QF562 PER-SYD

Posted on March 26, 2012 by admin

Qantas were then very generous to switch me from the cheap (to them) seat on the 11am plane to the 8am (had booked a longish connection given D7’s record).

QF576 PER-SYD 26-Mar
Boeing 767-336 VH-ZXE (Apr-91) Seat 30D

Perth Qantas Club was packed early morning with the cleaning staff struggling to clean away the plates. My first QF domestic flights in months!! Rope and board out for Priority Boarding but the big banner was on the wrong side and effectively two lines formed.

Moderate 70% loads with most middle seats spare. On the ex-BA bird that at least doesnt have the project screens.

Breakfast choices were a muesli or a bacon frittata of some description. Anyhow non-eventful flight where I typed up most of the kl segment of this report.

Qantas were then very generous to switch me from the cheap (to them) seat on the 11am plane to the 8am (had booked a longish connection given D7’s record).

QF562 PER-SYD Boeing 767-336 VH-VXE Seat 30D

Breakfast choices were a muesli or a bacon frittata of some description. Anyhow non-eventful flight where I typed up most of the kl segment of this report.

Plaza Premium KUL LCCT and D7236 KUL-PER

Posted on March 26, 2012 by admin

Flying out after the Malaysian F1 race I went to the airport early and put my luggage in left luggage then took a bus to the track which is very close to the airport (actually the last F1 bus departing at 2pm – still 2hrs before main event)

You certainly get a sense for how large AirAsia is here – the terminal is absolutely heaving.

Coming back picked up luggage and used PriorityPass to access the Plaza Premium lounge. This is an OK lounge that has a glass wall separating two sides of the lounge – one landslide and one airside. There is a shower landslide that sits in the bathrooms in a converted stall (one only for men). Food consisted of a soup, rice, meat curry, vegetable sticks, ice cream and drinks limited to water, soft drinks and beer in 200ml bottles. Nothing special but great to get a shower.

Whilst in the lounge received an Optiontown email that my Uto (business upgrade) was unsuccessful (about 5hrs out). This was not unsurprising given there had been no seats for sale for a number of weeks. I still had an Eso (empty seat option) to go. The four hour deadline passed and no email. At 3hrs I called Optiontown – call answered immediately, after a 2min wait told upgrade declined, I said I know that, what about the empty seat, another 5min on hold with no music, then the line went dead. Oh well, may as well check-in. At desk told yes you have empty seats and given boarding pass for 40K midway down the plane. About half an hour later, email from Optiontown came through advising success. Up the escalator, through immigration, then back down to the other side of the lounge – Slightly smaller and with less food,

D7236 KUL-PER 25-Mar
Airbus A330-300 9M-XXA (Sep-08) Seat 40H/J/K

Then boarding from the airstairs. Seats appear noticeably narrow (as you would be expect with a 3x3x3 configuration) but found the legroom OK. Safety briefing is entirely manual. I was then very quickly into my earplugs and eye mask and trying to sleep.

Load was over 90% will have few spare seats — and I had 3! All for an extra myr52 (usd15) over my aud120 ticket! No idea about meals or service – I slept.

Arrived at Perth about 20 min early and quickly through customs with my Apec card despite sitting down the back.

Then a 30min wait for bag. There we bags coming out from when I got there so I’m not sure whether there was a smoko break after each bag was loaded or a bunch of pygmy’s individually but I wasn’t impressed.

Was about the 20th last out. Waited 15min for the first GoConnect shuttle to domestic which arrived on time but then decided to wait another 10min till 630.

AK2655 LGK-KUL

Posted on March 22, 2012 by admin

AK2655 LGK-KUL 22-Mar
Airbus A320-200 9M-AHT(Jul-09) Seat 15C

My first ever AirAsia flight.

Plain black leather seats, premium ones with a red cover. Plane did a very quick turnaround, queue had formed in the gate area before passengers had even started disembarking. Loads about 60% with very few premium seats occupied.

Quick safety briefing that called AirAsia the “world’s first low cost airline” really! (I think they meant “world’s best” which they have been voted… And gave a plug for Queens Park Rangers. Crew handcounted passengers about 5 times and were very quick to shift people sitting in the wrong seats. Beverage and snack service immediately after takeoff.

Prebooked hot meals then delivered including my very tasty chicken satay (and excellent value at myr7 as well). Only about five prebooked meals surprisingly and limited other sales.

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MH2122 MH2605 MH1446 TWU-BKI-KUL-LGK

Posted on March 21, 2012 by admin

MH2122 TWU-BKI 21-Mar
Boeing 737-400 9M-MMW (Jun-93) Seat 22C

Back to the old 737 for the first of three flights to Langkawi. Tawau airport has seen better days and only has three gates but does the job. Got one bag checked thru to Langkawi, then went into the departure lounge. Flight was absolutely packed and service consisted of a pack of peanuts (unheard of nowadays on a western airline and an orange juice ). Landed on time at kk and made my way to the next new gate.

MH2605 BKI-KUL 21-Mar
Boeing 737-800 9M-FFA (May-05) Seat 14C

New Malaysian 737, writing on door said operated by Firefly. Four row 2×2 business in cloth blue, then economy standard 3×3 in blue leather. Despite plane seeming to have drop down screens the safety demo done manually.

Two hot choices for lunch – egg fried rice with ginger chicken or a Malaysian pancake (had run ut by my row). Served in a long tray with chocolate cake, a kit cat and orange juice, along with tray drinks. Very tasty and impressive for a 2hr20min economy flight.

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MH1446 KUL-LGK 21-Mar
Boeing 737-800 9M-FFC (Apr-07) Seat 5A

A long walk from B11 the A9 about as far as it gets at KUL Domestic. No lounge as the only Ppass lounge is in the International Satellite pier, although MH operates a Domestic Golden Lounge.

Another Firefly jet with same layout. Got row 5 which has excellent legroom and a cutout.

Service was again just peanuts and orange juice.

Seat 14C

MH3055 BKI-TWU

Posted on March 17, 2012 by admin

MH3055 BKI-TWU 17-Mar
ATR72-500 9M-MWG (Nov-09) Seat 3D

Checked in at the impressive Kota Kinabalu terminal to find flight delayed almost two hours. MH hides their check-in desk and tries to force everyone to use the kiosk and bagdrop desk.

Airport is much bigger than current needs with almost 20 domestic and international gates. A large number of shops in the domestic terminal appear shuttered. Small Golden Lounge and end of Domestic pier that appeared OK but nothing special (no access until MH joins oneworld)

Had some foot reflexology to pass the time, albeit the leg massage was somewhat painful thanks to my Mt Kinabalu sunburn.

Near new Maswings prop arrived for a quick turnaround. A 2×2 configuration throughout with a two row business section with same seats but separated by a curtain. Entrance only from the rear so premium pax are last off! Ceiling is low at about 6’4 hitting head and anyone above 6′ needs to be very careful of the overhead bins when open.

Small muffin and drink (your choice from cart) served on flight.

MH69 TPE-BKI

Posted on March 15, 2012 by admin

MH69 TPE-BKI, 15-Mar
Boeing 737-400 Seat 14K

First old 737 in a while but got the pick of the seats – 14A/K have meters of legroom as the two exit rows in front have no window seats. Despite its age, cabin was in looking OK, although unsure about Malaysian random colour system that mixes red, green, Orange and aqua blue seats. Loads around 90% but I had a spare next to me.

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Decent meal served – choice of chicken noodles or an omlette.

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