GF 004 LHR-MCT 2nd April 2007 (Business)
Posted: 03 Apr 2007, 09:43GF check-in was a bit chaotic too, and I had to wait about 10 minutes to be seen. Turns out the slowdown was due to a pax with a booking irregularity. One of the staff commandeered an adjacent economy check-in and converted it into a First and Business class check-in. Apparently, my driver should have directed me to American Airlines 'Park Avenue' kerbside check-in. Maybe this is one area that will improve once Tristar take over the Gulf Air account?
Fast track was reasonably fast, no long queues, though the secondary shoe carnival seemed a bit chaotic. I was originally corralled toward this with everyone else by one guy, then a woman turned up and waved a bunch of us through, myself included, and then moaned at the guy for sending too many people through the shoe check.
The GF lounge is on the floor below the VS Clubhouse, and is relatively small... with only about 50-60 seats. As the GF premium cabins only take about 30 people, this isn't a significant problem. I noticed that the lounge did get very full, and that some 'overflow' was sent to the American Airlines Admirals Club. Gulf Air and American Airlines seem to co-operate at some level, with codesharing, etc.
Food and drink was self-service, fairly simple, but a decent selection of different breakfast-ish things at this time of the morning. Fresh criossants and pastries, cheeses, sandwiches, fruits, cereals, etc.
Decor was nice, comfy leather or fabric chairs, or Arabic-style canopies and lounging cushions. One oversight was that no mains sockets were provided at the tables and chairs, and given the adjoining divider has lights on it, this shouldn't have been hard to do, I'd assume.
Boarding was from Gate 36, so the mile hike, like on VS! Individually shown to seat on A340 registration A4O-LG, and offered a drink with a small dish of almonds. After departure cocktail order taken before pushback.
Pushed a couple of minutes late, and joined the queue to the runway.
First thing which hit me was the big seat pitch, J2000-like seats, but with more seat pitch (about 80'), but with more adjustments. (Apparently, the A340 has this huge seat pitch, the A330 has about 68-70'.) 110V in-seat power socket. Odyssey-like entertainment system.
PA system has a 'Hi-De-Hi'-like chime, which made me laugh.
Wheels up just after 11.30am local time off 09R, DVR departure, strong climb-out had us over the Channel at FL270 within 15 minutes.
After departure, dates and arabic coffee offered - a traditional welcome to a guest in your 'house'.
Meal orders were then taken, and we were asked at what time we would like to eat - the menu is 'Freedom like', you can eat at any time, and there is a main meal (the 'Fine Dining' menu) with a choice of two starters, three mains (chicken, fish, vegetarian), two desserts, plus cheese plate.
There is also a 'Bedside Menu' (almost like VS' 'lighter bites'), with choice of sandwiches (hot and cold), and an Arabic mezze plate available at anytime during the flight. This was also offered toward the end of the flight, rather than second meal 'sitting', and the crew made it clear to us early in the flight that we could order anything from the menu whenever we wished.
Gulf Air's skymap shows direction to Mecca relative to the plane every so often, as well as all the normal stuff.
Flight crew were a British Captain and an Arab First Officer, the First Officer was the handling pilot for this sector. The Captain spoke to us before departure, and the First Officer afterward, forwarning of the possibility of light to moderate turbulence later in the flight - which I was already expecting, having looked at the high-level sigwx chart and turbulence forecasts for today. We would pick up a strong tailwind as we passed through the Eastern Mediterranean and headed past Damascus toward Saudi.
Shortly after coffee, amenities were distributed, which consisted of a plastic packet of socks, shades and earplugs. Toothbrush and toothpaste in individual pouches were available in the lavs.
Kids packs were distributed to the younger neighbours I had in the cabin - a beach/gym bag, like the Y amenity kit on VS. This one is emblazoned with Gulf Air's 'smiling plane' character 'Gulfy', they contain Lego (a little helicopter), puzzles, a kiddies Gulf Air baseball cap, shades, and a cool velcro-fastening wallet with lots of pockets for stuff. Really nice touch I think, and it set the tone for the whole flight. It appealed to my inner child, I think!
A nice smoked duck amuse bouche was served with the cocktails, it had a delicious fresh and clean, yet slightly sweet, taste. Really nice, and despite it being a small quantity, it just reeked of more class than the naff crisps on Virgin (Who remembers when VS were trialling canapes a couple of years ago? I remember getting them on the VS3 quite often).
Occasionally noticed the onboard skychef passing through the cabin, to get food items from the other galley. It's his job to pamper the tastebuds of the eight First Class passengers.
This guy really looked like a chef, to look at him - there's just something about a real chef and how they look, I think! Sort of business-like, and they just reek of attention to detail. I reckon VS meals would improve significantly if they replaced the normal galley operator with an onboard chef who could properly finish and present the meals - no disrespect intended to the current VS staff who operate the galleys, but it's a real lottery as to whether your meal looks like it belongs in a restaurant or a roadside caff.
Fantastically attentive staff. The moment my glass was empty, along came a crew member... 'Another drink, Mr. Mike-smashing?', and wow, were those G&T's strong.
The food served onboard was fabulous. Fresh tasting, beautifully presented, and delicious. It just didn't taste or feel like aeroplane food...
DINE ON DEMAND
Select from our fine dining menu or our express bedside menu
Fine Dining Menu
Your selection will be served at a time of your choosing
Amuse Bouche
...as discussed above
To Start
Smoked Halibut and Belgian endive salad
- smoked fish, crisp leaves, green asparagus, tomato relish and black olive vinagrette
...absolutely delicious. Melt in the mouth, smooth and silky fish, offset by the sharp endive and chargrilled asparagus.
Broccoli soup, blended with cheese and herbs
(looked pretty good to me)
Main Course
Herb and gruyere cheese chicken
- duo of mignons with a cheese and herb crust, snow peas, tomatoes, pesto sauce
...just what I wanted, apart from the potatoes on the side. Delicious pieces of crusted chicken, roasted cherry tomato, sugar snap peas. Beautifully presented with clean and distinctive flavours.
The alternative mains were an Arabian fish dish with rice, or a vegetarian pasta.
Lush cheesecake to follow, with apricots on the top, and they put some cheese to one side for me for later (which they remembered about, and came back and asked me if I wanted it, about 90 minutes out from Seeb).
I didn't try anything from the bedside menu, but I saw someone in the row in front have the sandwich on Turkish bread. It looked very good.
All the food and drink served was of an excellent standard, like I said, just didn't taste like mass-produced plane food.
I had a family sat in the rest of the row, I got talking to the guy with them, until we were told that we couldn't stand in the exit and drink. Oh for a bar, and a bottle of Ten to drink! ;-)
Talking to the 12 year old occupant of the seat next to me, who seemed no stranger to flying in the pointy bit - another V-Flyer in the making, perhaps - I asked him what he thought of the kids pack. He said it was 'one of the best' and contained some 'cool stuff'. Gulf Air also provide a 'Sky Nanny' - a specially trained crew member who helps parents onboard the plane with their kids. (Apparently, they also have a creche with a Nanny in their lounge at Bahrain... would be a nice idea for the VS Clubhouse, drop the kids in the creche and hit the sauna.)
Before long, we flew over Bahrain, had my cheese with a big glass of port as we crossed the Qatar peninsula, and descended toward Muscat, where we landed about 10-15 minutes early. No jetways here (all the stands are 'drive in, drive out'), and we stepped from the plane out into a stiff, sweet-smelling breezy desert night. Down the steps, and onto a waiting bus. There was a dedicated bus for the premium cabins, which took us to the airport terminal.
Through the transit lane, through an airport which struck me as a bit odd - lots of US food franchises, such as Papa John's pizza, and down to relax and kick my heels in the Gulf Air lounge for a little while waiting for the flight back to BAH. The lounge at Seeb is huge with older, less contemporary, more colonial decor - but a refit is 'coming soon', promises the large Gulf Air banner in the middle of the lounge, showing a passenger and a Gulf Air employee in modern surroundings (similar to the fit out of their LHR lounge).
So, Gulf Air versus VS? I think the plane was very clean and well maintained, and inflight service excellent - professional but non-stuffy, the seat was comfortable and seemed to be made of more durable materials than the VS suite - it just didn't look as tacky and trashed. Food? No contest. Gulf Air wins hands down. Simple food, fresh, distinctive flavours, nicely presented. VS would win for smoothness of check-in, and of course, the lounge.
TR from the short MCT-BAH hop to follow, which contains an interminable wait for my baggage...
Mike