[Anonymous]

[FivestarFred]

I always get a thrill going to the airport without fail. I arrived at Sydney Airport at 2.30pm today for my 5pm flight. There was no queue at the Royal First check-in lane and the pleasant lady at the desk had me on my way in a few minutes. She confirmed to my delight that it would be the refurbished 9 seat first cabin aircraft. No queues at security despite a few long haul flights leaving around the same time.

The Air New Zealand lounge is pretty basic. Very drab and the carpets need changing or cleaning! Food okay…chicken wings, sandwiches, hot dogs, salads and a selection of wines and spirits. There are showers, computers and a kids room. Great Tarmac views, not as good as the Qantas lounges (obviously) but better than some lounges at SYD that have little or no views.

Boarding was announced in the lounge. There was quite a queue at the gate with a narrow section leading to the desks and if you didn’t see the priority lane way up ahead you could end up waiting a while.

Everyone boarded through 1L. I was pointed to my seat and met there by someone else. The first class cabin set up is odd with the galley along one side next to the first business cabin. Only a curtain separated first from business. Two toilets for first class. 5/9 pax on this flight.

The new seats look very nice. The suites are partly enclosed with a wooden lattice effect on one side and wardrobe on the other. Cream leather trim round the edges and walnut panelling. A few nooks for bits and bobs. Huge table. Ottoman for companion dining. Thin mattress available plus duvet. Chocolate brown leather and fabric seat with two pillows. Vase with orchid on front section next to TV. Small touchpad seat controls. In seat power that I could use to charge my phone.

There is only one set of double seats in F so if travelling as a duo you need to snag those quick. 1A and 1K are close together but because of the lattice screen if you need to chat you have to lean forward. All single seats are very private. No central overhead bins but cabin doesn’t feel that spacious especially with the central console that houses the magazines and wine during the flight.

Flight time 8hrs 35mins which should see us arrive half an hour ahead of schedule. Great news as I had a quick connection to Paris and wanted a bit of time to explore the lounge at Bangkok. No time for a full massage though. Business and economy class almost full. New seats in all cabins. J seats looked not completely horizontal and also a bit cramped. In the downstairs cabin there’s a row of 4×2 seats adjacent to the long galley and hence no windows. I’d find those pretty disconcerting. The upstairs biz cabin was more pleasant. Y seats all have nice IFE screens which are of a decent size though the ones in the exit row seats are smaller. A stretcher took up three of the end rows so quite a few seats unavailable. There was a sick passenger on the inbound flight but the stretcher remained in place on our flight.

Hot towels came round. Dom Perignon 2004 offered as a welcome drink. Don’t mind if I do! During December they also have a special guest champagne Dom Ruinart 2002 which I rather preferred. Why oh why am I practically teetotal! In fact all 5 pax in F not big drinkers. between us we only had half a bottle of the 2004 and only a glass or two of the 2002. All that remainder down the drain! Rimowa amenity kits and noise-cancelling headphones on the seats. Pyjamas handed out. Thankfully they had XL which just about fit me, being almost 2m tall. Lovely new design. I shall collect a couple of spares over the four TG flights this trip.

We pushed back on time and had a very short taxi before the engines gave that thrilling grunt and hurtled off down the runway taking off at steeply with Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House to the left. I even waved to my office as I said goodbye to work for three weeks!

The 744 shows its age by the deep creaking as the landing gears are retracted (and deployed). Also, almost without fail the forward wardrobe doors swing open and stuff flies out on take-off.

Appetisers offered after take-off, three mini bites as well as warm nuts. Calvisius (who?) sturgeon caviar and all the accompaniments after, along with a generous shot of vodka…well if you insist! I had lots of water to rehydrate.

Starter of salmon and crayfish salad. Basket with garlic bread and other rolls placed on table. Cold towel on silver tray on the table too.

I had pre-ordered the lobster thermidor. Other main course options on board included lamb shanks, salmon, beef in blackbean sauce and chicken curry. No obvious vegetarian option but I presume that can be pre-ordered.

For a relatively long day flight the meal service was very quick with plates swiftly cleared, sometimes too swiftly, and the next course brought out. Wines all French, three each of white and red (names available upon request). Selection of spirits, soft drinks and hot drinks (names not available upon request).

The crew are certainly eager to please. Not as intuitive and attentive as might be expected but warm and friendly nonetheless. Two crew looked after the F cabin.

I skipped the cheesecake dessert and the cheese platter and port but had some fruit and a cappuccino. Bottles of water handed out after the meal and cabin lights dimmed.

IFE available after take-off and is shut down prior to landing. Screen quite large and set into the front wall of the suite. About 100 movies plus TV shows and music though not many recent releases. Watched The King’s Speech and The Iron Lady then had a short rest. Headphones had to be replaced and system reset once.

Light supper offered 90 minutes prior to landing. Cauliflower soup, quiche or noodles and a pudding plus chocolate.

Smooth landing at Suvarnabhumi but sharp braking as we turned off the runway.

The lovely treat is F pax being met at the door of the plane by a TG rep and then driven by buggy to take you to the lounge or immigration. My ride was all of 100m! I was then escorted the rest of the way through security and handed over to the lounge staff.

On the whole a decent flight but no wow factor. Hoping my next flight on the A380 to Paris has a little bit extra…

Trip booked using US Airways miles. Will be sadly missed though only Thai Airways seems to have lots of award availability.

[CXDiamond]

Good review Fred, Thai almost always do a good job and their pricing is usually very competitive.

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