Tag Archives: Long Haul

I Tested Air Seychelles Business Class

Long Break At The Lounge First & Business Class

After many adventures on my Brussels-Paris route, here I am at Charles de Gaulle airport (Paris, France), where I take my flight to Mahé on Air Seychelles! Awesome, isn’t it? After the checked-in and customs, I head towards the Air Seychelles First & Business Class Lounge which is the Etihad’s one (Photo 1 on the above photomontage).

The Lounge’s entrance is in the center of the posh part of the terminal, between the beautiful shops of Hermès (2), Dior, Prada, Gucci, Ladurée etc … The space is divided in a restaurant with a buffet and small comfortable lounges (photos below). Very soon, I was offered a snack. The perfect spot to work on computer.

  

Ready For a 10-Hour Flight

My long legs say thank you!

Ideally seated in the first seat of the first row, window side, I am pleasantly surprised by the large space in the Air Seychelles Business class. Three portholes just for me and some sega (music of the Indian Ocean) as a sound illustration in the cabin! Quickly, I sympathize with my neighbor, Lisa, a young lady from the Seychelles. And we take off. 

A la carte Dinner

At our request, soon after the take-off, the hostess who looks after Lisa and I, serves our meals in a table service decorated with a stylized design of Coco de mer (the famous fruit of Seychelles endemic palm tree).

I chose steamed shrimps as a starter, then a fish with steamed vegetables (sorry, I forgot to take the picture) and as a dessert (absolutely not reasonable), a rich chocolate tart (above photomontage). Everything was good and the service discreet and efficient. 

Good Night!

Easy-Peasy Wake-up

As always I didn’t sleep the day before and I am exhausted! Once the dinner is over, I simply collapse! No film, no chat, nothing … I pick up the useful Air Seychelles travel pouch to brush my teeth and moisturize my skin. I like disposable toothbrush with mini toothpast tube (above photomontage)! Then I slide my seat into bed position for a short night’s sleep: good night everyone!

As soon as I woke-up, the hostess serves me this gargantuan breakfast (below picture)! White beans in sauce, potatoes and bacon in the morning: an absolute no-no for me, LOL! But everything else was delicious. And most of all I feel rested. 

Welcome To Mahe

  

Beautiful Light

Hi Indian Ocean, I’m back! Yes, it’s been a while since we saw each other! This is my first time in the Seychelles, but I already dived in the Maldives. Guess what, this Paris-Mahé flight was so fast! Now, let’s the discovery begins! I can’t wait to land, get out of the plane and jump in the first ferry to Praslin! To be continued…

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Air SeychellesSeychelles Tourism Board

Dear Belgian travelers, you can fly with Air Seychelles from the airports of Charles de Gaulle (France) or Dusseldorf (Germany). The flights are direct to the Seychelles.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to Air Seychelles and the Seychelles Tourism Board for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

Qatar Airways: My Flights to Asia in Business Class

Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

I fell in love with the Dreamliner,

the Boeing 787-8: what a fantastic flying experience in both directions! Qatar Airways offered me a round ticket Brussels-Denpasar/Bali in Business class.

The one way trip includes two stops: a first trip with the famous Dreamliner aircraft to the Hamad International Airport (Doha), where is the hub of the ailine. Then a second trip from Singapore to Denpasar in another plane more “conventional”.

My first impressions of the flight from Brussels to Denpasar: great cabin with a minimalist design that inspires comfort, wide windows and especially the amazing LED lighting (pictures 1 & 2). The service on board is also excellent: discreet, friendly and efficient.

Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Comfort, high tech & gastronomy

As always the day before departure I slept little (3h!). That morning, there were still details to finalize this express presstrip to Bali, “tailor made” for the blog.

Do I need to add that a Business class on a long haul – more than 20 hours one way trip (including stops) – is not a luxury but a fantastic way to not feel jetlag and to be optimum at the destination arrival!  

Quickly I got familiar with the different audiovisual and seat remotes (picture above and pictures 5 and 1). What a pleasure to watch a program on the large TV touchscreen! And the seat combining comfort and intimacy (without feeling confined in a box), is difficult to leave! Believe me!

You can also use the Internet, I did not. On my Twitter (@ Mademoisellelek), I was against the Internet in flight. Why? By peace! But now, not so sure, LOL … For me the most important: I could recharge my electronic devices in my seat during the flight. I’ve also found the best sound proof cabin.

Icing on the cake: the food presentation and quality of meals. Foodies, famous international chefs have especially designed or adapted some of their specialties for the menu. Picture below: main dish with rice, lentils, fish, asparagus and spices of the Indian chef, Vineet Bhatia.

Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-Food-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

First stopover at Hamad International Airport (Doha)

Arrived at 11.30 p.m., I leave at 2:25 a.m. to Denpasar via Singapore. Not really the time to visit the airport, even if  the shops and restaurants are open (pictures below).

After the security check, I head straight to the Qatar Airways lounge for the First and Business travelers, where I quietly rest. 

The lounge space is quite small, but it seems that the new (huge) lounge will be operational in a few days. Good point: I’m five minutes from the gate of my second flight.

Another aircraft (Boeing 777-300ER) with a much greater capacity than the Dreamliner. Another design more conventional, but the comfort and service of the Business class remain excellent! As soon as I received my pajamas, I wore it! It always amuses me (sorry I’m not a fashionista anymore)! 

To reduce the jelag effects, you have to set up the hours the destination where you are going. Drink plenty of water and sleep a maximum. I opted for a very light dinner, with a fisrt meal of the Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhira and a salad. And in bed (picture 7)! 

Qatar Airways-Lounge-Business Class-Doha Airport-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014.Qatar Airways-Business Class-1-Doha to Singapore-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Second stopover at Changi Airport (Singapore)

I was really excited by a stopover in Changi Airport (Singapore), the most awarded airport in the world: 420 awards since 1981 (Le Figaro)! But the stopover is too short (1:30) to visit at least one of the airport’s gardens.

In fact, passengers to Denpasar must also leave the plane. Pass the security check and wait to board again. So it is recommended to stay close to the boarding gate. The second image (right) of the photo below: the lounge.              

If the Changi Airport is huge, everything seems to have been designed to make the traveler’s experience easier and enjoyable. As I haven’t had time to visit, It’s just my first impression. 

Back on board, in the same aircraft, sitting on the same place. Denpasar Arrival at 7 p.m. local time. Time for a lunch and then we land! 

And guess who comes out of the plane fresh and smiling? Of course me! Another pleasant surprise after being pampered by the crews of my different flights, I enjoy the VIP treatment on arrival at Denpasar. To be continued… Selamat datang di Bali, welcome in  Bali!

Qatar Airways-Business Class-Singapore to Bali-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Qatar Airways-Business Class-Denpasar Airport-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Qatar airways 

More informations about how to organize your travel, here.  

Related posts :

  

How To Prepare Your Travel & DESTINATIONS

Many thanks to Qatar Airways. As always all my opinions are mine!

Departure to Thailand: Sawadee Ka Bangkok!

Departure to Thailand: Sawadee Ka Bangkok!

Hi Bangkok! Finally I sat in the plane, ready for 11 hours of flight!  I like long flight.

Direction Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Airport, the starting point to go to the discovery of a different and less touristy side of Thailand, with the nature reserves and ecotourism.

If during my last visit to Bangkok, I was very urban, focused on shopping and massages, this trip is more about nature! Wow Mademoiselle Le K globetrotter… Well, I managed to lighten my suitcase. No high heels! Yes, lol!

I am invited with a few journalists by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. And I am very excited about the route that will take us from Bangkok to Phuket, along the Gulf of Thailand. The opposite side of the famous Andaman Sea’s islands and beautiful beaches. We will cross the provinces of Samut Songkhram, Chumphon and Surat Thani.

And if like me, only these names make you dream: follow me in the coming days on this blog and Twitter. You can also find my photos in the Facebook of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Facebook of the Royal Thai Embassy in Belgium.

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés 

Related posts :

   

 

DESTINATIONS