PHI: Philippine Airlines PR211 (Business)
MNL-SYD (8h 20m)
Airbus 330-300
ETD: 10.25pm (GMT + 8)
ETA: 8.45am (GMT + 10)
ETD: 10.25pm (GMT + 8)
ETA: 8.45am (GMT + 10)
After enjoying some quiet time at the flagship Mabuhay Lounge, it was finally time to board the flight to Sydney, Australia. It'd be my first time in the country, but strangely enough, I have to admit that I didn't quite feel the usual surge of excitement that comes with discovering a new destination compared to some of my previous travels.
---
PHI: Philippine Airlines PR211 (Business) <YOU ARE HERE!>
AUS: Qantas QF443 (Economy)
AUS: Ibis Styles Kingsgate
AUS: Queen Victoria Market
AUS: South Melbourne Market
AUS: Shrine of Remembrance
AUS: Royal Botanic Gardens
AUS: Melbourne Downtown
AUS: Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Tour
... (more to come!)
---
Although our scheduled departure time was 10:25pm, that was actually the time when boarding commenced.
The Business Class cabin of the Airbus 330-300 aircraft features 18 seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.
I was seated at 4K.
 |
| Regarded as sacred in the local mythology, Mount Mayon is an active volcano. |
 |
| The 82nd anniversary menu was curated by world-class Chef Vallerie Castillo-Archer. |
For the welcome drink, I obliged to a glass of Moët & Chandon champagne served by the only male flight attendant in the Business Class cabin, whose polite and graceful demeanour perfectly embodied the Mabuhay spirit.
 |
| The hot towel came after the drink. |
The amenity kit reflects a partnership between the airline and Acca Kappa.
Boarding dragged on longer than expected, and even after it was completed, it took a while before we finally pushed back.
 |
| Due to a problem with the safety demonstration video, the flight attendants had to do it the manual way. |
 |
| In fact, we only took to the skies past midnight. |
Though not the most comprehensive, I found the In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system to be responsive. I only watched one animated movie, starring characters from a Sega video game, throughout the flight. Care to make a guess?
 |
| It wasn't packed with the latest Hollywood slate. |
 |
| Do you remember your Math lesson on how to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius? |
I’m only showcasing the main courses from the supper service here. For the complete lineup, be sure to visit my food blog.
 | ||
Supper main course #1: Ilocano Chicken Adobo
|
I made a quick stop at the lavatory before settling in for the night.
 |
| I'm not sure if those were Acca Kappa toiletries. |
Once the cabin lights were dimmed, I was able to drift off and sleep for about three hours.
Hot towels were handed out to passengers before breakfast. That was when I noticed the in-flight map acting up. I couldn't help but chuckle when I found out that we were transported all the way to the African continent.
Breakfast was served two hours before arrival. My travel buddy and I went for the same main course as the other option of cold cuts and cheese didn't sound special.
 |
| Breakfast main course: Ube Waffles and Chicken Sausage |
I finally finished watching Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
After that, I spent some time watching destination videos showcasing different parts of the Philippines.
 |
| Don't jump off me! Haha! |
Welcome to Down Under!
 |
| I enjoyed the panoramic sweep of Parramatta River and surrounding scenery. |
 |
| I've never flown with Bamboo Airways, a Vietnamese carrier, till date. |
 |
| Thank you for the comfortable ride! |
Due to the delay, we missed our connecting Qantas QF435 flight to Melbourne. However, there was nothing to worry about as the ground staff told us that we'd already been rebooked to QF443.
Comments
Post a Comment