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

[VPS]

Happy holidays and keep safe. I confessed to having trouble keeping up with your itinerary but it reads like fun since it’s many first! Have been nursing a broken rib since Jan from this year’s skiing but figure no biggie if no breathing difficulties at the time. Hurt like hell for a couple of months with some odd pain now. Hope yours resolve quicker.

I feel your pain (well it's actually my pain in my broken rib) but I understand

 

[drron]

So a summary of our first JQi flight. We both had pretty low expectations. Our expectations were easily exceeded..

First the seat. Only a leather recliner seat for J. Perfectly acceptable for a day time flight. it was very comfortable -more so than the SQ A350 between BNE and SIN. although not great leg room the foothole was wide enough so it was not a worry..

Crew. Mainly Thai crew with a couple of senior Australians. Worked well together, pleasant and efficient. Just seemed a little reserved.After about 4 hours the lights were turned off and remained off for about 4 hours. Just an occasional patrol from behind the curtains. The curtains between J and Y were kept intact.

Entertainment. Was quite a good IFE selection and was perfect for me. On our recent Thailand and Hong kong trip I had watched the white lotus seasons 1 and 3 with both TG and SQ. JQ had the complete season 2 and 3. So the complete season 2 lasted until about 40 minutes out of BKK. Thanks to @Flyfrequently or pointing me in that direction as I did enjoy it. The movie and music list seemed as good or maybe better than SQ and TG. SQ though wins having free wifi in the J cabin. Nothing on JQ.

Food. We both enjoyed our meals and felt as good or better thn SQ and TG.

Amenity kit. Better than SQ but TG wins.

Check in. We don't like kiosks but the staff helping were very good. But still like doing it with a real person with SQ or TG.

But the Achilles heel. A J bag coming out in the last 10 bags on a full plane does tend to destroy the good feeling.

However I am coming up to the time for booking our flights in late August to attend the Tattoo. Looking at QR wards. However they don't appear to be as prevalent s they were this year. Quite poor out of Australia and SIN but better out of BKK. So it is entirely possible we will be on JQ 65 again. Neither of us are unhappy with that prospect.
We would not do a longer flight or an overnight flight on JQ though.

 

[drron]

I have posted extensively about our times in the IC Bangkok. So will be less than my usual detail. As well of course having he broken rib meant rest was the best on this trip.
So Saturday morning up to the club for breakfast. It was a day that eggs Benedict was on the menu so naturally what I ordered.


We just chilled for the rest of the day. But of course up again for happy hour. This time I took some photos of what I actually ate. each night I started with a plate of pickles. i got used to it on our many trips to Japan. Fond memories of the Westin Tokyo who not only had severl types of pickle but the same pickles from different areas of Japan. so this is Bangkok style. plus a couple of salads and a northern pork curry.



Mrsdrron had the lamb western style.


The second morning was eggs Florentine and my usual plate of smoked salmon.


That night the specials included roast ducj and mushroom soup.





That night the lounge Manager asked if she could take a couple of photographs. no problem.

 

[drron]

Wednesday morning and off to breakfast at our usual time of 0930. Had plain poached eggs with bacon.mushrooms and potatoes.
.

We went to the Big C supermarket and bought some more toiletries. A look around the other shops in the centre and back to the hotel and a Nanny nap. We are so full of energy. Fortuanely we had enough of it to get to the club that evening. I started with the Tom yum sop and lamb shank.




The nights buffet.














more to come.

 

[drron]

And I am trying to be good so my first plate.

 

[drron]

And the breakfast buffet.

 

[drron]

The rest of the Breakfast buffet.






















And I had my eggs Benedict again.

 

[drron]

Friday was our last day and we got off our backsides and did a long walk around Central World. Mrsdrron did find yet another bag to buy.
Walking to the mall you pass the Erawan Shrine.






A nd you get to watch another practice for the Bangkok Moto GP.


So just the last night left at the club. My plates.

 

[drron]

So it was up early and off to BKK at 060.




At that hour you get there quickly. We arrived at check in just as they opened and no one in the J line. Efficient check in And soon at th premium security. Held up for a couple of minutes as a young suit walked past everyone and put hos bag on the belt. A bit of a giggle from everyone when he was called back to take his jacket off. For some reason they insisted on putting me through the Xray instead of the scanner when I pointed out that I had a metal knee, so a pat down. Was obvious the fellow was new to it and being watched. No problems then as they have to learn some time. I was straight through Immigration. The fastest ever.
Then o the QR lounge. We weren't hungry and basically people watched. There were w women who stood out. One quite large annd wearing a black sports bra and black short shorts with he bare bits covered in tattoos. The other was a thin woman in western dress with a younf daughter with long beaded hair. Both were in our J cabin to DOH and on to MAN.

Left early as the gate was in the satellite terminal. It was an A380. Not really impressed with the hard product.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not really impressed with the hard product.

Hardly anyone is! Although if you make it to the bar at whiles away an hour or two quite nicely

 

[drron]

What I did like is the way he wine list is presented. QF should take notice. and the wines were pretty good.




And you do get a choice of champagne for your PDB.




Mrsdrron was pleased with her SB.


I had this riesling with my cheeseboard and really liked it.


This was my choice for the meal very satisfied.








However the wine service was poor. empty glasses just snapped up and not once was I offered a top up.

 

[drron]

The menus.




other beverages available.






Their featured chef was from Thailand.

 

[drron]

for breakfast I just had the french toast.


Mrsdrron started with the fruit. When she finished that her tray was aken away and had to have a long chat with the FA to get her French toast because she hadn't ordered that in the beginning.




I will just put the later meal here. Certainly the set up of your tray is excellent with spreadable butter and salt and pepper in grinders,


Mrsdrron had the lamb shank and then the coconut banana with coconut ice cream. She wasn't very impressed. Her lamb shank wasn't as good as th lamb shank on JQ. Dry, not great taste and not great presentation.


The dessert was a banana and vanilla ice cream with a packet of dessicated coconut emptied over it.


I had the mezze plate. Just 3 small bowls of the dips plus pita brean and then the cheeses plate. whichwas good thogh I have had bettr on other airlines.


So neither of us were impressed with the food. Maybe because of all the reports of excellent food and service our expectations were too high.
he service on this flight was quite poor. Again on our JQ light were much better.

 

[drron]

The flight itself. I do like planes fitted with Cameras. So from leaving the gate to stopping at the DOH gate.











Flying over Dubai there were several wonderful views from the downward looking camera. unfortunately several long PAs got in the way. So all I got.




Then descent into DOH.








A really long taxi.




And finnaly there virtually on time.

 

[drron]

After our rrival t crew wanted me to have a wheel chair to the lounge and had even orderedone. Having been rested for some hours I didn't want that and was able to walk the fair distance to the Al Mourjan north Garden lounge. Just Wow.
However this led to a realm problem. on boarding an FA took my jacket to hang up. with this discussion I forgot to ask for it and th FA forgot to give it back. I only remembered when arriving at MAN. I have since emailed QR's lost luggage using the email address on teir website 4 times, 5 other email addresses on the QR website that are supposedly monitored such as reservations. most get a failure of delivery notice and none any other reply. Emailing DOH airports lost luggage address again no answer.

But back to the lounge,. huge and virtually empty. At least 3 buffets all slightly different plus a La carte. However we didn't feel hungry so did not partake. In addition though the Louis Vuitton lounge is a cafe but costs.

So I took a walk around and some pictures.






















At the other end of the lounge is a Dior Spa.




We left a little early as the gate for the MAN flight was a fair distance. The agents at the bottom of the lifts down from the lounge insisted on transporting us to the gate. No point in resisting. Our limo to the gate.

 

[drron]

We were left outside the gate lounge which was entered through an Xray machine. Naturally being in a wheel chair with a metal walking stick and knee joint the lights were flashing but I was just moved close to the entrance to the air bridge. There was no way i was going to be allowed to walk to the plane. Interestingly those with young children boarded first then the 2 of us in Wheelchairs. I and Mrsdrron were the only ones going to the J cabin.

This was a 787 and a better se up than the A380 from BKK.






A much better crew and my first champagne quickly brought to the seat..


The menu. The wine list was exactly the same as our first flight,




Now another problem with our QR experience. I didn't bother with Wifi on the BKK flight as half the time we were over India.
For this flight I decided to buy the coverage for the full flight. A total waste as the speed was slower than a tortoise.

 

[Human]

For this flight I decided to buy the coverage for the full flight. A total waste as the speed was slower than a tortoise

I had a similar experience a few years ago, and was told to “Submit Feedback” via the website below (scroll down to find it). I received a full refund of wha I’d paid for internet access.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en/help.html

 

[drron]

Then to the cameras. starting to roll.




And off

The water we went over seemed to have an extensive reef system.








Then the land.

 

[drron]

So to the meal. Must be a amusee bouche.


And I obviously liked it.


the Qatari mezze. average.


mrsdrron had the lobster, Very nice.


I had the Qatari chicken. Forgettable.

 

[drron]

Interesting countryside.














Over Turkey some snow on the Mountains.