2012/04/30

Holiday in Bangkok September 2011 - Part 4

Part 2 ~ The Flight Back Home to Singapore

After a journey time of approximately half an hour, we finally arrived at the drop-off area of Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10.25 a.m.. We were dropped off at entrance No. 6, where Cathay Pacific was operating its check-in counters.


Immediately, after unloading all of our baggage from the cab, we grabbed a few baggage trolleys and went into the departure terminal. Here are some pictures I took outside the drop-off area.



His Majesty The King warmly welcomes you to Suvarnabhumi Airport

The drop off area outside the departure terminal at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport

Some of the SkyTeam and Oneworld carriers operating their check-in counters near entrance door No. 6 to the departure hall at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport

After we entered the terminal building, we immediately walked to the Cathay Pacific Business Class check-in counter to check in for Cathay Pacific flight CX 713 bound for Singapore. We then received our boarding passes after we checked in all of our bulky baggage.


According to the check-in agent, our flight would depart from Gate No. G4 at 11.45 a.m.. She then informed us that boarding will commence at 11.15 a.m., approximately half an hour before the scheduled departure time.



The departure and check-in area in the terminal building of Suvarnabhumi Airport

The departure flight information screen in the departure and check-in area of BKK showing the departure timings in Thai

The departure terminal from the Cathay Pacific check-in counters

My boarding pass for the flight between Bangkok and Singapore

After we received our boarding passes for our Cathay Pacific flight CX 713 bound for Singapore, we went over to the entrance to the security check areas. The passenger security check area was really packed with travellers. As a result, we had no choice but to use the security checkpoint and passport control for airline crew members to get to the airside more quickly.


As soon as we cleared the security checkpoint and passport control, we decided to head to the Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge to have some light bites and refreshments. We then made our way, looking through information counters and maps for the Cathay Pacific lounge.



The departure flight information screen in the airside of BKK showing the departure timings of various flights to overseas cities

A lineup of various duty-free shops in the airside of BKK

One of the signs in the airside of BKK showing the directions to the various gate concourses

One of the signs leading to various areas in the airside of BKK

About to pass by more duty-free shops

After about 25 minutes of searching, we finally found the Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Lounge at 10.10 a.m.. Immediately, we went to the counter to gain access, and were in the lounge no later than 10.15 a.m.. We relaxed for approximately half an hour in the lounge before our flight back home.



The logo for the Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge in the airside of Suvarnabhumi Airport

The food and beverage self-service area in the Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge

One of the seating areas in the Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Lounge

Another view of the interior of the Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge in BKK

Airline: Cathay Pacific

Flight No.: CX 713
From: Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK / VTBS), Bangkok, Thailand
To: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN / WSSS), Singapore
Aircraft: Boeing 777-367
Registration No.: B-HNM
Class: Business Class
Seat: 15K
Date: Tuesday, 6 September 2011

After relaxing for about half an hour in the lounge, the clock was finally showing 10.45 a.m.. Knowing that boarding for Cathay Pacific flight CX 713 bound for Singapore, we packed up all of our bags and headed to Gate No. G4. Arriving at Gate No. G4 at 10.55 a.m., we were finally in the gate holding area by 11 o' clock.


Today, Cathay Pacific flight CX 713 bound for Singapore would be operated by a Boeing 777-300, registered B-HNM and powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 892 engines. B-HNM was delivered new to Cathay Pacific on 3 October 2003 as the thirteenth Boeing 777, and the eighth Boeing 777-300 for the airline. It had arrived from Hong Kong earlier at 10.35 a.m., and was to have a layover in Bangkok for 1 hour 10 minutes before continuing its journey to Singapore at 11.45 a.m..



Our aicraft for today, B-HNM, as seen from the walkways while approaching Gate No. G4

The details of our flight being shown on the departure screen at Gate No. G4

Our aircraft for today, B-HNM, being prepared for her final leg to the Republic of Singapore at Gate No. G4 as Cathay Pacific flight CX 713 bound for Singapore after arriving from Hong Kong

After approximately 20 minutes of waiting, the first boarding calls for Cathay Pacific flight CX 713 bound for Singapore were finally made at 11.20 a.m.. The Business Class passengers, Asia Miles & Marco Polo members, as well as the needy passengers were called to board the aircraft first.


With that, we were on board B-HNM, just before 11.30 a.m.. A flight attendant then showed us to our seats, and we stowed all our bags before settling down for the short hop back home to Singapore. I settled into my seat No. 15K for the journey, while my brother sat beside me in seat No. 15H.


The flight attendants then did their usual rituals of distributing newspapers, menus, wine lists, and pre-departure beverages to the passengers. I then ordered my usual pre-departure glass of orange juice. Here are some pictures I have while waiting for pushback from Gate No. G4.



The Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300 Regional Business Class cabin during the boarding process in Suvarnabhumi Airport

A view of my seat, 15K, during the boarding process in Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)

The contents of the seat pocket in front of me

My usual pre-departure glass of orange juice

The 'no smoking' and 'fasten seatbelt' signs illuminated

A Thai AirAsia Airbus A320-216, registered HS-ABF, parked beside us at Gate No. G3

An Air France Boeing 777-228/ER, registered F-GSPQ, taxiing to the runway for her afternoon journey back home to France as Air France flight AF 165 bound for Paris (Charles de Gaulle)

The Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300 Regional Business Class cabin during the pre-departure process in BKK

At around 11.55 a.m., 10 minutes behind schedule, we pushed back from Gate No. G4 after all the aircraft doors were closed. The safety briefing information video was shown on all our video screens while we taxied to our assigned runway for take-off.


After approximately 25 minutes of taxiing to the runway, the two Rolls-Royce Trent 892 engines spooled to life, and we finally took off from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 12.20 p.m., heading into the afternoon sky for a short flight time of just 1 hour 50 minutes to the Republic of Singapore.



Part of the safety briefing demonstration video which reminds passengers about the forbidding of smoking

A glimpse into the food and beverage menu for the sector between Bangkok and Singapore

The wine list for the sector between Bangkok and Singapore

Taxiing past two Airbus A320s resting on the tarmac at BKK

Cathay Pacific Flight 713 ~ Take-off from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Flying over some suburban areas near Bangkok


Flying over some paddy fields in Thailand


The South China Sea shortly after take-off from BKK


A Kingfisher Airlines Airbus A330-223, registered VT-VJP, parked at Terminal 1 Gate No. C18 after arriving from Mumbai as Kingfisher Airlines flight IT 029. Sadly, since March 2012, the airline has lost its long-haul Airbus A330 fleet and terminated all international flights because of the airline's financial crisis. The possibility of the airline collapsing seems to be very likely now

Cathay Pacific Flight 713 Score Report


Seat: 18 / 20

Food: 17 / 20
Service: 17 / 20
Aircraft cleanliness: 17 / 20
Legroom space: 18 / 20
Total: 87 / 100

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