Reviews
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Flight on 09/04/2014
Qatar Airways First
Doha (DOH) - Heathrow (LHR) My taxi took me to the main terminal in Doha and this mistake was compounded by there being a first class check-in in the non-premium terminal. After what seemed like 15 minutes to check me in (1 pax, one bag, one sector) I was advised there was just enough time to go ...
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Flight on 09/04/2014
Swiss Business (short haul)
on: Avro RJ100
London City (LCY) - Zurich (ZRH) A surprisingly smart and modern cabin for such an aging aircraft. I felt Swiss could have done a lot better on the catering since they know there are no lounges in LCY. I was on a first class through ticket and believe I ought to have been met on arrival but that ...
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Flight on 08/04/2014
Swiss First
on: A330-300
This was a transit flight so I can't comment on check-in. The lounge, at least at first sight, is disappointing. The view is obscured by large pipes running past the windows and the room can fill quickly. The drinks selection seems poor but then you realise that the bar is not in the lounge but in ...
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Flight on 08/04/2014
Emirates Business
Dubai (DXB) - Doha (DXB) Check-in was very swift though the whole airport seemed very quiet mid afternoon. The agent suggested I moved my seat since they had "a first class section within business class" so I presumed that this two class service was to be operated by a three class aircraft. I ...
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Flight on 11/10/2013
Jet Airways Business
on: B777-300ER
Broadly speaking Jet are better in the air than on the ground. The lounge in Heathrow is OK but I would have expected better at their hub in Delhi. The food and drink are of a good quality but a bit of a limited choice. Service was charming but a bit slow. I think the best bit is the seat; ...
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Flight on 07/09/2013
Japan Airlines First
on: B777-300ER (W83)
Flight from NRT-LHR Check-in is very well staffed so there are no queues though this being an award ticket from my BA Executive Club Avios, it took them a long time to decipher the booking, though this was no worse than a similar experience on Star Alliance. The lounge is spacious, calm and ...
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Flight on 17/02/2013
Cathay Pacific Business
on: B777-300ER Four-Class (77H)
The lounge in LHR is bright and modern though not particularly luxurious. I was disappointed by the famous noodle bar. The new business class seat on the 777 300 ER is excellent. Its trick is to set the seat at 45 degrees to the fuselage but then use the resultant triangles that are left over to ...
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Flight on 17/02/2013
Cathay Pacific Business (short haul)
I flew HKG-SIN and back, one way on the A330 and the other on the 777-300 Neither had the new regional business class so I was disappointed not to see it but by comparison with the same flight length in Europe the space and comfort were still excellent. Food was good to excellent and the service ...
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Flight on 17/02/2013
Cathay Pacific Business
The Cathay lounges in HKG are very stylish and not too busy. Their Solus seat is a very clever device and the washrooms are excellent, especially the showers. A lot has been said against the (now) old business class on Cathay and having seen how good the new product is I would say the old one ...
read more - Flight on 13/12/2012
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Flight on 13/12/2012
Oman Air Business (short haul)
on: B737-800
BLR-MCT Dec 2012 Check-in was civilised and I was given a pass for the lounge. The only problem was that emigration had knocked off for an extended lunch so I had to sit groundside for 90 minutes. Not Oman Air's fault but they might want to revise their check-in times with that in ...
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Flight on 13/12/2012
Lufthansa First
FRA-BLR Nov 2012 Although I was in transit, a long stop-over allowed me to try the Lufthansa First Class Terminal. When I walked through the door there wasn't a single soul to be seen at the reception though they did turn up soon after. Since I already had my boarding pass I didn't need any ...
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Flight on 12/09/2012
Emirates Business
on: A380 (Config. 1)
This review covers three flights on the A380 : LHR-DXB, BKK-DXB,DXB-LHR. The chauffeur drive was well organised, Mercedes in UK & Thailand, Volvo in Dubai. Check-in in LHR was mayhem and in BKK desperately slow. The lounges in LHR & BKK are pleasant though undersized, London cracking at ...
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Flight on 12/09/2012
Emirates Business
Flew from DXB-BKK. Chauffeur drive was slick as was check-in. The lounge in DXB is depressing and it's probably worth finding a seat elsewhere. I was told "final call" from said black hole, proceeded to my gate and then sat there for 20 mins before they so much as opened the door for economy ...
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Flight on 01/06/2012
KLM Business
on: A330-200
I was in transit so cannot comment on check-in. The lounge at Schiphol is bright and roomy and not overly crowded with a reasonable selection of food and drink. I boarded last so cannot comment on how it was managed. The flight was full but the cabin still felt fresh and roomy. The seat is ...
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Flight on 01/06/2012
Air France Business
on: A380
Check-in at Washington Dulles was slow. The lounge is bright but very plain with a poor selection of food and drink. Boarding was calm but I soon realised it was because the upper deck was almost empty. In retrospect they boarded us far too early. The cabin is fresh and calming, though it's ...
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Flight on 01/06/2012
Air France Business (short haul)
on: A321
The lounge at CDG was adequate if a bit gloomy. There was a deciated queue at the gate for business class which was pointless since we simply joined the interminable queue of people who can't read numbers on the jetty / plane. The ambience of business class is non-existant. There is no divider ...
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Flight on 01/06/2012
British Airways Business
The lounge in Barbados is fairly basic and the AC wasn't working. Boarding was reasonable given the facilities at BGI. I've done many CW flights on BA. I think their seat is good for sleeping but a bit like a coffin by day. The food and drink were good. On boarding there was a hint that my screen ...
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Flight on 28/02/2012
Etihad Airways Business
on: A340-500
The limo transfer from Dubai was efficiently managed through SMS, was on time and had a better car than when in First (see other review). Etihad's dedicated terminal in Abu Dhabi is very smart and I was checked in quickly. I've read a lot of horror stories about the lounge being standing room only ...
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Flight on 27/02/2012
Etihad Airways First
on: A340-500
The limo to Heathrow was on time and the driver very polite. On arrival at T4 I was greeted at the kerb by a ground stewardess and a porter to carry my bag. Premium check-in was empty so that was completed rapidy and the same lady offered to escort me to the lounge but I reckoned I could manage on ...
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Flight on 01/12/2011
Virgin Atlantic Premium economy
I booked our flight 11 months in advance and took advantage of the free facility to reserve seats. A week before departure I checked my booking and found that the seat allocation had been scrubbed. I sent two emails which went unanswered and finally a phone call left us with the assurance that ...
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Flight on 07/11/2011
Singapore Airlines Business
This was a connecting flight so I cannot comment on the check-in process at ZRH. SQ use the Swiss lounge in ZRH which is quite nice, though the food selection was poor. It has "the longest serviced lounge bar in the world" at one level which is quite impressive though it was rather quiet at ...
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Flight on 07/11/2011
Singapore Airlines Business
Check in was deserted though took some time due to a messed up booking which deserves its own whole page. The Silver Kris lounge in Changi was disappointing given the general high reputation of SQ. Dingy, monolithic and busy. The food and drink were pretty good however; self-pour Champagne and a ...
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Flight on 07/11/2011
Swiss Business
on: A340-300
This was a transfer flight so I can't comment on the check-in procedure. Swiss use the Thai business class lounge in BKK; it is hard to judge their performance level since this was during the terrible floods but one thing must be a constant and that is that it is busy. I boarded late (BKK is ...
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Flight on 26/04/2011
Lufthansa Business
on: A380-800
I arrived on a connecting flight from LHR (which I won't review). Transfer from the arrival gate to the departure gate was like a slow motion marathon but I got there in the end. For the A380 LH / FRA have built a new wing on the airport which separates economy from premium passengers at an early ...
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Flight on 23/01/2011
Oman Air Business
on: A330-300
Flew LHR-MCT-BKK Jan 2011 Limo transfer to LHR very nice and then into the SAS lounge in T3 which is adequate if a bit utilitarian. Boarding was quiet by the time I got to the gate. Oman Air's A330s are gorgeous (at least in business). 4 seats abreast where most would have 6. Window seats are the ...
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