Craven Suid Afrika 2022 TR

[craven morehead]

Well, here we go again. 3 years between visits and a year to the day that I was originally booked to head over for a mate's 60th birthday. I'm sure we can enjoy a few beers together for his 61st All up I had 4 overseas trips cancelled during Covid and only managed a week in NZ in between border closures. There is some mention of masks becoming mandatory on public transport etc in BNE from this weekend I am hearing.

Departing EMD as usual and the lounge continues to disappoint. They struggle to have beer and or wine there at the same time and the little single serves of cheese must be the new Lettuce It's been missing for like 6 weeks!
Some days you can't even find a clean coffee cup I have been known to go back out to the check in desk which is only about 12" away and call them in to the lounge to provide me with a clean cup



QF2407 EMD-BNE on the mighty Platinum Stallion the Dash8-400



There must have been heaps of WPs on board because the front 8 rows were chockers and yet there was the odd seat spare down the back. Arrived in BNE on time at 15.10 and my next ride QF555 BNE-SYD already delayed 20 minutes at this stage. Ahh well time for a couple of extra sherbets in the J QP I hear you all saying, how out of character Anyway the lounge is not busy at all this evening.



About to commence another TR





I'll report back in once I reach tonight's lodgings, being the Pullman Sydney Airport. This will be my first stay here and from memory I utilised one of my many suite upgrades. Not something I normally bother with. Being an ALL Diamond I'm wanting Accor to upgrade me at their expense not mine. Righto, time to head down to Gate 21. Cheers Craven

 

[craven morehead]

So QF555 ended up departing 35 minutes late but managed to make up some time and landed maybe 15 minutes late albeit it was the longest taxi to an airbridge I've ever had in SYD.

Leaving the J lounge, I noticed that Roo was getting into the spirit of Movember



The Fibber Board



I was in no hurry to board and was probably the 3rd last person to get on.



Luckily for the last 15 years I've had no need to turn right



Now my seat was 2F but when I attended the J cabin there was a dopey oaf sitting in my seat. I did the obligatory look up at the D/F sign and pause and look down again. After about 2 minutes the goose says to me in a quizzical fashion ...... did I mistakenly sit in your seat? I said yes but I can't be bothered moving now. I suspect it may have been his maiden J trip and he wanted SYD Harbour views. Who knows but he definitely knew from the outset he was in my seat. Not a big deal just a poor attitude.



Ready for takeoff at 18.45 instead of 18.10



Dinner tonight was Veal Ravioli with a Kale & Mushroom sauce. I gave it a 6/10 and washed it down with 2 glasses of Heirloom Cab Sav



Had to wait a good 20 minutes for bags to come out. Then as expected the taxi driver tried to pull me on with a bullsh!t fare of $35 because I was only going about 1.5km to the Pullman Sydney Airport and he had to wait 2 hours to get a fare and he had kids to feed blah blah blah.
I told him he was full of cough and offered him $22 which he accepted so I paid him on my Amex Explorer lol. I wasn't walking one way or the other after a big day.

 

[craven morehead]

Arrived safely and at an acceptable price at the Pullman SYD AP.

First stay here and the room is probably over the top for one night but hey, you only live once.

Lovely lady checked me in, and I was all sorted in about 1 minute. Didn't bother using my free drinks and just headed up to the top floor.



I'm not sure what the go is with these dogs, but they are all over the place.



The executive suite aka the room:

Walk in and there is a separate toilet and powder room.









Separate bedroom with massive ensuite.

 

[Sprucegoose]

So QF555 ended up departing 35 minutes late but managed to make up some time and landed maybe 15 minutes late albeit it was the longest taxi to an airbridge I've ever had in SYD.

Leaving the J lounge, I noticed that Roo was getting into the spirit of Movember

View attachment 306969

The Fibber Board

View attachment 306970

I was in no hurry to board and was probably the 3rd last person to get on.

View attachment 306968

Luckily for the last 15 years I've had no need to turn right

View attachment 306967

Now my seat was 2F but when I attended the J cabin there was a dopey oaf sitting in my seat. I did the obligatory look up at the D/F sign and pause and look down again. After about 2 minutes the goose says to me in a quizzical fashion ...... did I mistakenly sit in your seat? I said yes but I can't be bothered moving now. I suspect it may have been his maiden J trip and he wanted SYD Harbour views. Who knows but he definitely knew from the outset he was in my seat. Not a big deal just a poor attitude.

View attachment 306966

Ready for takeoff at 18.45 instead of 18.10

View attachment 306965

Dinner tonight was Veal Ravioli with a Kale & Mushroom sauce. I gave it a 6/10 and washed it down with 2 glasses of Heirloom Cab Sav

BNE SYD is at least a 3-4 glass trip......

 

[craven morehead]

A few more room shots:

A coffee station.





Tonnes of room.



Some Diamond trinkets.



Time for a rest now.

QF63 tomorrow after breakfast in the Flounge

 

[craven morehead]

BNE SYD is at least a 3-4 glass trip......

Sadly, that wasn't the case tonight. I'll make up for it tomorrow

 

[Cessna 180]

Well, here we go again. 3 years between visits and a year to the day that I was originally booked to head over for a mate's 60th birthday. I'm sure we can enjoy a few beers together for his 61st All up I had 4 overseas trips cancelled during Covid and only managed a week in NZ in between border closures. There is some mention of masks becoming mandatory on public transport etc in BNE from this weekend I am hearing.

Departing EMD as usual and the lounge continues to disappoint. They struggle to have beer and or wine there at the same time and the little single serves of cheese must be the new Lettuce It's been missing for like 6 weeks!
Some days you can't even find a clean coffee cup I have been known to go back out to the check in desk which is only about 12" away and call them in to the lounge to provide me with a clean cup

View attachment 306941

QF2407 EMD-BNE on the mighty Platinum Stallion the Dash8-400

View attachment 306942

There must have been heaps of WPs on board because the front 8 rows were chockers and yet there was the odd seat spare down the back. Arrived in BNE on time at 15.10 and my next ride QF555 BNE-SYD already delayed 20 minutes at this stage. Ahh well time for a couple of extra sherbets in the J QP I hear you all saying, how out of character Anyway the lounge is not busy at all this evening.

View attachment 306944

About to commence another TR

View attachment 306943

View attachment 306945

I'll report back in once I reach tonight's lodgings, being the Pullman Sydney Airport. This will be my first stay here and from memory I utilised one of my many suite upgrades. Not something I normally bother with. Being an ALL Diamond I'm wanting Accor to upgrade me at their expense not mine. Righto, time to head down to Gate 21. Cheers Craven

Looks like a good trip coming up Craven, somewhat jealous!

Re the old Emd lounge, last time I was there before lunch, I think I was the only one there and the beer/wine fridge was already unlocked. Those little bottles are kind of handy....

 

[VPS]

Always enjoy your TR. Enjoy

 

[ellen10]

Looking forward to travel along

 

[craven morehead]

Looks like a good trip coming up Craven, somewhat jealous!

Re the old Emd lounge, last time I was there before lunch, I think I was the only one there and the beer/wine fridge was already unlocked. Those little bottles are kind of handy....

Haha nice work mate!!

 

[craven morehead]

Always enjoy your TR. Enjoy

Many thanks

 

[craven morehead]

Looking forward to travel along

Thank you, I'll try to make it interesting!

 

[craven morehead]

Up early this morning and probably only managed 3 hours sleep. Nothing champagne and sleeping in 3K won't fix

Concierge ordered me a taxi which turned up in 2 minutes flat. Today, I'm pleased to report that I had an excellent taxi driver who didn't try and extort a ridiculous fare.

The journey was 3 times that of last night and the metered fare was the same at ~$22.00.

From kerbside drop off to FLounge was no more than 6-7 minutes! Straight up to J check in desk and then through express lane security etc.

This is my first visit to SYD FLounge for 4 or 5 years. Visited the MEL one a couple of times pre-Covid. Natural order has been restored

Righto I'm on a mission.







It was fairly quiet when I arrived around 6.30am

 

[craven morehead]

Grabbed myself a table with a nice view and settled in.

Coffee and Champers to start with.





Eggs Benny with Smoked salmon.



What's the go here??

Are there no standards in the FLounge?

I'm an easy-going country bloke but even I put a nice shirt on and made an effort

This chap was an American so maybe that's the norm over there.

 

[NSun]

I'm looking forward to reading this one as I'm hoping to go to South Africa in the next year or two and loved your last South Africa trip report.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Was Nestor on the door of the QF Pub?

 

[craven morehead]

Was Nestor on the door of the QF Pub?

I got there pretty early and there was actually no one on the door. There was however when I left to board and I'm pretty sure it was him.

 

[craven morehead]

I'm looking forward to reading this one as I'm hoping to go to South Africa in the next year or two and loved your last South Africa trip report.

Thank you, this trip will be similar as I'm visiting friends again and basically tripping around like a local. I will however visit some new places and hopefully a game reserve this trip as well.

 

[craven morehead]

QF63 Let's go baby



Today's Bird



3K Happy Days



Amenity Kit and Pyjamas (Sleeper Suit my ar$e)



For someone who is very well travelled I actually got a little bit excited today. Just happy to be doing some decent long haul again post Covid Waiting our turn and running a bit late as well.



Bye Bye Australia for a few weeks



The menu:



Starter of Zucchini and Basil soup with parmesan croute (I think croute is just a fancy word for one big crouton ) Tasted ok!



For Lunch: The Beef fillet with Paris mash, Asparagus (Green Beans were listed) and Salsa Verde. Very nice feed, the steak was tender. Could have been served a little bit warmer though but still enjoyable. Washed down with Heirloom Shiraz



For Dinner: The stir-fried Pork option was excellent. Dinner was served fairly late in the flight probably only an hour and a half out of JNB.

 

[Ron Calls]

Meals onboard look amazing. Seems standards are on the up. Great report mate. Following along too. Glad to hear you're excited about being onboard long haul again. Great stuff.