Returned to Bangkok (BKK) from London Heathrow (LHR) via Adu Dhabi on Etihad. Check-in was via SAS Airlines. For those that haven’t experienced LHR, I must set the benchmark... Sadly, I feel that LHR is probably the worst airport in the developed world that I have ever experienced. Not my favourite by any means...
Checked-in and I asked the SAS Attendent to ensure that my wife and I were seated together - this he did. He had some difficulties counting luggage to be checked in and issued us with 3 luggage receipts. We only checked in 2... Hmmmm.... Obviously he was tired or had a lapse of concentration... Understandable.
On the aircraft, of course, we were not seated together. The funky seating in Pearl is spacious and comfortable by unconventional. Again! We are not seated together despite being assured and told that the seats were already assigned to us. Hmmmm, Etihad.... Again... Service was so so. Adequate, nothing overly impressive. Food was definitely unimpressive (for business class) and no automatic serving of coffee and chocolates after the meal! (The coffee is very good!) I asked if I may have a cup of coffee and it was brought to me - but no offering of tea or coffee after the meal despite being on the menu - strange!
Short but sweet layover in Abu Dhabi (1hr) and then onto the second leg to BKK. The normal rugby scrum to get aboard the aeroplane. No business class passengers first policy at this airport! Hoorah! We are seated together. Two stewardesses were smiling and the rest were pretty glum - kind of Lufthansa style - efficient, robotic, sterile. Food was so so again. Two hours out of BKK I woke up and fancied a cup of their nice coffee. A light snack was being served however I declined as I had eaten enough in the past week visiting my parents! I asked for a cup of coffee and was told that coffee was not available due to the turbulance. Eh? No seat belt signs on and food was being served to passengers? Wot turbulance? No coffee??? Business Class??? Hmmmm.... Strange!
Etihad are assigned the gate furthest away from the terminal buildings in BKK. Feels like you have to walk miles before you see another human being in BKK! However, upon arrival at immigration, flew through it! Good service Mr Thai Immigration! Great! Now to get the bags.
First bag on the conveyor belt... ...was one of ours! Great! Quick exit out of the airport is on the cards! Just got to wait for bag #2. We waited and waited and waited and waited. No bag #2. Reported it missing and got a telephone call 2hrs later saying that the bag had been located - in London Heathrow... It will be delivered tomorrow afternoon.
Etihad... 50% the price of Thai but a long way short of service delivery - shame.