23 into 21 does go

[kookaburra75]

That's it. I was staying at the transit hotel, so the Serenediva made far more sense for me. But no access as a OWE flying in J. And I did try to argue my point! They can be rather pedantic in CMB
From the UL lounge access page, you have to be in Y-class to get into the Serenediva :

	Serendib Lounge	Serenediva Lounge	Palm Strip Lounge
All SriLankan Business Class Passengers (FlySmiLes members / Non-FlySmiLes members)	√	×	×

Business Class Passengers on any oneworld Airline

√

×

×

That was our experience in Feb this year. I'm OWE but we were travelling with UL in Y (CMB-SIN) We stuck our noses into the Serendib Lounge, but we're shooed off to the Serenediva Lounge.

 

[JessicaTam]

Day 3:

The wifi in the Premier Inn at AUH was connecting my laptop but not phone - go figure. So as I am now enjoying a coffee in the Louvre I can add a couple of pics.

The hotel room:

It was very comfortable and quiet. Maybe 7-800 metres walk from T2 so pretty cruisy. I was offered late checkout until 4pm as I had booked online.

I checked out at 11 and left my bags with them. A AED95 trip to the Louvre driven by speedy Gonzales or his African cousin got me here:


The AUH Louvre is not on the same scale as the Paris original but still impressive. The collection is more representative than comprehensive. AED63.

The domed roof is very impressive.

 

[JessicaTam]

Oh, my meal on flight 2 (SIN-CMB)

 

[serfty]

I had the triple rice (non veg) on the 945am flight (same route) earlier this month.



Was it the older cabin style? 2x2x2

 

[JessicaTam]

I had the triple rice (non veg) on the 945am flight (same route) earlier this month.

View attachment 198207

Was it the older cabin style? 2x2x2

An A320 so 2x2.

 

[serfty]

An A320 so 2x2.

... somehow I read that as A330.

They do have interesting seating on the 2x2x2.

 

[offshore171]

I am thinking of posting the pic straight from the phone and then adding the text on the laptop. Less faffing about that way.

I did that with my last trip report. Works really well and makes it quite effortless to get the photos posted.

Also - there's no shame in using phone photos. My last trip report was 100% shot on an iPhone!

Photographers have a saying - "The best camera is the one you have with you".


Also note JohnM posted a great tip about the new resizing feature:

Latest iOS great for shrinking photos

For the iSheep. One of my frustrations while travelling, especially in developing countries, is slow WiFi which makes loading peeps’ pic-heavy TRs quite painfully slow at times. For those using iPhones, the latest iOS (V13.x) finally has the inbuilt capability to choose small-large file size...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[JessicaTam]

Flights 4:

I got to the airport a early. Actually a bit too early.

I noticed the shops landside had drinks for AED3 and sandwiches for 6. As I had printed my boarding passes I went through immigration to find drinks AED20 and sandwiches AED30. Holy airport tax, Batman.

My Plaza Premium lounge access was for about 3 hours, so I did a lap of the terminal and sat and watched an episode or two of the last season of The Big Bang Theory. I had bought and ripped it last week for occasions such as these.

I wandered into the PP at about 7pm and settled in. A pretty good array of drinks and food so I was happy. ... Well almost. Turns out that the flight in was delayed, and as that makes the flight out, it too was delayed. No biggie but my 2h15 connection had just dropped to 1h15 and continued to fall. I was a little worried as I my next flight was to CGK and if I missed it I would have a night in CMB, and a very tight connection in CGK. We ended up taking off about 1h45 late, but the pilot made up heaps of time. I had moved from 2A to allow a couple to sit together and was in 2F. I got to chatting to my neighbour in 2D and it turned out he was going to CGK as well. I like safety in numbers when it comes to tight connections.

Day 4, Flight 5:

We landed with an hour to make the connection - to a bus gate. My german seatmate was familiar with Murphy's work. So on the bus to the terminal only find that our next flight was from a bus gate as well. Guten Tag Murphy!

No time to waste so through security and then 'hurry up and wait'. Looks like the next flight was a little tardy* as well. On the bus to find it the plane that bought us down from AUH, so we were never going to miss it! My german associate was a little surprised (and maybe a little worried) that I could confidently assure him it was the same plane.

I watched Collateral Beauty and then had a snooze. That film has a few surprises that I won't share here, but was quite enjoyable if you like Will Smith.

Immigration in CGK was a doddle, just hand over AU passport (no paperwork), stamp, and on your way. Customs is another matter. There are no forms handed out on the plane, so you have to grab one in the luggage hall. Fill it out on the go, and then queue up. I reckon I could have written anything as long as I ticked 'no' in the boxes as the glance was pretty cursory.

That's it for now as the exec lounge in the DT beckons.

Stay tuned for the next instalment as there is a little surprise coming!

*Tardy gets used a lot by @Melburnian1 in the delays threads, which I reckon is to be applauded. It is a great word.

 

[Kangol]

I headed to T3 and was a bit early to checkin. I had checked in online, but SIN require a 'proper' BP, as opposed to electronic or self printed ones. So I watched a movie on a big screen for a while landside.

You can print your BP at the self check kiosks in the Jewel, unless that's what you're talking about? vs printing on a normal A4 printer.

 

[JessicaTam]

You can print your BP at the self check kiosks in the Jewel, unless that's what you're talking about? vs printing on a normal A4 printer.

A4 printing is not on. I checked Jewel, but UL is not one of the self check-in airlines.

 

[JessicaTam]

So I wandered up to the exec lounge and grabbed a beer. Sat down and at the next table was my german seat-mate - who was following who!

The lounge had a good spread of food, and the Indonesian wine wasn't bad. Grape juice is imported from AU and mixed with a small amount of wine and allowed to ferment. Saves on import taxes!



Come about 8pm and I was ready for bed.

 

[JessicaTam]

On the way to DT CGK I caught the airport train. IDR70000, or about A$7. That got me to Manggarai and I had to catch a local train one stop. So how do you get from track 9 to track 1 - walk across the tracks. And if there is a train in the way, walk through it!

 

[JessicaTam]

Day 5, flights 6 & 7:

Groundhog day today. I headed back to the airport the way I had come. I had to buy a new plastic card in Cikini, as the one I got in Manggarai didn't work there. Apparently the ticketing system is being upgraded, but not every station has the new system! Grrr.

Immigration and customs was very straightforward at CGK. It is a big new terminal, light and airy. I headed to the Plaza Premium lounge (UL's contract lounge) between gates 4 and 5 and settled in. The food and drinks here were quite limited, so hopefully QR's contract lounge will be better. My next time in CGK I have an 8 hour transit.

On to my UL flight and my first time in the old seats. Not quite as comfortable as the new, and the screen is in the armrest as opposed to the back of the seat in front. But still ok. The screens themselves have been upgraded so they are very clear.



We were a bit late departing so a bit late arriving. My 1h10 connection had shrunk, and yes we arrived at a bus gate. But at least the next flight was from the terminal proper. Quickly through security and then to the separate seating area for J and OW status pax. Back on to a newer bird and as it turns out my third time on this particular one. 4R-AND.

Off to AUH and the last GP for the year, so hopefully I won't get too distracted and will be able to provide some action shots!

 

[Matt_01]

So how do you get from track 9 to track 1 - walk across the tracks. And if there is a train in the way, walk through it!

From your signature, Dr Who must have missed Jakarta.

 

[Matt_01]

That Plaza Premium lounge is the same one that QF uses, there are not many choices at CGK.

 

[JessicaTam]

Day 6: I woke to a glorious day in Abu Dhabi and enjoyed a pretty relaxed breakfast. One of the reasons I chose the hotel was they had a guest laundry. I actually had a washer/dryer in my room. So I spent the morning taking care of some domestic duties before heading to the track.


I am sitting 6 rows back from the track opposite the Torro Rosso pit garage.

My seat is just to the left of the chap in red.

Practice 3 was quite loud so in with the ear plugs - I like my hearing too much not to. I went for a wander before qualifying and found the catering options are up to usual event standards.

You too can have this for AED45!

 

[Matt_01]

Day 6: I woke to a glorious day in Abu Dhabi and enjoyed a pretty relaxed breakfast. One of the reasons I chose the hotel was they had a guest laundry.

And a bed stuck upside down on the ceiling,

 

[JessicaTam]

And a bed stuck upside down on the ceiling,

As I working with both phone and laptop, that post is still being edited. Come back in 5 minutes!

 

[Matt_01]

Will do.

 

[TonyHancock]

.....One of the reasons I chose the hotel was they had a guest laundry.

I am huge fan of the Hilton Garden Inn for this very reason. I work on the basis of one night a week in a hotel with a washer/dryer.