From here to there and everywhere, 100 hours mostly in the air before I get to my bed
Mar 2, 2012, 8:50 am
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Current Location: Arrivals Concourse (Airside), Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand
Current Time: 1300h GMT+7, 71 hours after getting out of bed
I check my mobile and watch and somehow realise that we've gained a massive 25 minutes on our scheduled arrival. No wonder that flight felt a little fast.
Regardless, I was out of the aircraft when I was greeted by another lady in purple holding a board with my name on it. And she led me to - yep - another buggy, which once again was driven like it was at a demolition derby. The buggy with a woman infused with the spirit of an F1 racer and a plump ABC with his backpack atop of it sped along the hallways as fast as its little electric engine could carry it. We came to a stop at the security checkpoint, which was cleared (too easy) and I was then led to Thai Airways' flagship lounge at its main hub: the Thai Airways Royal First Lounge.
Another buggy taking me from plane to lounge.
Current Location: Thai Airways Royal First Lounge, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand
Current Time: 1310h GMT+7, 71 hours 10 minutes after getting out of bed[/size]
The TG F lounge at BKK is apparently one of the best in the world, pipping the QF F Lounge in SYD for Skytrax's Best First Lounge award the year after the latter's winning of the said title. It is quite a large lounge that doesn't scream a lot of unique character, but what it does offer is a peaceful haven from what is normally a busy airport (not helped by the airport's "ambiance"!) and possibly an even busier city which the airport serves.
As I walked in, I was given a very warm Sawadee by the reception. They invited me to book a massage at the Spa, but after getting my feet pummelled and warped as if it were done by my chiropractor mother-in-law (OK, a bit extreme, but I was tired!), I decided that I'm better relaxing by taking things my pace with my body at ease. They welcomed me into the lounge and invited me to sit in one of the mini lounges.
The TG F Lounge is divided up into two main sets of sections, separated by a spacious hallway. One section is a large, common seating area in the middle of the lounge. The other section is a set of (seven? Can't remember by count) "mini lounges". Each mini lounge is open in nature, separated from each other by a solid wall, and each consists of a set of couches, a coffee table, a television set, and a study table. If you've ever been to IKEA and seen mini display room after mini display room after mini display room, the mini lounges are like that, except they all look the same, of course.
I took my seat at one of the tables and immediately was offered a small aperitif of some sort of juice. They asked me if I would like anything else to drink right now, whereupon I ordered some green tea, which was promptly served from the lounge bar.
The welcoming drink (little wine glass) and green tea.
The lounge was quite empty, with pretty much only me in it. There are plenty of staff who mainly hang out near the bar, ready to be of assistance to anyone (or rather, ready to serve whatever culinary or beverage needs are to be satisfied). The decor of the lounge is not much different to their other lounges, and seems a bit dull, though it does have that traditional touch to it. The "dullness" is probably not helped by the very low lighting maintained in most of the lounge (controllable light level in the mini lounges). A tour of the lounge...
Common seating area of the TG F lounge at BKK.
Basic business centre with a few computers around.
Another shot of the business centre. There are some interesting artworks that decorate the lounge, from wall mounted to sculptures.
Inside of one of the mini lounges.
A "buffet sample" room. You don't actually pick stuff to eat from here, you simply get a preview so that if you want to order it, you can tell someone (or point).
Restaurant area, for those who need a more standard way to have a meal.
Finally, why not have a little mantle to show off your prestigious awards?
Current Time: 1300h GMT+7, 71 hours after getting out of bed
I check my mobile and watch and somehow realise that we've gained a massive 25 minutes on our scheduled arrival. No wonder that flight felt a little fast.
Regardless, I was out of the aircraft when I was greeted by another lady in purple holding a board with my name on it. And she led me to - yep - another buggy, which once again was driven like it was at a demolition derby. The buggy with a woman infused with the spirit of an F1 racer and a plump ABC with his backpack atop of it sped along the hallways as fast as its little electric engine could carry it. We came to a stop at the security checkpoint, which was cleared (too easy) and I was then led to Thai Airways' flagship lounge at its main hub: the Thai Airways Royal First Lounge.
Another buggy taking me from plane to lounge.
Current Location: Thai Airways Royal First Lounge, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand
Current Time: 1310h GMT+7, 71 hours 10 minutes after getting out of bed[/size]
The TG F lounge at BKK is apparently one of the best in the world, pipping the QF F Lounge in SYD for Skytrax's Best First Lounge award the year after the latter's winning of the said title. It is quite a large lounge that doesn't scream a lot of unique character, but what it does offer is a peaceful haven from what is normally a busy airport (not helped by the airport's "ambiance"!) and possibly an even busier city which the airport serves.
As I walked in, I was given a very warm Sawadee by the reception. They invited me to book a massage at the Spa, but after getting my feet pummelled and warped as if it were done by my chiropractor mother-in-law (OK, a bit extreme, but I was tired!), I decided that I'm better relaxing by taking things my pace with my body at ease. They welcomed me into the lounge and invited me to sit in one of the mini lounges.
The TG F Lounge is divided up into two main sets of sections, separated by a spacious hallway. One section is a large, common seating area in the middle of the lounge. The other section is a set of (seven? Can't remember by count) "mini lounges". Each mini lounge is open in nature, separated from each other by a solid wall, and each consists of a set of couches, a coffee table, a television set, and a study table. If you've ever been to IKEA and seen mini display room after mini display room after mini display room, the mini lounges are like that, except they all look the same, of course.
I took my seat at one of the tables and immediately was offered a small aperitif of some sort of juice. They asked me if I would like anything else to drink right now, whereupon I ordered some green tea, which was promptly served from the lounge bar.
The welcoming drink (little wine glass) and green tea.
The lounge was quite empty, with pretty much only me in it. There are plenty of staff who mainly hang out near the bar, ready to be of assistance to anyone (or rather, ready to serve whatever culinary or beverage needs are to be satisfied). The decor of the lounge is not much different to their other lounges, and seems a bit dull, though it does have that traditional touch to it. The "dullness" is probably not helped by the very low lighting maintained in most of the lounge (controllable light level in the mini lounges). A tour of the lounge...
Common seating area of the TG F lounge at BKK.
Basic business centre with a few computers around.
Another shot of the business centre. There are some interesting artworks that decorate the lounge, from wall mounted to sculptures.
Inside of one of the mini lounges.
A "buffet sample" room. You don't actually pick stuff to eat from here, you simply get a preview so that if you want to order it, you can tell someone (or point).
Restaurant area, for those who need a more standard way to have a meal.
Finally, why not have a little mantle to show off your prestigious awards?
Mar 2, 2012, 8:51 am
#47
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
At this point, some of you may or may not remember a major event in Australia at this point in time.
Ash cloud invasion on the Eastern seaboard.
My flight back to BNE the next day - a QF J Any Seat Award - was not immune to this, and with the prognosis not good, I was tapping into all my contingency plans. It was great to have a place to plug in my laptop, get some charge into it, as well as work out what to do once I was in SYD. Would I have to stay somewhere? Where could I stay? Should I call a friend? What about the XPT train? What if we were diverted away from SYD?
I tried to quickly call the folks to discuss my movements, and basically sapped up all my credit from the roaming charges, no thanks to my dad overreacting to my explaining my options, his being so stubbornly set that I was going no where near SYD and was going to end up in BNE. *sigh* I've travelled more than you have, Dad, trust me on this one will you........
Anyhoo, as the afternoon rolled in it was getting seriously closer to scheduled departure. I decided on a snack before I thought about a pre-flight shower. I could've had one of the substantial options but then I was wondering what the onboard experience might be, and given that I wasn't in the mood for anything big. I tried to find something from the menu which would be light and interesting, but the menu is so boring in comparison to the other F Lounges I've been used to, most particularly the QF F Lounge! In the end, I decided on some dim sum (siu mai) and a club sandwich, just so I could see how the Thais try to make one. A hot chocolate rounded out the snack.
The siu mai was pretty standard - not hard to do this right, really, and it's not as if they were hand made. As for the club sandwich, it probably pales in comparison to the more Western interpretation, and the egg here was baked / poached rather than fried in many interpretations that I've seen. It sufficed for the task at hand, but it definitely wasn't anything spectacular. Probably looks like an effort at the microwave cafe or greasy spoon.
Steamed siu mai.
Club sandwiches.
Hot chocolate. Pretty dense, but tasty enough.
A little closer now to our scheduled departure, and our flight seemed like it was still going ahead as planned. So now it was time for a shower. I was led to the shower rooms, which are quite large, though apart from the size and possibly a few other bits a pieces here and there, the shower rooms are pretty much exactly the same as the J lounge ones. Same brand of accessories - nothing too exclusive or expensive. The shower seems a bit better, and the basin is made of glass rather than straight out porcelain. More space to swing a cat if that's your thing.
Around the shower room in the TG BKK F Lounge.
As I left the shower rooms, it was getting very close to the start of boarding. I asked one last time if the flight was going ahead and possibly without diversion, of which I was told that all signs at the moment are "business as usual". I didn't have to wait much longer before we were told to go to our flights. There's no buggy service or escort to the gate, so it was a lone hike for me to a very distant gate.
Just as I was about to leave the lounge, my phone buzzed as an SMS arrived. It was from Qantas. My flight SYD-BNE has been cancelled. Well, with no time nor credit to deal with it now, I resigned myself in that I'll deal with it when I land in SYD.
Out of the lounge, I paced towards my gate. Priority boarding was in operation, though about 20% of the plane had already boarded when I'd arrived. Luckily, there aren't many of those travelling in F tonight, so it will matter very little.
Ash cloud invasion on the Eastern seaboard.
My flight back to BNE the next day - a QF J Any Seat Award - was not immune to this, and with the prognosis not good, I was tapping into all my contingency plans. It was great to have a place to plug in my laptop, get some charge into it, as well as work out what to do once I was in SYD. Would I have to stay somewhere? Where could I stay? Should I call a friend? What about the XPT train? What if we were diverted away from SYD?
I tried to quickly call the folks to discuss my movements, and basically sapped up all my credit from the roaming charges, no thanks to my dad overreacting to my explaining my options, his being so stubbornly set that I was going no where near SYD and was going to end up in BNE. *sigh* I've travelled more than you have, Dad, trust me on this one will you........
Anyhoo, as the afternoon rolled in it was getting seriously closer to scheduled departure. I decided on a snack before I thought about a pre-flight shower. I could've had one of the substantial options but then I was wondering what the onboard experience might be, and given that I wasn't in the mood for anything big. I tried to find something from the menu which would be light and interesting, but the menu is so boring in comparison to the other F Lounges I've been used to, most particularly the QF F Lounge! In the end, I decided on some dim sum (siu mai) and a club sandwich, just so I could see how the Thais try to make one. A hot chocolate rounded out the snack.
The siu mai was pretty standard - not hard to do this right, really, and it's not as if they were hand made. As for the club sandwich, it probably pales in comparison to the more Western interpretation, and the egg here was baked / poached rather than fried in many interpretations that I've seen. It sufficed for the task at hand, but it definitely wasn't anything spectacular. Probably looks like an effort at the microwave cafe or greasy spoon.
Steamed siu mai.
Club sandwiches.
Hot chocolate. Pretty dense, but tasty enough.
A little closer now to our scheduled departure, and our flight seemed like it was still going ahead as planned. So now it was time for a shower. I was led to the shower rooms, which are quite large, though apart from the size and possibly a few other bits a pieces here and there, the shower rooms are pretty much exactly the same as the J lounge ones. Same brand of accessories - nothing too exclusive or expensive. The shower seems a bit better, and the basin is made of glass rather than straight out porcelain. More space to swing a cat if that's your thing.
Around the shower room in the TG BKK F Lounge.
As I left the shower rooms, it was getting very close to the start of boarding. I asked one last time if the flight was going ahead and possibly without diversion, of which I was told that all signs at the moment are "business as usual". I didn't have to wait much longer before we were told to go to our flights. There's no buggy service or escort to the gate, so it was a lone hike for me to a very distant gate.
Just as I was about to leave the lounge, my phone buzzed as an SMS arrived. It was from Qantas. My flight SYD-BNE has been cancelled. Well, with no time nor credit to deal with it now, I resigned myself in that I'll deal with it when I land in SYD.
Out of the lounge, I paced towards my gate. Priority boarding was in operation, though about 20% of the plane had already boarded when I'd arrived. Luckily, there aren't many of those travelling in F tonight, so it will matter very little.
Mar 2, 2012, 8:53 am
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
MENU: Thai Royal First Lounge BKK (21 Jun 2011)
Thai Airways Royal First Lounge Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi
21 June 2011
A La Carte Selection
Menu of the Month
Grilled Fish with White Wine Sauce
Breakfast
Pork Congee
Chinese Doughnut
Boiled Rice with Fish
Selection of Breads
Assorted Pies
Assorted Cakes
Omelette / Scrambled Egg / Fried Egg
with Ham, Bacon or Sausage
Yoghurt
Cereals / Cornflakes
Seasonal Fresh Fruits
Fruit Juice
Snack
Cashew Nut
Assorted Nuts
Potato Chips
Spring Rolls
French Fried
Shrimp Cocktail
Dim Sum
Fried Prawn Cake
Sandwiches
Traditional Sandwiches
Cheese, Ham or Tuna
Toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Club Sandwiches
Soups
Chicken Soup
Corn Cream Soup
Mushroom Cream Soup
Tom Yum Goong
Spicy and Sour Soup with Shrimp and Lemon Grass
Giew Nam Goong
Shrimp Wonton Soup
Fish Maw Soup
Salads
Garden Salad with Choice of Ham, Shrimp or Chicken
Choice of Dressing
Main Course
Phad Thai Goong
Stir Fried Noodles with Shrimp in Tamarind Sauce
Khao-Phad
Fried Rice Shrimp, Chicken or Ham
Grilled Duck with Egg Noodle
Khang Keiw Wan
Green Curry with Chicken, Shrimp or Beef
Fish Fillet in Dried Red Curry
Grilled Pork Chops or Beef - Thai Style
Noodle Soup with Chicken and Shrimp Ball
Continental Dish
Pork Chops
Beef Steak
Fish and Chips with Tartar Sauce
Spaghetti with Carbonara Sauce
Buffet Corner
Assorted Cheeses
Bakery
Selection of Breads
Assorted Pies
Assorted Cakes
Assorted Cookies
Desserts
Ice Cream
Vanilla, Chocolate
Drinks
Coffee
Regular Coffee
Cappuccino
Latte
Espresso
Decaffeinated Coffee
Hot Cocoa
Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate Malt
Tea
English Breakfast Tea
Earl Grey Tea
Black Tea
Green Tea
Jasmine Tea
Oolong Tea
Peppermint Tea
Camomile Tea
Selection of Fruit Tea
Juices
Apple
Grape
Guava
Orange
Pineapple
Tomato
Carrot
Mixed Fruit
Soft Drinks
7 Up
Sprite
Coke
Pepsi
Coke Light
Ginger Ale
Soda water
Tonic water
Cold Drinks
Iced Tea
Iced Coffee
Iced Chocolate
Mineral Water
Evian
Perrier
Champagne
Moet & Chandon Imperial
White Wine
Georges Duboeuf Chardonnay (France) (2007)
Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Semillon (Australia) (2008)
Red Wine
Chateau Belregard-Figeac (France) (2004)
Chateau Villa Bel-Air (France) (2005)
Beers
Chang
Heineken
Singha
Aperitifs
Campari
Dry Martini
Martini Rosso
Gin and Vodka
Bombay Sapphire
Gilbey
Absolut
Smirnoff
Rum
Bacardi
Captain Morgan Black Label
Thai Rum Mae Khong
Tequila
Pepe Lopez
Whisky
Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal Royal Salute
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Glenmorangie Single Malt
Jack Daniel's
Cognac
Hennessy V.S.O.P.
Hennessy X.O.
Liqueurs
Amaretto
Baileys Irish Cream
Cherry Heering
Creme de Menthe Verte
Drambuie
Galliano
Kahlua
Malibu
Port and Sherry
Taylor's Tawny
Harvey's Bristol Cream
Classic Cocktails
007
Neutral Vodka, Dry Vermouth, shaken not stirred
Americano
Campari, Sweet Vermouth, topped with Soda
Black Russian
Neutral Vodka and Kahlua
Bloody Mary
Vodka, Tomato Juice
Dry Martini
Dry Gin and Dry Vermouth
Kamikaze
Neutral Vodka, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice and Simple Syrup
Long Island
Dry Gin, Light Rum, Neutral Vodka, Tequila and Cola
Mai Tai
Light Rum, Dark Rum, Orange Curacao, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice and Grenadine Syrup
Manhattan
Bourbon Whisky and Sweet Vermouth
Margarita
Silver Tequila, Triple Sec, Lime Juice and Simple Syrup
Mojito
Light Rum, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Mint Leaves
Singapore Sling
Dry Gin, Cherry Heering, Benedictine D.O.M., Lime Juice, Grenadine Syrup and Soda Water
Whisky Sour
Bourbon Whisky, Lime Juice and Simple Syrup
Wine and Champagne Cocktails
Spritzer
White Wine and Chilled Soda Water
Buck's Fizz
Champagne and Fresh Orange Juice
Champagne Mojito
Light Rum, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup and Champagne
Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Fruit Punch
Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Lemon Juice and Grenadine Syrup
Sparkling Pine
Pineapple Juice, Grenadine Syrup and Dry Ginger Ale
21 June 2011
A La Carte Selection
Menu of the Month
Grilled Fish with White Wine Sauce
Breakfast
Pork Congee
Chinese Doughnut
Boiled Rice with Fish
Selection of Breads
Assorted Pies
Assorted Cakes
Omelette / Scrambled Egg / Fried Egg
with Ham, Bacon or Sausage
Yoghurt
Cereals / Cornflakes
Seasonal Fresh Fruits
Fruit Juice
Snack
Cashew Nut
Assorted Nuts
Potato Chips
Spring Rolls
French Fried
Shrimp Cocktail
Dim Sum
Fried Prawn Cake
Sandwiches
Traditional Sandwiches
Cheese, Ham or Tuna
Toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Club Sandwiches
Soups
Chicken Soup
Corn Cream Soup
Mushroom Cream Soup
Tom Yum Goong
Spicy and Sour Soup with Shrimp and Lemon Grass
Giew Nam Goong
Shrimp Wonton Soup
Fish Maw Soup
Salads
Garden Salad with Choice of Ham, Shrimp or Chicken
Choice of Dressing
- Thousand Island
- French
- Balsamic
- Thai Herb
- Japanese
Main Course
Phad Thai Goong
Stir Fried Noodles with Shrimp in Tamarind Sauce
Khao-Phad
Fried Rice Shrimp, Chicken or Ham
Grilled Duck with Egg Noodle
Khang Keiw Wan
Green Curry with Chicken, Shrimp or Beef
Fish Fillet in Dried Red Curry
Grilled Pork Chops or Beef - Thai Style
Noodle Soup with Chicken and Shrimp Ball
Continental Dish
Pork Chops
Beef Steak
Fish and Chips with Tartar Sauce
Spaghetti with Carbonara Sauce
Buffet Corner
Assorted Cheeses
Bakery
Selection of Breads
Assorted Pies
Assorted Cakes
Assorted Cookies
Desserts
Ice Cream
Vanilla, Chocolate
Drinks
Coffee
Regular Coffee
Cappuccino
Latte
Espresso
Decaffeinated Coffee
Hot Cocoa
Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate Malt
Tea
English Breakfast Tea
Earl Grey Tea
Black Tea
Green Tea
Jasmine Tea
Oolong Tea
Peppermint Tea
Camomile Tea
Selection of Fruit Tea
Juices
Apple
Grape
Guava
Orange
Pineapple
Tomato
Carrot
Mixed Fruit
Soft Drinks
7 Up
Sprite
Coke
Pepsi
Coke Light
Ginger Ale
Soda water
Tonic water
Cold Drinks
Iced Tea
Iced Coffee
Iced Chocolate
Mineral Water
Evian
Perrier
Champagne
Moet & Chandon Imperial
White Wine
Georges Duboeuf Chardonnay (France) (2007)
Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Semillon (Australia) (2008)
Red Wine
Chateau Belregard-Figeac (France) (2004)
Chateau Villa Bel-Air (France) (2005)
Beers
Chang
Heineken
Singha
Aperitifs
Campari
Dry Martini
Martini Rosso
Gin and Vodka
Bombay Sapphire
Gilbey
Absolut
Smirnoff
Rum
Bacardi
Captain Morgan Black Label
Thai Rum Mae Khong
Tequila
Pepe Lopez
Whisky
Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal Royal Salute
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Glenmorangie Single Malt
Jack Daniel's
Cognac
Hennessy V.S.O.P.
Hennessy X.O.
Liqueurs
Amaretto
Baileys Irish Cream
Cherry Heering
Creme de Menthe Verte
Drambuie
Galliano
Kahlua
Malibu
Port and Sherry
Taylor's Tawny
Harvey's Bristol Cream
Classic Cocktails
007
Neutral Vodka, Dry Vermouth, shaken not stirred
Americano
Campari, Sweet Vermouth, topped with Soda
Black Russian
Neutral Vodka and Kahlua
Bloody Mary
Vodka, Tomato Juice
Dry Martini
Dry Gin and Dry Vermouth
Kamikaze
Neutral Vodka, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice and Simple Syrup
Long Island
Dry Gin, Light Rum, Neutral Vodka, Tequila and Cola
Mai Tai
Light Rum, Dark Rum, Orange Curacao, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice and Grenadine Syrup
Manhattan
Bourbon Whisky and Sweet Vermouth
Margarita
Silver Tequila, Triple Sec, Lime Juice and Simple Syrup
Mojito
Light Rum, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Mint Leaves
Singapore Sling
Dry Gin, Cherry Heering, Benedictine D.O.M., Lime Juice, Grenadine Syrup and Soda Water
Whisky Sour
Bourbon Whisky, Lime Juice and Simple Syrup
Wine and Champagne Cocktails
Spritzer
White Wine and Chilled Soda Water
Buck's Fizz
Champagne and Fresh Orange Juice
Champagne Mojito
Light Rum, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup and Champagne
Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Fruit Punch
Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Lemon Juice and Grenadine Syrup
Sparkling Pine
Pineapple Juice, Grenadine Syrup and Dry Ginger Ale
Mar 2, 2012, 8:54 am
#49
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Flight: Thai Airways TG475 Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi (BKK) - Sydney (SYD T1)
Depart: Sched 1915h; Actual 1918h
Duration: 9 h 5 min
Distance: 4,675 mi (7,524 km)
Aircraft: HS-TNE "Nonthaburi" Airbus A340-600
Class: First
Seat: 2A
I was greeted at the door with another Sawadee as I was shown to my seat. I noticed quickly that the crews on this flight (or at least in the First Class section) seemed much more confident about their English compared to the other Thai crews I've had.
The TG F is a very dated product, with the exception of the leased "suites" on the 77Ws and the new F on the TG A380s. The seats don't look anything special at all, and are not cocoon seats. This is very much like LX old F, though I prefer LX's F rather than TG's since the former seems still "fresh", probably due to the colour scheme. Also, I found LX's old F seats more comfortable than TG's F. Nevertheless, the similarities in both is that the F cabin is kept very small - only 8 passengers, and tonight we were not even going to get that many - in fact, only 2 people in First!
Thai Airways F cabin on the A346.
Leg room shot
The flight started off with a typical pre-flight drink. Of course, I had to select a champagne. The glassware in TG F is quite differently shaped to that in TG J. Each glass also has an unconventional "ridged" feel all around it.
Pre-flight Champagne
Amenity kits and menus were also handed out at this point. The amenity kits in TG F are designed by famous luggage manufacturer Rimowa. The contents are not great, but the best part is definitely the case. Lufthansa had a similar case given to their F pax for a while, but this seems to have stopped. Soft light blue sleeper suits were also offered.
Thai Airways F amenity kits, with case designed and manufactured by Rimowa.
Contents of the F amenity kit.
Thai Airways F sleeper suit.
Menu in traditional looking cover case.
The cabin was secured for take off and we pushed back from the gate. So far, so good. An easy but long taxi out to the runway prefaced our take off from BKK, and a signal that I was finally going home.
Once we were up in the air and at cruise, I had a quick browse of the IFE. The screens are obviously small given the kind of hardware installed at the time of these seats, however at least there were more entertainment options on TG's IFE compared to LX (along with an easier-to-use system as well).
Small IFE screens in TG F.
Depart: Sched 1915h; Actual 1918h
Duration: 9 h 5 min
Distance: 4,675 mi (7,524 km)
Aircraft: HS-TNE "Nonthaburi" Airbus A340-600
Class: First
Seat: 2A
I was greeted at the door with another Sawadee as I was shown to my seat. I noticed quickly that the crews on this flight (or at least in the First Class section) seemed much more confident about their English compared to the other Thai crews I've had.
The TG F is a very dated product, with the exception of the leased "suites" on the 77Ws and the new F on the TG A380s. The seats don't look anything special at all, and are not cocoon seats. This is very much like LX old F, though I prefer LX's F rather than TG's since the former seems still "fresh", probably due to the colour scheme. Also, I found LX's old F seats more comfortable than TG's F. Nevertheless, the similarities in both is that the F cabin is kept very small - only 8 passengers, and tonight we were not even going to get that many - in fact, only 2 people in First!
Thai Airways F cabin on the A346.
Leg room shot
The flight started off with a typical pre-flight drink. Of course, I had to select a champagne. The glassware in TG F is quite differently shaped to that in TG J. Each glass also has an unconventional "ridged" feel all around it.
Pre-flight Champagne
Amenity kits and menus were also handed out at this point. The amenity kits in TG F are designed by famous luggage manufacturer Rimowa. The contents are not great, but the best part is definitely the case. Lufthansa had a similar case given to their F pax for a while, but this seems to have stopped. Soft light blue sleeper suits were also offered.
Thai Airways F amenity kits, with case designed and manufactured by Rimowa.
Contents of the F amenity kit.
Thai Airways F sleeper suit.
Menu in traditional looking cover case.
The cabin was secured for take off and we pushed back from the gate. So far, so good. An easy but long taxi out to the runway prefaced our take off from BKK, and a signal that I was finally going home.
Once we were up in the air and at cruise, I had a quick browse of the IFE. The screens are obviously small given the kind of hardware installed at the time of these seats, however at least there were more entertainment options on TG's IFE compared to LX (along with an easier-to-use system as well).
Small IFE screens in TG F.
Mar 2, 2012, 8:55 am
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Soon after, the crew sprang into action to serve the two of us in F. Even though the flight was 9 hours, it was good to eat as quickly as comfortably possible, then get lots of sleep. Aperitif orders were taken, and I opted just for a lemonade. They served this with a small plate of nuts and the hot appetiser of rice cakes. I'm not sure why the plate of nuts was trail mix (including sultanas and a bunch of rubbish nuts), but this was not a good choice. The rice cake appetiser wasn't great; I would've rather had the prawn balls they served on my ex-ICN flight earlier that day.
Aperitif of lemonade.
Nut mix to go with the aperitif. Rather dumb mix if you ask me. If I wanted this I would've asked it to be sided with a glass of milk.
Hot appetiser of rice cakes with prawn. Lame in my opinion.
Table set for my F meal.
So far it's not a great start to the meal. But the next part should perk most people up - caviar! I've never had caviar in the air before, so this ought to be an interesting experience. The caviar was wheeled in on a fancy cart which also showed off all the garnishes. A shot of vodka was also offered with the caviar course, albeit it was just Smirnoff vodka.
Conclusion from me? Well, I think caviar is rather overrated. That probably insults and hurts quite a few people, but whilst it was relatively enjoyable, I don't think it's something I'd use as a deal breaker for F class service.
What is interesting is that given that there were only two of us in the cabin, the two FAs serving F Class were able to both be present to serve meals from the carts.
Caviar course being prepared on the meal cart.
Caviar course with standard garnishes. Yes, I know the purists will say there is too much wrong with this picture right now...
Vodka shot to go with the caviar. Vodka straight kicks the back of your throat; an inferior brand like Smirnoff, even more so.
The tableware in F is another evolution from the J tableware, with this "lifted corner" stylistic detail on each plate.
Bread roll to go with meal.
Even the butter could not be saved from being styled...
Fancy knob of butter here!
I finished the caviar course and perhaps regretted not asking for a bit more garnish. Plain caviar doesn't seem to have the beauty or enviable taste that others place on it. My plate was cleared and the entree of tuna and salmon with Nicoise salad was presented.
Entree: tuna and salmon with Nicoise salad.
This wasn't too bad - the two fish present on the plate were tasty, and the salad ingredients were not stale.
Next up was the "soup course", which in this case was a plain consomme. I know that in Asian cultures (particularly Chinese), serving a bowl of clear consomme before a meal is customary and is intended to whet the appetite and aid digestion. But the key to a good soup like that is still flavour - in this case, the flavour obtained from boiling the broth with the meat bones for a long time! I have no idea what they did wrong, but in no way did this soup have any effect except for slightly flavoured hot water with some vegetables floating in it. And it was a huge bowl too! In the end, I had a few sips before I sent it back and asked for my main course.
Consomme soup without any taste. And waaaaaaaaaaaay too big in my opinion
Aperitif of lemonade.
Nut mix to go with the aperitif. Rather dumb mix if you ask me. If I wanted this I would've asked it to be sided with a glass of milk.
Hot appetiser of rice cakes with prawn. Lame in my opinion.
Table set for my F meal.
So far it's not a great start to the meal. But the next part should perk most people up - caviar! I've never had caviar in the air before, so this ought to be an interesting experience. The caviar was wheeled in on a fancy cart which also showed off all the garnishes. A shot of vodka was also offered with the caviar course, albeit it was just Smirnoff vodka.
Conclusion from me? Well, I think caviar is rather overrated. That probably insults and hurts quite a few people, but whilst it was relatively enjoyable, I don't think it's something I'd use as a deal breaker for F class service.
What is interesting is that given that there were only two of us in the cabin, the two FAs serving F Class were able to both be present to serve meals from the carts.
Caviar course being prepared on the meal cart.
Caviar course with standard garnishes. Yes, I know the purists will say there is too much wrong with this picture right now...
Vodka shot to go with the caviar. Vodka straight kicks the back of your throat; an inferior brand like Smirnoff, even more so.
The tableware in F is another evolution from the J tableware, with this "lifted corner" stylistic detail on each plate.
Bread roll to go with meal.
Even the butter could not be saved from being styled...
Fancy knob of butter here!
I finished the caviar course and perhaps regretted not asking for a bit more garnish. Plain caviar doesn't seem to have the beauty or enviable taste that others place on it. My plate was cleared and the entree of tuna and salmon with Nicoise salad was presented.
Entree: tuna and salmon with Nicoise salad.
This wasn't too bad - the two fish present on the plate were tasty, and the salad ingredients were not stale.
Next up was the "soup course", which in this case was a plain consomme. I know that in Asian cultures (particularly Chinese), serving a bowl of clear consomme before a meal is customary and is intended to whet the appetite and aid digestion. But the key to a good soup like that is still flavour - in this case, the flavour obtained from boiling the broth with the meat bones for a long time! I have no idea what they did wrong, but in no way did this soup have any effect except for slightly flavoured hot water with some vegetables floating in it. And it was a huge bowl too! In the end, I had a few sips before I sent it back and asked for my main course.
Consomme soup without any taste. And waaaaaaaaaaaay too big in my opinion
Mar 2, 2012, 8:58 am
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
The dull soup was cleared and the main was brought on. To be honest, it was difficult for me to select a main, since I wanted to try something traditionally Thai, but the other options (except for one, perhaps) seemed also quite interesting, albeit I had some sort of lack of faith that they might actually deliver on those dishes. So, in the end I chose the Thai option of the beef curry. Yeah, I could probably get this if I went to a hawker store in Bangkok, but let's see how good they really are here.
The curry was delivered in a separate bowl to the rice and vegetables. The curry was very nice and tasty, the beef cheeks tender. Again, probably could get this in Thailand on the cheap, so maybe something better is expected in a dish for First Class. Still, at least it was tasty, which is more than can be said for even simple dishes in First Class sometimes - no jokes.
"Pa-naeng" curry with beef cheeks, served with Hom Mali rice and vegetables.
I was getting quite full at this point, but after seeing the cheese and fruit wheeled out I thought I had to have a bit of a pick. Thai, again, excel at their presentation on the cart, but that's where the fireworks really end. The fruit was fresh and the cheese was fine. Nothing special about the cheese, just the common stuff you can get off the shelf at your local supermarket or even basic delicatessen - nothing too fancy-schmancy.
Serving from the cheese and fruit cart.
Cheese and fruit selection.
The final course for the night was the dessert of parfait. A nice subdued number to finish things off. Maybe a bit too subdued for some.
Ivory chocolate and tangerine ice parfait.
After finishing the parfait and another glass of water, it was time to hit the sack. I asked for my bed to be made as I got changed and brushed up in the bathroom. The bathroom is again stocked with accessories by Salvatore Ferragamo, and also has those excellent dental kits.
Inside the TG F bathrooms. In the first picture on the right, you can see one of the TG dental kits.
Once I returned to my seat, my bed had been made. This is a fairly average, albeit sufficient, bed. The underlay is a thin one like most airlines. You are not given a thick doona, instead just a light blanket, which at least seemed to do the trick. Pillows are decent sized but not say big and fluffy. Finally, the bed is not exactly fully flat. It probably is at most 5 degrees to the horizontal, or at least it feels that way nearer to the top of the seat. I'm not sure whether this is to follow the theory that a slightly angled seat corresponds to an almost horizontal position due to compensating for the actual angle of the aircraft, but it is something to keep in mind.
You can probably sleep quite comfortably on this bed, as it's still softer than sleeping on a TG J seat, and of course not as angled.
My TG F bed.
The curry was delivered in a separate bowl to the rice and vegetables. The curry was very nice and tasty, the beef cheeks tender. Again, probably could get this in Thailand on the cheap, so maybe something better is expected in a dish for First Class. Still, at least it was tasty, which is more than can be said for even simple dishes in First Class sometimes - no jokes.
"Pa-naeng" curry with beef cheeks, served with Hom Mali rice and vegetables.
I was getting quite full at this point, but after seeing the cheese and fruit wheeled out I thought I had to have a bit of a pick. Thai, again, excel at their presentation on the cart, but that's where the fireworks really end. The fruit was fresh and the cheese was fine. Nothing special about the cheese, just the common stuff you can get off the shelf at your local supermarket or even basic delicatessen - nothing too fancy-schmancy.
Serving from the cheese and fruit cart.
Cheese and fruit selection.
The final course for the night was the dessert of parfait. A nice subdued number to finish things off. Maybe a bit too subdued for some.
Ivory chocolate and tangerine ice parfait.
After finishing the parfait and another glass of water, it was time to hit the sack. I asked for my bed to be made as I got changed and brushed up in the bathroom. The bathroom is again stocked with accessories by Salvatore Ferragamo, and also has those excellent dental kits.
Inside the TG F bathrooms. In the first picture on the right, you can see one of the TG dental kits.
Once I returned to my seat, my bed had been made. This is a fairly average, albeit sufficient, bed. The underlay is a thin one like most airlines. You are not given a thick doona, instead just a light blanket, which at least seemed to do the trick. Pillows are decent sized but not say big and fluffy. Finally, the bed is not exactly fully flat. It probably is at most 5 degrees to the horizontal, or at least it feels that way nearer to the top of the seat. I'm not sure whether this is to follow the theory that a slightly angled seat corresponds to an almost horizontal position due to compensating for the actual angle of the aircraft, but it is something to keep in mind.
You can probably sleep quite comfortably on this bed, as it's still softer than sleeping on a TG J seat, and of course not as angled.
My TG F bed.
Mar 2, 2012, 8:59 am
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Wednesday 22 June 2011
My tiredness must've caused me to get a good solid rest, because it seemed all too short before I felt a slight nudge. I opened my eyes to see the FA greeting me good morning and that breakfast was being served. I asked him how long before landing. "One hour," he said. Damn, no more time for sleep - he was right, time for breakfast.
The first breakfast course after orange juice, water and coffee was the continental opener - cereals, fruits and pastries. Can't fault TG's presentation on the fruit platter. The FAs couldn't help commenting on my affinity for selecting the dragon fruit.
Elaborate fruit platter.
The rest of the continental cart, minus the pastry selection.
My continental starters: some fruits and muesli (nothing special here - it's from a packet).
After the continental options, I decided on the blueberry French toast for the main. Apologies for the bad quality photo, as I was trying to take a photo as we passed over a small bout of turbulence, which kept shaking things up. This was pretty underwhelming, though I'd selected this option instead of the other one, which was a frittata, and I know what my track record is like of having a good frittata on board (i.e. zilch). The bread was a bit rubbery, was pretty much the run of the mill sliced white bread and really nothing special about how the French toast had been prepared. Dare I say it (though with admittedly a better array of tools) I could probably whip up a better set of French toast.
Overall, it was a very ordinary breakfast experience from TG F. I think my breakfast experience I had on FJ J the previous year was far better.
French toast stuffed with blueberries and cream cheese. Pretty underwhelming.
After breakfast was over and another cup of coffee later, we had less than 25 minutes before landing, which meant I needed to get out of my sleeper suit back into civvies ASAP.
My seat after breakfast in bed, on TG F.
Got dressed. Brushed teeth. Washed face. Looking forward to a better shower on the ground, most likely when I get to the QF J Lounge in T3.
SYD Airport in view on our approach.
My tiredness must've caused me to get a good solid rest, because it seemed all too short before I felt a slight nudge. I opened my eyes to see the FA greeting me good morning and that breakfast was being served. I asked him how long before landing. "One hour," he said. Damn, no more time for sleep - he was right, time for breakfast.
The first breakfast course after orange juice, water and coffee was the continental opener - cereals, fruits and pastries. Can't fault TG's presentation on the fruit platter. The FAs couldn't help commenting on my affinity for selecting the dragon fruit.
Elaborate fruit platter.
The rest of the continental cart, minus the pastry selection.
My continental starters: some fruits and muesli (nothing special here - it's from a packet).
After the continental options, I decided on the blueberry French toast for the main. Apologies for the bad quality photo, as I was trying to take a photo as we passed over a small bout of turbulence, which kept shaking things up. This was pretty underwhelming, though I'd selected this option instead of the other one, which was a frittata, and I know what my track record is like of having a good frittata on board (i.e. zilch). The bread was a bit rubbery, was pretty much the run of the mill sliced white bread and really nothing special about how the French toast had been prepared. Dare I say it (though with admittedly a better array of tools) I could probably whip up a better set of French toast.
Overall, it was a very ordinary breakfast experience from TG F. I think my breakfast experience I had on FJ J the previous year was far better.
French toast stuffed with blueberries and cream cheese. Pretty underwhelming.
After breakfast was over and another cup of coffee later, we had less than 25 minutes before landing, which meant I needed to get out of my sleeper suit back into civvies ASAP.
My seat after breakfast in bed, on TG F.
Got dressed. Brushed teeth. Washed face. Looking forward to a better shower on the ground, most likely when I get to the QF J Lounge in T3.
SYD Airport in view on our approach.
Mar 2, 2012, 9:01 am
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
MENU: TG475 BKK-SYD F (21 Jun 2011 / 22 Jun 2011)
Thai Airways TG475 Royal First Class Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi - Sydney
21 June 2011 / 22 June 2011
First Serving (Dinner)
Hot Savoury
Fried Rice Crackers with Prawn Dipping
Oscietra Caviar with Garnitures
First Course
Grilled tuna and Tasmanian smoked salmon
Nicoise salad with quail eggs
Soup
Double boiled beef consomme scented with sherry wine
Main Course
Tender beef cheeks in curry "Pa-naeng" with peanuts
Steamed duo of Thai Hom Mali rice
Stir-fried pak choy with oyster sauce
Pickled turnip with egg
Stuffed chicken breast with portobello mushroom farce
Australian honey and red wine sauce
Chilli linguini pasta
Roasted vegetables
Seared Australian Mulloway with Nantua sauce
Black squid ink linguini
Roasted vegetables with black pepper
Tiger prawn with soy bean and black mushroom sauce
Stir-fried Healthy noodles with carrot and celery
Combination of chunky Chinese vegetables
Assorted bread and butter
Assorted cheese and fresh fruits
Dessert
Ivory chocolate and tangerine ice parfait with citrus fruit compote
Tea, coffee, espresso, cappuccino
Available Any Time (upon request)
Salmon boiled rice
Yellow noodle soup with garnitures (fish balls and shrimp balls)
Second Serving (Breakfast)
First Course
Fresh fruits
Yoghurt
Cereal
Main Course
Frittata with bell peppers, herb and Gruyere cheese
Pan-fried veal sausage chipolata
Panache of mushroom in herb cream sauce
French toast stuffed with cream cheese and blueberry
Maple syrup
Grilled ham
Baked tomato
Cold cuts platter
Bierschinken
Butcher ham
Salami
Gruyere cheese
Assorted bread, butter, jam, honey
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate
Drinks
Champagne
Veuve Clicquot Rose Vintage (2004)
Dom Perignon Vintage (2002)
Red Wine
Chateau Belgrave Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Petit-Verdot (2007)
Nuits-Saint-Georges Pinot Noir (2008)
White Wine
Chassagne Montrachet Le Divin Chardonnay (2008)
Chateau Le Thil Comte Clary Sauvignon Semillon (2008)
Aperitifs
Campari
Gin Martini
Screwdriver
Bloody Mary
Black Russian
Vodka Martini
Warre's Warrior Port
Bristol Cream Sherry
Spirits
Rum
Gin
Bourbon Whiskey
Whiskey
Vodka
Cognac and Liqueurs
Otard 1795 Extra Cognac
Kahlua
Drambuie
Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
Beers
Heineken
Chang
Singha
Soft Drinks
Fruit juices
A range of soft drinks and diet soft drinks
Beverages
Espresso
Cappuccino
Instant Coffee
Decaffeinated Coffee
Special Blended Coffee
Oolong Tea
Ceylon High Tea
Japanese Green Tea
Chocolate Malt 3 in 1
21 June 2011 / 22 June 2011
First Serving (Dinner)
Hot Savoury
Fried Rice Crackers with Prawn Dipping
Oscietra Caviar with Garnitures
First Course
Grilled tuna and Tasmanian smoked salmon
Nicoise salad with quail eggs
Soup
Double boiled beef consomme scented with sherry wine
Main Course
Tender beef cheeks in curry "Pa-naeng" with peanuts
Steamed duo of Thai Hom Mali rice
Stir-fried pak choy with oyster sauce
Pickled turnip with egg
Stuffed chicken breast with portobello mushroom farce
Australian honey and red wine sauce
Chilli linguini pasta
Roasted vegetables
Seared Australian Mulloway with Nantua sauce
Black squid ink linguini
Roasted vegetables with black pepper
Tiger prawn with soy bean and black mushroom sauce
Stir-fried Healthy noodles with carrot and celery
Combination of chunky Chinese vegetables
Assorted bread and butter
Assorted cheese and fresh fruits
Dessert
Ivory chocolate and tangerine ice parfait with citrus fruit compote
Tea, coffee, espresso, cappuccino
Available Any Time (upon request)
Salmon boiled rice
Yellow noodle soup with garnitures (fish balls and shrimp balls)
Second Serving (Breakfast)
First Course
Fresh fruits
Yoghurt
Cereal
Main Course
Frittata with bell peppers, herb and Gruyere cheese
Pan-fried veal sausage chipolata
Panache of mushroom in herb cream sauce
French toast stuffed with cream cheese and blueberry
Maple syrup
Grilled ham
Baked tomato
Cold cuts platter
Bierschinken
Butcher ham
Salami
Gruyere cheese
Assorted bread, butter, jam, honey
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate
Drinks
Champagne
Veuve Clicquot Rose Vintage (2004)
Dom Perignon Vintage (2002)
Red Wine
Chateau Belgrave Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Petit-Verdot (2007)
Nuits-Saint-Georges Pinot Noir (2008)
White Wine
Chassagne Montrachet Le Divin Chardonnay (2008)
Chateau Le Thil Comte Clary Sauvignon Semillon (2008)
Aperitifs
Campari
Gin Martini
Screwdriver
Bloody Mary
Black Russian
Vodka Martini
Warre's Warrior Port
Bristol Cream Sherry
Spirits
Rum
Gin
Bourbon Whiskey
Whiskey
Vodka
Cognac and Liqueurs
Otard 1795 Extra Cognac
Kahlua
Drambuie
Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
Beers
Heineken
Chang
Singha
Soft Drinks
Fruit juices
A range of soft drinks and diet soft drinks
Beverages
Espresso
Cappuccino
Instant Coffee
Decaffeinated Coffee
Special Blended Coffee
Oolong Tea
Ceylon High Tea
Japanese Green Tea
Chocolate Malt 3 in 1
Mar 2, 2012, 9:03 am
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Current Location: Arrivals Level, Terminal 1, Sydney Airport, Mascot, New South Wales, Australia
Current Time: 0730h GMT+10, 86 hours 30 minutes after getting out of bed
We touched down in SYD without much fuss and pulled up to a gate at T1. Another long hike to immigration later and I was easily cleared even without using SmartGate. Baggage claim was, surprisingly, not as delayed as it normally is, with bags coming out a mere 15 minutes after I'd arrived in the baggage hall. I couldn't help overhearing a mother and daughter travelling together that they were getting concerned about their domestic connection on Qantas. I couldn't help but mention that I was in the same predicament.
We all ended up introducing ourselves and discussing all manner of things travelling. They were headed to Cairns; lucky for me going to Brisbane I have plenty of options, though a lot of them cut down significantly by the ash cloud. We decided to head to T3 together. Once we had our bags (their bags surprisingly not far away from mine, and priority luggage - you got to be kidding me), we cleared immigration quickly (surprisingly not too many people in waiting) and then headed to the Domestic Check-in and Transfer.
Fortunately for the mother and daughter, their originally booked flight to Cairns in the afternoon seemed to be going ahead as scheduled, as they had anticipated that skies should be opening not long after lunch-ish. For me, unfortunately the only option they had available for me on the same day was the last flight of the day, QF556. At least there were seats available in Business, but I shouldn't complain - at least I was getting away on this day, and not tomorrow. All flights were packed, so I was lucky, having had to deal with this so late, that I was able to get a seat. I thanked the CSA for her help, checked my luggage in and proceeded to the security point.
It's so good to be able to pass through security again without having to worry about LAGs. Our shuttle bus was running a little late, but otherwise we were off to T3. Along the way, we chatted with passengers and staff alike about the experiences of operating within the ash cloud (or lack thereof, unless you are NZ, VA or DJ).
Once we arrived at T3, the departure FIDs said all that was needed.
Departure FIDs at SYD T3 - nothing more to be said, really.
At this point, I was resigned that the last flight of the day would be my only option, whilst my accomplices were glad that so far, their Cairns flight looked like it would be going as planned. I should mention that looking around T3 the mood was dead. No people teeming back and forth, no chocked up gate lounges.... no one. This concerned the mother and daughter more than anything, since most of the shops had closed and they wanted to get some breakfast, having not had a decent one on board the TG flight we'd just come off (though they were in Y). Seeing as I really didn't mind, I invited them to be my lounge guests. I told them they could get some breakfast, a coffee or water, a shower and use the wireless internet. The mother thought it was too much for me to do, but I mentioned it really wasn't anything and she and her daughter would be most welcome.
Current Location: Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, Terminal 3, Sydney Airport, Mascot, New South Wales, Australia
Current Time: 0850h GMT+10, 87 hours 50 minutes after getting out of bed
We approached the J Lounge desk and I informed them that I had two guests with me, who they greeted as warmly as they did to me. Even though the ash cloud had sent everything into a mild chaos, there were smiles all around. Whether it was standard service or swapping war stories, everyone was in a good mood, or more correctly, a "oh well, **** happens" one.
The lounge was fairly empty so we managed to get a set of four chairs for the three of us. Some water, green tea, light nibbles and some coffee then populated our small table.
To cut a long story short (because I did spend a lot of time in the lounge - hey, I was waiting for a flight at the end of the day), I basically had a great chat with the mother and daughter, which I preferred to do after such a long journey rather than tend to my messages and reading. They were great company and, like me, looking very much forward to heading to their final destination to meet family. It was so good to actually talk to someone else in person again, apart from airline or airport staff.
As predicted, the ash cloud restrictions began to lift as lunchtime rolled over, and the lounge started to get more and more populated. Flights were slightly delayed and produced a rolling effect, but otherwise operations were all go. The mother and daughter's flight to Cairns was luckily on time, and I said farewell to them and thanks for the conversation. They couldn't thank me enough for allowing them to come with me into the lounge.
At this point, I'm still staring at at least another 6 hours or so before I'm on a plane going home. I was thinking of ducking out to Sydney city and possibly calling up a few mates, but I decided that I was so tired that I didn't want to. Out came the laptop and I started working again. I don't know how I was working through even though I hadn't had a remarkable amount of rest (most of my sleep has been on a plane!), but it was happening. Mostly it was taking care of junk, like cleaning up my inbox which had built up since I was away, and making a list of what I had to do when I hit the office.
I managed to work solid through to dinner time. The island dining was on offer tonight, and tonight's selection was a chestnut soup. I remember having a chestnut soup when flying F with QF one time, and I quite liked it, so I put one on order. The resulting dish was delivered, and it was just as good as the first time I'd had it.
Chestnut soup from island dining.
A little later, I decided to indulge my sweet tooth and picked at the cake selection. The cake selection in the QF J lounge is definitely a highlight for me; more often than not the cakes are very nice and go down a treat with a cup of tea, coffee or milk.
Chocolate brownie and sour cherry cake. Delicious.
Current Location: Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, Terminal 3, Sydney Airport, Mascot, New South Wales, Australia
Current Time: 2045h GMT+10, 99 hours 45 minutes after getting out of bed
Boarding time! I was going home!
Or was I?
I waited for the boarding call. There was none. I checked the departure FID - no change in status. But no change in the boarding time either. This isn't good.
Then we get the announcement. We are delayed. Our flight is not immune to the rolling delays today and we are given a new schedule departure about 40 minutes after our original time.
Bummer. If it was any blessing, I was only hoping we could escape before the close of curfew, and so far it was looking possible. With a handful of flights left on the departures board, it would really suck if anyone was left behind tonight.
The servery staff are starting to pack up. They were hoping they'd have an easy night; we're all not quite out yet. Some people take the last morsels of food on the servery, because the staff aren't replenishing any more of the dishes. The bar is effectively closed and some people pour themselves a nightcap from whatever wine is still on the self-serve. For me, lucky the water tap is still on, but all the ice in the ice bucket has melted.
...
Finally, we get a call. My flight is boarding. For real, this time. Finally - I was going home. I tiredly pick up my backpack, say goodbye and good night to the lounge receptionists, then head downstairs to my gate. There was no priority boarding, but I didn't care; the line was moving quickly, just how I liked it.
Current Time: 0730h GMT+10, 86 hours 30 minutes after getting out of bed
We touched down in SYD without much fuss and pulled up to a gate at T1. Another long hike to immigration later and I was easily cleared even without using SmartGate. Baggage claim was, surprisingly, not as delayed as it normally is, with bags coming out a mere 15 minutes after I'd arrived in the baggage hall. I couldn't help overhearing a mother and daughter travelling together that they were getting concerned about their domestic connection on Qantas. I couldn't help but mention that I was in the same predicament.
We all ended up introducing ourselves and discussing all manner of things travelling. They were headed to Cairns; lucky for me going to Brisbane I have plenty of options, though a lot of them cut down significantly by the ash cloud. We decided to head to T3 together. Once we had our bags (their bags surprisingly not far away from mine, and priority luggage - you got to be kidding me), we cleared immigration quickly (surprisingly not too many people in waiting) and then headed to the Domestic Check-in and Transfer.
Fortunately for the mother and daughter, their originally booked flight to Cairns in the afternoon seemed to be going ahead as scheduled, as they had anticipated that skies should be opening not long after lunch-ish. For me, unfortunately the only option they had available for me on the same day was the last flight of the day, QF556. At least there were seats available in Business, but I shouldn't complain - at least I was getting away on this day, and not tomorrow. All flights were packed, so I was lucky, having had to deal with this so late, that I was able to get a seat. I thanked the CSA for her help, checked my luggage in and proceeded to the security point.
It's so good to be able to pass through security again without having to worry about LAGs. Our shuttle bus was running a little late, but otherwise we were off to T3. Along the way, we chatted with passengers and staff alike about the experiences of operating within the ash cloud (or lack thereof, unless you are NZ, VA or DJ).
Once we arrived at T3, the departure FIDs said all that was needed.
Departure FIDs at SYD T3 - nothing more to be said, really.
At this point, I was resigned that the last flight of the day would be my only option, whilst my accomplices were glad that so far, their Cairns flight looked like it would be going as planned. I should mention that looking around T3 the mood was dead. No people teeming back and forth, no chocked up gate lounges.... no one. This concerned the mother and daughter more than anything, since most of the shops had closed and they wanted to get some breakfast, having not had a decent one on board the TG flight we'd just come off (though they were in Y). Seeing as I really didn't mind, I invited them to be my lounge guests. I told them they could get some breakfast, a coffee or water, a shower and use the wireless internet. The mother thought it was too much for me to do, but I mentioned it really wasn't anything and she and her daughter would be most welcome.
Current Location: Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, Terminal 3, Sydney Airport, Mascot, New South Wales, Australia
Current Time: 0850h GMT+10, 87 hours 50 minutes after getting out of bed
We approached the J Lounge desk and I informed them that I had two guests with me, who they greeted as warmly as they did to me. Even though the ash cloud had sent everything into a mild chaos, there were smiles all around. Whether it was standard service or swapping war stories, everyone was in a good mood, or more correctly, a "oh well, **** happens" one.
The lounge was fairly empty so we managed to get a set of four chairs for the three of us. Some water, green tea, light nibbles and some coffee then populated our small table.
To cut a long story short (because I did spend a lot of time in the lounge - hey, I was waiting for a flight at the end of the day), I basically had a great chat with the mother and daughter, which I preferred to do after such a long journey rather than tend to my messages and reading. They were great company and, like me, looking very much forward to heading to their final destination to meet family. It was so good to actually talk to someone else in person again, apart from airline or airport staff.
As predicted, the ash cloud restrictions began to lift as lunchtime rolled over, and the lounge started to get more and more populated. Flights were slightly delayed and produced a rolling effect, but otherwise operations were all go. The mother and daughter's flight to Cairns was luckily on time, and I said farewell to them and thanks for the conversation. They couldn't thank me enough for allowing them to come with me into the lounge.
At this point, I'm still staring at at least another 6 hours or so before I'm on a plane going home. I was thinking of ducking out to Sydney city and possibly calling up a few mates, but I decided that I was so tired that I didn't want to. Out came the laptop and I started working again. I don't know how I was working through even though I hadn't had a remarkable amount of rest (most of my sleep has been on a plane!), but it was happening. Mostly it was taking care of junk, like cleaning up my inbox which had built up since I was away, and making a list of what I had to do when I hit the office.
I managed to work solid through to dinner time. The island dining was on offer tonight, and tonight's selection was a chestnut soup. I remember having a chestnut soup when flying F with QF one time, and I quite liked it, so I put one on order. The resulting dish was delivered, and it was just as good as the first time I'd had it.
Chestnut soup from island dining.
A little later, I decided to indulge my sweet tooth and picked at the cake selection. The cake selection in the QF J lounge is definitely a highlight for me; more often than not the cakes are very nice and go down a treat with a cup of tea, coffee or milk.
Chocolate brownie and sour cherry cake. Delicious.
Current Location: Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, Terminal 3, Sydney Airport, Mascot, New South Wales, Australia
Current Time: 2045h GMT+10, 99 hours 45 minutes after getting out of bed
Boarding time! I was going home!
Or was I?
I waited for the boarding call. There was none. I checked the departure FID - no change in status. But no change in the boarding time either. This isn't good.
Then we get the announcement. We are delayed. Our flight is not immune to the rolling delays today and we are given a new schedule departure about 40 minutes after our original time.
Bummer. If it was any blessing, I was only hoping we could escape before the close of curfew, and so far it was looking possible. With a handful of flights left on the departures board, it would really suck if anyone was left behind tonight.
The servery staff are starting to pack up. They were hoping they'd have an easy night; we're all not quite out yet. Some people take the last morsels of food on the servery, because the staff aren't replenishing any more of the dishes. The bar is effectively closed and some people pour themselves a nightcap from whatever wine is still on the self-serve. For me, lucky the water tap is still on, but all the ice in the ice bucket has melted.
...
Finally, we get a call. My flight is boarding. For real, this time. Finally - I was going home. I tiredly pick up my backpack, say goodbye and good night to the lounge receptionists, then head downstairs to my gate. There was no priority boarding, but I didn't care; the line was moving quickly, just how I liked it.
Mar 2, 2012, 9:05 am
#55
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Flight: Qantas Airways QF556 Sydney (SYD T3) - Brisbane (BNE D)
Depart: Sched 2105h; Actual 2148h
Duration: 1 h 30 min
Distance: 467 mi (752 km)
Aircraft: VH-ZXA "Jervis Bay" Boeing 767-300
Class: Business
Seat: 1F
The passengers certainly helped themselves tonight by scrambling onto the aircraft as quickly as possible so we could all get out of here. After all, the last thing we need is a bit of competition from the other flights and the dubious SYD ATC cooking up the schedules even further than the ash cloud. The plane was pretty much full, with only one seat free in J and I'd be betting my last dollar that there weren't all that many more free seats in Y.
Our long taxi is followed by a smooth take off as we powered home to BNE. Being so late at night, our refreshment was more like a midnight snack. I can't remember what the other option was; all I remember is selecting the burrito and passing up on the bread service. The burrito definitely looks ugly and it was the basic meat and cheese (no beans or other kinds of fillings), but it tasted great. (Don't tell me my judgement is the tiredness talking...)
Refreshment burrito.
I had a little pour of red wine to calm myself down and try to make my body resign to committing to a good night's rest coming up... in a real bed on the ground.
Our approach into BNE was fine, with none of this "BNE ATC won't let us land just yet" BS that seems to be more normal in these last summer months. We touched down a shade after the 11th hour (of the night, that is) and pulled up to gate. My bag was out on the belt pretty quickly after we arrived down at the baggage hall, and they even managed to get priority baggage right, which at this time of night under these stressful circumstances is more rare than you'd ever believe, especially with an almost full plane of passengers.
Called up my family and they were just around the corner to pick me up. A quick ride home ensured and then I was up in my room with my luggage and bag.
I was home.
I was back in my bedroom. With my desk. And a real bed. Not one made from a comfy airline seat, with a thin underlay; no, one with a spring mattress. Not one that angles anywhere between 1 and 15 degrees to the floor; no, this one is fully flat and parallel to the floor. Comfy bed sheets, a sheepskin underneath the cover sheet and a soft quilt on top.
I unpacked the essentials, put my mobile on the charge and climbed in. Sleeping has never felt more comfortable.
Current Location: anat0l's bed, anat0l's bedroom, anat0l's home, Brisbane, Australia
Current Time: 2340h GMT+10, 102 hours 40 minutes after getting out of previous bed on land
Depart: Sched 2105h; Actual 2148h
Duration: 1 h 30 min
Distance: 467 mi (752 km)
Aircraft: VH-ZXA "Jervis Bay" Boeing 767-300
Class: Business
Seat: 1F
The passengers certainly helped themselves tonight by scrambling onto the aircraft as quickly as possible so we could all get out of here. After all, the last thing we need is a bit of competition from the other flights and the dubious SYD ATC cooking up the schedules even further than the ash cloud. The plane was pretty much full, with only one seat free in J and I'd be betting my last dollar that there weren't all that many more free seats in Y.
Our long taxi is followed by a smooth take off as we powered home to BNE. Being so late at night, our refreshment was more like a midnight snack. I can't remember what the other option was; all I remember is selecting the burrito and passing up on the bread service. The burrito definitely looks ugly and it was the basic meat and cheese (no beans or other kinds of fillings), but it tasted great. (Don't tell me my judgement is the tiredness talking...)
Refreshment burrito.
I had a little pour of red wine to calm myself down and try to make my body resign to committing to a good night's rest coming up... in a real bed on the ground.
Our approach into BNE was fine, with none of this "BNE ATC won't let us land just yet" BS that seems to be more normal in these last summer months. We touched down a shade after the 11th hour (of the night, that is) and pulled up to gate. My bag was out on the belt pretty quickly after we arrived down at the baggage hall, and they even managed to get priority baggage right, which at this time of night under these stressful circumstances is more rare than you'd ever believe, especially with an almost full plane of passengers.
Called up my family and they were just around the corner to pick me up. A quick ride home ensured and then I was up in my room with my luggage and bag.
I was home.
I was back in my bedroom. With my desk. And a real bed. Not one made from a comfy airline seat, with a thin underlay; no, one with a spring mattress. Not one that angles anywhere between 1 and 15 degrees to the floor; no, this one is fully flat and parallel to the floor. Comfy bed sheets, a sheepskin underneath the cover sheet and a soft quilt on top.
I unpacked the essentials, put my mobile on the charge and climbed in. Sleeping has never felt more comfortable.
Current Location: anat0l's bed, anat0l's bedroom, anat0l's home, Brisbane, Australia
Current Time: 2340h GMT+10, 102 hours 40 minutes after getting out of previous bed on land
Mar 2, 2012, 9:07 am
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Epilogue
So that was my story of how I spent at least 100 hours from one land bed to the next; or, to be more precise, from one (real) mattress to the next one! I think that's it's only befitting that, after having experienced so many different products, that I give a brief review of each of them again. So here they are:
Lufthansa Business (intra-Europe regional, short haul)
The Good
A bit further from the riff-raff and you can disembark first.
The Bad
Not much better service than Y - a slightly better snack, a bit more elbow room. Unless you're after the miles in a program, probably not worth the price differential. The entire plane has no TVs.
The Verdict
Unless you're booking this as a connector at incidental or no extra charge, or if the differential to Economy is very small, then this product is probably not worth it.
Swiss First (intercontinental, long haul) (old product)
The Good
Very warm service by LX. Intimate cabin of only 8 passengers. Excellent food and drink selection; very innovative food choices, and delicious too. If you like a good coffee, you'll love the Nespresso. Nice amenity kits by Bally and sturdy sleeper suits. Decent bedding.
The Bad
Poor IFE selection, very limited - bring something else to entertain you. Breakfast was a bit limited and salty; perhaps a bad catering day, or simply that breakfast, like the rest of Europe, isn't usually treated as a big deal. The seating is not very intimate on its own; the trade off of having fewer people in the cabin is that there are no walls that have to separate people for their own space. This is fine if you're in the old school of thought (and not a weakness in my view), but many others say that after you've done suites everything else is clearly inferior.
The Verdict
A nice alternative to LH if you can't get F seats on the latter. Ditto this assessment if you can't score on SQ F, and even though SQ F has either private suites or a massive seat, plus caviar service and better champagne, the innovative menu on LX definitely makes for a strong alternative. I would be happy to fly LX F any time, and hope one day I can try their new F product (currently on A333 aircraft and on routes that are very difficult to get F seats for).
Thai Business (intra-Asia regional, medium haul)
The Good
You won't go hungry on TG. Meals are quite big. Presentation of meals is really good. Amenity kits even on medium haul flights (and not just overnight flights) is nice. Salvatore Ferragamo accessories in the bathrooms, along with versatile dental kits. Seats have plenty of leg room and are reasonably comfy.
The Bad
Seats are angle-flat, not fully flat. Not a problem for me, since I can sleep on them, but many cannot or will not. Blankets and pillows a bit lacklustre. Food selection is sometimes a bit of a dull choice and not interesting. Drinks selection is pretty much there "because we need it", which actually felt a lot like the food as well - e.g. "we need a cheese selection because people like cheese; it doesn't matter what we pick, we just need cheese".
The Verdict
A perfectly acceptable product for medium haul flights around Asia. If you're not too picky at all, TG will satisfy your expectations without a doubt. Going above and beyond that is asking a bit much. Be patient with the TG FAs, as they are good at what they do but not necessarily at ease with their English.
Cathay Pacific Business (intra-Asia regional, short and medium haul)
The Good
Like TG, you'll rarely go hungry on CX flights, with very filling meals. Great service of meals from a cart. Almost like Chinese / Asian cultural values, FAs will dote on you and be especially concerned if you're not eating! They are very amenable, especially if the cabin is not full. Bathrooms are nicely designed and equipped with Dermalogica products. Seat is comfy, like your arm chair in your lounge at home.
The Bad
Seats only recline to about 150 degrees or so, which is fine if you can picture yourself outside at a pool lying on a recliner. Blankets are a bit thin and pillows small. The meals are a bit rich - have more than 1 or 2 in the same day and you'll probably start to feel a little bit sick (a tip for the status runners). No amenity kits even on overnight flights - I suspect they will only give them out for long haul flights. IFE is loop back on limited channels, so maybe a book or your iPad is a better bet.
The Verdict
For most flights in the CX regional network, CX J will suffice for many. The FAs are courteous. Try the Cathay Delight if you're on board next time!
Dragonair Business (intra-Asia regional, short and medium haul)
The Good
Comfortable seats with decent leg room, especially given a narrow body aircraft with a fairly large J cabin. Meals are sufficient and tasty. In seat power is available.
The Bad
Nothing too exciting with the food - it fills you up in a fairly tasty way and that's all you can hope for. Wine selection looks rather rudimentary. Decor is only a notch up better than, say, the QF and VA domestic J operations; not as elegant as its parent airline CX.
The Verdict
If you're going to get a narrow body aircraft, then you know your comfort will generally take a hit. Nevertheless, KA have done alright in this regard and provide a decent service. If you're planning a run using CX and have a KA option, it's a nice switch of gears if you don't feel like seeing those sea green seats for at least another flight. Like KA, you may need to be patient with the FAs due to English, but they are always willing to help you.
Thai First (intercontinental, long haul) (old product)
The Good
With only 8 seats in the cabin, it is the same style of intimacy as LX - fewer seats in the cabin in exchange for less walls. There's always plenty of food, so you won't go hungry. Presentation of meals on the carts is immaculate. One of the few First Class services in the world to still offer a caviar course. Rimowa amenity kits... well, what can I say... win? Salvatore Ferragamo accessories supplied in the bathrooms. IFE is decent, on demand and a good selection.
The Bad
Most things on Thai's service feel like its there because it has to (similar to my previous remarks). The seat is reasonably comfy (for First standards), and you just might sleep well in it too, considering there is no special underlay supplied when the seat turns into a bed. Menu seems rather boring for a First Class standard. Breakfast was not done very well. Drinks selection is fairly standard; sure, they have Dom Perri 2002, but I'm not a fan. The amenities inside the kit were nothing to write home about.
The Verdict
TG F is the only other F service offered by the Star Alliance to and from Australia besides SQ F. The former is extremely easy to get seats for, so this makes up for the fact that it may be one of the most boring F services in the world (but not necessarily the worst.......)
In the end, I got to experience many products for my huge expenditure of BD miles. By the end I was losing my perception and the delay due to the ash cloud didn't help, but I enjoyed the experience. I added a few more amenity kits to my collection, got some QF SCs and did it all in style.
It's a hard life, but someone has to do it.
And so until the sky is my cradle again.......
Fin
So that was my story of how I spent at least 100 hours from one land bed to the next; or, to be more precise, from one (real) mattress to the next one! I think that's it's only befitting that, after having experienced so many different products, that I give a brief review of each of them again. So here they are:
Lufthansa Business (intra-Europe regional, short haul)
The Good
A bit further from the riff-raff and you can disembark first.
The Bad
Not much better service than Y - a slightly better snack, a bit more elbow room. Unless you're after the miles in a program, probably not worth the price differential. The entire plane has no TVs.
The Verdict
Unless you're booking this as a connector at incidental or no extra charge, or if the differential to Economy is very small, then this product is probably not worth it.
Swiss First (intercontinental, long haul) (old product)
The Good
Very warm service by LX. Intimate cabin of only 8 passengers. Excellent food and drink selection; very innovative food choices, and delicious too. If you like a good coffee, you'll love the Nespresso. Nice amenity kits by Bally and sturdy sleeper suits. Decent bedding.
The Bad
Poor IFE selection, very limited - bring something else to entertain you. Breakfast was a bit limited and salty; perhaps a bad catering day, or simply that breakfast, like the rest of Europe, isn't usually treated as a big deal. The seating is not very intimate on its own; the trade off of having fewer people in the cabin is that there are no walls that have to separate people for their own space. This is fine if you're in the old school of thought (and not a weakness in my view), but many others say that after you've done suites everything else is clearly inferior.
The Verdict
A nice alternative to LH if you can't get F seats on the latter. Ditto this assessment if you can't score on SQ F, and even though SQ F has either private suites or a massive seat, plus caviar service and better champagne, the innovative menu on LX definitely makes for a strong alternative. I would be happy to fly LX F any time, and hope one day I can try their new F product (currently on A333 aircraft and on routes that are very difficult to get F seats for).
Thai Business (intra-Asia regional, medium haul)
The Good
You won't go hungry on TG. Meals are quite big. Presentation of meals is really good. Amenity kits even on medium haul flights (and not just overnight flights) is nice. Salvatore Ferragamo accessories in the bathrooms, along with versatile dental kits. Seats have plenty of leg room and are reasonably comfy.
The Bad
Seats are angle-flat, not fully flat. Not a problem for me, since I can sleep on them, but many cannot or will not. Blankets and pillows a bit lacklustre. Food selection is sometimes a bit of a dull choice and not interesting. Drinks selection is pretty much there "because we need it", which actually felt a lot like the food as well - e.g. "we need a cheese selection because people like cheese; it doesn't matter what we pick, we just need cheese".
The Verdict
A perfectly acceptable product for medium haul flights around Asia. If you're not too picky at all, TG will satisfy your expectations without a doubt. Going above and beyond that is asking a bit much. Be patient with the TG FAs, as they are good at what they do but not necessarily at ease with their English.
Cathay Pacific Business (intra-Asia regional, short and medium haul)
The Good
Like TG, you'll rarely go hungry on CX flights, with very filling meals. Great service of meals from a cart. Almost like Chinese / Asian cultural values, FAs will dote on you and be especially concerned if you're not eating! They are very amenable, especially if the cabin is not full. Bathrooms are nicely designed and equipped with Dermalogica products. Seat is comfy, like your arm chair in your lounge at home.
The Bad
Seats only recline to about 150 degrees or so, which is fine if you can picture yourself outside at a pool lying on a recliner. Blankets are a bit thin and pillows small. The meals are a bit rich - have more than 1 or 2 in the same day and you'll probably start to feel a little bit sick (a tip for the status runners). No amenity kits even on overnight flights - I suspect they will only give them out for long haul flights. IFE is loop back on limited channels, so maybe a book or your iPad is a better bet.
The Verdict
For most flights in the CX regional network, CX J will suffice for many. The FAs are courteous. Try the Cathay Delight if you're on board next time!
Dragonair Business (intra-Asia regional, short and medium haul)
The Good
Comfortable seats with decent leg room, especially given a narrow body aircraft with a fairly large J cabin. Meals are sufficient and tasty. In seat power is available.
The Bad
Nothing too exciting with the food - it fills you up in a fairly tasty way and that's all you can hope for. Wine selection looks rather rudimentary. Decor is only a notch up better than, say, the QF and VA domestic J operations; not as elegant as its parent airline CX.
The Verdict
If you're going to get a narrow body aircraft, then you know your comfort will generally take a hit. Nevertheless, KA have done alright in this regard and provide a decent service. If you're planning a run using CX and have a KA option, it's a nice switch of gears if you don't feel like seeing those sea green seats for at least another flight. Like KA, you may need to be patient with the FAs due to English, but they are always willing to help you.
Thai First (intercontinental, long haul) (old product)
The Good
With only 8 seats in the cabin, it is the same style of intimacy as LX - fewer seats in the cabin in exchange for less walls. There's always plenty of food, so you won't go hungry. Presentation of meals on the carts is immaculate. One of the few First Class services in the world to still offer a caviar course. Rimowa amenity kits... well, what can I say... win? Salvatore Ferragamo accessories supplied in the bathrooms. IFE is decent, on demand and a good selection.
The Bad
Most things on Thai's service feel like its there because it has to (similar to my previous remarks). The seat is reasonably comfy (for First standards), and you just might sleep well in it too, considering there is no special underlay supplied when the seat turns into a bed. Menu seems rather boring for a First Class standard. Breakfast was not done very well. Drinks selection is fairly standard; sure, they have Dom Perri 2002, but I'm not a fan. The amenities inside the kit were nothing to write home about.
The Verdict
TG F is the only other F service offered by the Star Alliance to and from Australia besides SQ F. The former is extremely easy to get seats for, so this makes up for the fact that it may be one of the most boring F services in the world (but not necessarily the worst.......)
In the end, I got to experience many products for my huge expenditure of BD miles. By the end I was losing my perception and the delay due to the ash cloud didn't help, but I enjoyed the experience. I added a few more amenity kits to my collection, got some QF SCs and did it all in style.
It's a hard life, but someone has to do it.
And so until the sky is my cradle again.......
Fin
Mar 2, 2012, 9:13 am
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Better read it to the real end, then...
I was still standing after 102 hours. That has to say something. On the other hand, you know that directive you see on some medicine bottles, "Do not operate vehicles or heavy equipment after consumption"?
That I did. I think I remember only working for half the next day.
I suppose only when I have a trip I think that's worthy of going up here.
I've got a doozy of an itinerary coming up in April.
In saying that, you can probably tell that putting together a trip report is not a trivial effort. I always have to overcome that mental hurdle of the size of the report so I can put one together.
We'll see how we go. At least it's good to know at least one person will read my TR if I post one
Born and bred in BNE! And still living here, too.
Mar 2, 2012, 10:44 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,148
anat0l, this has been one of the most enjoyable trip reports I've read in a while here - both the text and the photos are first class. As one who's written a long trip report a time or two, I know how much effort goes into a report of this size and detail. So thanks for a job well done! ^^
Indeed, now I'm going to have to go out and read your other reports - how I missed them is a mystery to me - but better late than never.
Mar 2, 2012, 5:15 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: AMS+IAH
Programs: Lufthansa: Senator || IHG: Diamond Royal Ambassador Inner Circle || Plutonium Status
Posts: 3,509
Big appreciation
Awesome milleage run! Man, that is really something else!
Glad my favorite LX F ZRH-BKK route didn't dissapoint you.
Thanks for the detailed descriptions and photos and big^ for typing all these menus! Respect:-:
Glad my favorite LX F ZRH-BKK route didn't dissapoint you.
Thanks for the detailed descriptions and photos and big^ for typing all these menus! Respect:-: