Trip with F's on a BP. Firsts, family, Food and Fun.

[drron]

Naturally the First thing to talk about is the Firsts. Our first time flying JQ internationally in their Faux J cabin. Came about because I was a bit slow getting my act together after our visit to Japan in July 2024. By the time I got my act together there were no SQ redemptions left in J for the trip to BKK. Nothing found on BA,AA lifemiles as well. And nothing found using seats.aero apart from a couple of days with JQ BNE-BKK. So into Mrsdrron's QFF account and snapped up a couple 2 days earlier than I had planned. Two days extra in Bangkok? No problem.
The second first is when leaving BKK. Our first time flying with QR. First time using a QR lounge and first experience of Q suites - no change of plane yet. Of course this means our first transit through DOH. And leaving DOH our first flight into MAN.

From there our first visit to Liverpool and at least a couple of Beatles experiences.
Stying in a boutique hotel in Wales owned by a fellow we met though Cruise Critic. However it is about the closest decent hotel to Blaenau Ffestintiniog. It turns out that Mrsdrron's Maternal grandfather wasn't who she thought he was. Turned out he as a coal miner from Ipswich whose parents were from the slate mines of this town. This cme about from Mrsdrron doing a DNA test and her closest relative was apart from our son was a 90 year old woman in Brisbane who turned out to be a niece of the fellow who was Mrsdrron's grandfather.

After that time with my sister in Devon then on to a cruise on the Silver Spirit Southampton to Lisbon. We have sailed into Southampton to end a cruise and out of Lisbon to start a cruise but it was 2 separate cruises. On this cruise t will be the first time to the Channel Islands and to any french port not on the Mediterranean Coast.

There is only 1 of the ports we have been to before but that was a driving trip of northern Spain - Bilbao. that hopefully will be one of the highlights of the food on this trip. we are booked for lunch at Nerua. A Michelin starred restaurant at the Guggenheim. We ate there on our previous trip and loved it.

From Lisbon t s our first flight out of LIS and on TAP with a Swiss codeshare which was a third less than buying through TAP. It will be our first time in Zurich and Switzerland.

From there it was going to be our first F flight on QR but a plane substitution put an end to that.

Our final flights home from Bangkok are in the school holidays so not even an overnight flight with J award availability. So our first paid J on SQ. Fortunately they had a sale on even with our usual preferred night in SIN. unfortunately this flight was going to let me maintain gold with a shot at platinum but that plan is up in smoke.

We fly out tomorrow, Sunday.

 

[Pushka]

Wow. Thats a trip and so many things to love about it. Liverpool is fabulous. A cruise. Wales. Q suites. Nice. How long are you away for all up?
TAP are incredibly strict about carry on. Backpack only unless you pay extra for the case style. And it will be enforced. Get on early if you have paid for carry on as on our trip even the overhead filled up.

 

[SydneySwan]

We fly out tomorrow, Sunday.

Surely you should have started this trip on a Friday?

 

[RooFlyer]

TAP are incredibly strict about carry on. Backpack only unless you pay extra for the case style. And it will be enforced. Get on early if you have paid for carry on as on our trip even the overhead filled up.

Wow. I didn’t know that and I’m taking a flight with them next year so thanks for the tip. Is that also in J?

 

[Pushka]

Wow. I didn’t know that and I’m taking a flight with them next year so thanks for the tip. Is that also in J?

I’m not sure. Do they even have J? We were in Y and minding our own business. . But we were well aware of the limitations in advance so if it’s ok to bring on rollers you will know.

Oh yeah. Just remembered. The woman in front of me was seated with backpack on lap. When she thought no one was looking she jumped up and put her backpack up top. Within seconds the crew came and took it out and dumped it on her lap.

 

[I love to travel]

Wow. I didn’t know that and I’m taking a flight with them next year so thanks for the tip. Is that also in J?

Also they proactively measure and weigh at the gate so don't hang around before the flight if you suspect you have a problem

 

[Pushka]

Also they proactively measure and weigh at the gate so don't hang around before the flight if you suspect you have a problem

They were weighing and tagging at checkin. For both backpacks and those who'd purchased carry on rollers. Different colours. No tag no carry on.

 

[drron]

Went and looked at our tickets and we are in J on an LX codeshare on TAP bought through swiss.
Generous baggage. 2 x carryon at 8KG.
2 x checked bags at 32Kg.

​

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[kookaburra75]

It sounds like a wonderful trip, and looking forward to your trip report.
And MrsK has a similar family history to mrs.dr.ron with an uncertain maternal grandfather, although we haven't found anything through Ancestry DNA yet.

 

[tgh]

Have a great trip.. looking forward to the TR..

 

[craven morehead]

Following

 

[Flyfrequently]

Fantastic lot of Firsts @drron
On board with you - happy and safe travels

 

[drron]

Well sitting in the QF business lounge with our office to BKK peeking through the fake palms. Though I think we would rather be the office 2 gates down.




Rather dramatic last week but have made it here. Bangkok is likely going to be just chilling.
On top of that I think my laptop might’nt make it through the 7 weeks. If so a lot of this TR might be done from home. Fingers crossed.

 

[drron]

Back to Tuesday before our departure. There were no plans which was good as it was raining heavily at times. However Mrsdrron got an email from the Pst Office that her parcel from Temu had arrived. So off to the post office we went. So when Mrsdrron went into the Post Office I went to th IGA to get a small bottle of milk and some mince for our birds as there was not enough left for the rest of the week.
Mrsdrron beat me back to the car. When I got back I opened the door and dropped the milk. I quickly turned around and as I did knew i was in trouble. With my balance problems I can't turn quickly. For a few seconds i thought I was going to be able to recover but ended up landing on my right knee initially. Being on Xarelto you are aware to keep your head from taking the impact. soon helped to my feet but suspectef I had broken a rib on my right side. An xray later showed no fracture but that also happened when I broke a left sided rib in Tasmania ~ 12 years ago. Last year as part of a neurological work up I had a total body MRI. The technician asked me if I knew about a previous rib fracture and I said left 5th rib. that was it. So not worried that a diagnosis of a rib fracture was missed but relieved as no pneumothorax.

Over the first 2 days apart from the pain things were OK. In fact walking a little better. But on Thursday a new problem. i was taking 2 Panadol Forte per day and I normally tend to the constipation side. Nothing had worked so I took some Epsom salts. Always on hand as I normally have to take some in addition to the normal preparation for a colonoscopy. This time the reaction was much quicker and severe. Just starting to improve today (Monday). As well weak,light headed and less stability. Stopping Panadol Forte hasn't helped..

I was still very wobbly yesterday. And I must say that the presence of a walking stick makes a big difference in the way most people react. Most encouraging the way that most people respond with all genuinely wanting to help. Australia's not such bad place after all,

 

[drron]

Much nicer to have an afternoon flight out of Australia. Means the earliesr we would leave home is 4 hours before departure as the ride down to BNE is usually about 1 hour. However sometimes it can be 2 or more hours. We then have time to try and make sure we haven't forgotten anything but usually we still do. over the last couple of years Mrsdrron has got packing down to a fine are. For trips less than a month it is HCO. For longer trips, a cruise or tips with both hot and cold destinations then we add a checked bag.

so on this trip of 7 weeks when we have a cruise and the possibilty of some colder weather we have 1 checked bag weighing 21Kg. Our Cabin bags weigh 4.4 and 5.7 Kg. The one thing we had forgotten was to check our Air Tags. The batteries were flat. Coles and Woolworths only open at 9am on Sundays so getting them,changing the batteries nd then putting the car onto the charger would be cutting it a bit fine when we neede to leave at 10am. however the IGA opened at 6 and had the batteries in stock so no problem.

Trouble free run down to BNE. Only problem was JQ as usual only has check in Kiosks though a few say for business class. people in J obviously have a bit of a problem with kiosks as there was a staff member helping a passenger to use the kiosk with 2 others waiting for her. Mrsdrron tried 3 of the kiosks without success. Rather than joining the queue for help I had a go and fortunately was successful until I put the bag on the bag drop. It didn't want to leave us. Once again the staff member assisting at bag drop was on business lines. She though took some time to get our bag to leave us.

Usual problems for me at Immigration. Although after a green light showing the gate to the camera reused to open. Tried again and was successful. I had noticed an officer move to my line. So once my picture was taken and the gate opened he asked me to follow him to the manual check. A couple of minutes wasted but no other problem and so we headed off to the lounge. Now being in J on JQ does not get you into this QF lounge. QF status will so Mrsdrron's LTG got us here. Though my LTQP would also have allowed us entry.

So the lunch offerings at the QF lounge. The menu first.




The hot dishes dicn't inspie me. Not great differences in the look of the lentil soup. vegetable tagine and Korean beef. Looked like the same base with different additives.
The cold dishes looked a bit more appealing.


L had a selection of the salads. The young Asian stationed at the buffet was delightful and was a great help.
The sweets.


and the views of the bar.


And the car park view.

 

[drron]

We left before boarding was to start and arrived at the gate 2 minutes before advertised boarding time. A very long line in the economy line and no on in the business lin so straight through. Boarding via second door and you have to pass a few rows of Y before the 3 rows of the J cabin. 4 other paxs were already boarded. and we left with only 1 vacant J seat.
Configuration was 2-3-1. We were 2A,D.
Didn't take long to have our PBD champagne served. Didn't ask for brand but probably an Aussie sparkling. could have a top up if desired.


And the seat leg room. Just adequate,




But still a more comfortable seat than SQ's J seat on the A350 for me,
The view from my seat at the gate. Not a fan of the changing colour of the 787 windows.

 

[drron]

The other really good point to this flight is tat we began take off at the time that was advertised as the departure time. At the other end we were able to exit the plane 10 minutes before the advertised arrival time.
So a jaundiced view of BNE as we taxied to take off.






And over Moreton bay before the clouds too dense.


Post take off beverage. Their Shiraz of the day. Quite drinkable.


Then the lunch menu.




I had the salmon which was very nice. A slight spiceness which was excellent IMHO.


Mrsdrron had the lamb shank which looked very good in presentation and she sid on of th best lamb shanks she has been served.


rhe dessert was fine and we did get a chocolate each.