A week in Phuket
Jul 22, 2007 | 6:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: AA,UA,CX
Posts: 250
A week in Phuket
Well, here we go again. Business n Orlando is weak so we have been advised to take some time off to help. OK, off I am to Thailand, twicw in a little more than 2 months. Last november, during my Thanksgiving break in Phuket, I got terrible food poisoning, 3 days in bed with fever over 100. Better luck this time, I hoped. I have been to Phuket 15 times and the reason I still go has a name and a surname, a stunner I met online and I let go: the biggest mistake of my life, especially when I found out she got marrried with a FARANG and has a baby. Good Luck to her.
I found a reasonable fae to phuket with CX, I booked an award wyth AA in F and I was ready. I wanted to try Asiana but I decided to maximize my miles with CX as I have booked already 2 more flights with them, LAX-MNL and JFK-HKT, hoping to upgrade to new business class seat later in the year.
AA MCO-MIA
AIRBUS 300
There are great rrips report, but 2 stands out(for me at least) Mr TEXT 277 and LUCKYCOINS9876( HOPE i AM RIGHTT).I arrived to MCO at 1.00 pm for a 4.00 pm flight. The check in lady, very nice misread my ticket and the conection time so she tried to book me on a nonstop to LAX which was closed already. She thought I had only 40 minutes connection in MIA, but I had over 2 hours. Anyway I did not say anything and she booked me on an earlier flight out of MIA . The MCO-MIA was delayed due to the ramp being closed. Eventually we left 1 hour late. Short hop, nothing to say, a couple of gin-tonic helped me spent the time.
MIA-LAX 283
767-300 ER
Once again the flight was delayed 30 minutes due to late arrival. I was booked originally to 7.45 pm flight, but thanks to the mistake of the CSA I was not flying on a 767 rather than a 737-800. It had an Internationa Business Class, it is the same aircraft AA uses for flight to GIG and he second flight DFW-LGW, not bad.Flight was full in both sections. A drink was offerd, but is was warm "champagne", actually 2 drinKS.We took off and the food service started. Gin-tonics and warm nuts, followed but a cold app and a salad. I did not enjoy the lemon dressing. As entree I opted for the beef but as soos as I realized they did not have enough I told the FA I did not mind the ravioli. What a mistake. As an Italian(sorry no offence) I rarely eat pasta outside Italy and I should have followed my rule. Pasta was like glue and when the FA asked me whether I enjoyed I did not have thw heart to tell her. More gin tonica and brandy took theit toll and I went to sleep. I did not use the DVD. The flight was very quick, made enjoyble by the FAs. Anyway the only bad situation was caused by the gentlem sitting across the aisle from me. He played with his huge, long feet, almost as long as an alligator tail. He walked bare feet all over the place, then he caressed them, cleaned and ate his dinner, without washing his hands.
The CX flights to follow
I found a reasonable fae to phuket with CX, I booked an award wyth AA in F and I was ready. I wanted to try Asiana but I decided to maximize my miles with CX as I have booked already 2 more flights with them, LAX-MNL and JFK-HKT, hoping to upgrade to new business class seat later in the year.
AA MCO-MIA
AIRBUS 300
There are great rrips report, but 2 stands out(for me at least) Mr TEXT 277 and LUCKYCOINS9876( HOPE i AM RIGHTT).I arrived to MCO at 1.00 pm for a 4.00 pm flight. The check in lady, very nice misread my ticket and the conection time so she tried to book me on a nonstop to LAX which was closed already. She thought I had only 40 minutes connection in MIA, but I had over 2 hours. Anyway I did not say anything and she booked me on an earlier flight out of MIA . The MCO-MIA was delayed due to the ramp being closed. Eventually we left 1 hour late. Short hop, nothing to say, a couple of gin-tonic helped me spent the time.
MIA-LAX 283
767-300 ER
Once again the flight was delayed 30 minutes due to late arrival. I was booked originally to 7.45 pm flight, but thanks to the mistake of the CSA I was not flying on a 767 rather than a 737-800. It had an Internationa Business Class, it is the same aircraft AA uses for flight to GIG and he second flight DFW-LGW, not bad.Flight was full in both sections. A drink was offerd, but is was warm "champagne", actually 2 drinKS.We took off and the food service started. Gin-tonics and warm nuts, followed but a cold app and a salad. I did not enjoy the lemon dressing. As entree I opted for the beef but as soos as I realized they did not have enough I told the FA I did not mind the ravioli. What a mistake. As an Italian(sorry no offence) I rarely eat pasta outside Italy and I should have followed my rule. Pasta was like glue and when the FA asked me whether I enjoyed I did not have thw heart to tell her. More gin tonica and brandy took theit toll and I went to sleep. I did not use the DVD. The flight was very quick, made enjoyble by the FAs. Anyway the only bad situation was caused by the gentlem sitting across the aisle from me. He played with his huge, long feet, almost as long as an alligator tail. He walked bare feet all over the place, then he caressed them, cleaned and ate his dinner, without washing his hands.
The CX flights to follow
Jul 24, 2007 | 5:17 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: AA,UA,CX
Posts: 250
A week in Phuket
CX 881 LAX-HKG
747-400
Having checked on line it was an easy thing to get my BPs at LAX.I asked the GA to put me on an earlier flight but everything was booked solid. So I went to Cathay lounge, which is rum by the airport and it is used by many other airlines.I checked my emails, spend a couple of hours and them made my way to gate 120. The aircraft was not there and one of the agent had a really worried face. Eventually we left 30 minutes late.Boarding, I found out I got upgraded to Business(number one). Having experienced that class before I was looking forward to being pampered. I was escorted to my seat, offered a glass of champagne. I had a window seat but the FA let me change for an aisle and we were 2 in a row of 3, with a middle seat empty.Anothet glass of champagne after take off and soon dinner service started. We left at 2.20 am. To be honest food was nothing to brag about, it was good but not terrific. I work for a hotel company and I have been lucky enough to have tasted food by great chefs, including 3 chefs with Michlin stars. Strangely enough the beste ever dinner I had was on BA LGW NAP over 10 years ago. Snacks were left in the galley, the usual stuff. FAs came around throughout the night checking and offering drinks. On he negative side, a couple hours of turbulence just passed the KAMCHATKA. Breakfast was very tasty, I had noodles and dim sum, smoothie, sliced fruit. All in all a good flight with good FAs and a great service.
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL
This is my favorite airport, better than Chiangi just because it is newer. Cathay lounge is great, I had a refreshing shower, a glass of water and headed to my BKK flight.
HKG-BKK
747-400
Upon desembarking I noticed a Cathy rep holding a sign with my name. I approached her and she gave me a new boarding pass, guess what, another upgrade(number 2) to BUSINESS. The flight was a short hop, a little over 2 hours. I had a Finnish gentleman next to me who drsnk the whole time, at least 5 or 6 Chardonneys. I really wanted to join him but I had taken a medicine earlier. The flight was good, nice FAs.
747-400
Having checked on line it was an easy thing to get my BPs at LAX.I asked the GA to put me on an earlier flight but everything was booked solid. So I went to Cathay lounge, which is rum by the airport and it is used by many other airlines.I checked my emails, spend a couple of hours and them made my way to gate 120. The aircraft was not there and one of the agent had a really worried face. Eventually we left 30 minutes late.Boarding, I found out I got upgraded to Business(number one). Having experienced that class before I was looking forward to being pampered. I was escorted to my seat, offered a glass of champagne. I had a window seat but the FA let me change for an aisle and we were 2 in a row of 3, with a middle seat empty.Anothet glass of champagne after take off and soon dinner service started. We left at 2.20 am. To be honest food was nothing to brag about, it was good but not terrific. I work for a hotel company and I have been lucky enough to have tasted food by great chefs, including 3 chefs with Michlin stars. Strangely enough the beste ever dinner I had was on BA LGW NAP over 10 years ago. Snacks were left in the galley, the usual stuff. FAs came around throughout the night checking and offering drinks. On he negative side, a couple hours of turbulence just passed the KAMCHATKA. Breakfast was very tasty, I had noodles and dim sum, smoothie, sliced fruit. All in all a good flight with good FAs and a great service.
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL
This is my favorite airport, better than Chiangi just because it is newer. Cathay lounge is great, I had a refreshing shower, a glass of water and headed to my BKK flight.
HKG-BKK
747-400
Upon desembarking I noticed a Cathy rep holding a sign with my name. I approached her and she gave me a new boarding pass, guess what, another upgrade(number 2) to BUSINESS. The flight was a short hop, a little over 2 hours. I had a Finnish gentleman next to me who drsnk the whole time, at least 5 or 6 Chardonneys. I really wanted to join him but I had taken a medicine earlier. The flight was good, nice FAs.
Last edited by zagorsky; Jul 24, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Jul 24, 2007 | 5:47 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: AA,UA,CX
Posts: 250
A week in Phuket
BKK-HKT-BKK
AIR ASIA
737-300
This is the first time I was scared to board an aircraft. I only paid $75 so I did not expect much. The 737 was very old, paint peeling off and the interion was even worse. A guy, maybe an ingenering was fixing the front wheel. We left 30 minutes late and in no time we were in Phuket. A good thing the 2 FAs were very nice. It is only a short flight 1 hour and I slept half of it. The starngest thing, still now I do not know if ot was dream or a real announcement, but I remember somebody said: We are proud to fly on this saircraft because this was on Charles Linderbergh shortlist to fly to Paris; He chose the Spirit of St Louis as it was nore confy"The flight back was on a newer 737, uneventful. The only problem we left 2 hours late due to a huge storm in Phuket that morning. Air Asia is a cheap way to get to your destination unless you fly on that plane, scary.
PHUKET-PATONG
The bad thing once you arrive to Phuket the flight from BKK takes less than from the airport to your hotel in Patong. The hotel was nice, nothing fancy, $50 including breakfast. I wanted to stay at the Sheraton Laguna but I decided to be in the centre of the nightlife. I had a very good time, the lowlight or highlight I do not know: 3 girls eating huge roaches and they convenced a coupleof Western guys to try them and a ladyboy kissing a(DRUNK LIKE A MONSTER) GUY. I had a huge lobster for 1500 bath.
AIR ASIA
737-300
This is the first time I was scared to board an aircraft. I only paid $75 so I did not expect much. The 737 was very old, paint peeling off and the interion was even worse. A guy, maybe an ingenering was fixing the front wheel. We left 30 minutes late and in no time we were in Phuket. A good thing the 2 FAs were very nice. It is only a short flight 1 hour and I slept half of it. The starngest thing, still now I do not know if ot was dream or a real announcement, but I remember somebody said: We are proud to fly on this saircraft because this was on Charles Linderbergh shortlist to fly to Paris; He chose the Spirit of St Louis as it was nore confy"The flight back was on a newer 737, uneventful. The only problem we left 2 hours late due to a huge storm in Phuket that morning. Air Asia is a cheap way to get to your destination unless you fly on that plane, scary.
PHUKET-PATONG
The bad thing once you arrive to Phuket the flight from BKK takes less than from the airport to your hotel in Patong. The hotel was nice, nothing fancy, $50 including breakfast. I wanted to stay at the Sheraton Laguna but I decided to be in the centre of the nightlife. I had a very good time, the lowlight or highlight I do not know: 3 girls eating huge roaches and they convenced a coupleof Western guys to try them and a ladyboy kissing a(DRUNK LIKE A MONSTER) GUY. I had a huge lobster for 1500 bath.