Paul's 210th Flight Report
Flight: KQ765
JNB - NBO / Boeing 737-800
Flight Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Business Class
After the Flight :
Baggage Delivery: N/A in Transit
The
departure time of our Johannesburg to Nairobi flight was scheduled at 1:15 AM. So almost in the middle of the night. The plane had an inbound arrival delay and only landed at 1AM. We departed at
2:05 AM
On the Ground:
Check-in in Johannesburg was okay but nothing special. The agent chatted with us and interacted but she didn't really showed any passion.
Only two security checkpoints were open in Terminal A at that time of the day.
There was only a short queue with a waiting time of around 10 minutes. That was still good. No priority lane at the international departure for security.
Staff at the security point was okay. Nothing special, nothing bad.
Right
after security in Johannesburg were the emigration counters. Also here a queue of around 10 minutes. Only 3 counters open for around 4 longhaul flights but officers were very swift and
friendly.
Kenya Airways uses the South African Airways lounge in Johannesburg and so we went to the SAA Premium Lounge. And wowww, were we surprised to see a fully renovated lounge.
The lounge now is super modern, held in an industrial chic with wood, steel and dark greyish colours. It is simply beautiful and most probably one the most modern lounges in South Africa.
F&B
offerings were good with a hot buffet, a very big cold buffet with different salads, cheese, sandwiches and other snacks.
No drinks are self-service and that is why the lounge offers a big served bar.
The lounge closed at 00:15AM and with the delay every one was sitting or better standing at the gate waiting for the flight.
As I checked flight radar I knew that the plane was landing at around departure time.
No announcement or any information about the delay until boarding time. At boarding time an agent showed up at the gate and as there is no PA yelled into the crowd that the plane is lading
around 1:00AM and that they will try to make the turn as quick as possible.
Boarding into the aircraft started around 1:40AM after we were waiting another 15 minutes in the Jetbridge until the plane was ready.
No announcements were made at all. A ground staff agent was yelling the boarding procedures into the full waiting area.
Priority
boarding yelling was done, and an agent even checked the boarding passes.
Staff at the gate were robots. No passion, no customer service, nothing. The same unfriendly bunch of people.
At the aircraft door we were greeted by the charming senior cabin crew member. Her colleague was in the cabin and greeting guests and helping customers. The crew was very friendly and
attentive.
Once boarding was completed, they distributed the welcome drink, consisting of 4 different choices of drinks including champagne.
The seats were already equipped with a fluffy pillow. Blankets were distributed after boarding.
The crew then distributed the amenity kit. The amenity kit is good and offers the regular content. (socks, toothbrush, eye mask, ear plugs, a cromb as well as a pencil.
As a nice touch and a perfect match for Kenya Airways "the pride of Africa" are the socks with the paw prints of a lion.
Inflight:
The Kenya Airways business class on their Boeing 737 fleet is actually a real fix business class.
Our aircraft had a total of 16 business class seats in a 2-2 configuration.
The legrest was awesome and also the recline of the seat was very good. All in all the seats was comfortable but still difficult to get some rest.
After
take off the cabin crew first came around to take the order for the "light" snack they are serving and then distributed some hot towels.
The menu was exactly the same as on our flight in February. Basically the light snack was a little thing of nothing. I opted out and decided for a bottle of water.
The tray looked and was a disgrace for an almost 4 hours flight in business class and also a Kenya Airways should be embarrassed to offer such a product.
I fully
fully understand that at 2:00AM in the morning, there is no need for a full service but there would be much much better options than some samosas and a chewing something of meet on a full size
tray.
In my opinion, for this flight I would only do a drink service with nuts after take off and then let the passengers sleep until 1 hour prior landing and then offer a small half size tray with
a mini breakfast (joghurt, fruit, croissant) for breakfast.
Or
If they really want to offer the service after take off, offer a nice and tasty sandwich or hot panini.
But do not offer an empty full size tray.
Full drink service was offered with the snack.
Before landing the crew passed with some water and juice on a tray.
The cabin crew on this flight was very good and they did their job nice and professional. It is difficult during such a night flight to interact with passengers as everyone just wants to
sleep. The crew found the exact amount of attention.
Bathrooms were checked throughout the flight and always refilled. They were always clean.
The aircraft was not equipped with a mounted inflight entertainment system. On Kenya Airways Boeing 737 you can or better said have to stream everything on your own devices.
As I wanted to rest, I didn't try out the system.
Announcements were very good and understandable from the cabin and flight crew. They spoke slowly and clearly.
As we arrived late, the aircraft got a parking position at the terminal and someone from airports and or ground ops must have had the excellent idea to park us right in front of the transfer
security. Thanks to that parking position, once the doors were open we were through security and at our boarding gate in around 10 minutes time. We were actually so fast, we had 20 minutes left
until boarding and could go to the lounge which was right above the gate. That was excellent service.
As we
were in Transit in Nairobi and all bags were checked to the final destination we didn't have to collect our bags.
Our summary:
A mediocre airport experience in Johannesburg. The lounge was top, communication and handling of the delay poor.
A solid and good business class cabin on this Boeing 737 aircraft.
A terrible inflight product which should not be allowed to be called service for an almost 4 hours flight.
A great crew which did their job with pride and class.
Notes:
- Paul the Sheep does not get any benefits from the Hotels/Airlines etc.
- Paul will always pay for the services in order to be able to rate freely and truly about the experiences.
-If you are interested in more details, please send me a private message and I will be happy to share
