VS201 HKG-LHR 13 NOV 11 (Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

So after an awesome 4 days in Hong Kong it was time to return to the wonders of LHR! 
Checked in online last night with a miserable seq 86 (very shameful!)  Our trip started with a little hiccup as, after dinner at the Peak Lookout Restaurant, the taxi driver that our friends had got lost and we only just made our airport transfer!!

After all that, we arrived at HKG in good time and checked our bags in.  The check in area was very quiet and we were seen immediately. The VS ground agent that checked us in did the job but with little flair or contact - not a complaint as it was efficient but not as friendly as LHR! The airport has plenty of shops & dining to keep you interested until boarding - just be aware that it can take little time to connect to the free wireless (frustrating!)

Now sat in Cafe Deco with a glass of wine awaiting the journey to the gate .......which was around 15 minutes walk/train to gate 36, so be aware! Arrived at the gate around the time requested and saw that priority boarding was in full effect....sadly we were unable to use it! Queen Of The Skies was the A346 awaiting our company for the flight!

Boarded (not greeted by name as we were on outbound ) by a friendly CC member and clearly directed to our seats (identical as outbound due to seat map being unavailable at online check in). Seats in used but good condition with full use of V-Port entertainment system. No problem with seat pocket this time (see outbound TR), which was nice.

Once on board we were very quickly settled in and it was announced that we had 293 passengers, 13 cabin crew & 3 flight crew on board.  Pilot came on during 10 minute taxi to runway 7R to let us know of a smooth 12 hour 40 minute flight time with a possibility of a slightly earlier arrival depending on LHR.

FSM came on to announce her name and the usual gubbins, followed by the distribution of headphones and menu. Tonight's delights are:

Salad to start - not a salad man!
Pan-fried chicken breast served with rosemary jus or
Lentil and ricotta moussaka with red bell pepper sauce or
Sautéed beef knuckle in black pepper sauce

Then, after pause to digest the above;
Strawberry mousse with chocolate blossom 
Tea or coffee

The breakfast menu consisted of;
Blueberry muffin and fruit yoghurt or 
Scrambled eggs, sausage, button mushrooms and potatoes or
Omelette with baked beans or
Chicken linguine with shaumi
Tea or coffee

Dinner was served fairly briskly after the seat belt signs went off. Opted for the chicken which was pretty decent, decided against the salad and gave my dessert to a more deserving individual (who said it was good but reminded him of school dinners). Bread roll was good and white wine fit for purpose! CC were good through dinner service with smiles and conversation.

So now time for a snooze.....I-map says that we have 5376 miles or 11 hours and 10 minutes remaining....night night.......

Have just woken up after about 9.5 hours sleep ! A record for me as I usually sleep for around 5 or 6.  This does, of course, mean that I missed breakfast and any other service in between!! I have checked with my friends who report that the full English breakfast was not great (they had it on the outbound & it was really good!) They also said that there was 2 or 3 juice runs through the night with smiley CC.

Pilot came on to announce that we would be landing early but due to the curfew at LHR we could not land before 4.30! We touched down at 4.34 and had a 10 minute taxi to our gate.

A pleasant goodbye from the CC on exit, no queues whatsoever at Passport control and bags out within 15 minutes = a good experience at LHR!

Mark

P.s. I will work out how to put my photos on from my outbound TR.....no photos on this one

[honey lamb]

Thanks for the trip report and well done on the 9.5 hours sleep.

Uploading photos is easy-peasy. Click on Post a Reply and scroll down to underneath the dialogue box in which you normally would reply. Click the Upload Attachment button and off you go!

Sounds good, and amazing 9.5h sleep in economy! Did you take anything to assist with that?

4.30am arrival sounds a bit grim.

Thanks for the advice HL, I will get on the case soon! Clarkey....may have had some cocktails & wine to assist but that is a normal routine for overnighters!! Oh and the 4.30 landing worked very well as you get in, drive home and have a day to sort yourself out ready for work the next day

Wow 9.5 hours sleep must be a record!

Glad to hear of a good flight, thanks for posting!

Thanks for the TR PM. All those sounds like a great way to pass nearly all of the flight. So you are excused for taking any photos or reporting on breakfast.

On a few occasions when I have missed breakfast but woken up while the people still have their dirty plates etc., I have wandered up to the galley and asked for some late breakfast. The cc have always been obliging if they have some left.

Cheers

Martin

Thank you for the great TR.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the TR.

As others have commented....9.5 hours sleep. In Economy. That's 50% more than I get in a bed that isn't 30,000 feet in the air! Awesome.