BlondeBomber
Dec 17, 00, 6:46 am
Another Mexican Hat Dance to fly cheaply within Canada (via Mexico of course).
Started out OK, breezed through US immigration check in at YYC and went to the Empress Lounge (old Delta lounge?). The agent said they should be boarding soon and he was closing anyways at 7PM so I headed out to the gate. Not too happy to see a plane for SFO still parked at the LAX gate and the LAX plane cooling its jets (so to speak) out on the apron even though there are lots of open gates. AC was apparently short-staffed. The agents didn't even know what was going on. I could tell there was going to be a gate change so headed to the new gate. Departure time was 7:15 (or so the gate said) and it was now 7:10 and there were no AC agents in sight. First agent shows up at 7:40 after some ground crews radioed that they were ready to start boarding the plane but there were no agents. Rolled out the computer terminals and got started boarding about 5 minutes later. Flight took off about 3/4 hour late. Not bad considering the confusion. The agent was good-humored about it all but some PAX with tight connections to TWA and NZ were none to happy.
J cabin was relatively empty so I had lots of room to stretch out. Took my coat and brought me a glass of water prior to take off. Meal was one of the best I have had on a "domestic" flight. I had the fish http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
It was salmon with a dill sauce, spiral noodles and veggies. Salmon was fresh, moist and tasty. Salad was an interesting mediterranean style with artichokes, vine leaves and other vegetables. Dessert was a yummy three-layered white and dark chocolate moose with a chocolate wafer cap. I had to leave some of the food as I knew I would be getting about 5 more meals today (have to pace myself)--dinner, breakfast, lunch, dinner and a sandwich snack.
Arrived in LAX about an hour late and headed for the Tom Bradley terminal. As usual, the place was a zoo so I headed upstairs to the Varig lounge. No sooner had I grabbed a glass of Merlot than the agent announced that the flight (SQ) was leaving and the lounge would be closing at 11PM. Wandered down the hall to the ANA lounge. Nobody there so grabbed a cold coke (only warm drinks at Varig lounge). Finally an agent came out and said they too were closing at 11PM. Headed out to the Mexicana gate where there was a ton of passengers all waiting for a LACSA flight--finally announced a gate change and a mass of people got up and opened up that whole end of the terminal.
Mexicana was very efficient in loading. Started on time and pushed back on time. Very friendly attendants on this oversold flight. I have been impressed with my MX flights over the last couple of months (all in J). Had the filete campesino. While not as good as the steak last week, it was still very good for an onboard steak, not old tasting and very moist and tender tenderloin. It was accompanied by a tomato sauce, vegetables julienne and sauteed spinach and cheese. Starters included a mild goat cheese salad, also very good but I was pacing myself so just ate the greens and the steak.
Dessert was an excellent ice cream and pineapple sauce. Delicious. Grabbed a couple of hours shut-eye and woke to landing in MEX early at 5:10 AM.
Went through immigration (very quick service) and back out through "in transit" to the domestic terminal. Outside security and up to the MX lounge. Very nice--four computers with high speed free internet access. Private johns and a good place to shave and brush my teeth. This part of the trip is going very well.
Off to Puerto Vallarta in another hour. Hope to see Popocatapetl in some form of eruption. It was glowing on the way in this morning. See ya later . . .
The start was not great
Started out OK, breezed through US immigration check in at YYC and went to the Empress Lounge (old Delta lounge?). The agent said they should be boarding soon and he was closing anyways at 7PM so I headed out to the gate. Not too happy to see a plane for SFO still parked at the LAX gate and the LAX plane cooling its jets (so to speak) out on the apron even though there are lots of open gates. AC was apparently short-staffed. The agents didn't even know what was going on. I could tell there was going to be a gate change so headed to the new gate. Departure time was 7:15 (or so the gate said) and it was now 7:10 and there were no AC agents in sight. First agent shows up at 7:40 after some ground crews radioed that they were ready to start boarding the plane but there were no agents. Rolled out the computer terminals and got started boarding about 5 minutes later. Flight took off about 3/4 hour late. Not bad considering the confusion. The agent was good-humored about it all but some PAX with tight connections to TWA and NZ were none to happy.
J cabin was relatively empty so I had lots of room to stretch out. Took my coat and brought me a glass of water prior to take off. Meal was one of the best I have had on a "domestic" flight. I had the fish http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
It was salmon with a dill sauce, spiral noodles and veggies. Salmon was fresh, moist and tasty. Salad was an interesting mediterranean style with artichokes, vine leaves and other vegetables. Dessert was a yummy three-layered white and dark chocolate moose with a chocolate wafer cap. I had to leave some of the food as I knew I would be getting about 5 more meals today (have to pace myself)--dinner, breakfast, lunch, dinner and a sandwich snack.
Arrived in LAX about an hour late and headed for the Tom Bradley terminal. As usual, the place was a zoo so I headed upstairs to the Varig lounge. No sooner had I grabbed a glass of Merlot than the agent announced that the flight (SQ) was leaving and the lounge would be closing at 11PM. Wandered down the hall to the ANA lounge. Nobody there so grabbed a cold coke (only warm drinks at Varig lounge). Finally an agent came out and said they too were closing at 11PM. Headed out to the Mexicana gate where there was a ton of passengers all waiting for a LACSA flight--finally announced a gate change and a mass of people got up and opened up that whole end of the terminal.
Mexicana was very efficient in loading. Started on time and pushed back on time. Very friendly attendants on this oversold flight. I have been impressed with my MX flights over the last couple of months (all in J). Had the filete campesino. While not as good as the steak last week, it was still very good for an onboard steak, not old tasting and very moist and tender tenderloin. It was accompanied by a tomato sauce, vegetables julienne and sauteed spinach and cheese. Starters included a mild goat cheese salad, also very good but I was pacing myself so just ate the greens and the steak.
Dessert was an excellent ice cream and pineapple sauce. Delicious. Grabbed a couple of hours shut-eye and woke to landing in MEX early at 5:10 AM.
Went through immigration (very quick service) and back out through "in transit" to the domestic terminal. Outside security and up to the MX lounge. Very nice--four computers with high speed free internet access. Private johns and a good place to shave and brush my teeth. This part of the trip is going very well.
Off to Puerto Vallarta in another hour. Hope to see Popocatapetl in some form of eruption. It was glowing on the way in this morning. See ya later . . .
The start was not great