Andrew Yiu
May 15, 00, 11:29 pm
Had this trip in planning for a month and am going with a colleague. Overall had a very good trip!
May 7, 2000
CP 127 YYZ - HNL
Scheduled departure time was 19:30 and ask my friend to meet me at airport at 18:00. I dropped off my luggage at the Exec Plat checkin lounge before looking for my colleague in the airport. Took me over 15 mins to locate him as the airport was extremely crowded. Checkin took less than 3 mins with the standard taking passport number procedures while I had a chat with the concierge. I had both of us upgraded when I book the trip. The agent initially forgot to take the upgrade stickers from me but I quickly reminded him to avoid them chasing after me for them when I get on the plane which they surely will.
We headed to the international Empress Lounge for half and hour or so. Boarding was all completed by 19:20. J class was all full and Y was about 50% full. Pushback was on time at 19:30. Flight time was 9 hrs 55 mins with strong headwinds and some thunderstorm on our way. Never seen these crews before but had this particular Captain before many times on YYZ - YVR flights. Beverage services was started and immediately followed by dinner service.
For those interested -- Dinner menu:
To begin
pan - fried sea scallops offered with pea mustard mayonnaise
entree selections
* Grilled salmon enhanced by mustard sauce
* Grilled tenderloin of beef acccented by demi-glace, accomplained by mushrooms and chopped parsley.
* Grilled breast of chicken with tomato basil sauce with mixed bell peppers.
Accompaniment options
herbed baby red potato wedges or vegetable a la bouquetiere
cheese and desserts
selection of fine cheeses
fresh fruit tarts or assorted fresh fruit
Freshly brewed coffee, selections of teas and liqueurs
I choose the beef with potatoes and vegetables. The appetizers was one of the best I ever had on CP except the smoked salmon I once had on a trip to HKG. The meal was excellent.
Movie service started after dinner. Movie was "Anna and the King". I didn't watch it but instead choose to watch "Boys don't cry" on the personal video system. There was a trolley of snacks for J class passenger. Went up to have a chat with the FAs after the movie. Also asked the co-pilot about watching the landing from the jump seat... no luck and was told they don't allow it! I swear I've seen a lot of passenger in there before. Maybe I should have ask the Captain instead!
Another meal was served before landing:
* Fruit bowl
* Grilled chicken accompanied by melon salad
* freshly brewed coffee, selections of teas
This meal was also excellent and I was partcularly surprise when the chicken was warm instead of icy cold.
We landed about 30 mins behind schedule due to the strong headwinds and time lost fighting the thunderstorms somewhere over the midwest.
Lineups at Customs was LONG LONG LONG as the a fully loaded 747 Quantas flight just arrived ahead of us. All the bags were out by the time we got to the luggage area. Claimed it and proceed to take the shuttle to the first hotel.
May 7 - May 10
Westin Prince Hotel
We didn't get to the hotel til almost 1AM and I am sure we are one of the last to checkin. This stay was with Starwood points. The hotel looks extremely nice from the outside and we heard other people on the shuttle muttered "I hope this is our hotel dear.." as we got off. I try to persuade for an upgrade to a suite but checkin agent insist that I was already upgraded. Got 24th floor, there was 30 in total I belive. Normal room with ocean view (All the rooms have ocean view here) and the amenity was already waiting in the room. It consists of a coffee mug, a bag of coffee and some cookies and 2 bottled water already placed in the fridge. Looks great...
May 10 - May 14
Sheraton Waikiki
This is easily the BEST Starwood stay I ever had. We are paying a rate of $130 USD per night using UA 50% coupon. I asked about an upgrade at checkin and was told I have already been upgraded to a suite. However when I was filling out some forms she needed, she disappear without warning for 5 mins into the back. She came back and scratch out our original assigned room 1535 and change it to 902. She started telling us about the room and say we will defintely be surprise about the size of the suite. As soon as we got out of the elevator and took a look at the floor plans for the hotel, we knew we are in for something really special. We opened the door, BIG HUGE living room and bathroom. 2 balconies, 1 with a great view of diamond head and another with a view of the ocean. We were defintely in shock for a while!! Amenity kit arrived shortly after that which consisted of 2 bottled water, 2 fortune cookies, dried pineapple and a bag of chips. We also got a free late checkout of 10PM without charge. Out flight leaves on May 15 at 12:45AM....Stupid flight scheds.
May 15, 2000
CP 128 HNL - YYZ
We returned out rental car which we had for 4 days and then took the shuttle to the main terminal. There was no one in line for checkin at Canadian counter and we were given out boarding pass within mins... Again i already upgraded both of us at the time of booking.
Flight was schedule to leave at 12:45AM and boarding was completed by 12:30AM and we pushback at 12:35AM. J class was all full and Y was about 75% full. Flight time was estimated at 8 hrs and 25 mins. We had a long taxi to the runway and a sharp right turn immediately after takeoff as there are noise restrictions.
Beverage service commenced after takeoff followed by a light snack service:
* Minestrone soup
* Marinated seafood comprised of scallops, shrimp and calamari, presented with sliced melon.
* Chocolate
* Freshly brewed coffee, selection of teas and liqueurs
The snack was not bad. I had the exactly same menu when I came last time back in November.
Breakfast service was served about 2 hours prior to landing:
* Fresh fruit plate
* Breakfast pastries, preserve
entree selections
* Cheddar cheese omelette
* Crepe filled with ham and chives, complemented by Mornay sauce
* A chilled option featuring ham and cheese croissant
Accompaniment options
* Grilled breakfast sausage
* Herbed potatoes
* Freshly brewed coffee, selections of teas
I choose the cheese omelette and sausage. Nothing spectacular about it.
With about 1 hour to go, I decide to verify that the guy sitting 2 rows in front of me was a CP captain as I remember having him as my captain for quite a number of times prior and chatting with him before on my flights to HKG. Turns out I was right, he was a 747 captain for CP and he is just back from a HNL vacation. Funny thing is he is based in YVR but the flight to YVR is sold out so he is flying from HNL to YYZ then back to YVR. LONG DAY!! He was a very nice captain. I'll was hoping he will be the captain on my flight to HKG next Tue but turns out he is flying the Thurs flight next week. However, he promised that next time he'll try his best to let me have the jump seat for takeoffs and landing next time he is in command because I told him about being denied watching the landing when we land in HNL and also couple times where I wasn't fast enough to ask for it when he was the captain. He allows people in the jump seat during takeoffs and landings most of the time and I think he is one of the greatest captain I ever meet flying CP!
We were orinally planning to land at 15:20 but didn't and til 15:35 due to busy traffic.
Overall, a very good trip and I was especially impressed by the staff at the Sheraton Waikiki!
Empress
[This message has been edited by Empress (edited 05-15-2000).]
May 7, 2000
CP 127 YYZ - HNL
Scheduled departure time was 19:30 and ask my friend to meet me at airport at 18:00. I dropped off my luggage at the Exec Plat checkin lounge before looking for my colleague in the airport. Took me over 15 mins to locate him as the airport was extremely crowded. Checkin took less than 3 mins with the standard taking passport number procedures while I had a chat with the concierge. I had both of us upgraded when I book the trip. The agent initially forgot to take the upgrade stickers from me but I quickly reminded him to avoid them chasing after me for them when I get on the plane which they surely will.
We headed to the international Empress Lounge for half and hour or so. Boarding was all completed by 19:20. J class was all full and Y was about 50% full. Pushback was on time at 19:30. Flight time was 9 hrs 55 mins with strong headwinds and some thunderstorm on our way. Never seen these crews before but had this particular Captain before many times on YYZ - YVR flights. Beverage services was started and immediately followed by dinner service.
For those interested -- Dinner menu:
To begin
pan - fried sea scallops offered with pea mustard mayonnaise
entree selections
* Grilled salmon enhanced by mustard sauce
* Grilled tenderloin of beef acccented by demi-glace, accomplained by mushrooms and chopped parsley.
* Grilled breast of chicken with tomato basil sauce with mixed bell peppers.
Accompaniment options
herbed baby red potato wedges or vegetable a la bouquetiere
cheese and desserts
selection of fine cheeses
fresh fruit tarts or assorted fresh fruit
Freshly brewed coffee, selections of teas and liqueurs
I choose the beef with potatoes and vegetables. The appetizers was one of the best I ever had on CP except the smoked salmon I once had on a trip to HKG. The meal was excellent.
Movie service started after dinner. Movie was "Anna and the King". I didn't watch it but instead choose to watch "Boys don't cry" on the personal video system. There was a trolley of snacks for J class passenger. Went up to have a chat with the FAs after the movie. Also asked the co-pilot about watching the landing from the jump seat... no luck and was told they don't allow it! I swear I've seen a lot of passenger in there before. Maybe I should have ask the Captain instead!
Another meal was served before landing:
* Fruit bowl
* Grilled chicken accompanied by melon salad
* freshly brewed coffee, selections of teas
This meal was also excellent and I was partcularly surprise when the chicken was warm instead of icy cold.
We landed about 30 mins behind schedule due to the strong headwinds and time lost fighting the thunderstorms somewhere over the midwest.
Lineups at Customs was LONG LONG LONG as the a fully loaded 747 Quantas flight just arrived ahead of us. All the bags were out by the time we got to the luggage area. Claimed it and proceed to take the shuttle to the first hotel.
May 7 - May 10
Westin Prince Hotel
We didn't get to the hotel til almost 1AM and I am sure we are one of the last to checkin. This stay was with Starwood points. The hotel looks extremely nice from the outside and we heard other people on the shuttle muttered "I hope this is our hotel dear.." as we got off. I try to persuade for an upgrade to a suite but checkin agent insist that I was already upgraded. Got 24th floor, there was 30 in total I belive. Normal room with ocean view (All the rooms have ocean view here) and the amenity was already waiting in the room. It consists of a coffee mug, a bag of coffee and some cookies and 2 bottled water already placed in the fridge. Looks great...
May 10 - May 14
Sheraton Waikiki
This is easily the BEST Starwood stay I ever had. We are paying a rate of $130 USD per night using UA 50% coupon. I asked about an upgrade at checkin and was told I have already been upgraded to a suite. However when I was filling out some forms she needed, she disappear without warning for 5 mins into the back. She came back and scratch out our original assigned room 1535 and change it to 902. She started telling us about the room and say we will defintely be surprise about the size of the suite. As soon as we got out of the elevator and took a look at the floor plans for the hotel, we knew we are in for something really special. We opened the door, BIG HUGE living room and bathroom. 2 balconies, 1 with a great view of diamond head and another with a view of the ocean. We were defintely in shock for a while!! Amenity kit arrived shortly after that which consisted of 2 bottled water, 2 fortune cookies, dried pineapple and a bag of chips. We also got a free late checkout of 10PM without charge. Out flight leaves on May 15 at 12:45AM....Stupid flight scheds.
May 15, 2000
CP 128 HNL - YYZ
We returned out rental car which we had for 4 days and then took the shuttle to the main terminal. There was no one in line for checkin at Canadian counter and we were given out boarding pass within mins... Again i already upgraded both of us at the time of booking.
Flight was schedule to leave at 12:45AM and boarding was completed by 12:30AM and we pushback at 12:35AM. J class was all full and Y was about 75% full. Flight time was estimated at 8 hrs and 25 mins. We had a long taxi to the runway and a sharp right turn immediately after takeoff as there are noise restrictions.
Beverage service commenced after takeoff followed by a light snack service:
* Minestrone soup
* Marinated seafood comprised of scallops, shrimp and calamari, presented with sliced melon.
* Chocolate
* Freshly brewed coffee, selection of teas and liqueurs
The snack was not bad. I had the exactly same menu when I came last time back in November.
Breakfast service was served about 2 hours prior to landing:
* Fresh fruit plate
* Breakfast pastries, preserve
entree selections
* Cheddar cheese omelette
* Crepe filled with ham and chives, complemented by Mornay sauce
* A chilled option featuring ham and cheese croissant
Accompaniment options
* Grilled breakfast sausage
* Herbed potatoes
* Freshly brewed coffee, selections of teas
I choose the cheese omelette and sausage. Nothing spectacular about it.
With about 1 hour to go, I decide to verify that the guy sitting 2 rows in front of me was a CP captain as I remember having him as my captain for quite a number of times prior and chatting with him before on my flights to HKG. Turns out I was right, he was a 747 captain for CP and he is just back from a HNL vacation. Funny thing is he is based in YVR but the flight to YVR is sold out so he is flying from HNL to YYZ then back to YVR. LONG DAY!! He was a very nice captain. I'll was hoping he will be the captain on my flight to HKG next Tue but turns out he is flying the Thurs flight next week. However, he promised that next time he'll try his best to let me have the jump seat for takeoffs and landing next time he is in command because I told him about being denied watching the landing when we land in HNL and also couple times where I wasn't fast enough to ask for it when he was the captain. He allows people in the jump seat during takeoffs and landings most of the time and I think he is one of the greatest captain I ever meet flying CP!
We were orinally planning to land at 15:20 but didn't and til 15:35 due to busy traffic.
Overall, a very good trip and I was especially impressed by the staff at the Sheraton Waikiki!
Empress
[This message has been edited by Empress (edited 05-15-2000).]