Originally Posted by
steve187
I travel from the UK to Bangkok once a year with about 6 months in each country, so a flight one way every 6 months ish. I only have non rev access to One world flights as a family member, the direct/ cheapest non rev flight is BA once a day lhr/bkk, I haven't had any luck with them, but my wife has, a few times, she likes the no change aspect of BA, i have flown non rev with Cathay Pacific and Malaysia air, both are very good, both require a short 2 hour hop, before the longer flight hkg/lhr or kul/lhr, I sometimes book cheap economy tickets either lhr/bkk or bhx/bkk fares around the £400 mark. ( easy to plan onward travel etc.)
This trip to Thailand i finally decided to treat myself and book a non rev business ticket on Cathay, I kept checking availability, 5 flights a day lhr/hkg with more hkg/bkk, seats on the flights I wanted looked good, and as i got closer to the chosen day of travel they were still looking good lhr/hkg, but hkg is really busy therefore not looking so good, but i thought a long wait in hkg wouldn't be so bad, so i packed some overnight items expecting some delay there. So on arrival at Heathrow, I had to go on Standby and return an hour before the flight, I then noticed a large group of British athletes at the group check in desk, ( i think they were going onto Taipai) my heart dropped a little thinking the flight would be full, but my luck was in i was given a boarding pass for seat 17G, yes i had managed to get on with the class i wanted, now to see why everyone raves about business, onto security, fast tracked i was likeing this, then boarded, once in my seat addressed by name, and what a seat, i was looking forward to haveing a nice rest/sleep on the 12 hour flight, and it didn't disappoint, fully flat seat, nowhere near any toilets/service areas, the food was great as was the level of service from all the staff, i arrived in Hong Kong refreshed as i had slept for a good few hours, something i had never done.
Immigration at HK was quick, a 6 months entry was given, then onto staff check in, i thought i would be on for a long weight i was armed with some packs of Fox's jam and cream biscuits and some Mr Kipling cherry bakewells, us Brits come prepared. but low and behold after a short wait i was given an economy seat on the first plane, which landed on time, my luggage came through quick, as was immigration ( that was unusual ) my wife was waiting, so the perfect end to a perfect trip.
This trip has me hooked on business seats and i will definitely try again on my next trip to UK.
mods if in the wrong place please move
