pep
Medlem
4 rejser for at komme hjem til Nytår. 2 alliancer, 4 fly, 3 flyselskaber...fra Kigali (Rwanda) til Hue (Vietnam) med WB, QR, og 2 x VN. Havde 14 timer i Platinum loungen i Doha, hvilket var min egen julegave. Kærligheden kan være karsk, som Strindberg sagde.
Mest imponerende er, at min jule-bagage kom igennem hele vejen på trods af at den var fejlagtigt labelled fra Kigali (hvilket jeg først opdagede i Doha). Den var labelled til VTN (=Valentine town i Nebraska), men flynummeret VN600 fra BKK til SGN var korrekt. VTN er vist også IATA landekode for Vietnam? I BKK styrtede jeg ud for at finde den med ankommende fly. Den var ikke med. Panik, panik. VN i BKK sagde, jeg skulle efterlyse den i SGN da BKK ikke kunne gøre mere...Jeg anså baggagen for totalt tabt, men ved et mirakel kom den ud som den allersidste kuffert i Saigon, da en bagagemedarbejder smed den ind på båndet efter at al baggage var smidt op på båndet og jeg var den eneste stadig ventende. Gud må have hørt mine bønner...
En ubehagelig oplevelse var, at VN ville suspendere min billet fra BKK til HUI med den begrundelse at de ikke tillader at skifte miles-kreditering fra Lotus til Flying Blue, idet jeg havde købt billeten for "miles plus cash". De tvang mig til at kreditere til VNs program, da det var deres regel nr. 814...Jeg måtte ned på knæ, men det var ikke nok. De påtvang mig en ny billet med VN FFP. Det lykkedes mig dog ved Check-in i BKK at tvinge den tilbage til FB, hvor jeg har brug for lidt XP for at beholde mit guldkort. VN Lotus er nu en saga blot.
Jeg elsker diversiteten og heldet ved at rejse "kompliceret" på de billigste OTA-øko billetter. Derefter overtager jeg styringen med hård hånd på luftfartselskabernes hjemmesider. Ingen julegaver til KILROY hos hvem jeg købte biletten...Heldet følger de tossede (eller: lykken står den kække bi) ?
Sendte flg. til SKYTRAX:
Rwandair Economy 7/10
Kigali-Doha 28 Dec. 2022 on an aged B737-800. Ticket issued by the partner airline Qatar Airways (QR): the cooperation is smooth though fragile and not always clear. I checked in in KGL beyond Doha to Bangkok and luggage was kindly inscribed further to Saigon with Vietnam Airlines so I could stay airside in BKK. Denied lounge access in Kigali despite gold status at both QR and BA. That privilege is not clear for economy codeshare flights: this was 1st time out of 4 recent economy flights they have rejected me free lounge access. Security checks when going to gate was nitty gritty and they took every item out of bags. Boarding by foot, 200 m, was a breeze. Given an exit seat while boarding but took the liberty to choose instead the last empty row to stretch out during the night. Flight on time. Onboard, the FAs are stunning, energetic, observant, polite, and truly caring. Call-bells answered throughout. My preordered seafood meal was provided with precision, ease, and care. It was a big portion with wildcatch ocean fish - delicious for economy travel. With pleasure, I also tried other hot dishes offered. Drinks and food generously provided, apparently ad libitum. Food filling and more or less on par with SWISS and KLM business class. A cheese platter was added to my menu as a courtesy upon request. It is becoming a pleasure to fly again, but I can fault missing IFE (shared screens/no sound) and WiFi. This aircraft type is extremely noisy. Landed in Doha for tedious, almost depressing, embarkation by bus to terminal.Qatar Airways Economy 9/10
Doha-Bangkok 29 Dec. 2022 on a B777-300ER. Flight on time upon two aircraft type changes. Smooth cooperation with their new partner Rwandair by whom I arrived with in Doha early morning coming from Kigali. The Platinum lounge that I chose in Doha, appears to be the “flagship” among three newer frequent flyer lounges in Doha for Oneworld silver, gold, and platinum card holders. It had a la carte dining, champagne, showers, tarmac view, sleeping areas. Seat prebooked provided and automatically changed to fit into new aircraft type. Due to New Year, flight was full, likely overbooked despite changed to larger aircraft in last Minute. Seat-block or upgrade was not possible. I was respected as frequent flier and given exit row without charges. Dinner details were announced on their homepage already 2-3 weeks prior to flight, what an impressive effort (“Preview Onboard Menu”); they provided 3 options, all found available. I chose Teriyaki chicken and later beef ragout with mashed potatoes, all good. I prefer this proper dinner and do not mind they skipped breakfast. A Spanish cava sparkling wine was offered as one of 3 wines onboard; beers industrial and watery: only Stella Artois and Budwiser. Food concept always with narrow options and slim concepts over the last 15 years. Conservative airline, lacks life, colours, and innovation, though quite predictable and faultless. FAs well-rested, groomed, but deprived of charm. IFE was good with individual quality monitors; quality headsets were provided to all; likewise blankets, pillows, and amenity kits. Aircraft and toilets were well kept. Despite I had a complex booking issued by an online travel agent, it was easy to handle and detail on airline’s homepage. Miles were credited separately to the different airlines' (QR and WB) frequent flier programs without issues. I did not see my luggage in Bangkok: it was transferred smoothly the entire route from Africa to Saigon. This, even it was partly mislabeled at its inscribed origin in Kigali to final destination in SE-Asia with Vietnam Airlines who is in the competing Skyteam alliance. Impressive work by QR who, together with the airport in Bangkok, saved the mistake done by Rwandair in Kigali. I very rarely have had any luggage issues with QR, maybe in 2 flights of 100 – and in these rare cases, they have done their best to assist me. So, obviously I am luckier than most on this forum?Vietnam Airlines 7/10 Business
Bangkok-Saigon-Hue close to New Year 2023. Both flights on A321. Both flights ½ hour delayed, which is acceptable on a last Friday prior to New Year. Check-in in Bangkok not very professional (could not communicate well, did not know African cities, could not retrieve info of my luggage from previous flights). However, in the end I got my business class privileges incl. fast track for security and enjoyed the Miracle, which is a 3rd party, quite disappointing lounge. Lounge provided in SGN (domestic) was the Le Saigonnais, which had good food and (only) soft drinks. Luggage arrived perfectly on both destinations; had to collect it and check it in again in Saigon due to the international arrival from Bangkok to the domestic next flight.On board I found a traditional, ample business class seating. FA-staff were courteous, caring, and very attentive. On both flights I had amble space with pleasant, wide, large seats in a 2 x 2 configuration (4 rows); less than half of the 16 seats were taken. Wet towels provided, likewise welcome drinks. As for food, I got the verbal choice (no menu) of hot and cold snacks and drinks, appropriate for short flights. Asked on both flights if I cared for more food and drinks. Table cloth, steel cutlery and proper glasses were provided. Champagne is not any longer served on regional flights, only wine. The white wine was completely undrinkable: a cheap French sauvignon which is unsellable in Europe, but VN seems pleased to have made a good deal by paying for garbage, feeding their passengers with substandard (toxic?) drinks. 2-4 Vietnamese beers were offered, also on the domestic leg. IFE is on shared monitors with VN inspired programme of agriculture, tourism, and culture. No sound, unless you use own headsets. Call bell answered with seconds. Overall, a consistent, classic, and roomy product.
GODT NYTÅR til alle mine BC-venner
