Video Report
BA 169 - London - Shanghai - Club World - B777-300ER(G-STBB)
BA 168 - Shanghai - London - Club World - B777-300ER(G-STBJ)
Background
Our yearly visit to Asia to coincide the Chinese new year and our meet with the in-laws and wife's relatives was soon approaching (well we had 8 months to plan
) and we needed to decide on a venue. Instead of deciding on the venue upfront, we (wife and myself) planned on using the companion voucher to Asia. The only viable option was Shanghai and availability and points were fair.
We decided to lock onto the deal and since it was shanghai, we would be easily able to move around to any place within Asia.
I used the BA website and as before, it was a seamless and intuitive journey.
We were scheduled to fly onward to Shanghai Pudong on World Traveller Plus (WTP) and return on Club World (CW). Our scheduled aircraft was supposed to be on the Boeing 777-200ER. Although closer to time, it looked like it would be a B777-300ER instead.
This series of trip reports will be split into 5 reports:
1. BA to Shanghai (WTP)
2. Vietnam Airlines from Shanghai to HCMC (in Business)
3. Domestic Vietnam in VietJet
4. China Southern from Hanoi to Shanghai via Guangzhou.
5. And finally our return back to London from Shanghai on BA (Club World)
Thanks to GCMaps, route map of the entire trip and this part of the report
British Airways - BA169
Route: LHR - PVG
Flight Reg:G-VIIO; Delivered to BA on Jan 1999 -> Major incident occurred on 08 Sep 2015 damaged by engine fire at Las Vegas Mcarran airport; back in service 03/2016. Once again aircraft changed to 777-300ER - G-STBB Delivered to BA in Aug 2010
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-300ER -> Boeing 777-200ER -> Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 13K
Flight time: 13:45 - 09:10 (14:29 - 09:08)
Actual flight time: 10 Hr 39 min
Distance: 5755 Miles
Load: Nearly full load
09 Feb 2018
My Log book: 27th Flight on BA / 7th flight on Boeing 777-300ER / 149th Total overall flight
Checked in online the previous day and it was a standard check in process, quick and simple. Got decent seats and was looking forward to the trip.
On the day of the flight, however, upon checking, it looked like there was an equipment swap -> back to the original Boeing 777-200ER (G-VIIO). I did not mind, but as a special bonus, it looked like we had been upgraded too! Travelling on Club World now! Very excited and a perfect way to begin the trip.
Yaay!
Drive to the airport was quick and seamless. At the airport check in was efficient and quick. Followed by a 5 minute security via fast check in.
Lovely day in London
LHR T5
BA Check in desks
FIDS
Wandered across to the south lounge which was a bit busy at this time. But settled in with a bloody Mary and had 90 minutes to while away.
Heading to the South Galleries Lounge
Relatively busy time at the Lounge
They only had a breakfast service of warm croissants while I was there and they were just about to serve the lunch menu. The croissant were bloody brilliant though.
The lounge as before, is quite functional and no more. It doesn't have the wow factor it's fairly well stocked and decently comfortable.
Was a comfortable 2 hours at the lounge and then proceeded towards our check in gates.
Lunch on offer
Pre-boarding drinks at the Lounge
Boarding is now done via groups with group 1 being for 1st class. 2 for club world. So on and so forth.
Heading to our gates
While boarding the aircraft I realised that we would indeed be going on a 777-300er. So back to the original aircraft. Not sure what's going on and how we got the upgrade. But I'm not complaining.
Boarding was orderly and doors closed on time. We departed 10 minutes late and a flight time of 10 hours and 40 minutes meant that we would land on time. A turbulent free forecast was predicted.
As soon as I entered the head purser commented on my gimbal saying he had one similar to that and how amazing it was. Looks like a chirpy crew.
Our ride to Shanghai
Before taking off
Seats are the usual BA club world seating. You either love it or hate it. I'm in the love it category as I feel it's a clever use of space and ticks all the right boxes. Personal space. Comfortable. Good seating and beds. One area where BA can improve upon would be the screen definition. Feels a bit dated.
Love it or hate it?
BA have their new amenity kits from the white company. Niche brand but overall fairly mediocre.
The White company Amenity kit
Taxiing
Plane spotting during Taxiing
Etihad A380
American B77W
Soon after take-off drinks commenced along with the menu.
Had a couple of bucks fizz before the starters arrived.
After take off
Cabin after take off
Not a big fan of this movie contrary to popular belief. I slept 30 minutes into the movie
Pre-lunch drinks
I had the chicken with duck for starters which was above average.
The mains was a disappointment as the beef was just too dry. The only saving grace was the potato dauphinoise.
Dessert was pretty good but overall a less than satisfactory meal.
The South African shiraz was pretty good though.
Starters - below average. the warm focaccia was very good though
Tasted as bad as it looked -> Superdry beef
Nice dessert though
Service on this sector was exemplary. Post dinner, the wine and the bucks fizz knocked me off for a good 3 to 4 hours of kip. Woke up with around 4 and a half hours to go.
Chatted with a Shanghai based crew for 30 minutes or so and he seemed quite chatty and approachable.
Mid night snack
World traveller cabin
More midnight snack
Not a bad watch, but worth an Oscar? Hmmm...
I didn't get the exact numbers but was told it was an almost full flight.
Breakfast was served 2 hours before arriving. Wanted the chicken congee but apparently it had run out. Had the full English instead. It was once again just mediocre.
View before breakfast, somewhere over China
Breakfast
The food on this sector had a theme going -> looks bad and tastes even worse!
The food experience on this flight has been below par to put it lightly. It was most certainly a lot better on previous occasions.
Rest of the flight was uneventful and we landed on time. As always the 777 was superb in its landing. A very fine aircraft.
When at the gate apparently the aircraft was parked beyond the permissible line and hence needed a tug to push it back a bit. Never heard that before.
From here it was a walk to the immigration which was extremely quick and bags arrived right on time.
Overall a decent flight. Could not ask for more after being upgraded. Thank you BA!
Food on this sector was way below par, but their service made up for it. The bottom line was we were about to sleep fairly well and we reached Shanghai safely and refreshed.
Since we had over 5 hours before our next flight we decided to take a room at the nearby airport T2 hotel for a couple of hours kip.
Shanghai
Our transit hotel
Next part of this report….. Our onward flight to Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam Airlines, A350-900 on their Business class cabin.
Until then…Adios..!
