Thanksgiving in the Maldives via Etihad, Malaysia A380 and British A380 First Class
Dec 8, 2013, 1:23 pm
#166
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
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And, when a menu mentions 'tomato' on the pizza 'in much of Europe', it's talking about the sauce and not yummy slices of tomato (or cherry tomatoes).
Dec 8, 2013, 2:15 pm
#167
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Racine, WI/VCE
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[QUOTE=SFO777;21912566]Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What a beautiful and spacious newish terminal...
And a beautiful picture of a dual EXP/ One World Emerald couple!
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What a beautiful and spacious newish terminal...
And a beautiful picture of a dual EXP/ One World Emerald couple!
Dec 8, 2013, 8:45 pm
#170
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Thanks Crampedin13A. Yeah, that last one should be fun. 
Thanks tng11. Great use of those AA miles. ^
Sounds like a great itinerary, all except that last one.
Hopefully, your A380 will actually fly that day.
LOL. Will keep you posted. 
Thanks very much amaroo. Fun, fun, fun on the BA board.
Thanks ffI for all your comments. Yeah, we use that small L lav but no where near as nice as the bigger one.
I applied online a few days before we left. App took a couple of minutes and the visa was emailed 5 minutes later. There was no cost.
http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainf...2?locale=en_US
Thanks very much Eric. Yeah, BA and I are just not made for each other. As long as the BA A380 flies, you should be fine.
Ah. So that's the deal and not just a catering thing. Now I know. 
Thanks Francis. Gosh no, I could have pulled a SHF and sampled them all.
Thank you Moomba.
Thanks olybeast. Hope you can enjoy MH. It's a great product.
Thanks DC777Fan. Indeed, it was an AOWISC roundtrip fare. So we still have a return (under the old rules) to use sometime next year.
Yes, not all A346s have Wifi. Hopefully, yours will have it.
The MLE lounge is indeed airside and a quick 2 minute walk to the EY gate.
LOL. Thanks very much MrDplus.
Looked great but I'm really not sure how Mrs. SFO got that Emerald on her BP as she doesn't even have status.
Thank you DutchGuy.
Thanks greendx. Enjoy your MH flight.
Hopefully, your A380 will actually fly that day.
1. The 77W from JFK has wifi, but the 346s are better (12 F not 8)
2. There is a smaller lav up front for emergencies on the left, but I always get 1K / 2K as it is the best location.
3. Agree. The wine list is so so but the food is better.
Feels like they knew local food but not wine from abroad.
I must have had 5-6 of the Billicart-Salmon before I knew it.
2. There is a smaller lav up front for emergencies on the left, but I always get 1K / 2K as it is the best location.
3. Agree. The wine list is so so but the food is better.
Feels like they knew local food but not wine from abroad.
I must have had 5-6 of the Billicart-Salmon before I knew it.
http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainf...2?locale=en_US
Great report on MH and the A380. I was planning on including that flight on one of my returns from SEA next year but was too slow booking it on a reasonable CMB fare. You snooze you lose, I guess.. Maybe one day I'll find an F award seat.
I'm really apprehensive about your day with BA and their A380 as I AM flying LAX-LHR in January. Your claim BA supplants UA makes my stomach turn a little. At least I have the QF and EK whales right after it, so maybe my trip won't be completely ruined..
One other thing, nice reflection in the IFE on takeoff...
Eric
I'm really apprehensive about your day with BA and their A380 as I AM flying LAX-LHR in January. Your claim BA supplants UA makes my stomach turn a little. At least I have the QF and EK whales right after it, so maybe my trip won't be completely ruined..
One other thing, nice reflection in the IFE on takeoff...
Eric
SFO777, great to see the MH First, it's a ways better than what I had imagined.
I've been trying to find different F for Mama SHF, she's been saying I'm bored of CX F lol
This at least looks ok for their taste
Satay, is KUL catered, they make those really tasty. I know for a fact that the HKG-KUL satay are double-catered, not sure about LHR/CDG though.
Meal/Snacks overall looks good except the pizza, is the appetizers only one option per guest?
Or you can go for multiple like most other F products?
I've been trying to find different F for Mama SHF, she's been saying I'm bored of CX F lol
This at least looks ok for their taste
Satay, is KUL catered, they make those really tasty. I know for a fact that the HKG-KUL satay are double-catered, not sure about LHR/CDG though.
Meal/Snacks overall looks good except the pizza, is the appetizers only one option per guest?
Or you can go for multiple like most other F products?
Thanks for sharing this amazing TR! You answered a lot of questions I have for our upcoming trip to MLE. I'm assuming you did a CMB AOWISC fare home? Creative routing to use the KUL-LHR flight!
We're scheduled for a private charter at the moment on our IAD-AUH later this month, so hoping it holds out! EY's social media team told me we'd have wifi on our flight, so I guess some of the 346's have it?
I was also excited to see pictures of the contract lounge at MLE for the first time--was wondering what it was like and it definitely looks better than I expected.... Was the lounge airside? We have the 1130pm departure, so we're looking at probably 4.5+ hours in MLE before boarding, and as I understand it counters don't open that early...
We're scheduled for a private charter at the moment on our IAD-AUH later this month, so hoping it holds out! EY's social media team told me we'd have wifi on our flight, so I guess some of the 346's have it?
I was also excited to see pictures of the contract lounge at MLE for the first time--was wondering what it was like and it definitely looks better than I expected.... Was the lounge airside? We have the 1130pm departure, so we're looking at probably 4.5+ hours in MLE before boarding, and as I understand it counters don't open that early...
Yes, not all A346s have Wifi. Hopefully, yours will have it.
The MLE lounge is indeed airside and a quick 2 minute walk to the EY gate.
Looked great but I'm really not sure how Mrs. SFO got that Emerald on her BP as she doesn't even have status.
Thank you DutchGuy.
Thanks greendx. Enjoy your MH flight.
Last edited by SFO777; Dec 8, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Dec 9, 2013, 5:30 am
#171
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1
What great reports and pictures. MH First on the 380 I agree is really pretty good. Staff are usually excellent though the caviar service is not a patch on Cathay. When are you going to post your BA A380 pictures and service account? We recently flew back BA First A380 back from HKG and it was trully dreadful so looking forward to your account. Best regards.
Dec 9, 2013, 12:31 pm
#173
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,177
Great continuation of your TR SFO777 ^
The MH cabin review was excellent and looks lovely. A bit 'boxy' looking but I like that and the colour scheme also looks nice.
However..............who designed the galley and placing it in that position right next to FC and facing east to west as you say
The window seats look like they have a 'blank'. Do you have to lean forward much to see out?
The MH cabin review was excellent and looks lovely. A bit 'boxy' looking but I like that and the colour scheme also looks nice.
However..............who designed the galley and placing it in that position right next to FC and facing east to west as you say
The window seats look like they have a 'blank'. Do you have to lean forward much to see out?
Dec 9, 2013, 6:18 pm
#174
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: London
Programs: VS, BA, AA, IHG, HH, SPG
Posts: 186
What a cracking trip report!
Your great effort is much appreciated, but making me very envious
Fantastic pics and a nice writing style, looking forward to reading lots of your other TRs now.
Your great effort is much appreciated, but making me very envious
Fantastic pics and a nice writing style, looking forward to reading lots of your other TRs now.
Dec 9, 2013, 11:34 pm
#175
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Not arriving at cavernous T5 is apparently the trick for a quick exit. It was no more than 10-12 minutes from the moment we stepped off the plane until we had cleared customs and were in the arrivals hall. Unfortunately, our usual driver was stuck in traffic and at least 40 minutes out. So we hopped into a taxi and headed into the City.
To the newly renovated Corinthia Hotel on Whitehall Pl near the Thames and Parliament.
Great staff at the front desk and we were upgraded to a beautiful Executive Room on the 2nd floor...
The view from Room 201...
To the newly renovated Corinthia Hotel on Whitehall Pl near the Thames and Parliament.
Great staff at the front desk and we were upgraded to a beautiful Executive Room on the 2nd floor...
The view from Room 201...
Dec 9, 2013, 11:34 pm
#176
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After we freshened up, we headed out to the flagship Burberry store on Regent Street, one of two stores on Mrs. SFO's London checklist.
Check.
And into another taxi to the Savoy.
A drink in the classic American Bar and then dinner at Gordon Ramsay's Savoy Grill. Great atmosphere but terrible food. I'm thinking his empire is now too big for consistent quality food.
We checked out and met our drive at 9:45AM for the short drive to #2 on the shopping list for this trip.
Swim and resort wear boutique Heidi Klein just off of Sloane Square in Chelsea.
OK, this might take a while.
After a successful hour, we stopped in across the lane at CocoMaya for tea and a bite.
Check.
And into another taxi to the Savoy.
A drink in the classic American Bar and then dinner at Gordon Ramsay's Savoy Grill. Great atmosphere but terrible food. I'm thinking his empire is now too big for consistent quality food.
We checked out and met our drive at 9:45AM for the short drive to #2 on the shopping list for this trip.
Swim and resort wear boutique Heidi Klein just off of Sloane Square in Chelsea.
OK, this might take a while.
After a successful hour, we stopped in across the lane at CocoMaya for tea and a bite.
Dec 10, 2013, 1:21 am
#177
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New York City
Programs: UA: 1K, Hyatt: Explorist and Marriott: LF Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,268
100% agree with you on Ramsay's food, the quality of his food has massively deteriorated.
I loved Petrus when it was ran by Marcus Wareing. The service was excellent and the food was top notch. However I returned to Petrus when it re-opened and lets just say I wont be returning to the Ramsay empire anytime soon~~
Dec 10, 2013, 10:25 am
#178
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC, AA, Emirates, Hilton, Hyatt, Taj Hotels
Posts: 2,346
SFO777
100% agree with you on Ramsay's food, the quality of his food has massively deteriorated.
I loved Petrus when it was ran by Marcus Wareing. The service was excellent and the food was top notch. However I returned to Petrus when it re-opened and lets just say I wont be returning to the Ramsay empire anytime soon~~
100% agree with you on Ramsay's food, the quality of his food has massively deteriorated.
I loved Petrus when it was ran by Marcus Wareing. The service was excellent and the food was top notch. However I returned to Petrus when it re-opened and lets just say I wont be returning to the Ramsay empire anytime soon~~
I hate the idea of all this celebrity chef nonsense. If I'm expected to pay these idiotic prices then I'd expect the maestro in question be sweating and swearing over a hot stove in the kitchen. Aything less is a bit of a con IMHO.
Thankfully Ramsay has now been evicted from Claridges so it's safe to eat there again now.
Dec 10, 2013, 11:20 am
#179
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Posts: 2,005
Burberry Regent Street is stunning but doesn't have the staff that Bond Street does. It's a little soulless, although often has more choice in the sale.