CZ4006 KUL-PVG 18 Mar 09 (Y)
Posted: 08 Apr 2009, 13:47The ticketing had been strange for this leg, the entire trip was purchased through VS. Unfortunately they had no MH availability for this leg so booked us using the CZ codeshare. So bye bye more miles and TPs, and funnily enough the new VS booking summary screen proudly declared the carrier to be bmi!
After a lovely couple of days in the company of friends around KL it was time to head to Shanghai. Despite arriving for brekkie at 6.10am in the Hilton one guy had already beaten us there. A second Englishman followed in and was soon chastising the staff as they'd forgotten to plug in the toaster - I never understand why people cannot vent their frustrations in a way that gets the problem fixed without destroying the feelings of the staff member - I gave her a wink and a smile. He continued to berate 'the Hilton breakfast' as being the same bad all over the world.
Anyway, a quick checkout and we were into the 2 minute transfer to the KLCC Airport terminal within KL Sentral station. You have to purchase your KL Ekspress tickets before the staff allow you into the checkin area, once inside it's very much like an airport checkin area. Having asked the load and been told it was over 70% we opted to take a window and aisle seat in the 2-5-2 config 777-200. The Ekspress took us swiftly to the airport and we happily walked straight past the checkin area and into the bizarre security zone.
Security at KLIA consisted of a few x-ray machines and metal detector arches with a massive aisle completely bypassing all of this signed for Airport staff and flight crew, however no-one was checking this and travellers were also walking through without question. Once through we were into the shopping/building site zone, with power cables under tape criss crossing the floor creating nice speed humps for all those with wheeled carryons.
After taking the train over to the other terminal we found our gate, the weird security continued as they did a full check here - why they bother earlier is beyond me. We were early and sat with a good view of the plane and torrential rain storm.
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Boarding was called and since we were at the front of Y class we waited until last. On board, the ac had a strange colour scheme of dark purple and green seats with dark blue carpets which made it look very dark and cramped.
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The seat and legroom however were ample despite the optical illusion. Departure was on time and we relaxed for the 5 hour flight to Shanghai Pudong Airport. The IFE was obviously the same Odyssey system used by VS, the remote, screen and menu look and feel being identical, however on MH it is actually TV on demand with full Pause and Rewind features.
An hour into the flight the Breakfast choice was displayed on the screens, Chinese Rice Congee or Omlette, chicken sausage and hash browns. I opted for the Omelette whilst gf went for the congee. As with SQ, even Y PAX get a full stainless steel cutlery service. I have to say the Omelette was perhaps the best tasting Omelette I've ever had, I passed it over for a second opinion and the answer confirmed my thought.
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Chinese Rice Congee
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Omlette, chicken sausage and hash browns.
Landing in the ever seemingly quiet Pudong airport we quickly taxied over to Terminal 2. You may remember the last time I arrived here I was not impressed with the layout of immigration, well I'm pleased to say it was much better this time. The expensive overhead signs are obviously useless as they display completely the wrong information however they've now installed TensaBarriers with 'Foreigners' in big letters at the entry to the queue snake. We were through in around 10 minutes, the immigration staff not being as freindly as previously encountered however nowhere near the attitude of the wasp chewer I'd encountered in KL. Another good thing this time was taxis! Last time we'd arrived, VS had been one of the first airlines to move to T2 - the terminal opening around 6 days before we'd arrived and we'd had to walk to T1 to get a taxi.
Overall a very hastle and stress free journey. MH are obviously a class airline and Shanghai have gotten their act together at T2.
Only 4 days in Shanghai before it was time to head back to blighty ...