N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1565 posts, RR: 73 Posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 32767 times:
Trip Report
OS002
Sydney-Kuala Lumpur
29 Sept 2006
B777-2Z9/ER OE-LPB
STD1650 ATD1645
STA2315 ATA2235
Flying time 7hr 33mins @ FL380
After a quick weekend trip on Emirates to NZ 2 weeks ago, I’ve decided to use some of my UA Mileage Plus miles to Malaysia and Indonesia for a 3 days long weekend. It cost me 75000 miles to get a J class return SYD-KUL-SYD with Austrian and $96.02 in tax (note UA do not charge fuel surcharge on award booking)
Austrian check in counter opens 3 hour in advance in Sydney and use Air New Zealand lounge. On this flight we have 29 out of 49 in Business class and 250 out of 258 in Economy Class makes total 279 pax out of 307 total seats.
The inbound OS001 flight from KUL arrived late at 1540, 25minutes behind schedule. At 1625 pax were called for boarding. The crew were under great rush to prepare pre-departures and got the door closed at 1640(Amazingly fast with 279pax!) and push back at 1645 on the way to KUL! That is very efficient, only an hour to turn around a B777 after an 8 hrs flight! Once onboard, the flight is equipped with new lie flat sleeper seats in Business, one can immediately notice the bright and contrast color of the cabin, the yellow pillow, multi color blanket and blue seats and birch décor. Good job for the color mix in the cabin makes it feel very comfortable to fly with.
Takeoff was very powerful, rotated in front of the Sydney ATC tower. You can see the shadow of the 777
Climbing over Qantas domestic terminal.
After climbing out of the airport from Rwy34L, the usual grand Sydney skyline can be seen on the right hand side of the aircraft.
In flight service started shortly after airborne, the onboard chef came around to introduce to each pax and hand out the menu. I am quite surprised OS have an onboard chef, nice feature!
Here is a cabin photo from my seat, seating is 2-3-2 across, and first business cabin have 35 seats and second cabin have 2 more rows, 14 seats makes total 49 seats.
Austrian cabin ambience
Another photo of the new Business Class seat
Dinner started very quickly, like only 25 mins after airborne.
First Canapés and drinks, note I have an Almdudler, the FA told me it is a herbal soft drink from Austria!
Then come the hors’ Dourves cart, you get six choices-Salmon, Asparagus, Prawn, Tomato Mozzarella, Chilled roast beef ….I prefer this way over the choose only one out of two from the menu.
For main course, I have Grilled Salmon which is cook to perfection!
After the meal service, I checked out the in-flight entertainment, they have 19 video channels playing recorded video stream but non AVOD type. They also have a good selection of audio channels.
About the new seats: At first, it seems just another lie flat sleeper seats but after a while, it became quite comfortable. There are 3 buttons for 3 different positions: Seat right up, relax and flat. I found by pressing the relax button then have the leg-rest upward the most comfortable position for rest. There are many ways to adjust the seat to find a comfy position. The seat also comes with massage function. The best thing for these type of seats is no matter how the person in front of you reclining, it does not affect you at all!
About an hour before arriving KUL, the second meal is served; I have the curry somosa which are again delicious. The flight landed in KLIA 40 mins ahead of schedule and I took KLIA express and into the city within 45 mins.
Overall I think the best thing of OS is the food onboard, service was quite good with constant refill of drinks. It was a quick and pleasant experience with Austrian Airlines. I do like their all red uniforms too!
JonnyGT From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 241 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 32767 times:
It's so thoughtful of OS to include a miniature golf course on the cabin floor for the J class passenger's enjoyment. What was your score?
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 5424 posts, RR: 81 Reply 2, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 32767 times:
Very interesting report with excellent pictures.
Though, the cabin design is not to my taste - especially the wooden panels and the green floor. Looks like a wooden chair placed in the green countryside.
Quoting N178UA (Thread starter): First Canapés and drinks, note I have an Almdudler, the FA told me it is a herbal soft drink from Austria!
It's a very popular drink in Austria, they also run lots of advertising in Germany.
Alaskaqantas From New Zealand, joined Dec 2005, 892 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 32767 times:
Quoting N178UA (Thread starter): After climbing out of the airport from Rwy34L, the usual grand Sydney skyline can be seen on the right hand side of the aircraft.
that is an amazing picture!
I am thinking of buys a whole bunch of UA miles (you can buy a bunch over 200,000 for only .02 cents per mile... well then plus taxes which realy makes it .21 cents per mile, That is a little cheaper then buying with AS but more expensive then buying with Mexicana)
Great Pictures! looks like the fligth was enjoytable. Lets hope that they get AVOD here soon.
how much did the cook actually cook onboard?
~Cheers-
~~Kyle H.
to some people the sky is the limit, to aviation enthusiasts, its home!
N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1565 posts, RR: 73 Reply 5, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Quoting Alaskaqantas (Reply 3): I am thinking of buys a whole bunch of UA miles (you can buy a bunch over 200,000 for only .02 cents per mile... well then plus taxes which realy makes it .21 cents per mile, That is a little cheaper then buying with AS but more expensive then buying with Mexicana)
Kyle where do you buy the miles? Sounded like a great deal but is this legitimate?
Quoting Alaskaqantas (Reply 3): how much did the cook actually cook onboard?
i believe he cook the main course and make fine Vinnese Coffee onboard.
Thats the advertising of Almdudler.
Good trip report the food looks great like the food on the shorthaul flights on OS in J . They ever have grat food . But the seats don`t look so good like OS say. How comfortable was the seat.
N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1565 posts, RR: 73 Reply 8, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
rest assured the seat are actually great! They looks better than in the photos and I found it more comfortable on OS than on SQ/TG lie flat beds.
Elite From Hong Kong, joined Jun 2006, 2738 posts, RR: 11 Reply 11, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Great trip report with excellent pictures. Would've been better if those pictures were not taken in fish-eye lens :P
Also, I agree that having the OS chef on board is a really nice touch. Even if it doesn't make much difference to the actual food (perhaps it does) it still gives you the impression that a professional cook is on board
Quoting JonnyGT (Reply 1): It's so thoughtful of OS to include a miniature golf course on the cabin floor for the J class passenger's enjoyment. What was your score?
767747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1521 posts, RR: 28 Reply 12, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Amazing report! Austrian's new J class sounds fantastic. I flew Austrian Airlines form JFK-VIE on an A343 in "Grand Class" back in '99, and it was one of the best flights of my life. We did not have a chef on-board though.
JonnyGT From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 241 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Quoting 767747 (Reply 12):
There is a golf course on board?
MH017 From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 1566 posts, RR: 29 Reply 16, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Sam,
Similar to your previous EK-tripreport, this OS one is excellent as well !!!
Love your pictures, especially, with the fabulous fish-eye.
Food look fantastic and love the design of the trays: glad to know you've enjoyed the Austrian hospitality; you liked the red uniforms, but how about the red stockings ?
Looking forward to more well written and documented trip-reports
AJO From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 575 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Looks very nice indeed! Too bad they're stopping Australia service, their J class fares Europe - Down Under are very competitive most of the time. (and I'm planning a trip to Australia for next year, so I'm not happy with OS stopping the SYD / MEL services).
Pawsleykat From UK - England, joined Jul 2005, 1964 posts, RR: 16 Reply 18, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Those seats are so nice (aesthetically) and look so comfy. I think I might just take the time to fly Austrian to Oz next time I go and see if I can fly Business class. I just love those seats. Btw, Great Trip report N178UA!
JG
First Class passengers are my favourites. They can't get any further forward without an ATPL.
UAL757 From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Quoting JonnyGT (Reply 1): It's so thoughtful of OS to include a miniature golf course on the cabin floor for the J class passenger's enjoyment.
N178UA From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1565 posts, RR: 73 Reply 23, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 32767 times:
Someone told me Almdudler is a potato drink? Is that true, the FA told me it is a herbal drink!!!
Quoting MH017 (Reply 16): you liked the red uniforms, but how about the red stockings ?
Oh yes, love every bit of that.
Thanks everyone, if I ever go to Europe again , OS is charging around 5000 AUD, compare to QF 6500-7500, I know which airline to go for, OS have great food. VS have the worst food in Upper class, I seriosuly think VS is overrated. I have bit of trouble sitting and sleeping sideways.
I didn't even realize the green carpet were suppose to be a golf course, nicely done!
Jyatlantic From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (5 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 32767 times:
Wow, those J class seats were higher than my expectations of OS. Too bad they didn't implement a F cabin.
25 PlaneHunter: No, it's definitely a herbal drink. http://www.almdudler.com/ PH
26 Christao17: Very nice report, good pics. Fisheye lens on the food service was a bit strange, but let's just chalk it up to artistic differences. Regards, Chris
27 Werner729: But OS is to quit their service to SYD end of this year. PRESS RELEASE regards Werner
28 JetMech: Nice photos N178UA! I work at Sydney Airport and particularly like your take off photos. It is amazing to see your workplace from a different angle. I
29 BA319-131: Nice report, thanks. - I agree, nasty - don't like the 2-3-2 config either. Rgds Mark
30 Ardian: Very nice tripreport! I really love the cabin: it looks like you're sitting on a nice wooden chair in the grass outside in the Alps with a bright blue
31 Anirudhvs: Your trip report is just great..!! Is the onboard chef there on all austrian long haul flights or just some or just in the ones with the new biz class
32 Triple7man: Loved the pics of SYD Kingsford Smith and the city skyline
33 Triple7man: I forgot to add that because you said in another OS trip report...OS 25 VIE-BKK that you were able to visit the cockpit. Just Planes puts out many DVD
34 N178UA: Hi Triple7man I actually know the person who did the video of this DVD Thanks Sam
35 B747forever: Good TR and nice pics. The new business class looks great. When will OS stop to fly to SYD/MEL
36 FlyingDoctorWu: Great pics Sam are you a nikon or a canon man? was that fisheye lens for some pics chris
37 Av8rdal: Exactly! And I wonder if it is possible to get Stiegl beer on board. Anyone know? "Es muß ein Stiegl sein."
38 Cjh2007: Its weird that this is being discussed again so longs after its first posting, but i thought it was an excellent report Mr. Chui... Food looks excelle
39 Stylo777: excellent work Sam and perfect pics as usual
40 Boeing743: I sure enjoy your report very details and good pics. I like the details of service in business class. The food on OS look very delicious that make you