Pickles
Mar 14, 02, 5:13 pm
Bear with me, since this is my first trip report ever. Currently on the first leg of a very long trip with the above itinerary.
The BOS-LHR and LHR-SFO are on VS UC, upgraded using miles, issued by CO, the SFO-EWR-BOS is on CO F, issued by CO, and the LHR-JNB-LHR is on VS UC, issued by VS, a full-boat no expenses-spared ticket purchase on a PTA to be picked up in LHR. Got that?
Before we head off into the flight itself, let me tell you that the particular arrangement of this complex flight has allowed me to see both the best and worst CO has to offer in terms of CSR and CTO quality. Most of the details of my ordeal will be left out to prevent ID by CO lurkers. All I will say is that purchasing a ticket using VS with CO miles on a VS/CO codeshare ten days before departure requesting (and getting mostly) K class fares with confirmed upgrades is one way to try your patience. However, I have battled them and won in a major way, since I got what I wanted, although I have lost a chunk of my hair and my life expectancy has been reduced by a good three years. And I don't even smoke.
On to the flight. I was going with a colleage who has a gazibazillion miles in AA, so he drove to the airport to take the earlier AA flight, while I took the subway to the airport about an hour later. I got there before he did (missed his flight, ended up flying BA after I had already left). By the way, I am not a mile collector. I spend them as fast as I accrue them. Last year, I accrued over 400K OnePass miles, and spent 340K of them on upgrades and free trips.
Arrival at airport was uneventful. VEERY long line at VS for economy, nobody in line for UC. Was starting to like this already. Get up to counter, and proceed to check in. I ask if I can take THREE carry ons on board (oooh you are so brave!). Agent says, sure, just put these UC tags on them so they don't give you any grief getting there. Score! Halfway through check-in process, a Continental grey-coat agent approaches me and asks me if I am Mr. Pickle. Mind you, this is Terminal E, which is ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AIRPORT FROM CO'S TERMINAL A. I say yes, and she proceeds to ESCORT ME THROUGH SECURITY and into the NW/VS lounge in Terminal E. I was floored. Never seen anything like this. Either my ordeal getting my ticket was noticed by somebody, or they just figured out that I'm a good customer?
Anyway, the NW/VS lounge leads directly to the gate entrance (just like the VS lounges in LHR and LGW, kind of cool). Hang out at the lounge for about 45 minutes, check e-mail, make phone calls. At one corner of the lounge, there was a VS-set up table with the usual VS foodstuffs (if you've ever been in the VS lounges, you know what I mean, very nice and classy). Had some soup, some cheese, and chocolates before flight.
Boarding was called, BP lifted while still at the lounge, and merged directly at the jetway door with the mass of humanity in the cattle car. Plane was packed to the living gills in the back, about 50% load in PremEc, and about a third full in UC. Nice. Before takeoff the inflight stylist asked me if I wanted a massage/treament. I passed, I'm not into that too much, but thanks for asking.
Departure five minutes early, wheels up five minutes after scheduled departure. After takeoff they distributed the amenity kits (I was wondering about them before takeoff, since I was looking forward to the VS UC eyeshades. They are nice and furry. I had a pair that I lost in some CO flight in coach to Brazil, that I rather not remember.)
I was wondering whether 9/11 had any effect on the VS UC amenity kit. I am happy to report that the only change is that instead of two kits, one with a bunch of toiletries, and another "beltpack" with a note pad, a pen, and a package of Polo mints, we now only get one kit. The pen and the note pad are now stuffed into the one kit, and the Polo mints are gone. But the Smints are still there (This level of details is for the reading pleasure of one FCTSTY).
Plane was one of the old 747-200 (could tell by the bathroom fixtures), but the interior (except the bathroom and the overhead bins) had been refurbished with the J2000 kit. Even the window shades had funky handles. The J2000 seat is quite interesting, and takes some getting used to. It lies pretty much flat (except at an angle), but it is a bit narrow, and when fully extended, it "sinks" into the seat, while your feet sort of do a slot-B/tab-A under the seat in front of you. Remember to remove your stuff from under your seat when lowering seat! Some people have complained that over time, people slide off the seat. I can see this, especially on the bulkhead seats, where there is nothing stopping you from sliding halfway into the floor.
Movie selection was NOT Tron or two million-year-old episodes of Cheers. The top two movies were "In the Bedroom" and "The Royal Tennenbaums"! Those are still playing at the Kendall in Cambridge. Why should I pay $8.75 to sit with a bunch of self-righteous, tighter-than-a-wedgie Cambridge granolas, when I can watch them for free in the plane? Har har har!
The screen was big and very bright, especially after they turned the lights off. Also, the headphones had some kind of noise-cancelling/amplification device (I think, anybody know better?) which made listening a pleasure.
The service was standard VS UC, a bit cheeky, sprightly, but very efficient. The first after-takeoff drink comes with a choice of olives or "crisps". None of this "ramekin of warm nuts" nonsense. My nuts are already at 36.8 degrees C, why would I want to warm them further, and additionally, I'm not into eating them. Still using them.
The bar in the second section of UC (I was in the front section, and the top was all UC also) was sparsely populated by a couple of fellow passengers.
The menu is the usual VS UC smorgasbord, ranging from full-fledged fish dishes to cold cereal, passing through who knows what else. Eat whatever you like, whenever you like. Was very unoriginal and just had some soup and a fruit plate with yogurt before "retiring". One blech: ALL silverware was plastic. Cut my lip on a sharp plastic spoon (hey FA I found a weapon in my soup!) I didn't really retire, since it was only a 5:45 flight, and it was early evening. Me Pickles, Me night person. Just watched movies and read, esconced in my J2000 seat wrapped in a COMFORTER (not a blanket!). Only problem is that comforter is small, since if it was bigger it would probably get trapped in the seat when moving up and down.
Arrival in LHR 15 minutes early, armed with a FastTrack for LHR immigration, was out the door and in the street in 10 minutes. Since ticket was CO stock, no Revivals for Pickles, no Limo to destination. No big deal, since I had reserved a room at the hotel for early arrival. That way I could shower and take a nap before heading into the office to "work".
My full boat LHR-JNB is VS stock, so I'll report on the Revivals deal and the Limo transport after I complete the experience.
[This message has been edited by Pickles (edited 03-14-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Pickles (edited 03-14-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Pickles (edited 03-15-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Pickles (edited 04-27-2002).]
The BOS-LHR and LHR-SFO are on VS UC, upgraded using miles, issued by CO, the SFO-EWR-BOS is on CO F, issued by CO, and the LHR-JNB-LHR is on VS UC, issued by VS, a full-boat no expenses-spared ticket purchase on a PTA to be picked up in LHR. Got that?
Before we head off into the flight itself, let me tell you that the particular arrangement of this complex flight has allowed me to see both the best and worst CO has to offer in terms of CSR and CTO quality. Most of the details of my ordeal will be left out to prevent ID by CO lurkers. All I will say is that purchasing a ticket using VS with CO miles on a VS/CO codeshare ten days before departure requesting (and getting mostly) K class fares with confirmed upgrades is one way to try your patience. However, I have battled them and won in a major way, since I got what I wanted, although I have lost a chunk of my hair and my life expectancy has been reduced by a good three years. And I don't even smoke.
On to the flight. I was going with a colleage who has a gazibazillion miles in AA, so he drove to the airport to take the earlier AA flight, while I took the subway to the airport about an hour later. I got there before he did (missed his flight, ended up flying BA after I had already left). By the way, I am not a mile collector. I spend them as fast as I accrue them. Last year, I accrued over 400K OnePass miles, and spent 340K of them on upgrades and free trips.
Arrival at airport was uneventful. VEERY long line at VS for economy, nobody in line for UC. Was starting to like this already. Get up to counter, and proceed to check in. I ask if I can take THREE carry ons on board (oooh you are so brave!). Agent says, sure, just put these UC tags on them so they don't give you any grief getting there. Score! Halfway through check-in process, a Continental grey-coat agent approaches me and asks me if I am Mr. Pickle. Mind you, this is Terminal E, which is ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AIRPORT FROM CO'S TERMINAL A. I say yes, and she proceeds to ESCORT ME THROUGH SECURITY and into the NW/VS lounge in Terminal E. I was floored. Never seen anything like this. Either my ordeal getting my ticket was noticed by somebody, or they just figured out that I'm a good customer?
Anyway, the NW/VS lounge leads directly to the gate entrance (just like the VS lounges in LHR and LGW, kind of cool). Hang out at the lounge for about 45 minutes, check e-mail, make phone calls. At one corner of the lounge, there was a VS-set up table with the usual VS foodstuffs (if you've ever been in the VS lounges, you know what I mean, very nice and classy). Had some soup, some cheese, and chocolates before flight.
Boarding was called, BP lifted while still at the lounge, and merged directly at the jetway door with the mass of humanity in the cattle car. Plane was packed to the living gills in the back, about 50% load in PremEc, and about a third full in UC. Nice. Before takeoff the inflight stylist asked me if I wanted a massage/treament. I passed, I'm not into that too much, but thanks for asking.
Departure five minutes early, wheels up five minutes after scheduled departure. After takeoff they distributed the amenity kits (I was wondering about them before takeoff, since I was looking forward to the VS UC eyeshades. They are nice and furry. I had a pair that I lost in some CO flight in coach to Brazil, that I rather not remember.)
I was wondering whether 9/11 had any effect on the VS UC amenity kit. I am happy to report that the only change is that instead of two kits, one with a bunch of toiletries, and another "beltpack" with a note pad, a pen, and a package of Polo mints, we now only get one kit. The pen and the note pad are now stuffed into the one kit, and the Polo mints are gone. But the Smints are still there (This level of details is for the reading pleasure of one FCTSTY).
Plane was one of the old 747-200 (could tell by the bathroom fixtures), but the interior (except the bathroom and the overhead bins) had been refurbished with the J2000 kit. Even the window shades had funky handles. The J2000 seat is quite interesting, and takes some getting used to. It lies pretty much flat (except at an angle), but it is a bit narrow, and when fully extended, it "sinks" into the seat, while your feet sort of do a slot-B/tab-A under the seat in front of you. Remember to remove your stuff from under your seat when lowering seat! Some people have complained that over time, people slide off the seat. I can see this, especially on the bulkhead seats, where there is nothing stopping you from sliding halfway into the floor.
Movie selection was NOT Tron or two million-year-old episodes of Cheers. The top two movies were "In the Bedroom" and "The Royal Tennenbaums"! Those are still playing at the Kendall in Cambridge. Why should I pay $8.75 to sit with a bunch of self-righteous, tighter-than-a-wedgie Cambridge granolas, when I can watch them for free in the plane? Har har har!
The screen was big and very bright, especially after they turned the lights off. Also, the headphones had some kind of noise-cancelling/amplification device (I think, anybody know better?) which made listening a pleasure.
The service was standard VS UC, a bit cheeky, sprightly, but very efficient. The first after-takeoff drink comes with a choice of olives or "crisps". None of this "ramekin of warm nuts" nonsense. My nuts are already at 36.8 degrees C, why would I want to warm them further, and additionally, I'm not into eating them. Still using them.
The bar in the second section of UC (I was in the front section, and the top was all UC also) was sparsely populated by a couple of fellow passengers.
The menu is the usual VS UC smorgasbord, ranging from full-fledged fish dishes to cold cereal, passing through who knows what else. Eat whatever you like, whenever you like. Was very unoriginal and just had some soup and a fruit plate with yogurt before "retiring". One blech: ALL silverware was plastic. Cut my lip on a sharp plastic spoon (hey FA I found a weapon in my soup!) I didn't really retire, since it was only a 5:45 flight, and it was early evening. Me Pickles, Me night person. Just watched movies and read, esconced in my J2000 seat wrapped in a COMFORTER (not a blanket!). Only problem is that comforter is small, since if it was bigger it would probably get trapped in the seat when moving up and down.
Arrival in LHR 15 minutes early, armed with a FastTrack for LHR immigration, was out the door and in the street in 10 minutes. Since ticket was CO stock, no Revivals for Pickles, no Limo to destination. No big deal, since I had reserved a room at the hotel for early arrival. That way I could shower and take a nap before heading into the office to "work".
My full boat LHR-JNB is VS stock, so I'll report on the Revivals deal and the Limo transport after I complete the experience.
[This message has been edited by Pickles (edited 03-14-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Pickles (edited 03-14-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Pickles (edited 03-15-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Pickles (edited 04-27-2002).]