MH 20 KUL CDG
Date August 28, 2008
Boeing 777-200ER (Reg: HM)
Departure gate at KUL: C22
STD 23h25, actual: on time (for pushback)
STA 06h40, actual: 06h05
Flying time: 12 h 35 minutes
Seat 40J (Rear Y cabin)

I wasn’t going to write a trip report, so sorry if it is a bit spotty. Indeed I decided to write one after such a great experience on this flight due to the great cabin crew, especially those in the rear section of Y class! Not surprising that MH cabin crew got awards all the time…
So here goes:
I was still in the smoky smoking room when Final Call was displayed on the monitor for MH20. It was not a long walk from there to C22 and made a trip to the restroom first to squirt a bit of Aqua di Gio since I must have smelled like stale cigarette after spending time in that smoking room near C3.
Security line was ok when I got to the gate and I could see that boarding was already underway. No check for liquid stuff this time…is this normal? My boarding pass and passport got checked by two friendly agent who asked questions of how long I have lived in France (since I am part Asian and look mostly Asian, this question is common in my travel in Asia). Went to the gate and boarded right away. Though the gate area was empty, the jetway was packed and I spent quite a bit of time on it. Welcomed on board by friendly crew members and snailed my way to my seat, 40J, the last row in Y on the right hand side (aisle seat of the two seat sets). MH planes do look a bit less modern compared to their competitors, but they were clean though certain things are showing their age and should have been repaired (my table did not pull out; another pax had a table that was tilted, and the colors really do need some renovation etc).

This welcome message (different to the simple Welcome aboard before I think) was taken from my CDG KUL flight a month earlier.


On my way to my seat, I had the bad luck of having to observe a French guy do a bad imitation, for the benefit of his group, of the way a rather gay looking steward speaks. He and his group had a good laugh without even considering how the FA must feel! I get embarrassed and annoyed whenever I see French people who behave like uncouth barbarians (he would not have dared doing that in Paris!). Luckily on my section of Y class there was a nice lot of people who even smiled and nodded as I arrived! Two friendly FAs, a female and a male, were there to welcome everyone. These two would be among the best FAs I have ever had on a flight! They chatted with pax, responded to them in very reassuring and friendly manner, and were very attentive in general.



Pushback was on time and we took off after a long take off roll of nearly 60 seconds. Hot towels were distributed as we taxied but had to be interrupted as the captain asked the cabin crew to sit down. This was continued after we took off. Next, we got peanuts (in small packets) followed by a choice of orange or guava juice. I chose the guava juice which I guess is an acquired taste though I love the guava fruit. A bit later, the FA passed again with a tray of beer in plastic glasses. The captain followed by the purser announced flight route and time (twelve and a half hours) and the service on board (dinner to be served shortly, and breakfast two hours prior to landing). The FA came back with more packets of peanuts (Kacang masin) for those who wanted more.
Seats on MH are really comfortable in term of space (34 inches pitch) and padding. However, the lumbar support always takes some fiddling to get right as I could not figure out if it pushes out or in when you press the button. I like the last row on MH as the seats can still fully recline (to the wall) and you have no one behind. I noticed they now ask people to put the seat upright for meals so that people behind can see what they are about to eat.
Dinner menu was flashed on the IFE screen (no more menu on MH, nor amenity kits! But you can ask for what you need in term of toiletries or sleeping eyepads for instance). Chicken with potatoes or beef with something. I chose the chicken which was very nice and spicy. Dessert was some kind of pudding that was forgettable. Presentation wise, it was a bit lacking, but the taste made up for it (though the portion could be just a little bit bigger). Unlike on AF, coffee was offered during rather than after meals. There was also wine. The choices of meals were still available despite the fact that we were the last row to be served.






After the meal, duty free was started. They apparently started in business class and worked their way back toward Y class. The male FA (Malaysian of Indian origin) saw me flipping and marking the brochure and asked me if I was planning on buying something. I said yes and he told me he would tell his colleagues up front to keep the items for me to make sure that they don’t run out by the time they get to me….Indeed, they had the items ready for me when they reached my row. Prices on board MH are really good and were even cheaper than duty free shops at airports!
Through out the flight, the FAs passed with tray of orange or guava juice or water and they stopped to chat with people who were awake. Short small chats (never intrusive!) that nonetheless endeared them to pax like me. Each time they passed they looked at pax and smiled. Each call was responded to immediately. I noticed that the FAs were wearing what looked like 2 watches. I asked why and was told that one actually was a device to study their body functioning (temperature etc.) on long flights. I suppose this was so that the company could come up with the most efficient rest/work time for their crew. I also got the impression the crew only got a one day layover in Paris which to me seems rather short!
I slept for most of the flight, so did not know if there was a snackbox given out during the flight (there was on the flight over from Paris to KUL, I put the photo from that flight here). However, each time I awakened, an FA passed by with a tray of juice and to collect trash (the plane remained clean even at arrival after the long flight). I got my screen tuned to flight information all the time, though I did manage to catch a few episodes of Ugly Betty (Is this show a hit in Asia or what?).



Two hours prior to landing, breakfast was served. The choices were Nasi lemak or omelette. The all told me the Nasi Lemak ex. KUL is good, but as usual, after 30 days of rice morning, day and night I wanted something different and chose the omelette. They started at the back this time, but had to interrupt service as there was rather heavy turbulence which lasted for about 15 minutes during which time FAs were asked to be seated by the captain. Once it passed, service restarted. The omelette was very nice. Again, the banana smoothie was great!




Overall, I have never seen such a bunch of crew work so hard and yet so discretely and always with a smile for pax. The purser also made frequent rounds and helped out. I had nice if short conversations with many of them though my faves were the female FA and the Indian male FA who stayed on my part of the cabin (I noticed more male FAs on this MH flight at least in Y; it seemed more female FAs were working the business class).
Landed in CDG 37 minutes ahead of schedule. The holidays are over, Paris was a cold 16 degrees (felt cold after spending a month in tropical weather in Asia)…no wonder I felt depressed.
There was preliminary passport check in the jetway. Made my way in T1 to passport control which, for once, was a bit organized (probably because there was only our flight at that time). This time there were separate lines for European and non European passports that bizarrely ended up in the same line toward the end lol! Well at least they tried even if they have not quite got the idea yet.
As usual, long wait for our baggage. Took the RER B to Gare du Nord and found a coffee shop just outside. Hmmm, I must say that it was happiness to find a good espresso again lol.

Overall:
I am glad I chose MH for this trip to Asia. MH have old planes compared to other companies such as SQ or EK, but the flight crew made up for a lot. I hope the company realises that their biggest asset is their cabin crew and not overwork or mismanage them.
5 star airline indeed, but only for the service provided by the cabin crew who have to make do with so so hardware.
Special mentions for the young lady FA working the rear cabin on my side and for the (also young) male FA of Indian origin I think who also worked this part of the cabin....both were very professional, friendly and super !

[Edited 2008-08-31 08:53:24]