Moomba

I haven’t put pen to paper, so to speak, on a trip report for quite a while now. Having done several trips since I stopped writing it has been quite liberating not taking notes and photos of my journeys. This report had originally intended to be posted last year but as you will find out events took place that meant I abandoned the report mid flight.

As most of you know I am addicted to this flying malarkey, especially if seated as far forward as one can get without getting too cosy with the pilots. So it is that this is yet another Moomba madness in First on OneWorld carriers. In the planning stages I was trying to make as much use of the A part of the AONE ticket and managed to score a pretty heavily F loaded itinerary. It is a report of two halves, the first sectors were flown in August last year and the second part will be completed in May this year.

Lets get on with the first half of this adventure then. As usual when purchasing these round the world fares from far-flung places one needs to figure out how to get to the starting point. In this case what better way to start than with a delicious redemption flight or two on Cathay Pacific in First of course.

Originally I could only find availability out of ZRH on the relatively new route for CX, but closer to my departure date a seat opened up on a direct flight from London. One of the benefits of being Gold Guest List with BA is that you can cancel award flight with no charge. I was thus able to cancel the ZRH flight and book the ex LHR flight to get the ball rolling on this trip.


Part 1 - But it starts in Tokyo - LHR-HKG-HND CX F
Part 2 - Off to Bangkok - HND-HKG-BKK CX F
Part 3 - Bangkok
Part 4 - A little indulgence - BKK-DOH-CDG QR F
Part 5 - Indulge me some more - CDG-DOH-DXB QR F
Part 6 - To London - DXB-LHR QF F
Part 7 - To San Francisco - BA F
Part 8 - A transcon SFO-JFK - AA F
Part 9 - A mileage run JFK-DFW-SJU AA F / J
Part 10 - A mileage run part 2 SJU-DFW-JFK J / F
Part 11 - Off to Hong Kong - JFK-HKG CX F
Part 12 - To Tokyo the long way round HKG-CGK-NRT CX J JL F
Part 13 - Back to Hong Kong HND-HKG CX F
Part 14 - All things come to an end HKG-LHR CX F




An index to my other reports should you be inclined to read more from me:


My First RTW on OneWorld in F 2006
Passion or Addiction OneWorld RTW in F 2008
Definitely Addicted OneWorld RTW in F 2009
Moomba's Addiction Continues RTW One World in J 2010
A trip across the pond on a 318
Another addiction fuelled RTW in F on One World
Easter in Asia CX F & JL F
A quick trip to Oz AY, BA & QF J
A trip to Vancouver & Scottsdale AZ on BA First
I've Grown accustomed to your Nose - A RTW in F On OneWorld
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...aa-f-cx-f.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...rip-uk-oz.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-f-jl-j-y.html



And for those that enjoy non-flight specific reports:
Land of the Cherry Blossom Japan by Rail April 2007 (a most underrated travel destination)
Alaska Land & Sea June 2008 (stunning part of the world)
China in Summer 2011
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-cambodia.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-revealed.html

Moomba

I left work early at around 15:15 and caught the tube to Paddington from Liverpool Street and then the HEX to LHR T3. After exiting the train I made my way upstairs to the CX check-in desks. I had to wait to few minutes to be processed but was soon on my way with BP, lounge invitation and made my way up to security. Fast track lived up to its name and I was soon through and making my way through the shopping mall to the CX lounge where I was welcomed into the F section of the lounge.


CX F Lounge LHR T3

The lounge was quite busy with a lot of AY passengers in the lounge before their flight left for Helsinki. I enjoyed a very hot bowl of Dan Dan noodles and very slow wifi in the lounge. At around 35 minutes before the must board by time I headed down to the gate where I was able to board straight away.


Flight CX0250 LHR-HKG (First)
Aircraft: B777
Departure time: 18:20
Seat 2A

I was escorted to my seat and my jacket taken and hung in the at seat wardrobe by one of the crew.


CX F Seat


CX F Seat


CX F Seat

I was offered a drink and of course Champagne was the order. This arrived shortly afterwards along with an amuse bouche of shrimp and lentil salad.


Bubbly


Amuse Bouche

The crew handed out amenity kit containing Aesop products and PYE pyjamas and the captain came on the horn and informed us of a flying time of 11 hours and 26 minutes. The ISM dropped by and introduced herself and wished me a pleasant flight and a hot towel was delivered to my seat.

We pushed back at 18:16 and taxied out for a wheels up time of 18:25. As is my usual custom I spend the taxi time setting up a playlist on the IFE. The movie options on the CX IFE seem to change quite regularly, however the CD collections is much more static. So it was I chose a few old favourites to listen to for this flight.

The menus were handed out after take off and orders were taken a while later.
I started the ball rolling with a nice glass of Krug to go with my warm nuts.










CX F LHR-HKG Menu




Bubbly & Nuts

The crew kept the Champagne flowing whilst I moved on to those tasty salty morsels known as caviar.


Krug & Caviar


Salty Pearls


I had opted for the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London Inspired Menu option the starter of which was an octopus salad. It seemed an odd choice and suffered somewhat from the rubber seafood syndrome. I chose to drink the Artisan Sauv Blanc to go with this and soup and was not disappointed.


Octopus Salad

Next up the soup appeared and was delicious and creamy with a lovely asparagus flavour.


Asparagus Soup


Asparagus Soup

For several years now CX have had Wine Promotions on board showcasing various wine regions around the globe. On this flight it was the turn of the Rhône Valley. I elected to drink the Delas red and it was a beautiful lush drop and went well with the excellent chicken main course.


Chicken & Mushroom

I opted out of dessert and instead went in with a plate of cheese with the remainder of my red wine and then followed this with coffee, cognac and pralines as a fitting end to a luscious meal in first on one of my favourite carriers.


Cheese



Cognac, Coffee & Pralines

After the meal another hot towel was delivered to my seat. Somewhere during the meal service I chocked up my 2 millionth butt in seat mile on aircraft.

I asked the crew to make and bed and I tried to get some sleep. Unfortunately there was a chaff cutter in seat 1A whose snoring could even drown out the elephant who stomps around in the flat above mine in London.

I awoke around 2.5 hours out of Hong Kong and asked for a nice pot of Jasmine tea before deciding to eat some noodles instead of the breakfast offerings.


Jasmine Tea


A hot towel was again delivered before they served the noodles.


Noodles, Juice & Tea


Noodles

After the meal I got myself ready for landing, changing back into my civvies and listened to more music on the way into HKG.

We touched down at 13:08 and taxied to our gate. I was travelling on a newly minted passport that meant, unlike previous trips to HKG, I had to queue at the immigration desks. The queues were quite long however they moved quickly.

Once through I headed for the frequent traveller office and waited whilst the agent processed a person before me. She asked if I had previously had an electronic entry permit for HKG and I showed her the code on my previous passport. She was able to transfer over the details onto my new passport and said I could use the electronic gates now for the life of my new passport. Sweet.

I grabbed my case from the carousel and headed out into landside HKG. There were long queues at the desks for the AEX so I jumped on the approaching train and purchased the ticked at the other end in Kowloon station. Upstairs I caught the free bus to the Sheraton Hong Kong. The bus stopped had moved to East TST station that meant the walk to the hotel doubled from its previous stopping point.

After night at the Sheraton I checked out and headed on out but this time to the AEX bus stop outside the Peninsula hotel back door. These two hotels used to be on the same route but the split off a couple of years back. The Sheraton is the first stop on that route and the Peninsula is the second last stop so I minimise my time on the busses by taking this approach.

At Kowloon station I decided not to check my bag there and went straight down to a train and 25 minutes later was checking in at the CX F desks at HKG. This as usual was an efficient process and only took a few minutes. Security was pretty quick and with my newly printed barcode I was able to skip the emigration queues and use the electronic gates to exit into airside.

As my gate was posted as 19 I decided to go up to the QF F lounge at the opposite end of the main building to the CX Wing lounge. It was very quiet inside and I practically had the place to myself.

The staff were very friendly and welcoming in the lounge and whilst there I availed myself of a macchiato and a small plate of rice and stir fried chicken.


Chicken & Rice QF Lounge


QF F Lounge HKG



Macchiato QF F Lounge HKG


Later I wandered up to the bar and ordered a mojito before relaxing until my flight.


Mojito QF F Lounge HKG


I was watching another CX flight to JFK that was boarding at the gate next to mine. The flight departure time for that flight was 5 minutes earlier than mine. When they started to board that flight I made my way out of the lounge and down to the concourse. By the time I got to my gate they had started boarding and I was able to walk straight up and have my BP and PP checked and walk straight on down to the aircraft.

Flight CX0542 HKG-HND (First)
Aircraft: B747
Departure time: 16:25
Seat 1A

I was escorted to my seat and offered a glass of champagne perhaps? Perhaps, you mean of course don’t you?


Bubbly

The seats on the 747 are of a slightly older variety than the 777 with different cloth and manual seat controls instead of the touch screen ones you get on the newer seats.


CX 747 F Suite


CX 747 F Suite

A hot towel was delivered whilst on the ground and my glass was refilled with the elixir d’Amour.


Hot Towel

The ISM visited my seat and informed me the flight time would be 3 hours and 42 minutes and welcomed me on board. The captain also announced the flight time a little later. The F purser introduced herself and handed out the menus and informed me the wine promotion wine on the flight would be the Gigondas. The captain announced a 5 minute delay to pushback due to ATC restrictions.


CX 747 Reflection


We then lost power. The crew did a manual safety demonstration before power was restored and we pushed back at 16:43 with a take off time of 17:03.


UK shaped cloud

After take off my dinner order was taken and the crew delivered some nuts & rice crackers with a glass of bubbly.








CX F HKG-HND Menu



Nuts & Bubbly


To start the western meal I ordered a dish of Tiger prawns was served accompanied by some of the luscious Sauv Blanc I had enjoyed on my previous flight.


Tiger Prawn Starter

The bean soup was scrumptious and I continued on with the same wine for this course.


Bread Basket


Bean Soup


I wasn’t the only geek on the plane this evening as can be seen from this shot of seat 1K.


Selfie

Beef was on order for the main and this meant a change to red wine and as I had enjoyed the wine promotion flight on the way in from London I decided to go the Gigondas a whirl. It was not quite as enjoyable but went down well just the same. The crew were very proactive topping up my wine, almost too proactive.


Beef Main Course


Wine & Water


Beef Main Course

As the sunset out my window I scoffed down some cheese and crackers before ending the meal with an espresso and some pralines.


Sunset in Window


Cheese


Coffee & Pralines


By the time I was done we had already started our descent into Tokyo and we touched down at 21:42. I really can think of nothing that compares with a lovely short haul F flight on CX. It has to be one of the most pleasant ways to spend 3 to 4 hours.

Immigrations at Haneda was quite quick, unlike my previous visit and I was through in no time before the obligatory cursory check by customs officials. I grabbed a train to Shinagawa and then a short cab ride to the Sheraton Miyako that was to be home for a night.


More photos


Tomorrow the round the world actually starts by retracing my steps back to HKG.

Moomba

On each of my relatively few stays at the Sheraton Miyako I have not bothered to try the breakfast offerings and so it was the case this time. I decided I would be eating enough during the day that I could skip breakfast.
Late morning I checked out and as it was a lovely day I decided to walk to Meguro station

At Meguro station I was able to hop a 7-minute ride to Shinagawa and then a 12-minute rapid express train to Haneda airport. For any of you who want to travel about Japan on the excellent rail network I thoroughly recommend you get to know the Hyperdia web site.

At Haneda I made my way to the CX check-in desks and collected my BP and lounge invitation. I was told I could use the JAL F lounge or the CX lounge.


Haneda airport landside

I was able to use the fast track security and recalled losing my iPhone on my last trip through there. This time I made sure I had a firm grip on my new phone when I exited the security area. There was only a short wait at emigrations and once through I made my way up to the JAL lounge complex. I was ushered into the F section of the lounge.

The JAL lounge has some quite lovely art pieces inside.


JL F Lounge Art HND


JL F Lounge Art HND


JL F Lounge HND


JL F Lounge HND

Inside the lounge the food offerings were Miso soup, tomato soup, cold potato soup, Japanese curry, dim sum, fried rice, plain rice, sandwiches, tofu curry, salad and a pasta dish. The champagne was Lombard.


JL F Lounge Food HND


JL F Lounge Beverages HND

I grabbed a glass of bubbly, some soup and dim sum and found a seat by the windows.


JL F Lounge Snack HND

After spending some time eating and drinking I made my way up to the newish CX lounge that was closer to my departure gate.

These new CX lounges are very stylish and very much to my taste. I quite like the extensive use of wood throughout.


CX Lounge HND


CX Lounge HND


I couldn’t go to a CX lounge and not have some Dan Dan noodles and a beer from the self-pouring machine. Other offerings included pastries, cheese and a quiche.
Apart from the beer machines there is also a manned bar where you could get various wines, sprits and cocktails.


CX Lounge Noodles & Beer HND

Whilst there I was able to watch a JAL 787 being towed to stand.


JL 787 on tug

I wandered out and arrived at the gate about 5 minutes before boarding commenced.
I was first to board and wandered down the ramp to another three and half hours in heaven.

Flight CX0542 HND-HKG (First)
Aircraft: B777
Departure time: 16:25
Seat 1K

I was escorted to my seat and my jacket taken and hung and a glass of champagne was offered. Yes please.


CX 777 F Seat

[url=https://flic.kr/p/DCx1YP]
CX 777 F Seat


Bubbly before take off


The F cabin was full on today’s flight. The ISM came around and handed me a set of Bose headphones and welcomed me on board. A hot towel on its own little tray was placed at my seat. The captain announced a flight time of 3 hours and 40 minutes. My champagne was topped up before we pushed back and the F purser handed out the menus. The purser used my name at this point and throughout the rest of the flight.







CX F HND-HKG Menu

We pushed back at 16:41 and as the ground crew did the obligatory Japanese bow and wave as we pulled away. After quite a long taxi out into the bay we took off at 17:07.


Ground crew farewell

After we were safely in the air the crew took the dinner order.

On this flight there was an extremely personable crew and we chatted a quite a while about travel.

After watching what I presume was Mt Fuji pass us by I began with the nuts and rice cracker mix with some bubbly.


Mt Fuji?


Bubbly & Nuts

My table was then set and first up was the vegetable flan. No prizes for guessing which white wine I chose to drink with this course.


Vegetable flan starter

The tomato soup was next to the pass and was very nice indeed.


Tomato soup


Setting sun


For the main I am starting to get boring now as I ordered the steak.


Steak main course


Steak main course

Near Taiwan we hit quite a bit of turbulence as the tail end of a typhoon circled below us.

I decided to go with the apple pie this time and followed this with a coffee and some pralines. The only thing missing was a proper dessert wine.


Apple pie for dessert

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Coffee & pralines


We touched down at 19:55 and taxied up to a 40’s gate. This meant a transit ride and for me now a swift exit through the e-gates before catching the AEX into Kowloon for one more night at the Sheraton.


Flights with First on board on the HKG-BKK route are few and far between and you stand a high chance of CX doing an aircraft switch to mess up your plans. However my luck held out for this flight and I had checked in the previous day into the F cabin. The only downside to the arrangement was that the flight was a morning flight. This meant a rather early start as I checked-out of my hotel and retraced my steps from a couple of days earlier to get back to HKG.

After checking in I joined the rather lengthy queue at security but as usual with HKG it moved quite fast.
Again I skipped the emigration queues and e-gated my way out and down to the transit system. As luck would have it my gate was posted in the 60’s and that meant I could try out the spanky new CX Pier F lounge.

On the way I spotted by 747 bird waiting patiently at the gate.


CX 747 at gate

Oh my what a transformation. Again there was lots of use of wood and the lovely green stone accented by brass coloured fittings.


CX The Pier F lounge hall


CX The Pier F lounge self service snack area


CX The Pier F lounge bar


CX The Pier F lounge seating

I made my way to the dining area and was seated and offered a menu and asked if I would like a drink. I opted for an energiser drink, some coffee and some good ol porridge to get my morning rolling.


CX The Pier F lounge restaurant


CX The Pier F lounge breakfast menu


CX The Pier F lounge coffee and energiser


CX The Pier F lounge porridge

I have learnt now to stop arriving at the gate too early in HKG and so it was with this flight I wandered up just after the time allocated for boarding.

Flight CX0755 HKG-BKK (First)
Aircraft: B747
Departure time: 09:30
Seat 1A

I was welcomed on board and told I could sit anywhere. Yes folks score for Moomba, I was the only passenger in F today.


CX F Older 747 seat


Empty cabin


All mine


Orchid at seat


There was a lovely Thai purser in F today and I she offered me some bubbly prior to push back that I of course accepted. The menu was handed out at this point also.



CX F HKG-BKK Menu


A hot towel was delivered and the ISM dropped by to welcome me on board.

The captain announced a flight time of 2 hours and 11 minutes, and the crew topped up my glass of bubbly.


Bubbly after take off


We pushed back at 09:40 and we taxied out past the new in field terminal building that is absolutely enormous.

There was quite a queue for take off this morning and we didn’t hit the runway until 10:05.

After take off the crew dropped by with more bubbly as we couldn’t waste what was left of the bottle could we?

My table was set for the breakfast service as soon as we were stable.

The fruit service was up first and I accompanied this with some of that staple breakfast beverage, champagne.


Fruit starter

Various breakfast breads were placed in a basket on my table.

After the fruit I opted for the Dim Sum offering.


Dim Sum


Dim Sum

The rest of the flight was spent sipping champagne and chatting to the lovely crew.

All too soon the flight was coming to an end as we started out descent into Bangkok.

The crew had given me a fast track voucher along with the Thai immigration paperwork. I headed up the fast track land and was processed straight away.

I collected my suitcase once it appeared which can sometimes take a while at this airport. I then went out and was met by my driver who took me into Bangkok and the Sheraton Royal Orchid Hotel.

More photos

Moomba

It has been quite a while since I had stayed at this hotel but I wanted to do some touristy river things and this hotel is great location for this. The hotel isn’t quite up to the standards of the Sukhumvit Sheraton.

I was upgraded to a nice suite and was given access to the executive lounge. The suite had great views along the Chao Prhaya River. The room was quite dated but clean and comfortable.
The lounge at the hotel is quite nice and excellent staff were on had to make a beverage of my desire.


Sheraton Club Lounge


Sheraton Club Lounge


Sheraton Club Lounge



I spent the day exploring the river, mostly spent at the Grand Palace.


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace


River trip & grand palace



After the day on the river and walking around the palace I headed back to the hotel to relax for a while in my suite.


Sheraton Royal Orchid Suite


Sheraton Royal Orchid Suite


Sheraton Royal Orchid Suite


Sheraton Royal Orchid Suite


Sheraton Royal Orchid Suite



Sheraton Royal Orchid Suite


In the evening I had dinner in the Thai restaurant at the hotel and watched the many dinner cruise boats load there hundreds of passengers on board at the pier next to the hotel. As each boat pulls into the dock they play a cheesy song and the crew all do a dance.


Hilton across the river


River boat


After a couple of nights at the Royal Orchid it was time to move on over to the St Regis, a hotel I had never stayed at in Bangkok before. I caught a cab there and was welcomed and informed check-in was on one of the upper levels. My bag was taken and I was escorted to the elevator.
I was informed at check-in I had been upgraded to a suite. That is always nice news.

What a lovely room. It was very spacious with very nice furnishings and a very handy Bluetooth sound system that I was able to play music from my phone on.

Talk about going from dated to ultra modern.


St Regis Suite



St Regis Suite


St Regis Suite


St Regis Suite


St Regis Suite


St Regis Suite


St Regis Suite


St Regis Suite


St Regis Suite


St Regis Suite

I rang the concierge asking for the impossible; that being a reservation at Gaggan a restaurant that hit the top 10 in the San Pellegrino list this year. I asked for a reservation the following evening and left it with the concierge. He rang back a while later and said they couldn’t do the following night but I could go that evening at 21:00 so I said yes thank you.

There is no lounge at the St Regis but for platinum SPG members they invite you to drinks in the bar on the ground floor. I decided to stave off my hunger and thirst whilst waiting for dinner and dropped down for some nibbles and a drink or two.


St Regis Bar drinks & nibbles


St Regis Bar drinks & nibbles


St Regis Bar drinks & nibbles


The restaurant is only a few minute walk from the St Regis and after arriving I was offered a drink my table wasn’t quite ready. The drink hadn’t arrived before I was escorted to my table. I had ordered a drink called Witches Brew and when it arrived they poured the elixir into a glass with a straw coming out the bottom and mist coming off the liquid being poured.


Gaggan Witches Brew


The menu was handed out and I could choose from a smaller tasting menu with 10 courses or a full on experience with I think 15 courses. I opted for the smaller. The only other option I had was the main course and I chose a fish curry.



Gaggan Menu


The food is I suppose is best described as gastro cuisine Indian style.

As each course was presented the wait staff explained what it was.

I let the pictures do the talking here. It was an interesting and tasty experience to say the least.
















Gaggan feast



On my last day in Bangkok I walked the streets and ended up at the Suan Pakkad Palace museum.


Suan Pakkad Palace museum


Suan Pakkad Palace museum


Suan Pakkad Palace museum


Suan Pakkad Palace museum


Suan Pakkad Palace museum


Suan Pakkad Palace museum



Street art


Street art


Building purposely made to look half finished


Back at the hotel I tried one of the St Regis Bangkok signature bloody Marys.



More Bangkok photos


Next up a little indulgence or four on QR.

Moomba

After a couple of days in Bangkok it was time once again to ply the skies in the comfort of another F cabin.

At BKK airport I found the QR check-in desks. I always manage to rock up just after a family with 300 pieces of luggage is being processed. Finally I was called over and the agent checked my bag through and gave me to two boarding passes for seat 1A on BKK-DOH and DOH-CDG.
I would have preferred to go to London but QR a notoriously stingy in releasing A bucket fares on the LHR route. However CDG doesn’t suffer the same problem.

I was told I could use fast track security and emigration and made my way through and both were indeed swift. QR use the TG lounges at BKK and in the case of first class travellers I was able to use the Royal Orchid F lounge. Unlike TG I didn’t get a buggy ride to the door though.


I was welcomed inside and offered a drink, of course bubbly was on order.


TG F lounge BKK


TG F lounge BKK Bubbly

I also ordered a nice Thai green curry chicken and rice as a farewell to Thailand.


TG F lounge BKK Green curry

There was also a self service are with other assortment of food.


TG F lounge BKK Food offerings


TG F lounge BKK Food offerings


Again, unlike TG, I had to walk to my gate for departure with no buggy ride.

There was a passport check at the top of the ramp down to the desks. Once down my PP and BP were checked and I was told to go straight on board. I managed to queue jump and was waived on up the ramp to the upper deck.

Flight QR0833 BKK-DOH (First)
Aircraft: A380
Departure time: 20:40
Seat 1A



The crew welcomed me on board and handed me an amenity kit with a rather random assortment of Giorgio Armani products inside. There was after shave balm and after shave but no hand cream or moisturiser, there was however a small lip balm.


QR F Seat


QR F Seat




There were no pyjamas handed out on this flight. I was given a menu and asked if I would like a hot or cold towel and asked what I would like to drink.












QR F Wine List





QR F BKK-DOH Menu


My drink was delivered along with the cold towel shortly after. Before we pushed back the crew came around offering the traditional Arabic coffee and dates.


Pre-departure bubbles



The captain announced a flight time of 5 hours and 55 minutes and we pushed back shortly thereafter at 20:47 with wheels up at 21:00.

I still can’t get over how quickly and quietly the A380 hulk of an aircraft gets off the ground.

Once in the air the crew delivered another glass of Krug to my seat along with an amuse bouche of wasabi crab with salmon roe.


Amuse


It wouldn’t be first if there was no caviar would it?


Caviar


The crew seemed a bit abrupt but did their job admirably and perhaps it was just a language thing.

The chicken biryani was my order for the main course and it was very nice indeed. It seems QR do Southern Asian cuisine quite well.


Biryani


I kept it light for dessert and opted for some ice cream. The three flavours on offer for this flight were Chocolate, Vanilla and Cappuccino.


Ice cream


To end the meal I ordered a double espresso and this was delivered with a Valhrona Grand Cru Chocolate Discovery.


Grand cru chocolates


There was none of the chitchat with the crew that I had enjoyed on the CX flights.

The QR A380 is fitted with Wi-Fi and all passengers were able to use it for 15 minutes for free. However F passengers were given a voucher to use it for the whole flight. It was extremely slow though.

QR’s IFE is a little lacking in the music department but they had quite an a array of movies and TV shows to watch.

After a relatively short flight we landed at DOH at 23:13. I was met at the top of the bridge and escorted to security by a F host. She ushered me to the front of the fast track security queue and I was through in no time. She then asked if I wanted to go to the lounge. I said I had booked into the hotel for the evening so she escorted me all the way to the elevator up the hotel.

I checked in for my stay and went to my room. The rooms are quite nice with plenty of room however there must have been some sort of construction somewhere I was kept away by constant banging all through the night.


Hamad airside hotel


Hamad airside hotel


Hamad airside hotel



A couple of hours before my flight I showered and changed and checked out before heading up to the QR F/J lounge. I had delayed the departure of this trip twice due to work commitments and was hoping that the new F lounge would be open when I was in DOH, but alas they kept shifting back the opening date.

In the F lounge I headed over to the server on the main level and ordered a coffee and a toasted sandwich for breakfast.


Toasted sandwich QR F/J lounge DOH


I headed out to my gate and arrived just as they started boarding. There was no queue at the F/J lane and I was able to head straight on up to the upper deck after a BP and PP check.

Flight QR0039 DOH-CDG (First)
Aircraft: A380
Departure time: 08:25
Seat 1A

I was escorted to my seat and the F purser offered me some champagne and handed me a menu. I was also asked if I would like a hot or cold towel.




QR F Seat


QR F Cabin


QR F Cabin


QR F Cabin Loo


I decided to go with the pink bubbles today and when it was delivered shortly after with a bowl of nuts I was not at all disappointed.


Pink bubbly before take off

Meal orders were taken on the ground and I was offered a top up of the bubbly twice before we pushed back.




QR F DOH-CDG Menu


The captain announced a flight time of 6 hours and 10 minutes and we pushed back at 08:25 and were airborne by 08:40.

After we were in the air my table was set for breakfast.

I started with some yoghurt with berry compote and granola to go with my juice and coffee.


Yoghurt


Next up I went South Asian again and had the mushroom parantha and it was very nice.


Parantha


Another hot towel was delivered after the meal and I settled down to watch a movie and snoozed a little


The crew managed to talk me into eating again (yeah that took some effort) and I started with a glass of Shiraz and some warm nuts.

I then dived into the chicken pasta dish that was delicious and plentiful. You certainly don’t go hungry on a QR flight in F.


Chicken pasta


I couldn’t say no to the dessert option from Ladurée with an espresso before we landed.


Dessert


The crew on this flight were a different calibre to the previous flight from Bangkok. The F purser used my name at all times and was happy to chat during the flight. She came up to me at the end of the flight and thanked me for flying with QR and said it had been a pleasure looking after you.

We touched down at 12:01 and had a long 10-minute taxi to the gate. I thanked the crew and made my way out in the mess that is CGD terminal 1. Signage isn’t this airports strong point and it was difficult to find the fast track immigrations lines. I eventually made my way out and down to the baggage carousel where I waited an eternity for my case. I then caught the transit train to T3 where I decamped for the night at the Sheraton CDG. It took just on 1 hour from touchdown to the hotel. That is ridiculous when I think I have made it from touchdown to my flat in central London in less time from LHR.

Next up a dire lounge and another ride on QR in F.


Some more photos

Moomba

As you have no doubt gathered this portion of my ticket was all about the flying and the indulgence of flying in an F cabin. After a night at the CDG Sheraton I checked out and went back to terminal 1. At check-in I was told I could use the AF lounge and was given directions. What awful abomination T1 at CDG is and the AF lounge was equally as dire to match.

There were some pastries and coffee available and some cheap spirits, no doubt used to numb the senses of sitting in this lounge.


AF Lounge CDG T1


AF Lounge CDG T1


AF Lounge CDG T1



I headed down to the gate and was totally confused about which gate to use for boarding the aircraft, as it seems I was given the wrong number by the check-in staff. Eventually they started to board and found the correct gate to board from.

I was so glad to be out of that dive and heading into the comfort of another ride in seat 1A on a QR A380.

Flight QR0042 CDG-DOH (First)
Aircraft: A380
Departure time: 10:30
Seat 1A


I was greeted at the bottom of the ramp and directed upstairs to the F cabin.


QR F Suite


QR F Suite


QR F Suite


QR F Suite


A crew member welcomed me on board and offered a drink. No bubbly on the ground here and I was given the mint and lime drink and a hot towel.


Pre-departure juice


One element of the QR service in F is how inconsistent it is with regards things like slippers and pyjamas. I was given slipper and PJs on this flight even though it was a day flight. I was also given an Armani amenity kit.

I was the only one in the cabin for quite a while until not long before push back a couple of women joined me upstairs. Menus and meal orders were taken on the ground.




QR F CDG-DOH Menu

The captain announced a flight time of 6 hours and 8 minutes. The Arabic coffee and dates made the rounds of the three of us in F.


Arabic coffee and date

I looked out the window and saw another mega bus sitting a couple of gate up in the MH colours.


Malaysia A380



We pushed back at 10:38 and didn’t take off until 11:01

After take off a glass of Krug and some warm nuts arrived at my seat. I asked to defer the lunch for couple of hours and thereafter a lovely ritual occurred. More Krug sir? Yes please. More nuts sir? Yes please. More Krug sir? Krug? Krug?

You get the picture.


Krug and nuts


Around lunch Paris time the crew asked if I was ready to eat and I agreed it was time.

My Krug was refreshed and the amuse bouche was placed at my seat.


Krug and amuse



When I had dispensed with this my table was set and the delicious carrot and cumin soup was delivered.


Carrot soup



Next up I had to indulge in a little caviar and Krug again.


Krug and caviar


For the main course I opted for the lamb loin and switched over to the Shiraz for a while.


Lamb loin



I asked to hold off dessert for a while whilst I sipped on my red wine.


After a while I asked for the Chef Nobu dessert creation and it was lovely.


Passion fruit dessert



After all the alcohol consumption early on I decided it was prudent to drink a lot of water in the closing stages of the flight.



We touched down at 18:10 and taxied up to the gate.

After clearing security again at DOH I made my way up to the F/J Lounge and waited out my time until my flight to DXB.

Went down to the gate quite late and was able to board straight away.





Flight QR1014 DOH-DXB (First)
Aircraft: B787
Departure time: 21:00
Seat 2A

Almost the whole cabin was full when I boarded. QR operate these middle east flight as a First cabin like the Americas and what would normally be a J seat on the 787 was sold as F in this case.

There was a British crew member serving on this flight and she offered me some of the mint and lime drink before take off along with a hot or cold towel. I was also given a menu.


Juice and towel


The Arabic coffee and date service was performed on the ground.


Arabic coffee and date


The captain announced a flight time of 50 minutes and meal orders were taken on the ground.

We pushed back at 20:59 and in the air at 21:14.

Once in the air the crew went about serving the meal.



QR F DOH-DXB Menu


The meal was pretty substantial for such a short flight.


Short hop meal



We touched down at 23:11 and I made my way to immigrations. The very dour agent processed me into the country and I went to wait for my case.

It eventually arrived and I grabbed a cab to the Sheraton Grand Dubai for a two-night stay.

I was upgraded to a lovely suite where there was a welcome gift of some jellies and marshmallows.




Sheraton Grand Dubai Suite


Sheraton Grand Dubai Suite


Sheraton Grand Dubai Suite


Sheraton Grand Dubai Suite


Sheraton Grand Dubai Suite


Sheraton Grand Dubai Welcome gift

I hit the sack after a very long and boozy day of flying.


Sheraton Grand Dubai Sunrise


The next morning I awoke and had a voice mail from Australia that there had been some complications with an operation my father had and he wasn’t expected to live. I spent the whole day trying to decide if and how I should fly to Australia direct from DXB or continue with my flight home to the UK the following day and fly home to Australia from there. I got the news later in the day that my father had passed away so I decided to go back to London first.


A few more photos


Next up a flight back to London.

Moomba

Qantas provide a chauffer service as part of their F product and I had arranged a pick up from the hotel at 07:30 and the driver was waiting when I checked out a little before then.

At the airport check in was swift after I found the QF desks that were down past the EK desks.

Security and emigration was quick and the officer was equally as pleasant as the dour sod on arrival. I caught the transit to the A gates before locating the EK lounge.

I made my way upstairs to the EK F lounge and headed down to the restaurant for some food. They seemed to have dedicated tables assigned for first class passengers. I can’t recall what I ate, although I do recall they had nice freshly squeezed orange juice.


Juice and coffee EK F lounge DXB


As many of you know you board directly from the lounge at the A gates and I waited until quite late before boarding.


Flight QF0009 DXB-LHR (First)
Aircraft: A380
Departure time: 08:30
Seat 1A

Once on board I was directed to my seat and a crew member offered me some champagne. On this flight they were serving the Veuve Clicquot ‘La Grande Dame’. This was served with some almonds and marinated olives.


Bubbly, nuts and olives



I was given PJs and an Amenity kit with SK-II products inside including useful items such as deodorant and moisturiser. The menu for the flight was also presented and orders taken a short while later.






QF F DXB-LHR Menu

The captain announced a flight time of 6 hours and 45 minutes. The cabin manager dropped by to welcome me on the flight.

We pushed back at 09:17 and took off at 09:34 into the Arabian sky.


After take off more champagne made its way to my seat along with the canapés.


Bubbly


Canapés


The table was set for lunch by the main crew member serving my side. She was a very personable English woman who was keen to chat as well as offer a great service.

Soup was first up today and this I accompanied with the Riesling wine. The soup was lovely and flavourful, as most QF dishes seem to be. This was served with an offer of some freshly ground black pepper.


Table set



Potato and leek soup


Next up was the steak with cauliflower and potato gratin. Despite appearances the steak was quite tender and the gratin was as delicious as I remember from my previous encounter with this dish.


main course


Steak dish


Gratin


I opted for the lemon curd tart and enjoyed some of the Lilly Pilly Noble wine.


Dessert and wine


Lemon tart


Noble wine


My wonderful crew member dropped by and enquired if I would like more wine and I said I would but you might need to bring a box of tissues with it. All the alcohol had churned up my emotions that I was trying to keep under control and by the time she returned I was a blubbering mess.

I told her about my father and she gave me a hug and sat with me for bit.

I asked for a pot of peppermint tea and she returned with this a little later.


Peppermint tea


She then said she would leave me alone but to let her know if I wanted anything more.

I did not eat or drink anything else apart from water and the flight touched down at 13:00 before taxing to the gate.

It was a long walk to immigrations where my newly minted passport did not work in the electronic gates despite being a registered traveller user.

As usual at T3 the bags were pretty swift in appearing and I was able to go out and meet my QF supplied driver for the trip home to my flat. This was a bit of a shambles and there was a lot of confusion amongst the staff as to which driver was taking which passenger. It was a good half an hour after exiting the arrivals hall that I finally got in a car home. I had already purchased flights in Dubai and was home less than 24 hours before flying back to Australia to attend my father’s funeral.

Writing this report up has not been at the forefront of my mind for obvious reasons. It is only now that I needed to re-jig the final sectors of this ticket that have been able to sit down and write up these flights. I hope you enjoy the report and I will leave you now until May when the second half of this trip has concluded.

AhogZ

Dear Moomba, very sorry to hear about your loss. Thanks a lot for beautiful pictures and great, as always, report.

wrp96

So sorry for your loss.

As to the question in the thread title, why would we want to do that?

lcpteck

Great TR, sorry for your loss.

halfcape

So sorry to hear about the death of your father.

chongl

A very thorough trip report with pictures aplenty...my favorite kind! Thank you for sharing; sorry for your loss.

pointspinnacle

Moomba, sorry to hear about your father. My condolences.

I enjoyed your trip report. Thanks you for sharing.

snabbu

Wonderful report as always Moomba, sorry to hear about your father. RIP.

G-CIVC

This is fantastic all the way and everything on my 'bucket list' is basically here

Most sorry to hear about the passing!