BKK and HGK TJ J, F and MH J

[anna2103]

Hi everyone. This is my first trip report, and a warning upfront there will be no photo's.As a 20 something told me during the week I am one of those older "techlite" people. Given am I am just a shade over 40 I told her that I would allocate every boring and horrible job to her until I became "techheavy" which means her job just got a little less desirable.

The genesis of this trip was wanting to use up my Lifemiles points, I am over the whole Avianca thing. Alos wanted to check out Macau and get in a bit of pool time. I put myself through the torturous email process to get HGK-BKK-SYD in TG F and went BNE-BKK in TG J. BKK-HGK will be in MH J a bargain for $313.

Flight One BNE -BKK TG J 777_300 1400
Check in and immigration took less than 15 mins. TG get you to use Air New Zealnd lounge.
Usual assortment of drinks, food was ok. A few salads, a soup, cheese ,and cake. Wifi did not work. Lounge was quite small, a bit dirty and filled up very quickly.
Went to try out SQ lounge. Lounge angel/devil did not want to let me in. If I am wrong please correct me, but I thought if you were travelling in J you could access any star alliance lounge. Anyway I had a Gold Agean card so that gave me entry anyway, he was most put out.
SQ lounge was much better. Large and quality selection of Hot and Cold food, frequently replenished. Good selection of drinks. Only criticism was small newspaper and magazine collection.
Boarding was delayed by 25 mins but we only left 5 mins late. Overall really good crew. PBD was water, OJ or champage. Amenity kit and lip balm and lotion by Borghese was already on the seat. 20 Mins after take off drink service, a small satay appetiser. Was lukewarm, and MH satay is much better. Entree Aka appetiser was two cold scallops with mayonnaise type sauces and a cold prawn in a wasabi sauce. I don't like cold scallops so did not really enjoy it, but that is personal preference rather than something being wrong with it. Garlic bread was barely lukewarm.
Next up was main - there were four choices, a fish, lamb, beef curry and vegetarian pasta. I had the Beef Massaman curry. It was ok, vegetables overcooked. Crew were generous with drink refills ( which is good as the wine glasses are 3 sips at best) A small cheese plate was then offered with port. Again just ok - I don't think food is Thai's strong point. Dessert was two types of tarts and cakes, a chocolate ganache cake and a fruit tart with raspberry sauce. These were tasty enough.
Lights were shortly after turned out, crew came around with water and juice every few hours, but were walking through the cabin quite regularly so easy to grab them for anything you wanted.
Second serving I declined, it was a noodle dish and fruit. Did not smell that great so glad I was still full from lunch.

Bangkok airport is huge, took 15 mins to taxi, another 10 mins to walk to immigration, was through in 5 minutes. Luggage took about 25 mins to come out, then another 15 mins in the taxi queue. Seriously, it really is better to get the train, but as I did not know where the hotel was, did not want to risk it. Taxi driver had no idea where it was, drove around for ages. Finally arrived at Doubletree BKK more than 2 hours after landing. Next up Doubletree Bangkok ( well not really.....)

 

[Steady]

Thanks for taking the time to do a TR,

 

[anna2103]

I arrived at the Doubletree hotel tired and thankful the taxi driver found it. Waited 10 mins to check in (am HH Diamond) I had booked a base room for one night. At check in, was told that I had been upgraded to the Hilton Hotel which is literally next door. Staff walked me over there and checked in immediately. As a Diamond, access to lounge. Room is large, quiet and a huge bathroom with separate bath. Not sure what room type I got. Breakfast in the lounge was great - next stop, Conrad Bangkok for another one night stay.

 

[anna2103]

I love the Conrad Bangkok. Yes it is not the most modern of hotels and I am sure there are better 5 star ones in BKK, but the staff are helpful, location is quiet but very accessible and the beds are great. As a Diamond, upgrade to a corner room, and of course lounge access. It was very easy to make dinner if you wanted to, and staff kept trying to make coughtails for you. I was happy with wine, but felt guilty at their obviously disappointment. So took one for the team and had a Martini ( ok I had 2!!) The pool area is nice as well, so spent a little bit of time doing that, reading a great book etc. Couldn't be bothered shopping. Was offered a 3pm checkout, so took advantage of that. Next up MH to HGK via KUL and Sama Sama Express.

 

[anna2103]

A starting note to this segment - I have flown MH 6 times since MH 370 and 17, all in J. I will continue to fly them, as a) their service onboard is equivalent to QF, TG (and CX on a okish day) and b) so many people depend on their survival. The fact that fares are dirt cheap to any location near China is also a bonus. The staff are mostly friendly and attentive, and the food, whilst not restaurant quality is fine.

Lounge hopped in the airport at BKK - the BA one was closed, so it was the QF, JL and CX one. MH direct you to one of the contracted lounges (CIP tavern I think from memory) QF was good, JL was great ( the best food ever in a J lounge for me) and CX - well the less said the better. The contracted lounge had a great range of alcohol, lots of different types of spirits, including the sweeter ones so it could be coughtail hour if you had some recipes stored in your head.

Flight 2 BKK-KUL, dep 19.55, arrive 23.15

Flight on time. Crew were great. As I had eaten in the lounge, I wasn't hungry. Fot this 2.5 hr flight, they offered a pared down 3 course meal - no satay
No menu's - was offered a choice of beef or chicken. If I wanted to be picky, I could argue staff did not explain meals. I had 2 bites of the chicken, amazing spicy. Dessert was an apple cake, quite nice, but again had 2 bites. Drink top ups were generous during meal service.
Arrived at KUL 5 mins late. I had checked my baggage through to HGK, so used the Sama Sama Express - at $110 for 7 hours, a relatively cheap o/n accommodation, with no need to clear customs etc. Its near gate C5 if anyone needs to know. I have stayed their before, basic, clean and does it job. One interesting point though - this time could hear some aircraft noise, the other stays could not . They forgot my wake up call also - so advise to set your own alarms too. After check out, went to MH lounge for breakfast. Most flight to HGK depart from H gates, so took the short train over the the domestic lounge. the lounge is much smaller than the international one, but fine for breakfast. Would probably go the the international one if it was later in the day as more food options.

Next up KUL-HGK

 

[smit0847]

I love the Conrad Bangkok. Yes it is not the most modern of hotels and I am sure there are better 5 star ones in BKK, but the staff are helpful, location is quiet but very accessible and the beds are great. As a Diamond, upgrade to a corner room, and of course lounge access. It was very easy to make dinner if you wanted to, and staff kept trying to make coughtails for you. I was happy with wine, but felt guilty at their obviously disappointment. So took one for the team and had a Martini ( ok I had 2!!) The pool area is nice as well, so spent a little bit of time doing that, reading a great book etc. Couldn't be bothered shopping. Was offered a 3pm checkout, so took advantage of that. Next up MH to HGK via KUL and Sama Sama Express.

I had exactly the same experience as you there. Loved the hotel- staff were great. Exec lounge at night was lovely- very generous canapés that were easily a light dinner before a big night of clubbing washed down with several coughtails.
Felt a little poorly the next morning but great breakfast (loved the smoothies!) Followed by recovery at the pool and 1 pm check out. Felt much better after a few dips and a nap on those huge day beds.

 

[Austman]

After check out, went to MH lounge for breakfast. Most flight to HGK depart from H gates, so took the short train over the the domestic lounge. the lounge is much smaller than the international one, but fine for breakfast. Would probably go the the international one if it was later in the day as more food options.

Next up KUL-HGK

Thanks for the TR. I've done a couple of similar flights in the past week. But where is HGK? I suspect you mean HKG? Otherwise I'm confused. Also it's not the MH domestic lounge for international flights - it's the MH regional lounge. Not as good as the MH satellite lounge but a LOT better than the MH domestic lounge (only accessible for domestic flights).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Went to try out SQ lounge. Lounge angel/devil did not want to let me in. If I am wrong please correct me, but I thought if you were travelling in J you could access any star alliance lounge.

You are correct - class of service allows star alliance business class passengers entry into any star operated business class lounge (provided you have access to the lounge in the right terminal and (b) the lounge is operated as a star alliance lounge at the time you want to use it).

However, SQ in MEL (and it seems BNE) seem to have a different interpretation of the rules sometimes. In MEL they tried to argue that the lounge was a Silver Kris Lounge, and therefore not a star alliance business class lounge. They also try to argue that you might have an invitation to the NZ lounge, so you must use that one. Persistence can pay off, but even showing the relevant star alliance page doesn't always convince them (and they claim to let you in on a 'one time only special' basis).

One time last year I made it in only to hear numerous others being turned away.