golsquare

Hi All,

My first TR and I thought this was an appropriate one to start on since it ticks the boxes for MR, F experience and pics included, all gained from lessons learned after joining FT this year.

Of course I also had a reason to be in Asia and used some of my bmi cash and miles to get across to Asia and thought I'd return with Egyptair since F earns 300% and C earns 200% in destinations and status miles.

The only other reports I've seen have been the one by S Chui and another without pics on the middle east forum so thought I would add to the online literature

Our journey begins in BKK at Suvarnabhumi airport where the flight was scheduled to depart at 0100 hrs, the benefit of flying F on MS is of course Star Alliance access to the Thai First Class lounges which are terrific. It's a nice feeling as you walk in and like a bouncer at a nightclub they unclip the red rope and you walk to the First side of the lounge .... which actually felt a little more cramped than the business side. However, there was waiter service to the table and an excellent pad thai (pics)

Tom Yum Goong and Pad Thai
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

Thai FCL
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

I took a shower as well before they brought me to the Gate. At the gate itself, it was a bit of a free for all to get onto the plane with everyone heading for the door despite the preboarding announcements. This has happened on other flights in BKK as well so not really an MS thing.


It was a 777 for this flight and as noted previously MS does not serve alcohol on the plane which does not really bother me.

instead of Krug or Dom it was guava, apple or orange juice?
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

The seats are as described previously, 2 x 2 x 2 with non AVOD screen, quite wide and a pitch of 62 inches, much like the C class seat you would have found on most airlines probably about 10 years ago

12 seats in F, 4 were crew, rest regular pax
[url]http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/NQC8QAhci8SUxDWSclJAwQ?authkey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

The amenity kit was a nice bag and contained the usual Clarins branded toiletries and a t shirt and track pants navy combo

amenity kit
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

The cabin crew, were extremely friendly, making rounds to serve drinks and often checking with each seat if everything was alright and if anything else was needed. They are quite aware and proud of the association with Star Alliance and I found that quite nice.

Unfortunately, what let them down was the quality of the food. No menus were provided and what came out was quite poor

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/gerald...06851603074962

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

They came around with a trolley and you had a choice for your mains of beef, chicken pr fish. I chose the beef but it was really overcooked and tough meat as well. About the only good thing was desert which was ice cream cake.

The remainder of the flight was uneventful and I slept well on the flight before arrival in Cairo

Cairo airport is still a bit chaotic, I'm not sure if this is due to Terminal 3 or the usual state of things there. What was nice was that the F and C passengers left the plane first and had their own bus to the terminal. I was tranfserring though and we were brought to an arrivals area and made to wait till the rest of the plane had disembarked and got thru arrivals before we were bused from the transit holding pen in arrivals to the departure lounge. The business lounge in Cairo was quite unlike any I've been to before in that it's over one floor and just resembles a large cafeteria with country themed sections

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

no showers, very few toilets and smoky to boot even sitting in the non smoking area. Food was limited to a croissant or some soft cheese and soft drinks or coffee/tea. Free wifi is available which is a plus point but there is little else to recommend here. Departure was again by bus to the plane to my next stop AMS.

bus transfers
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

This is one of the new config A330s with modern angled lie flat business seats, AVOD, in seat power and seat massage. The cabin was less than half full for this flight.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/pho...ey=_hSp5rJi7Eo

again, the service and seats were great on this route but the food was not much to write about.

All in all, it was a pleasant experience on MS and if you adjust your expectations before flying, as a miles per dollar comparison, this is an excellent option.

stewardo

Great report - thank you very much for sharing.

Quick questions: How did you book First on one leg and Business on another? Was that through an agent? And did it drop the price from a straight First class fare? The pricing for Business does seem very good!

restlessinRNO

golsquare - Thank you for your trip report. As you note, you would have to adjust your expectations, particularly if you enjoy a glass of wine, flying F.

You may wish to correct your fourth photo link, as it currently does not work.

skywalkerLAX

I was considering very long if I should take advantage of the MS F fares ex FRA or not. I decided against it, there were many reports here on FT that didnt really encourage me.

Thanks for the report and all the pictures.

I think for myself it was the right decision to avoid MS. 1600 EUR are still alot of money and I rather fly somewhere nice in LH/TG C for that

directorguy_

You got lucky with the A332 to AMS, I believe it's usually an A321.
Many people like MS now because they charge the same amount for F other carriers do in C/J while earning *A miles.

golsquare

Thanks, I just called the London office of Egyptair and they were able to price the ticket directly. There is no first class as far as I know for the Cairo to European destinations flights but the overall price difference from an F and C ticket versus a C and C ticket was in the region of 100-150 pounds which I though was good value for an extra 4500 status and destinations miles + 25% gold bonus = 5625.

yeah the A332 was a flight change - good spot directorguy_ , fourth photo link being fixed and as said on previous TRs they are quite ok if you want to BYOB.

FLYGVA

Thanks for the report and the pictures.^

chanp

thanks for the report. the food didnt look so great

camsean

Thanks for the trip report. I've flown Egyptian a few times in Y and they aren't really anything to write home about in that cabin either.

They are usually cheap however

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

^^ thanks for the report!

Sweet Willie

ditto

pdrandel

I read a response on another site that the customer in business class had grumpy flight attendants and people were smoking during the flight...
Is this something you may have encountered? Also concurred on the food quality.

Gaucho100K

Wirelessly posted (Nokia N97 / Palm TX: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D050; Blazer/4.3) 16;320x448)

Great pics!!

bschaff1

Good TR, never seen one for Egypt Air before. I'm kinda surprised by by no alcohol, but if they were the last option and with BYOB, I would try them out.

MatthewLAX

My brother recently flew from CAI-JFK in Y and said that while the food and service were mediocre, the seat pitch was generous and each passegner in Y got a very nice amenity kit.

No smoking.