This is first trip report sorry if i go on a bit  

My mother had decided that we would fly to Edinburgh to see family. We did the usual look around in the travel agents and found out that Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) had the cheapest fares. I really didn't want to fly with BI first of all because I had flown them ages ago and while they were a good airline I really like trying different airlines. Plus MH had a great deal but unfortunately that deal finished two days before my dad could get time off work. Secondly I wanted to fly on a another aircraft( BI use B767-300ERs, not that I have anything against that plane in particular, it's just that last time we went to Scotland we flew with SAS and QF with 767s). From Darwin the choices are quite limited in the way of international flights. We have MAS A330s to KL, 2 BI 767s to their hub (Bandar Seri Begawan), Garuda, Qantas, to DPS, QF flights to SIN. The last couple of time we have flown to Scotland we flew QF & SAS (DRW - SIN - BKK - CPH - EDI) or SIA & BD (DRW - SIN - LHR - EDI).

The choices this time were

MAS/KLM
Garuda - Didn't even get a price on them
QF/BA
QF/SAS
QF/SIA


DRW-BWN BI763ER

Arrived at Darwin International Airport and checked in with a rude Ansett ground agent I prayed that my mum wouldn’t get up her and cause a scene in this busy line ( she has a bad habit of getting up rude ppl in hospitality ) Dad and I got mum to bit her tongue as there were only three agents checking in and one was reserved for F class. She still had a go, she went to the Royal Brunei Supervisor and complained . Dad my sister and I took off while she complained. We went up to the lounge where dad decided that he should have a rum & coke before he got on the plane, mum caught up later. At the lounge they have a smoking/viewing verandah just outside the lounge where we saw (and heard) a AN A320 come in right in front of us. After watching for a while we saw our BI767 land and taxi over to the international gates. We decided that we had better go through to the International Departure Lounge. Once inside we got a GREAT view of one of QF's 747SPs sitting right infront of us. My mum and sister decided that they would do some Duty Free shopping for presents (Stuffed Kangaroos and Koalas) for cousins and Relatives, so my father and I went out onto the International Verandah. WHAT LUCK, just as we walked out the 747SP started pushing back, I waved at the pilot and they waved back at me and gave us the thumbs up. Just then it was announced that our flight had started boarding. They boarded families first and then went by seat numbers.

As we walked through the front door of the 767 3 F/As who all said Selamat Datang (welcome in Malay) greeted us with killer smiles. We shuffled down to our seats, which were just behind the wing, as we walked down each F/A we met said Selamat Datang and offered to show us to our seat. Once everyone was seated the Captain introduced himself and the In-flight supervisor (F/A in charge) and then gave us the flight time and some other info. We started pushing back as the F/As started doing their safety demo. The F/A on the PA must have just transferred from another Airline or something because he told us to look at the screens for a safety demo and then appologised and asked us to watch the closest FA as the demo was not shown on the screens. Right after the safety demo had finished the Muslim travel prayers were played on the PA and shown on the Screens.

We had only just reached the start of the runway as the travel prayers finished. The captain told the FAs to be seated and we took off. As soon as the seatbelt sign had flashed the FAs were up and about getting blankets and distributing earphones. About half an hour into the flight the movie was announced "Rocky and Bullwinkle" but before the movie was shown we had to watch this Royal Brunei advert thing for their 25 Birthday, it repeated itself about 3 times before the movie started and the singer was CRAP !!!!. Once the movie started the F/As started the drink rounds with the Trolley. Royal Brunei does not serve alcohol but they do serve Sparkling Grape Juice, they don’t serve bacon either, but this was no great loss. With the drinks were 2 packets of "camel" peanuts that are covered with a garlic batter MMMMmmm yum. While we were drinking a FA came along with hot towels. Five minutes later another FA came along and picked up the cups and towels. Every 15 minutes a FA would walk past with a tray full of drinks and would offer everyone a drink. Half way through the flight the meal service was announced, it was cold chicken and ham sandwiches with desert and salad. the meal was delish. A Drink service accompanied the meal. It wasn't long until it was near the end of the flight. The pilot did a great job of putting us on the ground, actually I think he was just a ‘wee’ (oops Scottish coming out in me  eager. We parked next to a BI 757

Brunei’s airport is VERY dull, there are three Duty free shops, and 2 or three specialty shops and one café upstairs. My advice would be for you to take the option of going to Juradong Park (sp?) ((A theme park)) if you have a long lay over here either that or goto the airport hotel. Traffic here is very slow every now and then you see a plane come in usually wearing the bright yellow scheme of BI, but apparently they get a few other visitors. All I saw was a MH propeller job. Anyway the 4-hr layover fly by quickly.

BWN-SIN-DXB-LHR BI763ER

Boarding was announced for BI flight 95 (I think) we went through the ticket checking thing and then were all stuffed into a tiny glass departure lounge for 25 minutes, there were only about 25 seats in there for this Chocka FULL flight, add to that the air-conditioning in the lounge wasn’t coping with us so we were all sweating like pigs. Finally we were allowed to board walked on and got the “Selamat Datang” with great smiles once again.

I haven’t talked about the interiors of their aircraft yet have I. Royal Brunei have a really nice looking F and J class though they are starting to look a bit old compared to their competitors, but still nice. And YES there are gold plated ash trays and toilet fittings  . Y class needs a overhaul, seats are starting to look a bit tatty, and the material they use for covering the pillows feels really cheap. Just about everything in the cabin (even the Fas  ) is marone and works quite well . Seats are quite comfy though legroom is quite cramped.

Anyway back to the flight got our seats they were 2 rows back from where we had been seated on the last flight. I had the window seat again which really annoyed my sister. FAs handed out the headphones and then did the safety demo again. Got down to the end of the runway and ROARED back down it geeez the pilot didn’t spare the horses. Once in the air we got the Royal Brunei Video again this time it only went TWICE ! we only had a feature program I think it was called Xtreme Sports, I couldn’t be bothered so I tuned into ARENA, one of BIs Audio channels. The quality was quite bad on this channel I think the tapes that were being used were quite old and very well used, but since I had nothing else to do I listened. Drinks were served shortly after with Camels again YUM! A snack followed I think it was tuna sandwiches I wasn’t impressed :P the desert wasn’t even nice so I ate mums camels. I got out my new ‘Motor’ and ‘Wheels’ mags that I had gotten in DRW and started reading till we started coming into SIN. Lights were dimmed and we got a great view of the city and airport as we landed. We ended up sitting next to a SQ340.


We had 2 hours to roam around this time flew by. I love SIN airport its lovely. Lotsa pretty Fas walking around spotted a group of QF stunners, then of course a group of H-H-HOT SQ girls. Time was up and we had to go back to the departure lounge. Had a SQ girl check us. Then back on the same plane ready for our hop to DXB. Once on board we did the whole Safety demo, travel prayers etc, our headphones from the flight before were still there but had been ‘tidied’. We were back in the air in no time. Dinner came out, Chicken in some sauce I think. Ate that quickly. Movie came on with the Royal Brunei Movie (only 1 time) U571 I think. My eyes were tired from the workout I had given them in SIN   and I quickly started to snooze. Dad woke me up about 30 mins out of DXB. Lights were again dimmed and we got a good view of the city and airport.

Landing was fine (had a couple of doozies last time we flew BI) parked next to a Ghana DC 10 I think. we walked off the plane and were given Royal Brunei Transit stickers, we were then let loose on DXB. We were in the new terminal so I went for Maccas   after I got my ‘6 piece and fries’ I walked back to the departure lounge where my family were sitting at the door. After about 10 minutes the Ghana Airways flight next door started to board, all of a sudden there was a brawl. An African lady started getting agitated with the ground host who was checking passes, yelling and screaming at her. Then she went nuts running up and down the corridor and jumping up and down. By now nearly everyone was watching, as she started putting a curse on the agent, she did dances and chants. Another African lady tried to calm her down and tried talking to her in her own language. It turned out that she had spent all her savings on this flight and had lost something she needed to get onboard. The other lady appologised on behalf of her country and the lady saying that it brought great shame on her country. Then came the people in bright white clothes (the ones that usually carry those fancy jackets) on one of those little carts, they gave her an injection to sedate her then took her away. Poor Bugger.

By now our flight had started boarding and as we were a family we got on first   while the rest had to wait while their row was called. Once again our seats were ‘tidied’ and we were given another toiletry kit as this was the longest leg of the journey. It contained socks, eye-shades and no-dinner stickers (the packs were the exact same as what we received on SQ, right down to the colour of the socks (maroon). Toothbrushes, razors, etc are stored in the toilets.

Went through the cabin crew check, safety demo and prayers, and we were on our way again. I think we had cabin crew change in DXB, cant remember. Drink service started as soon as the seatbelt sign went off, more camels mmmmmmmm. Then came the movie (BI movie: 2 times). I really don’t think the movie Perfect Storm is an appropriate choice for an airline movie. Especially when the helicopter crashes into the sea. I had a look across the aisle and the man across from me was shittin himself. The fact that we were going through some really rough turbulence with a storm underneath us with mega lighting.

Movie finished dinner was served: Very Tasty ! though I cant remember what it was. Friends started on the main screen and I went to sleep again listening to the ‘Boarding Music” channel, which is basically hippy feel good music, very relaxing. Snoozed for about 5 hrs. Woke up and used the ‘facilities’ and then tuned into ‘Arena’ they choose 2 artists and play their biggest hits. This flight had Sting and Mariah Carrey. I have never noticed how annoying stings songs are Mariah voice gets annoying after 2 songs aswell! Especially message in a bottle. And did you know that “I’ll Be Watching you” is the most played song in radio history, at any time anywhere in the world atleast one radio station will be playing this song. Back on track!

BBC news came on as the lights were turned on and brekky was served couldn’t eat the quiche thing. Had the fruit salad. Trays were taken away and cabin was prepared for landing. Captain informed us that LHR was very windy and that we would experience strong turbulence. EXCELLENT!

We bounced our way into Heathrow literally one of the overhead lockers spilled its contents onto one of the business men sitting infront of us. The FA unbuckled herself and ran up to help him after the plane had stopped bouncing along the runway.

Once we had stopped at the gate they appologised for the landing and then thanked us for flying with them. Flight attendants all stood at the Emergency Exits or Galleys and said goodbye or thank you as we left. They were still smiling !

We caught the bus from terminal three to where ever BD flies from (might even be T3 Departures) where we found out that the wind was so bad that most flights were being cancelled or delayed.

Will Continue later

Sorry this is soooooooo long, I dribble, badly.