kempis
Mar 27, 01, 9:53 am
Time for the first trip report from the Catman DO in NYC this last weekend. This USA trip is also a celebration for me since it was my 10th trip to the country over there. Two of them has been charters to Florida and the rest has been on regular airlines.
Friday the 23rd of March
For the 2nd day in a row I had to get up at 4AM to catch a redeye flight from my local airport to Stockholm Arlanda. We arrived on schedule time around 7PM. After I had checked in for my Copenhagen flight I headed for the Diners Club Lounge. To my surprise I found out that it had moved and this was my first disappointment this weekend. The Diners lounge has now moved and is together with Alitalia and some other airlines. The new lounge is smaller, less friendly and has less to offer at least according to food and beverages. I only stayed in the lounge for a few minutes before I headed back to my gate.
SK 1419 ARN-CPH
The time left Stockholm a little bit late and arrived at CPH a few minutes late, which was a little problem for me since my connection was a bit short. I had arranged the first FT meeting in Denmark with Goldlust at the Diners Lounge but since my flight was a little bit late I headed directly for the gate. I had seat 15D, which was aisle seat just behind business class. On short haul flights I always prefer the aisle seat.
SK 911 CPH-EWR
I had managed to get me and Goldlust really nice seats. Since the flight was rather full they had opened the middle class cabin for economy class, which meant that we had seat 17A and 17B. This was a business class seat with economy service. Onboard the aircraft was the first time I saw Goldlust and we had a really good time over the Atlantic. We talked quit a lot and I even slept a few minutes before we arrived at Newark. The movie selection was a bit strange since one of the movies avaible was an animated movie. I didn’t watch any of them. The service on the flight was good and the food was good as well. Since I have never been in business class (at least not yet, more to come) I would rate this flight as my best intercontinental flight ever.
At Newark the customs went much faster then it usually does. To my big surprise my bag was almost the last one to arrive at baggage drop. Why is it always like that? Cant my bag be the first sometime at least?
After I had finally got my bag me and Goldlust left the airport in an Olympia bus (the same transportation that tom911 used in one direction). The bus coasted 11$ and from the station we had a few minutes walk before we saw our hotel, the Official FT hotel Hilton Times Square.
Since both me and Goldlust are Hilton Gold VIP (I guess everyone on FT is) we tried to be upgrade but all better rooms where already taken (by milescrazy for instance J ).
After getting everything in order at our hotels we headed out for late dinner at a local place at Times Square. We had a little bit problem to find our way back to the hotel but finally we where there. I fell asleep quite early and slept until Goldlust called and woke me up on Saturday morning.
On Saturday morning we where on Echelon (thanks once again) tour in NYC. Also on the tour was Ozstamps, which was a very interesting person, and we talked about different things, mostly related to travel (what a surprise, eh?). The tour took almost 5 hours and we saw most of the tourist attraction such as Central Park, Times Square etc. We arrived at the hotel a few hours before the big event of the weekend would take place. A few hours before the Catman Do Dinner me and Goldlust meet our fellow Scandinavian FT friend Austman in the lobby and we had a nice talk. About 18.45 me and Goldlust,Austman,Rudi and Gisela was ready to walk the few miles to the Cite restaurant.
The restaurant was a very nice place and since our dinner wasn’t until a bit after 8PM I had time to talk to a few FT friends before the dinner such as Burkey,Tvl4free,Mr Key and a few more.
I had the filet mignon selection, which I don’t regret. It was very tasteful. At the dinner I talked to a few more FT friends and had a great time. I think the event was great planed by Catman and who else who was involved. After the dinner a few FT friends went to the Sheraton to share a few cigars but since I was pretty tired I headed back to our hotel.
On Sunday morning I had planed a meeting with tom911. He meet me at our hotel to take me on a tour round the city. The world must be a pretty small place since we manage to meet Rudi and Gisela on the subway and later Ozstamps on the ferry to Statten Island. We also walked across the Brooklyn Bridge before it was time for me to head back to catch my flight to Scandinavia.
Me,Goldlust, Austman and bgolds took the train and taxi to reach the airports. For a moment we thought that we where a little bit late but eventually we was at the airport on time. Since Austman was on the direct flight and I was travel through CPH I tried to rebook it at EWR. They told me that the direct flight to ARN was oversold but they could put me on the waiting list. I sad fine and we headed for the SAS lounge at EWR. We asked one of the staff members there if it would be possible for us to seat together (Austman was sitting in middle cabin). They said they would look into it and asked us to seat and wait in the lounge. A few minutes before departure they called our names and gave me a new boarding pass. I checked the boarding pass and just a few seconds later I had a big smile on my face. Why? The boarding pass I looked at was booked in C class with seat 7B!
SK 904 EWR-ARN 25/3
This flight is my best one so far in my flying life. Business Class was very good and I cant believe why so many people on the boards has been complaining about it. The service was very efficient. For dinner it was four selection and I had decided to take the grilled fillet steak but since I was seated at the last row in biz that was already gone when it was my turn to pick L I then took Veal bratwurst which I guess was served in co operation with Lufthansa J The veal was very good though. I am not a big drinker but I had some nice red rioja wine on the flight.
Complete menu
Salad
Mixed salad with a choice of dressing
First Choice
Grilled Shrimp and kailan in a gremolata sauce.
My main course choice
Grilled veal bratwurst with potatoes,carrots,turnips and Dijon mustard sauce.
Cheese
Selected cheeses with garnish
Dessert
Petis fours
I also order one of the personals video players to watch some movies. After thinking for a while I decided to see the Opurtinist. I only saw a few minutes before I shut it down and decided I should sleep for a few hours instead.
We arrived in Stockholm around 7.30AM, which was a bit problem for me since my earlier flight back home was at 7.50AM. I tried to make it but I was 10 minutes late. This was also the first day with the Schengen thing at Arlanda, which was a bit different.
My next flight back home wasn’t until 12.20. What to do at the airport for a few hours? I don’t have yet a *Gold or EuroBonus silver card so I was actually not permitted to enter the lounge at the domestic terminal but I manage to talk me in with my C-class boarding pass from Newark. At the lounge I spent a few hours reading papers, eating free food and surfing the net (Flytertalk was one of the pages I visited of course). Just before I was going to leave the lounge Goldlust arrived after flying via Oslo. We had a quick talk before I run to my flight.
Friday the 23rd of March
For the 2nd day in a row I had to get up at 4AM to catch a redeye flight from my local airport to Stockholm Arlanda. We arrived on schedule time around 7PM. After I had checked in for my Copenhagen flight I headed for the Diners Club Lounge. To my surprise I found out that it had moved and this was my first disappointment this weekend. The Diners lounge has now moved and is together with Alitalia and some other airlines. The new lounge is smaller, less friendly and has less to offer at least according to food and beverages. I only stayed in the lounge for a few minutes before I headed back to my gate.
SK 1419 ARN-CPH
The time left Stockholm a little bit late and arrived at CPH a few minutes late, which was a little problem for me since my connection was a bit short. I had arranged the first FT meeting in Denmark with Goldlust at the Diners Lounge but since my flight was a little bit late I headed directly for the gate. I had seat 15D, which was aisle seat just behind business class. On short haul flights I always prefer the aisle seat.
SK 911 CPH-EWR
I had managed to get me and Goldlust really nice seats. Since the flight was rather full they had opened the middle class cabin for economy class, which meant that we had seat 17A and 17B. This was a business class seat with economy service. Onboard the aircraft was the first time I saw Goldlust and we had a really good time over the Atlantic. We talked quit a lot and I even slept a few minutes before we arrived at Newark. The movie selection was a bit strange since one of the movies avaible was an animated movie. I didn’t watch any of them. The service on the flight was good and the food was good as well. Since I have never been in business class (at least not yet, more to come) I would rate this flight as my best intercontinental flight ever.
At Newark the customs went much faster then it usually does. To my big surprise my bag was almost the last one to arrive at baggage drop. Why is it always like that? Cant my bag be the first sometime at least?
After I had finally got my bag me and Goldlust left the airport in an Olympia bus (the same transportation that tom911 used in one direction). The bus coasted 11$ and from the station we had a few minutes walk before we saw our hotel, the Official FT hotel Hilton Times Square.
Since both me and Goldlust are Hilton Gold VIP (I guess everyone on FT is) we tried to be upgrade but all better rooms where already taken (by milescrazy for instance J ).
After getting everything in order at our hotels we headed out for late dinner at a local place at Times Square. We had a little bit problem to find our way back to the hotel but finally we where there. I fell asleep quite early and slept until Goldlust called and woke me up on Saturday morning.
On Saturday morning we where on Echelon (thanks once again) tour in NYC. Also on the tour was Ozstamps, which was a very interesting person, and we talked about different things, mostly related to travel (what a surprise, eh?). The tour took almost 5 hours and we saw most of the tourist attraction such as Central Park, Times Square etc. We arrived at the hotel a few hours before the big event of the weekend would take place. A few hours before the Catman Do Dinner me and Goldlust meet our fellow Scandinavian FT friend Austman in the lobby and we had a nice talk. About 18.45 me and Goldlust,Austman,Rudi and Gisela was ready to walk the few miles to the Cite restaurant.
The restaurant was a very nice place and since our dinner wasn’t until a bit after 8PM I had time to talk to a few FT friends before the dinner such as Burkey,Tvl4free,Mr Key and a few more.
I had the filet mignon selection, which I don’t regret. It was very tasteful. At the dinner I talked to a few more FT friends and had a great time. I think the event was great planed by Catman and who else who was involved. After the dinner a few FT friends went to the Sheraton to share a few cigars but since I was pretty tired I headed back to our hotel.
On Sunday morning I had planed a meeting with tom911. He meet me at our hotel to take me on a tour round the city. The world must be a pretty small place since we manage to meet Rudi and Gisela on the subway and later Ozstamps on the ferry to Statten Island. We also walked across the Brooklyn Bridge before it was time for me to head back to catch my flight to Scandinavia.
Me,Goldlust, Austman and bgolds took the train and taxi to reach the airports. For a moment we thought that we where a little bit late but eventually we was at the airport on time. Since Austman was on the direct flight and I was travel through CPH I tried to rebook it at EWR. They told me that the direct flight to ARN was oversold but they could put me on the waiting list. I sad fine and we headed for the SAS lounge at EWR. We asked one of the staff members there if it would be possible for us to seat together (Austman was sitting in middle cabin). They said they would look into it and asked us to seat and wait in the lounge. A few minutes before departure they called our names and gave me a new boarding pass. I checked the boarding pass and just a few seconds later I had a big smile on my face. Why? The boarding pass I looked at was booked in C class with seat 7B!
SK 904 EWR-ARN 25/3
This flight is my best one so far in my flying life. Business Class was very good and I cant believe why so many people on the boards has been complaining about it. The service was very efficient. For dinner it was four selection and I had decided to take the grilled fillet steak but since I was seated at the last row in biz that was already gone when it was my turn to pick L I then took Veal bratwurst which I guess was served in co operation with Lufthansa J The veal was very good though. I am not a big drinker but I had some nice red rioja wine on the flight.
Complete menu
Salad
Mixed salad with a choice of dressing
First Choice
Grilled Shrimp and kailan in a gremolata sauce.
My main course choice
Grilled veal bratwurst with potatoes,carrots,turnips and Dijon mustard sauce.
Cheese
Selected cheeses with garnish
Dessert
Petis fours
I also order one of the personals video players to watch some movies. After thinking for a while I decided to see the Opurtinist. I only saw a few minutes before I shut it down and decided I should sleep for a few hours instead.
We arrived in Stockholm around 7.30AM, which was a bit problem for me since my earlier flight back home was at 7.50AM. I tried to make it but I was 10 minutes late. This was also the first day with the Schengen thing at Arlanda, which was a bit different.
My next flight back home wasn’t until 12.20. What to do at the airport for a few hours? I don’t have yet a *Gold or EuroBonus silver card so I was actually not permitted to enter the lounge at the domestic terminal but I manage to talk me in with my C-class boarding pass from Newark. At the lounge I spent a few hours reading papers, eating free food and surfing the net (Flytertalk was one of the pages I visited of course). Just before I was going to leave the lounge Goldlust arrived after flying via Oslo. We had a quick talk before I run to my flight.