Chapter 2: In which we go visiting and get into high places
2.5. The trip across the pond
We were excited to be beginning the next chapter of our trip today, starting with about a 4.5 hour flight to Taipei before the 11.5 hour onward flight to Ontario. With such a long flight, we had splurged on business class, again using Qantas points. In fact, this flight was the reason we went via KL. Our arrival at Ontario Airport caused much confusion with our friends and family, who didn't realise that Ontario is also a suburb of LA, and not just a city in Canada. Anyway, I digress.
With a scheduled departure time of 2:35pm, we had plenty of time to enjoy another leisurely breakfast and pack the last of our things before heading to the airport. On our way out, we took a few last photos around the hotel.
We decided to keep things simple and just take a Grab to the airport. The hotel concierge insisted on helping us to hail one via the app, and made sure we booked a slightly bigger one this time around! He then escorted us to the waiting area and made sure there was someone there to help us with our luggage. We enjoyed the nearly hour-long ride to the airport, chatting with the Grab driver about life in KL.
At the airport, we found the check-in desk for China Airlines. We were slightly early, but we just stood around for 10 minutes waiting. Upon checking in, we were advised that the flight was going to be delayed, but reassured that it wouldn't impact our connection in Taipei. And with that, we headed on through. In most of the larger Asian airports, they do a quick ID check and sometimes a minimal security screening to get through to the main area, and then there is a more thorough check as you are entering the gate lounge.
We had plenty of time to go to the lounge first of course. China Airlines don't have their own lounge in KL, so we were directed to the third party Plaza Premium Lounge. It seems this lounge is more of a pay for entry version, and people have to pay extra for drinks. We were given stamps for free drinks at the bar. We were heading through checking it out and looking for somewhere comfy to sit when we noticed someone running up behind us. We had noticed a little roped off section to the side when we first walked in. Apparently that was where we were supposed to go. The roped off section had its own small selection of hot food, cakes and soft drinks.
Plus there was a little section of more private seating.
We still needed to go out to the main area for the bar and the bathrooms, and they also had a bigger selection of food and soft drinks out there, including a noodle bar. I was very disappointed to find our stamp did not entitle us to cocktails at the bar, only wine and beer.
When our flight was called, we made our way down to the gate lounge and through the screening for boarding. We turned left again and headed to our cushy business class seats, where we were given hot towels and welcome drinks. There was even more space than with Malaysia Airlines, with lots of little compartments for our stuff, and we were once again provided with a comfy blanket, pillow and noise cancelling headphones.
This was our favourite flight of the entire trip. It was only a small business class cabin, so the service was great with very attentive cabin staff, the seats were super comfy, food and drinks delicious, and the flight was super smooth. We didn't bother to sleep on this flight, saving that for the next flight!
Coming into Taipei, a small group of us were gathered who were booked on the connecting flight to Ontario. We were let off the plane first, and given stickers that would give us priority access through everything else. It was a LONG walk to get to the other gate! We pretty much power-walked straight through, and even with priority security screening, made it just in time for boarding to start. I was a little sad that we hadn't got to experience the China Airlines lounge in their home airport, which I'm sure would have been great!
It was a much larger plane for the next flight, with a much larger business class cabin. We were right in the back of the business class cabin, which meant we actually still turned right when boarding. It certainly wasn't as much of a premium experience. I couldn't get the overhead locker open, and with the constant stream of people walking through the aisle to board, wasn't really able to get any help with it. We were eventually given welcome hot towels and welcome drinks, but it was rushed and the cabin staff had to squeeze in to let people pass in the aisle. The seats were still comfy and luxurious though, and for the longer flight we were also provided with amenities packs.
The food was a little fancier on this flight... a little too fancy for our taste and we found ourselves tempted to ask for the economy meal lol! I did enjoy my steak though and we got a little fruit and cheese platter with dessert which was nice.
After dinner and a movie, we reclined our seats into the sleeping position and settled in for a few hours of shut-eye. It was actually quite comfortable for sleeping, although we did keep hitting little pockets of bumpiness which was a little unsettling. We woke up to enjoy breakfast upon our approach to Ontario.
We seemed to approach land closer up towards San Francisco, and then come down between the mountain ranges. LA was still experiencing extreme wind (although not as extreme as it had been in the lead up), and as soon as we hit land, we copped it. All the way from the San Francisco area to seconds from landing, the plane was rocking wildly from side to side, with the occasional vertical drop too. My grip on the armrests was getting tighter and tighter, and I was wondering if the couple of Kwells I had taken with breakfast would be enough to keep my breakfast down! The landing itself was actually very smooth, and the relief was so intense that I actually burst into tears. (Those who read my PTR may remember that I am not a good flyer!).
Continued in next post...
