zrs70
Mar 26, 02, 1:10 pm
This will be a rather streamlined report. Let me begin by saying that my only purpose for travel was a convention in Israel. I decided, "why not make it a quick RTW." I barely spent anytime anywhere, but wanted very much to see new airports (to me) and try other airlines.
Itinerary:
SAN-LAX-ORD-IAD-LAX-SFO-ORD-MAN-ZRH-VIE-TLV-FRA-DUS-MUC-VIE-PEK-NRT/HND-KIX-SFO-LAX
(mind you, the US segments were spaced over a month, and the international all within 10 days). For the purpose of this report, I will stick to the "real" beginning of the RTW, and forget the domestic UA flights.
ORD-MAN: BD #706 D class, A330.
1) Pre-flight:
Check in was painless at ORD's international terminal. Security was thirty seconds, and I was off to the SAS lounge. The lounge is small with a well stocked pantry. There were a couple of internet computers for use, but they were slow. I went over to the boarding area at 5:30 for the 6:30 departure just in time to hear a delay announcement. It turned out that the pilot's had to deal with paperwork. At first the delay looked like 1/2 hour. But it turned itno an hour and a half! I asked the gate agent (operated by UA staff) to protect me on another flight for my connection to ZRH. No prob. She make me a BA reservation. We finally boarded. I was chosen for screening, which was thorough but painless.
There were just a handful in the C cabin. In flight manager came to me and shook my hand. He said, "I understand you have a connection. We will make sure you get to your destination. (Nice touch: ever hear an FA on a US carrier say that?).
Hot towels before departure.
Best amenity kit I have seen: a hanging bag with lotions, soaps, a pen, paper.
Noise cancelling headsets in a cloth bag.
Champagne in glass.
2) Flight:
Screen in front showed take off. Kind of fun! Movie selection was basic. The seat was very comfortable with tons of legroom. No one was next to me or behind me! We got hot towels multiple times (often served on a ceramic plate). In flight chef came to each pax and discussed the menu. The menu itself is a nifty little modern style portfolio with lots of choices. I chose an amazing beef dish. Bread came in a ceramic earth bowl. The salad was ok, not great. Anotehr passenger got an appetizer plate served around the rim of a glass dish. Pretty impressive! Dessert was a wonderful chocolate tart. Mind you, there were choices for everything, but I am not going to include them here. I forget what breakfast was, but I remember it being good!
3) Arrival:
Despite 1:30 delay, we landed 45 minutes behind schedule. I could still make my SQ flight to ZRH (though I would miss use of the lounge). As soon as we got to the gate, my name was paged, and a BD agent whisekd me through all the "chazarai" over to the interational terminal where my SQ boardins pass was waiting for me. I ran onto the plane, up the stairs, and into seat 17a.
MAN-ZRH SQ:345 747-400
I planned my trip carefully so I could take advantage of a short hop on SQ within Europe.
1) Pre-flight:
No time, as mentioned, for lounge in MAN. As soon as I was seated, I was handed a hot towel (a huge one), and a menu.
2) Flight:
Seat was deep and wide. Plenty of leg room. Two choices for meal. A) Croissant sandwich with chicken. Or B) Herb and garlic fettuccine with smoked salmon. I chose B and was delighted.
3) Arrival:
We landed in ZRH, and I was through immigratation within 7 minutes. I checked no bags, so didn't ahve to wait. ZRH is under lots of constuction now, so the airport was a bit chaotic. I went right to the Hilton where I slept the afternoon away.
Next part to be continued....
Itinerary:
SAN-LAX-ORD-IAD-LAX-SFO-ORD-MAN-ZRH-VIE-TLV-FRA-DUS-MUC-VIE-PEK-NRT/HND-KIX-SFO-LAX
(mind you, the US segments were spaced over a month, and the international all within 10 days). For the purpose of this report, I will stick to the "real" beginning of the RTW, and forget the domestic UA flights.
ORD-MAN: BD #706 D class, A330.
1) Pre-flight:
Check in was painless at ORD's international terminal. Security was thirty seconds, and I was off to the SAS lounge. The lounge is small with a well stocked pantry. There were a couple of internet computers for use, but they were slow. I went over to the boarding area at 5:30 for the 6:30 departure just in time to hear a delay announcement. It turned out that the pilot's had to deal with paperwork. At first the delay looked like 1/2 hour. But it turned itno an hour and a half! I asked the gate agent (operated by UA staff) to protect me on another flight for my connection to ZRH. No prob. She make me a BA reservation. We finally boarded. I was chosen for screening, which was thorough but painless.
There were just a handful in the C cabin. In flight manager came to me and shook my hand. He said, "I understand you have a connection. We will make sure you get to your destination. (Nice touch: ever hear an FA on a US carrier say that?).
Hot towels before departure.
Best amenity kit I have seen: a hanging bag with lotions, soaps, a pen, paper.
Noise cancelling headsets in a cloth bag.
Champagne in glass.
2) Flight:
Screen in front showed take off. Kind of fun! Movie selection was basic. The seat was very comfortable with tons of legroom. No one was next to me or behind me! We got hot towels multiple times (often served on a ceramic plate). In flight chef came to each pax and discussed the menu. The menu itself is a nifty little modern style portfolio with lots of choices. I chose an amazing beef dish. Bread came in a ceramic earth bowl. The salad was ok, not great. Anotehr passenger got an appetizer plate served around the rim of a glass dish. Pretty impressive! Dessert was a wonderful chocolate tart. Mind you, there were choices for everything, but I am not going to include them here. I forget what breakfast was, but I remember it being good!
3) Arrival:
Despite 1:30 delay, we landed 45 minutes behind schedule. I could still make my SQ flight to ZRH (though I would miss use of the lounge). As soon as we got to the gate, my name was paged, and a BD agent whisekd me through all the "chazarai" over to the interational terminal where my SQ boardins pass was waiting for me. I ran onto the plane, up the stairs, and into seat 17a.
MAN-ZRH SQ:345 747-400
I planned my trip carefully so I could take advantage of a short hop on SQ within Europe.
1) Pre-flight:
No time, as mentioned, for lounge in MAN. As soon as I was seated, I was handed a hot towel (a huge one), and a menu.
2) Flight:
Seat was deep and wide. Plenty of leg room. Two choices for meal. A) Croissant sandwich with chicken. Or B) Herb and garlic fettuccine with smoked salmon. I chose B and was delighted.
3) Arrival:
We landed in ZRH, and I was through immigratation within 7 minutes. I checked no bags, so didn't ahve to wait. ZRH is under lots of constuction now, so the airport was a bit chaotic. I went right to the Hilton where I slept the afternoon away.
Next part to be continued....