tezzer

At the risk of being banned for my negative thoughts and comments, as promised my thoughts on the KIN-LGW service.

Check in was fine, no queue at any desks, only a jobsworth in a high vis javket insisitng I stand at the front of the non existent queue, rather than in front of the Club World desk. Formalities completed, through the fast track security, and into the very impressive Kingston Lounge. Preferred it to the Pavillion at Gatwick, nice bar area, more TV's than you could shake a stick at and once boarding was called we were escorted to the front of the queue. Well, almost.

Once at the gate, there were around 7 or 8 wheelchairs, with people unable to get out of the chairs, never mind walk from the end of the finger to their seats. Some of these poor souls had to be levered from their wheelchairs with two or 3 pushing and grunting helpers, trying to move 350-400lbs of dead weight. Each of these invalids took around 5 minutes to board, with the rest of the passengers gathered behind, watching rather embarrasedly, at them losing whatever dignity they may have had. One poor gut had to be shoehorned onto the on board chair, but was too big to go down the aisle. Chaos, and while I have some sympathy for them, the cabin crew became increasingly frustrated that the boarding couldn't begin, eventually asking CW passegners to try and get around them, so we could make a start.

Pre take of Champers, and when asked if I would Like a newsparer I gave my standard witty reply, "not unless you have a Beano or a Dandy". "The Daily Mail is the nearest" was the witty response, but by taxi time, the CC mamber had brought me a kids pack, complete with colouring book, stickers and a few other bits to keep me ammused. Very good, a nice comical touch.

Chap next to me wanted to sleep, so putthe divider up, but the meal service came and the screen was up and down like a guillotine in the Bastille for half an hour or so, much to the chaps disgust.

Starter was great, but the Steak was the ugliest piece of meat I have ever seen, and the consistency of shoe leather, which was a shame, but ate some, and tried to get some sleep.

I am a mere 5'4" but there was NO WAY I could get comfortable on the bed, it was too restrictive in height and width, and managed only fitful sleep until an hour or so before breakfast, not impressed with that at all.

Arrival at LGW was fine, IRIS still working, and bags were delivered quickly enough, priority bags first too !

All in all, acceptable, but certainly nothing to write home about, and not I'm afraid a patch on a good Middle or Far Eastern carrier's service.

Still, up to Bronze, and climbing the ladder !

peterrabbit

Afraid it must be you, not the bed. I'm 6'1" and sleep like a baby in CW. (Although I do prefer F ;-)

I'd agree that BA steaks aren't good. LAN J beats that hands down - best steak I've had in the air.

littlefish

Thanks for sticking around Kezza. I do recognise the trip described, some good bits and some small frustrations (guillotine mode ).

The flat bed does not work for some, dunno why, but a good % of people just don't get comfy. It works for me and my wife and my folks ... so we are fine with it. Various VS vs BA threads cover this, the VS bed is really different and some love it, some hate it.

Anyway I sense some honour restored all round thru the good 'ol British sense of humour. ^

LTN Phobia

I'm just wondering, does Kingston route have something other than NGCW?The divider annoyances sound like they are the same, but the seat description sound rather different from the ones I have had.

When the bed is wide and long enough (I don't think at 5'4" NGCW seat would be too short) but just 'feels' uncomfortable due to being hard etc, ask for an extra blanket to use as an under-blanket. It improves the padding quite a bit.

Steaks on planes are rarely a reliably good choice. Even LX (usually really good with meals) managed to mess it up the other day, although the steak I tried on BA with plenty of trepidation worked out quite well.

Athlete95

The BA bed is an aquired taste. I sleep very well in CW but then again I can sleep pretty well in a WT seat! I'm 6 foot tall and an athletic build- I too find the bed a bit narrow but find it very comfy.

The BA steaks are a lottery too- some are really good and some are not, you either get a great steak or a piece of shoe-leather!

LadyB

On occasion, I've struggled to sleep in the CW bed and I'm 5 feet nothing and a fairly petite build.

I might try the duvet underneath me next time, and I'll report back if it helps.

Good to see you sticking around Tezzer

edi-traveller

I suppose to be completely accurate - Les Francais started using the Guillotine during the French Revolution which was stated by La Prise de La Bastille - i.e the prison was destroyed before the Guillotining began. And anyway I do believe the main Guillotine was situated in what is now Le Place de Concorde.

T8191

Hi, tezzer, and thanks for the comments. Having just done MBJ-LGW last week, the comparisons are interesting:

sunrisegirl

The KIN and MBJ flights both have very high number of wheelchair passengers. Generally in the 10-15 pax a flight range. I can recall one flight though where they were over 40.

Quite a few elderly passengers travel with us and they can be a litte unsteady on their feet, and we get quite a number with diabetes who have trouble walking long distances.

T8191

Thanks for the insight, SRG ... I'm forewarned for boarding congestion