AA 104 JFK-LHR January 21, 2007

I booked this a while ago in B class since I wasn't sure or my exact schedule. Requested an upgrade at the time but it, and all the other flights tonight were pretty full. I checked a couple days ago and all the flights on AA to LHR tonight were sold out in business and first. The upgrade on my first flight as an EXP wasn't looking good althought there was always the possibility of a cancellation or misconnect.

Arrived at JFK at about 5:30 and checked in at the first class check-in in terminal 8. The CS agent told me that I had two reservations; one in business clas and one in coach. I told her I only knew of one in coach but I had requested an upgrade. She said I would have to check at the gate for an upgrade and gave me a coach boarding pass.

I asked in the Admirals Club what the two reservations story was and they said that maybe they had reserved a seat for me in business in case I wanted to pay for it. She said that an upgrade was really unlikely but coach had a lot of room and offered to put me in a C seat and block the row. I didn't think people would stay out of the row so I asked for and was given a two seat row on the side. I had the aisle and she blocked the window.

I went to the gate before the flight was called and they were already boarding coach as one group. I boarded and waited. While waiting someone with a walkie talkie came on board, got an FA and the two of them approached a young Arab looking man in coach an talked to him briefly. The man and the woman with the walkie talkie then left the plane. A short time later she came back and got his coat and backpack. The pilot announced that we were waiting for the ground crew to remove the luggage of someone who "decided not to join us tonight". I think that would qualify as a euphemism.

Iin the meantime they paged another passenger and asked him t come to the front of the plane. I recognized him as an EXP (luggage tags) that came through security right behind me. He got the last upgrade. I realize in retrospect that being new to the whole EXP thing I screwed up. I should have called the EXP desk to ask about the phantom business class reservation. I would still like to know what that was about. In any case coach with two seats is pretty good.

We were additionally delayed while they checked on a maintainence issue and then quite a while waiting for clearance. Finally left the gate about an hour late. Meal service was good for coach. Pleasant crew. Had a choice of chicken and rice or beef and mashed potatoes. Took the former. The ride was a bit bumpy and the seat belt sign was on for a long time. After a while people just started to ignore it. The light was on for almost half of the flight. It was turned off for a bit then came back on during a stretch of fairly heavy turbulance and stayed on.

We crossed the Irish coast just south of Galway as the colors of sunrise were just beginning to appear. It cleared enough that the outline of the coast was visible in the darkness with the patches of light from the cities spreading below. The yellow lights of the cities and the oranges and red of the sunrise were beautiful. One object was visible in the sky. I thought at first that it was a star but I think now it must be a planet. It is fairly low in the southernsky and may have a reddish tint but it is tough to tell through the window. I'm guessing it is Mars but I will have to check the charts to confirm that.

They served a croissant, juice and another beverage as we were going over Ireland. We crossed the Irish see and it was fairly light by the time we crossed the coast of Great Britian. Not sure if it was over England or northern Wales. South of the bay that Liverpool is near. There was enough light and it cleared enough to see the coast. It looked very grey and cold.

We landed at Heathrow with minimal delay from air traffic. We were about an hour late. The wait at immigration was very short. I wasn't in the Fast Track line and notice that it seemed a lot longer than the regular line.

Nile Crocodile in Zambia

IMG_6112

This is a good sized Nile crocodile on the edge of a river at night in Zambia. We were night-spotting for different animals when we came across this one. The croc is lit with a spotlight from the Land Rover we were in, the bird is lit with separate light (Streamlight TL-3) that was handheld.

AA107

As empty as the flight to LHR was the return on AA 107 was packed. More or less a sold out flight. I had been waiting for my upgrade to clear and it had when I checked in about three hours before the flight... To be continued,

AA107

As empty as the flight to LHR was the return on AA 107 was packed. More or less a sold out flight. I had been waiting for my upgrade to clear and it had when I checked in about three hours before the flight... To be continued,

Off again

Off on a trip to London and Cambridge. Mostly for business. On AA132 which depart JFK at 9:30. Although that is looking like a theoretical departure time since we started board about 30 minutes late. Probably won,t have much impact on arrival time. About ready to go. Later.

March 6, 2005

Returning from a trip to London for the weekend. The weather was appaling. Windy and cold yesterday during the day. In the evening it was even more windy and cold plus it was raining. Technically it might not have been rain but the ever popular winter mix.

Didn't do much, in large part due to the weather. Arrived on Saturday morning after an overnight flight and fortunately my hotel was ready. First thing I did after checking in was to go out in search of some bottled water. I had forgotten to get any at Heathrow or Paddington. Took me a while to find some, nearly an hour, due to walking in all of the wrong directions from the hotel. After I got the water I went back to my room and slept a bit longer than I had planned.

Spent some time coordinating with kctv who was coordinating with iluv2fly, both fellow Flyertalkers, on trying to meet for dinner. I then went to Selfridges for some oysters and champagne. I did some window shopping on Oxford Street after that then headed down to the Piccidilly area where I was going to meet kctv and iluv2fly at a pub called the St. James.

Spent some time at the pub, they had gotten a corner table so it was a good place to talk even after it started to get crowded. At about 7:00 we headed out to get a cab. Unlike New York, you can get a cab in the rain in London it seems, althought since it was more like sleet and snow maybe that doesn't count. We got to the restaurant were heading to, Wodka (on St. Albans in Kensington) early but they had just opened and not many people were there so we were seated immediately. I had been to Wodka before and it is one of my favorite restaurants in London. Polish food and very reasonably priced for London. Had the pierogi, which I love and then tried the Polish hunters stew which was excellent. Called it an evening pretty early and headed back to the hotel.

Had an uneventful morning, in large part due to the fact that I was up in time to take a shower before the water went out in the entire hotel. Made it by about 10 minutes in fact. Took a cab to Paddington then the Heathrow Express and got to Heathrow early for my flight. The very nice CS agent checked me in and after discussing my seat moved me to an aisle in the center section and the computer blocked the seat next to me,

Currently in the SAS London Lounge waiting for my flight. Hopefully on my next trip the weather will be nice enough to take that walking tour I had planned for this trip, This trip was very nice, had an extremely pleasant dinner with kctv and iluv2fly with lots of travel talk, FT gossip and general good conversation,

They were local travels today. Went into the city to look at the Gates in Central Park. I have never been a fan of Christoff but the Gates are nlce. What made them so nice was all of the people who came in and interacted with them and with each other.

[Posted with hblogger 2.0 http://www.normsoft.com/hblogger/]

Trip Report for US Air Mileage Run LGA-PIT-SFO-CLT-LGA July 4, 2004

Doing a one day trip to San Francisco on US Air. After getting a double miles postcard last week I decided I would give US another chance I had stopped flying them almost completely after last year. Now I am considering trying to reach Chairmans Preferred again. So much for logic and discipline. What I will in fact do is go one level at a time and evaluate whether to go higher based on how it seems at the time. Despite the double miles I can't help but feel I should be on AA. Everyone had great sales on transcons today but I decided on US. In any case. to the trip report.

Arrived at LGA for a 5:45 for a 6:50 flight. Decided to try the automated check in and it actually worked. That was a first for me. As my itinerary comes up on screen a GA comes over to make sure it is working okay and notices the LGA-PIT, PIT-SFO, SFO-CLT, CLT-LGA in one day and comments, "my you have a busy day". Too bad I'm not going to have time for lunch or dinner at Zuni Cafe while I am in San Francisco. Always one of my favorites. But I didn't want to take the redeye back.

It takes all of about 5 minutes to check in and get through security. Go to the US Air Club and use my, shiny new, red Red Carpet Club card to get in The place is practically empty. Only a handful of people are there. Go to the gate at about 6:20 for the 6:50 departure of US01 and no employees are at the gate. Clear it is a very light load. We start boarding about 5 to 10 minutes later. About 45 people on the Airbus 321. I'm in first with 2 other people. towards the end of boarding a JetBlue flight officer gets on and they add him to first.

While boarding is progressing I'm offered a preflight beverage. I ask for coffee which is still brewing. I get it a couple minutes in a paper cup. A very hot paper cup. Doors close a few minutes early but not before some entertainment is provided by a passenger dashing through the aisle with what appeared to be a garbage bag full of stuff and running of the plane. Wrong flight as it were. The joys of holiday travel. I can't be too critical, I actually did that myself a few years ago. Well, minus the garbage bag and the panic, but it was the wrong flight.

Doors close a few minutes early and we are off. Get on the runway right away and take off about 2 minutes after scheduled departure time. Get the US Air first class snack basket and some Bloody Mary mix. Get to PIT about 10 minutes early. very short wait for a tow to the gate.

All the clubs are closed except for the main core club. Didn't find this out until I walked to the main core to a store and back to the B club near my gate. The signs in the concourse saying which clubs were open neglected to mention that the B club was closed for the holiday. Upon arriving at the main club I found the up escalator out of order. To me this is good news since my trainer cancelled tomorrow. This is not necessarily a view shared by all their guests, however.

The person at the door of the club was very nice and helpful. checked on my flight without me asking and asked me if I was familiar with the club. The latter probably since I entered with an RCC card.

Got to the gate for Flight 73 to SFO about 30 minutes before flight time. Typical crowd of people in the concourse aisle making t hard for people to get to the gate. I board after the people needing extra time and there were a lot of them, mostly people with kids. The FA brings a bottle of water for everyone in first. Its a full or almost completely full flight. Another Airbus 321. Looks like one seat open in first. Door closes a few minutes early and we are off the gate on time. Take off after virtually no wait (typical of PIT as oppsed to PHL).

About 20 to 30 minutes into the flight one of the first class FAs cme through and said hello to all of the passengers by name and introduced himself and told us the name of the other FA in first. Very professional and friendly. At the same time he took beverage orders and asked us our choice for breakfast. He also noticed I had a 1:00 return to CLT and said I was going to have a long day. The pilot announced we would be in about 20 minutes early. Since I was scheduled for a 90 minute turn-around that was good news.

We had a choice of pancakes or an omelot. Took the latter. The breakfast was pretty good. No complaints about the food. However, getting coffee ina styrofoam cup in first class on a midcon/transcon was a bit shocking. I have to admit I didn't notice at first since they typically serve preflight coffee in styrofoam. But once in the air? I have been flying UA and AA mostly this year. That wouldn't happen in first on ORD-LGA, much less a transcon. So while the food was good the overall was a bit marred by the little things. The serving of fruit with the meal was especially nice.

Arrived at SFO 10 minutes ahead of schedule. In hearing people talking as we were getting off, about 6 other people in first were all heading back that day. The rest were having dinner in San Francisco and taking redeyes back later tonight.

I went to the US Air Club which I though I had read was closing but ws still open fortunately. Got to the gate for flight 58 to Charlotte about 25 minutes before the flight. Boarding was well underway. This fight was pretty light. Lots open in first. I had a row to myself which was nice. Off the gate right on time and no wait to take off.

Got underway and got a demonstration of the dirty planes that people complain about. The tray at my seat was pretty dirty. Both the the fully open surface and the back side when folded. Some kind of sticky material. The food was a pastrami sandwhich or a salad with chicken. All served at once, again a big difference from what you get on UA or AA even on a shorter flight. Didn't see much of the FAs for most of the flight. And for the vodka report, it was Finlandia with a green lime in the Bloody Mary.

Arrived at CLT a few minutes early. Terminal was pretty empty. Went to the C/D Club. As always really great people there. Checked on my flight without me even asking again. Club was pretty empty as well. Went to the gate for flight 554 about 30 minutes before flight time. Very light load again Airbus 319. There were only two of us in first. Great FAs. There fireworks around the area so they checked with the pilot to see which side would have the best view so we could watch on the climb out. They brought us preflight drinks. After takeoff when they came around for beverage service I asked for a coffee. The FA asked if I wouldn't like a Baileys with that which was a great idea. They really did a great job checking back with us to see if we needed anything. I think they may have checked more times on this CLT-LGA flight than on SFO-CLT. And the tray on this was spotless. Had a cleaning solution sort of odor in fact as if it had very recently been very throughly cleaned. Great flight overall. Arrived at LGA almost 20 minutes early.

Despite some complaints about some details this was a prety good trip. Importantly, operations were all efficient. A pretty good mileage run with a lot of EQMs in a short time and for a good price.