Part 3

Route: HKG-BKK
Airline: Emirates
Aircraft: 3 Class 777-300
Seat: 7K (moved to 6K when door closed)
Flight number: EK385
Class of service: Business
Scheduled departure time: 22:25
Scheduled arrival time: 00:05+1

24 hours before departure, I logged onto Emirates’ website to perform online check-in. I entered my details as requested to be informed that I could not OLCI as my ‘e-ticket requires manual verification’. I expressed dissatisfaction that caught Mrs TEX277’s attention and she began ribbing me that they had twigged onto one of my dodgy tickets. I assured her that this one was legit and that I had no idea as to why manual verification was required. It was interesting to note the enthusiasm with which she sensed my holiday (that took literally 10 months to plan) was being dealt such a fatal blow so close to the start. I politely reminded her that it would only take one phone call to cancel her ticket home.

The next day we watched The Dark Knight (ironically it includes footage of Batman on top of the IFC in Hong Kong) we spend a couple of hours watching TV at a friend’s house with whom Mrs TEX277 is going to spend pretty much the rest of August. As time passed, I realised exactly how much I am going to miss her and seriously considered cancelling my plans and spending some more time with her.

After kissing her goodbye, I boarded the A11 service to Chep Lap Kok. Upon arrival, I found T2 to be a very quiet terminal at an otherwise busy airport.


I saw the Emirates check-in desks a mile away and made straight for them. A lady greeted me and enquired whether I was in economy, business or first. Bless – I was dressed in (long) shorts and a t-shirt and would totally have understood if see had pointed me towards economy without question! She directed me to the business class counter (all of which were empty and there was only a small queue at economy – which I not really surprising as I arrived about 5-10 mins after the desks opened) where I was dealt with very quickly and efficiently. I believe that the reason why I could not check-in online was that the agent wanted to see the credit card with which I had paid. With my BP and lounge invite in hand I headed for security. For such a large airport, the walk to security was quite lonely.

Formalities were soon over with, and I boarded the shuttle to the gates. As the Emirates lounge was located close to gate 60, I disembarked the first shuttle and crossed the platform to board the shuttle that served the far away gates. The signs lead me to the Emirates lounge where I presented my BP and lounge invite. As it had only been open for around 15 minutes before my arrival, there was only one other passenger in the lounge. I took the opportunity to take a few pictures and was delighted to discover that the champagne on offer was Veuve Cliquot NV (my personal NV favourite)! Five glasses later and I was nicely relaxed and ready for boarding.


I do not think that I have ever started a flight review with a conclusion, so please forgive me just this once. This was without doubt the best value that I have ever received for £150 from an airline!!! Allow me to elaborate:

After boarding was announced in the lounge, I made my way down to gate 66. There was no queue and I was soon being welcomed onboard by the crew.


I was directed to my seat and soon enough realised that this was no old style 777-300 as scheduled but the new 3 class 777-300. Rather than (what I call) a regional business class seat, these babies were the real deal. There was plenty of legroom and an angled lie flat seat. I was in seat 7K, located in the front (just two rows) business cabin in a 2-3-2 layout. Of the 10 seats in this section, there were only two passengers. I quick peer back into the rear business cabin indicated that that too was rather empty.


I received a pre-departure glass of Moët and set about becoming familiar with Emirates’ ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) system. I have never seen a seen so large in any cabin as the beauty facing me nor an control panel for the IFE as the one in my hand. There were so many options including at least one movie that was currently being shown in cinemas in Hong Kong. It also included the views from two camera; one placed looking straight down from the aircraft and one looking forward. As the flight time was only 2hr 11mins, I decided to set to the flight info channel. As passing FA confirmed that boarding was complete and I decided to relocate to seat 6K (as there was a missing window at seat 7K). Although 6K all three windows, allowing for some great viewing, its TV was located in the central console. Due to this, whilst still larger than most other airlines’ personal TV screens, the screen was not quite so large as that of the regular non-bulkhead seats.

Seeing that First was entirely empty (the original aircraft had no First), I enquired with a passing FA whether Emirates operated an onboard cash upgrade policy. He confirmed that they did but because they had no First catering onboard, it was not available on this flight. Out of curiosity, I enquired how much that would have cost on this HKG-BKK sector. He came back to me to confirm that the Business to First upgrade onboard would usually cost US$650 (IIRC – certainly $6xx anyway). As I had purchased a business class seat for literally £50 more than an economy seat, I figured that I already secured the best value. This was confirmed when he told me not to worry about it because they were going to look after me very well.

The FA did invite me up to First to have a look around at the exact time that we were scheduled to depart. I asked if we had time and he told me not to worry about it. I followed him beyond the curtain where we looked at the First seats (along with their personal drinks cabinet – nice touch) and chatted about them and how they compared to First seats that I had sampled. He invited me to come and have another look, take some pictures and try out the seat later during the flight.

Upon my return to me seat, I was given another glass of Moët. We pushed back and made the long taxi to the runway. It must have been around 30 minutes beyond scheduled departure time that engines began thrusting us down 07R. The climb out gave me a good view of Disneyland and Hong Kong Harbour before we flew straight over Hong Kong Island. We were at 33000ft before the fasten seatbelt signs were turned off.

A third glass of Moët was delivered along with some assorted nuts.


I gave my preferences for meal service and sat back and enjoyed the flight before supper was served.





It has to be said that they food was very good. I adore seafood and the appetiser really hit the spot. The caviar was a garnish but done somewhat more generously than I recall on our NZ flight between AKL-SIN a couple of years ago. The main was good too but let down by the rice as it was a little too firm. I opted out of the red bean cake (although it was already on my plate – and shown on the picture above) as it is not to my taste.

After the table was cleared away, I found the FA who had previously shown me the First cabin and asked whether it was ok to return to take a few pictures. He confirmed that it was fine and I made my way back into First. I reclined the seat to its fully flat position and made myself comfortable. I have not been on too many First or Business seats that accommodate my much preferred sleeping position as well that this seat did. I was able to lay face-down, hands under my head with my feet dangling over the end of the bed and with ample room too!


Upon my return to my Business seat, I reclined that into its angled lie-flat position and was amazed to discover that I could again take my preferred sleeping position on this seat too. I must admit that this angled bed did not actually feel slopey at all and I firmly believe would make for a fantastic night’s sleep.


All too soon, the descent into Bangkok commenced. I sought out the great FA and thanked hom for making the flight so enjoyable. I returned to my seat and at first enjoyed the light show on display outside. We were descending through a cloud layer with the landing lights on illuminating it, every few seconds the strobes would flash and light up the cloud and intermittently a flash of lightning would join in the extravaganza. After a couple of minutes, I realised that this Epileptic’s nightmare was doing my head no good whatsoever, especially after 5 glasses of Veuve Cliquot, 3 glasses of Moët and one glass of Port and averted my gaze!!!

The main screen in the centre of the bulkhead was showing the view from the forward facing camera whilst we landed. I was soon off the aircraft and making the long walk to immigration. I maintained my record of always locating myself in the slowest channel possible by walking straight up to what was evidently a trainee immigration official. Her processing of my passport and landing card felt like it was of an equivalent duration to the flight itself. Remembering my last (first) visit to this new Bangkok airport, I took a seat and waited for the carousel to begin. I was a little taken aback by how quickly it began and even more so when I realised my bag was sixth off. It took me 15 minutes from disembarkation to jumping into a taxi. Good stuff!

Ibis Siam Bangkok

Check in was quick enough as there was no queue waiting to check when I arrived at 01:00. The room itself was quite large and very clean and modern. For the £17 that I paid (I booked the larger room) for this hotel per night, it has to be one of the best in terms of value within Bangkok.


Bangkok

I woke up a little late (11:00) and did not leave the room until 14:00. Mad dogs and all of that! I eventually ventured out and headed south down Rajaprarop Road, past the Siam Centre, north up Phaya Thai Road before cutting along Si Ayuttaya Road to rejoin Rajaprarop Road and north to the ibis.


I made the mistake of entering a market and could not find the entrance from which I entered. It must have taken around 10 minutes of walking before I came across the Indonesian embassy (identified on my map) and was able to recommence my stroll.

More worthy of note, was that as I was heading north up Phaya Thai Road, I walked passed a parked police car with the officer standing beside it before noticing that the road on my side (i.e. southbound) was absolutely empty. I thought it was a bit strange and pulled out my camera to take a picture of a clear road in the centre of Bangkok. Before I could take that picture I heard sirens and then saw flashing lights. Sensing something was happening, I got my camera ready to begin filming by the roadside. The policeman noticed me and waved for me to get back from the road. I did so and I began filming. Within 10 seconds another man (non-uniformed and probably just a passing local) called at me to stop filming. I turned off my camera and watched what must have been around a 10 vehicle motorcade pass by with police at the front and read sandwiching several cream Mercedes (C or E class IIRC) cars, the first of which was flying a flag. Answers on a postcard!?

As I approached the ibis, I saw a restaurant tucked away just off of the main road. As I had not eaten that day, I ventured in and took a seat. I ordered a meal and a beer and they set me back less than 400Bhat (£7).


I had thought about ordering the 'Pork pun' for 90Bhat (£1.50) but figured that it was too expensive for a simple one-liner!