SYD-BKK-xHEL-BCN-VLC-MAD-xHEL-BKK-SYD on QF, AY & Renfe Trains in J

[TomVexille]

One never knows if people are wanting to poke their eyes out with an blunt airline knife or are actually playing along at home as well.

I only just got around to reading this, but you're doing a great job. Keep it up

 

[nonpop]

Sorry about the delay again. Needed to make another dash off (well not so much of a 'Dash' but rather a 'Boeing' ... ok that wasn't funny at all. But points for weaving it in).

Back to the in-flight entertainment ...

Into the Iberia lounge we go. The attendant welcomed us and didn't want our QF card. The BPs were more than enough. The angel scanned them, advised us that no boarding call was made and we should monitor the screens for our flight. Before handing the passes back she did do a quick check to advise the flight was on time and boarding from gate XX and that it was about a 10 minute walk from the lounge. We thanked her and slipped into the welcoming embrace of the Schengen area lounge. At reception, you can go left or right with both areas being the same. We went right because if in doubt, right is always right.

Was that a UFO landing in the middle of the lounge?



A water feature in the middle of the lounge. If you look at the pic above you'll see the circular ring mid picture. This is what is below it.
This was a nice touch though as per all water features there was light splashes on the flooring around it.


I couldn't resist another pic from a different angle. Though I do wonder if the space could be better utilised.


Time to grab a lite snack. We'd become so used to grazing that eating just become a natural part of the day. It was mid morning after all.
To the far right of the pic there was a lot of pre-made things you could take away with you i.e salads & sandwiches.


Everyone loves ... but wait, I notice we can grab a self service tipple ... should we be indulgent at this hour of the morning?


TBC

 

[nonpop]

The all important truth serum line up


Drinks and snacks


Ice cream ... now we're talking. We threw caution to the wind and may have had some. It was a last hurrah.


Time to leave:
The lounge looked after us well. Comfortable chairs and facilities. Wifi seemed to be average but did he job. We look at the flight board, noticed it was time and ten we headed off to find our gate. The journey back to Oz was now starting with no turning back now. The gate was easy enough to find with a well sign posted route. Upon arriving at the gate I noticed there was no aircraft. Then I saw it ... the dreaded bus.

I turned to SWMBO and said "but we're out of travel-10 tickets so we'll need to go back to the hotel and come back in another few days". The gate agent looked up at me, paused for a moment then realised I was joking and smiled.

We were going to be driven to the gate. Surely since we were flying J we'd have our own bus ? Not a chance of that. Oh well I can dream.

The gate agent scanned our BP and we hopped on the bus. SWMBO said it was just another HOHO (Hop-on Hop-off) bus except not of a city but rather MAD airport. "That's my girl" I thought to myself. The bus did give us a good view of the airport as it made its way to our waiting A320.



Thinking we'd be boarding straight on to the plane, we left the lounge late as we wouldn't need to fight for overhead bin space due to being in J.
We were on the second bus and upon arriving the plane already had a stream of people boarding. It seemed the majority of the people were Japanese as it was a code-share JAL flight.


TBC

 

[robd]

Everyone loves ... but wait, I notice we can grab a self service tipple ... should we be indulgent at this hour of the morning?

Rhetorical, surely?

 

[nonpop]

Rhetorical, surely?

Yes indeed ... sometimes I just do not want to admit it to myself or my GP. But after the first bubbles with OJ or Vodka + OJ then it all seems irrelevant anyway.
Also I'm never sure exactly how to answer the "how many drinks per wk" question that appears on on many forms i.e insurance.
It almost needs to be segmented ... if flying and not flying. I'm sure they'd understand.

 

[nonpop]

make me want to spend time in Spain - have only been to Barcelona night train from Paris and fast train back there in day time

Oh then find time to go back. Even in the winter it was easy to get around.

 

[nonpop]

Great TR - inspired me to visit again but so many places, so little time, even less money

Yeah that money thing is a constant challenge. We keep saying that we can't take it with us, so might as well give it away. And the older we get the harder it gets to travel 'rapidly' with lots of walking, climbing, hauling luggage, exploring etc. I know the cruising is an option later on, but for now whilst the knees will take the punishment, then let the exploring continue.

Every trip ... regardless of a weekend or month away is a blessing especially when you have someone you love with you to share the journey. Really seems to magnify the experience.

 

[snabbu]

excellent read nonpop, looking forward to the rest.

 

[nonpop]

Finally our turn comes to exit the airport HOHO bus and board our tin can.

Flight: MAD to HEL on AY
Aircraft: A320

Boarding was swift with everyone seeming to take their seats very quickly. However; we did run into a little snag upon boarding, someone else was in our seats. I approached the passengers-of-size and said they may be in our seats. He then looked up at me and said he always has row 1 (actually we were all in row 2 as on the starboard side starts at row 2 but I knew what he meant). I looked over at the real row 1 on the port side which had 2 Asian pax in it and was comfortable in the thought they were in the correct seat.

So my response was clear, not today you don't and proceeded to flash by BP at him (I did do a double check I was correct). As we had our little discussion the flight attendant came over to ask if all was ok. I gave her the summary. She checked our and their BP and then asked them to shuffle over to row 2 port side. The chap got a little huffy stating he was always in these seats and how could he not have them now bla bla bla. The FA commented that may be he had selected row 2 port side by mistake.

Since there was no way I was giving up the seats (yes selfish I know), I just waited for them to shuffle across. J on domestic AY is a 3-3 config same as Y seating except mid seat blocked. As such, I wanted 'row 1' so no recline into me. Plus we tend to like starboard side for the view.



Airport view - sunny winter day and a clear blue sky ... why again were we leaving and not pushing our flights back another week ... oh yeah, that thing called work that allowed us to do the trip .... rrrrrrrr


Seating


View across the country side as we take off. Oh Spain you looked after us. So onwards to HEL we go. But first we'd need a bite to each. It had been at least an hour since our last Tapa at the Iberia lounge and withdrawal symptoms were setting in.


And right on time the food arrived. A lovely pate as a entrée with Finnish meatballs as the main (what 'Finnish' meatballs are I don't know, but they were tasty). The Godiva chocolates were very nice and asking for more the FA happily handed some over with a second cup of coffee. The J cabin service was prompt and efficient. Once they had finished serving J the FA went on to assist with Y but did pop in regularly to top up water, coffee and anyone drinking Champagne.


TBC

 

[nonpop]

Clouds across from MAD to HEL. To be above the clouds with a clear blue sky is so calming.


But it was now time to landing into frozen HEL. The Finnish pilot put the plane down beautifully. It was evident he may have done it once or twice before.


Pulling up to HEL - snow everywhere. Oh so different to leaving Madrid with not a cloud in the sky.


Through immigration from Schengen to non-Schengen was all done in about 10 minutes and we were headed back to the confines of our Oneworld coven.


Back to pick-a-lounge ... this time we went right to the 'old' original lounge. This older lounger has more spaced out seating but not real Champagne. That was ok we just ducked in next door and grabbed some real bubbles when we wanted something to drink. Some unusual looks crossed the angels faces and I just smiled. I'm not sure it was a regular occurrence to do that. Since we had full access rights to both sides then why not I thought. May be a bit cheeky in hindsight.


TBC

 

[nonpop]

Business class lounge (right at front desk). A lot of the long haul flights had departed and our flight to BKK was the second one of the day. They seem to run 2 planes within about 2 hrs of each other HEL-BKK return. I'm surprised there is enough traffic.

The wifi was fast and easy to connect to. A Skype video call from my mobile worked a treat.


Self serve food


Another random lounge shot


Podium seating ... during the day you get a great view of the tarmac from these seats


Beer on tap - self serve - what would I have to quench the thirst? I opted for the basic Carlsberg which never fails as a good starter / thirst quencher.
They even have instructions on how to pour a beer.


TBC

 

[nonpop]

After a beer & Champagne from the neighbouring lounge the taste buds were looking for something a bit stronger. Since it was now late evening (around 11pm from memory), then a Vodka on the rocks seemed fitting. A very bubbly attendant came over and offered to mix me up whatever I wanted. Vodka on ice for myself and Cloudberry on ice for SWMBO. Nom nom nom. We only had a few light nibbles as we knew we'd be eating onboard and always like AY food.


Drinks list


Well it was now time to exit the womb of my Oneworld mistress. She had looked after us well enough but now it was time to follow the siren calling me to the gate to board our long haul flight to BKK. The purple hue of the lighting at midnight was rather soothing. The agent waved us goodbye and wished us a pleasant flight.


The gate ... oh what a contrast to the serenity of the lounge. The people waiting to board looked less than happy. May the airlines Gods always help ensure that lounge access is available to this little black duck and SWMBO. Amen.


Flight: HEL- BKK with AY
Aircraft: A340 refurbished with flat seating

Boarding was called within about 30 seconds of our arrival at the gate. Premium boarding was called first: Families, J, Elites, Y. it seemed to work well.

More snow but having transited through HEL a few times I've come to understand that snow & ice is treated just like a summers day in Sydney for the airport.


TBC

 

[love_the_life]

I remember those podium seats in the lounge - they recline for a short nana nap if required!

 

[Bindibuys]

I remember those podium seats in the lounge - they recline for a short nana nap if required!

They were all taken while we were there.

 

[OATEK]

Thanks nonpop, the tour of AY facilities and flights has been most informative. We head off that way next month, and are looking forward to visiting the various lounges as well as the various cities involved.

 

[codash1099]

Marvellous report. Brings back lots of memories. Must go again.

 

[RooFlyer]

Before the opening of the new lounge, you used to be able to ask for Champagne in what is now the 'old lounge' (which I loved). Ask, and flash a OW Emerald BP and the good stuff got brought up from a fridge under the counter. Did you try while in the 'old' lounge?

 

[nonpop]

Before the opening of the new lounge, you used to be able to ask for Champagne in what is now the 'old lounge' (which I loved). Ask, and flash a OW Emerald BP and the good stuff got brought up from a fridge under the counter. Did you try while in the 'old' lounge?

MIND BLOWN!

I had no idea you could do that.

Your Sir, deserve extra SCs for that little tip to try.

 

[RooFlyer]

Took me my second visit to discover it! I saw someone get a pour and thought - hello, that's worth asking about. I had guested a friend into the lounge but they insisted the +1 of the guest pay to get in (per the rules). So we made sure we got our money's worth .

That was when all Emerald and other knobs mixed it with the hoi polloi in the one lounge. They had to have a way to have some perks for the knobs! With the F lounge maybe they don't do it.

I have suggested that Qantas could do something like this in their SIN and HKG 'all in one' lounges.

 

[nonpop]

I saw someone get a pour and thought - hello, that's worth asking about. I had guested a friend into the lounge but they insisted the +1 of the guest pay to get in (per the rules). So we made sure we got our money's worth .

That was when all Emerald and other knobs mixed it with the hoi polloi in the one lounge. They had to have a way to have some perks for the knobs! With the F lounge maybe they don't do it..

Ok well I did a couple of Champagne runs from the new to old lounge so asking for the good stuff under the counter would have been quicker.
I like the space of the old lounge better as the new lounge is just too compressed with seating IMHO.
Wish I had f had time for a Sauna ... dam those quick connections in HEL.

Anyways I'm just digging up some more photos to complete the TR and will have them up soon.