A dash to Tunisia, Geneva, Portugal and Bahrain (picture review)

[henleybeach]

Views on the river cruise

 

[drron]

Views on the river cruise
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That last photo is where we stayed back in March. Great restaurant there too. it was an old winery.

 

[henleybeach]

That last photo is where we stayed back in March. Great restaurant there too. it was an old winery.

It looked very nice!

 

[henleybeach]

We caught the train back to Porto and spent the afternoon walking around old Porto. We enjoyed some nibbles and drinks before heading for a quiet night in.

The next day we were flying to LHR with BA as part of QFF reward booking to Bahrain. We had a 26hr layover in London.
We got to the airport with about 90 min to spare, the lounge at Porto is mediocre at best and is the lounge all airlines use.
Don’t waste your time in there. The terminal is better and the airport has free wifi everywhere.

Boarding was chaotic for A320 flight, with buses required for remote stand boarding. Group 1 was meant to board the first bus, however everyone jumped up and starting bolting for the bus. Staff performed no checks on correct boarding sequence. We missed the first bus despite being in group 1 and we waited 15 minutes for the second bus to arrive.

It was a full flight and there was 12 rows of business class which explained why priority check in was longer than the normal line! We actually lucked out and were assigned row 12 emergency exit so we got the legroom you normally don’t get in euro business class.
The choices for lunch were a creamy pasta or a grilled chicken breast with vegetables. We didn’t get the option as the chicken was gone by the time they served us in row 12.

The pasta was fine, I thought it was going to be worse, it was edible and did have nice flavour, just rich. The potato salad and dessert were both very nice.
A separate drinks trolley eventually made it to row 12, and just as I finished my lemonade, we started our decent into LHR.
Providing 48 Pax in business on an A320 a meal service is quite an achievement and the crew did so well.

We stayed at the swan hotel in Staines, about 10-15 mins from Heathrow.
A great little pub with atmosphere and views and a lot better than the airport hotel I was going to book

Last night in PORTO

 

[henleybeach]

Lunch on BA from Porto to London


Swan hotel

 

[henleybeach]

Today we fly out to Bahrain with BA on their new J product
We used the qantas lounge in LHR as I read the BA lounge is average.
I had some scrambled eggs and bacon, a couple of bramble coughtails and we headed to the boarding gate.

It was another bus to a remote stand, 4 in a row now.
After we boarded, a PDB of champagne was provide and shortly after finishing it, the captain announced there will be a delay due the front cargo hold not being able to open. A further update was provided and a new part was required to be sourced for the engineers.

After 60 minutes the door was fixed, however the captain announced another further delay of 60-90 minutes as there was no loading crew available to load the freight. FFS!

We were offered another champagne, and now we play the waiting game.
Loading complete and the captain provided an update…. We have a slot in 60 minutes to depart! This flight doesn’t feel like it will ever leave. If we leave in a hour that will mean being on the plane for over 3 hours!

The crew have been ok, only offered one refill and that’s it, haven’t offered any snacks. I have seen them with a tray of water for Y pax, other than that, they have stayed close to the galley.
We taxi out and then stop for a while, then I hear the engines shut down.
The captain advised there is a storm coming and all departures ex LHR have stopped and there is 12 planes lined up ahead of us. About 5 minutes later the storm come in over us and lasted about 20 minutes.
We are 3hrs and 15m past our departure time and still waiting. This day has been a complete waste and unfortunately will eat into our next day in Bahrain

We finally departed at 1744hrs, 4 hours after boarding and 3hrs 44minutes after scheduled departure time.

Meal service was quick after take off and the everything was nice, the beef was tender as it should be, being cheeks.

The service was fine, not overly friendly or attentive like SIA,the crew were probably pissed as well. We were served a chicken sandwich prior to landing which was average.

The seat was comfy in the lounge position, I never put it down flat as I was watching shows. First time flying BA, I’ve only read and seen bad things about their old J product, so i assume the BA flyers would be loving the new seat.

Arrived in Bahrain approx 2am and now to the hotel to bed.

 

[henleybeach]

Lazy day today
We are staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Bahrain bay and it’s attached to the avenues mall
We were staying in a corner suite, good size and great views.
Been in the mall for lunch and quickly walked to the see the world trade centre.
It was a stinker here, so we had a nice long
swim for a couple hours
Hotel is very convenient to access all fast food and restaurants, you don’t have to take a step outside.

 

[henleybeach]

Check the Bahrain Fort today and had lunch at the green bean cafe which is on-site

 

[Pushka]

Lazy day today
We are staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Bahrain bay and it’s attached to the avenues mall
We were staying in a corner suite, good size and great views.
Been in the mall for lunch and quickly walked to the see the world trade centre.
It was a stinker here, so we had a nice long
swim for a couple hours
Hotel is very convenient to access all fast food and restaurants, you don’t have to take a step outside.
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That architecture is amazing.

 

[henleybeach]

Home time!
A quick flight from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi and a 1 night stay at the Fairmont before the long leg home.
We flew Etihad 787-9 from AUH-MEL and then VA to ADL
Crew was great and so was the food. Slept for a couple hours and binged watch the box.

 

[RooFlyer]

We flew Etihad 787-9 from AUH-MEL

I'm doing that in a few months. Any other comments on that flight? Better locations in the J cabin, etc?

The mezze looks quite different from QRs and the lamb kibbeh looks sensational.

 

[henleybeach]

I'm doing that in a few months. Any other comments on that flight? Better locations in the J cabin, etc?

The mezze looks quite different from QRs and the lamb kibbeh looks sensational.

I was in seat 8a which I thought was perfect, it’s not a big business cabin, I found seat 8a was far enough away from the forward galley and toilets and the rear galley. It’s also forward facing, and had 3 windows!
The lamb was beautiful, definitely recommend it.
Etihad supply amenity kit, however no slippers. Lucky I took the Fairmont slippers from the hotel as a just in case. I use slippers because I can’t be bothered putting my shoes on and off during the flight, so if you use slippers during the flight, pack a pair from a hotel to use.

 

[henleybeach]

A quick summary

FLIGHTS - J class comparison
Singapore airlines- the best wine list and food was equal with etihad. Seat the worse to sleep in and lounge in. Service great.

British airways- seat was really comfy to lounge in, food and wine the lowest out of the three. Service ok.

Etihad airways- food was equal to Singapore, seat felt a little hard to lounge in, fine to sleep in with enough room. Service was great.

Holiday over, left AUH and it was 42 degrees and arrived into ADL with 14 and rain- take me back! Thanks for tuning it, hope I have provided some ideas or tips like I get from other reports

 

[VPS]

A quick summary

FLIGHTS - J class comparison
Singapore airlines- the best wine list and food was equal with etihad. Seat the worse to sleep in and lounge in. Service great.

British airways- seat was really comfy to lounge in, food and wine the lowest out of the three. Service ok.

Etihad airways- food was equal to Singapore, seat felt a little hard to lounge in, fine to sleep in with enough room. Service was great.

Holiday over, left AUH and it was 42 degrees and arrived into ADL with 14 and rain- take me back! Thanks for tuning it, hope I have provided some ideas or tips like I get from other reports
View attachment 334054

Thanks some great memories and some fresh ideas. Not sure when you got home but today is a good time to be inside in Adelaide. I was surprised with the thunder and lightning but at least I’m not flooding like my neighbouring apartment last week

 

[jase05]

I'm doing that in a few months. Any other comments on that flight? Better locations in the J cabin, etc?

The mezze looks quite different from QRs and the lamb kibbeh looks sensational.

I absolutely love the rear facing window seats so 7C or 7H are my go to on the 787-9. Last flight with them only 5C was available and even though it’s close to the galley I found it perfectly acceptable and peaceful.
9C and 9H don’t have a window so I try to avoid them.
Great if the 787-9 is on the MEL route as I thought they were running the inferior 777 service on that route

 

[henleybeach]

I absolutely love the rear facing window seats so 7C or 7H are my go to on the 787-9. Last flight with them only 5C was available and even though it’s close to the galley I found it perfectly acceptable and peaceful.
9C and 9H don’t have a window so I try to avoid them.
Great if the 787-9 is on the MEL route as I thought they were running the inferior 777 service on that route

Etihad are using the 787 on the day time departures from Mel, Syd and Auh. The night time departures are still the 777

 

[RooFlyer]

Etihad are using the 787 on the day time departures from Mel, Syd and Auh. The night time departures are still the 777

Just realised I'm on the night flight, B777. 10A, should be OK.

 

[craven morehead]

Another great TR

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for the interesting TR.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for your great trip report, I enjoyed following along.