Hi, and welcome to my latest Trip Report, Hong Kong to Bangkok and return by Emirates First Class
This is a side trip of my travels from Sydney to Taipei, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
14 June 2009
Emirates #385
Hong Kong to Bangkok
For many years, Emirates has operated between Hong Kong and Bangkok. The late departure time has been very popular with both Hong Kong and Thai people to catch the ride after a full day of work/leisure. This heavily tourist route has usually been operated by a 2 class 450 seats B777-300 (A6-EMP/EMQ in particular) until last year Emirates have been sending the refurbished 3 class B777-300.
I was thrilled to learn at check in , I was the only passenger in First Class on tonight's flight to Bangkok. There was an A/C change from B777-300 to B777-300/ER. I proceed to the Hong Kong Emirates Lounge, which like most other lounges in Hong Kong, it has an open space roofless design on 3rd floor of the departure terminal.
There were some decent food offering, the same high standard with all Emirates Lounge Worldwide. However, I think the lounge can be separated into First Class and Business Class section in the Future.
Within minutes of seating down, a friendly lounge attendant lady came and took my drink order, instead having to stand up and serve myself. I have some braised duck and veal , knowing Hong Kong's satisfactory catering standard. The lounge attendant were also keen to found out why am I taking pictures around.
Boarding call came 30 minutes before departure time. I was one of the last one to board the plane after a few minutes walk from the lounge down to Gate 66. The lounge attendant remembers my name and personally came over to wished me a pleasant flight, it is that little extra things makes a big difference!
At the gate, A6-EBG is awaiting, it has the same First Class seats, however, Business class have the older recliner seats, not the lie flat seat recently installed on B777-300 fleet.
A very friendly Thai FA greeted me in Door 1L, I settled down in pre-selected seat 2K. I have flown the same cabin in 2006 so I am familiar with the seat controls. There are no amenities kit to be handed out on this flight. Emirates provides First Class customer with their own towel in a sealed bag, not sure this is because of the recent H1N1 flu outbreak? The usual Arabic Coffee and Dates were served before takeoff.
I informed FA that I am mostly interested to take some cabin photos so they turned on the mood light to oblige with my request.
No complaints about the leg room in front!
We pushed back and departed prior to the STD, with 199 passengers on board. The loads tonight definity wasn't great as usual on this route. A quick takeoff from Runway 07R with banking to the Southwest heading for Bangkok, Flight Level was 36,000 feet with Captain Pereira (from India) and Captain Vrioste (From Bolivia) in charge the cockpit.
Inflight service soon start with welcoming drinks and a full dinner offering. Since I was the only passenger in First, the crew did not want to roll out the dining cart and wanted to work from the galley direct. However, as soon as I asked where is the cart, they happily obliged. Within 10 minutes of set up, they rolled it out !! Thumbs up to the crew!
The catering is from Hong Kong.
First Course : Balik Salmon with Caviar
For main course, I have a mixed entree of Fish/Chicken with Vegetable and Tofu Fried Rice. Thumbs up to the crew continuously topping up my OJ + Dom Mix
The taste of the main course were ok, slightly bland. However the Fish and Vegetable both are good.
Quite a simple dessert, suspect the same as Business Class
The usual tea set and Godiva box after dinner
After dinner, the purser came and introduce herself personally. She joined the company almost 20 years ago, when a time Emirates have B737! She set up the bed for me and told me would not wake me up until we're on final approach into Bangkok.
The seat can go 180 degree and leg rest extend to support my height (6"1, 185cm tall) . You feel private in the window seat with the divider up with 5 windows for personal viewing pleasure :)
The rest of the flight was eventless, the flight time to Bangkok was a quick 2hr 15 minutes. EK385 touched down in Thailand's capital at 2344 Local Time and parked in Concourse D, closet to Immigration and baggage reclaim. This concludes the short flight in First Class.
Because it was such a short flight, it was hard to enjoy all the First Class amenities, but like most of my other Emirates flight, I was satisfied and happy (and full) after the flight. It was also quite a breeze for the crew, as the cabin were not crowded at all.
One night in Bangkok ( It was so good actually I stayed two! )
Le Meridien Bangkok
This is the latest Starwood Property in town and currently # 1 out of 519 hotels on Trip Advisor, enough to say about its reputation among travelers'. It is located on Surawong Road, near the infamous nightspot Patpong.
Stylish Lobby
Vista Room (Standard, but with floor to ceiling window and electric blinds)
Views from 16th floor room. Anyone know why the old white building in the left has Delta Air Lines logo on it? (It looks very vintage)
The Le Meridien Spa Facility
Many pleasant hours by the Pool and Cabana with very few guest around.
After 2 relaxing days in the Thai Capital, it is time to return to Hong Kong (and subsequently to Sydney)
16 June 2009
Emirates #384
Hong Kong to Bangkok
Emirates has a very orderly check-in area in Bangkok Survanabhumi Int'l. The First Class check-in lady checked all my bags to Sydney via Hong Kong and Taipei (With China Airlines) in spite Emirates flies direct from Bangkok to Sydney. She told me that since I flies too often, she won't be bother to explain the baggage restriction rule and asked whether I pack my own bags.
Despite I've been to Bangkok a dozen times since the new airport have opened, I never liked the airport and its bare concrete design and its signage. I am still used to do the good old Don Muang. Emirates Lounge is located one floor under departure area in Concourse D.
Good Garden view seating area
Now, beware of the ample amount of food offering in this lounge!
There were much more offering than Sydney or Hong Kong's Emirates Lounge. However, they don't taste that great and not that appealing either. It must have been an overkill since I wasn't that hungry.
EK384 called for boarding about 25 minutes prior to STD. The Boarding gate was D6 , A/C operating is a B777-300, A6-EMV which featured refurbished First and Business Class, although no First Suites.
I was among the last few passengers to board the plane and once step in the cabin door, what a mess, First Class was mostly occupied and duvet/mattress placed everywhere, my pre-assigned seat 2A was taken by a middle Eastern woman and she was sleeping in full recline position since the flight came from Dubai overnight. The crew just didn't react or offer any apology about my taken seat, so I helped myself and took seat 1A instead. The small incident reminded me that a year ago I was flying from Hong Kong to Dubai via Bangkok in Economy, how the Emirates purser came around to make sure everyone stayed in their own seats while transiting onboard in Bangkok. Why they can't be making sure First Class passenger to do the same. Anyway, just the standard has not been applied evenly. It seems a large Saudi family was travelling with me today in First (10 out of 12 seats occupied, 3 children among them)
No Arabic Coffee/Dates were offered to joining passenger from Bangkok. We pushed back on time under the command of Captain Joe Pack from Germany and First Officer Praetsegaard from Denmark. Tookoff at 1355 local time from Runway 19L bound for Hong Kong with flying time 2hrs 35 minutes.
Welcome Drink and Nuts. I asked an extra glass with Ice, to serve myself in the bar.
Inflight meal started quickly with Duck Breast as starter.
The FA took this photo of the dining cart offering.
FA Atusko and Farzah serving First Class meals
The flavor was unusually too strong in the Stir Fried Beef and all vegetable, so as the Samosa. It wasn't good as usual from Bangkok catering.
Rest of the flight was eventless, the purser never came around to check on her First Class passengers but stayed in the galley chatting. After this flight, I feel the service level of Emirates has been stretched a bit when First Class is filled. I have only previously flown in mostly empty cabin. This particular flight service left a lot to be desired. There were no topping up offers, no smiles, basically you just seat there and watch the PTV by yourself.
We arrived in Hong Kong on-time, with a Easterly approach on Runway 07L and a short taxi to Gate 66. A large amount of Immigration officers stood at the gate to meet the passenger. This also happened to my previous Emirates Hong Kong Arrival flight. I think the Immigration/Custom officer is targeting African/Middle Eastern passengers going to mainland China.
After thoughts: There were a lot of contrasts on the two different First Class flights. On a whole, Emirates offer great in flight amenities, generous in-flight meal, new airplane with advance seating and state of the art PTV Entertainment System (ICE). From my observation, Emirates crew tend to dealt with more demanding and challenging passenger from vast origins that Emirates flies to. It is the attitude of cabin crew to make the flight extra pleasurable and sometimes memorable.
Thank you for viewing my Trip Report.
All photos copyright Sam Chui. No Reproduction without permission.