Little Matt
Aug 18, 00, 4:16 pm
Check-in
Traffic to JFK was heavy but not awful. I made it there about 90 minutes in advance of my flight.
At least three employees in the empty Business Class Check-in area asked me if I was travelling in Business Class. It makes me want to buy an economy class ticket and deliberately use the wrong check-in lobby. Another asked if "had a question." "No," I said "I'd like to check in." I may be young and casually dressed, but good grief.
A pleasant agent checked me in with great efficiency. She proceeded to put about three different bar codes on my bag. Are these for security? Decoration?
My ticket jacket said "Delta Business." Are they thinking of changing the name? I think the word "elite" sounds silly anyway.
The BizElite Lounge
I forgot about the little lounge by gate 12 and headed to the big lounge in Terminal 2. Oops. One has to pass through overflowing rest room lines to get to the elevator to the BizElite lounge. It's rather undignified.
The lounge itself was quiet and pleasant. Nobody bothered to check my ticket to see that I was travelling in BizElite. After the hoo-ha in the check-in lobby, I expected a detailed ticket inspection.
The lounge was fairly empty. There was a pleasant array of fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, cress sandwiches, and so forth. I declined free booze and settled for some water.
Boarding
At the gate, agent made incomprehensible boarding announcements, which I ignored. He could have been saying that we would be going by steamer.
Oddly enough, Delta does not cross-check passports with tickets at the gate, so anyone could check in, hand the boarding pass to someone else, and do evil things. Delta only does this on "high-risk flights" (e.g. Moscow.)
DL149 JFK-BRU 3 August Seat 1G
1G is a crummy seat. Since it's at the bulkhead of the 767-300, it feels cramped. The location is also a bit too close to the forward galley, so there is a constant din from the flight attendants.
I noticed a number of empty seats and asked the purser if I might take an empty row. The purser, who looked like a drill sergeant, said "No. We're full." Sorry I asked.
Turns out we were full. Our flight was delayed 35 minutes for a tour group. Fair enough... 35 minutes isn't that long and it was a big group. The purser then got into a tiff with a gate agent because two passengers were upgraded.
My seatmate was a bizarre woman en route to Slovenia. She regaled me with moronic stories about how the sky turns black in the Bermuda Triangle. I wasted my breath trying to explain that it's statistically safer to fly INSIDE the Bermuda Triangle.
After a lengthy taxi, we were airborne for a quick 6.5 hour flight to Brussels/Zaventem. I was very thirsty but cocktails didn't come around for some time. Drinks came with cold nuts and we ALL know what THAT means.
The guy across the aisle from me asked the drill sergeant purser what he recommended from the menu. The drill sergeant retorted, "I don't know. I've been off for a month." Hoo-boy! I guess the drill sergeant woke up on the wrong side of the bed!
And I wouldn't ask the drill sergeant's assistant in the galley. She looked like she'd downed a few Valium prior to boarding. Her assistant was busy griping about how her feet hurt.
Anyway, the menu was identical for the same flight last year:
Chilled Southwestern Chicken Wrap stuffed with Green Chile Peppers, Roma Tomatoes and Red Cabbage, flavored with Cilantro-Pesto Cream Cheese and rolled in Lavosh
Warm roasted Portobello Mushrooms topped with Garlic and diced Red Tomatoes
Zesty Tomato-Tomatillo Salsa will accompany your appetizer
The appetiser was not served from the cart... I don't know if this is a change in the service procedure, due to the nasty nature of the crew, or due to turbulence. It was, however, very tasty.
Mesclun topped with julienned dried Apricot and chopped Pecans, offered with your choice of Creamy Ranch or Lemon Herb Vinaigrette
Assorted Rolls and Butter
The usual boring salad. Only wheat or french rolls were offered... what happened to the cheese bread? Pretzel bread?
Mushroom Filled Pork Chop
Boneless Center-cut Pork Chop filled with a Mushroom Medley, accented by an Apple-Juniper Berry Sauce and accompanied by warm Mustard Potato Wedges and braised Cabbage with Bacon and Onions
Pan-Roasted Duck
Tender Breast of Duck prepared with a tangy Cherry Balsamic Sauce presented with Wild Rice Risotto Cake and sautéed Cabbage with Red Onion and Scallions
Vegetarian Pasta
Penne Primavera featuring Broccoli Florets, julienned Carrots, Crookneck Squash, Peas and Cherry Tomatoes, complemented by a flavorful Pesto Alfredo Sauce. Steamed Shrimp may be added to this Entree
I chose this entree and it was quite good. Light, well-presented, etc. The shrimp were large and plentiful.
Simply Satisfying Soup
Hearty smoked Salmon and Corn Chowder garnished with a Corn Kernel and Sweet Pepper Mix
Designed by cookbook author and Chef David Rosengarten
Dried and Fresh Fruit, and an International Cheese Board featuring Gloucester, an English cheese with a silky texture and mild flavor, Domaine de Provence, a goat's milk cheese from North America with a tangy, distinctive flavor, and Danish Esrom, a piquantly-flavored semi-soft dairy cheese
Newman's Own™ Obscene Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Sundae with your choice of Chocolate, Caramel and Raspberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, chopped Nuts and garnished with a Pirouline Cookie
Raspberry Amaretto Panna Cotta
The flight attendant, who acted like a Hollywood caricature of a dippy flight attendant, said "For dessert, we have cheese or ice cream." Panna cotta, whatever that is, was never even offered as an option. I decided to forego the cheese and had some ice cream.
I also tried some "Ice Wine," which I have only ever come across in Business Elite. I tasted like sweetened lighter fluid.
Neuhaus Fine Belgian Chocolates
These were never served.
Breakfast
Fresh Fruit
Halfway decent.
Creamy Yogurt, Cereal
There was no yogurt.
Breakfast Breads with Butter and Preserves
Bagel or lukewarm croissant.
Fluffy sautéed Mushroom, Leek and Jarlsberg Cheese Omelet served with roasted New Potatoes and grilled Canadian Bacon
My seatmate had the omelet and said that is was disgusting.
The meal service deficiencies were less of a problem in comparison with all of the commotion in the cabin. There seemed to be a constant flux of cabin crew up and down the aisles--not serving passengers--just sort of running to-and-fro. They all acted like they were stunned to find that their airplane was filled with passengers.
The entertainment system was functional--hallelujah. I followed Carfield's lead and watched "The Next Best Thing." Not the greatest, but it was okay. I also watched an episode of "Absolutely Fabulous." I then noted that my Slovenian seatmate was dressed not unlike Edwina Monsoon of "AbFab."
After a couple of hours of sleep, we landed at Brussels.
Brussels Layover
Ahhh yes, Brussels/Zaventem, "Europe's Ashtray." That whole airport seemed to be filled with cigarette smoke.
In typical European style, only half of the windows at immigration were open, so the wait was about 20 minutes. This involved contending with line-jumpers, screaming babies, etc.
I proceeded to an exhaust-filled underground waiting area (a la JFK) for a hotel shuttle.
Soon enough, I was on my way to the Holiday Inn Brussels Airport. It's a bit distant from the airport, but it's a pleasant hotel. I was frustrated that the gym was closed, but I caught up on some much-needed sleep.
Then it was back to Zaventem for...
Check in--take 2
As usual, there was a 10 minute wait at immigration and another 10 minutes at security, then a very long walk to the gate, which was actually a bus-loading area.
I was fascinated by one of the signs on the departures board, which was for the semi-private jet service for Proctor and Gamble... it's an A319 or a BBJ that goes from Brussels to Cincinnati via Keflavik.
I also passed by a large group of Americans waiting at a gate with no aircraft. It was one of those gates designated for extra security (supplemental metal detectors, x-ray, etc.) I couldn't for the life of me figure out where they were headed.
Anyway, the gate was a bit of a zoo because of a Virgin Express flight next door. There was tour group of Americans talking loudly and frustrated by a delay. I was glad I wasn't on their flight.
I hopped on a bus for a short trip to our 737-300.
SN2295 BRU-ARN Seat 3C
The cabin crew was especially warm and took their time to greet all of the passengers.
Like many European carriers, business class has the same seating arrangement as economy: 3-3. Although it's not terribly comfortable, it's only a 2 hour flight. Also, I absolutely love the Sabena upholstery--it has little pictures of planes and animals and the ouiseau-du-ciel logo.
The meal service was exceptional... there weren't any menus, but I'll try to explain here.
Appetiser of smoked salmon served with a marinated rice and bean salad.
mmmmmmmm
Mild chicken curry with rice and peas.
perfect
A selection of warm rolls
Mild cheese
Coffee, tea
A choice of creme brulee or fresh fruit. Served seperately from the main course.
Godiva chocolates.
When I asked for a cup of coffee later, it came on a cute little tray with a supplementary Godiva chocolate.
I was very impressed with Sabena. My last flight with them was a crummy JFK-BRU flight, this was just terrific.
We landed at Stockholm/Arlanda a couple of minutes late. The line at immigration was long and the woman who stamped my passport gave me the look of death. She must have been a friend of the drill sergeant purser.
Bags took forever (almost 45 minutes) for no good reason. My SkyTeam priority tags didn't mean anything to Sabena.
I boarded the Arlanda Express train and was in central Stockholm in 19 minutes. Yay!
SK1491 ARN-OSL 7 August Seat 12B
I went to pick up a student ticket at Arlanda Airport. SAS usually offers a fare of about USD$50 one way to anywhere in Scandinavia if you're under 26 (I'm 25.)
I took a number at the ticket office and waited 35 minutes! Why? Everyone seemed to be Star Alliance Gold, so they got served first.
I finally got to the window, where the woman said "We don't have any sort of student discounts. You'll have to talk to Kilroy Travel." I knew this was a load of hooey because it's on the FIRST page of the SAS web site.
So I tried to book the ticket on an internet terminal. No dice... you have to have a Swedish home address.
I finally decided I'd try an SAS office at another terminal (Terminal 4). There was no wait and the woman issued me a ticket in about 5 seconds. She was deeply apologetic for the misunderstanding at the other ticket counter and wished me a pleasant flight to Oslo.
I used the slick automatic check-in machine, which works even if you have checked bags and even if you have a paper ticket. If you're going overseas, it can read your passport. Unlike our goofy system, there is just a little sign that says "Are you sure you packed your own bags?" This makes a lot of sense to me.
The 737-600 was by far the most comfortable 737 I've ever experienced. SAS has little footrests and ajustable headrests in Economy. The crew was typical of SAS--exceptionally warm and friendly. We were served drinks and a rather large ham and cucumber sandwich on good Swedish bread.
I wish that SAS had video screens on its NG 737s, but it's probably an unnecessary expense for an hour flight.
We landed at Oslo/Gardermoen right on time. It's an absolutely beautiful airport. I wish I took the time to take some photos.
Just like Stockholm, there is a quick, easy train service that got me to Oslo in no time.
BU072 BGN-OSL 10 August
I decided to fly on Braathens for the Bergen-Oslo flight. I bought a ticket at Bergen/Flesland from an adorable and sweet ticket agent.
Bergen is the only airport I've ever been to which has no security. And I've been to some pretty remote airports. Turns out that's only true of some flights, I later realized that my gate was in a secured area. I wonder how they pick which flights go where.
Braathens has open seating in "Braathens Back" (Economy.) The 737-600 was furnished in bright blue, red, and green. The crew was friendly and the flight was maybe half full (or half empty.) There was no beverage service, but the flight is only half an hour.
SK498 OSL-ARN
There was once again an enormously wait at the SAS ticket counter. The ticketing lobby was PACKED! For a new airport, you'd think that there would be more space.
The agent who checked me in was a bit brusque and the ticket mysteriously cost double the usual price. I didn't ask questions--I just wanted to get back to Stockholm.
I used the cool check-in machine again, but had to wait in a ridiculously long line to drop off my checked bag. One of the counters was unmanned, hence the delay.
Then a wait at security. Then a wait while someone checked to see that I was an international passenger (why can't they do this at security?)
Then I tried to get my money back from the Tax Free office. Nope, I had the WRONG FORM. This happens all the time and it really ticked me off. It wasn't that much money.
Then I couldn't find the gate.
Then they started calling my name on the loudspeaker.
I finally found the gate and got snapped at by the woman at the counter, "We almost unloaded your bag." I wanted to say, "That sounds like your problem." The purser, however, gave me a pat on the back and said, "Don't worry. You're hear now, it's fine."
I was SO happy to hear Swedish once again.
In flight, we received another cucumber and ham sandwich on evil Norwegian bread.
Back at Arlanda I stopped to check my email, figuring that it would be a while for my bags to make it. By the time I got to immigration, it was closed! One of the immigration officers came out of her office, stood next to me, and asked if I needed help. I explained that I stopped to check my email. She giggled and waived me through. Ahhhh Sweden.
My bag was waiting for me on the belt.
And finally...
Back home: check-in
I took the Flygbus back to Arlanda. I couldn't remember where Delta was located, and somehow Terminal 5 jumped into my mind. Once inside the building, I thought "uh-oh," this is SAS. Oddly enough, Delta was right there. They moved! I have no idea why.
There was no line at the BizElite check in. The security questions were mercifully brief, but followed the European style of not asking yes-or-no questions. More like, "Where have your bags been since you packed them?" As usual, there were a few oddball questions, such as "Do you have any lead or crystals in your bags?" The smartmouth in my wanted to say, "Oh! My Waterford!"
The Servisair agent at the actual counter was busy chatting with a friend, but she attended to me soon enough and was really quite friendly. She gave me a pass to the Servisair lounge, which I didn't bother to use... it's too far from the gate.
I went to go check my email and decided to check the news as well. I learned that many of the internet terminals are actually free... they're not supposed to be but they are. Anyway, the headline was, "FAA orders immediate inspections of 767-300s." I swear that the 767 winked at me from the gate... it was like saying, "Hello! Let me take you to your death and/or New York."
Boarding was relatively easy. It once again required a passport check and a couple of security questions, but the agent was very friendly and wished me a pleasant flight.
Last one: DL47 ARN-JFK 16 August Seat 3F
The crew was much more pleasant than the outbound flight. I think that about half of the crew spoke Swedish.
We were offered the usual champagne/mimosa/OJ prior to takeoff. The taxi was incredibly quick and there was no line to take off.
The purser--thank goodness it wasn't the drill sergeant--was not able to speak Swedish. She was a bizarre woman, who looked a bit like Ralph Wiggum from "The Simpson's." She had a strange accent as if she was European but had lived in the American South for some time. Her demeanor and movements were strange indeed. She came around to take entree orders but managed to screw them up, to the dismay of my seat mate.
After takeoff, we received lukewarm nuts and cocktails. I had a rather nice bloody mary.
The menu once again identical to the same flight last year:
Antipasto plate featuring thinly sliced Prosciutto rolled with Salami, accompanied by Vegetable White Bean Salad, garnished with sliced Roma tomato topped with Parmesan Cheese.
I only ate the salad, which was made with garbanzo beans... it was wonderful. Again, this did not come from the cart.
Fresh mixed Garden Salad with Red Leaf, Butter and Frisee Lettuce, topped with Cherry Tomatoes and toasted Croutons, served with your choice of creamy Blue Cheese Dressing or roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette.
Nice as always. I duplicated Delta's capitalization here... why would you capitalize "Cherry Tomatoes?"
The rolls were back in full-force. Thank goodness for the warm cheese rolls, pretzel rolls, etc. I really missed them on the flight over.
Entrees
Pan-Seared Veal Loin Steak
Tender Veal in Garlic-Herb Marinade presented with a tangy Lemon and Sage Sauce, tomato Orzo seasoned with Chives and grated Parmesan Cheese and a brief saute of Crookneck Squash and Whole-Leaf Spinach
Blackened Tuna
Blackened Tuna accompanied by Green Olive Shrimp Sauce, served with Confetti Rice and Haricots Verts, garnished with Lemon.
Vegetarian Pasta
Creste di Gallo enrobed in a Spinach, Feta Cheese, and Tomato Sauce. Grilled Chicken Breast may be added to the Entree
Don't you love the word "enrobed?" My seat mate had the pasta, which looked so-so.
Simply Satisfying Soup
Heary Chicken Risotto Soup simmered with fresh Vegetables, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato on Crostini.
I had the soup. The crostini--the best part--never arrived.
Fruit and cheese
Designed by cookbook author and chef David Rosengarten
Dried and fresh Fruit with a Cheese board featuring selections from around the world designed to perfectly complement one another in flavor and texture. Our VINUM Dessert Wine and Port make a perfect accompaniment.
I just had some grapes, but they were great.
Dessert
Newman's Own Obscene Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Sundae with your choice of Chocolate, Caramel and Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, chopped Nuts and garnished with a Pirouline Cookie.
Fresh Fruit with Kiwi-Mango Sauce
Neuhaus Fine Belgian Chocolates
The chocolates came this time! And they were sooooooo goooooood.
Continuous Snacks
This involved a cart of grapes and strawberries served in the paper containers in which one would expect to receive pills in a mental institution. It looked a bit frightening to me.
Afternoon Refreshment
Fresh Fruit
Tired pineapple, honeydew, and a strawberry. I think Delta could spruce this up.
Shaved smoked Chicken, Swiss Cheese and caramelized Onions on Harvest bread, served with Dill Potato Salad and Garlic Mayonnaise.
One of the best things Delta serves. I swear it was served warm on the last flight, but it was pretty good cold. The crew kept referring to it as a turkey sandwich.
Classic peppered Salmon Salad served with a tangy Mustard Vinaigrette and a medly of Greens, diced Potato, Haricots Verts and tomato.
I'm glad that Delta still offers a choice of meals on this service. Continental doesn't.
Warmed cookies
Coffee and cookies unfortunately came around during the meal service... this meant that they both got cold by the time one had finished with the entree. At least the cookie was good albeit cold.
Carfield: send me your address and the menu is yours. I forgot to snag one from the outbound flight... sorry.
The IFE system was again functional (yipee!), including games, Airshow, etc. I watched "Erin Brockovich," which was surprisingly good.
There was once again far too much commotion in the cabin from the crew. What is with all of this running back and forth? It's an 8 hour flight! Take your time! It's so annoying to feel surrounded by running people.
Part of the running back and forth may have been due to an element of disorganization. The guy across the aisle got rather irritated that he was asked FOUR times if he'd like a snack. I was mistakenly served salmon twice, etc.
Although business wisdom would endorse a "pooled" labor effort, I think that Delta should switch to having its cabin crews in Business Elite have responsibility over a specific zone in the cabin. There would be less confusion and more personalized service, even if it might be a bit slower.
I also noticed that I was not referred to by name at all on this trip. Perhaps this was once again due to the frantic division of labor in the cabin. Hey, at least the drill sergeant wasn't there.
We landed about 5 minutes early at JFK. There was no line at all at Immigration and the agent was very friendly.
I had my checked bag and was through customs within 10 minutes! This is truly remarkable for the Delta Terminal. Good work! And the priority tag worked... those bags came off first.
Unfortunately, there seemed to be a great deal of yelling in the customs area. "US Citizens to your right, visitors on your left. Blah blah blah." We can read, folks. Don't yell at us. I was especially irritated by the woman outside customs who screamed "Connections?" in my face. Sheesh!
The awful trip home
When I booked this ticket, I thought that I would fly out of JFK rather than taking a nasty Trans States flight to Hartford. Oops. I tried to take the Connecticut Limo service to New Haven.
I went to the ground transportation desk, where I was told that there would be a 1:20 wait for the limo. Fine.
I went upstairs to the BizElite lounge by gate 12 and arranged to take a shower. This always baffles the staff there because I am an arriving passenger... they can never figure out what to do with my ticket. I don't know if arriving passengers are supposed to have access to the shower, but who cares? Anyway, I had a great shower and the woman at the desk was very kind.
Then a long wait for the bus, which was supposed to leave at 4:20. We then stopped at terminals 4, 5, 6, and 7. That meant that we didn't leave JFK until 6:00. This was mostly due to the fact that the driver was busy yelling at all of the passengers.
We got to New Haven around 8:00. What a miserable experience! All for the extortionate price of $40.00 each way. Never again.
Final notes
I think that BizElite is a bit screwed up... is it because the flights were full? Were these new cabin crew? Is something wrong with the management? It wasn't awful but it wasn't as good as previous experiences. It felt a lot like United--impersonal, hurried, inattention to detail. And get that drill sergeant out of there!
Sabena did a great job. I think they've really worked hard to make themselves a world-class carrier and perhaps the Swissair ownership has paid off. Too bad Delta doesn't codeshare with them anymore.
SAS is fabulous. Despite a couple of snafus, they are a terrific airline.
Oslo/Gardermoen is an attractive facility but it seemed overcrowded already! It's also filled with Norwegians. (Sorry, that was a little harsh.)
Stockholm and Oslo both get an A+ for ground transportation. New York gets an F, or maybe a "See Me." What a nightmare!
This was the longest trip report I have ever written, but--hey--thanks for reading!
[This message has been edited by Little Matt (edited 08-18-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Little Matt (edited 08-18-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Little Matt (edited 08-18-2000).]
Traffic to JFK was heavy but not awful. I made it there about 90 minutes in advance of my flight.
At least three employees in the empty Business Class Check-in area asked me if I was travelling in Business Class. It makes me want to buy an economy class ticket and deliberately use the wrong check-in lobby. Another asked if "had a question." "No," I said "I'd like to check in." I may be young and casually dressed, but good grief.
A pleasant agent checked me in with great efficiency. She proceeded to put about three different bar codes on my bag. Are these for security? Decoration?
My ticket jacket said "Delta Business." Are they thinking of changing the name? I think the word "elite" sounds silly anyway.
The BizElite Lounge
I forgot about the little lounge by gate 12 and headed to the big lounge in Terminal 2. Oops. One has to pass through overflowing rest room lines to get to the elevator to the BizElite lounge. It's rather undignified.
The lounge itself was quiet and pleasant. Nobody bothered to check my ticket to see that I was travelling in BizElite. After the hoo-ha in the check-in lobby, I expected a detailed ticket inspection.
The lounge was fairly empty. There was a pleasant array of fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, cress sandwiches, and so forth. I declined free booze and settled for some water.
Boarding
At the gate, agent made incomprehensible boarding announcements, which I ignored. He could have been saying that we would be going by steamer.
Oddly enough, Delta does not cross-check passports with tickets at the gate, so anyone could check in, hand the boarding pass to someone else, and do evil things. Delta only does this on "high-risk flights" (e.g. Moscow.)
DL149 JFK-BRU 3 August Seat 1G
1G is a crummy seat. Since it's at the bulkhead of the 767-300, it feels cramped. The location is also a bit too close to the forward galley, so there is a constant din from the flight attendants.
I noticed a number of empty seats and asked the purser if I might take an empty row. The purser, who looked like a drill sergeant, said "No. We're full." Sorry I asked.
Turns out we were full. Our flight was delayed 35 minutes for a tour group. Fair enough... 35 minutes isn't that long and it was a big group. The purser then got into a tiff with a gate agent because two passengers were upgraded.
My seatmate was a bizarre woman en route to Slovenia. She regaled me with moronic stories about how the sky turns black in the Bermuda Triangle. I wasted my breath trying to explain that it's statistically safer to fly INSIDE the Bermuda Triangle.
After a lengthy taxi, we were airborne for a quick 6.5 hour flight to Brussels/Zaventem. I was very thirsty but cocktails didn't come around for some time. Drinks came with cold nuts and we ALL know what THAT means.
The guy across the aisle from me asked the drill sergeant purser what he recommended from the menu. The drill sergeant retorted, "I don't know. I've been off for a month." Hoo-boy! I guess the drill sergeant woke up on the wrong side of the bed!
And I wouldn't ask the drill sergeant's assistant in the galley. She looked like she'd downed a few Valium prior to boarding. Her assistant was busy griping about how her feet hurt.
Anyway, the menu was identical for the same flight last year:
Chilled Southwestern Chicken Wrap stuffed with Green Chile Peppers, Roma Tomatoes and Red Cabbage, flavored with Cilantro-Pesto Cream Cheese and rolled in Lavosh
Warm roasted Portobello Mushrooms topped with Garlic and diced Red Tomatoes
Zesty Tomato-Tomatillo Salsa will accompany your appetizer
The appetiser was not served from the cart... I don't know if this is a change in the service procedure, due to the nasty nature of the crew, or due to turbulence. It was, however, very tasty.
Mesclun topped with julienned dried Apricot and chopped Pecans, offered with your choice of Creamy Ranch or Lemon Herb Vinaigrette
Assorted Rolls and Butter
The usual boring salad. Only wheat or french rolls were offered... what happened to the cheese bread? Pretzel bread?
Mushroom Filled Pork Chop
Boneless Center-cut Pork Chop filled with a Mushroom Medley, accented by an Apple-Juniper Berry Sauce and accompanied by warm Mustard Potato Wedges and braised Cabbage with Bacon and Onions
Pan-Roasted Duck
Tender Breast of Duck prepared with a tangy Cherry Balsamic Sauce presented with Wild Rice Risotto Cake and sautéed Cabbage with Red Onion and Scallions
Vegetarian Pasta
Penne Primavera featuring Broccoli Florets, julienned Carrots, Crookneck Squash, Peas and Cherry Tomatoes, complemented by a flavorful Pesto Alfredo Sauce. Steamed Shrimp may be added to this Entree
I chose this entree and it was quite good. Light, well-presented, etc. The shrimp were large and plentiful.
Simply Satisfying Soup
Hearty smoked Salmon and Corn Chowder garnished with a Corn Kernel and Sweet Pepper Mix
Designed by cookbook author and Chef David Rosengarten
Dried and Fresh Fruit, and an International Cheese Board featuring Gloucester, an English cheese with a silky texture and mild flavor, Domaine de Provence, a goat's milk cheese from North America with a tangy, distinctive flavor, and Danish Esrom, a piquantly-flavored semi-soft dairy cheese
Newman's Own™ Obscene Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Sundae with your choice of Chocolate, Caramel and Raspberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, chopped Nuts and garnished with a Pirouline Cookie
Raspberry Amaretto Panna Cotta
The flight attendant, who acted like a Hollywood caricature of a dippy flight attendant, said "For dessert, we have cheese or ice cream." Panna cotta, whatever that is, was never even offered as an option. I decided to forego the cheese and had some ice cream.
I also tried some "Ice Wine," which I have only ever come across in Business Elite. I tasted like sweetened lighter fluid.
Neuhaus Fine Belgian Chocolates
These were never served.
Breakfast
Fresh Fruit
Halfway decent.
Creamy Yogurt, Cereal
There was no yogurt.
Breakfast Breads with Butter and Preserves
Bagel or lukewarm croissant.
Fluffy sautéed Mushroom, Leek and Jarlsberg Cheese Omelet served with roasted New Potatoes and grilled Canadian Bacon
My seatmate had the omelet and said that is was disgusting.
The meal service deficiencies were less of a problem in comparison with all of the commotion in the cabin. There seemed to be a constant flux of cabin crew up and down the aisles--not serving passengers--just sort of running to-and-fro. They all acted like they were stunned to find that their airplane was filled with passengers.
The entertainment system was functional--hallelujah. I followed Carfield's lead and watched "The Next Best Thing." Not the greatest, but it was okay. I also watched an episode of "Absolutely Fabulous." I then noted that my Slovenian seatmate was dressed not unlike Edwina Monsoon of "AbFab."
After a couple of hours of sleep, we landed at Brussels.
Brussels Layover
Ahhh yes, Brussels/Zaventem, "Europe's Ashtray." That whole airport seemed to be filled with cigarette smoke.
In typical European style, only half of the windows at immigration were open, so the wait was about 20 minutes. This involved contending with line-jumpers, screaming babies, etc.
I proceeded to an exhaust-filled underground waiting area (a la JFK) for a hotel shuttle.
Soon enough, I was on my way to the Holiday Inn Brussels Airport. It's a bit distant from the airport, but it's a pleasant hotel. I was frustrated that the gym was closed, but I caught up on some much-needed sleep.
Then it was back to Zaventem for...
Check in--take 2
As usual, there was a 10 minute wait at immigration and another 10 minutes at security, then a very long walk to the gate, which was actually a bus-loading area.
I was fascinated by one of the signs on the departures board, which was for the semi-private jet service for Proctor and Gamble... it's an A319 or a BBJ that goes from Brussels to Cincinnati via Keflavik.
I also passed by a large group of Americans waiting at a gate with no aircraft. It was one of those gates designated for extra security (supplemental metal detectors, x-ray, etc.) I couldn't for the life of me figure out where they were headed.
Anyway, the gate was a bit of a zoo because of a Virgin Express flight next door. There was tour group of Americans talking loudly and frustrated by a delay. I was glad I wasn't on their flight.
I hopped on a bus for a short trip to our 737-300.
SN2295 BRU-ARN Seat 3C
The cabin crew was especially warm and took their time to greet all of the passengers.
Like many European carriers, business class has the same seating arrangement as economy: 3-3. Although it's not terribly comfortable, it's only a 2 hour flight. Also, I absolutely love the Sabena upholstery--it has little pictures of planes and animals and the ouiseau-du-ciel logo.
The meal service was exceptional... there weren't any menus, but I'll try to explain here.
Appetiser of smoked salmon served with a marinated rice and bean salad.
mmmmmmmm
Mild chicken curry with rice and peas.
perfect
A selection of warm rolls
Mild cheese
Coffee, tea
A choice of creme brulee or fresh fruit. Served seperately from the main course.
Godiva chocolates.
When I asked for a cup of coffee later, it came on a cute little tray with a supplementary Godiva chocolate.
I was very impressed with Sabena. My last flight with them was a crummy JFK-BRU flight, this was just terrific.
We landed at Stockholm/Arlanda a couple of minutes late. The line at immigration was long and the woman who stamped my passport gave me the look of death. She must have been a friend of the drill sergeant purser.
Bags took forever (almost 45 minutes) for no good reason. My SkyTeam priority tags didn't mean anything to Sabena.
I boarded the Arlanda Express train and was in central Stockholm in 19 minutes. Yay!
SK1491 ARN-OSL 7 August Seat 12B
I went to pick up a student ticket at Arlanda Airport. SAS usually offers a fare of about USD$50 one way to anywhere in Scandinavia if you're under 26 (I'm 25.)
I took a number at the ticket office and waited 35 minutes! Why? Everyone seemed to be Star Alliance Gold, so they got served first.
I finally got to the window, where the woman said "We don't have any sort of student discounts. You'll have to talk to Kilroy Travel." I knew this was a load of hooey because it's on the FIRST page of the SAS web site.
So I tried to book the ticket on an internet terminal. No dice... you have to have a Swedish home address.
I finally decided I'd try an SAS office at another terminal (Terminal 4). There was no wait and the woman issued me a ticket in about 5 seconds. She was deeply apologetic for the misunderstanding at the other ticket counter and wished me a pleasant flight to Oslo.
I used the slick automatic check-in machine, which works even if you have checked bags and even if you have a paper ticket. If you're going overseas, it can read your passport. Unlike our goofy system, there is just a little sign that says "Are you sure you packed your own bags?" This makes a lot of sense to me.
The 737-600 was by far the most comfortable 737 I've ever experienced. SAS has little footrests and ajustable headrests in Economy. The crew was typical of SAS--exceptionally warm and friendly. We were served drinks and a rather large ham and cucumber sandwich on good Swedish bread.
I wish that SAS had video screens on its NG 737s, but it's probably an unnecessary expense for an hour flight.
We landed at Oslo/Gardermoen right on time. It's an absolutely beautiful airport. I wish I took the time to take some photos.
Just like Stockholm, there is a quick, easy train service that got me to Oslo in no time.
BU072 BGN-OSL 10 August
I decided to fly on Braathens for the Bergen-Oslo flight. I bought a ticket at Bergen/Flesland from an adorable and sweet ticket agent.
Bergen is the only airport I've ever been to which has no security. And I've been to some pretty remote airports. Turns out that's only true of some flights, I later realized that my gate was in a secured area. I wonder how they pick which flights go where.
Braathens has open seating in "Braathens Back" (Economy.) The 737-600 was furnished in bright blue, red, and green. The crew was friendly and the flight was maybe half full (or half empty.) There was no beverage service, but the flight is only half an hour.
SK498 OSL-ARN
There was once again an enormously wait at the SAS ticket counter. The ticketing lobby was PACKED! For a new airport, you'd think that there would be more space.
The agent who checked me in was a bit brusque and the ticket mysteriously cost double the usual price. I didn't ask questions--I just wanted to get back to Stockholm.
I used the cool check-in machine again, but had to wait in a ridiculously long line to drop off my checked bag. One of the counters was unmanned, hence the delay.
Then a wait at security. Then a wait while someone checked to see that I was an international passenger (why can't they do this at security?)
Then I tried to get my money back from the Tax Free office. Nope, I had the WRONG FORM. This happens all the time and it really ticked me off. It wasn't that much money.
Then I couldn't find the gate.
Then they started calling my name on the loudspeaker.
I finally found the gate and got snapped at by the woman at the counter, "We almost unloaded your bag." I wanted to say, "That sounds like your problem." The purser, however, gave me a pat on the back and said, "Don't worry. You're hear now, it's fine."
I was SO happy to hear Swedish once again.
In flight, we received another cucumber and ham sandwich on evil Norwegian bread.
Back at Arlanda I stopped to check my email, figuring that it would be a while for my bags to make it. By the time I got to immigration, it was closed! One of the immigration officers came out of her office, stood next to me, and asked if I needed help. I explained that I stopped to check my email. She giggled and waived me through. Ahhhh Sweden.
My bag was waiting for me on the belt.
And finally...
Back home: check-in
I took the Flygbus back to Arlanda. I couldn't remember where Delta was located, and somehow Terminal 5 jumped into my mind. Once inside the building, I thought "uh-oh," this is SAS. Oddly enough, Delta was right there. They moved! I have no idea why.
There was no line at the BizElite check in. The security questions were mercifully brief, but followed the European style of not asking yes-or-no questions. More like, "Where have your bags been since you packed them?" As usual, there were a few oddball questions, such as "Do you have any lead or crystals in your bags?" The smartmouth in my wanted to say, "Oh! My Waterford!"
The Servisair agent at the actual counter was busy chatting with a friend, but she attended to me soon enough and was really quite friendly. She gave me a pass to the Servisair lounge, which I didn't bother to use... it's too far from the gate.
I went to go check my email and decided to check the news as well. I learned that many of the internet terminals are actually free... they're not supposed to be but they are. Anyway, the headline was, "FAA orders immediate inspections of 767-300s." I swear that the 767 winked at me from the gate... it was like saying, "Hello! Let me take you to your death and/or New York."
Boarding was relatively easy. It once again required a passport check and a couple of security questions, but the agent was very friendly and wished me a pleasant flight.
Last one: DL47 ARN-JFK 16 August Seat 3F
The crew was much more pleasant than the outbound flight. I think that about half of the crew spoke Swedish.
We were offered the usual champagne/mimosa/OJ prior to takeoff. The taxi was incredibly quick and there was no line to take off.
The purser--thank goodness it wasn't the drill sergeant--was not able to speak Swedish. She was a bizarre woman, who looked a bit like Ralph Wiggum from "The Simpson's." She had a strange accent as if she was European but had lived in the American South for some time. Her demeanor and movements were strange indeed. She came around to take entree orders but managed to screw them up, to the dismay of my seat mate.
After takeoff, we received lukewarm nuts and cocktails. I had a rather nice bloody mary.
The menu once again identical to the same flight last year:
Antipasto plate featuring thinly sliced Prosciutto rolled with Salami, accompanied by Vegetable White Bean Salad, garnished with sliced Roma tomato topped with Parmesan Cheese.
I only ate the salad, which was made with garbanzo beans... it was wonderful. Again, this did not come from the cart.
Fresh mixed Garden Salad with Red Leaf, Butter and Frisee Lettuce, topped with Cherry Tomatoes and toasted Croutons, served with your choice of creamy Blue Cheese Dressing or roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette.
Nice as always. I duplicated Delta's capitalization here... why would you capitalize "Cherry Tomatoes?"
The rolls were back in full-force. Thank goodness for the warm cheese rolls, pretzel rolls, etc. I really missed them on the flight over.
Entrees
Pan-Seared Veal Loin Steak
Tender Veal in Garlic-Herb Marinade presented with a tangy Lemon and Sage Sauce, tomato Orzo seasoned with Chives and grated Parmesan Cheese and a brief saute of Crookneck Squash and Whole-Leaf Spinach
Blackened Tuna
Blackened Tuna accompanied by Green Olive Shrimp Sauce, served with Confetti Rice and Haricots Verts, garnished with Lemon.
Vegetarian Pasta
Creste di Gallo enrobed in a Spinach, Feta Cheese, and Tomato Sauce. Grilled Chicken Breast may be added to the Entree
Don't you love the word "enrobed?" My seat mate had the pasta, which looked so-so.
Simply Satisfying Soup
Heary Chicken Risotto Soup simmered with fresh Vegetables, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato on Crostini.
I had the soup. The crostini--the best part--never arrived.
Fruit and cheese
Designed by cookbook author and chef David Rosengarten
Dried and fresh Fruit with a Cheese board featuring selections from around the world designed to perfectly complement one another in flavor and texture. Our VINUM Dessert Wine and Port make a perfect accompaniment.
I just had some grapes, but they were great.
Dessert
Newman's Own Obscene Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Sundae with your choice of Chocolate, Caramel and Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, chopped Nuts and garnished with a Pirouline Cookie.
Fresh Fruit with Kiwi-Mango Sauce
Neuhaus Fine Belgian Chocolates
The chocolates came this time! And they were sooooooo goooooood.
Continuous Snacks
This involved a cart of grapes and strawberries served in the paper containers in which one would expect to receive pills in a mental institution. It looked a bit frightening to me.
Afternoon Refreshment
Fresh Fruit
Tired pineapple, honeydew, and a strawberry. I think Delta could spruce this up.
Shaved smoked Chicken, Swiss Cheese and caramelized Onions on Harvest bread, served with Dill Potato Salad and Garlic Mayonnaise.
One of the best things Delta serves. I swear it was served warm on the last flight, but it was pretty good cold. The crew kept referring to it as a turkey sandwich.
Classic peppered Salmon Salad served with a tangy Mustard Vinaigrette and a medly of Greens, diced Potato, Haricots Verts and tomato.
I'm glad that Delta still offers a choice of meals on this service. Continental doesn't.
Warmed cookies
Coffee and cookies unfortunately came around during the meal service... this meant that they both got cold by the time one had finished with the entree. At least the cookie was good albeit cold.
Carfield: send me your address and the menu is yours. I forgot to snag one from the outbound flight... sorry.
The IFE system was again functional (yipee!), including games, Airshow, etc. I watched "Erin Brockovich," which was surprisingly good.
There was once again far too much commotion in the cabin from the crew. What is with all of this running back and forth? It's an 8 hour flight! Take your time! It's so annoying to feel surrounded by running people.
Part of the running back and forth may have been due to an element of disorganization. The guy across the aisle got rather irritated that he was asked FOUR times if he'd like a snack. I was mistakenly served salmon twice, etc.
Although business wisdom would endorse a "pooled" labor effort, I think that Delta should switch to having its cabin crews in Business Elite have responsibility over a specific zone in the cabin. There would be less confusion and more personalized service, even if it might be a bit slower.
I also noticed that I was not referred to by name at all on this trip. Perhaps this was once again due to the frantic division of labor in the cabin. Hey, at least the drill sergeant wasn't there.
We landed about 5 minutes early at JFK. There was no line at all at Immigration and the agent was very friendly.
I had my checked bag and was through customs within 10 minutes! This is truly remarkable for the Delta Terminal. Good work! And the priority tag worked... those bags came off first.
Unfortunately, there seemed to be a great deal of yelling in the customs area. "US Citizens to your right, visitors on your left. Blah blah blah." We can read, folks. Don't yell at us. I was especially irritated by the woman outside customs who screamed "Connections?" in my face. Sheesh!
The awful trip home
When I booked this ticket, I thought that I would fly out of JFK rather than taking a nasty Trans States flight to Hartford. Oops. I tried to take the Connecticut Limo service to New Haven.
I went to the ground transportation desk, where I was told that there would be a 1:20 wait for the limo. Fine.
I went upstairs to the BizElite lounge by gate 12 and arranged to take a shower. This always baffles the staff there because I am an arriving passenger... they can never figure out what to do with my ticket. I don't know if arriving passengers are supposed to have access to the shower, but who cares? Anyway, I had a great shower and the woman at the desk was very kind.
Then a long wait for the bus, which was supposed to leave at 4:20. We then stopped at terminals 4, 5, 6, and 7. That meant that we didn't leave JFK until 6:00. This was mostly due to the fact that the driver was busy yelling at all of the passengers.
We got to New Haven around 8:00. What a miserable experience! All for the extortionate price of $40.00 each way. Never again.
Final notes
I think that BizElite is a bit screwed up... is it because the flights were full? Were these new cabin crew? Is something wrong with the management? It wasn't awful but it wasn't as good as previous experiences. It felt a lot like United--impersonal, hurried, inattention to detail. And get that drill sergeant out of there!
Sabena did a great job. I think they've really worked hard to make themselves a world-class carrier and perhaps the Swissair ownership has paid off. Too bad Delta doesn't codeshare with them anymore.
SAS is fabulous. Despite a couple of snafus, they are a terrific airline.
Oslo/Gardermoen is an attractive facility but it seemed overcrowded already! It's also filled with Norwegians. (Sorry, that was a little harsh.)
Stockholm and Oslo both get an A+ for ground transportation. New York gets an F, or maybe a "See Me." What a nightmare!
This was the longest trip report I have ever written, but--hey--thanks for reading!
[This message has been edited by Little Matt (edited 08-18-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Little Matt (edited 08-18-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Little Matt (edited 08-18-2000).]