BA First with PIX LHR-YYZ and back
May 31, 2006, 5:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
BA First with PIX LHR-YYZ and back
LHR-YYZ
Off again this time to YYZ to visit some friends of mine for the long weekend. I decided to burn some AA miles and go in F. I wanted to try out AA’s First product as my only AA longhaul on my RTW ended up being a BA flight. You can read all about that in here.
Originally I was routed through MIA with an 8 hour layover. The return was through ORD which meant not arriving back in LHR until 11:35.
As these times were not the optimum I rang AA and asked if I could get a better routing or as a minimum the earlier flight out of ORD on the way back.
The only option the agent had for me were direct flights on BA. So yet again I was to somehow miss flying in First on AA.
This is a flight report only and there will be no commentary on my drunken outings in YYZ.
I awoke at my usual 06:10 to a wet and grey London. I was only taking carry on bags and did not want to have to pack my umbrella nor my rain coat so I was not too pleased to see wet roads outside.
I pottered around until it was time to leave and thankfully there was a break in the weather and I made it to the tube without too much precipitous activity.
Damn I hate the tube in the warmer weather. You want to arrive at an airport for a flight and you have to endure time in a sauna on the way. The tube I was on had about an 80% humidity factor. I was glad when I finally arrived at Paddington to catch my half price (thanks World Points) ticket to LHR on Heathrow Express.
The HEX left about 4 minutes after I got on board which was a change for me it is usually pulling away from the station just as I arrive.
Interesting note for those as anal as me. On HEX they show interesting facts on the TV screens after the news program has finished. I noticed with some amusement that Interesting Fact No. 1931 was that the Star Spangled Banner is celebrating it’s 75th Anniversary as the US national anthem.
I disembarked headed straight up to check in area and to the BA F desk where my BP was printed and I was sent on my way. Security was the least busy I had seen it – ever. I was through and walking up to the BA Lounge Complex within a few minutes.
I headed straight downstairs to the MB spa to book a treatment. At 2 hours and 50 minutes prior to departure I could not get a back massage! I decided to do something was out there (for me anyway) and signed up for a facial instead. I couldn’t fly J or F again and not even attempted to get a spa treatment.
I made my way back up to the dragon guarding the F door and upon flashing my BP I was escorted into the CR. Inside was quite busy as at that time of day the middle east flights and some east coast US flights all leave.
I moseyed on down to the 2 computers to check for any last minute gossip on FT. Then up to the bar where I almost had kittens. On the shelf above the bar where the champagne bottles are on display I could see 2 bottles of Monopole and no others.
I ask for a glass fearing the worst but notice that the blue label Piper Heidsieck Cuvee Rare is extracted from the fridge to an audible sigh from me.
At this time I also ordered the obligatory bacon baguette which was promptly delivered to my seat.
I did a little shopping and then headed down to the MB spa again as I decided that I would like to shower after the sticky tube ride. They booked me in for a shower for half an hour prior to my facial workout.
It was then back upstairs and another glass of bubbly.
Time soon past and I was back in MB taking a shower. Just for the fun of it I decided to get in the camera clicking mood. So here is the MB shower suite.
Felling refreshed I went into my facial and laid back to relax for 20 minutes whilst a lovely lady played softly, softly on my face.
By the time I came down off cloud nine the screens were reading boarding for my flight at gate 1B. This meant the dreaded bus to the outstation.
I ambled down to the gate and had my BP scanned and my Passport eyed. When I arrived in the lounge they had not started to let people down to the busses so I sat to wait a while. It was only a couple of minutes until there was movement at the station and we made out way down to the bus. Once on board it quickly filled, doors closed, and we made our way out of the bowels of LHR and onto the tarmac. After a few minutes in the bus waiting for the OK from the crew we exit but and enter plane, after negotiating the stairs of course.
The FA upon checking my BP said ‘I think you know where this seat is, it would be hard to miss it’ and directed me to the left. I was to spend the next 8 hours or so in seat 1A of this BA operated 777 aircraft.
My jacket was taken and I was offered newspapers and champagne prior to takeoff. Macadamia nuts were also provided with the bubbles. During the remainder of the boarding process I was offered a couple of refills on the champagne and I noticed that it was the Pommery Cuvee Louise.
The wash bags and sleeper suits were handed out whilst we were on the ground also.
The captain came on the blower to announce the delay to the flight and also informed us of a flying time of a long 7 hours and 45 minutes.
We had to wait whilst someone’s bags were offloaded but they were found quite quickly. How do people miss flights they had already checked in for?
I filled out my movie preferences and handed the form back to the FA who delivered my number 1 choice a few minutes later.
Flight BA 93 LHR – YYZ Seat 1A
Departure time: 11:55
Aircraft: 777
We eventually push back at 12:12 and taxied and waited as one does at LHR and eventually left terra firma at 12:30.
As soon as belts sign came off the FA’s were around delivering more bubbles and canapés that consisted of smoked salmon and cream cheese, mozzarella and spinach and chicken.
The menus were handed out and orders taken for the lunch service.
STARTERS
Lobster and crayfish with passion fruit dressing
Potato and truffle frittata with rocket and sherry vinaigrette
Pea and mint soup with chive crème fraiche
Fresh salad leaves with your choice of piquillo pepper dressing or Blue cheese and walnut dressing
MAIN
Rack of lamb with a herb crust, buttered potatoes fondants and a natural jus
Green herbed chicken with cumin and pine kernel potatoes, creamy black lentils, spicy wilted spinach and basil poori
Sautéed fillet of beef Stroganoff and pilau rice
Poached Loch Fyne salmon, asparagus and potato salad with a lemon dressing
DESSERT
Warm fig tart with vanilla ice cream
Fresh berries lasagne with Mascarpone cream
SNACKS
Bacon roll served with tomato ketchup
Penne pasta with your choice of creamy Parmesan cheese and spinach sauce or olive, caper and tomato sauce
Duchy of Cornwall biscuits
A selection of cheese and fruit
CHEESE PLATE
Lancashire
Peyrigoux
Gorgonzola
CHAMPAGNE
Pommery Cuvee Louise 1997
WHITE WINES
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint Jean 2003, Paul Pillot
Or
Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignieres 2003, Domaine Roux Pere et Fils
d’Arenberg “The Hermit Crab” Viognier Marsanne 2004, McLaren Vale
Wente Riva Ranch Reserve Chardonnay 2003, Arroyo Seco
RED WINES
Chateau Talbot 1995, Grand Cru Classe Saint-Julien
Beaune 1er Cru Champimonts 2001, Domaine Jacques Prieur
Or
Saint-Joseph 2001, Guigal
Treana Central Coast Red 2002, Paso Robles
DESSERT WINES
Clos Labere 1999, Sauternes
Warre’s 1988 Colheita Port
Another couple of glasses later, with a little encouragement from my FA, and I was asked if I would like to eat lunch. I confirmed my desire to eat and informed my man of my luncheon choices.
I opted for the frittata to start which was quite nice, but nothing to write in for the recipe for. This was followed up with a salad with the picowatsits dressing. With these two courses I consumed a glass of the Montrachet.
Being an unashamed Aussie I had to have the lamb as a love of this meat is almost mandatory in my clan. It was very succulent and thoroughly enjoyed by this lamb lover (of course if you are talking to the BA boards Sheep, you will please say I had beef!)
I asked the FA which red to consume with the rack and I am sorry but I can’t remember which of the French reds he chose for me. None the less it was very tasty and went down well with my meal.
After a short break I decided to have the fig tart for dessert along with a glass of the sauternes.
No room for cheese but a choice selection of La Pralines from AMEDEI of Tuscany was savoured for an all too brief moment.
After lunch I settled back for a snooze after all the bubbles had finally started to take their toll.
Upon waking I watched my movie during the latter part of which afternoon tea service was offered.
AFTERNOON TEA
SANDWICHES
Roast Beef with whole-grain mustard
Smoked salmon with cream cheese
Chicken Caesar with Red Leicester cheese
Mature Cheddar cheese with tangy pickle
PATISSERIE
Plain or fruit scones served warm with clotted cream and strawberry jam
Moist ginger cake, strawberry mille-feuille and chocolate tart
I opted for some roast beef sandwiches but seem to have neglected taking a photo of these, in true Moomba trip report style! Well at least you get to see the salad and the lovely BA china.
We landed at around 3pm, which was around 20 minutes late, and made the long taxi to the gate. I quickly exited the aircraft through door 2A. It isn’t very often I get to see door 1A exercised it must get very stiff on some of these planes where it never gets a workout.
I did note that throughout the flight the CSD never came by to say hello unlike other flights with BA where the CSD greeted every F passenger. Oh I forgot to say there were 5 seats free in F on this flight.
Anyway back to the story. I made my way to a whole room full of lengthy lines at immigrations. But as I am an old hand at YYZ arrivals I made my way to the short queues to the far right and was stamped and out the door within 2 minutes.
YYZ – LHR
Well after three short hot and gloriously sunny days in TO I left my hotel early to head back to YYZ airport. The TTC (local public transport) employees decided that this 30C day could not be missed so they were out on strike. As such I thought I would leave a little earlier to get to the airport in case the roads were worse than their usual nightmare.
They were not and I was at the airport checking in at the F desk within 35 minutes. BP in hand I walked straight up to the empty security and was in the duty free store within a couple of minutes.
I headed down to the BA lounge and got my invite to the F seating section of the pre-flight dining area.
I sat down to have a few drinks, a sandwich and cheese before dinner and read the paper in the lounge. The lounge is quite small and fills up somewhat as the flight time approaches. At around 16:45 I went in to the “restaurant” to get some grub.
On offer were:
STARTERS
Corn Chowder
Asparagus and cipploine onion tart
SALADS
Mixed salad with balsamic dressing
Watercress, jicama and orange salad with lemon pepper dressing
MAIN
Griddled maize fed chicken supreme, asparagus, finger potatoes and baby spinach salad with romeco dressing
Roast Cod with endive marmalade and roast tomatoes
Fried Portobello mushroom and tomato Napoleon
DESSERT
Peach, Raspberry cream tart
Seasonal fresh fruit
Selection of fine cheeses
I truly love spring because that means that asparagus appears on menus all over the place. I started with the tart which was absolutely delicious. I followed this up with the mixed salad which on first stab with the fork splashed balsamic vinegar all over my white shirt.
The chicken was next on my agenda which was nice but I cried foul later when it kicked back in my stomach.
By the time I finished that lot a boarding announcement was made at 17:30.
I packed up my gear and headed to the other end of the terminal to the allotted gate. I was able to board through the First, Club World and OW Emerald line which was empty.
I showed the BP to the FA at the door and was escorted as far as the F galley where she tag teamed with an F FA who took me to my seat 1A on this BA 747-400.
After I messed with my bags the FA took my jacket and came back with the sleeper suit and wash bag. I was offered and of course took a glass of Louise and some macadamia and cashew nuts on a plate.
We pushed back at 18:35 which was 20 minutes late.
Fifteen minutes into the flight the canapés came out and the champagne started flowing. The menus were given out and I was asked it I would be dining this evening
STARTERS
Atlantic smoked salmon on wild rice blini with maple lime dressing
Fried Haloumi cheese on panko-crusted aubergine
Curried broccoli soup with cucmber raita
Fresh salad leaves with your choice of balsamic vinaigrette or garlic and sour cream dressing
MAIN
Grilled beed tenderloin with soy-braised cipolline onions, broccoli, pattypan and caramelised onion mashed potatoes
Panko-crusted lamb chop with red win sauce, sautéed courgette, carrots, yellow squash and roast chateau potatoes
Shrimp linguine pasta with tomato sauce
Shredded breast of chicken on Asian green salad with soy ginger dressing
DESSERT
Vanilla panna cotta
SNACKS
Penne pasta with your choice of marinara sauce or olive oil and garlic pesto topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Duchy of Cornwall biscuits
A selection of cheese and fruit
Hot chocolate with warm chocolate chip cookies
CHEESE PLATE
Aged Maple Dale Cheddar
Stilton
Pepper Brie
WINES – as above
I decided to finish off my meal with some cheese followed up with some hot chocolate and cookies. I sipped down some more of the lovely Louise and my cheese plate arrived.
I wasn’t too fond of the brie but the other two went down nicely with my selection of breads.
Mr FA came by regularly to top up my champagne saying ‘one more and you will sleep like a baby’. My hot chocolate and cookies arrived and were consumed within minutes.
Twas now time to make my bed and get some shut eye. As one BA board member recommended I put the duvet on the seat and slept on that with the blanket over the top of me.
I managed to get some sleep until the light above me decided it wanted to play. It switched itself on and I could not get it to go off. I pressed the off button and the other overhead light came! I eventually got and up and asked an FA if they could do something with it. When I returned from the loo it was off and I was happy. I settled down again to get some sleep. Nope, the light wants to play again. I pushed buttons and finally realised that if I push the ‘on’ button the light would go off. Back to sleep, no light on again. I contemplated moving to another seat as there were only 5 in F. But I was too stuffed and just let the light display go on and off and on all night.
I did get some sleep though and woke around 45 minutes prior to landing.
The F purser asked me how I slept and I explained about the playful light above. He apologised and said that they sometimes had a mind go their own.
He asked if I would like some breakfast.
STARTERS
Chilled fruit juice
An energising fruit smoothie
A selection of fruit or plain yoghurts and cereals
Fresh seasonal fruit plate
BAKERY
A wide selection of breakfast pastries and rolls
Warm bacon roll
MAIN
Scrambled eggs, grilled bacon, pork sausages, sautéed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and hash-brown potatoes
Mushroom omelette
American pancakes with maple syrup or blueberry compote
I opted for a smoothie as I my chicken dinner from the night before was kicking back and was not sitting well in my stomach.
I went to get changed into my clothes and upon returning to my seat there was a bottle of Louise in a duty free bag. The F purser came up to me and said that it was some ‘service recovery’ for the disco lighting on board. A nice touch and ended a very nice trip on BA in First.
We touched down early at LHR and I was through immigrations and in the arrivals lounge within 10 minutes of landing. I had a shower a nice hot breakfast and headed off to the HEX, the tube and another day at the office, which will no doubt help pay for my next adventure in the skies.
Off again this time to YYZ to visit some friends of mine for the long weekend. I decided to burn some AA miles and go in F. I wanted to try out AA’s First product as my only AA longhaul on my RTW ended up being a BA flight. You can read all about that in here.
Originally I was routed through MIA with an 8 hour layover. The return was through ORD which meant not arriving back in LHR until 11:35.
As these times were not the optimum I rang AA and asked if I could get a better routing or as a minimum the earlier flight out of ORD on the way back.
The only option the agent had for me were direct flights on BA. So yet again I was to somehow miss flying in First on AA.
This is a flight report only and there will be no commentary on my drunken outings in YYZ.
I awoke at my usual 06:10 to a wet and grey London. I was only taking carry on bags and did not want to have to pack my umbrella nor my rain coat so I was not too pleased to see wet roads outside.
I pottered around until it was time to leave and thankfully there was a break in the weather and I made it to the tube without too much precipitous activity.
Damn I hate the tube in the warmer weather. You want to arrive at an airport for a flight and you have to endure time in a sauna on the way. The tube I was on had about an 80% humidity factor. I was glad when I finally arrived at Paddington to catch my half price (thanks World Points) ticket to LHR on Heathrow Express.
The HEX left about 4 minutes after I got on board which was a change for me it is usually pulling away from the station just as I arrive.
Interesting note for those as anal as me. On HEX they show interesting facts on the TV screens after the news program has finished. I noticed with some amusement that Interesting Fact No. 1931 was that the Star Spangled Banner is celebrating it’s 75th Anniversary as the US national anthem.
I disembarked headed straight up to check in area and to the BA F desk where my BP was printed and I was sent on my way. Security was the least busy I had seen it – ever. I was through and walking up to the BA Lounge Complex within a few minutes.
I headed straight downstairs to the MB spa to book a treatment. At 2 hours and 50 minutes prior to departure I could not get a back massage! I decided to do something was out there (for me anyway) and signed up for a facial instead. I couldn’t fly J or F again and not even attempted to get a spa treatment.
I made my way back up to the dragon guarding the F door and upon flashing my BP I was escorted into the CR. Inside was quite busy as at that time of day the middle east flights and some east coast US flights all leave.
I moseyed on down to the 2 computers to check for any last minute gossip on FT. Then up to the bar where I almost had kittens. On the shelf above the bar where the champagne bottles are on display I could see 2 bottles of Monopole and no others.
I ask for a glass fearing the worst but notice that the blue label Piper Heidsieck Cuvee Rare is extracted from the fridge to an audible sigh from me.
At this time I also ordered the obligatory bacon baguette which was promptly delivered to my seat.
I did a little shopping and then headed down to the MB spa again as I decided that I would like to shower after the sticky tube ride. They booked me in for a shower for half an hour prior to my facial workout.
It was then back upstairs and another glass of bubbly.
Time soon past and I was back in MB taking a shower. Just for the fun of it I decided to get in the camera clicking mood. So here is the MB shower suite.
Felling refreshed I went into my facial and laid back to relax for 20 minutes whilst a lovely lady played softly, softly on my face.
By the time I came down off cloud nine the screens were reading boarding for my flight at gate 1B. This meant the dreaded bus to the outstation.
I ambled down to the gate and had my BP scanned and my Passport eyed. When I arrived in the lounge they had not started to let people down to the busses so I sat to wait a while. It was only a couple of minutes until there was movement at the station and we made out way down to the bus. Once on board it quickly filled, doors closed, and we made our way out of the bowels of LHR and onto the tarmac. After a few minutes in the bus waiting for the OK from the crew we exit but and enter plane, after negotiating the stairs of course.
The FA upon checking my BP said ‘I think you know where this seat is, it would be hard to miss it’ and directed me to the left. I was to spend the next 8 hours or so in seat 1A of this BA operated 777 aircraft.
My jacket was taken and I was offered newspapers and champagne prior to takeoff. Macadamia nuts were also provided with the bubbles. During the remainder of the boarding process I was offered a couple of refills on the champagne and I noticed that it was the Pommery Cuvee Louise.
The wash bags and sleeper suits were handed out whilst we were on the ground also.
The captain came on the blower to announce the delay to the flight and also informed us of a flying time of a long 7 hours and 45 minutes.
We had to wait whilst someone’s bags were offloaded but they were found quite quickly. How do people miss flights they had already checked in for?
I filled out my movie preferences and handed the form back to the FA who delivered my number 1 choice a few minutes later.
Flight BA 93 LHR – YYZ Seat 1A
Departure time: 11:55
Aircraft: 777
We eventually push back at 12:12 and taxied and waited as one does at LHR and eventually left terra firma at 12:30.
As soon as belts sign came off the FA’s were around delivering more bubbles and canapés that consisted of smoked salmon and cream cheese, mozzarella and spinach and chicken.
The menus were handed out and orders taken for the lunch service.
STARTERS
Lobster and crayfish with passion fruit dressing
Potato and truffle frittata with rocket and sherry vinaigrette
Pea and mint soup with chive crème fraiche
Fresh salad leaves with your choice of piquillo pepper dressing or Blue cheese and walnut dressing
MAIN
Rack of lamb with a herb crust, buttered potatoes fondants and a natural jus
Green herbed chicken with cumin and pine kernel potatoes, creamy black lentils, spicy wilted spinach and basil poori
Sautéed fillet of beef Stroganoff and pilau rice
Poached Loch Fyne salmon, asparagus and potato salad with a lemon dressing
DESSERT
Warm fig tart with vanilla ice cream
Fresh berries lasagne with Mascarpone cream
SNACKS
Bacon roll served with tomato ketchup
Penne pasta with your choice of creamy Parmesan cheese and spinach sauce or olive, caper and tomato sauce
Duchy of Cornwall biscuits
A selection of cheese and fruit
CHEESE PLATE
Lancashire
Peyrigoux
Gorgonzola
CHAMPAGNE
Pommery Cuvee Louise 1997
WHITE WINES
Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint Jean 2003, Paul Pillot
Or
Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignieres 2003, Domaine Roux Pere et Fils
d’Arenberg “The Hermit Crab” Viognier Marsanne 2004, McLaren Vale
Wente Riva Ranch Reserve Chardonnay 2003, Arroyo Seco
RED WINES
Chateau Talbot 1995, Grand Cru Classe Saint-Julien
Beaune 1er Cru Champimonts 2001, Domaine Jacques Prieur
Or
Saint-Joseph 2001, Guigal
Treana Central Coast Red 2002, Paso Robles
DESSERT WINES
Clos Labere 1999, Sauternes
Warre’s 1988 Colheita Port
Another couple of glasses later, with a little encouragement from my FA, and I was asked if I would like to eat lunch. I confirmed my desire to eat and informed my man of my luncheon choices.
I opted for the frittata to start which was quite nice, but nothing to write in for the recipe for. This was followed up with a salad with the picowatsits dressing. With these two courses I consumed a glass of the Montrachet.
Being an unashamed Aussie I had to have the lamb as a love of this meat is almost mandatory in my clan. It was very succulent and thoroughly enjoyed by this lamb lover (of course if you are talking to the BA boards Sheep, you will please say I had beef!)
I asked the FA which red to consume with the rack and I am sorry but I can’t remember which of the French reds he chose for me. None the less it was very tasty and went down well with my meal.
After a short break I decided to have the fig tart for dessert along with a glass of the sauternes.
No room for cheese but a choice selection of La Pralines from AMEDEI of Tuscany was savoured for an all too brief moment.
After lunch I settled back for a snooze after all the bubbles had finally started to take their toll.
Upon waking I watched my movie during the latter part of which afternoon tea service was offered.
AFTERNOON TEA
SANDWICHES
Roast Beef with whole-grain mustard
Smoked salmon with cream cheese
Chicken Caesar with Red Leicester cheese
Mature Cheddar cheese with tangy pickle
PATISSERIE
Plain or fruit scones served warm with clotted cream and strawberry jam
Moist ginger cake, strawberry mille-feuille and chocolate tart
I opted for some roast beef sandwiches but seem to have neglected taking a photo of these, in true Moomba trip report style! Well at least you get to see the salad and the lovely BA china.
We landed at around 3pm, which was around 20 minutes late, and made the long taxi to the gate. I quickly exited the aircraft through door 2A. It isn’t very often I get to see door 1A exercised it must get very stiff on some of these planes where it never gets a workout.
I did note that throughout the flight the CSD never came by to say hello unlike other flights with BA where the CSD greeted every F passenger. Oh I forgot to say there were 5 seats free in F on this flight.
Anyway back to the story. I made my way to a whole room full of lengthy lines at immigrations. But as I am an old hand at YYZ arrivals I made my way to the short queues to the far right and was stamped and out the door within 2 minutes.
YYZ – LHR
Well after three short hot and gloriously sunny days in TO I left my hotel early to head back to YYZ airport. The TTC (local public transport) employees decided that this 30C day could not be missed so they were out on strike. As such I thought I would leave a little earlier to get to the airport in case the roads were worse than their usual nightmare.
They were not and I was at the airport checking in at the F desk within 35 minutes. BP in hand I walked straight up to the empty security and was in the duty free store within a couple of minutes.
I headed down to the BA lounge and got my invite to the F seating section of the pre-flight dining area.
I sat down to have a few drinks, a sandwich and cheese before dinner and read the paper in the lounge. The lounge is quite small and fills up somewhat as the flight time approaches. At around 16:45 I went in to the “restaurant” to get some grub.
On offer were:
STARTERS
Corn Chowder
Asparagus and cipploine onion tart
SALADS
Mixed salad with balsamic dressing
Watercress, jicama and orange salad with lemon pepper dressing
MAIN
Griddled maize fed chicken supreme, asparagus, finger potatoes and baby spinach salad with romeco dressing
Roast Cod with endive marmalade and roast tomatoes
Fried Portobello mushroom and tomato Napoleon
DESSERT
Peach, Raspberry cream tart
Seasonal fresh fruit
Selection of fine cheeses
I truly love spring because that means that asparagus appears on menus all over the place. I started with the tart which was absolutely delicious. I followed this up with the mixed salad which on first stab with the fork splashed balsamic vinegar all over my white shirt.
The chicken was next on my agenda which was nice but I cried foul later when it kicked back in my stomach.
By the time I finished that lot a boarding announcement was made at 17:30.
I packed up my gear and headed to the other end of the terminal to the allotted gate. I was able to board through the First, Club World and OW Emerald line which was empty.
I showed the BP to the FA at the door and was escorted as far as the F galley where she tag teamed with an F FA who took me to my seat 1A on this BA 747-400.
After I messed with my bags the FA took my jacket and came back with the sleeper suit and wash bag. I was offered and of course took a glass of Louise and some macadamia and cashew nuts on a plate.
We pushed back at 18:35 which was 20 minutes late.
Fifteen minutes into the flight the canapés came out and the champagne started flowing. The menus were given out and I was asked it I would be dining this evening
STARTERS
Atlantic smoked salmon on wild rice blini with maple lime dressing
Fried Haloumi cheese on panko-crusted aubergine
Curried broccoli soup with cucmber raita
Fresh salad leaves with your choice of balsamic vinaigrette or garlic and sour cream dressing
MAIN
Grilled beed tenderloin with soy-braised cipolline onions, broccoli, pattypan and caramelised onion mashed potatoes
Panko-crusted lamb chop with red win sauce, sautéed courgette, carrots, yellow squash and roast chateau potatoes
Shrimp linguine pasta with tomato sauce
Shredded breast of chicken on Asian green salad with soy ginger dressing
DESSERT
Vanilla panna cotta
SNACKS
Penne pasta with your choice of marinara sauce or olive oil and garlic pesto topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Duchy of Cornwall biscuits
A selection of cheese and fruit
Hot chocolate with warm chocolate chip cookies
CHEESE PLATE
Aged Maple Dale Cheddar
Stilton
Pepper Brie
WINES – as above
I decided to finish off my meal with some cheese followed up with some hot chocolate and cookies. I sipped down some more of the lovely Louise and my cheese plate arrived.
I wasn’t too fond of the brie but the other two went down nicely with my selection of breads.
Mr FA came by regularly to top up my champagne saying ‘one more and you will sleep like a baby’. My hot chocolate and cookies arrived and were consumed within minutes.
Twas now time to make my bed and get some shut eye. As one BA board member recommended I put the duvet on the seat and slept on that with the blanket over the top of me.
I managed to get some sleep until the light above me decided it wanted to play. It switched itself on and I could not get it to go off. I pressed the off button and the other overhead light came! I eventually got and up and asked an FA if they could do something with it. When I returned from the loo it was off and I was happy. I settled down again to get some sleep. Nope, the light wants to play again. I pushed buttons and finally realised that if I push the ‘on’ button the light would go off. Back to sleep, no light on again. I contemplated moving to another seat as there were only 5 in F. But I was too stuffed and just let the light display go on and off and on all night.
I did get some sleep though and woke around 45 minutes prior to landing.
The F purser asked me how I slept and I explained about the playful light above. He apologised and said that they sometimes had a mind go their own.
He asked if I would like some breakfast.
STARTERS
Chilled fruit juice
An energising fruit smoothie
A selection of fruit or plain yoghurts and cereals
Fresh seasonal fruit plate
BAKERY
A wide selection of breakfast pastries and rolls
Warm bacon roll
MAIN
Scrambled eggs, grilled bacon, pork sausages, sautéed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and hash-brown potatoes
Mushroom omelette
American pancakes with maple syrup or blueberry compote
I opted for a smoothie as I my chicken dinner from the night before was kicking back and was not sitting well in my stomach.
I went to get changed into my clothes and upon returning to my seat there was a bottle of Louise in a duty free bag. The F purser came up to me and said that it was some ‘service recovery’ for the disco lighting on board. A nice touch and ended a very nice trip on BA in First.
We touched down early at LHR and I was through immigrations and in the arrivals lounge within 10 minutes of landing. I had a shower a nice hot breakfast and headed off to the HEX, the tube and another day at the office, which will no doubt help pay for my next adventure in the skies.
Jun 1, 2006, 6:41 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
Originally Posted by Steady-EDI
Nice one, Moomba ^
You certainly do get around! (Yes, I know ... pot ... kettle
)
You certainly do get around! (Yes, I know ... pot ... kettle
)
Jun 1, 2006, 6:45 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
Nice report! Interestingly the menu for the outbound had the same dinner options as a LHR-CPT flight I took a few months ago!
Jun 6, 2006, 6:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: UA-1K, AA-PLT 3MM
Posts: 114
Moomba, what a fantastic report!
Incidentally, are those plastic cutlery in the YYZ first lounge? Please, please, please say no! With all the wonderful food and beautiful china, seeing plastic cutlery (no boubt for some "security"
reason) makes me cry!
Incidentally, are those plastic cutlery in the YYZ first lounge? Please, please, please say no! With all the wonderful food and beautiful china, seeing plastic cutlery (no boubt for some "security"
reason) makes me cry!
Jun 7, 2006, 12:58 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
Originally Posted by Xplorer
Moomba, what a fantastic report!
Incidentally, are those plastic cutlery in the YYZ first lounge? Please, please, please say no! With all the wonderful food and beautiful china, seeing plastic cutlery (no boubt for some "security" reason) makes me cry!
Incidentally, are those plastic cutlery in the YYZ first lounge? Please, please, please say no! With all the wonderful food and beautiful china, seeing plastic cutlery (no boubt for some "security"
reason) makes me cry!
Jun 8, 2006, 3:37 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Work/Melbourne Victoria - Home/McKinney, TX (Dallas)
Programs: AA 7.8 MM EXP, QF P1, UA 1K, Marriott Titanium(Life), Hilton DIA, IHG RA, HZ PLAT
Posts: 342
Somewhat OT -- but routing specific (so please indulge me)...
We're doing this routing in Nov - a question on the menu for YVR/LHR and return...
Has caviar been removed from the menu's.... or is it seasonal and only served at certain times of the year ?
We're doing this routing in Nov - a question on the menu for YVR/LHR and return...
Has caviar been removed from the menu's.... or is it seasonal and only served at certain times of the year ?
Jun 8, 2006, 8:00 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
Originally Posted by ExecPlatinum_Lord
Somewhat OT -- but routing specific (so please indulge me)...
We're doing this routing in Nov - a question on the menu for YVR/LHR and return...
Has caviar been removed from the menu's.... or is it seasonal and only served at certain times of the year ?
We're doing this routing in Nov - a question on the menu for YVR/LHR and return...
Has caviar been removed from the menu's.... or is it seasonal and only served at certain times of the year ?
I think you will find the answer to your query in this thread.
Jun 8, 2006, 10:54 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Work/Melbourne Victoria - Home/McKinney, TX (Dallas)
Programs: AA 7.8 MM EXP, QF P1, UA 1K, Marriott Titanium(Life), Hilton DIA, IHG RA, HZ PLAT
Posts: 342
Originally Posted by Moomba
I think you will find the answer to your query in this thread.
Thanks for the search/highlight! I'll go poking around the boards some more...
