bagold
May 17, 00, 1:33 am
I have been posting messages on the board for a while, but here is my first trip report.
SFO-LHR (UA 930) Friday, May 12th.
I was going to London for the weekend to attend a friend's wedding. I wanted to be fresh when I arrive so I was flying business. Well, that was my excuse anyway since I couldn't bare traveling over 10 hours in coach. (I normally fly first or business on international flights but the company pays for those trips. This time it was on my own nickel.)
So I first booked a UA ticket (over 6 weeks in advance) and wanted to upgrade using miles but they didn't have any upgradable seats in advance. So I double booked on BA which was twice the price for an upgradable ticket, but their upgrade class for business was in 'D', and not 'NC' like United. It was much easier to get upgradable seats on BA.
When I arrived at the terminal (60 minutes before departure) I checked-in at the UA desk. (The BA flight was 3 hours later). I asked the agent to first print out a paper ticket (from an E-Ticket) before checking me in. She asked why and I explained that if I didn't get the upgrade I was going to take another flight, so at least I have a paper ticket that I can send back to the travel agent to reissue for another ticket. I wasn't sure how I would reissue an e-ticket that had past dated flights. So she very efficiently issued my paper tickets and then checked me in. I had no check-in luggage and proceeded to gate 65.
When I got to gate 65, I wanted to find out where I was on the upgrade list to see whether I had a chance of getting upgraded, but there were no agents there. I found that strange, so went to the agent who was standing next to the actual boarding pass machine next to the door to ask how I would find out whether I had a chance to upgrade. She told me to go to Gate 61. Not quite understanding what she said, I went to Gate 61 and there was a long line waiting so I just waited there. It was really chaotic with everyone trying to get an upgrade and change seats. This is the first time that I have seen them check-in a flight at a different gate but it makes sense. Doesn't block the other passengers from boarding the plane. They called one lady many times and when she finally arrived, she said that she was waiting around Gate 65 for an agent to show up. She didn't know that they were checking in at a different gate.
They shouted out my name (not over the PA) so I went up to that agent. They told me to stick around when they annouce there were no more upgrades and my heart raced to 100 mph!!! I didn't know that they were even processing upgrades yet. They kept announcing that upgrades will be processed in 10 minutes, and then suddenly they called me.
Finally they annouced over the PA that only one passenger was going to get the last upgrade and it was me!!! When I asked them was I the only one, they said no, but the last one! So they were processing upgrades before but not telling anyone?
I got the center seat in the middle of the 777, but it was the bulkhead row 8 so that was no problem. Easy to get in and out! They had the 1st suites on this plane, and actually one was empty. Not sure why they didn't upgrade a business passenger and then an economy to business. The empty seat 1st seat was the last row window on the left. During the flight I saw that there was a special curtain drawn across that seat. Is this used for pilots to rest? Seems a rather expensive way to do this. I thought long-haul flights have special sleeping areas?
The flight itself was okay. My back started hurting half-way through the flight even though the back massage in the seat was on. I know that on BA, I don't get back pains in their cradle seats, but for half the price on UA I could bare with it. 2 of the 8 video channels were not working. They tried to reset the system many times but it still didn't work. Food wasn't that great. I think it was the same standard and quantity compared to a east to west coast flight in domestic first.
Everyone on the flight got a survey to fill-out and a chance to win a pair of tickets (or at least I think that was the prize).
This next thing got me really annoyed. Prior to arriving in LHR, they handed landing cards. The flight attendent gave me the regular white form and I also saw a pink form in her hand. I didn't ask what that was for since I only know of the white forms that I always fill-out. When I arrive in LHR terminal 3, and go through immigration Fast Track, I was told that I needed a pink card. Now I knew what that was for! I handed the lady my boarding pass clearing showing 'C' class but she said that I must have a pink card to use the Fast Track. Normally, when I arrive in terminal 4, I show them my boarding pass and I get through. Not in terminal 3. The problem was that there were like 4 other flights also standing in line for immigration and it was clearly going to take over an hour.
I had planned to clear immigration at terminal 3 and then take the Heathrow Express to terminal 4 to use the BA arrivals lounge to shower before going to my friend's wedding. So I went for Plan B. I walked back to the flight connections area and made my way all the way to the terminal 4 transfer bus. I didn't expect to get through because I thought that I needed proof that I was connecting on another flight. So I got lucky this time and got onto the bus. 10 minutes later I arrive in terminal 4. I walk up to the Fast Track, show them my United 'C' class ticket and they let me through! I couldn't believe it! There weren't even suppose to be any UA flight arriving in Terminal 4 and they let me through without a pink card!
So, 5 minutes later I arrive at the BA arrivals lounge. I showed them the receipt portion of my unused SFO-LHR-SFO BA ticket and they let me in! Didn't check to see that the SFO flight was even suppose to get in until a couple of hours later.
So I lucked out after an uncomfortable flight and an annoying incident at terminal 3 immmigration. I had a great weekend in London, and 48 hours later, I was on a plane to Boston.
LHR-BOS (UA 999) Monday, May 15th
When I booked my ticket and upgraded with miles, they only had LHR-BOS-SFO open for upgrades. Since I actually live in Boston, but work in SFO, stopping in Boston was actually a bonus for me!
The flight was 1/3 empty in business class. First time on an UA international flight on a 767-300. Walked back and saw that all economy seats actually had seat-back videos. First also had built-in video players for movies. I didn't know that UA offered all these things on a 767! Overall, flight was pretty good. Didn't get any back pains but maybe it was because it was a shorter flight. They took the meal orders in order of your UA status which was okay for me. (I am a PremExec about to be 1K in 3 weeks.) I thought that they only did that on domestic flights where choices are always short!
BOS-SFO (UA 173) Monday, May 15th
The flight I arrived on from London actually continued onto SFO. However, I wanted to work that afternoon in Boston instead of being in the air where I cannot receive e-mails and phone calls (at least at a cheap rate). So I got on the last flight out of Boston that day. It was on a 757, so I was in domestic first. Wish they had the same 767-300 going to SFO. Looking at the timetable, UA has one 767-300, two 767-200, and four 757 flights a day to SFO. If only UA 999 (767-300) was at a more convinent time, I would take that every week to SFO! I take this flight (UA 173-757) almost every week so there wasn't very much that stood out on this flight to write about....
Overall, it was a quick weekend but a fun one. My friends think I am crazy going all the way to London for a weekend, but I just love being able to get away whenever I want without having to take time off work!
SFO-LHR (UA 930) Friday, May 12th.
I was going to London for the weekend to attend a friend's wedding. I wanted to be fresh when I arrive so I was flying business. Well, that was my excuse anyway since I couldn't bare traveling over 10 hours in coach. (I normally fly first or business on international flights but the company pays for those trips. This time it was on my own nickel.)
So I first booked a UA ticket (over 6 weeks in advance) and wanted to upgrade using miles but they didn't have any upgradable seats in advance. So I double booked on BA which was twice the price for an upgradable ticket, but their upgrade class for business was in 'D', and not 'NC' like United. It was much easier to get upgradable seats on BA.
When I arrived at the terminal (60 minutes before departure) I checked-in at the UA desk. (The BA flight was 3 hours later). I asked the agent to first print out a paper ticket (from an E-Ticket) before checking me in. She asked why and I explained that if I didn't get the upgrade I was going to take another flight, so at least I have a paper ticket that I can send back to the travel agent to reissue for another ticket. I wasn't sure how I would reissue an e-ticket that had past dated flights. So she very efficiently issued my paper tickets and then checked me in. I had no check-in luggage and proceeded to gate 65.
When I got to gate 65, I wanted to find out where I was on the upgrade list to see whether I had a chance of getting upgraded, but there were no agents there. I found that strange, so went to the agent who was standing next to the actual boarding pass machine next to the door to ask how I would find out whether I had a chance to upgrade. She told me to go to Gate 61. Not quite understanding what she said, I went to Gate 61 and there was a long line waiting so I just waited there. It was really chaotic with everyone trying to get an upgrade and change seats. This is the first time that I have seen them check-in a flight at a different gate but it makes sense. Doesn't block the other passengers from boarding the plane. They called one lady many times and when she finally arrived, she said that she was waiting around Gate 65 for an agent to show up. She didn't know that they were checking in at a different gate.
They shouted out my name (not over the PA) so I went up to that agent. They told me to stick around when they annouce there were no more upgrades and my heart raced to 100 mph!!! I didn't know that they were even processing upgrades yet. They kept announcing that upgrades will be processed in 10 minutes, and then suddenly they called me.
Finally they annouced over the PA that only one passenger was going to get the last upgrade and it was me!!! When I asked them was I the only one, they said no, but the last one! So they were processing upgrades before but not telling anyone?
I got the center seat in the middle of the 777, but it was the bulkhead row 8 so that was no problem. Easy to get in and out! They had the 1st suites on this plane, and actually one was empty. Not sure why they didn't upgrade a business passenger and then an economy to business. The empty seat 1st seat was the last row window on the left. During the flight I saw that there was a special curtain drawn across that seat. Is this used for pilots to rest? Seems a rather expensive way to do this. I thought long-haul flights have special sleeping areas?
The flight itself was okay. My back started hurting half-way through the flight even though the back massage in the seat was on. I know that on BA, I don't get back pains in their cradle seats, but for half the price on UA I could bare with it. 2 of the 8 video channels were not working. They tried to reset the system many times but it still didn't work. Food wasn't that great. I think it was the same standard and quantity compared to a east to west coast flight in domestic first.
Everyone on the flight got a survey to fill-out and a chance to win a pair of tickets (or at least I think that was the prize).
This next thing got me really annoyed. Prior to arriving in LHR, they handed landing cards. The flight attendent gave me the regular white form and I also saw a pink form in her hand. I didn't ask what that was for since I only know of the white forms that I always fill-out. When I arrive in LHR terminal 3, and go through immigration Fast Track, I was told that I needed a pink card. Now I knew what that was for! I handed the lady my boarding pass clearing showing 'C' class but she said that I must have a pink card to use the Fast Track. Normally, when I arrive in terminal 4, I show them my boarding pass and I get through. Not in terminal 3. The problem was that there were like 4 other flights also standing in line for immigration and it was clearly going to take over an hour.
I had planned to clear immigration at terminal 3 and then take the Heathrow Express to terminal 4 to use the BA arrivals lounge to shower before going to my friend's wedding. So I went for Plan B. I walked back to the flight connections area and made my way all the way to the terminal 4 transfer bus. I didn't expect to get through because I thought that I needed proof that I was connecting on another flight. So I got lucky this time and got onto the bus. 10 minutes later I arrive in terminal 4. I walk up to the Fast Track, show them my United 'C' class ticket and they let me through! I couldn't believe it! There weren't even suppose to be any UA flight arriving in Terminal 4 and they let me through without a pink card!
So, 5 minutes later I arrive at the BA arrivals lounge. I showed them the receipt portion of my unused SFO-LHR-SFO BA ticket and they let me in! Didn't check to see that the SFO flight was even suppose to get in until a couple of hours later.
So I lucked out after an uncomfortable flight and an annoying incident at terminal 3 immmigration. I had a great weekend in London, and 48 hours later, I was on a plane to Boston.
LHR-BOS (UA 999) Monday, May 15th
When I booked my ticket and upgraded with miles, they only had LHR-BOS-SFO open for upgrades. Since I actually live in Boston, but work in SFO, stopping in Boston was actually a bonus for me!
The flight was 1/3 empty in business class. First time on an UA international flight on a 767-300. Walked back and saw that all economy seats actually had seat-back videos. First also had built-in video players for movies. I didn't know that UA offered all these things on a 767! Overall, flight was pretty good. Didn't get any back pains but maybe it was because it was a shorter flight. They took the meal orders in order of your UA status which was okay for me. (I am a PremExec about to be 1K in 3 weeks.) I thought that they only did that on domestic flights where choices are always short!
BOS-SFO (UA 173) Monday, May 15th
The flight I arrived on from London actually continued onto SFO. However, I wanted to work that afternoon in Boston instead of being in the air where I cannot receive e-mails and phone calls (at least at a cheap rate). So I got on the last flight out of Boston that day. It was on a 757, so I was in domestic first. Wish they had the same 767-300 going to SFO. Looking at the timetable, UA has one 767-300, two 767-200, and four 757 flights a day to SFO. If only UA 999 (767-300) was at a more convinent time, I would take that every week to SFO! I take this flight (UA 173-757) almost every week so there wasn't very much that stood out on this flight to write about....
Overall, it was a quick weekend but a fun one. My friends think I am crazy going all the way to London for a weekend, but I just love being able to get away whenever I want without having to take time off work!