Well this won't be an exhaustive and long trip report, just some facts and some pictures  

Before going on a three week holiday to Thailand I looked for trip reports on CI but could find almost none. So I figured I'd write a quick one in case some future travellers search for it here.

Facts:

AMS - BKK flight CI 0066, departing 14.45 on March 30 2006. Reg: B-18003

I flew the first leg from Stockholm ARN on KLM flight KL1108. Nothing to write home about, the usual 737 classic. Boring.

I was checked in already for my trip to BKK, so just made my way across the entire AMS airport, did some shopping, went through passport control and waited at the gate. AMS is a decent airport.

Boarding commenced and went quickly, I had seat 46G. Which was middle row Aisle seat, as I had asked for.

Of course, things never go that easy. A lady with her 3 kids asked me if I was in the right seat, apparently she'd asked for the entire 4 seat section for her and her kids. She had gotten seat C instead of G though and was not happy. I said I wasn't interested in moving. Then she started hassling the head F/A about it (she was a typical british middleaged bint with an annoying voice). I felt sorry for the F/A and quickly offered to switch seats.

As it would turn out, not a bad thing in the end, as I ended up next to two proper old geezers who were on their 3rd trip to Thailand this year alone. Going to Pattaya only naturally(!). Though their northern english accent sometimes was hard to understand, I picked up about 70% of it and had a few laughs. I was in the last row before bulkhead which meant I could recline all I wanted without bothering anyone.

The 747-400 I was on, B-18003, was very nice and clean. CI has a young fleet and it felt that way too. Couldn't fault the cleanliness of the plane. Seat pitch was 32" which felt ok, and the seats have foldable footrests.

We taxied out and rolled for about 50 secs before lifting off of runway 24, starting a 10 hour flight to Bangkok.

Service started, I of course had some beer. They were serving japanese(!) beer, Asahi! Not bad at all, a bit of light lager always fits the bill.

A cold beer and some nuts! Sorted!


And another...


The cabin viewed from my seat. No PTVs in this bird. They are retrofitting it and a few planes have it apparently, but no such luck for me. The IFE consisted of a screen and complimentary headphones. The movie was Zarathustra(?) something.... Was so-so.



Food service commenced. The choice was beef or fish something something. I ate most of it before I remembered to take a pic. Haha. I had the beef which tasted OK. What you'd expect from economy. A nice starter and tasty dessert included, and the coffee after wasn't bad.

One thing I will say, is that the flight attendants were very pretty. Some eyecandy is always good when you're bored on a flight.

Service was courteous, but felt slightly rushed. I hadnt finished my meal before they started collecting trays.



View from my seat onto a closed window :P Blankets and pillows were nice to have, although I can never fall asleep in airplanes unless I'm drugged up on something.


Cruise my good man.


The lights came off in the cabin and IFE started. I had a gin&tonic, which ended up being a Sprite & tonic, as they'd run out of Tonic. They also ran out of beer! I managed 3 at least... oh well, dont wanna get to lagered up.
A nice thing on CI is that whenever you're hungry, you can get cup noodles!! Tasty as!


Had some rest and chatted a bit more with my seatmates, and a few hours later it was time for breakfast. Noodles with chicken I believe it was. Tasted perfectly allright.



Landed in Bangkok at 6AM something, and my bag came out quickly! Short lines at immigration too. A taxi ride later I was at my hotel in Bangkok, starting off a 3 week holiday, including flights on Bangkok Air and Thai Airways 744. I wont write a report on them cause I got no pics.

In conclusion, I would fly CI again and recommend it to anyone. I know Thai Airways has 34" pitch but other than that I would suspect there is little difference between the two. I will try Thai sometime in the future perhaps.

The return flight was equally good, although the airplane was a bit cold and I was sat in a draft! I had a bad cold after celebrating the crazy Songkran in Thailand and so didn't enjoy that too much.

Don't hesitate to fly CI if you have the chance, their fares are competitive and their crew do a great job on board.