USA, EUR, UK and HKG - bring it on!

[anat0l]

Nice TR so far Mr!

What a TOOL this guy was...

Before takeoff he was on the phone to BT (I assume) trying to figure his new Blackberry out – his conversation was just loud enough that everyone within a 15M radius could hear him. During the flight he carried on like a spoiled kid, wanting this, wanting that and expecting 1st class service on a LCC airline, and during final descent, turned his note book off after being asked 3 times by the FA’s only to turn on his Blackberry.

I lost the plot at that point and asked him if he was exempt from the rules of the airline as well as aviation bodies across the world and why he felt he could have his Blackberry on?

After a quick realisation he was dealing with someone who clearly didn’t like him, who had a strong sense of self preservation, and could snap him in half like a dried twig, he mumbled some abuse and turned the phone off.

I just responded to an FT thread of similar discussion.

*big sigh* You just can't stop idiots from being idiots. You are good to keep your cool - I probably would not have.

 

[munitalP]

Lyon still....

After my meetings were completed, I caught a taxi to the main rail station. My PA had booked me a 1st class rail ticked from Lyon to Paris which I needed to pick up. On reaching the counter, I asked for my ticket only to be told they needed the original credit card to issue the ticket. No amount of explaining that the original credit card was in Australia would help, so without the original (!) they made a refund and I paid on my own for the same ticket at an extra cost because I was purchasing it over the counter instead of the internet... GRRRRRRR!

I was issued a seat upstairs, it was goo except getting my luggage up there (gotta get a smaller case) and had a nice relaxing ride to Paris. Pity I slept most of the way!
I got off the train at CDG and wandered up to A8 where the hotel bus picked me up about 20 minutes later and delivered me safely to the hotel.

The Comfort Hotel was OK, the room was small and the shower stall was small, however, the bed was nice, the restaurant was OK and the beer was served in 750ml glasses – what further hedonistic pleasures would be needed at this stage?

A couple of beers later saw me in bed snoring... Geez jet lag is great...

Mr!

 

[Flashback]

What a comedy of errors! But sounds like it's not stressing you too much and you're still having fun

 

[munitalP]

13.02.2009
CDG LHR – BA Flight Y

I hate CDG as an airport or at least the BA part of the airport.

Also, the self check sucks – where’s the first class service I am used to? Huh? BA needs to buck up it’s ideas or is this a new model of service that QF and BA have decided to experiment with, the little or no service model?

After checking in finally – flights were delayed all over the place due to weather, my flights were changed for the better, I no longer had to transit via Gatwick to get to Manchester – GREAT! Through immigration and onward to dispose of my bags, I was informed by the BA member that the lounge was not available to me so kick back and relax in the main terminal.... “ahem... what exactly does unavailable mean” I asked, “you can’t use it was the answer...”

Gosh

I promptly went off down the departures area looking for the lounge to which I was refused entry even as a OW Emerald flyer.

Gosh and bother!

Did I mention I hate CDG?

I had a coffee and a small snack then settled down to watching people entering the lounge.

Gosh, bother and prats!

Looking at the departures screen and seeing my flight on the Go To Gate listing, I went through security and settled into a 50 minute delayed boarding. On entering the aircraft, I settled into an aisle seat behind the exit rows in a near empty plane and relaxed for a flight across to LHR.

Prior to departure, the FA’s let people know that they were free to move, so a few PAX shifted to “better seating”, I stayed where I was except moved sideways to the window.
A coffee and snack and the flight was over touching down at Heathrow at T5

13.02.2009
LHR MAN BA Flight Y

After a couple of Heinekens with Drambue chasers, at the lounge T5 (South) – Terraces I think... I wandered down for my flight to Manchester. The B seat was empty and I settled down for a quick 40 minute flight to Manchester. No time at all later, I was being whisked away in my cousins new X5 for a weekend with family, some of whom I had never met – a good weekend to say the least!

Mr!

 

[docjames]

Brrrr, looks cold.

 

[serfty]

... I was informed by the BA member that the lounge was not available to me so kick back and relax in the main terminal.... “ahem... what exactly does unavailable mean” I asked, “you can’t use it was the answer...”

Gosh

I promptly went off down the departures area looking for the lounge to which I was refused entry even as a OW Emerald flyer.

Gosh and bother!

Did I mention I hate CDG?...

It seems the BA lounge in CDG is a contract (associated?) non o/w lounge and is available to those holding BA J BP's.

oneworld Emeralds/Sapphires (including BAEC members) travelling WHY have no access..

 

[munitalP]

15.02.2009
MAN LHR BA Flight Y

Is it just me or is BA check in a little difficult? Again the self check (that didn’t work) and the general grumpy mood of the staff left me feeling less than satisfied with my experience as a premium OW customer.

I wandered through the airport until I found the BA lounge. An opulent lounge where you can set up next to a window overlooking the runways, or you can set up next to a window where the poor folk can look up at you and wonder how you got to be in there....

I chose the runway option.... I did! Ok, well I did think about the option... nah I’m not like that... really...

I had a nice breakfast then boarded a full plane to LHR. The views of London were impressive as we swept around over London and finally into LHR.
I wandered through to the North Lounge T5 – Galleries I think, very nice. Brilliant food, seating, great wine, wonderful ambience and not a single sighting of IKEA.
My next flight was called way too soon – I will Flounge here in the future and ensure I get a 2 to 3 hour session in next time, there is far too much good wine to let go by the by!

 

[munitalP]

15.02.2009
LHR FRA Flight Y

Again a full flight and again a window seat – I do prefer isle seating...
Out of LHR and over a snow covered France and Germany into FRA. An uneventful flight with a certain feeling of melancholy at leaving Europe and the UK knowing I wont be back for some time (scheduled at least).

Landing at FRA, we pulled up on the tarmac and were bussed to the terminal. Thank God I know FRA otherwise I would have been lost trying to find the CX lounge. I didn’t even have a CX boarding pass! This was my FRA HKG leg. I wandered into the lounge and was issued a boarding pass, the second row in Y on a 340. The seating was the slide forward type (to recline) with fixed backs. I liked the power point on the seat back in front of me and I made use of this to charge lappy and in turn iPoddy as it went flat. The TV screens were of a good size as well however the glare from the screen next to me was very bright.

My name came up on the seat back screen!!!

Mr! Welcome aboard and thank you for your continued support...
I was impressed and even more so when the CSM came down and greeted me again! CX seems to value OW Emerald customers. Meals were great, drink service was good except for beer #2 which was frozen so once opened became a little geyser all over me, my book and pillow. The FA’s were slow cleaning up which caused me some grief trying to get paper towels from the loo’s when the loo’s were busy, but in the end, cleaned up OK.

Some sleep, a couple of movies, great views of the Himalayas and we were quickly descending into Hong Kong.

I was through customs reasonably quickly and once finding my bag, off out the door to be greated by the Mad Scientist who had come back up for the Asian meetings. We taxied out to the Gold Coast Hotel into some reasonable luxury.

 

[NM]

... and is available to those holding BA J BP's.

or a shiny BA Silver or Gold card. BA does allow their own members to use the contract lounge at CDG. No access for Qantas Club members either. But you really don't miss much. When I was there it was crowded, hot, no food and only warm beer! We left and went to the bar downstairs and bought some cold beers.

 

[medhead]

I placed my bags on the scales and got informed that I would have to pay an additional 186 Euro for excess luggage.

I explained that I had 2 seats on this plane (due to travelling companion returning to Australia) and I was under the paid luggage requirements weight wise as only one of us were flying.

She told me to pay the 186 Euro or I wouldn’t be boarding...
I had no choice. I paid the 186 Euro and went through to departures.

Is this part of the teutonic mindset that says they have to absolutely stick to the rules no matter what?

With a brother living in Germany, i have a few stories on this type of thing. Our discussion usually ends with me mentioning the war and hypothesising on how strict adherence to the rules might have resulted in a less then statisfactory outcome in said global activities.

 

[hedge]

Ok, I'm in Graz, that was one rattly old BAe 146 EUROWINGS (LH Regional) flew over - well past it's use by date....

I'm at the Ibis (next to the train station), I'm due to have a shower, change of clothes and a beer - I'm just not sure what order that will happen...

Auf Wiedersehen

Mr!

The 146's aren't that bad! I fly one to work and I find it pretty comfortable but the headroom when boarding is a little low.

 

[Flashback]

The 146's aren't that bad! I fly one to work and I find it pretty comfortable but the headroom when boarding is a little low.

Sounds like you've been flying NC :mrgreen:

 

[munitalP]

A few photos more...

From T5 LHR

T5 LHR

Tacky ceiling in T5 LHR

Liverpool

Liverpool

Manchester

 

[munitalP]

14.02.2009
Hong Kong

I love Hong Kong, in fact, there aren’t too many major Asian cities I don’t love, but HK is right up there next to Singapore for me. The Gold Coast Hotel in the NT was chosen due to its proximity to our meetings. The hotel is 4 to 5 star with 6* service. It has a great bar that serves Carlsberg extra cold off tap in 750ml glasses for about $6.50 AUD (what more could a man want?), the rooms are huge – we had the 5* rooms, the bathrooms are as big as some of the European rooms I have recently stayed in (!) and the breakfast selection is fantastic with most cultures catered for. Sadly, the chef has been to the same school as the Radission Celebration chef, and has perfected the art of killing already dead bacon. I asked for fresh bacon and poached eggs morning 2 and they came out served to me as I would cook them at home – I was happy.

The Mad Scientist bought 4 pairs of CK jeans the day before I arrived and was talking about getting them taken up back in OZ – I recommended he rang reception and see what the hotel could do, sure enough, within 5 minutes of the call, there were 2 tailors in his room measuring leg length etc – the mods cost a little over $40AUD, and were done overnight, too impressive!
Night 1 in HK was spent at the market shopping for bargains – I got some new runners and a couple of new silk ties, the Mad Scientist a Mont Blanc laptop bag (genuine fake), what I don’t understand here is, the bag is leather (we done the lighter test), the quality is exceptional, it looks great and it cost about $50AUD. Why then don’t the manufacturers of these copied goods put their efforts into making their own design and label? It does confuse me, a lot like the fake watches (I wouldn’t buy for myself on principle) that the quality is exceptional – why not put that effort into your own product... hmmmm

The next day was spent in meetings followed by a dash through the computer market where I picked up a 8G memory stick, about 1.5mm thick, 10mm wide and 25mm long – yeah, be impressed, I was! It cost me about $20AUD, I should have got a couple thinking about it... Also, a stop on the way back to the hotel had me supporting a new set of luggage, 2 midsized Pierre Cardin suit cases and a cabin case of the same manufacturer – I nearly went the Samsonite at a few $$$ more – I wonder if I will regret this later on...

Dinner was had at my favourite dumpling restaurant, DIN TAI FUNG. Readers of my other posts will know that I have a mission to eat in every one of these restaurants worldwide, so my country count is now 3. Jakarta is next on my list followed by Singapore!

16.02.2009
HGK SIN CX 735 Y

The B777 decided it didn’t want to work properly before pushing back, so we spent a lot of time at the gate waiting on repairs to happen. This didn’t worry me except for my connection time in SIN was tight as it was, so departing over an hour late was an issue.

The aircraft was a regional fit out and was well worn. The interior of the plane didn’t fit the age of the aircraft and other airlines that fly these 777’s in my experience tend to fit them out better than this CX bird was. A meal was served which I refused ( I try not to eat what I can’t associate visually with what I am being told it is, in this case chicken & rice which didn’t look like chicken) the main but had a single bite of the potato salad – this meal bought a new meaning to poor airline food. The Carlsberg being served worked. I had 2 or 3 and a short nap. I didn’t have the 5mm plug for my Bose, so I didn’t bother watching anything either, I did however finish my book – The Associate (John Grisham) – a good read.

Landing in SIN, an airport rep was waiting for me and a fellow PAX at the gate and we were whisked through Changi on a golf buggy to the next flight where we immediately boarded and they closed the door. My thoughts were firmly on my luggage at this stage...

SIN PER QF 78 Y

My original plan had been a direct CX flight from HKG to SYD but a customer required a site meeting in Karatha (which got cancelled sometime between HKG and SIN) so my flights were changed to include PER. This 4 hour flight was a good flight, but the attitude of the FA’s was terrible. QF will be getting a letter from me to say as much as well in the next week.

A movie, a couple of beers and the flight was over and I was in PER and guess what, so was my luggage! Now I am impressed! I checked my emails to find my PA had booked me on the first flight from PER to MEL which was due to depart a little after 6, so I hung around the airport for a few hours, had a few coffees, then at 0430, bussed across to the DOM terminal, into the QP, showered and a quick bite then onto the plane for my leg home.

PER MEL QF 480 J

2E sitting next to a West Coast footy player, had a quick chat, a quick meal, then slept the rest of the flight. My driver picked me up and I was home within an hour. My journey over...

Mr!

 

[munitalP]

Just a few more pics...

2 days before I left, the dash on the Beema says it all (I also had the roof down so it was hot!)

The inside of the enormous sports store in Orlando

Some local wildlife

And I complain about 737's being cramped...!

Standing on this stone in Liverpool, your creditors give you a 30 day break - hear that AMEX?

 

[Flashback]

Nice TR munitalP, bet you're glad to finally be home

 

[JohnK]

Very interesting trip report munitalP with some wonderful photos.

 

[Grooba]

Absolutely great TR there munitalP, enthrawling reading!

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

Great trip report and photo's, well done.

Dunbow

is Dunmow, why did you stay there?
Plenty of good B&B's just down the road in Stansted Mountfitchet, a couple of great pubs and one of the best fish and chip shops in the area, just what you need after a skin full of real ale at the Queens Head.:mrgreen:

Ryanair isn't so bad if you play by the rules.
The Ryanair website is clear on late arrivals :

We appreciate customers arrive late for reasons often beyond their control, however under no circumstances will a passenger be accepted for travel after check-in has closed.

Did you just miss check-in or did you arrive after the flight had left?

Cheers
DJ737

 

[medhead]

Hi there

Did you just miss check-in or did you arrive after the flight had left?

Sorry what is the point of this question. As you quote, Ryan air rules are clear - no one accepted after checkin closes. Whether one misses check in or the flight makes no difference. The fact that they can't accept exceptional circumstances, is pretty bad.