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- Nov 12, 2012
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SYD check-in at F counter was a breeze; one of the few times I have travelled international with only carry-on. Agent asked me if I would like an aisle (I had deliberately gone against profile and chosen a row 2 window seat). Hmmmm second thoughts; but only aisle was in rows 1 or 5, near toilets of galley, so no thanks. Window it is.
Security check was OK. Lady in front of me was in the process of having 8 (count ‘em, 8) full size (as in size of a bottle of shampoo) bottles of cosmetics and other potions confiscated. So there ARE people still out there who have never flown before!
Straight to the Flounge. Not very crowded; table for breakfast available. On my left, a guy in check flannel shirt, baseball cap etc, enjoying bacon and eggs. In a few minutes a middle aged couple sit down adjacent to me. He immediately brings out the phone and makes a call – which lasts the entire time I was there. His breakfast came and got cold and his wife just sat there looking bored. Maybe it was the most important call of his life – but I had to wonder if it couldn’t have waited 10 minutes so he could enjoy his breakfast at least.
Mine was eggs benedict with smoked salmon. One of the eggs was very watery which was a shame. But otherwise delicious. OJ and coffee. Perfect start to the day.
Grab a lounge seat near the window and catch up on some e-mails. Wi-fi pretty fast at between 2 and 3 MB ps. Decide to download about 3GB of docos on the iPad to watch on the flight.
Flights are taking off to the north on the main NS run-way and I never tire of seeing A380s and 747s heave themselves off the ground and power up into the sky just outside the window. Magic.
An ATC push back delay of about 15 mins, then an interminable taxi to the second N-S runway at SYD. In the final stretch a Qantas Link Dash 8 cheekily overtakes us on a parallel taxiway and gets to the main game first. Anyway, off we go in our A330-200; 2-2-2 config in J.
A frittata dish is offered between SYD and BNE but I decline in favour of lunch coming up. Billecart-Salmon Brut satisfies.
Problems with my IFE – it just continually loops around one of the pages. I reluctantly press the call button, knowing the crew is probably busy preparing lunch – but J is only about half full and I know the fix will be an IFE re-boot and this may take some time, so I may as well ask early. After 5 mins, no-one has appeared. A drinks re-fill comes round and walks past the illuminated call light above my seat. I’m wondering if that’s an unsubtle hint not to bother the crew early into the flight. Never-the-less call buttons are provided for a reason so, getting a bit annoyed, I press it again. A few more minutes, a FA breezes past but I collar her and point out the issue. She goes off to investigate. A re-boot doesn’t fix, so later another one is done and this time appears to fix, but now we are on descent into BNE.
Flounge in BNE transit was a pleasant surprise. Small, but uncrowded and a nice range of amenities.
Re-boarding was very orderly – the premium/priority lane was policed, with those not entitled to use it politely directed to the other lane.
Back in the air and time for lunch, with pre-lunch drinks offered (in fact, time for 2 more rounds of the Billecart-Salmon Brut). The menu shows ‘Small plates’ ‘Main plates’, ‘Desert’ and Chocolates.
I chose Fish Cakes as the Small Plate and they come with a fish sauce (which may have been better as a dip rather than pre-poured over the cakes); I picked a Pikes Riesling to go with it. Superb start; fish cakes are firm and the fish sauce very zesty; the Pikes holds its own well. Then I had Cassoulet of Murraylands Lamb Fillet with White Beans and Aioli. No pic, sorry, but neatly presented and frankly one of the tastiest dishes I have ever had in the air; almost requiring an ‘Oliver’ moment (and I don’t mean Jamie). A decent shiraz is again strong enough to stand up to the flavours of the cassoulet and I’m a very happy camper. The now customary small bowl of sad green leaves on the side is ignored.
Still happy with caramel and vanilla ice cream and a sticky.
IFE turns out not to be fixed and keeps looping. I retire to the docos I have on the iPad. A bit later I try the IFE again and miraculously it works. Les Miserables very entertaining but possibly a bit lost on the small screen.
We land in Manila a bit early, go through immigration quickly and meet the hotel car then off to hotel (Sofitel Manila Philippines Plaza).
Returning on QF20. MNL airport a bit of a trial, but no big hassles. On advice from AFFers, at check-in I ask for a pass to the Mirascor Lounge. It’s a bit grotty, but has good wi-fi and some reasonable food (not taken) and drink (G&T). Has a toilet, but that’s not flash. After an hour it’s off to the QP, next to the gate. Its cleaner and more brightly lit than the Mirascor but lesser food & drink offerings, and is nearly full. I couldn’t connect to wi-fi but can hook onto the CX network, which is open. The CX lounge is right next door, so I check it out – nice and cool, spacious and completely empty, including the First Class area. Slim pickings in food & drink, but a nice cool and peaceful area to do some last minute e-mailing.
Then downstairs to the gate and effortless boarding after the security people have a good poke around my carry-ons.
Pre-dinner drinks, then another small/large plate menu. I had large plate only; seared salmon with figs on couscous. Rather bland and I didn’t finish it. Neither did my neighbour, I noticed.
Time for bed and I (and others) ask for PJs. After two FAs hunted around, they informed me that PJs are no longer offered on flights <8 hours. One expresses embarrassment at this move. And this on the one flight where I decided not to bring my own
. Duvet on the angled Skybed Mk 1 wasn’t enough to counter a night fruitlessly attempting to sleep in clothes. Ugh.
45 mins before touchdown (+1 !) breakfast comes around – the notorious ‘Café Breakfast’, with tea/coffee, juice and a warm ham and cheese croissant. A truly pathetic J offering.
Whilst obviously linked to the relative shortness of the flight (and happily cost efficient), I can’t see why this quickie breakfast tray can’t include (for instance) a tub of yoghurt and/or banana/apple/bowl of sliced fruit.
Breakfast cleared away after about 20 mins and an uneventful landing.
Summary: A great daytime flight and experience SYD-MNL but a poor reverse trip, in every regard. Lack of PJs, Café Breakfast and supper offerings not up to scratch. If I do MNL again, I’ll take AFFers advice and do a loop SYD-MNL-HKG-SYD for better soft and hard product coming home.
Security check was OK. Lady in front of me was in the process of having 8 (count ‘em, 8) full size (as in size of a bottle of shampoo) bottles of cosmetics and other potions confiscated. So there ARE people still out there who have never flown before!
Straight to the Flounge. Not very crowded; table for breakfast available. On my left, a guy in check flannel shirt, baseball cap etc, enjoying bacon and eggs. In a few minutes a middle aged couple sit down adjacent to me. He immediately brings out the phone and makes a call – which lasts the entire time I was there. His breakfast came and got cold and his wife just sat there looking bored. Maybe it was the most important call of his life – but I had to wonder if it couldn’t have waited 10 minutes so he could enjoy his breakfast at least.
Mine was eggs benedict with smoked salmon. One of the eggs was very watery which was a shame. But otherwise delicious. OJ and coffee. Perfect start to the day.
Grab a lounge seat near the window and catch up on some e-mails. Wi-fi pretty fast at between 2 and 3 MB ps. Decide to download about 3GB of docos on the iPad to watch on the flight.
Flights are taking off to the north on the main NS run-way and I never tire of seeing A380s and 747s heave themselves off the ground and power up into the sky just outside the window. Magic.
An ATC push back delay of about 15 mins, then an interminable taxi to the second N-S runway at SYD. In the final stretch a Qantas Link Dash 8 cheekily overtakes us on a parallel taxiway and gets to the main game first. Anyway, off we go in our A330-200; 2-2-2 config in J.
A frittata dish is offered between SYD and BNE but I decline in favour of lunch coming up. Billecart-Salmon Brut satisfies.
Problems with my IFE – it just continually loops around one of the pages. I reluctantly press the call button, knowing the crew is probably busy preparing lunch – but J is only about half full and I know the fix will be an IFE re-boot and this may take some time, so I may as well ask early. After 5 mins, no-one has appeared. A drinks re-fill comes round and walks past the illuminated call light above my seat. I’m wondering if that’s an unsubtle hint not to bother the crew early into the flight. Never-the-less call buttons are provided for a reason so, getting a bit annoyed, I press it again. A few more minutes, a FA breezes past but I collar her and point out the issue. She goes off to investigate. A re-boot doesn’t fix, so later another one is done and this time appears to fix, but now we are on descent into BNE.
Flounge in BNE transit was a pleasant surprise. Small, but uncrowded and a nice range of amenities.
Re-boarding was very orderly – the premium/priority lane was policed, with those not entitled to use it politely directed to the other lane.
Back in the air and time for lunch, with pre-lunch drinks offered (in fact, time for 2 more rounds of the Billecart-Salmon Brut). The menu shows ‘Small plates’ ‘Main plates’, ‘Desert’ and Chocolates.
I chose Fish Cakes as the Small Plate and they come with a fish sauce (which may have been better as a dip rather than pre-poured over the cakes); I picked a Pikes Riesling to go with it. Superb start; fish cakes are firm and the fish sauce very zesty; the Pikes holds its own well. Then I had Cassoulet of Murraylands Lamb Fillet with White Beans and Aioli. No pic, sorry, but neatly presented and frankly one of the tastiest dishes I have ever had in the air; almost requiring an ‘Oliver’ moment (and I don’t mean Jamie). A decent shiraz is again strong enough to stand up to the flavours of the cassoulet and I’m a very happy camper. The now customary small bowl of sad green leaves on the side is ignored.
Still happy with caramel and vanilla ice cream and a sticky.
IFE turns out not to be fixed and keeps looping. I retire to the docos I have on the iPad. A bit later I try the IFE again and miraculously it works. Les Miserables very entertaining but possibly a bit lost on the small screen.
We land in Manila a bit early, go through immigration quickly and meet the hotel car then off to hotel (Sofitel Manila Philippines Plaza).
Returning on QF20. MNL airport a bit of a trial, but no big hassles. On advice from AFFers, at check-in I ask for a pass to the Mirascor Lounge. It’s a bit grotty, but has good wi-fi and some reasonable food (not taken) and drink (G&T). Has a toilet, but that’s not flash. After an hour it’s off to the QP, next to the gate. Its cleaner and more brightly lit than the Mirascor but lesser food & drink offerings, and is nearly full. I couldn’t connect to wi-fi but can hook onto the CX network, which is open. The CX lounge is right next door, so I check it out – nice and cool, spacious and completely empty, including the First Class area. Slim pickings in food & drink, but a nice cool and peaceful area to do some last minute e-mailing.
Then downstairs to the gate and effortless boarding after the security people have a good poke around my carry-ons.
Pre-dinner drinks, then another small/large plate menu. I had large plate only; seared salmon with figs on couscous. Rather bland and I didn’t finish it. Neither did my neighbour, I noticed.
Time for bed and I (and others) ask for PJs. After two FAs hunted around, they informed me that PJs are no longer offered on flights <8 hours. One expresses embarrassment at this move. And this on the one flight where I decided not to bring my own
. Duvet on the angled Skybed Mk 1 wasn’t enough to counter a night fruitlessly attempting to sleep in clothes. Ugh.45 mins before touchdown (+1 !) breakfast comes around – the notorious ‘Café Breakfast’, with tea/coffee, juice and a warm ham and cheese croissant. A truly pathetic J offering.
Whilst obviously linked to the relative shortness of the flight (and happily cost efficient), I can’t see why this quickie breakfast tray can’t include (for instance) a tub of yoghurt and/or banana/apple/bowl of sliced fruit.Breakfast cleared away after about 20 mins and an uneventful landing.
Summary: A great daytime flight and experience SYD-MNL but a poor reverse trip, in every regard. Lack of PJs, Café Breakfast and supper offerings not up to scratch. If I do MNL again, I’ll take AFFers advice and do a loop SYD-MNL-HKG-SYD for better soft and hard product coming home.
