Video Report
BA 169 - London - Shanghai - Club World - B777-300ER(G-STBB)
BA 168 - Shanghai - London - Club World - B777-300ER(G-STBJ)
Time flies when you are having a good time! 2 weeks just flew by! So it was that time of the trip, time to head back home.
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. Part 4 - Long way to Vietnam - China Southern - Hanoi to Shanghai
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 - BA168
Route: PVG - LHR
Flight Reg:G-STBJ; Delivered to BA on March 2014
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 13K
Flight time: 10:55 - 15:55 (11:26 - 15:08)
Actual flight time: 11 Hr 42min
Distance: 5755 Miles
Load: 5 in First, 24 in Club, 100% in WTP and WT
25 Feb 2018
My Log book: 28th Flight on BA /8th flight on Boeing 777-300ER /156th Total overall flight
On the return flight, tried checking in online. Epic disaster! It kept asking me to check a mandatory box on the check in baggage page which was nonexistent and hence did not allow me to proceed further. Absolute disaster. Wasted an hour trying all the tricks. Clearing cookies. Using different browsers. Different mobile devices. Using the app. All the same result. Gave up after an hour and 20 minutes of trying.
Online Check in Fail
On the day of the flight we arrived at the airport in 25 minutes, 3 hours before scheduled departure.
Check in was extremely quick as we were the only ones on the club world queue. Upon asking about checking in online the gate agent didn't know about it. But said that our seat selection was valid. What seat selection? Lol. Apparently we had selected seats and it was the same ones as we had when we came to Shanghai. 13 J and K. Was given an option to upgrade to first for 400 GBP per head. We declined.
We were there 2 weeks ago
Entrance to Shanghai Pudong Terminal 2
Terminal 2
BA Check in desks
After baggage drop immigration and we security were comparatively quick, thanks to fast track at security. We were airside with 2 hours to spare.
Heading towards immigration
Shanghai airport is much quicker than Beijing without the train journey to satellite terminals etc.
Airside at Pudong
Walked around for a bit and then headed to the lounge. Number 77 lounge.
The lounge was fairly empty at this time of the day and got quite a few seats to ourselves. Good selection of food and beverage on offer. Not so with the alcohol though.
Back to No 77 Lounge
Our aircraft has just landed
Yummy!
Hello
A much quieter time at the lounge
A lot of areas around the lounge if you wanted some quiet time
Plane spotting from the lounge
Spent an hour at the lounge and it was then time to board.
Boarded swiftly and we dispatched exactly on time.
Near our boarding gates
Time to board
Familiar space
Neighbours at PVG
Relaxed
Hello Mr. Ramsay
A fairly long taxi and we were airborne in 30 minutes after dispatch from the gates.
We climbed quite quickly and we were at cruising altitude of 30000 feet in 20 minutes.
Taxiing
Pleothra of widebodies
Sky Team terminal - Terminal 1
In front of us in the queue -> On its way to Baku, Azerbaijan
Bye Bye Shanghai
Business class was empty today with a load count of only 24 passengers.
Empty CW Cabin today
But with speaking to the crew later On, it was fully loaded at the back, both WTP and WT.
Drinks and lunch service commenced within an hour. The lunch was much better this time. Started with a Kir Royale and finished it with 2 spicy bloody Mary's.
Lunch menu
Air to Air shot - Chasing an Air China B77W
Not sure what the message of this movie as, but OK'ish for the flight
Pre-lunch drinks
Refreshing starter
Amazing views out of the window during lunch
Poor presentation but tasted alright.
Very nice dessert (Or it may be because of the bloody Marys in the background
)
Haven't read the book, but enjoyed the movie
Woke up somewhere over Russia.
Slept for 4-5 hours and woke up and watched this. Enjoyed it.
Chatted with the crew a bit. Apparently tough work at the back today as they had to load a few crew members from the front to help out.
They were very light on the snacks today. The snack cupboard looked bare. They were left over starters kept instead of the usual ice creams, hummus dips, fruits etc. Poor show over here by BA.
Over Estonia, time for the next meal
It was alright
#Epic #Fail. MY wife ordered this and I had to eat it
Very approachable and chatty crew on this leg. I questioned about the bare snack cupboards and they acknowledged it was a growing concern and they have informed London about it. But nothing's been done. Come on BA. If you're listening few extra hummus dips should not be that big of a deal when other airlines pamper you to no end.
Good crew though. They got me nuts from the drinks trolley.
Another passenger had a bad cold running to which the crew provided hot like water with honey from first.
Load was 5 in first, 24 in club and fully loaded in WTP and WT.
Rest of the flight was uneventful and we landed well ahead of time.
It was a slow day at Heathrow and we were out swiftly!
Back in England
Final Approach
Back at T5
Thanks you BA. Great service but please improve your food
A glorious day in London
Home Sweet Home
Verdict
The positives on this flight had to be the excellent crew, decent seats and the comfortable sleep I was able to achieve. I would like a better higher definition screen and few snacks on the galley would not have gone amiss.
Overall the food was below par and can definitely be improved. Taking all factors into consideration, it was a decent experience but there lacked a WOW factor.
Hope you liked my 5 reports for this trip. We had a brilliant time in Vietnam and can highly recommend it. Absolutely beautiful, lovely people and great food. Cannot wait to go back.
Until next time, thanks for reading and feedback and comments welcome.
Happy and safe flying.
Adios!
