Maiden DONE4

[Stoopidsteve]

Porsche. Boxter maybe?

We have a Winner!

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Who do you rope into taking the photos... and what are the looks on faces when the fluro and beanie are whipped out? :mrgreen:

In the BA First lounge T3 Heathrow, the staff, and bemusement and co-operation is the usual response

 

[Stoopidsteve]

And staff in Cathay Lounge even more helpful..
.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

So, newbie that I am, I was rebuffed politely when asking for Spa (BA or Qantas flyers only...I'm on CX) and also First restaurant tables, so settled for self serve beef and ale pie, with some belly pork and salad, followed by summer pudding with appropriate table decoration.



Showers had big queue so decided to go investigate CX lounge.
Much smaller and quieter than Galleries, and straight into shower (I took off the fluoro for that).

Some noodles later...OK but not that amazing...maybe time to pop back to Galleries for more summer fruits...did I say I love raspberries and strawberries in season in UK? Nothing like it back home.

 

[Deleted member]

A gutsy performance , WP richly deserved.
I will get there in August so here's to a chance encounter in the BNE 1st class cubby one day

 

[Stoopidsteve]

cx254 LHR-HKG 2220 Boeing 747
Seat 82K

Captain Malcom Howell, FA on upper deck Hilary and Andreas

This config is "old business". Upper deck very quiet, 82K toward the front.I can understand why some might not like the "coffin class" seats on these, but was fine for me (5'6" and about 78kg). I immediately changed into QF F pyjamas (is that a DYKWIA action, or one of someone who just wants to be comfortable...certainly more comfortable than jeans for the 11 hr flight). A slightly unusual feeling taking off sideways, certainly stranger than backward t/o on BA. We took off about 2245, but arrived at gate 44 at 1705.

Flawless service. I loved it. From the lobster tail starter to the breakfast just be fore landing, crew fantastic. Difficult to define, but just simple good service.



Next stop HKG for a few hours....

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Hong Kong airport...long walks, clean efficient looking...
Wandered down to the Pier First. Nice Shower, rain head and detachable hand unit. Comfortable, quiet, attentive staff, and Haagen Daaz ice cream, who could ask for anything more?


Except it has a kind of closed in feel, which you don't really notice until doing comparison with LHR 1st (either BA or CX. So I went for a wander (distributing many currencies en route in shops), and found myself at The Cabin, by gate 22.
Again it's down stairs, but has window running full length looking out onto tarmac...I much prefer the feel here. and of course they have those interesting Solus chairs.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

with more time to spare, I mount an expedition to trek the wilds of HKG to The Wing at gate 2.
Nice.

Of course the marble stairs invite me up to the noodle bar..."small bowl please"



The long bar is...long.

The coffee loft serves....coffee.

is it "the best lounge in the world" (from CX website)? Don't know, but certainly nicer than the old SIN J lounge. I look forward to the completion of The Wing First, and also SIN's updates...and of course I'll be reading all about them here on this wonderful forum before I get to experience them.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

So the final leg of this episode comes around...I girded something or other, and trekked the 12 miles from The Wing to Gate 68...took about 12 mins without rushing, but not dawdling either.

CX103 HKG-BNE 2340 A330
14K

Another coffin class. Right side of cabin (K seats) have less traffic, as the left sidea has two seats facing into the aisle. The ottoman was a bit tatty, but otherwise the only difference I noted was this seat doesn't have the shoulder seat belt that was on the 747...I did ponder if we stopped suddenly, everyone in J ends up smacking the next seat...

Late take off because the machine the engineers were using for routine maintenance broke and they had to find another...then a big queue of planes...so 0034 t/o, nearly an hour late, by which time getting a little sleepy. Ordered the "quick light meal" designed for those wanting to eat and sleep, or sleep and the neat, but confusion reigned as the main service arrived first and I was too slow to say anything. Besides, by the time the light meal arrived I'd almost finished anyway...



Beef with tendons arrived quickly thereafter too.

Once again, FA's happy to assist with pics...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Once again, liked the CX service. Would like to try their New Business seating...

Late departure meant late arrival into BNE at 1045 (vs 1015), but after duty free shopping, immigration, pick up checked bag, and customs, was kerbside by 1105.



However, I didn't leave BNE airport until closer to 1200...today's handy hint is ..."when going away for a while, remember where you left the car in the big car park"...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Firsts:
First deliberate SC run incorporated into an xONE4
First DONE4 (not self funded, but not likely to happen again for a very long time!)
First time in First QF
First time Gold
World record for shortest time at gold
First time Platinum
First time BA J
First time Iberia
First time CX
First time in First lounges (LHR T3)
First time at HKG

Memorable moments:
The big grin on my face getting txt confirming points upgrade
Posting to this forum from mid-Pacific MEL-LAX
Running round Washington
The ENORMOUS ENORMOUS ENORMOUS fluffy towel in MAD
Enjoying my first taste of CX J.


Regrets/missed chances...
No time for Flounge MEL before MEL-LAX
Not having family with me


Looking forward to...
Using HKG and CX as hub instead of SIN in future (pending SIN lounge upgrades....)
Comparing CX J with QF A380 J (have 11E for Sept trip)
Accessing SYD/MEL Flounges in future (reset date Jan 2014)

and so ends this chapter of DONE4 interruptus. To be resumed in September...
Many thanks for allowing me to post some silliness, and your ongoing replies. From a humble, shy academic, thanks to all the FAs, fellow passengers, fellow lounge dwellers and staff for their forbearance.

 

[delsbells]

Thank you Steve - I'll never experience the Flounges so I've enjoyed your sharing of it with a lowly NB

 

[robd]

Brilliant Steve (a.k.a. Wally)! A very jocular and entertaining report.

I look forward to "the hats" next adventure.

 

[JohnM]

Well done, Steve; enjoyed it immensely.

 

[drron]

And many thanks to you Steve for posting this silliness.It brought happiness to those cold Tasmanian days.fortunately now back in QLD.

 

[k3nnis]

Great job Steve! Can I ask how much was the DONE4?

 

[amaroo]

A grade TR.....love the photo in T3 with the bemused spectators in the background

You have more front than Woolies

 

[JohnM]

Great job Steve! Can I ask how much was the DONE4?

Here's the pricing from Australia: Round the World with oneworld. Taxes cause variations.

Online planning and booking tool: Plan & book online - oneworld

Often less expensive from places outside Australia. See: RTW Fares Comparison for DONE4

I've recently booked a DONE5 (PER-HKG-ICN-HKG-JNB-LHR-CPH-LHR-VIE-LHR-SEA-JFK-ORD-DFW-LAX-MEL-PER) for $13300 + $2200 tax.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Thanks all for the appreciation.

The DONE4 was about $13600 incl taxes and was booked 6 days from original planned departure (doesn't affect price, just have to do it by phone as the Oneworld booking engine won't let you book it less than 7 days from departure, the additional J LHR-BNE return on CX was about GBP3k (about AU$4700 at time of booking, actually I class not J).


The hat(s) will return later in the year. I have heard from the Wally stripey hat that it has enjoyed its tour and is considering a return to the ensemble...

 

[juliusg]

You are very funny!