malmacdowall
Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2009
- Posts
- 394
Checking in was done at the new terminal 3 business / first class Departure centre.
Arriving curbside, you are met by a porter who takes your backs and escorts you to your check in desk. If no desk is available, the porter waits with you until the CS person is available... Check in was relatively painless except that my bags couldn't be checked all the way through SYD to my final destination MEL.
Having gained the boarding pass and quickly passing through customs and security it was time for a wander around the duty free area. Duty free consisted mainly of high end shops but also the usual alcohol, electronics and food vendors.... A much smaller duty free area compared to
Dubai international...
Etihad lounge...
The Etihad lounge is accessed via the elevators in front of the security area... Upstairs i was welcomed and entered the business lounge. The lounge is nicely set up with casual areas, dining areas, bar and tables... My 9am arrival wasn't conducive to trying the bar menu but they did have the coffee my body was craving... A double espresso was quickly consumed and followed later by a single... The food / buffet area consists of breads, pastries, filter coffee,fruit salad, meats and cheeses, a selection of hot food and cereal (Although i wasn't impressed with the cereal selection supplied in "Fun size" boxes...) Seriously Etihad... get some bowls and put out the cereal in a buffet style... nice muesli wouldn't go astray... A quick chat to the fam via Skype on the iphone (thanks to free wireless access in the lounge) and it was time to head to the gate... I timed it perfectly and arrived at the gate as the call was made for J PAX....
Boarding the aircraft and turning left (Ah what a feeling), I was welcomed by the flight manager and shown to my seat... Ladies and Gents... I give you seat 1A... From memory Seat Guru lists 1A as having a few drawbacks but it was good as i could have a good chat to the FA's and see what they were up to in the galley... ok it may be anoying while i'm trying to sleep... but we will see..
I was offered champagne or OJ... Still to earlyto drink, so OJ please... 3 other FA's also said hello and gave a welcoming smile... You couldn't help but think... Gee Australians are a friendly bunch....
My FA, Kate arrived with a Bvlgari amenities kit, the menu and my noise calncelling headphones.
The kit has eye mask, socks, earplugs, moisturizer, lip balm (Badly needed by now) toothbrush, tooth paste and mouthwash.... A nice little kit..
I was also given a copy of The Australian newspaper.. locally printed but todays paper... nice touch to catch up on the local news... Ponting steps down...
Well done Ponty...
A quick pre takeoff trip to the loo and a peep into the coughpit (door was open).. I asked the FA if i could take a pic "for the kids" .. Just an excuse so this big kid can have a look.... She explained that the pilots were busy at the moment and rather than interupt them, I could remind her before arrival into Sydney and she would see if it would be ok... Here's hoping...
The takeoff demo was done by Natasha with the added difficulty of a few sharp turns during taxi... The safety video as animated and has a few funny moments...
Shortly after takeoff the CSM came by, welcomed me by name and introduced herself and the Etihad ambassador ... They both enquired if I had flown with VA or EY before and explained that the flight was 13 hours long and that should I need anything at all, just ask them....
FA Kate, popped by and asked if she could call me Malcolm or did I prefer Mr MacDowall? Mal would be fine... She took pre dinner drinks orders and I decided to go the beer... Surely it's past midday in Melbourne and isn't the theory to set your watch to destination time? Anyway, rightly or wrongly , a beer it is.. The guest beer "Burragum Organic Larger"... oh... And a coffee first...
Lunch I chose a warm breadstick, cauliflower soup, mezze platter and salmon fillet on couscous.
After lunch the FA returned with some Pj,s... I moved to the bar area and had a huge selection of drinks available ...
The FA setup the stools and stayed for a quick chat... A scored the April motor magazine... Very impressed given today is the 30th March...
While having a drink, the co-pilot Adam, stopped by and chatted for about 10 mins then a little girl appeared from row 5 and said "Hi Daddy" ... His second child arrived and he explained they had taken the opportunity to stay the 4 days in Abu Dhabi...
I changed into the pj and when I returned the FA had made up the bed, with a padded cover over the seat and a doona.. Time to catch some zzzzzz...
Woke in time for seasonal fresh fruit and pancakes for breaky. A quick freshen up and time to land in SYD...
Was visited by the CSM and the Ethihad ambassador to say thanks for flying with V Australia and wish me all the best...
Outstanding service from the FAs... Fealt really FIRST class....
Arriving curbside, you are met by a porter who takes your backs and escorts you to your check in desk. If no desk is available, the porter waits with you until the CS person is available... Check in was relatively painless except that my bags couldn't be checked all the way through SYD to my final destination MEL.
Having gained the boarding pass and quickly passing through customs and security it was time for a wander around the duty free area. Duty free consisted mainly of high end shops but also the usual alcohol, electronics and food vendors.... A much smaller duty free area compared to
Dubai international...
Etihad lounge...
The Etihad lounge is accessed via the elevators in front of the security area... Upstairs i was welcomed and entered the business lounge. The lounge is nicely set up with casual areas, dining areas, bar and tables... My 9am arrival wasn't conducive to trying the bar menu but they did have the coffee my body was craving... A double espresso was quickly consumed and followed later by a single... The food / buffet area consists of breads, pastries, filter coffee,fruit salad, meats and cheeses, a selection of hot food and cereal (Although i wasn't impressed with the cereal selection supplied in "Fun size" boxes...) Seriously Etihad... get some bowls and put out the cereal in a buffet style... nice muesli wouldn't go astray... A quick chat to the fam via Skype on the iphone (thanks to free wireless access in the lounge) and it was time to head to the gate... I timed it perfectly and arrived at the gate as the call was made for J PAX....
I was offered champagne or OJ... Still to earlyto drink, so OJ please... 3 other FA's also said hello and gave a welcoming smile... You couldn't help but think... Gee Australians are a friendly bunch....
My FA, Kate arrived with a Bvlgari amenities kit, the menu and my noise calncelling headphones.
I was also given a copy of The Australian newspaper.. locally printed but todays paper... nice touch to catch up on the local news... Ponting steps down...
Well done Ponty...A quick pre takeoff trip to the loo and a peep into the coughpit (door was open).. I asked the FA if i could take a pic "for the kids" .. Just an excuse so this big kid can have a look.... She explained that the pilots were busy at the moment and rather than interupt them, I could remind her before arrival into Sydney and she would see if it would be ok... Here's hoping...
The takeoff demo was done by Natasha with the added difficulty of a few sharp turns during taxi... The safety video as animated and has a few funny moments...
Shortly after takeoff the CSM came by, welcomed me by name and introduced herself and the Etihad ambassador ... They both enquired if I had flown with VA or EY before and explained that the flight was 13 hours long and that should I need anything at all, just ask them....
FA Kate, popped by and asked if she could call me Malcolm or did I prefer Mr MacDowall? Mal would be fine... She took pre dinner drinks orders and I decided to go the beer... Surely it's past midday in Melbourne and isn't the theory to set your watch to destination time? Anyway, rightly or wrongly , a beer it is.. The guest beer "Burragum Organic Larger"... oh... And a coffee first...
Lunch I chose a warm breadstick, cauliflower soup, mezze platter and salmon fillet on couscous.
After lunch the FA returned with some Pj,s... I moved to the bar area and had a huge selection of drinks available ...
The FA setup the stools and stayed for a quick chat... A scored the April motor magazine... Very impressed given today is the 30th March...
While having a drink, the co-pilot Adam, stopped by and chatted for about 10 mins then a little girl appeared from row 5 and said "Hi Daddy" ... His second child arrived and he explained they had taken the opportunity to stay the 4 days in Abu Dhabi...
I changed into the pj and when I returned the FA had made up the bed, with a padded cover over the seat and a doona.. Time to catch some zzzzzz...
Woke in time for seasonal fresh fruit and pancakes for breaky. A quick freshen up and time to land in SYD...
Was visited by the CSM and the Ethihad ambassador to say thanks for flying with V Australia and wish me all the best...
Outstanding service from the FAs... Fealt really FIRST class....
