(upbeat music)
- So I'm at Nairobi International flying to Dubai
on Kenya Airways, once a very promising airline.
How are you?
- [Receptionist] Hello, fine thank you.
- [Chui] here's my ticket, Yeah.
(upbeat music)
- Well, this lounge is quite small.
It has some window view of the apron,
but I've just found out they have a second lounge.
So I'm going to try out the second lounge,
see if that's bigger and if it's better.
(upbeat music)
So out of these two lounges,
I think The Pride Lounge,
this one, at gate 17 is way better.
It's bigger.
It has more window view
and it has pretty much the same food selection.
So if I were you,
I would come to 817
to use The Pride Lounge rather than The Simba Lounge.
(upbeat music)
- We are now ready for boarding
and in the following order.
Business Class passengers,
Sky Priority members...
Excuse me.
(buzzer buzzing)
- [Chui] Hi, how are you?
- Very fine, welcome aboard. - [Chui] Thank you.
Mister... Chui, Karibu sana.
- [Woman] Hi, how are you?
- [Chui] Good.
- Welcome. - [Chui] okay
- To the right.
The seat is on your right,
when you sit. - [Chui} Thank you.
(upbeat music)
- I dunno, maybe I just frustrated with the temperature.
I think Kenya Airways has lost it.
The boarding process was not smooth.
It was chaotic.
And the film...
The staff stopping me to filming
and I try to explain to them, but,
anyway, I got on board a 787.
It is the 2-2-2 very open kind of sitting
not latest because
the streamliner came a few years ago
but it's a fully flat seat.
Let's see if the service
and the food and drinks can make it up.
- Jambo. Welcome to The Pride of Africa, Kenya Airways
My name is captain Mwanzi.
I'm with my First Officer Brian Mundi.
And this evening will be flying to Dubai.
Flight time of about 4 hours and 40 minutes
at cruising outside of 39,000 feet.
And our flight will take us
to the Northern part of Kenya
into the Eastern part of Ethiopia,
Horn of Africa, In Somalia,
we cross the Redian Sea into
Oman via Salala,and,
basically through Oman all the way
before we commence our consent into Dubai.
- In case of reject,
I will verify your actions
called out (indistinct), 60 notes and notify, etc.
After V1, we shall continue the takeoff,
retract the gear after a positive rate of climb
and drop the flaps
and that's be all tonight.
About 400 feet above (indistinct) level,
once the aircraft is stabilised
we'll verify the malfunction
and carry out memory (indistinct)
Items if required.
For thrust related malfunction,
we'll accelerate at the engine out acceleration altitude,
continue the climb, confirm continuous thrust,
and perform the non normal checklist.
Be ware at fully capitations all times of the night.
That is my briefing, unless you have any questions,
comments or suggestions?
- [Chui] Is it good?
- Yeah, the briefing is good.
Everything has been covered.
The only thing today is that that is very hot.
So the initial climb might a bit bumpy
because of the heat and the high elevation,
the thermals are there so
the first 10,000 feet might be a bit bumpy.
- [Chui] Reducing performance.
- Yeah. Yeah.
- I'm back in the future.
787 eFX screen.
I was flying a 46 year old DC-9
this morning to Tanzania, and back.
And now in the evening I'm jumping
on the dream liner to Dubai,
quite a difference man,
quite a different.
- Would you like to have drink?
I have champagne, oranges juice...
- [Chui] I'll have glass of champagne, yeah.
- Okay, here you go, sir.
- [Chui] Okay, Thank you.
- Enjoy your drink.
- [PA Announcer] ...will be about 4 hours
and put your masks on
through out the flight...
- I'm Holden
and we fly them a lot
and we have no complaints
within the actual flight
but ground staff
do need a little bit of PR and training
which is a little upsetting because passengers,
their first view of Kenya Airways
are the crew on the ground.
In flight service- - [Chui] You can't fault it.
- You cannot fault it.
They are superb.
I mean, they are...
the food is good,
they're very- - [Chui] The service is great.
It's taking some time for boarding.
The rules are changing.
Now, Dubai has finally scraped the PCR requirement.
If you're fully Vaccinated,
rock in the airport without a PCR.
We are about 30 minutes behind schedule.
And to be fair, they started boarding late as well.
And looks like there's some last minute passenger missing.
But I think now the door is closed.
We're going to get going soon.
(relaxed techno music)
(indistinct chatter)
- [Pilot 1] Check.
- [Pilot 2] 4-0-7. - [Pilot 1] Check.
(slow techno music)
- Well, according to the map,
we are now crossing the Equator.
Obviously there's no line.
It's only on the map,
but,
yeah, I really miss Kenya.
I had a really good time there.
The Safari in Masai Mara,
all the nice people,
very relaxing kind in Kenya.
- Here's your blanket.
- [Chui] Okay, thank you very much.
- You're welcome.
I like your apron.
You got a very funny apron there.
Very temporary one. - Thank you.
(relaxed techno music)
- Snack starter service.
- [Chui] Okay.
- So I'll be serving you
with a drink as well as the selection of nuts.
So what you prefer to drink?
- I have a Coke Zero, please.
- [Air Chuiess] Enjoy your Drink.
That's Coca-cola.
Today I'll be serving dinner shortly.
Then there is the main course,
which is Kenyan beef,
with traditional mash potatoes,
and pumpkin,
as well as Kenya beans.
Then there is the chicken,
which is grilled
with (indistinct) and turmeric rice.
Do you know the meaning of your name in Swahili?
- [Chui] Oh, I know, yes. - You know?
- I already been told
- A Mr. Leopard (laughs)
- [Chui] Yeah (laughs)
- That that feels like a mighty one.
- [Chui] I feel very powerful, you know?
Very powerful now (laughs)
- That's like a mighty creature.
I love leopards, they're very sleek.
- [Chui] Thank you, Rachel.
- So, I'd like to offer you dinner.
- [Chui] Yah, please. I think you're ready.
- There you are. Karibu.
Enjoy your meal.
- So, vegetarian.
- [Air Chuiess] Yes. - [Chui] Oh, okay.
- That's a cucumber salad with
some marinated vegetables.
- Okay.
- I'd like to offer you some breads.
We have some whole meal bread
and some white bread.
- I'll have white bread.
- Sure.
There you are.
Some chardonnay?
- Where'd this come from.
This is from... which country?
- It's French.
- [Chui] French? Okay.
Sounds good.
- Then we have South Africa white wine,
which is Waterford.
Which is Sauvignon Blanc.
- I have the French Chardonnay.
- So that's our white wine, enjoy
- [Chui] Thank you.
(relaxed techno music)
- Interest you with our Kenyan coffee?
Kenyan tea?
- I'll just have a dessert, please. Yeah.
- That's our strawberry and chocolate (indistinct).
- Okay.
- Okay, thank you.
I just finished dinner.
Ooh. That meal was quite simple
for the starter, especially.
I've seen way better ones in Business Class.
At least they could add some meats
or sea food as an appetiser.
The chicken on the main course was tasty.
But again, the dessert was simple.
- So Mr. Leopard,
that is our beef pilau from economic class.
- [Chui] This is economy meal?
- [Air Chuiess] Yes, that's for economy class meal.
- In a box.
- Yes, That's our economy class meal.
- So, this is a beef with rice?
- Beef Pilau.
- [Chui] Rice, and cake.
That's it, huh? - Bread and and dessert.
- Very simple, very simple.
(relaxed techno music)
So they turn off the lights when the meal finish.
Now I'm going to get some rest.
I do actually like these seats,
despite his 2-2-2, lack of privacy.
You have to hop over from the window seat to go out.
But there's nothing in front of you
restricting your leg room.
You might actually sleep quite well.
(relaxed techno music)
Just woke up now.
We're 30 minutes to landing.
It's been a very comfortable, relaxing fly.
I slept through about at least
two to two and a half hours.
But I think Kenya Airways need to work on the better food
better meals,
better entertainment,
because some of the movies are also in 2019.
They need to update that.
And also they need wifi as well.
I think the biggest strength
for Kenya Airways is probably the crew.
The service is very nice.
- [PA Announcer] 1,000.
(alarm goes off)
- [PA Announcer] 400.
300.
Approaching minimums.
Minimums.
200,
100,
50,
40,
30,
20,
10.
(relaxed techno music)