ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Posted (4 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 17165 times:
Reason for trip
2 weeks later, and now its time for me to make a quick dash to Hiroshima for a quick 4 day business trip. I decided to take the quickest route from Jakarta, and meaning this time is just Malaysia Airlines all the way to KIX. Via KUL of course. I really like traveling on MH on their B772Er or B744 as they have great legroom inside the J cabin. Don’t know about the F service though as I will be using MH in F for the first time at the end of September. But anyway back to this trip: As usual, I will not put down any details on the CGK-KUL-CGK shuttle flights.
16 July 2008
Jakarta (CGK) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Airline: Malaysia Airlines
Flight: MH720
Aircraft: B737-400
Aircraft 1st Flight: 3 March 1993
Registration: 9M-MMR
ETD: 1545
ATD: 1600
ETA: 1845
ATA: 1910
Flight Time: 2hr 00min
Cruise: 34,000 Feet
Seat: 1F (Golden Club / Business Class)
9M-MMR ready to go
Service: 7.5/10 Food: 5/10 Aircraft: 6/10
16 July 2008
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Osaka (KIX)
Airline: Malaysia Airlines
Flight: MH52
Aircraft: B777-200ER
Aircraft 1st Flight: 8 July 1999
Registration: 9M-MRK
ETD: 2345
ATD: 2350
ETA: 0715
ATA: 0735
Flight Time: 6hr 45min
Cruise: 41,000 Feet
Seat: 4K (Golden Club / Business Class)
Pre Flight:
Since I had so much time to kill, I decided to park my butt in the new lounge at the main terminal. I decided to have a nice massage (nice, but definitely a far cry from TG’s) Also had a bowl of noodles made up for me from the noodle bar.
Entrance of the new MH lounge
Always need to catch up on the latest gossip
One of the nicest toilet/showers for business class passengers of any airline in the world
Business centre in new MH lounge
After relaxing for about 2 hours, I decided to move on the satellite terminal Golden Lounge where there is still a smoking room. Also managed to buy some new magazines to keep me busy in Japan.
9M-MRK ready to take me all the way to the land of the rising sun
In Flight:
It was a pretty light load to KIX as only 15 out of 35 seats were taken up, and as requested upon check-in, the seat next to me was kept empty.
Excellent J cabin on MH B772ER
Food for thought, or better that, for your tummy
The main meal served on the flight was breakfast, so at this late time departure, only appetizers and satay was served. I managed to watch the movie titled Drillbit Taylor and then dozed off till I was woken up for breakfast. The routing we flew was slight more southerly due to the hurricane near Taiwan which mean in 25mins longer flying time.
Almost there!
Sadly for MH, the food served on this flight was below what I usually expect, but as usual, the great inflight service more than made up for it.
Service: 9/10 Food: 6/10 Aircraft: 8.5/10
I spent most of the day in Osaka before heading by bullet train to Horishima, here are some pics which I took.
Osaka Castle
Downtown
Bullet Train to Hiroshima
In the train
Scenes on the way to Hiroshima
Osaka (KIX) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Airline: Malaysia Airlines
Flight: MH53
Aircraft: B777-200ER
Aircraft 1st Flight: 14 May 2002
Registration: 9M-MRO
ETD: 1110
ATD: 1110
ETA: 1640
ATA: 1622
Flight Time: 5hr 45min
Cruise: 40,000 Feet
Seat: 2K (Golden Club / Business Class)
Pre Flight:
After a brief trip to Hiroshima, its now time to head home. I spent my last night at an airport hotel, namely the Washington Kansai Airport Hotel. It was nice, but very very very small rooms! But has a pretty good location as a factory outlet and a very nice mall is just 5mins walk away. Next time I will stay at the ANA Hotel across the road which is much better. I had dinner at the ANA on the top floor and it had really good views of KIX Airport. Kansai is actually a very nice laid out airport and its just like a jewel sticking out of the vast open seas. I took the free hotel shuttle from the hotel and after check in, just browsed around a little before proceeding to the ANA Lounge.
Almost at the airport
Pinks not too bad, taken from landside just before check in, looking into arrivals area
Boarding the sky train to our gates
NH B737 & CX B772
Theres my girl, 9M-MRO
The lounge is basic, but serves its purpose, but most importantly, it was a big smoking room.
Boarding was called on time and by the time I got to the gate, the Y passengers have mostly boarded.
In Flight:
Ahhhh, theres nothing like being back on a nice MH flight. When I got to my seat, the stewardess also called me by name. This is something you definitely only see on most airlines F service.
Lunch? Of course, I am starving
Cheap looking slippers, but they do the trick
Only in Japan
OS A321
JL MD-80
One of the newer entries in the Japanese domestic market, Starflyer A320
AF B773ER
In cabin views
More cargo widebodies before turning into the active
And we are off!
Everything about this flight went like clockwork; it was just perfect, from in-flight catering to service. Although nothing on the AVOD caught my attention, only watch a little of Be Kind, Rewind but that was resolved by me watching The Sum of All Fears on my laptop. Managed to sleep a little, but the flight ended all too soon.
Did I mention lunch is served? Really good catering on this flight
Passing some great scenery on descend down to KL
Not a sight usually seen, Shenzhen Airlines B737-700
I was pretty bored when I reached KUL as I had almost 4 hours to kill, plus I didn’t manage to catch the earlier flight to CGK as it was oversold, and also the legroom on the B734 J class is also not the greatest, actually GA got my vote for J class legroom on the B733/4/5/8.
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Jakarta (CGK)
Airline: Malaysia Airlines
Flight: MH727
Aircraft: B737-400
Aircraft 1st Flight: 30 June 1993
Registration: 9M-MMX
ETD: 2040
ATD: 2055
ETA: 2140
ATA: 2150
Flight Time: 2hr 00min
Cruise: 35,000 Feet
Seat: 1F (Golden Club / Business Class)
Again, thanks again for reading guys! Hope you enjoyed this TR from me. My next trips that are confirmed are:
Sep 25 MH in First to Sydney
Oct 30 TG First to Munich
B747-4U3 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2002, 983 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 16695 times:
Great trip report, as always!
Seeing that picture of the bullet train reminded me of a recent episode of Top Gear. James May and Richard Hammond were on the bullet train, and racing them was Jeremy Clarkson in the new Nissan GTR...and he won.
Coolfish1103 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 384 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 16695 times:
Great trip report! Definitely love the satays.
I would've expect a refreshment rather than just breakfast on the outward journey as well.
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 4, posted (4 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 16234 times:
Quoting SASDC8 (Reply 1): Only breakfast served on a 6 hours fight, even at night, is not especially good..
But the lunch service on the way back looks mouth watering
Hi Stein!! HAhahaha ...trust me..I was starving the whole flight, I had almost 1 dozen sticks of satay before I slept, plus I also raided the galley for instant noodles and stuff.
Quoting SASDC8 (Reply 1): n KIX... Don't think so Wink Wink Try OZ A321 instead Big grin
Right on....sometimes typing errors can be so misleading ahahha
Thanks again for reading Stein, and now I am waiting for your TG TR in F
B747-4U3 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2002, 983 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (4 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 15562 times:
Quoting ThaiA345 (Reply 7): Really, wow, I really got to seach for that episode. Is it on season 10 of Top Gear?
Season 11, Episode 4. I won't spoil what happens, but it was bloody good...best episode ever!!! Hammond and May were like typical Brits abroad....clueless!!!
Quoting ThaiA345 (Reply 7): Thanks, but actually Indonesian Satays taste much better than their Malaysian counterpart
I think that's true of Indonesian food in general...I'd much rather have Nasi-Ayam Goreng-Lalapan with spicy sambal than something more Malay like rendang or meat smothered in peanut sauce...ewww! And the kretek sold in Indonesia are nicer too.
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 9, posted (4 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 15220 times:
Quoting B747-4U3 (Reply 8): Hammond and May were like typical Brits abroad....clueless!!!
Cool, one of the favourite pieces they ever shot was when good ol Clarkson drove the Veyron from France to London and May and Hammond were totally hopeless flying the Cessna 182.
Quoting B747-4U3 (Reply 8): And the kretek sold in Indonesia are nicer too.
Hrmm...strangely, for someone being based in Jakarta, I really hate kretek ahhahaah goold ol Dunhill's for me
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (4 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 15057 times:
Quoting SASDC8 (Reply 6): Looks like we will be on TG First on the same day, but in opposite directions and I am flying ex FRA Big grin This time I promise to do a TR
Hi Stein guess what, I will actually be flying into FRA on 30 OCT instead of MUC. But I will arrive around 1820. You taking the early flight or late flight out of FRA? If late, I can meet up with you first in FRA for a coffee or cigarette
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 12, posted (4 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 14810 times:
Quoting Ronerone (Reply 11): I still remember your amazing Hiroshima pictures from your last trip! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Hi Roni!!
Hey you are more than welcome ..... I really loved your EK380 round the world report too. You really had a ball huh!. I will definitely get my hands on MH 1st 380 flight and also TG. But god knows when they both will get their aircraft!!
I will be flying to SYD on 24 Sep, so keep your eye out on that one It will be with MH in F.
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8263 posts, RR: 56 Reply 14, posted (4 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 13328 times:
Great report and pictures, thanks.
Legroom looks pretty decent on the MH 772 fleet which is good, though I'm not keen on the 2-3-2 layout!
Food looks good, breakfast looked a bit weak though.
Davescj From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 2244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 12712 times:
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