VS200 HKG-SYD 30 Aug 07 (Upper)

Hi all

Well our week holiday in HK is almost over - just the flight home left.

I am writing this from the HK Clubhouse sipping champagne.

We arrived at the airport at 1550 - the hotel limousine took rather less time than they suggested it might. Anyway proceeded to concourse F and found the sole open VS desk and to my delight she said she could us in straight away.

Bags tagged boarding cards issued and off we set for the clubhouse. As wew were walking away a bevvy of VS check in staff arrived to open up the check in desks. My it is a long way from check in even with the train ride! Have to admit both OH and myself not overly impressed with it being open to general terminal but at least on a floor higher.

Received a very sincere welcome and asked to relax and enjoy ourselves. As soon as we sat down we were offered drinks and the Eva Air menu as the VS menu starts at 1630. We have both ordered the Club Sandwich and the OH is trying a Mojito. As I took the pc out I was brought the VS wifi code - very impressive service.

My only comment would be that - not VS fault - the CH as it is open to the terminal is rather warm for my liking and not the usual HK cool air con we have been used to.

Anyway - on that note my bubbles are warming up so I will update this post flight.

Happy travels one and all.

Cheers Rob

PS have had our CH sandwiches - mmm not much to rave about there. There was nothing really wrong with them bit underwhelming really. Roll was like those ones you buy in Sainsburys and reheat in the oven.

The general terminal annoncements are starting to annoy me now and I've only been here 30 mins or so.

R

Holiday almost over now as we are in Sydney, sat in DJs The Lounge awaiting the flight back to Melbourne. We were given complimentary access on handover of our UC boarding passes from this ams VS arrival.

We decided to baord the VS200 at 1845 before the UC boarding call as the Clubhouse was quite full with a BR flight as well as the 200. Walked down to the gate and again priority boarding clearly signed and in operation even though there was hardly anyone around. After passport and boarding card checked we set off down the jetway. Near the end it split and we were directed to the UC boarding section. The aircraft was Indian Princess.

We were welcomed on board by the IFBT and shown to our suites 2 & 3 A again so not far to walk. Menus water and snooze packs were quickly brought around. I asked if we had boarded too early and they had not had a chance to set the cabin up. We were told they were just handing everything out as there were not many on the flight. 23 in UC and 80 down the back. In fact there were on two D seats occupied.

After having a quick glance through the menu - saw a couple of things that sounded nice - the CC looking after us ran up the aisle apologising profusely but she had given us the wrong menus. Menus exchanged and we were disapointed with the actual offerings - compared to the other menu. Had a nice chat with said CC member about the virtues of UK/Aus sausage rolls as these were on the first menu we were given and we were looking forward to a UK one. The ones here in Aus are fine I'm sure if ou were brought up with them.

Had the obligatory bubbles again, twice, and the rest of the goodies were handed out. Did notice that the snooze pack on this leg had no ear plugs in it - whereas the one on the Syd-Hkg did. Releived the CC member of the polos - not easy to get here! IFBT came around and offered her services (although again no nail treatments as they are not allowed cutting tools on this sector) not that I was bothered by this. I put myself down for the neck and shoulder massage.

Pushed back on time-ish I think. Flight time of 8h30m announced and good weather en route. After take off the VPort came on swiftly and drinks and dinner orders taken. Orderd the Bellini only to be brought bubbles as the peach juice had not been loaded again. As I noted in the other TR whats the point of having it as a special if it is not available.

Dinner choices were

smoked salmon salad*
pumpkin and coconut soup
beef and pumpkin terrine

grilled chicken
sauteed beef tenderloin
saffron vodka seabass*
cabbage rolls

cheese*

mango tart
ice cream
my choices marked with *

all very quite pleasant and it was lucky I changed into my sleepsuit before dinner as I managed to spill saffron sauce down myself and as flight was not full mnaged to get another ss to change into.

We prefilled our breakfast orders and handed them to our cc.

Flight progressed quietly and quickly. Had a couple of drinks at the bar after dinner interrupted by a couple of bouts of turbulence.

Bed was made up for me and off to sleep. Didn't need the duvet/doona dpending on your inclination as the cabin was roasting - and I had my two air vents on full.

Woke up to a baby crying about two hours before landing. Not complaining as she had been silent until that point and apparently had come through from London and been good as gold on that sector too. It was an opportune moment as the IFBT saw I was awake and offered me my treatment which I greatfully took - a nice way to wake up.

Breakfast preorder cards had apparently been mislaid so order taken again. I had the fruit salad and yoghurt and a bacon roll. Both very nice. Before too long we had commenced our decent into Sydney. A very clear morning we flew across the city and down to the south before doing a 180 degree turn and landing into the north across Botany Bay.

Pulled up beside an Emirates flight. Said goodbyes and off to the melee of Sydney arrivals - which amazingly was quite quiet if you were a visitor with the long queues for the Aus/NZ passports. Bags took a while to come off - so no priority there as a number of Y pax and the crew left the carousel before our bags came off. No hitch at customs as we had declared the M&S cookies we bought.

Checked in for our DJ flight back to Mel in the interational building and given a free bus transfer to the domestic terminal.

Once again the flight was excellent as were the crew. No complaints from me. 10/10 all the way.

Hope you enjoy the read, and it wasn't too long.

Happy flying.

Rob

Thanks for a great trip report - good to hear everything was top notch as it should be!

Originally posted by RobL
Had a nice chat with said CC member about the virtues of UK/Aus sausage rolls as these were on the first menu we were given and we were looking forward to a UK one. The ones here in Aus are fine I'm sure if ou were brought up with them.

Just out of interest, what is the difference between a UK and an Australian sausage roll?

Jonathan

It is only a taste thing. There is nothing wrong with the aussie ones they just taste different to the UK ones. I have a taste memory of what UK sausage rolls taste like and whenever I have one here they don't fulfill my taste memory. Complicated I know. I guess its similar to Marmite/Vegemite taste - I love marmite but, apologies to all Aussies, detest Vegemite.

Vegemite wins over Marmite any day!

To add to the sausage roll debate - I prefer them from the UK even though the ones served in Y from SYD-HKG are beautiful!

Don't know what's happened to the Peach Puree but it's been on every flight I've operated recently. I can only think that there might be a stock problem in HKG at the moment as new drinks bars are loaded in HKG for the HKG-SYD-HKG sectors.

And breakfast cards - I haven't seen any for ages and haven't heard why so sorry I can't enlighten you more on that one.

[preiffer]

Actually, I noticed the breakfast card was missing on the VS20 last week. They were there at the end of July when I flew back then, but not on this one [?]

Actually, quite a pain in the a***. I used to like being woken up with breakfast 'ready and waiting'. [y]

No Bellini mix loaded on the SYD-HKG sector yesterday (no JD or Tanqueray either [}:)])but they re-appeared after the stop in HKG for the onward leg to LHR.No breakfast cards on the VS201 last night but given out on the VS200 a few weeks ago.

Originally posted by DragonLady
No Bellini mix loaded on the SYD-HKG sector yesterday (no JD or Tanqueray either [}:)])but they re-appeared after the stop in HKG for the onward leg to LHR.No breakfast cards on the VS201 last night but given out on the VS200 a few weeks ago.

That might make sense with what I posted a few posts ago - the bars that do the LHR-HKG and HKG-LHR flights are loaded in LHR so HKG catering (who load the bars for the HKG-SYD and SYD-HKG) might def a stock problem with Bellini mix

Certainly appears to be lack of bellini mix. Its a pity as it is advertised on the menu as the Guest at the bar.

I too noticed no Tanqueray and settled with the Sapphire.

However neither was sufficient to dampen my spirits[}:)].

PS for those interested I have added some happy snaps of the HK Clubhouse and VS planes in the photos section.