DisgustedofSwieqi - 05/06/2011 19:24 GMT
Check in a Heathrow terminal 4 was fast, with a dedicated business class queue, followed by a fairly quick security clearance using the fast track channel, slowed down because two passengers in front were very disorganized and slow.
The Holideck lounge, where Air Malta business class pax are accommodated, used to be very good, used to be very good; unfortunately, they have lost a lot of business and shrunk (physically), but it is still better than sitting outside, with a full range of complimentary alcoholic/soft and hot drinks and free internet.
Boarding was the usual short haul mess, although Alitalia (the handling agent) did board by seat row and also called for business class passengers first, requiring a bit of nifty footwork to get through the scrum by the gate.
As soon as I boarded the aircraft and saw purser A*****e, I was confident we would have a good flight, as he works very hard to deliver a good service. Club class was completely full, with 24 seats.
I had 1A and found adequate space in the bins to stow my large computer bag.
The seats are 3 x 3, blue leather and a panel in the middle seat folds down to form a useful tray, with two drinks holders - it does not clip on, as erroneously reported in another review recently.
Legroom is adequate for a 3 hour flight and the seats are comfortable, with a decent recline.
The flight pushed back a couple of minutes early, which is good for Heathrow on a Friday evening.
Sure enough, pre dinner drinks orders were taken just over 20 minutes after take off and arrived swiftly, in my case a mini bottle of champagne.
Dinner was a quite acceptable smoked salmon starter, followed by a main course of beef, washed down with a nice Emmanuel Delicata red wine.
The service continued in the same vein until well into the descent and south of Sicily, when the crew prepared the cabin for arrival.
There was some in flight entertainment, featuring some short documentaries and humorous programmes, but I don't watch these as I prefer to read.
On arrival at Malta, we parked on a stand allowing us to walk a few metres into the non Schengen arrivals area (it is not true, as reported elsewhere that all arrivals use coaches), where passport formalities were rapid, with me getting a 'welcome back' from the passport officer, who has seen me many times over the years.
The luggage arrived in about 10 minutes, which allowed me to take a quick espresso in the arrivals lounge, collect my case and pick up my car from the parking lot. From landing to arriving at home took about 35 minutes.
This was approximately my 250th flight with Air Malta, I can count the bad ones on the fingers of one hand.
