DIY *A and OW RTW 2009 in the top cabins
Aug 11, 2009, 4:50 am
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: BNE
Posts: 2,622
I am glad to hear that people really do seem to enjoy reading the report (or just looking at the pictures)!
Oh - the infamous Brighton weather updates! Quite a tradition!
Although I do have wireless, I don't have a garden! Maybe one day I should see if I can get a signal from home whilst relaxing in Withdean Park across the road. I could take a picnic too!
NZ are quite good and I am glad they are in *A since they ply my well trodden paths between LHR-HKG and LHR-LAX. I do have to say that their flat bed is not compatible with my face down arms under head sleeping style. I find it hard to sleep in any other position.
Whilst on the subject of NZ, I emailed them yesterday providing some feedback about their crew:
This morning I received the following response:
Your comment about CX being your 'favourite airline...when travelling at the pointy end' got me thinking about how I would rank the airlines that I have been fortunate enough to travel on.
I find it hard to have outright preference. I do not believe that any carrier that I have travelled with has got the perfect mix of ingredients for a truly superior First Class experience. I think that there are three main ingredients: ground facilities, seat and customer service.
Ground Services
1)Turkish - Although the F departure lounge in IST is no show stopper, the arrival and departure escort service (so to speak) and the Mercedes S-Class IST-hotel return transfer really does make you feel like a true VIP!!!
2)Thai - The escort from curbside right upto the aircraft, the BKK lounge and BKK Spa, and formerly the old limo hotel to airport transfer
3)Lufthansa - The First Class Terminal feels just so exclusive and the Porsche Cayenne/Mercedes S-Class transfer to the aircraft
Seat
1) Cathay Pacific - Wide, long and private
2) ANA - Width and length on an airline that I never thought I'd fly (let alone in First)
3) Thai Airways - great seat with a electronically moveable buddy seat. I'll never forget Mrs TEX277 trying to eat her caviar as I was making her seat go backwards and forwards!
Customer Service
1) Thai - Impeccable on the ground at BKK and great in the air - although I gather others have had poor experiences in the air.
Others - I was about to put Singapore Airlines second here but they are in my bad books at the minute for how they handled Mrs TEX277 after she missed her 77W LHR-SIN flight recently. Bunch of prima donnas!
Although I do have wireless, I don't have a garden! Maybe one day I should see if I can get a signal from home whilst relaxing in Withdean Park across the road. I could take a picnic too!
Whilst on the subject of NZ, I emailed them yesterday providing some feedback about their crew:
I travelled in Business Premier on the above flight and would like to provide feedback on the crew serving this cabin.
I have travelled extensively over the last few years including many First Class flights on the likes of British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways.
Yet the crew that catered to the Business cabin on this flight were probably one of the very best that I have ever had. Each and every member of staff that served in Business on this flight were truly outstanding.
Their friendliness to all passengers in the cabin was unyielding, their enthusiasm was infectious and they seemed to really enjoy the job. I was particularly impressed when the Irish chap (I think he was the Pursar/CSD) took the time to have a real protracted conversation with each customer in the cabin rather than just 'Hi, welcome onboard, thanks for choosing to fly with us today etc etc' that is all too common on other carriers.
Likewise the chap who realised that one of the children in the cabin was becoming restless towards the end of the flight and recruited the kid to offer the sweets to the other passengers under his watchful eye.
Please do pass on my heartfelt thanks not only to these truly fantastic ambassadors for Air New Zealand but also please do make their line supervisors aware too.
I have travelled extensively over the last few years including many First Class flights on the likes of British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways.
Yet the crew that catered to the Business cabin on this flight were probably one of the very best that I have ever had. Each and every member of staff that served in Business on this flight were truly outstanding.
Their friendliness to all passengers in the cabin was unyielding, their enthusiasm was infectious and they seemed to really enjoy the job. I was particularly impressed when the Irish chap (I think he was the Pursar/CSD) took the time to have a real protracted conversation with each customer in the cabin rather than just 'Hi, welcome onboard, thanks for choosing to fly with us today etc etc' that is all too common on other carriers.
Likewise the chap who realised that one of the children in the cabin was becoming restless towards the end of the flight and recruited the kid to offer the sweets to the other passengers under his watchful eye.
Please do pass on my heartfelt thanks not only to these truly fantastic ambassadors for Air New Zealand but also please do make their line supervisors aware too.
Dear Mr TEX277
Thank you for your feedback given below.
It is a pleasure to read your lovely sentiments about the exceptional standard of service that you received and witnessed on your recent flight with us.
We appreciate the time you have taken to write in and share your positive experience with us. It is through the perception of our customers that we are able to monitor and evaluate our performance standards.
At Air New Zealand we strive towards excellence in customer service. It is an expectation that our customers have of us and this is extended to our staff. Our cabin crew are amongst many ambassadors for our airline that exude what we strive for. It is the attention to simple things which are of the greatest value - warm personal welcomes versus a standard greeting. We are extremely proud of their professionalism and dedication!
I will forward your wonderful feedback to our Cabin Crew and their Management. I have no doubts that they will be delighted to read it.
We realise that you have a variety of airlines to choose from and that we must earn your custom. We trust that we will have the opportunity of welcoming you onboard one of our flights again.
Thank you for your feedback given below.
It is a pleasure to read your lovely sentiments about the exceptional standard of service that you received and witnessed on your recent flight with us.
We appreciate the time you have taken to write in and share your positive experience with us. It is through the perception of our customers that we are able to monitor and evaluate our performance standards.
At Air New Zealand we strive towards excellence in customer service. It is an expectation that our customers have of us and this is extended to our staff. Our cabin crew are amongst many ambassadors for our airline that exude what we strive for. It is the attention to simple things which are of the greatest value - warm personal welcomes versus a standard greeting. We are extremely proud of their professionalism and dedication!
I will forward your wonderful feedback to our Cabin Crew and their Management. I have no doubts that they will be delighted to read it.
We realise that you have a variety of airlines to choose from and that we must earn your custom. We trust that we will have the opportunity of welcoming you onboard one of our flights again.
I find it hard to have outright preference. I do not believe that any carrier that I have travelled with has got the perfect mix of ingredients for a truly superior First Class experience. I think that there are three main ingredients: ground facilities, seat and customer service.
Ground Services
1)Turkish - Although the F departure lounge in IST is no show stopper, the arrival and departure escort service (so to speak) and the Mercedes S-Class IST-hotel return transfer really does make you feel like a true VIP!!!
2)Thai - The escort from curbside right upto the aircraft, the BKK lounge and BKK Spa, and formerly the old limo hotel to airport transfer
3)Lufthansa - The First Class Terminal feels just so exclusive and the Porsche Cayenne/Mercedes S-Class transfer to the aircraft
Seat
1) Cathay Pacific - Wide, long and private
2) ANA - Width and length on an airline that I never thought I'd fly (let alone in First)
3) Thai Airways - great seat with a electronically moveable buddy seat. I'll never forget Mrs TEX277 trying to eat her caviar as I was making her seat go backwards and forwards!
Customer Service
1) Thai - Impeccable on the ground at BKK and great in the air - although I gather others have had poor experiences in the air.
Others - I was about to put Singapore Airlines second here but they are in my bad books at the minute for how they handled Mrs TEX277 after she missed her 77W LHR-SIN flight recently. Bunch of prima donnas!
Aug 11, 2009, 7:06 am
#34
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Many thanks for this excellent report, TEX277. It really resurrected the urge to go to HK again - in CX First of course if I only could!
Also appreciate your comments on the NZ long-haul C service. I had heard good things about them before, and enjoyed their crew on the Trans-Tasman. I think attitude-wise, NZ and CX could make a great fit.
Also appreciate your comments on the NZ long-haul C service. I had heard good things about them before, and enjoyed their crew on the Trans-Tasman. I think attitude-wise, NZ and CX could make a great fit.
Aug 12, 2009, 1:32 pm
#39
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Copenhagen
Posts: 44
Thank you for a very fine trip report ^! Having lived in China, I have had my fair share of both lukewarm beer and Chinese domestic flights. Always nice to read a report from there!
However, a bit surprised to see the tray service in F on the SFO sector. Is that the norm with UA?
However, a bit surprised to see the tray service in F on the SFO sector. Is that the norm with UA?
Aug 12, 2009, 6:27 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: Mlife Plat,Total Rewards Diamond, UA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz 5*, Avis Presidents C
Posts: 264
Great trip report! I was trying to decide between flying Air New Zealand in business premeir or United in First on my next major award redemption and you pushed me firmly into the side of wanting to take NZ. Not that your trip on UA in first seemed bad. I can't wait. Thanks for taking the time to document everything and include such great photos.
Aug 12, 2009, 7:22 pm
#41
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Texas and Scotland
Programs: EXP AA.
Posts: 828
Many thanks for posting this TR, I very much enjoyed it. I went to Vegas three months ago. I think my whole weekend budget was about the cost of your meal. I'm getting seriously too thrifty in my old age.
Great Report Thanks.
Larry.
Great Report Thanks.
Larry.
Aug 18, 2009, 9:59 am
#42
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: PVG/SHA/LHR/FRA
Programs: LH Senator, BAEC Sliv
Posts: 12
Welcome to SHANGHAI!!!
Thank you for your interesting TR!
I was actually shocked by our "Bund Sightseeing Tunnel" when i firstly saw it by myself. What's that?
But as a strange thing, it's worth for a visit, anyway... Some people say they like it.
It's a good idea i think to have a try on the Metro system, which is soooooo cheap and you needn't mind the gap. I have almost become a fan of it...hehe
^ Well Done!!! Thanks!
Thank you for your interesting TR!
I was actually shocked by our "Bund Sightseeing Tunnel" when i firstly saw it by myself. What's that?
But as a strange thing, it's worth for a visit, anyway... Some people say they like it.It's a good idea i think to have a try on the Metro system, which is soooooo cheap and you needn't mind the gap. I have almost become a fan of it...hehe
^ Well Done!!! Thanks!
Last edited by zouzy; Aug 18, 2009 at 10:05 am
Aug 30, 2009, 2:33 am
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: BNE
Posts: 2,622
Again, many thanks for all of the feedback! ^
I had a chat with my wife last night just after she'd flown HKG-PVG in Business on Shanghai Airlines (I flew PVG-HKG with them). I was surprised, especially when you consider the other *A airline lounges, that at HKG FM Business passengers gain admission to Cathay's lounge.
I had a chat with my wife last night just after she'd flown HKG-PVG in Business on Shanghai Airlines (I flew PVG-HKG with them). I was surprised, especially when you consider the other *A airline lounges, that at HKG FM Business passengers gain admission to Cathay's lounge.
Nov 5, 2009, 9:01 am
#45
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 251
Thanks for the great trip report. Looked like a lot of fun!!
I would love to eat at Robuchon - I have his cookbook and am a great fan. I thought that caviar as an amuse bouche was a bit unoriginal but that probably works well in the US and especially in Las Vegas. The rest of the meal and menu options looked really great.
Thanks again!
I would love to eat at Robuchon - I have his cookbook and am a great fan. I thought that caviar as an amuse bouche was a bit unoriginal but that probably works well in the US and especially in Las Vegas. The rest of the meal and menu options looked really great.
Thanks again!