VS238 LHR-HKG 22 Jan 09 (PE)
Posted: 28 Jan 2009, 14:44This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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We got the train down to London on the day of travel for the first time in a long time, thereby missing out on our pre-flight ritual of a meal in the Pheasant. Oh well, it was a smooth and easy journey to LHR and we arrived in plenty of time.
In T3, there were a couple of people using the UC check in. but 4 desks were open and we walked straight up to be served. A very friendly agent checked us in and confirmed the loads were light and the flight was on time. We made our way through the private security area in seconds and were soon walking through the shops into the Clubhouse. The departure lounge area wasnt its usual manic self still busy but not the mayhem we are used to seeing.
In the Clubhouse, which was also unusually quiet, we were seated in the bistro straight away. Chatting to the waitress, she said it had been very quiet for the past few days. We both started with a coffee, then we both had the Leek and Potato soup with truffle scented croutons. For main I had the compulsory Clubhouse burger while Sue went to the deli bar and had had smoked salmon with a selection of salads. We passed a very pleasant time in the Clubhouse, as usual Sue had a massage, but I didnt bother. We did have a glass or two of champagne and I managed to catch up on V-Flyer - no problems with the wi-fi connection today.
All too soon, it was time to board. Todays plane is Cover Girl - an Airbus A340-600. There was a bit of a queue on the airbridge as they were only using one entrance, but we were soon sat in seats 18 H and K at the front of PE. The crew appear mainly Hong Kong based but the FSM sounds very English. Our flight time tonight will be a very fast 11 hours and 11 minutes due to a strong jet stream. We were given a drink as soon as we sat down.
Air traffic delays meant that we were a little late pushing back, at 4.05pm, but we had quite a wait to get to runway 27R before wheels up at 4.30pm into a clear blue sky. It was just getting dark as we rose over the M25, which was at a nose to tail standstill as far into the distance as we cold see. The FSM told us that there are 187 people on board including crew, thus confirming the light load. There are a few empty seats in the PE cabin.
As soon as we levelled out we were given amenity kits, headsets, landing cards and menus, and then a drinks service followed very quickly by the meal. The menu is as follows:
Salad Red pesto salad with seasonal leaves.
Main courses.
Lincolnshire beef and vegetable stew with braised cabbage and herb dumpling.
Gnocchi in spinach, tomato and herb sauce with mozzarella cheese
Chicken in black bean sauce with Thai style rice and pepper julienne.
Warm bread.
Dessert Gu Chocolate and bannoffee dessert.
Cheese and biscuits Croxton Manor mature cheddar with crackers.
I had the chicken and Sue had the beef mine was very good and Sue enjoyed hers. The cheese was a little bland, but the service was very attentive, with a wine refill and then a brandy and Baileys run, both of which we declined, but it was nice to be given the offer.
Almost as soon as the meal was done, the cabin lights were dimmed and everyone settled down to sleep. I got a good nights sleep in the PE seats. I woke up as daylight broke over the barren wastes on Mngolia - very inhospitable looking it was too!
Breakfast was a proper meal - a choice of full English / veggie English or scrambled eggs with chicken and potato. Sue and I had the chicken and it was really nice.
Our good progress was marred slightly by the fact that we were stacked above the clouds for ages before eventually landing into a very cloudy HKG at 11.40am. I had been looking forward to some spectacular views as we flew in, but it wasnt to be, as it was very cloudy as we arrived and didn't break cloud until a very short time before landing.
We made our way to the gate and had quite a walk to a train that took us to the main terminal. The entry process was very quick and we were through in a matter of minutes. Our luggage hadnt arrived by the time we got to the carousels but it soon arrived strangely all of the crew bags came off first followed by the UC / Priority ones.
Our Hong Kong adventure began.