richard
Feb 8, 00, 11:28 am
I took UA's last flight from IAD-SFO on Wednesday night and arrived after midnight. I came in from Raleigh Durham (outbound to RDU on United's puddle jumper, back on Metrojet 737)
To SFO we took an Airbus 320, some empty seats up front in employee class. Nothing memorable about the flight (except, why do they not serve nuts? Just the stupid bag of "party" mix http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
Rented a car from Avis after the 10 mile drive on the generic shuttle, and headed to San Jose to the Crowne Plaza. I have stayed here several times before and have had a pleasent experience. Until now.
One clue was the flyer explaining the lack of running water the next day (nobody mentioned that before!). The second clue was being sent to a room with only one bed (I was travelling with my brother and had requested 2 beds). Third clue was the smoking room we were put into without being asked. Fourth clue was the fact that the shower water refused to drain, the drain was clogged. Etc.
The next morning we complained and to their credit they cheerfully said, "we guarantee your satisfaction, sorry you were not happy, and the stay is on us."
Went to a meeting, then looked for a hotel lobby to park at. Got a glimpse through the rain of the Stanford Park Hotel, and landed there.
What an oasis, a magnificent bar, wonderful surroundings, extremely civilized. After sitting at a table we got tired and so I decided we would rent a room for the night. Perhaps we would leave on the UA Shuttle to Seattle that night but we had a dinner engagement and didn't know if we'd make the last shuttle.
The hotel is great, except for the trains that you keep hearing every 5 or 10 minutes (they don't bother me, but I know they'd disturb a lot of people.) I want to stay at this hotel again (for longer than 3 hours this time.)
We packed our stuff and went to our dinner meeting, which ended about 8:30 so we hightailed to the SFO airport. On the generic shuttle from the rental place to the terminal we had a choice of South Terminal or North Terminal, Alaska or UA. The FF miles won out and we went with UA who had cancelled the 10:30 shuttle, leaving only the "9:00" shuttle which was scheduled for 9:30.
It actually left at 11:30. Sigh. Arrived in SEA very late, checked into the Crowne Plaza over on Seneca. Excellent building, great people, highly recommended. With CP you hit or miss sometimes I guess.
Dinner at the Metropolitan, what a wonderful place, magnificent bar, very expensive.
Next day, flew out on UA, another Airbus 320, in F, 10:00 redeye to IAD. F was full, I upgraded my brother and another colleague, the flight was largely empty in the back.
For a "snack" we had the sandwiches. Quick service, attentive, then as usual on the redeyes the FAs disappear. Can't blame them, everyone sleeps anyway, and if you need something they will happily bring it.
Noted only one visible employee in F on the way back (a pilot in uniform).
To SFO we took an Airbus 320, some empty seats up front in employee class. Nothing memorable about the flight (except, why do they not serve nuts? Just the stupid bag of "party" mix http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
Rented a car from Avis after the 10 mile drive on the generic shuttle, and headed to San Jose to the Crowne Plaza. I have stayed here several times before and have had a pleasent experience. Until now.
One clue was the flyer explaining the lack of running water the next day (nobody mentioned that before!). The second clue was being sent to a room with only one bed (I was travelling with my brother and had requested 2 beds). Third clue was the smoking room we were put into without being asked. Fourth clue was the fact that the shower water refused to drain, the drain was clogged. Etc.
The next morning we complained and to their credit they cheerfully said, "we guarantee your satisfaction, sorry you were not happy, and the stay is on us."
Went to a meeting, then looked for a hotel lobby to park at. Got a glimpse through the rain of the Stanford Park Hotel, and landed there.
What an oasis, a magnificent bar, wonderful surroundings, extremely civilized. After sitting at a table we got tired and so I decided we would rent a room for the night. Perhaps we would leave on the UA Shuttle to Seattle that night but we had a dinner engagement and didn't know if we'd make the last shuttle.
The hotel is great, except for the trains that you keep hearing every 5 or 10 minutes (they don't bother me, but I know they'd disturb a lot of people.) I want to stay at this hotel again (for longer than 3 hours this time.)
We packed our stuff and went to our dinner meeting, which ended about 8:30 so we hightailed to the SFO airport. On the generic shuttle from the rental place to the terminal we had a choice of South Terminal or North Terminal, Alaska or UA. The FF miles won out and we went with UA who had cancelled the 10:30 shuttle, leaving only the "9:00" shuttle which was scheduled for 9:30.
It actually left at 11:30. Sigh. Arrived in SEA very late, checked into the Crowne Plaza over on Seneca. Excellent building, great people, highly recommended. With CP you hit or miss sometimes I guess.
Dinner at the Metropolitan, what a wonderful place, magnificent bar, very expensive.
Next day, flew out on UA, another Airbus 320, in F, 10:00 redeye to IAD. F was full, I upgraded my brother and another colleague, the flight was largely empty in the back.
For a "snack" we had the sandwiches. Quick service, attentive, then as usual on the redeyes the FAs disappear. Can't blame them, everyone sleeps anyway, and if you need something they will happily bring it.
Noted only one visible employee in F on the way back (a pilot in uniform).