Once I got back to my hotel room after the wonderful Everest Express flight, I still had a full day and a half in Kathmandu. By another twist of fate, my Darjeeling friend (who introduced me to my Kathmandu tour guide) was in town (again, I had no idea, and he wasn’t sure of my dates either). Excellent! The three of us met up, and hopped in a cab to head out to a village in the valley, via central Kathmandu.
Some views along the way:
The following few were taken in central Kathmandu – there are some really beautiful squares, but you have to pay to even be there, despite the fact that there are no barriers of ticket booths. People just walk up to you demanding money, with a book of tickets. Imagine being charged to walk across Trafalgar, Times or Tiananmen Squares!
Interesting aviation ads…. Some people just love to play with Photoshop!
Once out in the country, we ended up in a beautifully situated restaurant, where they served up some VERY local food.
This is some local moonshine, and boy was it strong
Fried bone marrow anyone?
Nepali pizza
Spicy momos (Tibetan dumplings)
After dinner mints, subcontinent style.
The views were pretty good too. We were under the flight path for KTM, but thanks to the moonshine, I only managed one semi-ok photo. I did see the TG flight for BKK, but didn’t get a photo.
The pretty little town
Next stop was the Pashupatinath Temple, the largest/most important Hindu temple in the country. It was very interesting to look around, I must say. It helped having some guides too to point things out. People are cremated here, then their burning embers swept into the filthy sacred river.
Interesting details
Lots of monkeys around. This one just robbed a woman of her bags of grapes (was pretty funny to watch). A schoolgirl error on her behalf!
There were quite a few of these painted holy men around too. I got a picture with a few, now taking pride of place as my Facebook photo.
Next stop was the Boudhanath or Chörten Chempo, aka, the Great Stupa and the most important Tibetan Buddhist monument in town. It was lovely having a walk around with all the Tibetan pilgrims in their lovely outfits. I felt like I was back in Lhasa strolling around the Barkhor again.
One final beer, then bed
With my Nepali sightseeing over, and a good night’s sleep under my belt, it was time to head back to the airport for my THAI flight to Bangkok. I flew TG quite a bit a child, but other than a few flights in 2003 (HKG-BKK-HAN,BKK-BWN) it’s been missing from my log. I was very keen to fly with them again, especially with their new beautiful livery.
Outside the airport
There was a long snaking queue to get from the drop off point to the x-ray machines before check in.
There were four desks open for the busy 777 flight, which I thought was a little on the low side. There were 2 Y desks, one C (Royal Silk) desk and one Star Gold desk.
I lined up at the Royal Silk desk behind a couple with about five bags each. When the Gold desk became free some economy passengers moved over, but the check in guy sent them back, and beckoned me over. Good man!
Of course, Nepal also has these compulsory tags
My bag was tagged, and I was given a boarding pass and lounge invite. I had been a bit worried about being lumbered with a window seat without a window. When I booked, the only window seat left was in the final row. A few days before the flight, I went through the archives and noticed that the back seats on some aircraft was windowless, which would have been bad. Thankfully when checking in online the night before, the window in the penultimate row opened up, so I moved there.
With check in completed, I headed upstairs and joined a nice long line for immigration (25 minutes), before proceeding to the Royal Silk Lounge.
The place was surprisingly busy, and I got one of the few empty tables left despite being there 90 minutes before departure.
Food options were fairly good, as were the drinks.
OJ, G&T, sparkling water, chicken satay, cheese toasties and some cake. Nom nom nom!
Lounge seating
One annoying thing about the lounge was that it was before security. I left the lounge an hour before the flight which sadly enough, was about enough time to get to the gate when they started boarding. No fast track here! There were 2 queues for men (big long lines), and one non-existent queue for ladies in between.
Airside
With security done with, there were some long boring corridors with very selective tarmac views
There were quite a few more busy and dingy corridors to go down before I finally arrived at the gate. As you can see, it was standing room only, and quite dark. I managed to push my way through the crowd and got a seat by the window for a few photos.
Hmm, that looks like a famous Finn!?
“Suphan Buri”
We were finally allowed to board after a ten minute wait or so, but only after being frisked as we walked onto the tarmac. Passengers sitting aft of the wing were directed to use door 4L, whilst everyone else used 1L.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (1 year 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 13698 times:
April 2012
Kathmandu (KTM)– Bangkok (BKK)
Thai Airways TG 320
Scheduled: 1350-1825 (3h20m)
Actual: 1400-1804 (2h49m)
Boeing 777-200 HS-TJH
Business (Royal Silk)
I was welcomed aboard, and shown to my seat which thankfully had a full complement of windows.
Some champagne please!
Good legroom for a short hop
A nice Russian visitor opposite. I like their ladder!
IFE
Time for another champagne
Headphones were handed out
The cabin filled up quite slowly. I guess the other Business pax got stuck in the long security queues. Initially a man was sat next to me, but once the doors were closed, he moved to the empty row 1, giving me some more space. Now, why wasn’t row 1 available on OLCI? Very annoying.
Controls
Papers and menus were handed out
Just before we pushed back, I got a third glass of champagne. Excellent service
Safety demo
Everybody seated and ready to go. Despite the cabin seat map looking pretty full (at least 25/30 seats taken), we leave with around 17 seats taken, so just over 50% full.
Safety card
In the pocket there is also a lovely set of papers and postcards
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 2, posted (1 year 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 13666 times:
Food menu
And the starters presented (salad and prawns). Quite tasty, although funny presentation
A drinks top up is offered, and I go with some champagne
Bread is offered
Lovely butter
I decide to go with the Thai option of a prawn curry and rice which is excellent
India slips into Bangladesh – we’re over the Sunderbans, an area I’m very well acquainted with now
All gone (except for the mushrooms)
Time for fruit and cheese. These were presented (much like the starter and main) on the trolley. I was shown the cheese and fruit, and asked to pick the ones I wanted.
Shades down to aid viewing
Skirting down the coast of Burma
The food isn’t over yet. Time for cake and digestifs! A cup of green tea, some Remy Martin cognac, and raspberry mascarpone cake. Tasty.
And some water
Isn’t the uniform great?!
And a hot towel to finish
Landing cards (and I FLY THAI pens) are handed out
Views to inspire you
Phew, after all that food and drink, it’s time for a little rest. The seat goes full flat, but I didn’t put it back quite the far. For a daytime flight (and for watching TV), it’s nice just to have it reclined a bit with the legrest up.
There is a bit of turbulence as we pass through some bad Burmese weather, but are out of it in a jiffy
Map
With The Darkest Hour over (thankfully, what a ridiculous film), I switch over to Trollied (“Serves you right!”), a terribly British comedy set in a supermarket, which entertains me for the next 45 minutes or so.
The cabin
Still enjoying my drinks. A glass of champagne seems to have appeared out of nowhere
Lovely clouds in Asia
Beginning our approach into BKK
Slash and burn seems to be the order of the day over here. How sad for the air quality.
Plenty of windows to choose from
Getting closer
Cabin prepared for landing
The landing video can be found here. It stops rather abruptly as my batteries ran out.
6pm sees a lot of European visitors chilling out (or warming up…) before their midnight flights back West
On stand finally. Unfortunately we seem to have parked at the far end of the terminal
Bye seat!
I bid adieu to the wonderful crew, and started my hike to immigration. I walk fast, and it took nearly 15 minutes on the travelators to get to immigration
The wait at immigration wasn’t too long, and I was soon in the arrival hall.
Arrival FIDS
My bags came out #8 and #10 respectively, which wasn’t too bad.
I headed through customs, and out to find a taxi for the city…it was nice a warm outside after the harsh air con inside.
I’ll cover my stay in Bangkok, as well as my Thai First class flight back to Europe in Part 11!
Overall I was very impressed with Thai on this leg. The seats were comfortable, IFE good, and the catering was excellent. It really puts airlines like BA in the shade when you compare them on similar routes. I love how they come through the cabin with the food and drinks nicely arranged on the trolleys. It’s adds so much class to the proceedings.
Kathmandu Airport was a right hassle to travel though, even with Business class ticket. There were long queues everywhere (to get in, to check in, immigration, security then finally at the gate), with no fast track available. Moving the lounge to behind security would be a great step forward.
Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Reply 3, posted (1 year 1 week 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 13224 times:
Hello Gabriel,
A good one once again! Kathmandu doesn’t look too impressive in itself. It serves probably most as the gateway to the Himalaya. The same goes for the airport. You do gotta love all these Twotters and alikes parked on the domestic apron! As for Thai: it all looks very good: seats, crew, the cabin overall. You’ve flown a major competitor in the region as well, being Singapore Airlines. Which one according to you did the best job and why?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): but you have to pay to even be there, despite the fact that there are no barriers of ticket booths. People just walk up to you demanding money, with a book of tickets.
That very much sounds like a tourist trap. Did you step into it
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 3): You’ve flown a major competitor in the region as well, being Singapore Airlines. Which one according to you did the best job and why?
Definately SQ. They have the edge on just about everything. Nicer seats, better presented food, even better staff, as well as a better hub. TG are still streets ahead of most other airlines though.
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 3): That very much sounds like a tourist trap. Did you step into it
Ha, no, I hid at the top of one of the pagodas, then slipped past on my way out
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 3): You consumed quite some ethanol there, weren’t you just a teeny weeny tipsy?
Well, I was quite full from the lounge food, and in need of a drink, so the 3 champagnes were a nice start to the flight. Mixing the later champagne with the martini and cognac just heightened my buzz
palmjet From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1050 posts, RR: 20 Reply 5, posted (1 year 1 week 2 days ago) and read 12826 times:
Hi Gab
Thanks for posting this one - you're very efficient with your trip reports and are putting me to shame. I am struggling with two at the moment!
Nice to see some more destination shots. Agree with Nils - not sure KTM is a particularly attractive looking place but very interesting nonetheless.
Nice to see what Thai were like on this sector. When I read your report, my mind turned toward the terrible accident at KTM back in 1992 when Thai managed to lose an A310 there which killed 110 people.
From Wikipedia:
The Nepalese authorities found that the probable causes of the accident were the captain's and controller's loss of situational awareness; language and technical problems causing the captain to experience frustration and a high workload; the first officer's lack of initiative and inconclusive answers to the captain's questions; the air traffic controller's inexperience, poor grasp of English, and reluctance to interfere with what he saw as piloting matters such as terrain separation; poor supervision of the inexperienced air traffic controller; Thai Airways International's failure to provide simulator training for the complex Kathmandu approach to its pilots; and improper use of the aircraft's flight management system.
Not good reading for TG - but things must have improved since then for both the airline and KTM as I'm not aware of any other major accidents there since 1992 (after the PIA accident, which by co-incidence, happened around the same time as the TG crash.
Glad you made it safely to Bangkok - looking forward to the next instalment!!
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 12628 times:
Quoting palmjet (Reply 5): Thanks for posting this one - you're very efficient with your trip reports and are putting me to shame. I am struggling with two at the moment!
Thanks Palmjet! I did slow down a bit as some people were complaining they were goig up too quickly!
Quoting palmjet (Reply 5): Nice to see some more destination shots. Agree with Nils - not sure KTM is a particularly attractive looking place but very interesting nonetheless.
Well, it's a big poor city, but with lots of interesting cultural things to do/see. And lots of good food too. Of course, it's not for everyone though
Quoting palmjet (Reply 5): The Nepalese authorities found that the probable causes of the accident were the captain's and controller's loss of situational awareness; language and technical problems causing the captain to experience frustration and a high workload; the first officer's lack of initiative and inconclusive answers to the captain's questions; the air traffic controller's inexperience, poor grasp of English, and reluctance to interfere with what he saw as piloting matters such as terrain separation; poor supervision of the inexperienced air traffic controller; Thai Airways International's failure to provide simulator training for the complex Kathmandu approach to its pilots; and improper use of the aircraft's flight management system.
Yikes, didn't know about that. This was 20 years ago though...
SRQKEF From Iceland, joined Jun 2011, 690 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 12453 times:
Nice report! When in April did you fly? I was in BKK in mid-April, it was great! Flew in from SIN on HS-TJE, a sister ship of this one. Look forward to P11!
Quoting SRQKEF (Reply 7): When in April did you fly? I was in BKK in mid-April, it was great! Flew in from SIN on HS-TJE, a sister ship of this one. Look forward to P11!
ba319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8258 posts, RR: 56 Reply 9, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 12215 times:
Great read GC!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): there are some really beautiful squares, but you have to pay to even be there, despite the fact that there are no barriers of ticket booths. People just walk up to you demanding money, with a book of tickets. Imagine being charged to walk across Trafalgar, Times or Tiananmen Squares!
- Are these tout's or are they genuine 'sales' agents?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Pashupatinath Temple, the largest/most important Hindu temple in the country. It was very interesting to look around, I must say. It helped having some guides too to point things out. People are cremated here, then their burning embers swept into the filthy sacred river
- Yikes, don't go swimming!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): One annoying thing about the lounge was that it was before security
- Yes, don't like lounges pre security, your relaxation time is soon spoilt by having to clear security!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Just before we pushed back, I got a third glass of champagne. Excellent service
- I don't think I've ever managed to get 3 glasses before push!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): the starters presented (salad and prawns). Quite tasty, although funny presentation
win1290 From Thailand, joined Jan 2012, 249 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 11896 times:
Hi Gabriel,
Thanks for a very nice trip report. Very nice to see you enjoyed THAI service. I think the aisle in J cabin looks quite wide. The food service looks amazing. The routine looks very similar to what they do on the long haul.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): There were four desks open for the busy 777 flight, which I thought was a little on the low side. There were 2 Y desks, one C (Royal Silk) desk and one Star Gold desk.
I agree, I don't think 4 check-in desks are sufficient on a busy 777 flight. I had a similar experience in Denpasar last year, it was a full 744 flight, yet TG only had 1 F counter, 1 J counter and 3 Y counters.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): Time for fruit and cheese. These were presented (much like the starter and main) on the trolley. I was shown the cheese and fruit, and asked to pick the ones I wanted.
I didn't know TG does this in J. I thought they only do this in First class, but this makes the service very personal.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): I bid adieu to the wonderful crew, and started my hike to immigration. I walk fast, and it took nearly 15 minutes on the travelators to get to immigration
I see you got gate E10, that is extremely far, if not furthest, to/from passport control. But at least you didn't have to wait long at immigration
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 11771 times:
Quoting win1290 (Reply 11):
Thanks for a very nice trip report
Thanks Win
Quoting win1290 (Reply 11): Very nice to see you enjoyed THAI service
Yeah, really enjoyed the flight
Quoting win1290 (Reply 11): I think the aisle in J cabin looks quite wide
Well, with only 6 seats in a row, it's bound to be spacious.
Quoting win1290 (Reply 11): The food service looks amazing. The routine looks very similar to what they do on the long haul.
Indeed, very tasty food
Quoting win1290 (Reply 11): I didn't know TG does this in J. I thought they only do this in First class, but this makes the service very personal.
In J too I guess
Quoting win1290 (Reply 11): I see you got gate E10, that is extremely far, if not furthest, to/from passport control. But at least you didn't have to wait long at immigration
Well nothing strange about that, it's a delicacy in many countries. Also I quite like it as well, has lots of taste. Would however recall it as very vulgar food.
Hmm, that looks more like a woman to me. I assume she was a western tourist?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The place was surprisingly busy, and I got one of the few empty tables left despite being there 90 minutes before departure.
Wow, didn't know Thai had so much traffic to KTM to justify having a lounge there. Is it also used by the other *A carriers serving KTM?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): With security done with, there were some long boring corridors with very selective tarmac views
Must say those look strikingly a lot like school corridors, quite charming for an airport I'd say. But still the airport overall seems like a mess in comparison to the airports we have here in the civilized world.
That logo on the tail is stolen from SAS. Heck, it's the logo of their secret Eurobonus superduper top tier Pandion.
Overall seems like you had a great flight on Thai Business Class. While the cabin looked great for a short intra-asia hop, the food didn't look completely up to par with Business Class. At least the small portions, and the presentation of the main course which to me looked more like an Y class main served in china instead of tinfoil. The trolley fancy service did however provide some classy feel to the service, and the dessert looked great too.
"Wheels Up!"
//Jonas
I won't stop complaining until SAS reintroduces free service in Economy Class!
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 13): Interesting, looks like a mixture between Satay and Dumpling. Is that peanut sauce I see?
yes, a dumpling thing. And a sort of peanut sauce
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 13): Well nothing strange about that, it's a delicacy in many countries. Also I quite like it as well, has lots of taste. Would however recall it as very vulgar food.
Well, my friends gobbled them up, it's just not for me
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 13): Hmm, that looks more like a woman to me. I assume she was a western tourist?
Nope, definately a man, and definately not a Western tourist. Did you see my FB photo?
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 13): Wow, didn't know Thai had so much traffic to KTM to justify having a lounge there. Is it also used by the other *A carriers serving KTM?
What other carriers? I don't think there is much traffic, but enough for TG to have a lounge.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 13): That logo on the tail is stolen from SAS. Heck, it's the logo of their secret Eurobonus superduper top tier Pandion.
I'm pretty sure that SK haven't copyrighted the silhoutte of all birds.....and if you compare them, you'll see they're not the same anyway
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 13): Overall seems like you had a great flight on Thai Business Class. While the cabin looked great for a short intra-asia hop, the food didn't look completely up to par with Business Class. At least the small portions, and the presentation of the main course which to me looked more like an Y class main served in china instead of tinfoil. The trolley fancy service did however provide some classy feel to the service, and the dessert looked great too.
The food was pretty good for a sub-3 hour flight. What does SK serve on their 3 hour hops? Or LH? Or QF? or NH? Or UA? I think 3 choices, with each course served separately is prety good. There wasn't any caviar, or lobster, but then again, I'm not sure many people expect that either. I was very happy with the service and food.
Nearly...arrived 12th, went away 14th. But by your dates it seems you missed Somkram! Thai New Year, everyone splashing water on each other...you cold br both considered luck snd unlucky! You didn't see it, but you didn't get wet...
What hotel did you stay at? I stayed at Lebua @ State Tower and it was great! Some parts of Hangover II were shot there and that didn't destroy anything...
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2948 posts, RR: 7 Reply 16, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 11355 times:
Hi Gabriel,
another great report, thank you!
(I do wonder if this is the longest report series ever on here? Such a mammoth trip certainly deserves breaking down!)
Katmandu itself looks, well, I don't know, normal. Plenty of backpackers doing hiking trips, that Khao San Rd lookalike looks just as bad as the original... Touts in the squares, how can that possibly be genuine? Still, if a local tour agency, who doesn't make any profit from them, confirms this is the case, well then it is a clear case of fleecing the tourist. Jonas take note Your little trip to the other town nearby looks nice, some of the local food looks delicious, others not so. Even here, bone marrow is supposed to be nice (my father in law loves it).
And to the flight. What a palaver in the airport! I never understood lounges pre-security, kind of defeats the point, having to guess how long security will take, diminishing your time in the lounge.
Onboard, looks great, as one would expect from TG. Your reports are starting to make me envious, just thinking what I could have done if I'd had a BMI Amex for the last 5 years!
Finally, I'm surprised you took a taxi into Bangkok, the train is much faster I'm led to believe, unless your hotel was away from a station?
Thanks again, and as always awaiting the next part!
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 17, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 10618 times:
Quoting SRQKEF (Reply 15): Nearly...arrived 12th, went away 14th. But by your dates it seems you missed Somkram! Thai New Year, everyone splashing water on each other...you cold br both considered luck snd unlucky! You didn't see it, but you didn't get wet...
I hadn't realised at the time when Songkam was (it 's the same date as the Bangladeshi New Year)...it's a shame to have missed it, but I'm sure I'll see it some day!
Quoting SRQKEF (Reply 15): What hotel did you stay at? I stayed at Lebua @ State Tower and it was great! Some parts of Hangover II were shot there and that didn't destroy anything...
I stayed at 4 different hotels actually, none of which were the Lebua!
Quoting signol (Reply 16): another great report, thank you!
Thanks!
Quoting signol (Reply 16): (I do wonder if this is the longest report series ever on here? Such a mammoth trip certainly deserves breaking down!)
Yes, i'm going for the record!
Quoting signol (Reply 16):
Katmandu itself looks, well, I don't know, normal. Plenty of backpackers doing hiking trips, that Khao San Rd lookalike looks just as bad as the original... Touts in the squares, how can that possibly be genuine? Still, if a local tour agency, who doesn't make any profit from them, confirms this is the case, well then it is a clear case of fleecing the tourist.
I'm pretty sure it's legitimate. My local friend mentioned that tourists have to pay
Quoting signol (Reply 16): Onboard, looks great, as one would expect from TG.
Yup, great service in TG
Quoting signol (Reply 16): Finally, I'm surprised you took a taxi into Bangkok, the train is much faster I'm led to believe, unless your hotel was away from a station?
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 18, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 10252 times:
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 17): Quoting signol (Reply 16):
Finally, I'm surprised you took a taxi into Bangkok, the train is much faster I'm led to believe, unless your hotel was away from a station?
TBH
Sorry, that was meant to say " To be honest, I couldn't be bothered to take the train (and change), so just got a taxi"
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 42 Reply 21, posted (1 year 1 week 20 hours ago) and read 9701 times:
Hi Gabs,
Another great installment, enjoyed this one a lot! Thanks!
Thai certainly has an excellent regional business class product - sometimes you wonder how European airlines can get away with their crappy (hard product at least, service can be great, though) Eurobusiness class on flights up to five hours in duration on narrowbodies. Asia definitely is the winner here.
Wow, nice pictures there. Nepal looks an interesting mix between Indian and Chinese with a good bit of Buddha thrown into the mix.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The following few were taken in central Kathmandu – there are some really beautiful squares, but you have to pay to even be there, despite the fact that there are no barriers of ticket booths.
That is quite ridiculous. Are you sure these guys were officials or just someone trying to make a quick buck or two? Anyway now I'm starting to understand what you meant by "having a well developed tourist infrastructure"...
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Interesting aviation ads…. Some people just love to play with Photoshop!
Great stuff. That food looks great, quite a bit different than the westernized version offered in the Nepalese joints (of which there are plenty of) around here!
You certainly have an interesting camera - you drink and it gets all fuzzy on you?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): When the Gold desk became free some economy passengers moved over, but the check in guy sent them back, and beckoned me over. Good man!
That's the way it should go. I hate it when the agent's don't have the balls (or maybe don't care) to send the great unwashed away if there are premium pax on the queue.
Impressive - Thai have their own lounge at KTM? How many daily flights do they have? 1 or 2?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): One annoying thing about the lounge was that it was before security. I left the lounge an hour before the flight which sadly enough, was about enough time to get to the gate when they started boarding. No fast track here! There were 2 queues for men (big long lines), and one non-existent queue for ladies in between.
That sucks. Come to think of it, it is actually Italy that performs the best on this front - both the times I've visited a lounge there which was located before security they either had their own dedicated security check (at BLQ, lovely!) or a door that lead you to the head of the queue (BGY - the lounge was crap but this feature was great)! GOA and CTA also had pre-security lounges but I wasn't eligible for access so don't know about them.
If you are referring to me instead of world class Finns like Larry Thorne then nope, that is not a western hat by a long shot. Looks quite a bit like a Tilly hat actually!
Beautiful photos, really beautiful. I agree with you, this flight should depart at 6 AM for a really awesome departure view (and it would set the tone nicely for a very drinking heavy day in Bangkok!).
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The first scene is enroute from the US to Moscow….and it appears to have been shot in a Russian plane (well done filmmakers!)
IL-86?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): With the seatbelt signs off, it’s time for a drink. I love how they have the trolleys all nicely laid out.
Really classy.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Going a bit off script, I request a sparkling water and a gin martini, together with a packet of peanuts.
And a grand total of four (count 'em!) olives in your martini, impressive!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I decide to go with the Thai option of a prawn curry and rice which is excellent
Ahh, looks delicious! I love Thai food - I can't get enough of that lovely symphony of tastes.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): India slips into Bangladesh – we’re over the Sunderbans, an area I’m very well acquainted with now
I once woke up over the very same area. That was my first trip to Asia, onboard OH-LGG, Finnair MD-11 flying HEL-BKK-SIN.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 22, posted (1 year 1 week 3 hours ago) and read 9301 times:
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 21): Another great installment, enjoyed this one a lot! Thanks!
THanks Petteri
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 21): Thai certainly has an excellent regional business class product - sometimes you wonder how European airlines can get away with their crappy (hard product at least, service can be great, though) Eurobusiness class on flights up to five hours in duration on narrowbodies. Asia definitely is the winner here.
Yes, Asia definately wins here
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 21): That is quite ridiculous. Are you sure these guys were officials or just someone trying to make a quick buck or two? Anyway now I'm starting to understand what you meant by "having a well developed tourist infrastructure"...
Yes, pretty sure it's offical
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 21): Great stuff. That food looks great, quite a bit different than the westernized version offered in the Nepalese joints (of which there are plenty of) around here!
I don't think you can find this sort of Nepali food in Europe
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 21): You certainly have an interesting camera - you drink and it gets all fuzzy on you?
Ha, well I was very zoomed in
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 21): Impressive - Thai have their own lounge at KTM? How many daily flights do they have? 1 or 2?
Just the one, and no other *A flights using the airport wither. Maybe QR uses it too?
Widebodyroga From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 471 posts, RR: 4 Reply 23, posted (1 year 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 9254 times:
Great stuff as usual Gab, just like in your Himalaya sightseeing report. Kathmandu surely doesn't look like a pretty place (like many have said already) but it seems to have this "aura" about it that makes it somewhat appealing. The food pictures look great. I'd love to try some of the stuff you had.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): There were quite a few of these painted holy men around too. I got a picture with a few, now taking pride of place as my Facebook photo.
That's a guy? I swear when I saw the photo and before I read your comment I thought that was a sunburned (but otherwise pasty) white girl. I really do need to cut back on my drinking...
TG looked impressive. Too bad I have no plans to visit Thailand. I'd love to give them a go.
Thanks for the interesting read,
WideBodyroga
Visit my aviation page: http://widebodyroga.weebly.com/
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 23): The food pictures look great. I'd love to try some of the stuff you had.
Yeah, there was some good, some "interesting"
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 23): That's a guy? I swear when I saw the photo and before I read your comment I thought that was a sunburned (but otherwise pasty) white girl. I really do need to cut back on my drinking...
Definately a guy! I don't think they let pasty, sunburnt topless girls wonder around Hindu temples.... you do indeed need to cut back on the drinking
Quoting Widebodyroga (Reply 23): TG looked impressive. Too bad I have no plans to visit Thailand. I'd love to give them a go.
25 lukeyboy95: Hi Gabriel. Nice to progress further with you on your latest report. Gotta say I've got a thing for these semi-short sectors on full service airlines.
26 gabrielchew: Hi Luke Yeah, was a nice level of service compared to Euro carriers. I didn't see any building work so I guess there are no plans to renovate for now.
27 PlaneHunter: Hi Gabriel, the 10th part wasn't any less interesting than all the others! Very nice report with great pictures. TG's J Class product looks very good.
28 The777Man: Hi Gabriel! Thanks for another great report in this series! Kathmandu looks interesting but not so sure about the food you were offered. TG looks grea
29 gabrielchew: Thanks Ha, maybe they were. I preferred the "Australian Airlines" personally Shame Indeed. They were early landing into LHR No problem Yes, it was ve
30 adamspotter: Hi Gabriel, Another excellent report with great pictures! Love the pictures from Kathmandu and looks like you had a great flight with TG iwth excellen
31 gabrielchew: Thanks Brendan Yup, was a great flight Very surprising!
32 PlaneHunter: That's a good one, too! Unbelievable. PH
33 gabrielchew: Well Biman like to keep surprising people!
34 The777Man: HKG-BKK 21Feb98. Think TG had 3-4-3 in Y back then and had taken out the PTVs that were originally installed. Now I think they are back to 3-3-3 with
35 FLIEGER67: Hi, Gabriel, superb pictures from you´re stay in Kathmandu. A place I´ve never been, really interesting. That airport looks not like a welcoming pla
36 BZNPilot: Hi Gabriel, Great report, thanks for sharing another one of your journeys! Wow, the view from that restaurant looks amazing. Combined with some VERY l
37 gabrielchew: Yeah, I think they're all 3x3x3 now, although not all have PTV Thanks Markus! Yeah, TG are pretty good
38 MSS658: Hi Gab Nice continutation thanks for sharing! TG really seems to be a nice carrier, amazing how asian standards on such flights are higher than in Eur
39 gabrielchew: Thanks Marc, glad you liked it Yes, the standards in Asia are so much higher than in Europe Mo problem, it's a beautiful country Which one, haha
40 Quokkas: Hi Gabriel, It is good to see your travels continue to throw up interesting places and experiences. The colours and sounds of Kathmandu are enchanting
41 gabrielchew: Thanks Roy. Kathmandu certainly was interesting Yeah, such a hassle having it before security, esp when the lines are so long Yes, there has been qui
42 deltamartin: Hello Gabriel! Nice report! Looks like you had a really nice flight on TG. The seat and service looked real good for an intra-Asia flight. I like your
43 roberts87: Another great report! Thai certainly looks like a terrific airline. I'll head over to part 11 to see the sequel LOL, do they have curtains instead of
44 abrelosojos: Very cool report - TG seems to deliver an excellent product on this short flight. Meal looks great - though, the salad does not look fresh to me. KTM
45 gabrielchew: Thanks Martin Yes, was as nice short flight Yes, TG were pretty good Ha, just in front of the doors I think I only had one more onboard! Hm, the sala
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