Kiwi Flyer
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2004
- Posts
- 5,453
COLOMBO to KUALA LUMPUR (CMB-KUL) on UL A330-200
International transfers or turnarounds could not be simpler than at Colombo, which has the same set up as Singapore and moreover the transit desk is well used (thanks to FTers) to crazy itineraries – mine seems very tame in comparison to same. Off the airbridge and along the pier to transit desk. I noticed a lot of people lazing on the seats, waiting for onward flights that leave throughout the night or even next morning as I will. Two minutes at transfer desk and I have my onward boarding pass as well as an invitation to the Sri Lankan Airlines business class lounge.
I wander the terminal for a bit – a few duty free shops are open, no currency exchange. I notice Skywards have a corner of the terminal fenced off for their gold members travelling in economy. The business class lounge is reasonable without being stunning. 3 sleeper rooms, a handful of computers and a half decent selection of food and drink. No showers though and a nasty couple of steps down from bathroom to the lounge which I fell down in a tired haze
There is a steady flow of passengers in and out of the lounge – some there for only a few minutes and others, like me, waiting for hours. With no flight announcements and not wanting to miss the flight I struggle to stay awake thanks to several coffees and the help of some FTers. At the appropriate time I head for our gate at the end of the pier. Screening is at the gate. No worries about liquids, apparently. No need to take off belt or shoes either.
Boarding is called for families with young children and those needing assistance. At once 90% of the full gate lounge head to the airbridge.
Despite two airbridges being open only the second is used. On board it seems the flight is full in economy but not even half full in business. This surprised me as when I checked loads using availability it showed as being sold out in business class. 
Perhaps it is the nature of the triangle flight that produced this odd result, although loads in business class were very light on the 2 legs I flew.
The seats are the same as Qantas old business class but seem marginally wider– ie perfectly reasonable for a shortish flight. The in flight entertainment consists of personal tvs, about 8 or 10 channels on loop (non avod) and a video player with a couple of dozen videos to choose from. The service is friendly and reasonably efficient. In short, I was not expecting much but pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be flying Sri Lankan Airlines again.
We push back late thanks to a couple of missing passengers and wait to remove their checked bags. The soft early morning light nicely highlights the wonderful scenery as we cross the hills and mountains of the island. Pockets of mist collecting in some hollows and the first early signs of low level convection. Then back across the Bay of Bengal for the fifth and final time on this trip. We have a reasonably smooth ride and make up a little time. We pull up next to the Singapore Airlines shuttle. Again at Kuala Lumpur onward passengers are asked to remain on board.
I doze and have a refreshing ginger tea to wake up.
International transfers or turnarounds could not be simpler than at Colombo, which has the same set up as Singapore and moreover the transit desk is well used (thanks to FTers) to crazy itineraries – mine seems very tame in comparison to same. Off the airbridge and along the pier to transit desk. I noticed a lot of people lazing on the seats, waiting for onward flights that leave throughout the night or even next morning as I will. Two minutes at transfer desk and I have my onward boarding pass as well as an invitation to the Sri Lankan Airlines business class lounge.
I wander the terminal for a bit – a few duty free shops are open, no currency exchange. I notice Skywards have a corner of the terminal fenced off for their gold members travelling in economy. The business class lounge is reasonable without being stunning. 3 sleeper rooms, a handful of computers and a half decent selection of food and drink. No showers though and a nasty couple of steps down from bathroom to the lounge which I fell down in a tired haze
There is a steady flow of passengers in and out of the lounge – some there for only a few minutes and others, like me, waiting for hours. With no flight announcements and not wanting to miss the flight I struggle to stay awake thanks to several coffees and the help of some FTers. At the appropriate time I head for our gate at the end of the pier. Screening is at the gate. No worries about liquids, apparently. No need to take off belt or shoes either.
Boarding is called for families with young children and those needing assistance. At once 90% of the full gate lounge head to the airbridge.
Despite two airbridges being open only the second is used. On board it seems the flight is full in economy but not even half full in business. This surprised me as when I checked loads using availability it showed as being sold out in business class. Perhaps it is the nature of the triangle flight that produced this odd result, although loads in business class were very light on the 2 legs I flew.The seats are the same as Qantas old business class but seem marginally wider– ie perfectly reasonable for a shortish flight. The in flight entertainment consists of personal tvs, about 8 or 10 channels on loop (non avod) and a video player with a couple of dozen videos to choose from. The service is friendly and reasonably efficient. In short, I was not expecting much but pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be flying Sri Lankan Airlines again.
We push back late thanks to a couple of missing passengers and wait to remove their checked bags. The soft early morning light nicely highlights the wonderful scenery as we cross the hills and mountains of the island. Pockets of mist collecting in some hollows and the first early signs of low level convection. Then back across the Bay of Bengal for the fifth and final time on this trip. We have a reasonably smooth ride and make up a little time. We pull up next to the Singapore Airlines shuttle. Again at Kuala Lumpur onward passengers are asked to remain on board.
I doze and have a refreshing ginger tea to wake up.
