This route is currently flown by an older 777. As a result it is a bit noisy and dated. However, this is less of a problem in Club World than in World Traveller or World Traveller Plus. The entertainment system is OK, though not great by Business Class Standards. I also find the BA programme/movie range not really to my taste. Perhaps I am a bit picky. These days an alternative is to watch downloaded content on your tablet. Unfortunately there was no USB point, and so I had to use my laptop as a power source.
The service was fine and the food provided of a very good standard. However, if I had a choice I would travel with Malaysia Airlines on their A380. I have not quite got to grips with the Club World layout. If you are travelling with a companion side by side is surely better- this can be done on BA, but you are then trapped by the feet of other passengers if the seats are used.
Travelling alone, I also don't think the layout works. To avoid invading the personal space of another passenger you need two seats to be free (the one next to you, becuase when that divider goes down you are face to face, and the one which needs to climb over you to get out of their seat when you are sleeping) whereas on Malaysia Airlines you only need the seat next to you to be free. (it normally is when flying to Paris, London perhaps less so!)
As I have written before, it is great that there is now the choice of two A380s and one 777 flying between KL and LHR. Long may it continue.
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Monday, 29 June 2015
Galleries Lounges at Heathrow
The Galleries Lounges at T5 Heathrow are quite good. They are spacious and there is often a good range of hot and cold food as will as a good range of beers and wines. The two lounges in the main building do get very busy. If you are travelling from satellite building B or C it is usually better to head over to B to the lounge there. It is much quieter. However, there isn't a first class lounge there.
If you are flying from the main building and you have lots of time to kill, you can still make use of the lounge in building B. You will not be able to take the transit back to A, but on floor -4 there is a walkway which connects all the buildings and is open to the public. It takes 10-15 minutes to walk back from the lounge in satellite building B to the main Building.
If you are flying from the main building and you have lots of time to kill, you can still make use of the lounge in building B. You will not be able to take the transit back to A, but on floor -4 there is a walkway which connects all the buildings and is open to the public. It takes 10-15 minutes to walk back from the lounge in satellite building B to the main Building.
Sunday, 28 June 2015
Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt Kensington London
The Radisson Vanderbilt in London is a very useful mid scale hotel. It is located right by Gloucester Road tube station, which is on the Piccadilly line that will whisk you into the centre of London in a matter of Minutes. it is one stop, or a short walk from High Street Kensington and Hyde Park. Being those few stops away from the centre of the universe does bring room rates down to more manageable levels- think £150 per night rather than £350!
The hotel itself is very will finished. The fittings and furnishing are impressive and in keeping with the beautiful building. The rooms can be a little small, but that is the nature of London and the building itself. They are always well maintained and clean. The breakfast is very good indeed- and I highly recommend indulging. A small Gym and a bar with some character complete the picture. This will be a hotel I use again when visiting London.
The hotel itself is very will finished. The fittings and furnishing are impressive and in keeping with the beautiful building. The rooms can be a little small, but that is the nature of London and the building itself. They are always well maintained and clean. The breakfast is very good indeed- and I highly recommend indulging. A small Gym and a bar with some character complete the picture. This will be a hotel I use again when visiting London.
Britiah Airways World Traveller Plus
BA's Premium Economy Product is an interesting one. It is certainly an improvement on Economy, the extra leg room and very slightly wider seats do make a difference. The small cabins do make the experience a bit more bearable. However, some of the frustrations of Economy are still present. One that sticks in the mind from a recent flight is the queues for the loo. As is often the case it very much depends on which plane you are on. The A380 World Traveller Plus cabins are very impressive. There are lots of convenient storage spaces and the seats a re comfortable. The older 777s are less good. The entertainment equipment is poor and the middle east airline's economy entertainment systems are far superior.
One other disadvantage can be that it can sometimes be full, because the cabin is quite small. However, this was not the case on my most recent flight.
World Traveller Plus does have a role to play. If you are flying economy, and there is a cheap upgrade available it can be worth it for the tier points alone. It can also be worth booking with the view to picking up a cheap or avios upgrade to Club World at a later stage. Sometimes, if all the cheap economy tickets have gone, it can sometimes be cheaper to fly in Premium Economy (This seems to happen quite often on the Hong Kong route.
One other disadvantage can be that it can sometimes be full, because the cabin is quite small. However, this was not the case on my most recent flight.
World Traveller Plus does have a role to play. If you are flying economy, and there is a cheap upgrade available it can be worth it for the tier points alone. It can also be worth booking with the view to picking up a cheap or avios upgrade to Club World at a later stage. Sometimes, if all the cheap economy tickets have gone, it can sometimes be cheaper to fly in Premium Economy (This seems to happen quite often on the Hong Kong route.
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
KLIA Satellite Lounges....again
A one world member who is flying Business Class, or that only has Sapphire status in a one world programme has a choice between the Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge or the Cathay Pacific Lounge. The Golden Lounge is more spacious and has a greater range of food on offer- the food is OK (but I think the regional golden lounge is better). The wash room and shower facilities are certainly more extensive than Cathay have- as would be expected. However, the wifi in the Golden Lounge can be a little inconsistent- and today the Cathay Lounge came to the rescue and allowed me put through an urgent click and collect order before being stuck on a plane for 13 hours.
Don't forget they also serve Heineken or Tiger rather than Carlsberg. The Cathay Lounge is well worth a visit.
Don't forget they also serve Heineken or Tiger rather than Carlsberg. The Cathay Lounge is well worth a visit.
Sunday, 21 June 2015
Legoland Johor Bharu
Legoland Johor Bharu is amazing. It has (almost) everything that Legoland Windsor has except the queues. I have been many times, and it has never been busy. The new water park is also fantastic. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Although expensive for Malaysia, it is not compared to Windsor or indeed Universal Studios in Singapore (which is also fantastic, but frighteningly expensive.)
There are a number of options for getting there. I have driven from KL before, it takes 3-4 hours. Malaysia airlines operate inexpensive flights from KL to Johor Bharu. You will pick up 10 tier points in economy- though not if you book a "promo" fare. However, you may want to consider flying business class. These flights are often around 350MYR and will collect you 40 BA tier points at less than £2 a point.
There are an increasing number of accommodation options. I use the renaissance, (because of marriott status) but it is some distance from the park. There is a traders much closer (and next to Hello Kitty Land!) I have not tried the legoland hotel- it can be quite pricey. I am told a new development across the road from the park will include a global hotel brand so that may be a good option in the near future.
There are a number of options for getting there. I have driven from KL before, it takes 3-4 hours. Malaysia airlines operate inexpensive flights from KL to Johor Bharu. You will pick up 10 tier points in economy- though not if you book a "promo" fare. However, you may want to consider flying business class. These flights are often around 350MYR and will collect you 40 BA tier points at less than £2 a point.
There are an increasing number of accommodation options. I use the renaissance, (because of marriott status) but it is some distance from the park. There is a traders much closer (and next to Hello Kitty Land!) I have not tried the legoland hotel- it can be quite pricey. I am told a new development across the road from the park will include a global hotel brand so that may be a good option in the near future.
Saturday, 20 June 2015
Royal Brunei Airlines
If you are travelling to Brunei and there are time constraints RBA offers early(ish) and late flights to and from Brunei to KL and Singapore. If there is any flexibility in my schedule I will usually use Malaysia airlines to make the most of my status in the one world alliance. Sometimes I'll even fly to Miri (often very inexpensive) and drive up to Brunei.
My desire to avoid RBA has been reinforced recently, when a booking I had for a late departure from Brunei- allowing a full day's work in Brunei, followed by a full day's work in Kuala Lumpur was cancelled. Although not offered instantly, a free cancellation was forthcoming, but it is disappointing that I will have to let someone down.
My desire to avoid RBA has been reinforced recently, when a booking I had for a late departure from Brunei- allowing a full day's work in Brunei, followed by a full day's work in Kuala Lumpur was cancelled. Although not offered instantly, a free cancellation was forthcoming, but it is disappointing that I will have to let someone down.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)