Alright a quick flight check on AY91:
1) CHeckin - Area S. The poorly sign posted airport make it hard to find the counters, but my limo managed to called ahead and drop me at the correct entrance. There were a few counters opened, but I think there were only 20 J Class pax goign from BKK-HKG and there were no one lining up. Checkin took around 5 minutes and the agent wrote up a J Class CIP (contract lounge) invitation to me. I pointed out I am Emerald and she gave me a F Class invitation. I also asked for the Priority tags, Xmas tags and any AY products.
2) Lounge.
No sign post to show you where the lounge is. YOu ahve to go down 1 level to Level 3 (at the spilt between E and F Piers)
The F Class CIP lounge is actually a Priority Pass Lounge (which I have access anyway). It is also used by QF/BA/UA as well. A small selection of food, no satays but some disgusting pork balls on skewers. There is a fridge with Ice Cream (BUDS).
I moved to the CX lounge after that and they told me a F Class lounge are under construction next door. There are some dim sums, pastries, sandwiches, the usual drinks selections. Decor is the Wing style with white marble. Plenty of desktop computers
I jsut walked past the construction site of the BA/QF lounge. Apparently it cost them 39,321,178.356 THB for the fitout.
Boarding
The security are now located at the beginning of each piers. Which imo is better than the stupid system in Don Muang (getting screen twice)
You have to go down a ramp to Level 2 for boarding. BAsically after the validate the BP you are thrown into a holding pen until boarding commences
Cabin.
On the OH-LGC, the J Class cabin are 2/2/2 on the first row and the rest is 2/3/2. 1A and 1C decided not to turn up and I was in 1D. So I helped myself to pictures. The BEST J Class seat on the plane is definitely 1D with plenty of legroom. A Magazine trolley is placed in front but there are so much room and it didn't cause any problems.
Toilets are stocked with the amenity also with sergio T perfume and a nice water mist spray. (however I cannot believe someone in BKK must've done a number 2 and the cleaners didn't even bother to plush it!!! and they just place the disposable cover on the toilet seat!)
The MD11 is really interesting. It is definitely feeling really retro (the FA light controls are manual with the turning button for dimming the cabin. Just behind the forward J Cabin is the IFE centre where a small room is boxed in with the MAS (IFE) equipment and a special armchair for the ISM
The circle window on the doors are really unique and they don't have a blind cover, instead and turning circle whereby it turns completely black
Overhead lockers are also strange (really box feel).
Overall the cabin looks fresh and I like the bright blue colour scheme.
There is a LCD on the bulkhead showing the airshow ( in 4 languages! - Thai, English, Finnish, Chinese - Traditional)
Cabin Crew:
Service is pretty good although not your typical CX/SQ type, but more European and they are not like the annoying QF surly service. They know they have limitations (eg. age of planes) but they try really hard to make ur service experience really count.
Food:
This is a major let down. The appentiser were some prawn and smoked fish salad with pomelo, too salty for my liking. THe main course was Beef Massaman Curry - really chewy and spicy. and Cream Salmon with potato.
The dessert was a lime moouse cake which was disgusting.
However the Champange was really good - Laurent Perrier!
The glass and cultery are really interesting! Especially the knife (like a butter spread) the wine glass does take tiem to get used to. They also decant their wine as well!
Espresso Coffee was available but average quality.
Other Service Amenity:
PSP was available but u need to ask for it (as I saw a bag saying FINNAIR - PSP lying in the galley so I asked)
Linen Pillows and also a Duvet were available. Must say it is really good and I used it as a mattress pad.
Seat:
During taxi, landing and standby, the seats are locked so u can't play around with it. I actually really like the seat and IMO it is better than the CX/QF SLope type of seats which I am accustomed to. In bed mode it provides ample room (Both Arm rest are retracted FULLY flushed to the seat - unlike the hopeless Skybed where around 0.5 inch comes up) However the controls are harder to use and less customise compare to QF and CX.
Also there is a safety feature whereby if ur tray table is up they won't allow u to fully recline (prob a smart thing as the table arm rest also goes fully down!
Some people said the seat is too hard, I find it jsut right. Much better than Skybeds whereby the paddings are pretty weak ( I can feel the metal bars in the seat!!)
The linen blanket is definitely the winner! as the CX J blanket is hopeless!
Overall was a plesant experience except for the catering. I really enjoyed it and will try it again if the price is right!
Also we had a really good gate on arrival (16 I recall) and I took the e-channel and had no luggage. Was basically out from gate to the airport express train in less than 10 minutes!
I took like 70 photos so if anyone is interested please let me know.