SriLankan J MEL-LHR $3512

[Gold Member]

Those 333 business seats are nice and on par with most modern carriers nowadays. No complaints there and I'd happily take up this offer if the entire trip was a on a 333.

But, for those unsure what a 333 or 332 is, the MEL leg uses a combination of 333 and 332 aircraft which have two very different types of business seats. Here's a quick comparison from Ausbt - SriLankan Airlines to fly Colombo-Melbourne from October

 

[Cossie]

Could you confirm that it books into I class?

I don't mind the CMB lounge. Except the showers aren't so good. Hotels near CMB airport aren't so expensive if you don't get one for free. I'm pretty OK with UL's in-flight offerings. It's mostly the seat comfort I'm after.

All flights are showing up on my reservation as "I" class. Agree, the showeres aren't good in the lounge and the lounge is a bit small, but for the price. I'll try to stay at the transit hotel and not have to leave the airport. Last time security was a pain in the rear.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The ausbt photos for some reason show the seats in a partial recline only. To see the A332 seats in full recline there's a trip report here (about 3/4 of the way in): Review: SriLankan Business Class A330-200 Hong Kong To Bangkok - One Mile at a Time

 

[Pushka]

The ausbt photos for some reason show the seats in a partial recline only. To see the A332 seats in full recline there's a trip report here (about 3/4 of the way in): Review: SriLankan Business Class A330-200 Hong Kong To Bangkok - One Mile at a Time

We flew CMB - HK last July before the direct Mel route kicked in. It did not fly through BKK as they changed that route. These were our seats.






Apologies for carp quality but MrP was rather unwell at the time. This was an award flight and in HK we picked up a CX flight to ADL which was wonderful.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, sadly the HKG flight has gone to an A321. UL used to offer wide-bodies from BKK to a range of destinations including CAN, HKG and PVG.

 

[Austman]

We flew CMB - HK last July

But that's in an A321! (as the seat card shows) . That's nothing like an A332. But for an A321, UL has great seats!

 

[Pushka]

But that's in an A321! (as the seat card shows) . That's nothing like an A332. But for an A321, UL has great seats!

Yep. That was our plane on the leg CMB-HK last year. The other plane was subbed. They dropped BKK and now fly direct. With a poorer quality plane. That report above was done in 2015. Our trip was 2017. Subbed after we booked. Buyer beware.

 

[Austman]

Subbed after we booked. Buyer beware.

Well sure. But in this thread about the aircraft possibilities on MEL-CMB and vv (distance 5,190 m), I don't think a sub to an A321 (range 3,700 m) is actually technically possible!

It's an A332 or an A333. It's a bit pointless showing the seats on an A321.

 

[Pushka]

Well sure. But in this thread about the aircraft possibilities on MEL-CMB and vv (distance 5,190 m), I don't think a sub to an A321 (range 3,700 m) is actually technically possible!

It's an A332 or an A333. It's a bit pointless showing the seats on an A321.

Unless it gets subbed like us. We didn’t expect to fly on it either.

 

[Austman]

Unless it gets subbed like us. We didn’t expect to fly on it either.

But it can't be subbed to anything but an A332 or an A333. Nothing else in UL's fleet has the range. It can't be subbed to an A321.

 

[wandering_fred]

Given that both segments if MEL-CMB-LHR are just over 5000 miles, it will credit to Asia Miles/MPC very nicely in I class. As well as evenly dividing the trip into two. Layovers of more than 10 hours mean that you have either a chance to see something useful or sleep in a proper bed.

Though for PER people, slumming it to SIN or KUL will mean an even less expensive trip to LHR while avoiding the almost 4 hour back track. Pity that UL can't justify CMB-PER a couple of times a week.

Just wandering
Fred

 

[Isochronous]

That's a great offer for LHR J return.

 

[RoMambai]

I spent 36 hours in CMB last year on transit and loved it. Great food and people watching. I was almost tempted to tack on Galle as part of the whirlwind before conceding defeat. I didn't find it expensive. In fact if I can use Australian prices as a baseline, CMB was positively affordable. The lounge is quirky but not an uncomfortable place to spend a few hours.

 

[Mattg]

I spent 36 hours in CMB last year on transit and loved it. Great food and people watching. I was almost tempted to tack on Galle as part of the whirlwind before conceding defeat. I didn't find it expensive. In fact if I can use Australian prices as a baseline, CMB was positively affordable. The lounge is quirky but not an uncomfortable place to spend a few hours.

I loved my ~36 hour stopover in Colombo last year as well! Would love to do it again.

 

[Pushka]

I found much less jet lag with the CMB stop over on the way home. Hubby on the other hand got food poisoning in CMB so not a happy result.

 

[Gold Member]

Earlier in the thread I posted three hotels that UL was willing to accommodate transit passengers free of charge. I received further correspondence today after enquiring about city based accommodation:

'Regarding your transit hotel accommodation It’s regretful to inform that we are not providing hotel in Colombo city. But I can arrange the full board hotel with transfers at Airport Garden Hotel (the gateway hotel).'

So it looks like breakfast, lunch and dinner in at least one of the hotels is also available for those interested. I'm not sure if this was offered uniquely to me or if its generic, but if anyone else is interested I recommend you call UL and get this in writing. Good luck!

 

[bsb]

Anyone know when the next round of sale fares will appear for UL?