The Photos
Well it had been 4 weeks since I last set foot on an aircraft so it was time to once again head out to London’s Heathrow airport to the home of BA terminal 5.
As you may recall the RTW ticket was parked in SIN in September and it was time to pick up the journey for the final 4 sectors. But first I had to get to SIN. A OW Award on AA did the trick and I was booked on to BA F to HKG and CX F to SIN. That is until CX decided that SIN doesn't deserve F anymore and pulled the 3 class from that route on the day I wanted to fly. I could have re-jigged things slightly and secured F all the way but that would mean another day off work. I simply could not justify that - even to feed my addiction.
I worked the better part of the day and headed out for my new 1 tube and HEX journey to the airport. I caught the 15:40 HEX and was at T5 by 16:05 where I made the long walk to the zone J desks at the other end of the terminal.
I was checked in quickly for my flight to HKG and headed off to security. The queues were very short and I would have been through in a couple of minutes except for Metal Woman. A woman who set off the metal detector was being wanded for several minutes. Meanwhile her x-ray items just sat at the end of the rollers holding up the rest of the items from being sent through. As a few of us started to gather one guy went to lift a tray off the dumbass machines and got told off. I said to him ‘you don’t need to do that can’t you see how efficient this new system is?’.
Eventually metal woman was let by and collected her stuff the rest of the trays started moving again. I went up to the white door and was invited into the CR. Inside I got the usual indifferent greeting BA gives to all their First class travellers. I went over to the dining area where I waited whilst about 5 staff members had a little chat. Eventually I was directed to a table and ordered a glass of champagne and a burger for my lunch.
No sooner had I got my Pol Roger when the phone rang and BA1A was waiting for me to guest him into the lounge. I went outside and escorted him in. The inner lounge dragon gave us some spiel about letting him in this time as he really should be on the same flight, which of course is bollox. It is about time that BA lounge staff actually knew the rules about access to their domains.
We had to call over a member of staff to get BA1A a drink as they seemed to be having another chat session oblivious to the fact that they actually had customers to attend to.
My burger was larger than I expected but I managed to eat it all whilst sucking down another glass of Pol Roger.
We then went out into the main part of the lounge and chatted while waiting for our flights. BA1A was first to depart and I had a glass of sparkling water to water down some of the alcohol I had been consuming.
When my flight showed as boarding I made my way down to the inter-terminal train to take the ride over to the B gates. On once again emerging from the subterranean world I walked to my gate and straight up to the fast track agent who checked and passport and BP and sent me onboard.
Flight BA25 LHR-HKG Seat 2A then 5K
Aircraft: 747-400
Departure time: 18:35
My jacket was taken and PJs and amenity kit were handed out. I was asked what I would like to drink. I had heard that the Cattier stuff was still on board in January but I decided to go with bubbles anyway. I was pleasantly surprised when the bottle of Pol Roger 1999 was brought out. A bowl of cashew and macadamia nuts were handed out after the drink.
The captain informed us of a delay of 25 minutes due to ATC and flight time of 11 hours. My glass was refilled not long after this.
The CSD came around introduced herself and gave us the menus for the flight. A while later while taxiing the dinner order was taken.
We eventually pushed back at 19:10 and crawled down to the take off end of the runway where we queued until 19:38 when we eventually took to the sky.
After the seat belt sign was turned off a drinks order was taken and I discovered that my IFE was stuffed again. This time all I was able to view were the looped programs. I also discovered that my overhead reading lights were inoperable. Just to top of the BA First service the IFE route map had us going to JNB and not HKG.
Despite the cabin being full, 14 of 14, the F purser insisted that I change seats with the man in 5K. I can only presume that it was a non-rev that I was kicking out.
With my drink of choice came a small plate of appetisers which seem to consist of the same handful of different options that are mixed and matched on each flight.
After I changed seat the dinner service began.
Dinner:
Starters:
Smoked duck with celeriac remoulade and a watercress with pomegranate salad
Butler’s Secret cheese and chive soufflé with caramelised apple chutney
Seasonal Soup – Cream of Jerusalem artichoke
Winter Salad – fresh winter salad with your choice of pomegranate dressing or creamy stilton dressing
Main:
Liam Tomlin’s roulade of chicken with parsley mash, roasted parsnips and red wine sauce
Soy-braised sea bass with steamed bok-choy and jasmine rice
Irish-style lamb shank stew with poached winter vegetables
Salad of warm wild mushrooms and confit of baby leeks with crumbled Cashel Blue cheese
Dessert:
Sticky toffee pudding with a date and pecan sauce
Coffee Mousse with mocha syrup
Seasonal Dessert – White chocolate mousse with rhubarb and redcurrants
Cheese Plate:
Cornish Camembert
White Stilton
Dovedale Blue
A basket of fresh fruit
Snacks:
Fragrant cauliflower and broccoli biriyani
Warm Brie and roast red pepper quiche with tomato compote
Classic chicken club sandwich
A selection of biscuits
A selection of cheese and fruit
Beverages:
Twinings Teas – Traditional English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Earl Grey or Pure Green
Twinings Fruit and Herb Infusions – Pure Camomile, Pure Peppermint, Lemon and Ginger or Blackcurrant, Ginseng and Vanilla
Coffee – Freshly roasted and ground, decaffeinated, espresso or cappuccino
Chocolates
Wines
Champagne
Pol Roger Brut 1999, Vintage Champagne
White
Meursault Les Clous 2006, Domaine Bouchard Pere et Fils
Backsberg Babylons Toren Viognier 2007, Paarl
Knappstein Ackland Vineyard Riesling 2007, Clare Valley
Red
Chateau Talbot 1996, Grand Crus Classe, Saint-Julien
Montes Alpha Syrah 2006, Apalta Vineyards, Colchagua Valley
Rosenvale Reserve Shiraz 2004, Barossa Valley
Dessert
Chateau Coutet 1998, Premier Cru Classe, Sauternes-Barsac
Warre’s 1988 Colheita Port
I started with the soufflé as I had never seen this offered on a flight before and wanted to see if they could pull it off. Well they did it was quite well done and tasty.
Next up I went with the chicken as I had eaten the lamb stew on my flight to JFK.
I saved room for some of the white chocolate mousse for dessert with an espresso.
I watched a movie after dinner and then went to the loo to clean my teeth prior to retiring. On the way one of the crew asked if I would like my bed made up. I agreed and when I got back to my seat my cocoon awaited. I settled in and slept for a good while and was eventually woken by the smell of warm croissants.
I fired up the IFE again to watch some TV shows and true to my BA IFE luck the screen kept going black every few minutes. I was asked if I would like some breakfast I said yes and an IFE that actually worked would be nice too.
Breakfast:
Starters:
Chilled fruit juice
An energising smoothie
A selection of yoghurts
A selection of cereals
Fresh seasonal fruit plate
Bakery:
A selection of breakfast pastries and rolls
Main:
English breakfast of scrambled eggs, grilled bacon, Cumberland sausage, sautéed mushrooms, tomato and Irish potato cake
Cheese and chive omelette with sautéed mushrooms and Irish potato cake
Waffles with apricot compote and toasted pecans
Beverages:
Twinings Teas – Traditional English Breakfast, Darjeeling, Earl Grey or Pure Green
Twinings Fruit and Herb Infusions – Pure Camomile, Pure Peppermint, Lemon and Ginger or Blackcurrant, Ginseng and Vanilla
Coffee – Freshly roasted and ground, decaffeinated, espresso or cappuccino
After breakfast I asked for a comments card I was really beginning to get peeved with the state of BA’s IFE offering.
The one and only hot towel for the flight was handed out just before landing.
After a long detour out past HKG, half way to the Philippines it seemed, we landed out 14:25.
I disembarked and made my way to the transfers desk to get my BP for the flight to SIN. I then joined a very long queue for transfer passenger security check. Although the queue was long it moved quite fast and I was up to the departure level at around 15:00.
I walked down to the Pier first class lounge and entered. I made a bee-line for the showers and asked for some deodorant from the agent before taking a nice warm shower.
After my shower I sat for a few minutes before needing to head out to my gate. On the way out I asked the agent if she was able to check that my bag made the connection. She informed me the bag was already on the plane. ^
I then walked down to the gate where boarding had already started. I was able to go straight up to the dedicated F/J entrance and onto the aircraft.
Flight CX711 HKG-SIN Seat 14A
Aircraft: 777
Departure time: 16:00
I walked onboard and sat at my seat and my jacket was promptly taken from me. I was offered champagne, orange juice, water or a cranberry cocktail from a tray of drinks. I was sitting supping on my champagne at 15:38 a little over an hour after pulling up to the gate on my previous flight, after having had a shower and freshening up. I just love HKG airport.
I noticed that the second row of seats on this configuration had more leg room due to the strange angle of the seat in front.
A hot towel was handed out on the ground and blankets and newspapers were offered.
We pushed back at 16:03 and the captain announced a flight time of 3 hours and 13 minutes.
After the seat belts sign was extinguished there was a cocktail service which started from the rear of the cabin. There were only around 10 people in business on this flight so that meant excellent and attentive service from the crew. The ISM came around and introduced herself and wished me a pleasant flight.
I opted for one of the CX signature drinks a Cloud Nine to go with my warm cashews.
Next up came the dinner service of 5 course plus pralines.
Dinner:
Starters:
Pan-fried prawns with roasted red and yellow peppers
Mixed salad served with citrus vinaigrette
Main Courses:
Lamb chops with leeks gravy steamed jasmine rice and Chinese mixed vegetables
Pan-fried ling fish with tomato concasse mashed potatoes, carrots, asparagus and French beans
Spinach and ricotta agnolotti with spinach cream sauce and root vegetables
Cheese and Dessert:
Cheese selection
Fresh seasonal fruit
Cherry cheesecake
Tea and Coffee
Pralines
Wine List:
Champagne:
Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne
White Wine:
Grand Enclos du Chateau de Cerons 2006
Moon Mountain Chardonnay 2007
Weinguter Wegler Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spatlese 2002
Red Wines:
Peter Lehmann Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Vieux Chateau Landon Cru Bourgeois 2005
Port:
Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2003
CX Signature Drinks:
Oriental Breeze – A sour-plum tea and cranberry juice based non-alcoholic drink with honey and fresh lemon juice and hint of rose water
Cloud Nine – A refreshing combination of Vodka, Cointreau and Sprite with a refreshing touch of lemon flavour
The prawns were quite tasty although a little on the tough side but the salad was OK.
I opted for the Lamb chops for the main which were really quite nice and went well with the Cabernet I was drinking with the meal.
I had some of the blue cheese and port prior to completely making a pig out of myself having the dessert and coffee.
After the meal a hot towel was given out. I listened to the looped music channels on the IFE and watched the sun set outside the window.
We landed at SIN at 19:34 and taxied up to our gate. There was a short queue at immigration and I was through to the baggage hall in around 5 minutes. I noted the carousel I needed and then went to the loo. On the way back to the designated carousel I noticed my bag had just exited the bowels of the airport.
I grabbed my bag and was out at the taxi rank all within 22 minutes of landing.
There was a lot of traffic on the way into the city and it took around 50 minutes to get to my hotel.
That is it for now I will be back soon with the next sector of my RTW from SIN to MEL.
The Photos