My First First! - BA First Class, Sydney to UK Return (& Paris, Ireland, Bangkok)
Jun 30, 2011, 4:58 am
#46
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,809
24 Hours in Bangkok
The journey to the hotel was pretty quick and at this time of night (after 11pm) the traffic wasn't particularly bad. As I would have two stops in Bangkok I decided to stay in different hotels for each one. For the first stop I had chosen the Grand Hyatt, located in Erawan. This hotel had a very colonnial feel about it and was very well appointed. As we pulled up at the hotel, the porter collected my bag from the back of the huge Mercedes S Class that I had arrived in. I was politely ushered inside with the usual friendly Thai welcome. Reception was well staffed and after a bit of computer tapping I was checked in and then escorted to my room. My bag arrived shortly afterwards.
The room itself was a reasonable size, I wasn't sure what type of room it was, given that I had used used my points to pay for the room but I got the impression that it wasn't the lowest tier, in fact, looking back now, it was a club room. The room was reasonably spacious, with a large work area, good sized bed, large wardrobe and well proportioned bath room which had a separate shower and bath. I had a view over the swimming pool and in the distance, the 'Central' shopping centre.
The bed and work area
Bathroom
As it was already gone midnight, it was definitely time for me to get some sleep. So after doing a little bit of unpacking, I did.
I woke at about 6.30, still clearly on Sydney time. I managed to doze a bit longer, and then spent a few hours browsing the Internet, which was complimentary due to my status with Hyatt. Breakfast was being served in the lounge, and as I was on the club level, I only had to descend the stairs one flight to the lounge. The lounge itself was not very busy, although it was quite late (I don't really believe in springing out of bed at the crack of dawn when I am on holiday). The lounge offered views over the city including a nearby golf course. The food available was mostly cold although one could order eggs and pancakes from the menu located on each table.
I found a table by the window, was asked if I wanted tea, coffee and anything from the menu and then went to explore the buffet selection.
Breakfast buffet
Club lounge
View from the lounge
The selection on offer was good, and everything that you would expect was available including juices, breads, cereals, meats and cheeses, yoghurt, fruit, cakes and pastries. I must admit however, that I've always viewed Hyatt's as a step above Marriott hotels and I had thought that the lounge would reflect this, however, it seemed no different, no better or worse than many of the lounges that I have used at Marriott hotels in Asia. I did expect more.
After returning to my room and doing a little bit more work on this TR by preparing the photos on my iPad, I decided that I really should get outside. I had noticed how hot and humid it was outside last night so I knew that it was going to be a bit of a shock, coming from relatively cold Sydney. I wasn't wrong. I took a quick wander up to the shopping mall and then back down, past the hotel to the sky train station, where I crossed over and made my way back again.
The shopping centre was nothing special, I can't say that I am much of a shopper myself, but what I found outside was interesting. There appeared to be a shrine or monument to what looked like Ganesh right outside the shopping centre and people were paying their respects as they passed. I found this odd, because of it's placement, right next to a colossal modern, arguably Western shopping centre. It seems that one can worship two gods at the same time, the god of retail, and also Ganesh.
View from the walkway over the road
Monument
Street sellers
After wandering back to the hotel, avoiding numerous offers of taxis and tours I went down to the pool to get some lunch. I knew that this would be comparatively expensive, but I also knew it would be the easy option, and I was feeling lazy.
I chose a green curry from the menu, as well as a bottle of Evian. As I ate, the clouds started to roll in and it looked like we might be in for a storm. The pool attendants hurriedly folded up all of the umbrellas and put covers on the loungers.
Lunch was very good, although not spicy enough, I had to pour in all of the oil that they had given me on the side.
The pool
Green curry with streamed jasmine rice
After this, feeling full, but hot and bothered, I retired to my room to get working on this TR. My flight didn't leave until 20 past midnight, so I had arranged for a late check out at 4 and the limo to the airport to collect me at 9. I spent a few hours watching TV, re-packing and starting work on the text for this TR before it was 4pm and time for me to head downstairs and check out. There was a bit of confusion over whether I had booked the limo or not, despite receiving a letter at check in confirming the time, however this was all taken care of with genuine care an assurance from the receptionist. This is one thing that I do love about traveling in Asia, the service levels outperform anything that you will find in Europe or the US. Everything is done with care and interest, the staff appear embarrassed if something is not up to standard.
After checking out I had 5 hours to kill before my ride to the airport. What to do, what to do. Arguably, I should have left the hotel and done a bit more exploring, but it was very hot and humid and I would not have the opportunity for a shower before I would need to head to the airport. So, I settled in on the very comfortable sofa in the lobby of the hotel and cracked on with this TR. I learned that it takes a great deal of effort to prepare and write a TR on an iPad, but it did in fact kill those 5 hours. There was a piano and clarinet playing soothing music which really helped pass the time.
The grand lobby
After seeking out a charging point for my iPhone and iPad, it was time for me to leave.
I collected my bag from the porter, and was politely ushered to the waiting Mercedes.
Verdict
The Grand Hyatt in Bangkok is a great hotel. The staff were excellent and the hotel has this feeling of grandeur about it. I could tell that it was seen as somewhere special to visit by the locals as several well dressed parties made their way to various functions and dinners. The room was very comfortable, with all the amenities that you could ask for. My only disappointment was the lounge, which wasn't bad, it's just that I had higher expectations. I would definitely stay here again.
The room itself was a reasonable size, I wasn't sure what type of room it was, given that I had used used my points to pay for the room but I got the impression that it wasn't the lowest tier, in fact, looking back now, it was a club room. The room was reasonably spacious, with a large work area, good sized bed, large wardrobe and well proportioned bath room which had a separate shower and bath. I had a view over the swimming pool and in the distance, the 'Central' shopping centre.
The bed and work area
Bathroom
As it was already gone midnight, it was definitely time for me to get some sleep. So after doing a little bit of unpacking, I did.
I woke at about 6.30, still clearly on Sydney time. I managed to doze a bit longer, and then spent a few hours browsing the Internet, which was complimentary due to my status with Hyatt. Breakfast was being served in the lounge, and as I was on the club level, I only had to descend the stairs one flight to the lounge. The lounge itself was not very busy, although it was quite late (I don't really believe in springing out of bed at the crack of dawn when I am on holiday). The lounge offered views over the city including a nearby golf course. The food available was mostly cold although one could order eggs and pancakes from the menu located on each table.
I found a table by the window, was asked if I wanted tea, coffee and anything from the menu and then went to explore the buffet selection.
Breakfast buffet
Club lounge
View from the lounge
The selection on offer was good, and everything that you would expect was available including juices, breads, cereals, meats and cheeses, yoghurt, fruit, cakes and pastries. I must admit however, that I've always viewed Hyatt's as a step above Marriott hotels and I had thought that the lounge would reflect this, however, it seemed no different, no better or worse than many of the lounges that I have used at Marriott hotels in Asia. I did expect more.
After returning to my room and doing a little bit more work on this TR by preparing the photos on my iPad, I decided that I really should get outside. I had noticed how hot and humid it was outside last night so I knew that it was going to be a bit of a shock, coming from relatively cold Sydney. I wasn't wrong. I took a quick wander up to the shopping mall and then back down, past the hotel to the sky train station, where I crossed over and made my way back again.
The shopping centre was nothing special, I can't say that I am much of a shopper myself, but what I found outside was interesting. There appeared to be a shrine or monument to what looked like Ganesh right outside the shopping centre and people were paying their respects as they passed. I found this odd, because of it's placement, right next to a colossal modern, arguably Western shopping centre. It seems that one can worship two gods at the same time, the god of retail, and also Ganesh.
View from the walkway over the road
Monument
Street sellers
After wandering back to the hotel, avoiding numerous offers of taxis and tours I went down to the pool to get some lunch. I knew that this would be comparatively expensive, but I also knew it would be the easy option, and I was feeling lazy.
I chose a green curry from the menu, as well as a bottle of Evian. As I ate, the clouds started to roll in and it looked like we might be in for a storm. The pool attendants hurriedly folded up all of the umbrellas and put covers on the loungers.
Lunch was very good, although not spicy enough, I had to pour in all of the oil that they had given me on the side.
The pool
Green curry with streamed jasmine rice
After this, feeling full, but hot and bothered, I retired to my room to get working on this TR. My flight didn't leave until 20 past midnight, so I had arranged for a late check out at 4 and the limo to the airport to collect me at 9. I spent a few hours watching TV, re-packing and starting work on the text for this TR before it was 4pm and time for me to head downstairs and check out. There was a bit of confusion over whether I had booked the limo or not, despite receiving a letter at check in confirming the time, however this was all taken care of with genuine care an assurance from the receptionist. This is one thing that I do love about traveling in Asia, the service levels outperform anything that you will find in Europe or the US. Everything is done with care and interest, the staff appear embarrassed if something is not up to standard.
After checking out I had 5 hours to kill before my ride to the airport. What to do, what to do. Arguably, I should have left the hotel and done a bit more exploring, but it was very hot and humid and I would not have the opportunity for a shower before I would need to head to the airport. So, I settled in on the very comfortable sofa in the lobby of the hotel and cracked on with this TR. I learned that it takes a great deal of effort to prepare and write a TR on an iPad, but it did in fact kill those 5 hours. There was a piano and clarinet playing soothing music which really helped pass the time.
The grand lobby
After seeking out a charging point for my iPhone and iPad, it was time for me to leave.
I collected my bag from the porter, and was politely ushered to the waiting Mercedes.
Verdict
The Grand Hyatt in Bangkok is a great hotel. The staff were excellent and the hotel has this feeling of grandeur about it. I could tell that it was seen as somewhere special to visit by the locals as several well dressed parties made their way to various functions and dinners. The room was very comfortable, with all the amenities that you could ask for. My only disappointment was the lounge, which wasn't bad, it's just that I had higher expectations. I would definitely stay here again.
Last edited by matthandy; Jun 30, 2011 at 5:08 am
Jun 30, 2011, 5:22 am
#47
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dorchester, Dorset UK
Programs: BA Gold, BMI, ANA, HH Blue, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,063
Thanks for such a comprehensive, well structured TR. Many of us, including me, can learn from this, as the facts at the start give us an idea of what follows. Looking forward to the next segment.
I was also slightly disappointed with my first trip in old F. The service being fantastic, but the product not worthy of the huge amount non award tickets would cost.
I was also slightly disappointed with my first trip in old F. The service being fantastic, but the product not worthy of the huge amount non award tickets would cost.
Jun 30, 2011, 11:49 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,144
Ahhh ... that nice bowl of chillies, the unadvertised condiment on an unknown Richter scale!! Many is the unwitting tourist, etc etc.
Like the view over the Park. Do those ramps one day connect to the BizParking at T5?
Like the view over the Park. Do those ramps one day connect to the BizParking at T5?
Jun 30, 2011, 4:25 pm
#50
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
the statue is called the Erawan Shrine..it has an interesting history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erawan_Shrine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erawan_Shrine
Jul 1, 2011, 3:25 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BA Exec Club,Skywards,Hilton Honours,Mariott Rewards,SPG
Posts: 956
Great trip report. Keep up the good work with the rest of it.
The lacklustre service in F is really unforgivable. I've suffered from this on two outbound sectors from LHR, including my first First. In comparison the return inbounds on both trips were superb.
There are now six trip reports posted in the past month on BA First. It's interesting to see the inconsistency across them. My own recent one in NF reported good service, but not outstanding service.
My next BA F trip is in three weeks to SFO and back from LAX, we are not expecting NF on this trip, but I do still like Old First in many ways.
The lacklustre service in F is really unforgivable. I've suffered from this on two outbound sectors from LHR, including my first First. In comparison the return inbounds on both trips were superb.
There are now six trip reports posted in the past month on BA First. It's interesting to see the inconsistency across them. My own recent one in NF reported good service, but not outstanding service.
My next BA F trip is in three weeks to SFO and back from LAX, we are not expecting NF on this trip, but I do still like Old First in many ways.
Last edited by stevie-d; Jul 1, 2011 at 4:02 pm Reason: additional text added
Jul 2, 2011, 2:59 am
#56
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,809
Ha! That's the Skytrain, which was great.
the statue is called the Erawan Shrine..it has an interesting history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erawan_Shrine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erawan_Shrine
I think that the crew have a lot to answer for to be honest. For me, they really make or break a flight. It's just a shame that the brilliant crew do not seem to be as abundant as the lacklustre ones. Luckily, I had a very good bunch on my next flight.
Jul 2, 2011, 3:01 am
#57
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
The park is the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. A great place to spend a day by the pool.
Jul 2, 2011, 3:01 am
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
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Bangkok to London Heathrow - BA First Class (old) - Boeing 747
I left the hotel at 9, in the back of a rather plush Mercedes and was on my way to the airport, through the hustle and bustle that is Bangkok traffic. The journey was pretty quick, taking only 30 minutes. I was already feeling pretty tired and I wasn't sure how long I would be able to stay up, given that the flight was not scheduled to leave until gone midnight. I knew that I would have to eat, otherwise I would not be able to sleep properly onboard. I was thinking that I might have a shower in the lounge to try to wake me up.
We arrived at 9.30 and the driver dropped me off outside the BA check in area. Wow, this airport is absolutely huge, and bustling, even at this late hour.
BKK Drop Off
I made my way into the terminal building and was able to quickly locate the large bank of desks that were setup to handle the BA and Qantas flights. I made my way towards the First Class desks but as they were busy, I was ushered to a free business class desk, so again, I didn't get to check in at the First desks. Not that it mattered, they were all the same anyway.
I was met by two friendly agents, the one at the computer appeared to be in training. It took a little while for her to process me, but soon I had my boarding pass in hand, fast track security pass and directions to the lounge (which I very much needed).
Check In
I made my way towards the fast track security area, which was available for First and Business class passengers. As you would expect, security was very quick and I actually found that the corridor from security led right past the normal security lanes. Fast track it was indeed.
And so, I was out into the departures area. Forget the duty free maze that exists at most airports, Bangkok Airport is a maze in itself. It is just too big and too poorly sign posted. I can think of other large airports such as Hong Kong and Singapore but neither of those were as confusing. I struggled to find the lounge, despite being given directions. Everything was listed by 'Concourse' which meant nothing to me to be honest. I managed to make the long trek to the lounge. I was welcomed at reception, and then made my way into the lounge, which is jointly managed by British Airways and Qantas. Wow, it was tiny! This was without doubt the smallest lounge I've ever been in, including the Qantas Club in Alice Springs.
Lounge Sign
Seating Area
Work Area
I settled down into a chair near the front of the lounge and got out my iPad and iPhone and did a bit of FT browsing.
At this point Mr and Mrs total arse flounced into the lounge in the only way an over moneyed posh rich kid can do, making everyone turn and look at them. They subsequently found an area near the food and dumped their stuff, being sure to occupy as many chairs as possible. I'm sure that I wasn't the only person to start praying that they weren't sitting near me on the flight (as it turns out, they weren't in First).
The food offering had been laid out in the small kitchen type area behind the seating. It looked good, but it wasn't very substantial at all, a few sandwiches, something hot and some snacks. Not exactly the Qantas First lounge in Sydney. In fact, it looked no more than what is normally presented in business lounge at Singapore. Still, I wasn't especially hungry, and I wanted to try to make it to the cheese course on the flight.
The drinks selection seemed pretty standard too, with some warmish, slightly flat champagne. This was Laurent Perrier Brut, nothing special at all.
First lounge food
Lounge drink
The lounge staff were not very good either, chatting away to themselves and not really looking after the passengers. All in all a pretty disappointing experience to be honest. Ho hum.
At about 23.10 the passengers from the recently arrived BA poured in, giving the lounge a bit of atmosphere. It really needed it. As people went and had showers and generally refreshed themselves I sat quietly trying to get the wifi to work. It was terribly slow to the point of practically being unusable.
I decided to leave the lounge at about 23.35 as I was getting itchy feet and wanted to try and get onboard first again to take some photos. As I made my way to the gate I could see the dreaded words ‘Final Call’, eeek! Still, there were loads of people hanging around the gate area, and it was clear that the gate agents had not even started boarding yet. After negotiating a couple of wandering children I had my boarding pass checked and was then waiting in the gate area to board.
Gate area, viewed from the lounge
Bangkok to London Heathrow in First with British Airways
Flight: BA10
Carrier: British Airways
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 - G-BNLM
Scheduled Departure time: 00.20
Duration: 12h 15m
Scheduled Arrival time: 06.35
Class: First (Old)
Seat: 2A (seat plan)
Boarding was announced at 23.50, about 30 minutes before the schedule push back time. I was already hanging around near the door so as soon as the kids were boarded and the agent utter the word “First” I was down the air bridge and presenting my boarding pass to the crew member at door 1. Mr and Mrs arse ended up in front of me, but turned right I was welcomed onboard, but not by name and escorted to the First cabin, by the First purser, a very charismatic older lady. A second crew member, a gentleman, seemed to be fussing over 2K for some reason, I stole a glance, but it wasn’t anyone that I recognised. I made myself comfortable in 2A and after fussing, he came over and offered a sleeper suit and then a wash bag, he originally offered me a ‘large’ sized sleep suit, which I asked him to change to a medium, which he did so with lots of apologies!
I managed to steal a quick cabin shot, but the light wasn’t that great, since this was a night time departure.
View of the cabin from 2A
As I settled down, I took stock of my surroundings. 2A seems more exposed than 1A, and I felt as though everyone was able to look at me if they felt like it. It didn’t seem as cosy as 1A, that’s for sure. There is a bit more storage at 2A though, with a map pocket located at the base of 1A which was helpful for storing my iPad. Additionally, 2K was far away from me, located on the other side of the cabin. I felt a lot more separated from the other passengers than I did in 1A.
Leg room
The purser came back to offer a welcome drink of water, orange juice or champagne. I accepted a champagne and watched as 1K did a bit of a dance as she changed into her pyjamas. The male crew member was constantly working his way around the cabin to check that everyone was comfortable and had everything that they needed. It was already very clear to me at this point that the crew were a lot more attentive and caring than my first flight. This set a good tone for the remainder of the flight.
Our scheduled pushback time of 00.20 came and went, with no announcement and no pushback. I could hear some very cross words in the F galley. The galley operator was not very happy and was informing the ground staff that there were loads of missing items, including completely empty boxes. I went to the loo and on my return either the Captain of First Officer was also down in the galley talking to the ground staff. I wondered what was missing, and if they were talking about leaving without the items.
At 00.25 the Captain announced that we would be pushing back soon as there had been some loading issues. The flight time would be 11.5 hours.
5 minutes later, the doors were closed and we started to push back. The F cabin was almost full with 12 seats taken.
As we taxied to the runway I got an amazing view of the air field and the runway as we lined up. We left the ground at 00.45 with lots of vibration before the nose gear was retracted. Everything fell off my buddy seat of course.
About 10 minutes after take off, the F purser made her way around the cabin asking for pre-dinner drinks orders, addressing everyone by name, including me. Thumbs up.
The male FA came around with menus and shortly after my iced water arrived, along with some nuts. I had decided just to stick with water on this flight, I was really wanted to maximise my sleep, due to the fact that I would be taking a flight to Paris soon after landing in Heathrow.
The menu seemed very good indeed, better than ex. Sydney and I was hoping that the food would be much better than my previous flight.
Menu, wine list, water and nuts
WELCOME TO FIRST
The new First dining experience celebrates our rituals and traditions.
We've focussed on the simplicity of dishes, using locally sourced fresh produce. The menu alters from month to month according to the quality of seasonal ingredients and features various regional specialties from around the world.
You can choose between formal service, laid out on an elegantly dressed dining table, or an informal service, arranged on your side table to allow you the time and space to continue working or relaxing as you wish.
DINNER
STARTERS
Warm crab cakes with Thai chilli dressing
Parma ham and Mozzarella with grilled Mediterranean vegetables
Clear mushroom and leek soup
Fresh salad leaves with your choice of balsamic vinaigrette or creamy blue cheese dressing
MAIN
Grilled fillet steak with black peppercorn butter, potatoes au gratin, mange-tout and carrots
Pineapple and sake-glazed breast of chicken with celeriac mash
Baked sea bass with white wine cream and fettuccine
Blue cheese and walnut salad
BISTRO SELECTION
Penne pasta tossed with mixed grilled vegetables and garlic butter cream sauce
Warm bacon roll
A selection of biscuits
A selection of cheese and fruit
DESSERT
New York cheese cake
Chocolate and ginger torte
CHEESE PLATE
EMMENTAL
A traditional hard cheese made from cow’s milk
BLUE BRIE
Unpasteurised, this soft ripened cheese with blue mould has a delightfully subtle flavour and soft creamy texture
PEPPERED GOAT’S CHEESE
Classic goat’s cheese sprinkled with fresh ground pepper
A basket of fresh fruit
WELCOME TO FIRST
British Airways is pleased to offer you our award winning selection of fine wines and Champagnes. Our Master of Wine has helped us to create today's list, featuring wines from the classic regions of Europe as well as the best of the New World.
Special care has been taken to select wines that will taste their best at altitude, reflecting their regional characteristics that will compliment the fine cuisine onboard.
APERITIF
Kir Royale
CHAMPAGNE
Tattinger Brut Millésimé 2004, Champagne, France
WHITE
Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru Hauts Marconnets 2007, Domaine Chanson, Burgundy, France
Cuatro Rayas 2009, Vinedos Centenarios, Rueda, Spain
Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2008, Clare Valley, Australia
RED
Chateau Cantenac Brown 2004, 3eme Grand Cru Classe Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Reservation 2004, Spain
St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2006, Barossa Valley, Australia
DESSERT
Chateau de la Chartreuse 2005, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
Warre's 1992 Colheita Tawny Port
The F purser came around to take dinner orders. I chose the crab cakes to start and then I decided to be daring and went for the steak. This was a bit of a gamble, since being able to serve a decent steak up in the air is quite difficult.
The male FA came around to check on everyone and to see if any top-ups were required. He noticed that I was just sticking with water, so went to the galley and fetched me a small bottle of water so that I could keep my glass full. Again, I was impressed with the level of attentiveness, this was markedly different from my first flight.
At 01.35, about 50 minutes after take off, the male FA laid out my table setting and then presented the amuse bouche. Again, this was not described in the menu, but it appeared to be cut melon with Parma ham. It was ok, nothing particularly spectacular.
Table layout
Amuse bouche
Shortly after, my starter followed, the crab cakes. These were really great, and actually huge. They looked hand made and were very flavourful, with a generous portion of crab meat inside each one, perfect when mixed with the sweet chilli sauce. The male FA offered bread, and I didn’t really fancy many of the choices, so I chose a slice of garlic bread instead.
Starter, warm crab cakes (we hit some turbulance, take a closer look at the water glass)
My starter was cleared away, followed by my steak. The male FA presented the steak and addressed me as Sir as he did so. Again, more great service.
Wow, the steak looked amazing. Simply presented, but the mix of colours seemed to pop out from the plate. The steak looked juicy and tender and the vegetables looked to be perfectly cooked, not limp at all.
Main, steak with peppercorn butter and vegetables
Steak, juicy
The steak was as good as it looked. Perfectly tender with not an ounce of fat or gristle. It was juicy and flavourful and the peppercorn butter and a little extra kick with each mouthful. The mange-tout was crunchy and the potatoes creamy. In all, it was perfectly presented and perfectly cooked. I cannot think of another dish that I have had onboard that was as good or better. What a great recovery from the disastrous salmon on my first flight!
A practically licked the plate clean and then was ready for the dessert. I was feeling pretty full at this point and the chances of me making it to the cheese course were fading.
My table was cleared and the male FA asked what I would like for dessert. I decided on the torte, since I have a thing for chocolate.
Chocolate and ginger torte
This arrived with an unexpected but very welcome portion of ice cream. Again, delicious. Perhaps, the presentation was a little ‘business class’ but the flavours, especially the ice cream, really made me forget that.
I’d finished dinner, only an hour after starting and I was stuffed. I really wish that I had made it to the cheese course, as the blue brie really did sound good. As my table was cleared, I was offered the cheese but had to decline. The male FA then offered tea, coffee or fruit but I declined those as well, opting to go and change into my pyjamas to get some rest.
As I made my way into the galley, all three of the crew were present, having a quick chat about who was still eating etc. In the F cabin, there are always three crew, one purser, one FA and one galley operator. This is a pretty good ratio, 14 passengers to three crew. I took the opportunity to have a quick chat with the crew and started by complimenting them wholeheartedly on their service, especially the male FA who I will call ‘B’ and seemed to be Spanish. I mentioned my previous flight and the positive difference that I had noticed in the service. The galley operator asked me if I knew who the CSD was on my flight, which I did and she described the crew in the F cabin to me, and I recognised her descriptions. She told me that I was the second person in recent days to complain about the crew and that they were all very sorry and embarrassed. They couldn’t understand why I’d had poor service, as they all said ‘we are here to work and to look after you’. I was really beaming, these guys were really great and made a note to write a ‘welldone’ when I landed.
As I changed in the loo, ‘B’ made up my bed. This involved a mattress cover, full size pillow and cotton duvet. I returned to my seat, settled down and managed to sleep very comfortably for about 5 hours.
We arrived at 9.30 and the driver dropped me off outside the BA check in area. Wow, this airport is absolutely huge, and bustling, even at this late hour.
BKK Drop Off
I made my way into the terminal building and was able to quickly locate the large bank of desks that were setup to handle the BA and Qantas flights. I made my way towards the First Class desks but as they were busy, I was ushered to a free business class desk, so again, I didn't get to check in at the First desks. Not that it mattered, they were all the same anyway.
I was met by two friendly agents, the one at the computer appeared to be in training. It took a little while for her to process me, but soon I had my boarding pass in hand, fast track security pass and directions to the lounge (which I very much needed).
Check In
I made my way towards the fast track security area, which was available for First and Business class passengers. As you would expect, security was very quick and I actually found that the corridor from security led right past the normal security lanes. Fast track it was indeed.
And so, I was out into the departures area. Forget the duty free maze that exists at most airports, Bangkok Airport is a maze in itself. It is just too big and too poorly sign posted. I can think of other large airports such as Hong Kong and Singapore but neither of those were as confusing. I struggled to find the lounge, despite being given directions. Everything was listed by 'Concourse' which meant nothing to me to be honest. I managed to make the long trek to the lounge. I was welcomed at reception, and then made my way into the lounge, which is jointly managed by British Airways and Qantas. Wow, it was tiny! This was without doubt the smallest lounge I've ever been in, including the Qantas Club in Alice Springs.
Lounge Sign
Seating Area
Work Area
I settled down into a chair near the front of the lounge and got out my iPad and iPhone and did a bit of FT browsing.
At this point Mr and Mrs total arse flounced into the lounge in the only way an over moneyed posh rich kid can do, making everyone turn and look at them. They subsequently found an area near the food and dumped their stuff, being sure to occupy as many chairs as possible. I'm sure that I wasn't the only person to start praying that they weren't sitting near me on the flight (as it turns out, they weren't in First).
The food offering had been laid out in the small kitchen type area behind the seating. It looked good, but it wasn't very substantial at all, a few sandwiches, something hot and some snacks. Not exactly the Qantas First lounge in Sydney. In fact, it looked no more than what is normally presented in business lounge at Singapore. Still, I wasn't especially hungry, and I wanted to try to make it to the cheese course on the flight.
The drinks selection seemed pretty standard too, with some warmish, slightly flat champagne. This was Laurent Perrier Brut, nothing special at all.
First lounge food
Lounge drink
The lounge staff were not very good either, chatting away to themselves and not really looking after the passengers. All in all a pretty disappointing experience to be honest. Ho hum.
At about 23.10 the passengers from the recently arrived BA poured in, giving the lounge a bit of atmosphere. It really needed it. As people went and had showers and generally refreshed themselves I sat quietly trying to get the wifi to work. It was terribly slow to the point of practically being unusable.
I decided to leave the lounge at about 23.35 as I was getting itchy feet and wanted to try and get onboard first again to take some photos. As I made my way to the gate I could see the dreaded words ‘Final Call’, eeek! Still, there were loads of people hanging around the gate area, and it was clear that the gate agents had not even started boarding yet. After negotiating a couple of wandering children I had my boarding pass checked and was then waiting in the gate area to board.
Gate area, viewed from the lounge
Bangkok to London Heathrow in First with British Airways
Flight: BA10
Carrier: British Airways
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 - G-BNLM
Scheduled Departure time: 00.20
Duration: 12h 15m
Scheduled Arrival time: 06.35
Class: First (Old)
Seat: 2A (seat plan)
Boarding was announced at 23.50, about 30 minutes before the schedule push back time. I was already hanging around near the door so as soon as the kids were boarded and the agent utter the word “First” I was down the air bridge and presenting my boarding pass to the crew member at door 1. Mr and Mrs arse ended up in front of me, but turned right
I was welcomed onboard, but not by name and escorted to the First cabin, by the First purser, a very charismatic older lady. A second crew member, a gentleman, seemed to be fussing over 2K for some reason, I stole a glance, but it wasn’t anyone that I recognised. I made myself comfortable in 2A and after fussing, he came over and offered a sleeper suit and then a wash bag, he originally offered me a ‘large’ sized sleep suit, which I asked him to change to a medium, which he did so with lots of apologies!I managed to steal a quick cabin shot, but the light wasn’t that great, since this was a night time departure.
View of the cabin from 2A
As I settled down, I took stock of my surroundings. 2A seems more exposed than 1A, and I felt as though everyone was able to look at me if they felt like it. It didn’t seem as cosy as 1A, that’s for sure. There is a bit more storage at 2A though, with a map pocket located at the base of 1A which was helpful for storing my iPad. Additionally, 2K was far away from me, located on the other side of the cabin. I felt a lot more separated from the other passengers than I did in 1A.
Leg room
The purser came back to offer a welcome drink of water, orange juice or champagne. I accepted a champagne and watched as 1K did a bit of a dance as she changed into her pyjamas. The male crew member was constantly working his way around the cabin to check that everyone was comfortable and had everything that they needed. It was already very clear to me at this point that the crew were a lot more attentive and caring than my first flight. This set a good tone for the remainder of the flight.
Our scheduled pushback time of 00.20 came and went, with no announcement and no pushback. I could hear some very cross words in the F galley. The galley operator was not very happy and was informing the ground staff that there were loads of missing items, including completely empty boxes. I went to the loo and on my return either the Captain of First Officer was also down in the galley talking to the ground staff. I wondered what was missing, and if they were talking about leaving without the items.
At 00.25 the Captain announced that we would be pushing back soon as there had been some loading issues. The flight time would be 11.5 hours.
5 minutes later, the doors were closed and we started to push back. The F cabin was almost full with 12 seats taken.
As we taxied to the runway I got an amazing view of the air field and the runway as we lined up. We left the ground at 00.45 with lots of vibration before the nose gear was retracted. Everything fell off my buddy seat of course.
About 10 minutes after take off, the F purser made her way around the cabin asking for pre-dinner drinks orders, addressing everyone by name, including me. Thumbs up.
The male FA came around with menus and shortly after my iced water arrived, along with some nuts. I had decided just to stick with water on this flight, I was really wanted to maximise my sleep, due to the fact that I would be taking a flight to Paris soon after landing in Heathrow.
The menu seemed very good indeed, better than ex. Sydney and I was hoping that the food would be much better than my previous flight.
Menu, wine list, water and nuts
WELCOME TO FIRST
The new First dining experience celebrates our rituals and traditions.
We've focussed on the simplicity of dishes, using locally sourced fresh produce. The menu alters from month to month according to the quality of seasonal ingredients and features various regional specialties from around the world.
You can choose between formal service, laid out on an elegantly dressed dining table, or an informal service, arranged on your side table to allow you the time and space to continue working or relaxing as you wish.
DINNER
STARTERS
Warm crab cakes with Thai chilli dressing
Parma ham and Mozzarella with grilled Mediterranean vegetables
Clear mushroom and leek soup
Fresh salad leaves with your choice of balsamic vinaigrette or creamy blue cheese dressing
MAIN
Grilled fillet steak with black peppercorn butter, potatoes au gratin, mange-tout and carrots
Pineapple and sake-glazed breast of chicken with celeriac mash
Baked sea bass with white wine cream and fettuccine
Blue cheese and walnut salad
BISTRO SELECTION
Penne pasta tossed with mixed grilled vegetables and garlic butter cream sauce
Warm bacon roll
A selection of biscuits
A selection of cheese and fruit
DESSERT
New York cheese cake
Chocolate and ginger torte
CHEESE PLATE
EMMENTAL
A traditional hard cheese made from cow’s milk
BLUE BRIE
Unpasteurised, this soft ripened cheese with blue mould has a delightfully subtle flavour and soft creamy texture
PEPPERED GOAT’S CHEESE
Classic goat’s cheese sprinkled with fresh ground pepper
A basket of fresh fruit
WELCOME TO FIRST
British Airways is pleased to offer you our award winning selection of fine wines and Champagnes. Our Master of Wine has helped us to create today's list, featuring wines from the classic regions of Europe as well as the best of the New World.
Special care has been taken to select wines that will taste their best at altitude, reflecting their regional characteristics that will compliment the fine cuisine onboard.
APERITIF
Kir Royale
CHAMPAGNE
Tattinger Brut Millésimé 2004, Champagne, France
WHITE
Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru Hauts Marconnets 2007, Domaine Chanson, Burgundy, France
Cuatro Rayas 2009, Vinedos Centenarios, Rueda, Spain
Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2008, Clare Valley, Australia
RED
Chateau Cantenac Brown 2004, 3eme Grand Cru Classe Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Reservation 2004, Spain
St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2006, Barossa Valley, Australia
DESSERT
Chateau de la Chartreuse 2005, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
Warre's 1992 Colheita Tawny Port
The male FA came around to check on everyone and to see if any top-ups were required. He noticed that I was just sticking with water, so went to the galley and fetched me a small bottle of water so that I could keep my glass full. Again, I was impressed with the level of attentiveness, this was markedly different from my first flight.
At 01.35, about 50 minutes after take off, the male FA laid out my table setting and then presented the amuse bouche. Again, this was not described in the menu, but it appeared to be cut melon with Parma ham. It was ok, nothing particularly spectacular.
Table layout
Amuse bouche
Shortly after, my starter followed, the crab cakes. These were really great, and actually huge. They looked hand made and were very flavourful, with a generous portion of crab meat inside each one, perfect when mixed with the sweet chilli sauce. The male FA offered bread, and I didn’t really fancy many of the choices, so I chose a slice of garlic bread instead.
Starter, warm crab cakes (we hit some turbulance, take a closer look at the water glass)
My starter was cleared away, followed by my steak. The male FA presented the steak and addressed me as Sir as he did so. Again, more great service.
Wow, the steak looked amazing. Simply presented, but the mix of colours seemed to pop out from the plate. The steak looked juicy and tender and the vegetables looked to be perfectly cooked, not limp at all.
Main, steak with peppercorn butter and vegetables
Steak, juicy
The steak was as good as it looked. Perfectly tender with not an ounce of fat or gristle. It was juicy and flavourful and the peppercorn butter and a little extra kick with each mouthful. The mange-tout was crunchy and the potatoes creamy. In all, it was perfectly presented and perfectly cooked. I cannot think of another dish that I have had onboard that was as good or better. What a great recovery from the disastrous salmon on my first flight!
A practically licked the plate clean and then was ready for the dessert. I was feeling pretty full at this point and the chances of me making it to the cheese course were fading.
My table was cleared and the male FA asked what I would like for dessert. I decided on the torte, since I have a thing for chocolate.
Chocolate and ginger torte
This arrived with an unexpected but very welcome portion of ice cream. Again, delicious. Perhaps, the presentation was a little ‘business class’ but the flavours, especially the ice cream, really made me forget that.
I’d finished dinner, only an hour after starting and I was stuffed. I really wish that I had made it to the cheese course, as the blue brie really did sound good. As my table was cleared, I was offered the cheese but had to decline. The male FA then offered tea, coffee or fruit but I declined those as well, opting to go and change into my pyjamas to get some rest.
As I made my way into the galley, all three of the crew were present, having a quick chat about who was still eating etc. In the F cabin, there are always three crew, one purser, one FA and one galley operator. This is a pretty good ratio, 14 passengers to three crew. I took the opportunity to have a quick chat with the crew and started by complimenting them wholeheartedly on their service, especially the male FA who I will call ‘B’ and seemed to be Spanish. I mentioned my previous flight and the positive difference that I had noticed in the service. The galley operator asked me if I knew who the CSD was on my flight, which I did and she described the crew in the F cabin to me, and I recognised her descriptions. She told me that I was the second person in recent days to complain about the crew and that they were all very sorry and embarrassed. They couldn’t understand why I’d had poor service, as they all said ‘we are here to work and to look after you’. I was really beaming, these guys were really great and made a note to write a ‘welldone’ when I landed.
As I changed in the loo, ‘B’ made up my bed. This involved a mattress cover, full size pillow and cotton duvet. I returned to my seat, settled down and managed to sleep very comfortably for about 5 hours.
Last edited by matthandy; Jul 2, 2011 at 9:40 pm Reason: Added flight details
Jul 2, 2011, 3:03 am
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,809
I woke up at about 4.30 am UK time, with about an hour and 40 minutes until landing. I could hear the clack, clack of breakfast in the galley and dozed for a bit longer. The sun had risen outside and it was lovely to have some daylight in the cabin.
Snoozing in bed
Bed setup
Looking out of the window
As I went to the loo to change, the F purser said good morning and asked me if I had slept well, which I had. The F bed is very comfortable. I would say as comfortable as any ‘bed’ that I have slept in on air craft. Arguably, the bed provided with Emirates Business class on the A380 has a better mattress pad, but then you don’t get the fluffy cotton duvet to go with it. With Cathay, you get the duvet, but not the under mattress in Business.
As my bed is turned back into a seat, ‘B’ asks me if I would like breakfast. Most definitely, I was looking forward to a full English onboard, hopefully, with fully cooked sausages.
BREAKFAST
STARTERS
Chilled fruit juice
An energising fruit smoothie
A selection of yoghurts
A selection of cereals
Fresh seasonal fruit plate
A wide selection of breakfast pastries and rolls
MAIN
Traditional English breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms and tomato
Tomato omelette
Stir-fried barnee noodles with shrimp
BEVERAGES
WE CAN OFFER YOU A SELECTION OF THE FOLLOWING
Teas - Traditional English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Pure Green, Pure Camomile, Pure Peppermint, Lemon and Ginger or Blackcurrant, Ginseng and Vanilla
Coffee - Freshly roasted and ground, decaffeinated, espresso or cappuccino
OR YOU CAN ENJOY A QUICK CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST TO MAXIMISE YOUR SLEEP TIME ONBOARD
I asked to start with some cereal, and chose the cornflakes from the selection presented. The male FA asked if I’d like some sugar to sprinkle over them, which I said yes to.
My cereal arrived with a glass of orange juice and was also followed by the bread basket, from which I chose a warm croissant.
Cornflakes
The cereal was good, but it really needed the sugar, as it was a bit bland.
Next up was my full English, and just for HIDDY I checked to see if the sausage was cooked, it was.
Full English Breakfast
For HIDDY, cooked sausages
The English breakfast was ok, nothing special really, the bacon was overcooked and resembled the plastic sheets that seem to be enjoyed by our American cousins. I suppose that it was a bit of a disappointment, but not a big one. Besides, I would be eating in the Concorde Room, so it didn’t matter.
My table was then cleared, as the arrivals video was played on the IFE, describing how to transfer at LHR.
What I liked about the breakfast service is that it was not rushed, even though, we had only a short time before landing, the crew never seemed to try to hurry people up. It was leisurely and stress free.
At 40 minutes to landing the First Officer announced our landing time and that no delays were expected. I wondered if this would really be the case, given the pretty standard practice of having to circle a few times before landing at Heathrow.
As I started to pack up my things, the F purser noticed my iPad and commented that she was consistently disappointed that no-one ‘loses’ one onboard for her to take home. I promised to ‘lose’ mine down the side of my seat for her, all good humoured banter.
I wanted to take my pyjamas and wash kit off the plane, but didn’t have room in my bag so I went to the galley, where the galley operator was talking with another passenger. When she had finished, she looked at me and said ‘Ah, you have a question face on’, to which I replied that I would try not make it a difficult one. I asked for a duty free bag to take everything off the aircraft. She said that she could do that and her and the F purser went about getting a bag for me. Again, really excellent humoured, personal service.
As I returned to my seat, 1K’s son arrived and sat in 1A for landing. She had previously asked if this was ok, since they had a tight connection (he was in economy). The son seemed pretty in awe of First class but was quiet and unobtrusive. I got the impression that his Mum travelled in F quite often.
As expected, we ended up circling for a while, but I didn’t mind, as I had a great view, with the sun sweeping through the cabin as we turned.
Lighting up the cabin
We had a very smooth landing at 6.20 am but did turn off the runway very sharply, perhaps the crew forgot that we were going to T3 instead of T5. We were on-stand very quickly and the air bridge was attached to door 2. Unfortunately, this meant that pretty much all of the WTP passengers were able to exit the aircraft first.
Landing Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiUSSD3FUc
I waited for most of the F cabin to disembark so that I could catch a photo of my seat and the cabin, lit up by the morning light.
Cabin Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WAKjDvWzAk
The F cabin in the morning light
My seat 2A
I thanked the crew again and then made my way into the maze that is Terminal 3. It felt great to be back in the UK.
Verdict
What a fantastic flight. This is how First class should be. I truly cannot praise the crew enough, they were utterly excellent, attentive, friendly, personal and caring. The food was a big step up from my previous flight and more in keeping with what one would expect, it was restaurant quality. I was especially surprised by the steak, the simple presentation and the way that it was cooked was just perfect.
Overall, when it comes together so well, First class is a joy and a noticeable step up from Club World. I’d go as far to say that this was one of my best flights ever, if not the best and I place the crew as one of the main reasons for that.
Coming Up
Taking my sister to Paris for the day, including a couple of hours in the Concorde Room at Terminal 5.
Snoozing in bed
Bed setup
Looking out of the window
As I went to the loo to change, the F purser said good morning and asked me if I had slept well, which I had. The F bed is very comfortable. I would say as comfortable as any ‘bed’ that I have slept in on air craft. Arguably, the bed provided with Emirates Business class on the A380 has a better mattress pad, but then you don’t get the fluffy cotton duvet to go with it. With Cathay, you get the duvet, but not the under mattress in Business.
As my bed is turned back into a seat, ‘B’ asks me if I would like breakfast. Most definitely, I was looking forward to a full English onboard, hopefully, with fully cooked sausages.
BREAKFAST
STARTERS
Chilled fruit juice
An energising fruit smoothie
A selection of yoghurts
A selection of cereals
Fresh seasonal fruit plate
A wide selection of breakfast pastries and rolls
MAIN
Traditional English breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms and tomato
Tomato omelette
Stir-fried barnee noodles with shrimp
BEVERAGES
WE CAN OFFER YOU A SELECTION OF THE FOLLOWING
Teas - Traditional English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Pure Green, Pure Camomile, Pure Peppermint, Lemon and Ginger or Blackcurrant, Ginseng and Vanilla
Coffee - Freshly roasted and ground, decaffeinated, espresso or cappuccino
OR YOU CAN ENJOY A QUICK CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST TO MAXIMISE YOUR SLEEP TIME ONBOARD
My cereal arrived with a glass of orange juice and was also followed by the bread basket, from which I chose a warm croissant.
Cornflakes
The cereal was good, but it really needed the sugar, as it was a bit bland.
Next up was my full English, and just for HIDDY I checked to see if the sausage was cooked, it was.
Full English Breakfast
For HIDDY, cooked sausages
The English breakfast was ok, nothing special really, the bacon was overcooked and resembled the plastic sheets that seem to be enjoyed by our American cousins. I suppose that it was a bit of a disappointment, but not a big one. Besides, I would be eating in the Concorde Room, so it didn’t matter.
My table was then cleared, as the arrivals video was played on the IFE, describing how to transfer at LHR.
What I liked about the breakfast service is that it was not rushed, even though, we had only a short time before landing, the crew never seemed to try to hurry people up. It was leisurely and stress free.
At 40 minutes to landing the First Officer announced our landing time and that no delays were expected. I wondered if this would really be the case, given the pretty standard practice of having to circle a few times before landing at Heathrow.
As I started to pack up my things, the F purser noticed my iPad and commented that she was consistently disappointed that no-one ‘loses’ one onboard for her to take home. I promised to ‘lose’ mine down the side of my seat for her, all good humoured banter.
I wanted to take my pyjamas and wash kit off the plane, but didn’t have room in my bag so I went to the galley, where the galley operator was talking with another passenger. When she had finished, she looked at me and said ‘Ah, you have a question face on’, to which I replied that I would try not make it a difficult one. I asked for a duty free bag to take everything off the aircraft. She said that she could do that and her and the F purser went about getting a bag for me. Again, really excellent humoured, personal service.
As I returned to my seat, 1K’s son arrived and sat in 1A for landing. She had previously asked if this was ok, since they had a tight connection (he was in economy). The son seemed pretty in awe of First class but was quiet and unobtrusive. I got the impression that his Mum travelled in F quite often.
As expected, we ended up circling for a while, but I didn’t mind, as I had a great view, with the sun sweeping through the cabin as we turned.
Lighting up the cabin
We had a very smooth landing at 6.20 am but did turn off the runway very sharply, perhaps the crew forgot that we were going to T3 instead of T5. We were on-stand very quickly and the air bridge was attached to door 2. Unfortunately, this meant that pretty much all of the WTP passengers were able to exit the aircraft first.
Landing Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiUSSD3FUc
I waited for most of the F cabin to disembark so that I could catch a photo of my seat and the cabin, lit up by the morning light.
Cabin Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WAKjDvWzAk
The F cabin in the morning light
My seat 2A
I thanked the crew again and then made my way into the maze that is Terminal 3. It felt great to be back in the UK.
Verdict
What a fantastic flight. This is how First class should be. I truly cannot praise the crew enough, they were utterly excellent, attentive, friendly, personal and caring. The food was a big step up from my previous flight and more in keeping with what one would expect, it was restaurant quality. I was especially surprised by the steak, the simple presentation and the way that it was cooked was just perfect.
Overall, when it comes together so well, First class is a joy and a noticeable step up from Club World. I’d go as far to say that this was one of my best flights ever, if not the best and I place the crew as one of the main reasons for that.
Coming Up
Taking my sister to Paris for the day, including a couple of hours in the Concorde Room at Terminal 5.
Last edited by matthandy; Jul 10, 2011 at 5:34 am Reason: Added video link
Jul 2, 2011, 3:33 am
#60
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BA Exec Club,Skywards,Hilton Honours,Mariott Rewards,SPG
Posts: 956
I recall two sectors where I had commented to the F Purser how good the F service was and they specifically made the point that they were originally B-Cal crew and still proud to deliver a proper F service even allowing for the various "enhancements" over the years.