TomCat's Suite Adventure

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Arriving in London made me very glad we were arrivals and not transits. The transit line was so long that they were handing out food and drinks.
We were processed quickly after I talked my way into the fast pass line :D collected bags and headed to the tube. We were a touch later than anticipated so my shopping plans were rescheduled to take place on the way to dinner.

Doubletree Kensington was nice enough to upgrade us, from a base queen to a junior suite. The room is still tiny, the aircon is in the lounge so the bedroom got quite stuffy and the bed is still a queen.
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I hit the shower, needing to wash my hair before dinner. But not before having to hunt down the hair dryer. I found it in the drawer of the desk in the bedroom, wires through the drawer so you couldn't move it, with too short a cable for someone my height. Hotels make me wonder sometimes...

Then it was off to dinner via Liberty of London (I needed fabric).
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Pub dinner with two fellow AFFers was lovely, good burger and good apple crumble. And good company of course.
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Phew, what a fabulous TR. A bit late to the party so had a lot of catching up to.
A big thank you to both of you for the effort put into the report.
 
TomVexille said:
Yes. Otherwise might have talked my way into the CCR again :lol:

But in seriousness, BA have been Bloody Awefull this morning. Went back to BA F to look for the QF F host and the (new) lady on the reception desk looked at the F BP, and said "oh, you're QF Sapphire, the J lounge is over there"

When I asked about the QF F host, she told me that "they're here somewhere" and "I have no idea how to get a hold of them" :rolleyes:

Also a failure by QF IMO not providing an advertised service. Are my expectations too high to want QF to do what their website says they do?

Now calming the nerves with a decent glass of bubbles in the EK lounge.
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blackcat20 said:
Finally located the first host but now too late for a massage. However she will be escorting us to the plane.
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Nice report. From memory if you fly ex-LHR, the CD rings the F staff to tell them to expect your arrival just as you get to the terminal. Then the F host is there to assist at check-in (and book a massage if requested). Not sure about what happens on a transfer.
 
Kangol said:
Nice report. From memory if you fly ex-LHR, the CD rings the F staff to tell them to expect your arrival just as you get to the terminal. Then the F host is there to assist at check-in (and book a massage if requested). Not sure about what happens on a transfer.
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The CD driver did ask how many checked bags, and appeared to pass the info along, but nobody met us. There was nobody at check-in when we arrived.
 
TomVexille said:
The CD driver did ask how many checked bags, and appeared to pass the info along, but nobody met us. There was nobody at check-in when we arrived.
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What time did you arrive at LHR before QF10? Sounds like you were early and already had your BP printed.

Are you able to post photos of the QF F menu?
 
Kangol said:
What time did you arrive at LHR before QF10? Sounds like you were early and already had your BP printed.

Are you able to post photos of the QF F menu?
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Patience young grasshopper. We aren't finished yet :p

No we didn't have boarding passes. But it looks like part of the system fell over. The F check in agent couldn't have been less interested.... We got there approx 9am which is fine for a 1pm.
 
@ bc / Tommy - when in Tucany do as the Tuscanian's do right?

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Currently sitting in FLR Lounge awaiting flt to FRA to ret Oz morrow - we will tip a couple back just for the 2 of you
 
Not long after 8am we headed to the lobby to wait for our chauffeur car to LHR. A text indicated our driver was outside so off we went.
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The airport experience was probably the most disappointing part of this trip. While the driver asked about how many bags we were checking, there was no one to meet us on arrival and the woman as first check in couldn't have been less interested. The only info she gave us was that we could visit the BA and EK lounges; no mention of the AA flagship lounge nor the F host.

We started at the BA lounge hoping for a proper English breakfast. We already knew the champagne had been downgraded to try rather uninteresting Henriott. The attendant at the desk tried to redirect us to the Galleries lounge and we had to point out the big 'FIRST' emblazoned on our boarding passes :eek:
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Despite taking a seat in the dining room where a menu is offered, you'll have to help yourself o the buffet if you want an English breakfast, and the champagne bar if you want a drink. We must have looked unimpressed, as the gentleman serving us offered to plate up the breakfast for us. Poor effort really for a first class lounge. And the breakfast wasn't that good.
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Kangol said:
Nice report. From memory if you fly ex-LHR, the CD rings the F staff to tell them to expect your arrival just as you get to the terminal. Then the F host is there to assist at check-in (and book a massage if requested). Not sure about what happens on a transfer.
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I've never had this happen on any departure from LHR (last 6 have been in F).
I wish it had :(
 
After breakfast we had a bit of a wander around the lounge and TomVexille sampled the Johnnie Walker Blue. It's a nice space but nothing wow about it.
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From there we headed to the AA lounge. There was a line out the door of people waiting to access the lounge. One of the ladies came along the line to do a quick check and, as per the BA lounge, tried to direct us to the Admirals club. Again we had to point out that we were in First. Many apologies and in we went. We had a quick look around and a browse of the bar, where we grabbed a quick drink (the bubbles wasn't worth sampling).
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There was absolutely no view (unless you like air bridges); the most exciting part of this lounge for me was the self serve lolly bar by the exit. After some discussion about a massage, we wandered back to the BA lounge to see if we could locate the mysterious F host. Ha! The woman at the front desk said 'oh they're in here somewhere but I don't know how to contact them' and ignored us after that. And that was after trying to send us to Galleries...again. The service desk was also unattended.
Then a new woman appeared at the front desk so we tried our luck again. She at least knew about the 'QF cheat sheet' which gave her a number to ring. Success! We told her she could find us in the EK lounge and off we went, with an ever decreasing option of BA.
 
As for the AA Flagship, they actually have a Full English Breakfast on their a la carte menu. While I didn't order it, interesting to see AA out-British BA at their home.
 
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Sorry - just to clarify this experience. I think you are in Qantas F onwards. Which BA lounges were you in above (for those, like me, unfamiliar with the set-up)?
 
So off we went to the EK lounge. Wow! In future we will come straight here and not bother with the others. We were warmly welcomed by both the ladies on the desk and sent upstairs. I really love this lounge. I imagine it's a lot like the new Melbourne lounge. Long, Windows right along, lots of comfy spaces.
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Proper champagne
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Great views
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A great place to while away the next 90 minutes.
About 30 minutes in, the first host located us and introduced herself. I explained that I'd been hoping for a massage but assumed it would be too late now. She promised to look into it and give me a call. When she rang me soon after, it was to let me know that there were no appointment until after our departure. However she did offer to arrange one for our next visit. And agreed to collect us at boarding time to escort us to the plane.

In the meantime there was great excitement when the AA plane in front of us emitted a large amount of smoke, deployed slides and started evacuating.
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RooFlyer said:
Sorry - just to clarify this experience. I think you are in Qantas F onwards. Which BA lounges were you in above (for those, like me, unfamiliar with the set-up)?
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Yes, QF F. BA Galleries First in T3. Unfortunately the CX lounge is still closed so the other OW option at the moment is AA. QF F does have access to the EK lounge, so one can get away from the hordes of OWEs :p:lol:
 
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