ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 13911 times:
6 April 2008
Jakarta (CGK) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Airline: Malaysia Airlines
Flight: MH710
Aircraft: A330-300
Aircraft 1st Flight: 10 Feb 1995
Registration: 9M-MKA
ETD: 1110
ATD: 1105
ETA: 1410
ATA: 1350
Flight Time: 1hr 40min
Cruise: 40,000 Feet
Seat: 8A (Golden Club / Business Class)
Reason for trip
I know its been almost 2 months since I returned form this trip, but I have been swarmed with work, hence the lateness in posting this TR. Apologies for that! Anyway, I had to travel to Leipzig for a quick business trip, so another quick long haul flight for me. I will not post too much about the CGK-KUL-BKK legs as I always travel this routes. But of Course pics will be provided for all legs.
Pre Flight
Arrived at the airport with 1 hour to spare, after a quick check in, spent my time at the Starbucks and at the lounge. Nothing really much to spot at this time of the day. My Aircraft today is 9M-MKA.
MKA pulling into the gate, viewed form my fave location for spotting in CGK, Starbucks!!
A Garuda B733
Starbucks
The slightly refurbished common use J class lounge @ CGK
MKA up close, which is MH’s 1st A333
In Flight
This is my second time on MKA. What is lacking in the old J seats, is the great MH crew.
In cabin views
Whats for lunch?
Saudia B743 to Jeddah
Rows of parked aircraft from the now defunct and yet still somewhat controversial Adam Air
Just after being airbourne
Now for most a.netters favourite part of the flight
After arrival, I took the express train into town and met a few friends for some beers before heading back to the airport. TG is still using the temporary lounge as they are renovating their old one. Today’s flight will be operated by HS-TJB. Boarding was slow as there was a huge group of senior citizens and they look like they will be travelling for the first time! As usual for first timers, they had several things confiscated at the security checkpoint, mainly, liquids!!
TJB waiting for me
In Flight
I like TG’s B772’s with the new refit interiors in J, nice and comfortable and although its barely and 2 hour hop to Bangkok, its always nice to have AVOD. Service wise, it was the typical TG regional service, unassuming yet efficient. And as usual for this time and route, not a single empty seat in both J and Y.
After arrival, it’s the usual personal pick up by electric cart and I am quickly whisked off to the Royal First lounge. Went to the spa as usual for a complimentary massage, then its back to the lounge and enjoyed the food, service and just relaxed till they called us to be escorted to the aircraft.
Smoking Lounge in the Royal First Lounge
More food for me!
In Flight
It’s a 100% full load in F and looks the same for both J and Y. With this kind of laods into Frankfurt, now I really understand why TG did not cancel the A380 as they really need the capacity. Slight changes to the amenity kit as the slippers are now packed separately from the pyjamas, the pyjamas are also not as comfortable as the previous ones they gave out.
Ottoman seat in Royal First
Seat Controls and Amenity Kit and Menus
It was a really heavy take off run, probably one of the longest I have experienced on the B744. Soon after the seat belts lights were turned off, the meal service began. I watched National Treasure 2 on the AVOD while I was eating.
Food was excellent as usual on TG Royal First. Afterwhich I managed to get a nice long sleep and woke up somewhere around Western Russia. Soon after, breakfast was served and we were down in a freaky Frankfurt, freaky in terms of weather, it was looking as though it might snow.
Overall it was another great flight by TG First and you really can’t flaw their service in F.
Crazy April weather here in Frankfurt. Just as suspected, it started to snow, when we boarded the aircraft there was a delay as they had to get deicing equipment over to the aircraft. The flight itself was uneventful and we touched down under cloudy skies in Leipzig.
Lufthansa Logojet
ABXL taking me to Leipzig
In cabin view from the B733, deicing on the way and nice Finnair E170
After A quick meeting for 24 hours, its time to head back to Frankfurt, After check in at the airport, it’s a strange walk to one of the terminal to the boarding gates, Leipzig really have a strange format but I guess the original layout was pre-reunification time. Flight was uneventful again and soon we are back in Frankfurt.
I managed to kill time between my flight in Frankfurt by just walking around aimlessly, visiting the variety of shops they have there. After checking in, I was shocked to find out that there was an equipment change for this flight and it’s the B744 with the older lie flats which operated this flight, oh well, I was pretty disappointed as I booked F for the reason of the new F seats, and I got the old ones instead. I spent the rest of my time at the Senator Lounge and when boarding was due, I was picked up by the premium service people and brought right to the gate.
TGG, one of TG’s newer B744 but with the old seat config
Spotting from the LH Senator Lounge
In Flight
Although seats were old, they were still comfy, and probably the only complaint that I have are that the width on these seats are a little narrow. At least the seat next to mine was blocked and I again managed to sleep most of the way. Again nothing to fault on TG’s F service.
After landing, I spent my entire time again at the Royal Orchid Spa and the Royal First lounge.
TJB again!
In Flight
Usual B772 for this short hop to KUL. It wasn’t full in J and about 80% in Y. Crew on this flight was also more cheerful than the usual TG regional crew.
Service: 7/10
Food: Did not eat
Aircraft: 7/10
Sorry I did not write my return leg as it has become so mundane on my KUL-CGK sectors so, I just decided to sleep all the way back home.
Thanks again for reading guys !!!
Will post my TR to India by MH in J tomorrow. I will also be flying to Sevilla and Frankfurt on Wednesday. So…keep an eye out on that TR too.
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 13898 times:
Does any of you guys know why my links to my older TR suddenly appear as 'links' usually when i 'copy link location' after being posted it will be seen as the actual title i wrote instead of the http address?
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 2, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 12855 times:
Hey guys, I am having some slight trouble posting my newer TR. Hope to get it up in a day or two! Please bear with me. By the way, can someone help me answer my earlier post regarding the links?
Davescj From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 2244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 12785 times:
As always, a great TR! I always enjoy seeing TG for a change of style and pace!
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 4, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 12622 times:
Quoting Davescj (Reply 3): As always, a great TR! I always enjoy seeing TG for a change of style and pace!
Thanks a lot Actually tomorrow I am off again on TG in F to Frankfurt. I always like TG for long haul, especially in the premium cabin, they are much cheaper than SQ or CX. Service is always good too. Although the only hiccups you might get is, sometimes when they replace the route with older equipment. Now that really sux
FLIEGER67 From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, RR: 57 Reply 5, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 12387 times:
Hello, ThaiA345,
great story and nice pics.
Always good to read about travel into Germany from another point of view.
Do you noticed that D-ABXL is still the oldest active B733 in LH´s fleet.
I´ve logged it last week and was impressed about that neat interior.
Airpearl From Malaysia, joined May 2001, 934 posts, RR: 38 Reply 6, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 12146 times:
Hi ThaiA345
Reading through your report, the registration HS-TJB seemed awfully familiar. Checked my own travel records in April and guess what? We were on the same flight TG418 KUL-BKK on April 6! I was of course way back in Y class.
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4652 posts, RR: 27 Reply 7, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 12052 times:
ahh.... another luxurious report from you. I was wondering where were you hiding. And have u read my report lately? Hahahahahaha... Not First Class but the OTHER extreme... LCC one.
Why don't you just fly TG straight from Jakarta to Bangkok? You don't find the transfer in KUL a tad troublesome? Or you just like being fed multiple times, like me?
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Ronerone From Jordan, joined Aug 2004, 1541 posts, RR: 54 Reply 8, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 11960 times:
Quoting ThaiA345 (Reply 1): Does any of you guys know why my links to my older TR suddenly appear as 'links' usually when i 'copy link location' after being posted it will be seen as the actual title i wrote instead of the http address?
Using the above quote as an example, just replace "aviation-forms" with "discussions"
I have had the same problems with my more recent TR's and after doing a quick comparison to my older posts, i realised that this was the problem. Once replaced, the links will be good as new
A Stop Away From One-Stop, Is Non-Stop : Airbus A340-500
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8258 posts, RR: 56 Reply 10, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 11329 times:
Nice report and pictures as usual, many thanks.
Shame you got the old TG F seats on the return flight, I'd be disapointed too.
TG meals look well presented, don't think you'd go hungry
The LH meals are quite a contrast to all the other flights, that said, it is a very short flight to lucky to get anything these days!
Avianca From Venezuela, joined Jan 2005, 5857 posts, RR: 41 Reply 11, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 11014 times:
great report... !!! have to say there is really a difference between the old and the new First on Thai... well sadly I can not confirmed it due personal experience just based on your photos
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 10): LH meals are quite a contrast to all the other flights, that said, it is a very short flight to lucky to get anything these days!
I think LH has one of the best business caterings for such short flight these days.
These snacks are always great !
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 12, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 10904 times:
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 5): Do you noticed that D-ABXL is still the oldest active B733 in LH´s fleet.
Yup, The aircraft looks so so neat and clean when I got onboard as it got retrofitted with the new seats. But I only realized it was LH's oldest B733 when I searched up the rego on airfleets!!!
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 13, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 10637 times:
Quoting Airpearl (Reply 6): Reading through your report, the registration HS-TJB seemed awfully familiar.
Hi Air Pearl....wow....we really just missed each other huh....next time we should keep each other informed about our travels....my next one is KIX by MH in J on 16th July
Quoting Ryanair!!! (Reply 7): ahh.... another luxurious report from you. I was wondering where were you hiding. And have u read my report lately? Hahahahahaha... Not First Class but the OTHER extreme... LCC one.
Why don't you just fly TG straight from Jakarta to Bangkok? You don't find the transfer in KUL a tad troublesome? Or you just like being fed multiple times, like me? Wink
Ahh Mr Soh, Of coz I always read your reports, but I read it while I was in a airport lounge, hence I did not log in and hence I did not manage to reply. WHether LCC or not....your reports are always a great read!! And like you, I do love to fly multiple times, plus I also have lotsa close friends in KL, so alway snice to have a few hours and catch up with them
Quoting MilesDependent (Reply 9): do have to say the J class meal presentation on MH leaves a lot to be desired. Looks like Y!!
Actually they are really good and different on the long haul flights in J which are operated on the B772 or B744
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 10): Shame you got the old TG F seats on the return flight, I'd be disapointed too.
Quoting Avianca (Reply 11): great report... !!! have to say there is really a difference between the old and the new First on Thai... well sadly I can not confirmed it due personal experience just based on your photos Smile
Well, they do say pictures speaks a thousand words right? eheheh and in this case, it is very true indeed!!
RockyRacoon From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 938 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 10507 times:
nice report. thai seems to offer a first rate product.
Thanks for reading, they actually do have good products, but occasionally when you expect their upgraded product, in comes a replacement aircraft with crap seats and no avod. oh well....life is never perfect right? ehehehhe
SASDC8 From Norway, joined Mar 2006, 660 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 10133 times:
Quoting ThaiA345 (Thread starter): TGG, one of TG's newer B744 but with the old seat config
Do you know why Thai have not retrofitted the whole fleet?? Why just 12 out of 18A/C?? It would be absolutely dreadful in J with an A/C change like this one!! Did you get any compensation?
Anyhow what a great report It is nice that you are back, since your reports are always such a great read
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 18, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 9990 times:
Quoting SASDC8 (Reply 17): Do you know why Thai have not retrofitted the whole fleet?? Why just 12 out of 18A/C?? It would be absolutely dreadful in J with an A/C change like this one!! Did you get any compensation?
Hi Stein!!! Nice to hear from you again. Well, they kept the seat next to me empty, so I guess thats their form of compensation, but a complained a little more and they also gave me a can of caviar and a bottle of Dom Perignon eheheheheh and 1 red wine of my choice
Christao17 From Thailand, joined Apr 2005, 888 posts, RR: 9 Reply 19, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 9837 times:
Nice report with tons of pictures. I was quite shocked to see that TG is still operating that old style F class. That's the one I flew on a few years back on the LAX-KIX-BKK route. Haven't finished the upgrades yet? Still, nice TG service.
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 20, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 9643 times:
Quoting Christao17 (Reply 19): Nice report with tons of pictures. I was quite shocked to see that TG is still operating that old style F class. That's the one I flew on a few years back on the LAX-KIX-BKK route. Haven't finished the upgrades yet? Still, nice TG service.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for reading my TR. Actually I fly to FRA in F like 8 times a year, and this was the first time the B744 was replaced by the older config. This is the config they usually sell as J seats on the Scandanavian routes!!!
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Actually tomorrow I am off again on TG in F to Frankfurt. I always like TG for long haul, especially in the premium cabin, they are much cheaper than SQ or CX. Service is always good too. Although the only hiccups you might get is, sometimes when they replace the route with older equipment. Now that really sux 
From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, 
From Malaysia, joined May 2001, 934 posts, 
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Have a good flight to KIX next week!
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It is nice that you are back, since your reports are always such a great read 
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