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EK A380 Inaugural flight HKG-BKK in F (107 pics)

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  • EK A380 Inaugural flight HKG-BKK in F (107 pics)

    On 1 October, Emirates started their A380 flight to HKG via BKK, which is the second airlines using A380 to HKG, with this opportunity, I grab a ticket to be the one on this party!

    After my Japan trip, I found that all classes was sold for 1 Oct EK385, I call EK’s Hong Kong reservation and waitlisted in the First Class. Two days later, they called me that my waitlist was cleared so I issue the ticket at once!

    So let’s start about the trip!

    On 1 Oct 2010 18:04, A6-EDM was landing in HKG, hundreds of people waiting her at the end of the runway and in the Skydeck


    After parking my car, I arrived aisle G in HKIA


    Although the check-in counter was not ready, there were many people queuing for check-in


    The line in Business Class was quite long too


    Check-in counter finally opened at 19:25


    I was the third one to check-in at the First Class counter


    After check-in, time for immigration, quiet at this time


    After some photos of A6-EDM, head to the lounge for some food


    Entrance
    There was no more lounge invitation card, all you need is your boarding pass. After the lounge agent scanned my boarding pass, I entered the lounge and found that many people were there already, I even cannot find an empty table for myself!


    The staff arranged me to sit in a round table, with three sole travelers. The food offered was really nice, even better than my last visit on May 2009.

    When a staff collecting my plates, he said:’ long time no see, how are you?’
    Me:’ You remember me?”
    Staff:’ Yes!’
    Me:’ But it was a long time I haven’t been here.’
    Staff:’ 4-5 months, right?’
    Me:’ No, it should be more than one year, my last Emirates flight was in May 2009!’
    Staff:’ Oh well, then you should use more Emirates, than I can see you more often.’
    I really surprise that, and it let me add more points to EK’s service!


    Left the lounge, go to Gate 60, a gate with only 2 bridges but next to EK’s lounge

    1 October 2010

    Hong Kong (HKG) – Bangkok (BKK)
    Airline: Emirates
    Flight: EK 385
    Aircraft: A380-800
    Registration: A6-EDM
    Seat: 4K (First)
    Gate: 60



    Gate area
    Last edited by sutrakhk; 9 October 2010, 01:01 AM.

  • #2
    A6-EDM - delivered at 28 September 2010, a 3 days old beauty. According to the information, her first flight was DXB-BKK-DXB on 30 September, so this is her second mission in her EK’s life!


    Boarding pass


    Boarding was started at 21:30. The gate was showing Suites rather than First Class, same as SQ


    On the second bridge


    To upstairs


    The FA escort me to my suite 4K


    I can’t believe I was there


    Taking pics here and there like a little boy


    View from my seat


    My seat 4K, with 2 windows


    Still have some times, let’s visit the unique facility in EK’s A380 – The shower

    Comment


    • #3






      The FA asked whether I want to use the shower, but I denied as the flight time was only 2 hours 5 minutes.

      First Class Lounge outside the showers



      Stairs to the main deck


      Back to my seat, found there were many reading materials……


      ……including the safety information card

      Comment


      • #4
        Doors were closed, I switched to the tail camera


        Also on the handheld too, amazing!


        EK’s 77W, A6-EBN, doing EK381 next to us


        We pushed back on 22:25 and taxi quietly to the runway.
        The break released, and the 4 GP7200s bring us to the sky silently, compare to the 77L on my last trip, it is really amazing in the A380 with its quiet cabin even in takeoff!

        The seat belt signal went out soon after takeoff, let’s change to a more comfortable position


        The ICE was full of stuff, I chose Toy Story 3 together with the Dom


        Soon after, light meal was served, I chose to have both appetizers



        Main: My first choice was gone, this is my second choice, not very good in my opinion


        Dessert, rice pudding same as May 2009


        I wanted to explorer the cabin, but it is time to descend.
        At this moment, the leading purser was presenting the certificate to every passenger.


        2 hours was over, we were going to land in BKK, I hope to stay longer!


        I took the AOT limousine to the Hotel Banyan Tree Bangkok, this is the room in 40/F

        Comment


        • #5



          Outside of Banyan Tree Bangkok on 2 Oct


          View from the restaurant in 52/F




          I planned to try the newly open Airport Link in Bangkok
          City Line platform at Phaya Thai Station


          Airport Line Concourse at Makkasan Station


          The check-in facilities will be available soon


          Airport Line Stock


          Inside, same as many trains in Europe……


          ……since they are made by SIEMENS


          Not so useful doors control
          Last edited by sutrakhk; 17 October 2010, 05:41 PM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Route Map


            Ticket for Airport Line, promotion price is 100B round-trip


            Compartment of the baggage for city check-in


            My favorite dessert in Bangkok, Mango and sticky rice


            On 4 October, after the breakfast at hotel, I headed to BKK airport again


            Aisle T for Emirates check-in


            Still early for 13:45 flight


            First Class counter


            Immigration
            Last edited by sutrakhk; 17 October 2010, 05:41 PM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Going to the lounge




              Inside



              The food offerings was great



              After some duty free shopping, time to go to the gate


              Can I take one?


              4 October 2010

              Bangkok (BKK) – Hong Kong (HKG)
              Airline: Emirates
              Flight: EK 384
              Aircraft: A380-800
              Registration: A6-EDI
              Seat: 4A (First)
              Gate: E4

              My boarding pass


              Gate E4


              A6-EDI was waiting us already!
              Last edited by sutrakhk; 17 October 2010, 05:43 PM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Gate area


                A6-EDI to take me home


                Boarding was commenced at 13:45, a bit delay


                My suite 4A, I love this screen wallpaper very much, and you can find a FA standing at the back of the bus


                View from my seat


                My seat again


                Emirates already have a very firm table in their suite, but they have a table holder to the opposite side, very good design


                Doors were still open, I take some time to the Business Class



                I have tried the business seat to find whether I can stuff myself into it, and the answer is Yes, the seat was even wider than the new OZ seats and longer in flat bed mode!

                The famous on-board lounge



                Pushed back 14:15, I saw my favorite bird - A340-500 during taxi, I hope I can have chance to ride on them one day

                Comment


                • #9
                  We taxi at 15-30 mph, the pilot hit the break few times to slow down during taxiing


                  We were on the position to take off, break released for about 20 seconds but the 4 GP7200s were kept idle. The break applied again and an announcement from flight deck:’ Ladies and Gentlemen, we find that our break was too hot at the moment, we have to cool it down before our next takeoff, which may need 15 minutes, sorry for the inconvenience.’

                  Then we following the below path and stop at a path parallel with the runway


                  After about 20 minutes, from the flight deck again:’ the break was still hot and we have requested the ground to bring some fans to cool down the break’

                  10 minutes later from a FA, he said we have requested the fans but we didn’t have any response from the ground, so we need to wait a bit longer.

                  During waiting, I planned to take some more pics in the cabin




                  45 minutes have past, the pilot told us we are ready to takeoff again, so we taxi along the taxi way, and go in the runway and takeoff directly, I though it is because the pilot don’t want to overheat the break again when making a stop at runway.

                  Seat belt sign was off, drinks and nuts were offered, I told the FA that I really love EK’s nuts as they have different kinds of nuts and taste good (but a bit too salty)

                  And the meal was followed
                  Starters: Smoked salmon with crab meat, fresh and tasty!


                  Main course: Fish, a bit overdone


                  Dessert, really nice one with some tea.


                  After the meal, I planned to visit the washroom after the first class galley


                  Nice view in the washroom

                  Last edited by sutrakhk; 9 October 2010, 01:02 AM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    We were about to arrive, times fly!


                    Before landing, the FA gave me a bag:’ it’s for you!’
                    I opened and say thank you to him, a really nice touch!
                    I think I will taste some when I miss EK’s service, as my next trip on them would be 1 year later.


                    Arrived at Gate 60, passed through the immigration and wait for my baggage, which is the end for this trip.


                    Comment:
                    After the trip, I can say I love EK more and more, with nice lounges, nice aircrafts and most importantly - nice staff. I found they are working with their passion, the service is from their heart unlike other airlines that those FA were trained to be a robot only. EK’s multi-national crew is also a plus as they were willing to share different experiences in different styles, not many airlines outside middle-east can be the same.

                    For the A380, it was amazing, super quiet even in takeoff. And EK configure them very well, with luxury and classy feeling. But to the suite itself, I still prefer 77W and 77L as they are more spacious with the super high ceiling.

                    Hope all of you enjoy my trip report, and hope I will have my next trip soon
                    Last edited by sutrakhk; 9 October 2010, 01:02 AM.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Wonderful TR, thank you for sharing.
                      There's only One way to fly.... SINGAPORE AIRLINES!
                      If SQ is too expensive, the other way to fly is Qatar Airways

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Nice TR. Pics are kinda big.

                        Particularly liked the Banyan Tree part. What are your thoughts on the property? Anyone else with experience there, feel free to chime in.
                        HUGE AL

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Very nice Now I don't have to write a TR for this since yours is so detailed already!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Awesome TR !!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by HUGE AL View Post
                              Nice TR. Pics are kinda big.

                              Particularly liked the Banyan Tree part. What are your thoughts on the property? Anyone else with experience there, feel free to chime in.
                              Sorry for the photo size, I just cannot find a ultimate size. 800x600 seems too small, 1600x1200 seems too big, so I choose 1280 this time.

                              For Banyan Tree, nice hotel, nice restaurants no matter the buffet breakfast, Thai food on 52/F or the French on the roof. But I think it would be better to do some refurbishment as the room was a bit tired. The location is at Sathron, a business district, if you need shopping, you need to take a taxi as BTS station is a bit far away.

                              I chose Banyan Tree this time because after the 'red shirt' issue this year, Banyan Tree seemed lower its price and have some special packages, for example, Thailand Gateway I used this time, min. stay would be two days, 4425 BTH each night includ. breakfast. You will get the credit for F&B or spa equal to your second night room rate, that means you have 4425 BTH to spend in spa or restaurants or room service or mini-bar, nice price, right?

                              But it you want a newer hotel (apartment), I would recommend the Marriott Apartment - Sathron Vista, just 100m away from Banyan Tree, bigger suite, a well-equipped kitchen, washing machine, ect.

                              Originally posted by SQflyergirl View Post
                              Very nice Now I don't have to write a TR for this since yours is so detailed already!
                              No......you have to do the TR, as you have your view point and better language than me. I have so many pics since I know my language was not as good as others, more pics can compensate a bit

                              Comment

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