After two weeks of taking it easy in Malaysia it was time to go home.
Due to the desire to fly back on a daytime flight rather than overnight we could not connect from Langkawi the same day so had to fly down to KL the evening before. Stayed at the Pan Pacific - Asias Best Airport Hotel the banners proclaimed across the connecting bridge!
Anyway the flight was at 0955 and we wanted to make full use of the lounge for breakfast we got up early and headed over to the airport via super fast buggy provided by hotel at 0700 ish. Quickly found the business class check in counters in a segregated area with first class check in and seating provided. No queues so didnt bother with a sit down. Check in was efficient and we were allocated our pre-booked seats 1J&K, given our lounge invites and fast track immigration forms. The whole process took a couple of minutes.
We set off for immigration and didnt bother with the fast track as there were no queues at the foreign passports desks and they were closer. Then off to the train to the satellite terminal and up to the lounge. We were asked to provide the invites and show our boarding passes and welcomed to the lounge.
One thing I have noticed in Malaysia is that the air conditioning is set to minus 5 degs C. There were people wearing coats in the lounge to keep warm. Us in our shorts and linen short sleeve shirts were darn cold too but we had no extra layers to put on. So had to resort to drinking bubbly. There was a fairly comprehensive breakfast spread out on ranging from sandwiches, scrambled egg, chicken pies to the Malay style nasi lemak. Unfortunately no one had lit the candles under the food warmers so the hot food was not.
Only one rant about the lounge and not really the airlines fault, and please dont take umbridge, were the number of children who were running around playing. I accept that children play and need to let of steam but imo there should be a certain level of decorum in lounges.
Anyway we decided to head down to the gate at 0930 as a friend was travelling in the back with the poor people and we wanted to say hi before boarding. As we were chatting the flight was called well for people with small children and those requiring assistance and a mad scrum ensued from those whose grasp of Malaysian and English only extended to the words Melbourne and boarding charged the gate. It was a bit of an odd layout as the boarding pass scanners were to the right of the jetway access but the holding lounge was on the left. So those arriving at the gate lounge were in effect blocked by those boarding. A few minutes later a general boarding call was made and we used the business class jetway to door 1 and I have to admit it was nice being the only ones in our jetway and looking through the glass to the mob in the other.
We were welcomed at the door and shown to our seats and assistance with our hand luggage was offered. As we were seated fruit juice was offered and we requested bubbles also which arrived moments later. A nice tough is that it is poured in front of you. Drappier I think it was. The cabin soon filled up and we waited and at 1000 the captain informed us we were missing 28 pax and would hopefully be off in 15 or so minutes. At this point the stewardess came round and offered a top up of bubbles addressing both by name at this point we told her we had swapped seats. From that point on we were addressed by the correct name at every occurrence.
I noticed in the safety announcement that lifejackets were to be inflated at the aircraft door, not once outside the aircraft, which is different from the internal flights where we were instructed to inflate half of the lifejacket in the aircraft!
We finally took off 30 minutes late and a flight time of 7hr30m was announced. Brunch was offered followed by a light meal 1.5hrs before landing. Brunch consisted of a choice of 4 main courses 1 Malay and 3 western, croissants, yoghurt, fruit and dessert. Plenty of food and tasted very good too I had the nasi lemak nice and spicy. Main courses again delivered plated straight from the galley and both of us were served together. The bubbles continued to flow throughout the flight we didnt have to ask once when the glass was empty a refill was offered (admittedly I am sorry to say not always taken).
The IFE was on demand but not a lot I wanted to watch although I did sit through Grow Your Own and The Nanny Diaries. It was disappointing that the TV shows were the same as the outbound flight even though we were in a different month and the films were different.
Light meal consisted of their satay, a salad and fresh fruit wasnt really hungry but their satay is good.
Flight was very uneventful although I did find the routing rather odd as we came down over western Australia, into south Australia, over Adelaide and on to a hot Melbourne. 32 degs C when we landed at 2100.
Australia has started a Express lane for premium passengers at certain airports as a trial. We were first off the plane and onto duty free to get our 4 bottles of liquor and then into the empty express lane (a bonus as the queue for non Australian passports was huge rush hour at Melbourne as flights from Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Auckland had all arrived). Stamped in and off to the baggage carousel where a nice man collected in the express cards and said if there was a queue at customs to come back and see him.
Baggage took a while to come through although ours were amongst the first bags. Off to customs and for those of you who havent been here they take this seriously. My declaration card was marked N whilst Js was marked Q (he had some sweets which he declared as per the rules) he had the hand luggage and I had the suitcases, with 4 bottles of duty free, on a trolley. He went first and was sent to the main screening area and I was sent to quick exit. At this point I realized I had two peoples allowance but was now traveling alone. No one noticed! Cases were scanned and I was out within 2 minutes. Took a further 15 minutes for J to make it out from the other area where apparently they were opening most peoples luggage.
Tip for anyone heading this way declare anything edible or organic they ask a couple of questions and you are on your way. J had 3 packets of Percy Pigs & Friends from M&S in KL in his hand luggage so it easy to show the customs officers. Dont declare it and the scanner picks it up and you then have to explain and unpack and show them what you have.
Overall a very good flight with excellent service. Oh and for those who like these things no amenity pack as it was a daytime flight under some threshold (we got them on a daytime flight from KL to Lhr last year). Although the toilets were packed with various bits and pieces.
Happy New Year to all.
Rob
