Journey –
HKG-SYD
Flight no. –
Qf128
Class –
First
Seat –
3A
It’s the final countdown!!! Well at least I am officially on the way home. I ask at the lounge if I can get my new BP but am informed that can only be done at the gate so I grab a glass of Piper and catch up on more AFF on the computers in the F section of the lounge. It is amazes me how much of a broadband addict I have become. I was lost in Cyprus without broadband and now without my little lappie! I really need to wean myself off this techno dependency.
Talking of which I was quite surprised/annoyed that the iPOd Touch could happily connect to PCCW (free wifi at HKG Airport) in the CX lounge but I am semi-forced to try and used BTOpenzone in the QF/BA lounge…
A minute before the flight is called I start to wander to the gate knowing that I need to sort out BPs etc. The whY queue is horrendous – I am so glad that I choose to travel in J or choose not to travel at all. Getting my new BP does not seem to be the simple process that I was expecting and I become a little nervous as multiple calls are made to sort it out.
Finally my F BP is handed over and I wander to the gate itself. I see a heap of BPs on the gate so I assume (rightly or wrongly) that there are a heap of Op-Ups or points upgrades coming through. My 3A seat is finally a great seat I think. Sure not as much space as 4A but still a decent window seat and not too close to 3E.
On board I am greeted with a glass of Charles Heidseck 1996 which is very nice and some dip that could be tuna or hommous or eggplant – but no almonds it seems. I get half a feeling that the Cabin Crew are not that interested in me as after asking what size PJs I want they then forget to get them. The couple in front of me seem to be taking up quite a lot of the crew’s time. After a second request for PJs (with no apology for missing me) I am the second person to get changed and in fact for once I note that pretty much the whole full cabin gets changed before take off.
We are soon airborne and shortly after take off they come round to take the meal orders. I am asked what wine I would like with my meal but put in a G&T request for before dinner first. I note that I am the only person to receive a pre-dinner drink! This is what I mean about the variable service in F on QF.
I decide to take a punt on the IFE which to my surprise seems to work acceptably after a little prodding. Dinner is very nice – possibly one of my best choices on this trip. The soup is very nice pumpkin and coconut with a sprinkle of fried shallots – 100% yum! I forget what the main course was (and given the state of my house at the moment the likelihood of finding the purloined menu is slim) but do recall being adequately satisfied. I watch a couple of movies and finally manage to grab about 3 hours of sleep waking just in time for breakfast.
Breakfast is a little disappointing – just a continental option
There is quite a queue for the change out of PJs but I manage to relax for the last 20 minutes of the flight. I have some great views of Manly as we land and note that the city side views are for the K pax.
We land and finally I am nearing home. I do my usual shimmy through duty free to pick up the Bombay Sapphire and Champers but am relatively slow going through immigration as although the queue is only 2 people they seem to be the slowest two people on earth. The bag wait is frustrating after such speed through arrivals on my other flights but in retrospect it isn’t as long as it seemed.
Quarantine though is the usual schmozzle and it takes at least 25 minutes to get through but eventually I am through and meeting my driver and then the car ride home.
This is only a brief visit home as we are off to Darwin this weekend…