wine in bed. It was a v comfy set up, like a lazy Sunday arvo at home. The v attentive FAs came around proferring snacks from the menu every so often. Unfortunately my body clock was still stuck in European time, and before too long I'd fallen asleep, but not before I'd finished 'my' bottle of CH.
I was gently shaken awake 2 hours prior to landing as promised. I'd requested for the roast chook, to be served with the cherry tomato and oregano sauce. It was a little bit dry but was much better when more sauce was added.
The meal finished up with the v chocolate hazelnut tart, a sweet tooth's delight! And fended off the FA who was concerned that I wasn't eating enough and eagerly offered the cheese and dessert wine.
We had a longer than expected flying time due to volcanic activity somewhere in Asia which caused the flight path to be altered. As I'd felt that "the flight was too short" and given that I had no connections to worry about - this unexpected delay was most welcome! This way I also had more time to change back into street clothes and freshen myself up before getting off the plane. Also, more champagne supping at any rate. I'd moved on to the DP 2000 to neutralise the acidity left by the CH.
Descent commenced all too soon, a nasty habit that all these nice flights tend to have. The FA who'd been serving me added his goodbyes to the CSM's, which was a nice touch. Due to the longer flying time, we landed in Melbourne Tullamarine approximately an hour late.
Qantas First - an exceptional experience! The product on the whole continues to excel, with the new soft products exceeding expectations in every conceivable way.
THE END
Apologies for the slow updates this time around, work and uni have been heinous since I've gotten back from overseas. Yes it isn't a full TR in the sense that I've not accounted for the entire trip but quality over quantity as they all say. Nonetheless I hope you've enjoyed this TR, and have found it informative, as much as I've had fun sharing my experiences onboard my 2 favourite airlines.
Till the next time,
QF009
DTS
Mar 13, 09, 6:34 am
... and a sensual Terre D'Hermes.
Great stuff!
So is your TR, but you know that already...;)
adampenrith
Mar 13, 09, 6:53 am
QF009
you may need to change your nic if your choice of signature flight is changing.
Great TR - and the delay kept us in anticiapation.
Adam
MilesDependent
Mar 13, 09, 10:42 pm
Well worth the wait. Fantastic trip report!
I also really enjoyed your W Istanbul report. I am thinking of going to Turkey later in the year.
Look forward to your next journey... which is ??
QF009
Mar 13, 09, 10:48 pm
Look forward to your next journey... which is ??
I've got an Easter trip to SIN/TPE/HKG on SQ C and TG C - good ole BD miles. ^ But I'm not sure if I'd be writing about that trip, especially when I've got 2 massive essays and my thesis to worry about. :td::( Maybe short hotel reviews - I'm SO looking forward to another stay at the W Hong Kong. :D
MilesDependent
Mar 14, 09, 12:46 am
I've got an Easter trip to SIN/TPE/HKG on SQ C and TG C - good ole BD miles. ^ But I'm not sure if I'd be writing about that trip, especially when I've got 2 massive essays and my thesis to worry about. :td::( Maybe short hotel reviews - I'm SO looking forward to another stay at the W Hong Kong. :D
Wow, you certainly travel a lot for a student! What are you studying? A Bachelor of Starwood with a sub-major in OneWorld?? ;)
QF009
Mar 14, 09, 1:21 am
Wow, you certainly travel a lot for a student! What are you studying? A Bachelor of Starwood with a sub-major in OneWorld?? ;)
I wish! :D
Finished Arts/Law last year. Now doing Honours in Arts (Poli Sci). :)
EK_Flyer
Mar 14, 09, 1:43 am
Brilliant Trip Report QF009 ^
Well written and great pictures :-:
You might just inspire me to try a new carrier as EK F is getting a bit too familiar for me now :D