jmiyazawa
Dec 16, 01, 2:52 am
The rain ended earlier today, hopefully a harbinger of island-style weather for the next 10 days. The trip over was relatively uneventful, to wit:
BWI-LAX
AA 1501
737-800
The BWI-ORD segment of this flight was relatively uneventful. I for one love the F seats on the 738, particularly the bifurcated seat-back pocket. The crew on the leg to ORD was outstanding, filling my drink at least three times on the 1hr. 45 min. flight. Pre-departure beverages were offered, by the way. F was about 1/2 full.
The ORD-LAX segment of the flight was also relatively uneventful, although the plane appeared full in both F and Y. After starting with warm nuts, lunch was offered with a choice of either a Salmon Sandwich (more on that later), a baked chicken turnover, or Tuscan vegetable soup. Lunch started with a relatively large, crisp romaine salad with either Caesar or vinaigratte dressing. My wife had the salmon sandwich, which was...interesting. It was a piece of salmon about the size (but not thickness) of a disposable camera, heaped onto a piece of, I think, pumpernickel bread, topped with onions an a sauce whose composition I still have not been able to figure out. I had the chicken turnover, which was surprisingly tasty. Both the salmon and chicken were paired with a cold corn salad. Again, not bad, but pretty decent.
Sundaes of course followed, with toppings of hot fudge, caramel, strawberries, nuts and whipped cream. I must admit that, with the curtain between F and Y open, it was a bit embarrassing to be chomping down on my strawberry sundae while the passengers in Y had clearly finished their Bistro Bag lunches long before the cloth was even placed on our tray tables. The crew made numerous passes offering beverage refills, and were friendly and professional in every way. We landed at LAX about 20 minutes early.
LAX-HNL
AA 297
757-200
This leg appeared to be full in Y and F as well. Whenever I'm sitting in F, watching the parade of passengers headed back into Y, it always reminds me of the circus trick where two dozen clowns come out of the VW Bug -- except instead of asking, "where do they come from?", I ask, "how are they going to fit back there?" In any event, pre-departure champagne and OJ were offered. F was full, and I assume Y was as well. We departed on-time for the 4 hr. 55 min. flight to Honolulu. Menus were distributed, although it seemed a bit ridiculous, since elaboration wasn't really necessary. Following an "Appetizer Salad" of romaine greens and a soba noodle salad (which was actually quite good), the entrees offered were a soy-glazed pork loin with sweet potatoes and green beans, shrimp and scallops with pineapple rice (my wife's choce), and macadamia-crusted chicken with jasmine rice (although it was actually served with mashed potatoes). Again, the portions were rather large, and the crew did a great job with the meal service. Dessert was the ubiqutous but still tasty ice cream sundae, or cheesecake with guava sauce. We landed in HNL about 30 minutes early at 6:55 p.m., which was a nice surprise.
Random Notes
Without exception, the crew members on each leg were friendly and accommodating. I've heard, perhaps from this board, that one can predict the quality of service on a particular flight based solely on whether the mixed nuts are served heated or cold. Whether or not this "nut temperature index of predicted customer service" is an accurate one, it did bear out.
I thought it was interesting that, despite having the curtain between F and Y open, it did not appear that a SINGLE Y passenger used or attempted to use the F bathroom. I would have thought just the opposite would be true, but either I was wrong, or people didn't need to attempt it.
It must be incredibly uncomfortable for crew members to serve elaborate three course meals to passengers in F under the watchful eyes of Y passengers.
A word about Security lines and check-in:
At BWI, we arrived at 0805 for the 0945 flight, and were checked in and through security in 10 minutes.
At ORD, after running outside to satisfy my nicotine habit, I made it through security in 4 minutes.
At LAX, again after running outside, I made it through security in 4 minutes.
The return flight on the 26th (AA 3002/TW 2) should be an interesting comparison point, assuming of course that AA has not dumbed-down the F service previously offered by TW. But, that's for another day. Thanks for your patience if you've made it this far. Aloha, everyone!
[This message has been edited by jmiyazawa (edited 12-16-2001).]
BWI-LAX
AA 1501
737-800
The BWI-ORD segment of this flight was relatively uneventful. I for one love the F seats on the 738, particularly the bifurcated seat-back pocket. The crew on the leg to ORD was outstanding, filling my drink at least three times on the 1hr. 45 min. flight. Pre-departure beverages were offered, by the way. F was about 1/2 full.
The ORD-LAX segment of the flight was also relatively uneventful, although the plane appeared full in both F and Y. After starting with warm nuts, lunch was offered with a choice of either a Salmon Sandwich (more on that later), a baked chicken turnover, or Tuscan vegetable soup. Lunch started with a relatively large, crisp romaine salad with either Caesar or vinaigratte dressing. My wife had the salmon sandwich, which was...interesting. It was a piece of salmon about the size (but not thickness) of a disposable camera, heaped onto a piece of, I think, pumpernickel bread, topped with onions an a sauce whose composition I still have not been able to figure out. I had the chicken turnover, which was surprisingly tasty. Both the salmon and chicken were paired with a cold corn salad. Again, not bad, but pretty decent.
Sundaes of course followed, with toppings of hot fudge, caramel, strawberries, nuts and whipped cream. I must admit that, with the curtain between F and Y open, it was a bit embarrassing to be chomping down on my strawberry sundae while the passengers in Y had clearly finished their Bistro Bag lunches long before the cloth was even placed on our tray tables. The crew made numerous passes offering beverage refills, and were friendly and professional in every way. We landed at LAX about 20 minutes early.
LAX-HNL
AA 297
757-200
This leg appeared to be full in Y and F as well. Whenever I'm sitting in F, watching the parade of passengers headed back into Y, it always reminds me of the circus trick where two dozen clowns come out of the VW Bug -- except instead of asking, "where do they come from?", I ask, "how are they going to fit back there?" In any event, pre-departure champagne and OJ were offered. F was full, and I assume Y was as well. We departed on-time for the 4 hr. 55 min. flight to Honolulu. Menus were distributed, although it seemed a bit ridiculous, since elaboration wasn't really necessary. Following an "Appetizer Salad" of romaine greens and a soba noodle salad (which was actually quite good), the entrees offered were a soy-glazed pork loin with sweet potatoes and green beans, shrimp and scallops with pineapple rice (my wife's choce), and macadamia-crusted chicken with jasmine rice (although it was actually served with mashed potatoes). Again, the portions were rather large, and the crew did a great job with the meal service. Dessert was the ubiqutous but still tasty ice cream sundae, or cheesecake with guava sauce. We landed in HNL about 30 minutes early at 6:55 p.m., which was a nice surprise.
Random Notes
Without exception, the crew members on each leg were friendly and accommodating. I've heard, perhaps from this board, that one can predict the quality of service on a particular flight based solely on whether the mixed nuts are served heated or cold. Whether or not this "nut temperature index of predicted customer service" is an accurate one, it did bear out.
I thought it was interesting that, despite having the curtain between F and Y open, it did not appear that a SINGLE Y passenger used or attempted to use the F bathroom. I would have thought just the opposite would be true, but either I was wrong, or people didn't need to attempt it.
It must be incredibly uncomfortable for crew members to serve elaborate three course meals to passengers in F under the watchful eyes of Y passengers.
A word about Security lines and check-in:
At BWI, we arrived at 0805 for the 0945 flight, and were checked in and through security in 10 minutes.
At ORD, after running outside to satisfy my nicotine habit, I made it through security in 4 minutes.
At LAX, again after running outside, I made it through security in 4 minutes.
The return flight on the 26th (AA 3002/TW 2) should be an interesting comparison point, assuming of course that AA has not dumbed-down the F service previously offered by TW. But, that's for another day. Thanks for your patience if you've made it this far. Aloha, everyone!
[This message has been edited by jmiyazawa (edited 12-16-2001).]