We made our way to the gate 10 lounge pavilion and headed straight ahead into the Concorde room. Mrs. JP passed up a last chance to have a Molton Brown spa treatment (All the spas change to Elemis this week) in favor of a glass of Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 1995 this is a fabulous glass of fizz.We didnt bother with any of the lounge breakfast options bacon baguettes, scrambled eggs, etc not wanting to spoil appetites for later.
The flight was showing on time and boarding quickly flashed on the screen. We walked down to the indicated gate 1B as this was a 777 service it more often than not means a bus transfer to the aircraft. We boarded on the first bus and with the number of people in the holding area it looked like it was going to be a full flight.
We were greeted by name at the door and shown to our seats 1EF these are the front pair in the middle and are my favorite F seats when traveling as a couple. On boarding I noticed the aircraft was GE powered this means small IFE screens and a unique 17 seat F cabin. The F purser Graham introduced himself and offered us drinks, they will provide any drink in reason on boarding even though its only supposed to be Champagne. The other cabins were very full but F only had 3 of us in residence, so with a crew ratio of 1 to 1 we had high expectations for the flight. Sleep suits appeared on a silver tray followed by Fizz (CH Millenaires 1995) a dish of mixed nuts and unique to the middle east routes Arabian coffee and dates(picture is from the return because I gobbled the dates before remembering to snap a picture note the larger IFE screen on the RR powered 777).Because of the small screen a personal DVD player is offered and a list of the available DVDs is handed out, on the 747 the movies are on 8mm tape and play through the in seat player. Fizz was topped up a couple times before the captain announced a flight time of 7 hours and an on time arrival. We departed about 30 minutes late crew were soon up and distributed menus wine list and amenity BAg the same brown suede Anya Hindmarch kits that have been in F since last Xmas.
A selection of canap_s with another glass of fizz quickly appeared. We were asked what time we wanted our lunch served this contrasted to a terrible trip in F to HKG last month were the purser on another lightly loaded flight managed to throw a 5 course meal at us in under 30 minutes. Order was taken and requested food be to be served about 1 1/2 hours in. We settled back and enjoyed a few more drinks I switched to the Grand Cru Chablis a 2004 Domaine William Fevre this is sublime, Mrs JP opted for the 95 Chateau Beychevelle this would benefit from more time in the cellar but is still very good.
Our tables were set at the requested time and the starters were served after the second hot towel of the flight. For starters we both ordered the Lobster, mango and pink grapefruit salad. I then had Fillet of Beef with foie gras crouton.This was followed by the most fabulous warm treacle tart with vanilla ice cream.The meal was rounded off with cheese and a couple of huge glasses of Bonnezeaux 2003 Chateau de Fesles desert wine.
We both drifted off to sleep and woke just in time for afternoon tea, I chatted to the purser and found out he was a good mate of our great friend Trev an ex BA CSD. This seemed to ramp the supreme service up to hither too inexperienced levels. Afternoon tea arrived followed by scones and clotted cream oh and Champagne. Then Graham proceeded to serve us approx 2 bottles before we landed the glasses being cleared away about 2 minutes before landing. He also bagged us a bottle to take off just in case we couldnt get a drink in the hotel on the account of it being Ramadam.
A faultless flight with fine food, drink and service an absolute credit to BA's catering and the crew.
