VS200 LHR-HKG 22 AUG 11 (Upper Class)

[mitchja]

This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

Aircraft was G-VFIZ

Back in January, I'd decided to burn 180,000 miles for a reward return Upper flight to SYD. These still cannot be booked on the website so you need to call Flying Club to book. Even though you can see reward inventory, it does not match what Flying Club can see either so don't even bother using the website to get a rough idea of the flights you want!!!

It took a far bit of doing to book all 4 Upper reward flights as I wanted a stop-over both ways in HKG. After a bit of work the fantastic agent managed to book me all 4 flights and I handed over the £530 in taxes/fees (which BTW in now nearer the £650 mark ). I ended up with a 2 night stop-over in HKG going and a 3 night stop-over coming back. I'd still rather stop off rather than doing this route to SYD all in one go regardless of travel class.

After arriving from MAN on a BA domestic flight around 16:30, I transferred from T5 to T3 which only took about 15mins as I'd timed things just right as a train was already on the platform to take me to the central station area. After a short walk, I was in The VS check-in area of T3.

Check-in was very efficient and the agent was polite and professional. As I was on a reward booking, my FC number was not on the booking. I'd tried calling Flying Club but they wouldn't enter it for me. Even the check-in agent was unable to do this so I was stuck with the 00500500500 FC number on my new style BC, although he did suggest trying again in the CH.

After collecting my currency from Travelex I entered the Upper Class Wing area, which was deserted. After a brief shopping spree in the terminal (Amazon Kindle 3G, which is actually only £4 cheaper than from Amazon, so much for the tax free bit!!!) I made my way to the CH.

The CH was not very busy when I arrived around 18:00. First stop was a hair cut appointment was was confirmed for me at 19:30.

Had some dinner in the Brasserie, Salmon pot; which was nice but small.

Nice to see the roof garden open again Service was good the whole time I was in the CH. After my hair cut I had a shower (the steam was also working this time, unlike last time)

I nipped over to the concierge desk and they where able to enter my FC number into my reward booking and hey presto, I can now see my reward booking online automatically

The flight was called at 21:45 for a 22:30 departure leaving from gate 16 so not too far to walk. Priority boarding was in place and working well. 2 jetways as well . The J cabin some filled up from the front, there was only 2 empty seats in J but not sure about the other cabins, but they all seemed full.

All the cabin crew where very welcoming and nothing was ever too much trouble for them

We pushed back 5 mins early and where soon airborne only a few minutes after the scheduled departure time.

As I'd eaten in the CH and this was a late departure, I only had a starter on-board (Wontons which where very nice) followed my cheese and biscuits.

Watched Hop before getting my head down for some sleep. I didn't use a sleep suit, instead changed into my own shorts + t shirt. The bed seemed very hard. I did managed a couple of hours sleep and woke up about 4 hours before landing. Watched another film before breakfast was served.

After breakfast, the cabin was soon cleared and secured for our landing into HKG. We landed about 40 minutes early and there was quite a long line for immigration but it only took about 20 mins to get through.

One thing I had decided to do was sign up for the Frequent Visitor (e-channel) system at HKG which is a perk of Flying Club Gold.

The sign-up desk is immediately after the normal immigration desks but before you exit to the baggage reclaim. I only spotted the sign up desk by shear luck whilst queuing in the normal immigration lines. It only takes a few minutes and involves taking 2 finger prints and a photo. I can now just scan my passport via the e-channels when arriving in HKG. It will last as long as your passport does.

All in all another good VS flight

on having a good flight AND on geting 4*G sectors which goes to show it can be done!

Great Tr top marks on getting 4xG rewards assumed this was an urban myth!

cheers

alex

Thank you for posting a great TR, a very enjoyable read.

I also like the idea of having a stop over each way.

Great result on the 4 reward tickets too, did it take a long time on the phone to find the right dates?

Cal

Fantastic report and a result getting your FC number into the booking and securing the reward tickets.

Thanks for sharing.

Jon

[buns]

James

Thanks for yet another comprehensive TR - full of useful tips for others to build upon your experience

Well done on snatching those G's and I eagerly look forward to the next instalment

buns

[mitchja]

When I called to book back in January, it took about 20 mins to book. Even whilst the agent was trying to search for G's they mentioned they could see them disappearing from their screen in front of them.

Noticed as well that even though my reward booking now shows up automatically in the list of fights when I log in, the actually FC box in my booking is still blank so there's obviously more than one place the FC number in entered into your PNR so why this cannot be done ever time fro reward bookings is beyond me

Thank you for the great TR.

Great TR look forward to the next sector

So impressed, I've tried to get G's to Sydney for years without success .

[honey lamb]

We got the equivalent of Gs some years ago to SYD when Aer John won two UC tickets to any VS destination in the first FC Swingers competition The rule was that it couldn't be in the school holidays but given that John was aged 16 and still in school it created a problem. Fortunately Irish school holidays at secondary level are earlier in the summer than the UK ones so providing we started before the UK school holidays (we did) we were accommodated