V-Flyer

I had been droped off at the Airport Express station in Hong Kong, was decided to check-in my for UA flight there. It's very easy as all you have to do is first purchase an airport express ticket then insert this into the barriers in front of the check-in area (which is located on the ground floor)

UA had 2 desks there, first/biz/*G etc and economy (economy was not open but the other one was). I'd got my BD*G card on this booking so was able to use the biz check-in desk. No queues ans I was minus my bad in under a minute. Headed down to the airport express and made my way to HKG which takes about 20mins.

Made my way up to the departures level and mulled around for a bit outside doing a bit of plane spotting whilst topping up my nicotine levels.

Made my way though immigration (only 3 lanes open) and security and headed to the UA Red Carpet lounge (which is across in the same area as the VS CH)

G-VWKD was on stand having just arrived from LHR as the VS200.

The UA lounge is nice, with plenty of room and like the VS CH over-looks the terminal area in some places. They offer free WiFi (you just need a password from the front desk). Reasonable selection of hot/cold food and hot/cold drinks. The shower/washroom area is currently been renovated so you have to use the washrooms in the terminal.

The UA B747 was already on stand but was still showing a 30 minute delay 'due to the late arrival of the in-coming A/C' - hmmmmm even though the A/C was sat on stand for at least 3 hours [:?]

Before long the flight was called so I made my way down to gate 61. There where 2 boarding lines (one for First/Biz/1K and the other for economy). As I was in Economy with *G status I wasn't sure which line to go for so I tryed the First/Biz line. I got to the front of the line and the rudist agent told me that I was in the wrong line so I had to queue up in the economy line. UA use a zoned boarding system as printed on your BC is a large number (1, 2 or 3). They board the PAX using this number. I was 1 so was first to board as I was sat in the back Y cabin. There where 2 jetways in use.

I was in 50G which was a bulk head row (I'd selected this seat when I made the booking online using the UK UA site). The Y cabin soon filled up and we where ready to go by 21:00. Short taxi and we where airborne by 21:10. Todays flight was be 3 hrs and 2 mins.

The cabin was something out of the 70's with brown carpet and brown carpeted bulk head walls [:w]. The seats where also quite old fashioned looking. The Y cabin is split into 3 with the front cabin being Y+ which has the same seats but another few inches leg room. As I was in a bulk head row in the standard Y cabin, I probably had more leg room anyway. The flight looked completely full in Y.

The old fashioned look of the cabin really didn't matter though as during the entire flight I received great service from the crew [y]. Y pax get a choice of papers once airborne, hot towels and several drinks runs and a hot meal selection. Do VS offer papers and hot towels in economy - I think not [:?]

First there was a drinks round (all free and offering full sized cans rather than those silly little ones VS serve).

The choice of hot meal was noodles or beef with mash. I opted for the beef and it was rather good. Usual Y meal with a salad started, hot main and bread roll and fruit for desert.

The crew never seemed to stop the entire flight, with drinks rounds, duty free and more drinks rounds.

The IFE is the old projection type with a few TV screens fixed to the cabin ceiling dotted around the exit row areas.

Todays film was Oceans 13. Been in the bulk head row it was quite difficult to watch the screen.

I'd opted for using my iPod but did switch to listening in to the ATC channel on the IFE system.

Before long we where approaching SIN so the cabin was secured, immigration forms handed out.

We touched down at 00:30 and where quickly on stand. 2 jetways where again used. I guess first/biz got off first then Y. Once all premium pax are off, Y pax also use both jetways (I'd used the front one so walked though biz/first). The biz seats look pretty crap (not much different to the new VS PE seats!!!) Using both doors for Y once all premium pax are off really does speed things up. From arriving on stand to getting off was well under 5 mins [y]

Immigration was quick and painless and my bag was already coming round once I reached baggage collection (my bag did have one of those *G orange priority tags on it along with the word 'priority' actually printed on the bar code sticker). All *A airlines do seem to have priority baggage right. VS please please take note, you system is hopeless.

From leaving the aircraft to exiting arrivals was about 15-20 mins [y]

All in all a very pleasent and enjoyable flight, especially at the rock bottom priced I paid for it (~135 quid return)

The crew where a credit to United Airlines [y] [y]

Regards