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Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh Po Chentong International

My friend dropped me off at the airport at 18.45 h, which was quite early, but we decided to left a little bit earlier because of heavy traffic at Chinese New Year. We needed some more time as usual, but not as much as expected. I took my luggage and went to the terminal, which only passengers can entry. The luggage is x-rayed just at the entrance and marked with a red plastic tag at the suitcase, which took some time. Then I headed to the Thai Airways Counter. There lines were not long, but nevertheless it took some time to reach the counter, because there were several families with a lot of luggage to be checked.
As I reached the counter I gave my two tickets to the agent and asked to check the luggage to DUS. The counters were operated by staff of CAMS, the airport operators in Phnom Penh (the management of Po Chentomg Airport is a French one). Two agents ofThai helped them and it needed some minutes to issue the boarding pass and to check the luggage. She was able to check me in for the PNH –BKK and the BKK – FRA segment and noted that I had to ask at Bangkok for the gate. She did not ask, if I would like to have a window or aisle seat; she worked quiet but efficient.
I took my boarding passes and my hand luggage and went to the counter, were I had to pay the airport tax of 25,00 US $. Here I noticed, that she gave me a middle seat 38 E for the BKK – FRA segment; I decided to try to change this in BKK.
I went upstairs, gave my passport and the departure cards to customs and headed to security, which I passed without problem (this time no beep, although I wear the same clothes as on the Inbound flight from BKK).
The airport has only one lounge for all airlines, who fly to PNH. I could not visit the lounge, as I am only FTL. I strolled through the bookstore with several international newspapers and magazines, the gift shop which Khmer art products, the duty-free shop. I watched people and finished reading the book “First they killed my father” by Loung Ung.
At 19.45 the boarding announcement, which was barely understandable, was made and I went to the gate A 8.

21 January 2004
PNH – BKK
[Phnom Penh – Bangkok]
TG 699 (Thai Airways); Airbus A 300
20.25 – 21.30 [20.20 – 21.40]
Economy Class
Seat 61 A

I was one of the first passengers on board and went through Business to my seat in the back of the plane. I put my carry one under the front seat, because I want to use my Psion, which was in my carry on, during the flight. The air condition was quite cold, so I decide to put my sweat jacket not off. The Airbus was in the seating 2-4-2, which means I only could have one neighbour. The lady, an American, was one of the last passengers, who arrived.

The plane was not very full and many seats remain empty, but the lady did not move to a free seat, although many empty rows were available. She read the Bangkok Post in a manner, I could read the left side of the paper myself. I thought about a seat change myself, as she got her vegetarian menu and stopped reading.
I got my menu some minutes later.

Again, this is a menu transcription of my own as no written menus were given.
The drink service followed soon after the trays were distributed and I take water and a tea with lime for the dessert this time. The whole time the flight attendants made rounds and offer more coffee or tea, also orange juice, water and coke, while others handled out the arrival and departure cards for Bangkok.
The flight itself was very bumpy and the seat belt signs were switched on some minutes after the dinner service has started.
The service of the flight attendants was again very good and efficient, although it was due to the light load easier as on my inbound flight.
Round about 10 minutes before the estimated arrival time the captain came over the micro and told that he has to circle south of Bangkok in waiting position because of heavy air traffic in Bangkok, which would cause a delay of 10 minutes; he apologizes for the inconvenience.
This time, there were large video screens and the air show was shown, so that is was possible to see, where the plane was. 7 Minutes before landing the screens are closed by a flight attendant. I have never seen before, that the screens were changed, so that the screens now faced to the wall.
We landed some ten minutes late in BKK and parked in front of one of the big hangars. Four busses and one extras bus for Business passenger was waiting and I was able to leave the plane at the back exit, which means I was in the second bus for the terminal. The bus ride took some minutes and I was on my way to the Transfer Desk

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