Is the review listing fixed? Wow, only a week to insert a 'ORDER BY Date' in the SQL code!
Is the review listing fixed? Wow, only a week to insert a 'ORDER BY Date' in the SQL code!
Member since:11.07.2000
Reviews:70
Members who trust:31
I’m always one for wanting to try new things (calamari not included), and having got the chance to fly to Singapore on business, I was given the option of flying with Gulf Air (Business Class).
Firstly, they have an offer presently where you get 5 times the air miles that you fly. For a trip to Singapore, that’s enough for a free flight across the Atlantic! However, it runs out soon, so check their web site.
So, having done some research on various airlines, Gulf Air was the cheapest both in Business Class and also Economy to Singapore, £1700 and £500 respectively. I’m also flying to Sydney in October, and, once again, Gulf Air comes out cheapest again!
However, and beware, as far as I know, Gulf Air only has the one flight a day from London Heathrow.
Pre
Flight: So, I check in at Heathrow, ahead of the queues, given I’m travelling business. There were no problems, and I’m away within minutes to the Business Lounge. Now, I’m one of these types who leave NOTHING to the last minute, and arrived at the lounge first. There were a few bits of food, cereals, etc, and plenty of drinks. The seats were comfortable, and there were plenty of power points in the lounge. Lastly, there was WiFi access available, but it didn’t seem to be working (T-Mobile access was though).
So, rather unusually for a scheduled flight, there is a delay. By the time we board the aircraft (They announce boarding in the lounge right at the last minute, which is great), the scheduled landing is when my connecting flight is due to leave. Having had an aircraft wait for me in the past, I wasn’t too concerned.
The flight: There was the usual pre flight drink, which was nice and welcomed. The seats were the usual business class type, which reclined to around 25 degrees. More than wide enough with plenty of leg room, especially for me! We took off, and pretty soon we were being fed. The food was nice, although I’ve had much nicer on both Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines.
The inflight entertainment, it has to be said, was rather poor. There was no video on demand, and were only a few films available, and they weren’t the most recent. I watch Spanglish, which was humorous, but not the funniest film ever. I didn’t bother with the games, and spent a lot of my time talking to the woman next to me.
The service, however, was very good. Nothing was ever too much of a problem, and the woman next to me ordered something which wasn’t even on the menu! And there was always someone in the cabin, which was a lot better than waiting for ages for someone to walk through.
On most business flights, you get a little bag of toiletries. This was purposeful, but, again, nothing special. The one you get with KLM, by comparison, is much better.
There’s not really a lot more I can say about the flight, although service again comes into play after I land in Bahrain!
Post flight: We landed in Bahrain at night, and I proceed to the transit counter, expecting to be told that the flight is waiting for us (as we are only 25 minutes late). However, it’s already left for Singapore! Now, I’m not a worrier, and am calm is most situations. The Gulf Air reps (I’m glad I rushed to the transit desk, as there are at least 50 people behind me) offer me two options: I can stay in Bahrain for 24 hours and get the same flight tomorrow, or flight to Dubai with Gulf Air that night, and then get a connecting flight to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. Despite wanting to experience a new country, I decide for the latter.
The flight to Dubai takes less than 55 minutes, but in business class, we get drinks and are even fed in that time!
I arrived in Singapore only three hours later than I was expecting!
Return leg: Well, more surprises! I get to Changi airport early as usual, to be told the check in desk doesn’t open for another 30 minutes! Eventually it opens, but I’m directed to the VIP lounge for check in! I’m then told that the flights back to Bahrain are full, and would I like to fly direct with Quantas to the UK. Wary of losing my airmiles, I decide to stay with Gulf Air, although it’s apparent they are desperate to offload people. Eventually, I decide to fly with Quantas, and arrive in the UK 5 hours early!
Summary: Whilst the business class was nothing special, the service was exceptional. Nothing was too much for Gulf Air, and I can’t wait for their new business class facilities to be rolled out across their fleet.
I will be flying Gulf Air again!
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Great review - it's nice when you get a good service from the operator - Karen x
anonymili 24.07.2005 10:35
I'm flying Gulf Air to go to India in December, but just economy class. I don't fancy the thought of flights taking off late and then the connecting flight in the Middle East buggering off without us!!!! I went British Airways 2 years ago to India and found it to be one of the most uncomfortable flights as the seats were really quite cramped. I've been told that Gulf Air has larger seats! lol Millie, p.s. I agree with ya about the calamari....
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