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This week our trip report starts with what used to be a common experience – the joy of travelling First Class to Asia. Due to the withdrawal of Qantas First Class service to Asia, it is now a little harder to travel in the lap of luxury using points. While Singapore Airlines do have some services with a First Class cabin, redemption seats can be hard to find. Fortunately, Thai Airways also offers services from Sydney, and it seems they are picking up some of the Qantas slack.
Nice Rimowa amenities case at seat, jacket taken immediately I arrived at seat and a glass of champagne in my hand a couple of minutes later. PJs handed out soon after. Only 6/10 seats in First occupied and an interesting observation that 3 pax had Qantas Platinum tags on their carryons
Aside from the room and comfy seats, one of the joys of travelling First Class is often the food and drink you can expect to be served. Caviar is par for the course when it comes to entrees, while champagne is the default drink for many. On this trip, it appears a little bit of favouritism was shown when it came to the size of the servings.
But we both enjoyed the Calvisius caviar though mrsdrron got a lot more than me. Served with chilled vodka. The lobster and smoked salmon was good. The salad was served with the choice of 2 dressings spooned on. For mains I had the lamb shank which was good but a little longer in the cooking to make the meat fall off the bone would have been better. I forgot to take a pic. Mrsdrron chose the salmon but had to pick again as they had only loaded 2 serves. She doesn’t eat curry and doesn’t particularly like black bean. The FA bought her the J menu and she decided the beef in oyster sauce would be a reasonable choice. Sure was, it was delicious.
Like any trip in First Class, the journey can go much quicker than one wants, and soon we find the travellers arriving in Bangkok. Being seasoned travellers, customs and immigration are soon a formality and then it’s off down the road to a familiar destination, a Starwood property in Pattaya, the Sheraton.
Checkin at the Sheraton was literally a breeze-it is open to the breezes. As soon as the agent brought up our reservation she reached for the phone and made a call. Soon the GM appeared and welcomed us back-we did initially come here last year just because we knew the GM. Got the usual plat upgrade to a garden view pavilion room which is very nice. It had a little bit of an ocean view but a better pool view.
With a few weeks worth of delights to be experienced in Thailand, Burma and Singapore, the journey has just begun. Pull up a comfy chair, pour yourself that favourite drink and enjoy an-other classic trip report HERE.
