Thai A346 - here I come...!

Airgroove is most excited; the Thai A346-600 will be flying between Bangkok and Sydney twice daily, which means Sydney will now have FIRST and a lovely aircraft to fly on... If you have yet to experience an Airbus 346-600 iron bird - do yourself a favour and book a flight; it's a very quiet, sleek, long aircraft and a joy to fly on!

I will be flying on this beautiful bird in early November, watch this space for an update!

Happy flying!

Cheers, AG.

FAB-U-LOUS SINGAPORE AIRLINES FIRST!

Where does Airgroove begin! Singapore Airlines First Class! Aaaaahhhhhh!

After flying from Bangalore in India overnight, I arrived at Changi Airport feeling rather tired and not in the best of moods, as I only had the chance to sleep for a few hours... After freshening up in the lounge with the worlds quickest shower I proceeded down to my gat for th flight home and much to my utter suprise, was upgraded to First! Nice one! This was going to be a fab 8 hours indeed!






Upon taking my extra-wide leather seat, I felt very private as the capsule seemed to coocoon around... Not long after I was handed a very crisp, fesh bubbling glass of Krug, heaven! It was early morning, but who paasses up a glass of Krug when it is on offer!? Not Airgroove. We were handed lovely amenities which included, slippers, pyjamas and product by Salvatore Ferragamo! Nice. The flight attendants were amazingly professional and very friendly. Well, this was First, right?







Not long after take-off breakfast was wafting from the galley, I opted for the Caviar with roast portobello mushroom, fingerling potato and vegetable frittata, all divine! Washed down with Krug, of course! This was one of the best breakfast dishes I have had in the sky - simply delicious!



After breakfast, the Krug mixed with little sleep from the night before made me very tired, so out come the flat bed for a nice long nap - I managed to have a nice sleep for a few hours - then I awoke for more Krug and Dom Perignon! Good times! Good night, actually, good day!

Lunch was now my focus - after a good sleep it was time for a delicious meal in F! The menu was fabulous and extensive, I opted for: Cauliflower panna cotta with smoked salmon, lemon oil and caviar (THE BEST!) followed by Seared beef fillet in madeira jus, cream corn, french beans and potato cake - very good indeed!

For my sweet tooth, I plumped for the Chocolate clafoutis and macadamia ice-cream, which was the best ice cream I have ever tasted, honest!

There is not much more to say about this flight except, I could have stayed onboard and returned to Singapore and then come back again! I ma certain that this First product is the envy of many other airlines! Bliss!

Lobster & SQ 777-300ER = Bliss!

After possibly the most amazing trip on the A380 to Singapore, Airgroove then had to make way to Mumbai for more business meetings... As I neared Changi Airport, I was annoyed my flight was departing from T2, so I briskly checked in and made my way to the beautiful T3 Business Class Lounge, such a stunning lounge to relax before your flight... The food is so great, better than the crackers and sandwiches many other major carriers 'serve'. However, I rarely partake - after all, I had 'Booked the Cook' and ordered Lobster!


To begin, I devoured a delicious satay stick mix! Very SQ, or perhaps Malay? Anyway, they were great and when asked by the Purser my favourite Champagne, I mentioned my love for Krug and presto, there was a glass of Krug - a nice touch indeed! The little things, the little things...



The crew on this flight were exceptional, I had met a few of them on previous flights and they remembered me, so i was in for great service! More Krug appeared and there were NO complaints from Airgroove, the flight was barely half full, so there was time for the crew to add the extra effort...

Next up was a refreshing salad of feta cheese, tomato, olives and marinated prawns... All good! Before I could blink, the Lobster Thermador was placed on my table and having had this dish before, it did not excite me like times past... Perhaps the Krug was on my mind! But, it was fine and hit the spot all the same. take a look:



After yet another superb meal on SQ, it was time for a quick nap - before long we were circling the metropolis of Mumbai and I was happy to stay on the plane and spend the night, but that was not going to happen... Sleeping in the new C Class seats on SQ is a dream, oh well, off to the hotel... :-)

SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 BUSINESS CLASS, AT LAST!!!

Boarding this new amazing iron bird was such an amazing experience! Singapore Airlines, as noted on my blog is one of my favourite and clearly the best airline in the world... The A380 has taken SQ to new levels...!

Just look at the cabin above, it is better than many other airlines' First Class - top notch indeed! I was taken back by the sheer size and width of the Business Class seat, which I will name the best in the sky... Some say that they cannot get comfortable as they seat is toooo wide! I'll gladly sit in a wider seat, anyday! To couple this beautiful new aircraft and Business Class cabin was the amazing crew - it can be very hard to top the service on Singapore Airlines, nothing was ever too much trouble... As I savoured my pre-departure Champagne, I was over excited about the take-off and the service to come on this very first trip for Airgroove on this huge double-decker jet.

First up was a delicious Marinated salmon with feta, tomato and cucumber salad - fresh and crunchy, as one would expect... I enjoyed a bush tomato dressing and scrumptious garlic bread (which seems to be a staple on many airlines now :-)) For the main event, SQ offer 'Book the Cook' on many routes, giving the flyer an option to pre-select dinner from a lovely menu online... I often opt for the lobster when flying out of Singapore Changi Airport, but for this leg desired the Plum duck with yam rice and I was not at all let down by this dish - very good flavours and the duck was cooked to perfection! Having already enjoyed my fair share of Charles Heidsieck Champagne, I was pured a lovely glass (or 3) of the Chateau Patache D'Aux 2004 Cru Bourgeois, the perfect match for my gamey, but somewhat sweet duck dish!

Did somebody then say, cheese!? Of course, I will... The blue as stunning and creamy and matched the red wine so very well - seconds, please!

After all that great food, I could feel a little nap coming on - and with the biggest flat bed in the sky in Business Class, why not! The flight attendant insisted about laying out my bed covered with Givenchy linen, and I was almost in perfect slumber as my head hit the pillow. Singapore Airlines has an amazing C class product and the A380 makes for a perfect trip - do fly and try this great airline, you will want to go back for more, trust Airgroove!

Excellent Etihad!

Airgroove and my loved one decided to take a cruise from Dubai to Rome for our holidays and had the most amazing trip on 'The Legend of the Seas' sailing to Oman, Egypt and Italy... But before we could board the cruise liner, we had to fly to Dubai and we chose Etihad, and I can safely say, what a magnificent 5 star airline!

Check-in was one of the best experiences I have had at an airport, professional, hassle free and above all the staff from Etihad were amazingly helpful... Boarding was done with ease and as we approached the long sleek shiny A340-600 our excitement grew! Inside the new iron bird was immaculate, and the business class cabin was amazing in a teared configuration - allowing maxi mun privacy if travelling alone. The seats were narrow, but very comfortable and converted into a full flat bed, bliss for the 15 hour flight! On first impressions, I was already giving it a 9/10! After a pre-departure Champagne, Canard-Duchene Grand Cuvee, I was edging towards a perfect 10, even!

After a very quiet and smooth take-off in the fabulous A340-600, Champagne was promptly served, a good sign indeed! The menu looked wonderful and we were ready for a feast at 35,000ft. The bread was most amazing - baked on board, it was a combination of rye, wholemeal and olive - all served with dips - another good sign of better things to come!

To begin, the amuse bouche was creamed cheese and chives wrapped in smoked salmon, I then devoured Pan-seared marinated salmon served on courgette and mint pancakes with avocado salsa! Delicious! My loved one enjoyed the Ratatouille tarte tartin - equally as divine...

After an excellent start to lunch, we were anxious to eat our main course, my loved one opted for the Northern Territory Baked Barramundi with baby corn, bok choy, jasmine rice and Asian soy sauce, and it did not disappoint, the fish was succulent and moist, hardly overcooked, just right! The wines were also of high quality, I enjoyed several glasses of Chateau Batailley Cru 5ieme Classe 2004 and just had to taste the Meursault Domaiine Buchard Pere & Fils 2007, great on every level! My selection was the Braised grass feed Lamb shanks, which also were fabulous! I could have eaten a second serving! :-) Take a look:






Of course no long lunch is complete without dessert, and the finale was impressive: Valrhona chocolate panacotta with vanilla biscuit and candied orange & Lemon meringue pie with marinated red berries - a perfect end to a great lunch; and then they wanted me to eat cheese! Thanks, but no thanks... All the same...




After such an amazing meal, it was time to watch a movie and convert the bed for a relaxing siesta! It had been hard work after all, consuming all that delicious food! :-) We both managed to get a good 5-6 hours sleep, as the beds were very comfortable.. Of course when we awoke, there was more food on offer, 'Kitchen Anytime' it was called, and we thought, let's try another bite to eat! It went something like this: first up, the Steak sandwich with roasted cheery tomato and onion jam then, Pan-seared chicken sausages with garlic mash and onion sauce! Both very good snacks indeed!





As we prepared to land in Dubai, we both discussed that this flight was the best start to a holiday... Etihad, you are an impressive airline, if you have the chance, do fly them! They will not leave you wanting for much! 5 stars from Airgroove! 5 stars!

All Nippon Airways: All the way to Tokyo!

After Airgroove finalised business in Shanghai, feeling somewhat exhausted, I made my way to Pudong Airport to travel too my beloved Tokyo with ANA Airways! JOY! A fine airline, indeed!

After promptly checking in, I made my way to the fabulous Air China Lounge for a quick beverage... It was a lovely lounge, spacious and well designed above the ground level of the terminal. I was not feeling too well, so just had the one drink, then made my way down to my shiny 777-300 bound for Narita! I was SO happy to be going to Japan.

Boarding the plane was rather random - no call for Business class pax and lots of pushing in a long queue! Go figure... I had not experienced such a 'free for all' at an ANA gate before, well not in Japan anyway...! Once onboard the plane, C Class was barely occupied! I could feel some special service coming on! Better than normal for ANA!

To begin, there was a bottle of Pommery and the most divine rice cracker mix - really good! The champagne was chilled perfectly and the bubbles were needed after such a busy week in China, and feeling a little unwell :-) Champagne will fix many things!

After enjoying a fresh, crisp Champagne, I decided on the Sauteed beef tenderloin with sesame soy sauce and steamed rice... To begin, there was delicious Temari-zushi and parsley marinated prawns! All really good, the crew were fantastic and could not been any better - well dome ANA Japanese service, at it's finest!

Arigato! Airgroove!

Ni Hao! Air China First Class...

After spending a few very busy days in the 'Jing, I flew from Beijing to Shanghai to finish our meetings in China - and I have to say, it was a pretty good flight too! I had never flown Air China before and was rather impressed - in Domestic FC anyway! :-)

After drinking some 'unusual' but passable red wine in the lounge, we boarded the 737-800 to Shanghai-Hongqiao Airport, however, much to my distress, there was not a Champagne in sight as a pre-departure drink! Damn! However, the service during the 2 hour flight was great! For the entree, we devoured a fresh crisp (almost frozen) salad, good garlic bread and some nuts, and the red wine was back!

The main meal was surprisingly good - a combination of delicious beef in 'Chinese' sauce and prawns that were plump and tasty! Of course, more red wine was on the menu! Well done Air China - the service was fantastic from the crew, I arrived in Shanghai rather happy!

Singing Singapore Airlines' Praises enroute to Beijing!

Ah, Singapore Airlines, without a doubt one of the worlds greatest! Airgroove had the pleasure of flying to Beijing in business Class as a part of a Star Alliance Asia Circle fare, that would allow me to visit China, Japan and Korea. And love every second onboard, even though it was not the A380 :-( Perhaps next time...

Check-in was swift, and very professional, I was promptly given my selected seat on the upper deck and had a 'free' seat next to me all the way to Singapore :-) I also had my desired seat assignment from Singapore to Beijing... Nice! The Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge is small and intimate, not as good as the Air New Zealand Lounge, as noted before on my blog, but it does the trick nonetheless!

I was anxious to board, I love a good sip of Piper Heidsieck before take-off and Singapore Airline will pour me a glass, even before noon! Taking off without a Champagne or 2 seems just plain wrong! Almost as if 'we cannot go yet, where are the bubbles!' As ever, the flight attendants were amazingly friendly and welcoming, ah, 7 hours of pampering ahead! Nice one!

After reaching cruising altitude, the hunger pangs began, more Champagne flowed, it was vital and our first meal was to be served! Ah, spoilt for choice... After some fab fresh fruit, I decided on the Roast Duck Noodle Soup - delicious! I could have eaten more than 1 bowl! All served in classic Singapore Airline style, awesome!

After a more than satisfying beginning to the flight, it was time for a movie and a snooze... There is seldom a time when one gets to zone out, no phones, the laptop was securely in the overhead locker and I enjoyed 'me' time. Books, magazines and a movie... Good times. The flight was only 8 hours, so before I knew it the smells of another meal were wafting through the upper deck! What to have, what to have...To begin: prawns, mango relish prosciutto ham with melon and mozzarella with tomato, all good and fresh... I had obviously studied the menu for the main course and opted for the Matt Moran (Aria Restaurant, Sydney) inspired Ocean Trout with Miso Crust in Sesame Dressing, Bok Choy and Shiitake Mushrooms with fettuccine, just divine! YUM! All washed with a crisp glass of 2007 Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand, equally as good! Satisfaction, yep, satisfaction!

Culinary delights, followed by landing at the new Terminal 3 at Changi Airport, another first class experience! See the below picture that will lead into my next post: Thanks Singapore Airlines, you so deserve your 5* Rating! :-)

Boarding soon: Singapore, China, Japan and Korea!

Airgroove has been so busy - I have posts to come from Singapore, China, Japan and Korea... I will endeavour to make posts over the coming few weeks, before we head off on holiday to the Middle East and Europe.

Again apologies for the boarding delay! ;-)

AG :)

Jet Airways! Good, but dry...

After an amazing week in Mumbai - a city that pulses energy, 24/7 ( I loved it!) I was ready to board Jet Airways to Delhi for a few final days in India. I have read many great reviews on Jet, and I actually enjoyed my flight, but I somewhat expect a lot from an airline - when you spend so much time flying, it's expected... :-) All in all, I was happy!

Check-in was easy and painless, which is great after being in meetings for 10 hours. I swiftly cleared security and went to the lounge -which was average... It was very cafe style and not an alcoholic beverage to be found! Aaaargh! After such a busy week, I really craved a cold beer or nice glass of wine, oh well I will have one on the plane...

Boarding was via a bus, and the transit was long! We finally arrived at the aircraft and the plane was a shiny new 737-800 aircraft! I was happy indeed, upon entering the aircraft the flight attendants were so friendly and I felt welcome on board, a nice touch indeed... I was now ready to explore another Indian city, Delhi here we come! The Business Class cabin was in 5 rows with a 2X2 config, with recliner seats which were really comfortable.

After taking my seat, I was offered lovely fresh juice and realised that Indian domestic flights are 'dry'... I'd have to wait until my hotel for that well deserved glass of wine! :-) The service was amazing on this 2 hour flight, I was very impressed by the level of professionalism. I opted for the Indian curry for main, but had to send it back, as it was tooooooo hot! I had the pasta instead, both pictures look average, but the food was good! The salad and soup were delicious! The cake was yum. Sugar plus!

Overall, I recommend Jet, the service was so great and I look forward to flying with them again when I visit India in the future! Thanks Jet!

India - Thai-riffic all the way...!

Airgroove would like to apologise first of all for the delay in posting my trip report to India - things have been hectic and I have many more trips to add... They will be posted over the next few weeks.

Again, I had the pleasure of flying Thai from Sydney to Bangkok, connecting to Mumbai - all flights were great. Check-in in Sydney was easy with no queue, I then proceeded right to the Air NZ lounge for a quick breakfast before boarding my 777-200 to BKK. The service on this flight was exceptional, the crew worked really hard to provide fantastic meal service and were visible the whole day flight making regular rounds with drinks etc.

First up was fresh fruit and then I decided to have the Thai option which was chilli prawns with noodles - delicious! It sure beats airline 'eggs' which I despise, there is something about eggs at 35,000ft. that just don't seem right. All in all a good start to the flight - the best options on the menu.

After breakfast, it was lights out! Very strange for this day flight, they closed all the window shades and turned off the lights! Right after eating, it was so sudden! I had a nice sleep though, I was full after breakfast, ZZZzzzzzzz...

I awoke from my long nap to the regular Thai kebabs in a fabulous sauce. Yum! I asked for a second serve :-) Then came the scallops with smoked salmon - really fresh and whetted my appetite for the main course! Duck! It was heaven!

I was SO full, but the cheese and raspberry tart looked too good to refuse - the flight attendant basically forced me to have the tart - which I am glad she did, it was yummo! After having 2 more courses, I was about to explode. The fantastic crew on this flight made the food all the more enjoyable.

After a quick stop over in Bangkok, I boarded my flight to Mumbai, an older style A330 with recliner seating - rather comfortable for a 4 hour flight. The menu on this leg was equally as good as the SYD-BKK flight. To begin: Curry puffs, of course and they were tasty! I could already feel India! The starter was great also, rolled beef and rolled kingfish - truly splendid! I could have had a second serve of this! The main affair was a delicious Madras Lamb Curry - Thai were setting the mood for my first arrival in India!

Another stellar flight with Thai and I arrived in India full of good food - and lotsa wine ready to embark on my first trip on the sub-continent - thanks again Thai!

Incredible !ndia...

Airgroove is excited! I am off to India for the first time next week!

I will be visiting Mumbai and Delhi, and the primary reason for my trip is business. I am hoping I will have a some short periods to fit in some shopping in the evenings...! Hurrah!

I will be flying with Thai in C Class via Bangkok to Mumbai where I will begin my trip. After my business meetings conclude in Mumbai I will be taking my first flight with Jet Airways to Delhi... This will be great as I have never had the chance to fly with Jet before, and I hear mostly good things about them... I will be travelling on a 737-900, so I am assuming this aircraft will be somewhat a new addition to the fleet. After completing my business obligations in Delhi, I will make a quick day trip to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, of course!

On the return journey I will be flying out of Delhi to Bangkok and then home to Sydney again in C Class. Interestingly, my flight to BKK from SYD and vice-versa will be day flights, which is great, it will allow me to enjoy the smooth as silk service from Thai... I normally take the evening/overnight flights, so it will be a different experience... And I am certain Champagne will have something to do with it!

I will of course post a full trip report upon my return!

Cheers, AG :-)

Smooth as Silk, again...!

I have no doubt by now that everyone knows that I rather like flying with Thai... There are 2 simple reasons for this: the reasonably priced business class fares and the food and service are mostly great; better than some of the 'premium' airlines.

After arriving at BKK from a long flight - I made a much needed visit to the Royal Orchid Spa for a foot massage. Every time I visit the spa, I thank my lucky stars! It is such a nice touch and of course delivered with lovely Thai charm and grace. I also really like the cinnamon tea and muesli bar they give to you at the conclusion whilst you recover in the waiting area! Apart from leaving the spa relaxed and ready for a shower, it puts me in the mood for my next flight.

As I approached the boarding are for my next flight, I was slightly stressed I was going to be late, as I had to have that quick shower! But as the gate became visible in the huge BKK terminal, all was OK... Boarding was delayed by 20 mins :-) I boarded and took my seat 16F, my home for the next 10 hrs... As always, the crew was so welcoming as they took my jacket and I relaxed in my seat prior to take-off. I have to be in the mood to talk to my seat mates on long flights, I soon realised my fellow traveller in 16E was a nice chap and we sparked up a great conversation. In no time we were away and served the fishcake welcome dish, what Thai deem the 'Hot Savoury'... I have mentioned these before... Yum, a great start!

After the fishcakes, I was ready to have a small feast! Next for Airgroove was the Marinated Salmon, Tossed Brown Soba Noodles, Smoked French Ham with Melon Balls and Mirin Dressing in Tomato. All were really good and I enjoyed a glass of Macon Cruzille, Les Avoueries 1999 with my meal - and jolly good it was too! All the components of this meal worked well and I was now hankering for my main course...

For main course, I decided to have the Lamb Noisette with Fresh Peppercorn, Pan fried Spatzley with vegetables. I have to say the lamb was a little over fatty, I found that I could only eat half of the dish as I was cutting away so much fat... Shame, but what I did eat was OK... Not the best dish though, Thai... To accompany my meal, I had a glass or 3 of Chateau Garraud, Lalande De Pomerol, 2004 - the wine was much better than the food, the only saving grace...

After dinner, I opted to have a bit of a nap and pass the movie selection... I literally remember falling to sleep and waking up to breakfast being served, it had a been a long second flight after all! I was fickle about breakfast and eventually decided on the Noodle Soup with Fish and Shrimp Balls - it was good! Just what I needed - I was over cheese and bread, so this was a great alternative and given I don't eat eggs on a plane, it certainly hit the spot!

Again, thanks Thai... As smooth as silk...

In the pointy end: FRA-BKK...

After almost 2 beautiful weeks in Europe, it was time to head home... :-( But don't worry, Airgroove will be back! As always, check-in at Frankfurt is so easy... Much to my delight my seat request of 4D in the nose section of the jumbo was honoured, the only Business Class single seat! Fantastic! Equally fantastic is the new 'boarding Business class Lounges'. LH have designed mini-lounges inn Terminal 1 in section C of the airport to ensure all Business Class pax can just walk directly onto the flight from the lounge, a very nice touch indeed! It was modern, slick and clean...

I was delighted with seat 4D, I would have no seat mate snoring in my face overnight... Bliss! Athough it felt weird at first just sitting in this 'middle' seat, all on it's own! But I soon realised it was the best seat on the plane - if you are flying alone. I like LH's C Class seat, it is not broken into sections, so not lumpy in anyway... When the bed is flat, it is just one long bed, a comfy one at that! See my seat below an the view into the 'nose' of the 747...

After take-off, the cabin wash awash with Champagne! The FA's were constantly popping corks, what a thirsty bunch we were! Menus were handed out and I immediately know my choices! To begin: Marinated King Prawns with a Curry Mayonnaise and Glass Noodle Salad - it was refreshing and hi the spot, as I am a prawn lover! A cold glass of the Leo Riesling was the perfect match for this dish...

Then for my main course, the LH traditional Roast Goose with Red Cabbage, Potato Dumplings and Herb Crumb Butter. One the of the best meals I have had on a plane - totally delicious! Yum, even! If you ever have the chance to try this dish, do so, it will not disappoint! The crew were efficient on this flight during meal service and seemed to be interested if we were enjoying our meals, a nice touch... To drink: a glass or 3 of 2004 Chateau Haut Madrac, Cru Bourgeois Haut-Medoc, Frankreich. This wines subtle spicy aromas complimented the gamey taste of the goose perfectly...

After a great sleep, I awoke to the clanging of glasses being filled with fresh juice, cranberry for me please! I skipped the full breakfast in favour of cold cuts with some freshly warmed croissants! I was still full from dinner, the goose was seriously good!

Ah, LH you have yet to disappoint! Thank you! I was now keen to leave seat 4D and head directly to the royal Orchid Spa for a massage and then shower before my next flight... The journey home was only half complete!

Hola, Barcelona!

Whilst in Europe, apart from enjoy Germany, Airgroove flew from Frankfurt to Barcelona in C Class... My trip went a little something like this:

Check-in at Frankfurt Airport is painless, there are so many check in agents that one vary rarely waits in a queue... We like that! After check-in, I proceeded to the Senator Lounge for a quick brunch. II enjoyed some delicious sausage (of course!) and some salad with a pretzel... My only gripe was the the lounge was SO crowded... It seemed really cramped and small. Oh well, the sausage was good!

After a boarding gate change, which was at the other end of the terminal, we boarded slightly behind schedule... I was seated in 1F and much to my delight had the whole of row 1 to myself! Most European airlines have an average C Class cabin... It is really economy style seating with the middle row blocked and turned into a bigger armrest... Quite strange, really, just put in a bigger comfier seat, please! But the service on both flights to Barcelona was great...

As the plane levelled out, lunch service began, I was intrigued to see what I was going to be served on the 2 hour flight, and it was really good! The theme was apple?! All the dishes had some kind of apple connection... The dishes consisted of the following delicacies: baked apple slices with poultry mousse, fillet of pork served with apple jelly and cherry apples as well as apple and potato salad with fillet of salmon and halibut... Dessert was apple jelly, of course! All very tasty indeed! The apple theme seemed to satisfy Airgroove's taste buds and promoted healthy eating - check it out...

After soaking up Barcelona, now one of my favourite cities it was time to head back to Frankfurt to further discover all things German... As I waved goodbye to this beautiful Spanish city, I began to wonder what food theme awaited me for my return flight? Oh, the suspense! Much to my joy, this flight was offering a regional flavour - not a food group flavour! The 'Flavours of Baden' were going to tantalise the taste buds today. The menu consisted of the following specialities: mushroom salad with walnuts, guinea fowl terrine, potato salad with smoked trout and of course to finish, black forest cherry gateau. It was all very pleasant and went well with the crisp dry chardonnay from Italy...! The FA on this flight was great and made me feel at home...

Another great flight with LH - in fact my first continental flights as we flew over the French Alps, we were treated to an amazing view of the Matterhorn - truly stunning, the Captain ensured that all passengers had the chance to view the amazing mountains as he announced over the PA to look left! Thanks LH! :-)

Across the Atlantic with Lufthansa...

After attending a conference in Princeton and a spot of fine dining and shopping in New York, it was time for Airgroove to continue the 'RTW' trip and make a relatively short flight to Frankfurt from the Big Apple. This part of my trip was now HOLIDAY!

Upon arriving at JFK Terminal 1, I swiftly proceeded to check-in and was issued a boarding pass for the mini Business Class cabin (seat 4D) on the A340-300 aircraft. LH407 was upgraded from an A330 on this particular day to the larger A340 bird...

After clearing security, I entered the Japan Airlines Lounge, which Lufthansa passengers utilise at JFK prior to their flights. The lounge was great, in comparison to American based Lounges - which is not hard! There was a great selection of snacks and lovely wines... No bar tender and drink chits here! :-) The lounge was set out like a theatre... Circular in shape; it made quite a nice ambiance - which is what one would expect from Japan! I relaxed and managed to take advantage of the free Wi-fi to finalise some email prior to having my holiday in Europe...

Boarding was fast and orderly - unusual for JFK! The LH check-in gate was working with precision, which LH do well! Once on board, I was told by the Purser that the flight was full in all classes. Shame! I was opting for the seat next to be to be free :-( None the less, I had a lovely seat companion who could only speak very minimal English, so the conversation was sparse. This suited me well as I was not in a talkative mood (makes a nice change!)... I wanted to sit back, relax, have a few drinks and dinner and watch a movie, or read the huge array of magazines Airgroove purchased at the airport.









I was pleasantly surprised that there was only a small wait before we zoomed down the runway, it was afternoon at JFK, after all... It was not long before the professional LH crew were handing out hot towels, menu's and asking if I'd like another top up! Yes, please! The crew on this flight were going to be good, you can tell right away, and let's face it, the crew can make or break a flight. The were in synch with one another and there was a sense of control in the cabin - exactly what Airgroove likes, and expects...








The menu looked great: I opted for the Chilli and Wasabi Prawns with Asian Salad and Mango with a mixed salad. Lufthansa serve their cheese course first, when in Germany, do as the Germans do! Personally, I like my cheese at the end of the meal service, All that said, it was scrumptious! Another great LH Hor d'oeuvres service. To compliment my salad, I enjoyed a glass of 2007 Leo Riesling, German Hill, Pfalz, Deutschland. As I mentioned earlier in my Blog, Airgroove is not a big Riesling fan, but this wines is fabulous... Lovely citrus notes, fresh acidity and a fine smooth texture. YUM!

For my main course, I selected the Poached Brisket of Beef with Vegetables, Potatoes and Horseradish Cream Sauce. When the dish arrived, I was slightly aghast, it looked hideous. I almost asked the FA to take it away! But I gave it a taste and it was surprisingly good - don't be turned off by the picture, it was tender and tasty. Looks can be deceiving! To wash it all down, I quaffed the 2004 Chateau Leboscq, Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, Frankreich - delicious.

Was Aigroove to have dessert? Of course... I very quickly devoured a cream puff with marinated cherry tart! Yum... In addition there were these very cute little jam tartlets from LH... I never finish a meal at 35,000ft without a Baileys... Ah, as full as one can be!

After my meal, I settled into a peaceful sleep and remember thinking, what great service the crew provided during the meal service and beyond - thanks again LH for another great flight... The Purser on this flight was AMAZING, she was what a Purser should be: personable, knowlegable and above all makes one feel welcome, she enveloped all of those qualities and I sent a feedback form to LH to ensure she was recognised for her stellar work.

LH, I will gladly board your planes anytime and do what Airgroove does well, enjoys crusing along at 35,oooft to fabulous destinations around the globe!

United 'Average' Airlines C Class: SYD-SFO-JFK

Airgroove had the pleasure of flying UA to SFO and NYC and was not overwhelmed and not disappointed, either... The flights were OK, it went a little like this:

Boarding was fine with a swift check-in, and my seat choice of 18H on the top deck was honoured, as Premier Executive status, they also blocked the seat next to me - a nice touch from the check-in agent. United now use the Air New Zealand Lounge, which is great, it sure does beat the small little pokey room that UA called home... So I settled in for a few glasses of fine NZ Chardonnay before the long flight.

Boarding the 747 was done with order and I promptly climbed the stairs into the bubble to find my 'double' seat waiting for me. I was somewhat annoyed to hear that the new business class config was starting on a regular basis to SYD 2 weeks after my travel date! Damn! I guess there will always be next time... But for now, I had my lazy recliner to enjoy for the next 14 hours... It's not so bad, but clearly not the best. Flying out of SYD is always wonderful and we happened to fly the best angle out of the city...

First up was the customary warm bowl of nuts and a cold fizzy glass of Pol Roger NV Champagne, one of my favourite drops! This was the first of many to come...

It has been discussed numerous times that the UA flight crew are uninterested and at time rather rude, I have to say that I lucked out on my flight, they all seemed happy and the service was not forced, but pleasant... The crew were efficient and helpful throughout the flight, the team on the upper deck worked well together and after pouring me another glass of Pol Roger, dinner orders were taken, to begin, I opted for the Air dried Beef and Smoked Trout followed by the Pan seared Barramundi fillet with lemon butter sauce. It was edible but nothing special, the wines were much getter, I enjoyed a glass or 7 of Fevre Champs Royaux Chablis, delicious, it gave added flavour to the food :-)





After dinner, I opted for a little cheese with a few glasses of Jaboulet Le Paradou 2006 Beaumes-de-Venise and again the wine was better than the food! The cheese platter seemed very 'Economy Class' not my style, at all! The crackers were individual serves wrapped in plastic and the cheese itself was very supermarket shelf... Not that there is anything wrong with that, but when sitting in Business Class, you expect a fabulous cheese like many other Star alliance airlines serve... See for yourself...



After eating and drinking like a fish, it was time for Airgroove to nap... I managed to get a good few hours sleep and woke up feeling refreshed and ready for breakfast, although when it arrived, I did not feel like it, the eggs were rubber like and the only good thing was the grilled tomato and the fruit with croissant...





The International leg soon came to an end as the jumbo tyres touched down at SFO Internationl Airport. The crew were great on this flight but the food was a let down... Little things like the salt and pepper came in little paper sachets, the crackers were in packets, everything seemed very disposable like when it came to the meal service, a sign of cost cutting? The other upside, besides the out of the ordinary crew was the impressive wine list, I enjoyed great Champagne, lovely chablis and great Grenache all from France... I drank ll 3 in abundance, I am Airgroove, afterall...

After a quick refresh in SFO Airport and a visit to the UA Lounge (average) I boarded the 757 Premium Service jet to JFK and nestled into seat 11C. At this stage, I was so tired that the seat I was in seemed like a bed. There is great leg room on the 757 P.S service, much better than any other UA domestic aircraft, so I was happy... The crew, again on this flight was great! I lucked out twice! The aviation angels were smiling down on me!

Again, the meal service was average on this flight, I opted for the 'Fresh Lettuce Wedge', which was literally just a wedge! It was like all their knives had gone blunt in the catering kitchen - here cut it yourself! And the Lemon Grass Chicken with Thai BBQ Sauce, was a very American version of something Asian... However, I was most pleased to see that they were serving a delicious robust Shiraz from Australia, a little bit of home in my glass...! And a fine drop it was!







All in all, this was not a bad flight with United, the crews were great and the food was average, if the crew was bad, i would have been more scathing, but they made up for the lack of cuisine! The wines were good and sometimes, that's all Airgroove cares about, so they pass this time!

Leaving on a jet plane...!

Airgroove is about to embark on yet another RTW journey for a little business and a little pleasure... It would be rude not to throw in some pleasure, after all...

The first leg of my trip will see me flying SYD-NYC via SFO with UA in C Class... I am somewhat disappointed that United have YET to roll out their new Business Class product on this route... VERY annoying, indeed!

After a week of business in NYC, I am taking a flight to FRA with Lufthansa in C Class - I have decided to fly on the A330 service out of JFK, as the cabin seems more intimate... Lufthansa are great anyway, but I have secured a seat in the forward 'mini-cabin' in the business class section. Good times!

Whilst in Europe, I will also be flying with LH around the continent. Stops include: Berlin, Rome and Barcelona. Hola!

The journey home from Europe will be a Lufthansa/Thai combination via Bangkok in C Class, a rather pleasant way to finish 3 weeks going right around the world in 21 days!

Of course when Airgroove touches down there will be full trip reports, and loads of pics!

finally, I must apologise to all my loyal readers, I have yet to post my Circle Asia trip which included Singapore airlines, ANA and Air New Zealand. All flights were amazing and I promise to update that trip also, upon my return...

Happy flying! AG :-)

Thai-rrific! C Class...

After a brief stop-over in Bangkok we were ready to make the final leg of our journey home - we had a half day and decided to relax at the tranquil BKK Airport Novotel for a few hours... And tranquil it was! The rooms are beautifully appointed and the air-con was cool! We felt like staying for a night or so! But soldier on we did to our next flight!

Upon boarding our near new 777-200ER aircraft and taking our seats in the very first row, we were greeted by the wonderful Thai crew who took out jackets and offered some fabulous Pommery Champagne (not as good as LH F, of course), but it was not a bad drop! I have to say that Thai never let me down, the service is always amazing - better than many other airlines I have flown in the past...

Promptly after take-off and our fab 777 reached cruising altitude, we were promptly poured more Champagne by the lovely Thai crew... The smiles and attentive service experienced on Thai is exactly what keeps me coming back for more. Menu's were then handed out and then along came the best fishcakes we had eaten at 35,000ft. Delicious! I am lucky I even had the chance to take the photo - we ate them very quick sticks! Nonetheless, a great fishcake, indeed...

Upon perusing the menu and much discussion (due to the Champagne, and (already) jetlag) we decided on our dinner... To begin, we were offered: Grilled Scallops, with Asparagus wrapped with Italian Smoked Ham and Mixed Green Salad with Italian Tiziano Dressing, it was great... A lovely light starter, of course with garlic bread! I know that many airlines offer GB now, but Thai offer a good GB - with a great crunch and it is not too garlicky...

After enjoying a great kick-off to our main courses, we were looking forward to the main event! And we were not disappointed, Thai offer a great meal service, yes, I will say it again! We opted for the Pan-fried Halibut with Olive Tomato Sauce; Squid Ink Spaghetti and Sauteed Vegetables - and Braised Beef Brisket with Carrot & Turnip; Tossed Flat Egg Noodles and Kailan with Oyster Sauce. Our mains hit the spot and we enjoyed two lovely wines with our meal: Macon-Cruzille, Les Avoueries 1999 and Chateau Robin Cotes De Catillon 2004. The beef was very tender and tasty and the fish succulent!

Finally, we devoured a cheese plate (with crackers in plastic! Ah!) and delicious Thai sweets - YUM! A perfect way to finish off a great meal service. Also, a lovely Port was served and to cap all off, a green tea! And then another green tea!



After a great sleep in Thai Royal Silk Class, and I have to say the 'bed' is just as comfortable as any other that is 'angled' in the sky i.e. SQ and QF etc. we awoke to piping hot towels and the smell of breakfast... From the menu we decided on: Salami - Beirwurst - Farmer Ham and Tilsiter Cheese, French Breads and Fish & Shrimp Ball Noodle Soup! A great way to finish a great flight...

Thanks Thai! Thanks very much! We will check-in, again! Cheers, AG! :)

F is for First...

After 3 amazing weeks in Europe, it was time to head home... :- ( We literally washed ourselves in fabulous culture, fine food, good wine and exploring! What a beautiful part of the world Europe is...! Just pure beauty!

As we headed for the airport we were gearing up for the looooong journey home. It was not going to be a hard journey though as we were again heading home in F. Nice. Check-in was a breeze; no problems, as you would expect... We were promptly given our boarding passes and whisked through security. Just like that...


As we boarded our shiny jumbo and climbed the steps to the upper deck (again LH has F in the bubble) - I could taste the vintage Champagne... The corks were actually popping! The crew seemed somewhat stressed, but after a glass of fine bubbles, I didn't care... Not in the slightest! I asked for a second, even before take off, cheeky but sure! As we climbed out of Frankfurt we could feel Europe slipping away and the reality hit that our wonderful holiday was soon too be coming to an end... Don't worry Europa! We will be back!


As this was only our second flight in F, ever, we were looking forward to dinner! Another fine culinary experience at 35,000ft. Yum. What was it to be? There was clearly going to be no chicken or beef option here, but indeed many options. As the 747 leveled out, the Champagne was again flowing and we were handed menu's... Hhhmmmmnn. Where to begin...?




After some delicious roasted macadamia nuts, our orders were taken... We were both immediately attracted to the smoked Salmon with Sour Cream and Cheese Cannelloni, Venison Ham served with Ratatouille Salad and Crayfish and Avocado Timbale with Lime Creme Fraiche. Absolutely exquisite, thank you LH! Thanks very much.







The starter was amazing, what you would expect... In between, we enjoyed a divine salad of Mixed Leaves with Cucumber, Bell Pepper, Carrot, and Roasted Pine Nuts with a Yogurt Dill dressing.




Again for main we both hankered for the Tenderloin of Beef with Truffle Jus, Asparagus tips and Truffle and Potato Mash. Oh my, was it GOOD! With a delicious glass, or two of 2001 Chateau Lynch-Moussas, Cru Classe, Pauillac... This red wine blew my mind, the depth, clarity and pairing with the perfectly grilled beef was sublime.

After our meat extravaganza, we pondered if could we fit in another course? The amazing LH crew, whom had served the most amazing meal twisted our arms for a sweet treat. Whilst I was not in a sweet mood, I opted for the cheese plate consisting of: Tete de Moine, Appenzell, Bleu de Gex and Brie, heaven! My sweet treat was a fine French dessert wine. My partner could not go past the Chocolate Fondue with fresh Fruit and Biscuits, again delish-i-ous! Spoilt by choice, I have to say!







There is not much more to say... The amazing, attentive yet intrusive service form the LH First crew was beyond service. The flat bed helped us sleep after this HUGE feast. We clearly arrived well feed and rested in BKK ready for our next leg. More to come on that soon...

Happy Mile High, AG :)