Royal Brunei BWN - LHR 16/06/06 J Class
Posted: 19 Jun 2006, 17:03Was it to be an old plane with the big first class seats or would we get the new refitted plane with inseat IFE and a sloping bed seat (J2000 style i think).
We asked at check in and were told 'i dont know sir but your flight is full'...ok...why would that make a difference to the plane we are on????
Anyway through security and into the departure lounge, not a great deal to do there apart from 1 small shop and a coffee bar and small food area, thankfully we had access to the Sky Lounge, very similar to the London Room at LHR (see previous trip report) but it ceratinly had more of an Asian influence, dark wood and low lighting. Plenty of seating and reading material. Lots of food choices ranging from finger sandwhiches to Goan fish Curry and sambal suaces. Fully stocked fridge (no booze, its a dry airline and country) internet rooms, shower , tv area etc and air conditioning. It was 33 degrees and 85-90% humidity outside....so very hot and sticky [:0]
There was Frankfurt flight due to leave just before the LHR flight and i expected the Frankfurt flight to have the new seats, slightly depressed we went to the gate when called, not the pink leather seats again.....
Onto the plane....NEW SEATS....YAY!.... what a difference. The cabin is not pink and gold, there is no pink shag pile on the wall (it was a light grey colour this time) and it felt like a newer plane and a business class cabin.
Again seating is 2-1-2 but with inseat IFE and a sloping bed.
Settled in and had to have a play with the seat controls, very strange, how may different positions can this chair go into??? Took a while to get used to it.
Take off was on time following the prayer for a safe flight, drinks (soft) and meal choices were taken shortly after take off. As the entire journey was in darkness the cabin crew tried to get food service done so that everyone could get some sleep.
IFE started almost right after take off (no two day old news reel either!) I watched 'Hoodwinked' an animated & updated version of Little Red Riding Hood, one of those films perfect for a plane as there is no way you would watch it anywhere else but when you have time to kill it's great & was actually OK. Two G&Ts later i was alseep.
The seat was better than the old first class ones on the way out but i found myself slipping down the incline and almost ended up sleeping in the space under the seat in front. This was my first experience of a sloping bed and it wasnt as comfortable as i had expected. Been spoilt by the UC suite i guess. Managed to find a way round this small problem, strapped my self in tight with the seat belt and it wasnt an issue anymore.
Arrived into Dubai at midnight (local time) and had to disembark for refuelling. We had an hour turnaround and were told to be at the gate (8) in 30 mins for reboarding, it took nearly that long to go through the security in the airport it was soooo busy. There is a shared lounge by gate 8 but we only spotted it as we were getting back on board. Shared by at least 10 other airlines.
Now this next sector was very good, full cabin but the service was flawless. Never needed to press the call button for anything, it was almost as if they were telepathic....superb. The food service seemed to be done in a much better way although at that time of night/day it was a light bites menu... Managed about another 4 hours sleep and woke up somewhere over Turkey / Egypt -ish, you know where i mean!
Watched Firewall - Harrison Ford film, oh dear how likely was the plot and how many chances to beat the bad guys were there!!!! Again a perfect airline film.....never to be watched again.
Breakfast run commenced, again done in a much better way, everyone was served at roughly the same time from a trolley (silver service style)and then you were asked about which hot meal you would like. After pastries, fruit, cereal and toast i wasnt exactly starving and opted for the hot smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwhich and a coffee.
It was good to see metal cutlery onboard and food served on china plates.
Nearly home now, gutted, and on time as well, each sector there and back was on time or at least made up time en route for any small departure delay.
Quick freshen up in the toilet, same as the old first class toilet, have to lift a cushioned seat to find the loo (imagine a comode!) but no broken mirror this time and plenty of moisturisers and other ammeinities available.
Got stuck in the 06.30 rush hour traffic at LHR and circled at least 6 times over london, amazing views as we flew down the Thames.
Bags were the first off and we got out of the airport within 20 mins of landing and it was shockingly busy at that time of day.
Overall 8.5 out of ten, the new seats were good but a little hard for sleeping on, the IFE stopped and started a few times, my last Virgin flight it didnt work all night so nothing to complain about there.
Yes i would fly again on them again if i was to go to Oz via Brunei. The no booze thing isnt a problem, bring your own and fingers crossed for the new seats!
Brunei was an excellent place to visit as a stop over, make sure you either stay at the Empire Hotel (it s got its own 3 screen cinema and a bowling alley), or at least have hi tea there and watch the stunning sunsets.
Lovely
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