Plato90s
Sep 30, 01, 10:46 pm
Just returned from a mileage run from Boston to Tokyo, and it was a pretty interesting experience.
On the outbound leg, I was going AA153 BOS-ORD-NRT. Got to Logan at 6:30am, 2 hours before the flight, thinking I'd have plenty of time. Couldn't have been more wrong. Security was backed up, and I spent a full 2 hours standing in line. Definitely didn't stop at the AC, since I didn't clear security until 8:35AM for a 8:30AM flight. All laptops had to taken out of bags and scanned separately, as well as wiped for explosive residue. I hope Logan either get more people or open another checkpoint, because this is NOT going to work, long-term.
BOS-ORD was on a S-80, and I re-acquainted myself with why I hate traveling on narrowbody jets. The FC seats were barely more comfortable than a MRTC 777 coach seat. Jammed up agains the bulkhead in seat 1B, it's a good thing it was only a 2 hour flight.
Now, this is my first visit to the ORD AC, and I was suitably impressed. Much bigger and nicer than the Boston AC, but I didn't find any internet-capable workstations. The view of the tarmac was nice, and I like how the frosted glass partitions help to divide the large open space without making it feel constrictive.
The outbound ORD-NRT flight was about 40% full, with economy being primarily filled with people of Asian descent looking like people going home. Business was also about 40% full, mainly leisure travelers, I think. I tried out the Japanese dinner selection, and it was pretty good. The sushi was a little tough, but that's to be expected from airline catering. Certainly a change from the usual fare. I also rather like the Sauvignon Blanc AA is serving these days, and it went well with the sushi. I'd pass on the sake, though. Uggh.
Getting into NRT about 20 minutes early, I set about looking for the connection desk. Just in case, I had obtained a Japanese Single-Entry visa, but avoiding the lines at custom/immigration was definitely a worthwhile goal. The first AA staffer I asked was dumbfounded when I told her I was trying to connect to DFW. She looked down to her clipboard, and asked whether I had just come from Chicago. Sensing further discussion was probably futile, I just moved on to another person and asked where the CX connection desk is, figuring AA probably has their desk in the same place.
After going up one level and walking around the NRT AC [though I didn't realize it at the time], I made it to the connections desk. The agent there was apparently a lot more used to odd travelers because she didn't even blink when I said I was going to BOS via DFW. But due to a change in DFW, my itiniery had to be re-ticketed, so I was sent up to the AC, without a boarding pass.
At the AC counter, they had apparently been called to expect me [nice of AA], so I just got waved through. Took advantage of my 3 hour layover to take a quick shower, which really does make you feel much better, and to change clothes. Nice facilities, although they could really improve it by including a small amenities bag with things like toothbrushes/shaving kits. By the time I got out of the shower, the boarding pass was ready at the counter. Efficient service!
Boarding the NRT-DFW flight, it was about 5AM, by my biological clock, and I only got about 4 hours sleep on the outbound leg. After chatting with the FA's while the plane boarded, she noted loads were still lower than usual but gradually picking up. Business class was still abandoned, with less than 25% load.
An hour after takeoff, I was able to rouse myself to enjoy the excellent pepper steak [medium-rare] before falling comatose for a full 8 hours of sleep, waking up merely 2 hours before arrival at DFW. Those new business class seats are quite comfy to sleep in if you're not too tall.
Clearing customs at DFW took a while, with a more senior agent being called out to handle my baggage check. I suspect it's because a scan of my passport at immigration revealed that I had recently taken multiple trips overseas. The agent specifically asked if I had been to Taipei recently, which seems a pretty unusual question to ask someone off a Tokyo flight unless I had been "profiled" as worthy of further questioning. So I explained about the low fares to TPE and that I am flying for miles/enjoyment. That seem to satisfy him, and the original agent was back at the station as I headed out of the customs area.
Since it had been a long flight, I decided not to take the train and walk from Terminal A to Terminal B, where my DFW-BOS flight had benn moved [orig. Term C]. A good hike, and I rather enjoyed the view on the walkway. Much better than the train, although I might feel differently if I had to go to Term C.
The DFW AC is also pretty nice, with airy ceiling and internet-terminals so that I could salve my withdrawl symptoms. After a quick check of e-mail [and Flyertalk!] it was off to the bar to watch the Denver-Baltimore game.
Boarding AA1878 at 5:25pm, the gate agent made a rather sarcastic announcement that this was a dinner flight, but that dinner service would be discontinued soon so enjoy while it's here. Entirely accurate, but I'm sure AA could have done without employees spilling that kind of attitude in front of the customers.
AA1878 was pretty full, with every FC seat occupied and at least 80% load in economy. Good signs that at least some travel is returning to normal.
Dinner service was an adequate salmon, but the inflight movie was canceled. Most likely because the movie for this time period [9/16-9/30] was already removed but no new movie had been loaded yet. The FC FA [karri] jokingly suggest she could do a puppet show, which was met by enthusiasm by all passengers within earshot. Alas, she declined to follow up, but service was quite excellent for the flight. But if dinner service will be discontinued for flights of shorter than transcon length, then I suspect I'll be rarely stopping in DFW.
So, 38 hours after take off, I'm back in Boston, well relaxed and ready for a full week's work. People who's never done mileage runs clearly do not appreciate how much fun it is!!!
On the outbound leg, I was going AA153 BOS-ORD-NRT. Got to Logan at 6:30am, 2 hours before the flight, thinking I'd have plenty of time. Couldn't have been more wrong. Security was backed up, and I spent a full 2 hours standing in line. Definitely didn't stop at the AC, since I didn't clear security until 8:35AM for a 8:30AM flight. All laptops had to taken out of bags and scanned separately, as well as wiped for explosive residue. I hope Logan either get more people or open another checkpoint, because this is NOT going to work, long-term.
BOS-ORD was on a S-80, and I re-acquainted myself with why I hate traveling on narrowbody jets. The FC seats were barely more comfortable than a MRTC 777 coach seat. Jammed up agains the bulkhead in seat 1B, it's a good thing it was only a 2 hour flight.
Now, this is my first visit to the ORD AC, and I was suitably impressed. Much bigger and nicer than the Boston AC, but I didn't find any internet-capable workstations. The view of the tarmac was nice, and I like how the frosted glass partitions help to divide the large open space without making it feel constrictive.
The outbound ORD-NRT flight was about 40% full, with economy being primarily filled with people of Asian descent looking like people going home. Business was also about 40% full, mainly leisure travelers, I think. I tried out the Japanese dinner selection, and it was pretty good. The sushi was a little tough, but that's to be expected from airline catering. Certainly a change from the usual fare. I also rather like the Sauvignon Blanc AA is serving these days, and it went well with the sushi. I'd pass on the sake, though. Uggh.
Getting into NRT about 20 minutes early, I set about looking for the connection desk. Just in case, I had obtained a Japanese Single-Entry visa, but avoiding the lines at custom/immigration was definitely a worthwhile goal. The first AA staffer I asked was dumbfounded when I told her I was trying to connect to DFW. She looked down to her clipboard, and asked whether I had just come from Chicago. Sensing further discussion was probably futile, I just moved on to another person and asked where the CX connection desk is, figuring AA probably has their desk in the same place.
After going up one level and walking around the NRT AC [though I didn't realize it at the time], I made it to the connections desk. The agent there was apparently a lot more used to odd travelers because she didn't even blink when I said I was going to BOS via DFW. But due to a change in DFW, my itiniery had to be re-ticketed, so I was sent up to the AC, without a boarding pass.
At the AC counter, they had apparently been called to expect me [nice of AA], so I just got waved through. Took advantage of my 3 hour layover to take a quick shower, which really does make you feel much better, and to change clothes. Nice facilities, although they could really improve it by including a small amenities bag with things like toothbrushes/shaving kits. By the time I got out of the shower, the boarding pass was ready at the counter. Efficient service!
Boarding the NRT-DFW flight, it was about 5AM, by my biological clock, and I only got about 4 hours sleep on the outbound leg. After chatting with the FA's while the plane boarded, she noted loads were still lower than usual but gradually picking up. Business class was still abandoned, with less than 25% load.
An hour after takeoff, I was able to rouse myself to enjoy the excellent pepper steak [medium-rare] before falling comatose for a full 8 hours of sleep, waking up merely 2 hours before arrival at DFW. Those new business class seats are quite comfy to sleep in if you're not too tall.
Clearing customs at DFW took a while, with a more senior agent being called out to handle my baggage check. I suspect it's because a scan of my passport at immigration revealed that I had recently taken multiple trips overseas. The agent specifically asked if I had been to Taipei recently, which seems a pretty unusual question to ask someone off a Tokyo flight unless I had been "profiled" as worthy of further questioning. So I explained about the low fares to TPE and that I am flying for miles/enjoyment. That seem to satisfy him, and the original agent was back at the station as I headed out of the customs area.
Since it had been a long flight, I decided not to take the train and walk from Terminal A to Terminal B, where my DFW-BOS flight had benn moved [orig. Term C]. A good hike, and I rather enjoyed the view on the walkway. Much better than the train, although I might feel differently if I had to go to Term C.
The DFW AC is also pretty nice, with airy ceiling and internet-terminals so that I could salve my withdrawl symptoms. After a quick check of e-mail [and Flyertalk!] it was off to the bar to watch the Denver-Baltimore game.
Boarding AA1878 at 5:25pm, the gate agent made a rather sarcastic announcement that this was a dinner flight, but that dinner service would be discontinued soon so enjoy while it's here. Entirely accurate, but I'm sure AA could have done without employees spilling that kind of attitude in front of the customers.
AA1878 was pretty full, with every FC seat occupied and at least 80% load in economy. Good signs that at least some travel is returning to normal.
Dinner service was an adequate salmon, but the inflight movie was canceled. Most likely because the movie for this time period [9/16-9/30] was already removed but no new movie had been loaded yet. The FC FA [karri] jokingly suggest she could do a puppet show, which was met by enthusiasm by all passengers within earshot. Alas, she declined to follow up, but service was quite excellent for the flight. But if dinner service will be discontinued for flights of shorter than transcon length, then I suspect I'll be rarely stopping in DFW.
So, 38 hours after take off, I'm back in Boston, well relaxed and ready for a full week's work. People who's never done mileage runs clearly do not appreciate how much fun it is!!!