I came to Bahrain in British Airways’ first class, but I’m more looking forward to my trip back with Gulf Air as it’s the first time I fly with them. It only cost me 45,000 Aeroplan points, which needless to say is a very good deal.
I wrote about my ground experience already so let’s jump straight to boarding. Although the Falcon Gold lounge is a lacklustre, they have made some effort to enhance the boarding experience. There is a dedicated waiting area for business class passengers with comfortable sofa, and priority boarding is guaranteed.
First glance at the Falcon Gold (business class) cabin:
As you can see, Falcon Gold has opted for the relatively uncommon Apex Suite layout, and it’s the first time I’ve seen it. Other airlines that have Apex Suite include Oman Air, Japan Airlines and Korean Air.
The Apex Suite has six seats in a row (2-2-2), which is 50% more than many 1-2-1 designs. However, it makes good use of the space and you may find it more comfortable than say, a reverse herringbone seat.
The two middles seats are aligned with each other:
The two window seats on the other hand are slightly staggered to allow for some separation.
For a solo passenger the “true” window seats are no doubt most ideal, as you are hidden away whilst still keeping aisle access. You can push up the partition to avoid eye contact with your neighbour.
The amenity bag’s surface feels very rough, so not made of expensive materials.
The shell creates more privacy for the seat. It has a reading light at the top.
You can keep all the three windows to yourself, luxury!
But, I really hate the folding tray table. First of all it prevents me from leaving anything on the “armrest”, as I would otherwise need to move them around every time I take out or put back the tray.
What’s more, it is very accident-prone – at least the me. My finger was caught on the BA flight, and again here!! Thankfully it’s not the same finger…
Interestingly the chair has a massage function. It’s not good though as I could barely feel any action when it’s turned on.
There’s enough space under the ottoman for a backpack.
The lie-flat bed:
Although not super wide, the bed is very long which is great news if you are tall. You don’t need to stick your feet in a cubby hole.
The IFE is quite dry:
Champagne, date and Arabic coffee are served after take-off. Wine and nuts are served before the meal.
Menu:
Nothing too exciting here. I ordered the mezze followed by the fillet steak, and they are just standard.
The cheesecake is better.
There’s a bit of ritual when it comes to the dessert and afternoon tea, as they actually push a trolley down the aisle and let you pick what you want!
Wifi for the entire flight costs $15 which is at the cheap end amongst airlines, although it’s not fast enough for streaming. There’s a surprise waiting for you in the bathroom 😉 – a smart toilet seat!
The service is just okay, not top-notch, and some flight attendants don’t really communicate at all. Gulf Air has a decent business class product, however my experience is far from how some reviewers call it “the best business class cabin in the sky”, to be honest.
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