SYD-HKG Virgin Atlantic Trip Report

[Tim Bowrey]

Virgin Atlantic (VS201)
Sydney-Hong Kong
8/11/08
A340-642 - G-VYOU (Emmeline Hearny)

Hey everyone this is my 1st trip report. Enjoy

So, school finished a few days early it was time for some travel. We rocked up at Sydney Airport at about 11am to check in for our 3:50pm departure. Myself and mum cleared customs about 2pm for our flight would be scheduled to board at 2:50pm at Gate 58.


As “Virgin Atlantic 201 ready for boarding” was made over the speakers I was typically 1st to board to get some empty cabin shots of Virgin’s Premium and regular Economy. Once others started crowding the cabin I took my seat of 43K which would provide me with a great wing view.


We pushed back, taxied up along Alpha to the CAT 1 holding point for RWY16R, lined up straight away, waited for a proceeding CX A330 to depart also to HKG then we were rolling. Due to possibly wake turbulence we were flying south a little more than usual due to the A330 ahead then made our right turn direct to Richmond. On climb to FL360, we went through many clouds and came ‘within range’ of a Virgin Blue 737 heading north.


A very cloudy flight we had which didn’t make many good photos until the sun set.



So as day turned to night I decided to get the tri-pod out and get some night cabin shots.


As I was seen taking these photos, the CSM said to me, “Would you like to come up and see Upper class and possibly the flight deck after flight?” Obviously I said “Yes Please!” As many seats in Upper were available he told me that me and my mum we could do landing in Upper class seats 1 and 2A. I had mixed feelings about this, id get Upper class but I wasn’t able to look out the window We landed at CLK on 7L and taxied to the gate. The cabin crew and pilots were so nice they let me sit in the flight deck and take some photos without hesitation. After, we claimed out bags and went to our hotel (Park Hotel) in Kowloon. The trains in HK are very very good and the Octopus Card is a great, easy way to travel around. The roughly 45min train trip took us to Kowloon MTR Station and we took a taxi to our hotel. Our hotel wasn’t much but none the less a decent place to stay in the hub of Kowloon. We got to the hotel about 1:30am.

[Tim Bowrey]

Our 1st day was spent checking out the Ngong Ping 360 and heading up to the big Budda. There were heaps of people up there (like anywhere in China) and it was a really nice experience along with the great view of the airport. I recommend it!


Another day we decided to hit the Peak Tram which was very fun and we had a great view of the city. It gets really steep and a few stages which is real fun.


On our way there I spotted this little boat which looked to be on fire leaving a huge trail of smoke. No wonder they have polloution problems…


The laser show over Hong Kong harbor was pretty good although there’s not a lot you can do. It went for about 15mins along with music. We checked it out on a night when it was in English (you must select the night of your main language to understand although there wasn’t much talking).


Our last day took us on the Coati Ferry across to Macau to check out The Venetian. It uses $1,000,000AU every day in electricity and is one of the largest buildings in the world. My uncle is the manager of the High Rollers section who deals with the Hospitality, Buttlers and famous guests. He took us on a mini tour of the Presidential Suite and the room where the Owner stays when he is in town. Luck I took my camera! The rooms were fitted out with amazing amounts of TV’s and various rooms inside. The Presidential suite even had a little room for a hair cut. The following photos are taken from the Presidential Suite;


The courtyard with a private outdoor room and a pool just above the staircase. Hard to believe this is just one hotel room and not a house!


Now we head up to the Owners private room. Several parts of the room were being refitted with lighting so the door was open and we were aloud in.
Here is the bathroom. Behind me there is a giant shower and to the right of the photo a sauna.


This view is looking out the front of the hotel toward the Strip and Macau Airport can be seen to the left and out over the water.

I couldn’t believe my eyes to see a mini golf course down below (let alone some grass mind you). Apparently, it was more like a chip and put, not a put-put course.

Here is the giant Casino inside.

On our last day in Hong Kong, we just we around shopping. We caught the MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui to Mong Kok to try and bargen hunt but really, things aren’t that cheap there like people say. You need to go into China to get the cheap stuff. At about midday we departed our hotel, took the bus back to Kowloon MTR station, checked out bags in from there and jumped in the Airport express which is a very efficient way of getting to and from the airport. We got off on the Terminal 2 side to have lunch and hit the SkyDeck for some spotting. An excellent way to spend my last afternoon in HK. It cost $15HK to get up there which was really only about $3AU for me.

[Tim Bowrey]

The view of the airport from the SkyDeck at sunset. Although the polloution is very bad, it made for a nice photo.

Almost ready to go home after a great holiday!


Virgin Atlantic (VS200)
Hong Kong-Sydney
14/11/08
A340-642 – G-VEIL (Queen of The Skies)

Obviously, the night flights don’t have as much to offer but our landing was awesome! As we were on final to RWY16R at Sydney the bad weather really wasn’t so bad after all. We had amazing amounts of moisture off the wing.
There’s a wing there somewhere, I sware.


As we softly touched down on 16R the reversers really put on a show kicking up loads of water as “Etihad 450” from AUH is taxiing back to the gate from the preceding arrival.


In Conclusion:
Aircraft: 9/10 the toilet door was very loud when opened and I was sitting 2 rows from it.
Service: VS201, 10/10 Outstanding flight, best I’ve ever had, cabin crew were very approachable and always there. VS200, 8/10 still good but nowhere near as good as the VS201 flight. Some of the cabin crew were hard to understand and didn’t speak English too well.

Hong Kong Spotting: Locations were hard to find (except deck) but the traffic was amazing!

Hope you enjoyed reading my trip report.

Tim Bowrey

[Bernie P]

Hey Tim,

Great trip report... Loved the pics. but, as a greenkeeper, I am amazed at that 'Golf Course' you got a pic of!!!

[Andrew P]

didn’t speak English too well

Scottish were they??

a great report, problem with SkyDeck it only opens at 11.am, so you miss all the early morning flights (better time for photos)

Banjo

[Justin L]

Great trip report and photos. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was in HKG and MFM in June for work and stayed at the Venetian. The normal rooms are also spectacular mini-suites with sunken lounge areas also.

Also, you got a brilliant clear day at Victoria Peak for photos also.

[phil.l]

Nice report Tim well done,any photos of flight deck?

[Blake Riley]

Awesome trip report tim was looking forward to seeing this
and it was worth the wait , love the wing view you got

[matthew mcdonald]

Good on ya mate. Wonderful trip report!

[Tim Bowrey]

Originally Posted by phil.l

Nice report Tim well done,any photos of flight deck?

Yeah mate i'll put them on tonight.