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Strongly Recommend Flights from London Heathrow to Bangkok via Amman with Royal Jordanian in Business Class on Their 787-8 Dreamliner Planes - October 2018

23/10/2018

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PictureThis view of the Business Class cabin on the Royal Jordanian 787 Dreamliner illustrates the spacious, light & airy feel to these new cabins.
When I was looking for flights to Bangkok and saw that Royal Jordanian Business Class was a viable option, I knew I had to fly with this airline for the first time.  

I am friends with the owners of the Four Seasons in Amman & am due to stay there again next year, once their refurbishment is complete, and have some astonishing Jordanian friends. 

A friend at Boeing told me to pick the flights where 787 Dreamliners were used and sitting next to the charming young son of the Chairman of the airline on the flight to Amman made my day. I cannot recommend the flights I took strongly enough. 

An Interesting Chat at Check-In

We left from Terminal 3 at Heathrow.  Priority Check-in was easy and, in fact, I had a great chat with the lady. Guess she enjoyed it too because, as already mentioned, I got to sit next the Chairman of the airline's son on the first flight and had an empty seat next to me on the second one.

Better Heathrow Security 

Security at Terminal 3 was less onerous than I have experienced at Terminal 5 and fast-track worked well.  In fact my liquids were put in a larger non-Four Seasons bag by a helpful security lady. 

The British Airways Club Lounge: A 'Pie Man' & Champagne 

Royal Jordanian Business Class passengers can use the British Airways Club Lounge and there is champagne there, available 'on request', as well as a wide range of hot & cold comfort food and even a 'pie man'. 

Priority Boarding 

Priority boarding worked better at Heathrow than in Amman and I was soon in the last row of the Business Class cabin.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

​I was impressed by the comfortable large seats (19 inches wide) with lots of leg room that went fully flat (78 inches long) and the spacious, light & airy feel to these new Business Class cabins. 

Before Takeoff 

We were brought fragrant Arabic coffee, juice & water & a hot towel but no champagne. Next we were given noise cancelling headphones. I was a little disappointed these were not Bose but they were fine.  

​The Business Class Acqua Colonia wash bag were rather drab and the contents were unimpressive.

Once in the Air

I utilised the UBS port for my iPhone Xs, got a glass of Taittinger champagne and some nuts and investigated the entertainment systems. The choice of TV seemed limited but there were some quality films.

I ended up watching 'Trespass Against Us' starring Michael Fassbender & Brendan Gleeson, an exhilarating thriller with an astonishing score and a moving story about love & family on my 17 inch High Definition screen.  

There was no WiFi but the only airline where this has worked for me was on Etihad Airways in a First Class apartment  on an A380 and I had to pay extra for this.

Royal Dining: Lunch/Dinner 

The assortment of appetizers were tasty but the bread poor airline quality.

​I ate all this with an excellent Zumot family St George Sauvignon Blanc from Northern Jordan.

For the main course I picked the grilled chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella cheese & basil served with baked potatoes, broccoli, carrots and sautéed mushrooms. This was surprising good hearty comfort food, with well cooked vegetables.  

I then loved the fact the cheese course was served from a trolley by a member of crew in traditional dress. I ate my cheese with a St George Shiraz from Jordan, impressive again. 

A Few Hours of Good Sleep

Next I got a few hours of good sleep using my fully flat 'bed', a rather good pillow and a  light comforter of good quality.

The Son of the Chairman of the Airline 

When I woke the just over 5 hour flight was almost over. I got chatting to the young charming Jordanian next to me and it turned out he was the Chairman of the airline's son and we knew many of the same people.  I was so glad I had been complimentary about the airline before he revealed who his father was. 

Amman Airport & Arab Jordan Investment Bank 

​
I was pleased to note Arab Jordan Investment Bank (the first bank I regulated in Qatar) had a prominent presence in Amman airport.

The Business Class lounge had little to offer just before midnight but all I wanted was WiFi and water anyway. There was no Priority Boarding in Amman and it was all a bit of a chaotic mess. Far from ideal when you were tired. 

My Second Flight from Amman to Bangkok

This flight was once again aboard a 787 Dreamliner in Business Class.  

​On this flight most of the Business Class cabin just slept and so I got an even more friendly & personal service from the crew.

Excellent Canapés  

​The canapés I was served on my second flight were not listed on the menu but the smoked salmon and feta cheese ones were surprisingly good. ​

Two More Movies to Pass Another 7 Hours in the Air 

I spent the 7 hour and 30 minutes flight watching 'Hotel Artemis' starring Jodie Foster & Steven Spielberg's 'Ready Player One'.  More entertaining movies. 

The End in Sight

My cheese & mushroom omelette breakfast with grilled chicken kebab, sautéed eggplant & chunky tomatoes tasted better than it looked. No complaints about the food on Royal Jordanian. 

The Si Frew Way to Arrive at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport

I was the first person off my plane and my Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok Mercedes was waiting for me with cold towels & classical music.

​🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - the spacious, light & airy feel to the Dreamliner Business Class cabins; fully flat beds; good food; excellent crew; impressive Jordanian wines; and quality movies all contributed to the '6 teddy' score.  My tips:- ask for champagne in the British Airways Club lounges; talk to the check-in staff; and try the Jordanian wines, you will be far from disappointed. 

 



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PicturePriority check-in at Terminal 3 was easy and, in fact, I had a great chat with the lady. Guess she enjoyed it too because I got to sit next the Chairman of the airline's son on the first flight and had an empty seat next to me on the second one.

PictureRoyal Jordanian Business Class passengers can use the British Airways Club Lounge and there is champagne there, available 'on request'.

PictureIn the British Airways Club Lounge there was a wide range of hot & cold comfort food and even a 'pie man'.

PictureI was impressed by the comfortable large seats (19 inches wide) with lots of leg room that went fully flat (78 inches long) and the spacious, light & airy feel to these new cabins.

Picture
I tried the fragrant Arabic coffee before takeoff. I have not drunk this since my Qatar days & rather enjoyed it.
Picture
I was disappointed the noise cancelling headphones were not Bose but they were fine. The Business Class Acqua Colonia wash bag were rather drab and the contents were unimpressive.
PictureI got a glass of Taittinger champagne and some nuts and investigated the entertainment systems. The choice seemed limited but there were some quality films.

PictureThe assortment of appetizers were tasty but the bread poor airline quality. I ate all this with an excellent St George Sauvignon Blanc from Jordan.

PictureFor the main course I picked the grilled chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella cheese & basil served with baked potatoes, broccoli, carrots and sautéed mushrooms. This was surprising good hearty comfort food, with well cooked vegetables.

PictureI loved the fact the cheese course was served from a trolley by a member of crew in traditional dress. I ate my cheese with a St George Shiraz from Jordan, surprisingly good again.

PictureI was pleased to see the first bank I regulated in Qatar had a prominent presence in Amman airport.

PictureOn my second flight to Bangkok most of the Business Class cabin just slept and so I got an even more friendly & personal service from the crew.

PictureThe canapés I was served on my second flight were not listed on the menu but the smoked salmon and feta cheese ones were excellent.

PictureMy cheese & mushroom omelette breakfast with grilled chicken kebab, sautéed eggplant & chunky tomatoes tasted better than it looked.

PictureI was the first person off the plane and my Mandarin Oriental Mercedes was waiting for me at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok with cold towels & classical music.

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    The Authors

    Si Frew has lived in the UK, Bermuda, Qatar, Cyprus & the Cayman Islands. During this time he met Whoopi Goldberg (in Claridge's), Mike Tyson (in the Concorde Lounge at JFK) , Gordon Ramsay (in the Doha Four Seasons), Chris Eubanks (in The Dorchester), Cherie Blair (in Bermuda & again in the Doha Four Seasons) etc.  There are funny stories attached to all these interactions, feel free to ask Si about them when you meet him.

    Simon is a banker. He lives in The Barbican in London.  

    He loves Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Dorchester and Veuve Clicquot.

    Issy
    Issy is a Beanie Baby who was a gift from the Founder of Four Seasons' office.  He  is Simon's regular travelling companion & confidant.  
    ​
    He experiences luxury in life and little else.  It is Issy who guides Si through some of his more entertaining adventures.

    Issy dictates and never types.

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