777Brit
Jun 29, 02, 5:05 pm
My birthday was coming up, so I decided, what the hell, take a trip and go and visit friends in the US! Here’s my little story…
Thursday May 23rd, 2002.
American Airlines AA57
LHR-MIA
Boeing 777-200ER
Seat 12D, Business Class
Scheduled to Depart 1055, arrive 1525
(Actual Depart 1054, arrive 1458)
Once again, the Boeing 777 was my aircraft of choice for my transatlantic crossing. I decided to go to Los Angeles the long way. I guess I’m getting into this whole mileage thing now, so I decided to maximise (within reason) my mileage-earning potential, whilst enjoying my trip!
I arrived at LHR Terminal 3 at 9am. I sauntered up to the Business Class check-in and there were just two other people in front of me. The coach check-in was snaking down Terminal 3, there must have been about 150-200 people in the queue. The agent checked me in as quick as a whippet, then I met up with a friend who works in Baggage Service over in Arrivals, for a coffee and a chat. After a swift coffee I wandered off to the Admirals Club and ran into a very nice lady who used to be my supervisor when I worked on the AAdvantage Platinum desk in London, back in 1996! In the old days, when you met someone you knew, you could be guaranteed an upgrade or other such courtesy. Alas, those days are long gone…
The club was reasonably busy for the time of day, not particularly overcrowded. I made some phone calls, then mixed an extra-strong Screwdriver. I downed the cocktail then headed of to the gate, which unfortunately was gate 22 today, just about the furthest gate from the Admirals Club in Terminal 3.
Boarding was in progress when I arrived at the gate. I was swiftly processed through security, avoided the secondary search and headed into the lounge area. I met an old friend of mine there, who works for AA sales in London. Now I’ve met three people that I know! She was travelling non-rev with her boyfriend and parents, heading down to Barbados for a week in the sun. At this stage, I realised how much I love being a revenue customer, rather than having to suffer the stress and anxiety of not knowing if I’m going to get a seat. In the end, my friend and her boyfriend got First Class and she sent her poor old parents down the back of Economy! Outrageous!
As you no doubt know from my previous trip reports, I also perform my ‘pre-departure seating check’, whenever I’m flying Business or First Class. I’ve been disappointed so many times with faulty seats that I take matters into my own hands and check out the seat completely. My seat inspection revealed that once again, my seat had a faulty lumbar, but this time, the headrest worked properly. I was flabbergasted. A working headrest! The lumbar did it’s own thing, but when I was sitting in the seat, it deflated and stayed deflated, so I thought I’d put up with it. After all, Miami is only nine hours away….
Pre-departure drinks and newspapers were offered. The very poor English newspaper choice was the Daily Express, or the Daily Express. Push back started at 1054am. After a twenty-minute taxi, we were airborne to the west, heading due-west over Windsor, across to Cardiff, over the Irish Sea then our oceanic crossing commenced to the west of Shannon. Our route today would take us across the Atlantic to Boston, then down the eastern seaboard to Miami. About twenty minutes after take-off, Business Class menu’s with a US Customs Declaration Form tucked inside were distributed. This was followed by the flight attendants taking drinks orders, so I plumped for my favourite, the Patriarche Chablis Premier Cru 1999. A truly delicious buttery, lemony dry white wine. Hot nuts accompanied the wine, as usual.
The movie selection was pretty lame, I don’t even remember what it was! I had to ask for the Bose headsets, the flight attendant I asked seemed a little put out that he had to go back and get them from the Galley. He then poured my Chablis and as he was pouring it, I could see the cork floating in the wine. He literally dumped it on my tray table and moved on. I picked up the glass, saw all the cork and asked the flight attendant to please pour me a fresh glass. Was this such an outrageous request? Apparently so. He picked up the glass, did a big dramatic rolling of the eyes, stared into the glass and said “You’re seeing things, there’s no cork in this.”
To this I replied, “If you hold it up to the light, you’ll see!”.
I could tell this wasn’t going anywhere. He held up the glass, shrugged his shoulders and loudly said “I don’t know what’s wrong with this, I can’t see anything, here you go.”
He put the glass down on my tray table and moved onwards without another word.
I sat there chewing this incident over for a bit. I thought his attitude was a little unnecessary, but of course, he might just be having a bad day. Maybe he was pissed with me because I pointed out the fact that the Bose headsets hadn’t been distributed? They made announcements to say the entertainment was starting, so surely it made sense to distribute the headsets before starting the entertainment system? I decided to let the incident pass, making sure I asked the other flight attendant for more wine.
Here are the wine list and menu selections, for your perusal….
Wine List
Champagne
Pommery Cuvée Madame Louise 1988
White Wines
Patriarche Chablis Premier Cru 1999
Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Washington State Sauvignon Blanc 1999
Red Wines
Bouchard Aine Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 1996
Beringer Knight’s Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
Aperitif and Dessert Wines
Osborne Amontillado Sherry
Graham’s Vintage Port 1983
Royal Tokaji ‘Blue Label’ Tokaji Aszú 1996
Lunch Menu
To Start
An assortment of warm roasted Nuts, to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
Appetizer
Lemon Shrimp Bruschetta with Artichoke Butter
Salad
Fresh seasonal Salad Greens
Offered with creamy Garlic Dressing
or Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar
Bread Basket
Warm Breads, freshly baked on board
Entrees
Filet Mignon
Salt and Pepper-crusted Tenderloin of Beef
enhanced by a Porcini Mushroom and Shallot Demi-Glace,
presented with roasted Root Vegetables
and Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives
Mustard-Seared Salmon
Seared Fillet of Salmon seasoned with dry Mustard,
accented by a Chanterelle Mushroom Vinaigrette
and offered with Orzo Pasta tossed with Spinach
Farfalle Pasta
Farfalle Pasta with a Three-Cheese Sauce,
complemented by Prosciutto, Asparagus
and freshly shredded Parmesan Cheese
Kentucky Bourbon Chicken
Herb-roasted Chicken served with Cornbread Dressing,
braised apples and a Kentucky Bourbon Sauce
Vegetable Plate
Season Vegetables that include
Lemon-scented Potatoes, wilted Spinach
and grilled Balsamic Tomatoes
The Dessert Cart
An assortment of Cheese
served with Grapes and selected Crackers
A scoop of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
Chocolates
I selected the Filet Mignon, which turned out to be quite tasty, but somewhat lacking in appearance. The beef was medium-well done, still pink inside, but not medium-rare how I prefer it. The mashed potatoes were creamy and smooth and the porcini mushroom and shallot demi-glace worked very well with the beef.
Dessert was Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream, my favourite flavour again! Bottled Evian was distributed, but I had to actually ask for it.
I tried to sleep and spent the next 4-5 hours snoozing, listening to the radio (the classical music channel) and attempting to read a copy of FHM magazine.
The crew started the second (Light Meal) service about 90 minutes prior to arrival.
Here’s the menu…
Light Meal
Spinach Salad with Smoked Trout
Fresh Spinach and Frisée Salad with roasted Eggplant and Capers,
served with a Champagne Vinaigrette and a Fillet of Smoked Trout
Sun-Dried Tomato Tart
Light Custard combined with Eggs and sun-dried Tomatoes,
Basil, Artichoke Hearts, and Asiago Cheese in a light Pastry Shell,
served with Field Greens and a Balsamic Vinaigrette
Apple Buckle
Apple and Ginger Filling
baked in a golden Crust and Streusel Topping
The grumpy flight attendant asked my what my choice was. I said the Sun-Dried Tomato Tart. I guess it was not my day. More eye-rolling ensued, followed by “We’ve only got 40 minutes to go, you’ll have to have the fish, I can’t wait for another tart from the galley.”
Was it my fault that they started the second service late? I don’t think so. I said I couldn’t eat the fish due to an allergy. The guy said nothing and put the fish on my tray. What choice did I have? Imagine how pissed I was when the guy across the aisle and one row behind me said he was also allergic to fish and couldn’t eat it, so the flight attendant went to the galley and got another tomato tart. I was fuming!
The service on this flight was poor. The flight attendant serving on my side of the cabin was very unfriendly, he gave the impression that everything was too much trouble for him. There were no water refills during the flight either.
Arrival in Miami was smooth and uneventful, as well as twenty-seven minutes early.
I headed swiftly to immigration where around four hundred people confronted me. Noooo! I headed to the far side of the immigration hall and joined what looked like a short queue. As if by magic, an immigration officer appeared in the booth adjacent to the queue I was in, so I headed quickly across and started a new line. In the end, my Immigration experience at MIA took no longer than three minutes! I passed swiftly though customs and out into the terminal. I had arrived at Concourse E. Of course; my connection was out of Concourse B. Could it be any further? I was grateful for the walk and the chance to stretch my legs. I arrived at the security checkpoint for the B concourse. There was an Elite line, but it was frankly a joke. The TSA person working the lines decided that it would be a great idea to put a group of around thirty US college students with around four to five bags each, through the Elite line, “because it would be quicker”. How can you argue with logic like that?
I made it through security after about twenty minutes and headed to the Admirals Club. The Concourse B club is apparently a temporary club. It’s on the upper level, it’s quite small, has a bar and a lot of seating, bathrooms, a tiny business centre and a ‘kids corner’. That’s it. No showers, no TV, no quiet area. I had a couple of ice cold Beck’s beers, made some calls then headed downstairs for boarding. I managed to dodge the gate security check, by hanging back and ensuring all the screeners were tied up. Also, I’ve found that if I get my boarding pass checked by a flight attendant and not a gate agent, then I never get screened.
Thursday May 23rd, 2002.
American Airlines AA823
MIA-LAX
Boeing 767-300ER
Seat 10D, Business Class
Scheduled to Depart 1705, arrive 1952
(Actual Depart 1700, arrive 1900)
I boarded, took my seat and just relaxed for a few minutes. The interior of the plane was hot, the guy next to me was almost hanging of the edge of his seat, and he didn’t bother to say hello, so I chose to say nothing too. Hey, I can be a snob with the best of them!
We pushed back five minutes early, had a short taxi and took off to the East. There was a full American Flagship Service dinner on this flight. I was quite full after my transatlantic trip but I decided what the hell, I should just try it anyway!
The flight attendant serving my side of the cabin came and introduced herself, shook my hand and offered me juice or ‘champagne’, which I suspect was sparkling wine. She was actually quite delightful, extremely pleasant and polite and smiled a lot, which was a complete contrast to the guy on the transatlantic. I asked her where she was based, expecting her to say LA. She replied “Miami. Does that surprise you?”
I told her about the crewmember on the flight from London and she mentioned that she hated working with colleagues like that, because they are in the minority but give crews a bad name. I agreed. Anyway, she apologised profusely, even though I said it wasn’t her fault and it wasn’t necessary for her to apologise to me. By now she had already earned her SOS.
Dinner choices were taken efficiently, as I was in the last row in Business, I got the very first choice. Here’s the wine list and menu selection:
Wine List
Sparkling Wine
Domaine Ste.-Michelle ColumbiaValley Brut
White Wines
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2001
Santa Rita Valle de Lontue Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Red Wines
Chateau Los Boldos Requinoa Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Rosemount Diamond Estate Bottled Shiraz 2000
Aperitif and Dessert Wines
Graham’s Six Grapes Port NV
Dinner Menu
To Start
Warm mixed Nuts or herbed Oyster Crackers
to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
Appetizer Salad
Mediterranean Chicken served with a fresh Mozzarella Salad
and seasonal Mixed Greens with roasted Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette
or creamy Basil Dressing
Bread Basket
Warm Breads, freshly baked on board
Entrees
Grilled Citrus Filet
Grilled Beef accented by a Thyme Demi-Glace,
accompanied by Broccolini and Butter
and Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
Pappardelle Pasta
Pappardelle Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms enhanced by a Cream Sauce
Roasted Chicken can be added to this entrée upon request.
Breaded Chicken Salad
Breaded Chicken served over a Salad of Mixed Greens,
Tomatoes and Corn Relish accompanied by Honey Mustard Dressing
And Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
Dessert
Tiramisu
Sponge Cake with Coffee Liqueur and Italian Cream Cheese
or
A scoop of Premium Ice Cream
Cordials
Prior to Arrival
Freshly baked on board, OtisSpunkmeyer Cookies
I selected the beef for the second time today. The appetizer salad was fantastic! It was huge, served in the large glass salad bowl that is never seen in International Business Class. It was served with three huge strips of chicken and really was big enough to be an entrée. The beef arrived and this time it was juicy and succulent, but I couldn’t detect anything of a citrus nature. I rounded off the meal with the ‘premium’ ice cream. It was a sort of rocky-road type thing. Nice enough, but no Ben and Jerry’s.
After the meal service, I decided that sleep was definitely in order. I tried, lord knows, I tried, but the cabin was heated to 80F! I asked the nice flight attendant if she thought it was hot, to which she replied “I thought it was too and I’m too young for the menopause!”
The cabin never did cool down for the rest of the flight.
We arrived nearly an hour early at LAX. It turns out that 7pm on a Thursday evening is a very bad time to arrive at LAX. Traffic backed up, complete nightmare. I waited 45 minutes for my courtesy van to the Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segundo. When I eventually checked in, I was just about ready for bed, but being the party animal that I am, I had to meet friends and head out into the night to party!
Friday May 24th, 2002.
American Airlines AA1936
LAX-SFO
Boeing MD80
Seat 3A, First Class
Scheduled to Depart 1310, arrive 1429
(Actual Depart 1310, arrive 1410)
A quick flight up the coast today. I got the courtesy van to LAX, arriving at 11.30am. The line from the Southwest Terminal headed all the way down to Terminal 4. I was glad that I fly ‘full-service’ carriers. I checked in swiftly at the newly installed machines and was through security in about four minutes. I’d never flown from this terminal before, so I thought I’d take a quick wander around. There’s not a lot there, only about three restaurants, a bar and a couple of shops. Fortunately, there’s a good view of the runways from T4, so I took up residence on seats near the windows and enjoyed the view.
Boarding was on time at 1240pm, I avoided the security check (YES!) and took my seat. Pre-departure drinks were offered by the very pleasant flight attendants. Push back was on time and take-off was some 10 minutes later. Service consisted of drinks and more of that colossal cheddar stuff. Yuck!
The flight up the West Coast was stunning. The view was just fantastic and I totally recommend window seats for any flights up the California coastline. We arrived early again and my friend who was to be my tour guide for the next two days met me and we headed of to play drums in the park!
Sunday May 26th, 2002.
American Airlines AA2058
SFO-DFW
Boeing 757-200
Seat 1A, First Class
Scheduled to Depart 0015, arrive 0527
(Actual Depart 0010, arrive 0455)
I arrived somewhat bleary-eyed at SFO at 10pm. I checked in and decided that I wanted to checkout the new domestic United Red Carpet Club. I passed through security with ease and took the hike out to the UA club. Very nice it is too! Still, why doesn’t it have any showers? Don’t people on domestic itineraries need showers? I guess not. I had some hot chocolate and fruit, read some magazines and newspapers and then was politely asked to leave the club at 11pm, as it was closing time. So, I headed over to the AA concourse to await the departure of my flight to Dallas.
Boarding commenced at 1135pm. I hung-back a bit, as is now customary, then shuffled up to the boarding door. The agent took my boarding pass, then asked me to wait for the secondary security search. Then, the most bizarre thing happened. She came back, looked at my boarding pass again, then pulled me to one side and said “Mr 777Brit, no need to be searched today, you’re our only elite member on tonight’s flight”.
I didn’t complain! Service consisted of Colossal Cheddar (at 1am? BIG mistake!) and beverages of my choice.
We arrived early at DFW and I went in search of McDonalds. I was hungry! On my way back from Macca’s, I noticed the DFW Red Carpet Club opened at 6.30am, so I thought I’d check it out. It had to be the smallest airline lounge I’d ever been in. Still, I had a nice cup of tea with lemon and brushed my teeth and had a shave. I now felt a little more human.
I headed off on the walk to Terminal A for my connecting flight to DFW, via the TrAAin. It had to be the most beautiful morning in Dallas. I photographed the sunrise several times, and took some great pictures of the planes shrouded in morning mist.
Sunday May 26th, 2002.
American Airlines AA644
DFW-BWI
Boeing 757-200
Seat 2F, First Class
Scheduled to Depart 0756, arrive 1156
(Actual Depart 0756, arrive 1130)
Boarding commenced at 7.40am, just sixteen minutes before scheduled departure. This had to be the lightest load I’d experienced on an AA flight for some time. 29 in Y, 3 in F. F consisted of 2 non-revs and myself. For the second flight in a row, I was the only elite AAdvantage member on board! What’s the chance of that happening?
Push back was on-time, take-off just ten minutes later. Breakfast was served on this flight, consisting of a cheese omelette with potatoes and a fresh fruit plate, or a fruit plate and Rice Krispies. After breakfast, I slept for the remainder of the flight, and even slept right through landing at BWI!
Monday May 27th, 2002.
American Eagle AA4834
BWI-JFK
Embraer RJ135
Seat 9A, Economy Class
Scheduled to Depart 0600, arrive 0705
(Actual Depart 0553, arrive 0640)
I arrived at BWI at 5am, during a heavy storm that had been raging all night long. Not the best weather to be flying in an ERJ! I was swiftly checked-in through to London, and headed to security. Today was my first experience of becoming a TSA ‘victim’. Why? Well, apparently because I had a Game Boy in my bag. It was a ‘security risk’. Since when? Does the TSA therefore search all under 16’s with Game Boy’s in their bags? I doubt it very much. I get to the gate at 5.35am, boarding is called, I get searched again. I can see how the day is going to go…..
We taxied out early, just as the sun was slowly rising. After a swift take-off, the very nice flight attendant offered us beverages. I asked for coffee. I didn’t think it would cause a problem. I was just sitting back and relaxing, thinking how smooth the flight was, considering the storms in the area. Just as the flight attendant was walking down the aisle, we bounced a little. She didn’t spill any coffee and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, after just one more step, we dropped. Literally. The Captain said we lost around 300ft in a matter of seconds. The flight attendant went up in the air, still clutching the coffee cup! She fortunately didn’t hit the ceiling and then landed back on her feet. The coffee went all over the empty seat 5A. I jumped out of my seat to check the flight attendant was okay. Fortunately, even though the coffee spilt on her arm, it didn’t scald because, she said, “We never serve it too hot, just in case!”.
I returned to my seat, then we commenced out descent in to JFK. We landed early at 635am and had deplaned just five minutes later. I headed off to the Admirals Club in Terminal 9. I asked the agent behind the counter if I could change my flight from the 9.30am departure (AA106) to the 8.30am departure. She said it would be no problem as my (upgraded) ticket was now treated as a full-fare business class ticket. I didn’t complain.
I headed off to the gate at 740am. The TSA did what they do best, again. I was getting used to this by now. I got to the gate and hung around until boarding was called at 745am.
Monday May 27th , 2002.
American Airlines AA142
JFK-LHR
Boeing 777-200ER
Seat 10D, Business Class
Scheduled to Depart 0830, arrive 2030
(Actual Depart 0830, arrive 1925)
I thought I’d skipped the boarding gate secondary search. After all, three people were being searched. Boarding was announced, I let a few people board in front of me, then walked up to the gate. I was asked to take a seat and wait to be searched. WAIT!! What is that about? Of course it ensures continuous screening if you ask people to sit and wait to be screened! So, I endured my fourth search in 90 minutes, then boarded the plane.
I performed my ritual seating check. The headrest wasn’t working but really, I was too tired to even care anymore. I took my seat and settled down for the flight home.
Pre-departure drinks came around (Champagne or Orange Juice) and then we pushed back right on time. We only taxied for 10 minutes, before being airborne at 0840. The Captain mentioned that we’d have a very strong tailwind the entire way, and our ETA was 1900! That’s ninety minutes early!
After departure, menu’s arrived, with a choice of beverage. The wine selection is the same as the outbound transatlantic flight above, so here’s the menu….
Brunch Menu
To Start
Your choice of Juices – Orange, Tomato, Apple
A variety of fine Twinings Teas, including decaffeinated selections
Seasonal fresh Fruit
Cinnamon Rolls
Assorted Breakfast Breads
Cereal with seasonal Berries or Lowfat Granola with Raisins
Yogurt
Entrees
Spinach and Cheese Frittata
Fresh Spinach and Swiss Cheese Frittata
garnished with a light Garlic Parmesan Cheese Sauce,
accompanied by roasted Red Pepper Potatoes
and Turkey Artichoke Sausage
French Toast
Offered with Pineapple Macadamia Nut Syrup
and grilled Pork Loin marinated in Pineapple
Lemon-Scented Shrimp
Lemon-seared Shrimp served with an Artichoke,
sun-dried Tomato and Spinach Saute presented over Cheese Tortellini,
complemented by a light Lemon Thyme Cream Sauce
Cinema Snack
Served at your request, fine Cheese with fresh Fruit and Crackers
I selected the French Toast, which was a somewhat interesting combination of thick slices of French Toast with two slices of Pork. The whole dish was too sweet though, the pineapple and syrup was a little overpowering.
I watched ‘Snow Dogs’, then settled down to get some rest. Mid-way through the flight, as I came out of the bathroom, a flight attendant stopped me and asked me if I was okay. I though this was a little strange, until he took me to the galley and told me I was having a nose bleed! I didn’t even realise! Anyway, ice packs were produced and the crew took really good care of me. Fortunately, the bleeding stopped after about five minutes and all was well again.
An evening meal appeared 90 minutes before arrival, and consisted of the following….
To Start
An assortment of warm roasted Nuts, to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
Entrees
Grilled Chicken
Grilled Chicken served with a Salad of Field Greens,
roasted Red and Yellow Peppers, Pink Grapefruit sections, Goat Cheese
and toasted Walnuts, enhanced by a Pink Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Pepper-Seared Beef
Balsamic-seared Tenderloin of Beef served with Garlic roasted Potatoes
and Salad Niçoise featuring Haricots Verts,
Carrots, Tomatoes and Kalamata Olives
Tea Sampler
An assortment of Tea Sandwiches
filled with deviled Tuna Salad and Pickle Relish
or Stilton Cheese with roasted Walnuts,
a mini scone with Chantilly Cream,
Tea Cookies and Fresh Fruit
Dessert
Chocolate Ganache Torte
Chocolate Torte with Fudge Filling,
accompanied by Häagen-Dazs Raspberry Sorbet,
enhanced by a Vanilla Sauce
I had the pepper-seared beef, because it was the only hot entrée. It was okay, quite tasty and the salad with it was nice. The Chocolate Torte was delicious, and the Sorbet worked very well with it.
Shortly after the meal service, the Captain announced that we’d be landing in 30 minutes, so the crew then started rushing about, stowing everything away, prior to our arrival.
We landed in the evening sunshine, arriving on the gate at 7.25pm, sixty-five minutes early! I cleared immigration and customs and headed off to the Heathrow Express for the ride home.
So, here endeth my trip report. I hope you enjoyed it, I can’t believe how long those menu’s take to type…!
[This message has been edited by 777Brit (edited 06-30-2002).]
Thursday May 23rd, 2002.
American Airlines AA57
LHR-MIA
Boeing 777-200ER
Seat 12D, Business Class
Scheduled to Depart 1055, arrive 1525
(Actual Depart 1054, arrive 1458)
Once again, the Boeing 777 was my aircraft of choice for my transatlantic crossing. I decided to go to Los Angeles the long way. I guess I’m getting into this whole mileage thing now, so I decided to maximise (within reason) my mileage-earning potential, whilst enjoying my trip!
I arrived at LHR Terminal 3 at 9am. I sauntered up to the Business Class check-in and there were just two other people in front of me. The coach check-in was snaking down Terminal 3, there must have been about 150-200 people in the queue. The agent checked me in as quick as a whippet, then I met up with a friend who works in Baggage Service over in Arrivals, for a coffee and a chat. After a swift coffee I wandered off to the Admirals Club and ran into a very nice lady who used to be my supervisor when I worked on the AAdvantage Platinum desk in London, back in 1996! In the old days, when you met someone you knew, you could be guaranteed an upgrade or other such courtesy. Alas, those days are long gone…
The club was reasonably busy for the time of day, not particularly overcrowded. I made some phone calls, then mixed an extra-strong Screwdriver. I downed the cocktail then headed of to the gate, which unfortunately was gate 22 today, just about the furthest gate from the Admirals Club in Terminal 3.
Boarding was in progress when I arrived at the gate. I was swiftly processed through security, avoided the secondary search and headed into the lounge area. I met an old friend of mine there, who works for AA sales in London. Now I’ve met three people that I know! She was travelling non-rev with her boyfriend and parents, heading down to Barbados for a week in the sun. At this stage, I realised how much I love being a revenue customer, rather than having to suffer the stress and anxiety of not knowing if I’m going to get a seat. In the end, my friend and her boyfriend got First Class and she sent her poor old parents down the back of Economy! Outrageous!
As you no doubt know from my previous trip reports, I also perform my ‘pre-departure seating check’, whenever I’m flying Business or First Class. I’ve been disappointed so many times with faulty seats that I take matters into my own hands and check out the seat completely. My seat inspection revealed that once again, my seat had a faulty lumbar, but this time, the headrest worked properly. I was flabbergasted. A working headrest! The lumbar did it’s own thing, but when I was sitting in the seat, it deflated and stayed deflated, so I thought I’d put up with it. After all, Miami is only nine hours away….
Pre-departure drinks and newspapers were offered. The very poor English newspaper choice was the Daily Express, or the Daily Express. Push back started at 1054am. After a twenty-minute taxi, we were airborne to the west, heading due-west over Windsor, across to Cardiff, over the Irish Sea then our oceanic crossing commenced to the west of Shannon. Our route today would take us across the Atlantic to Boston, then down the eastern seaboard to Miami. About twenty minutes after take-off, Business Class menu’s with a US Customs Declaration Form tucked inside were distributed. This was followed by the flight attendants taking drinks orders, so I plumped for my favourite, the Patriarche Chablis Premier Cru 1999. A truly delicious buttery, lemony dry white wine. Hot nuts accompanied the wine, as usual.
The movie selection was pretty lame, I don’t even remember what it was! I had to ask for the Bose headsets, the flight attendant I asked seemed a little put out that he had to go back and get them from the Galley. He then poured my Chablis and as he was pouring it, I could see the cork floating in the wine. He literally dumped it on my tray table and moved on. I picked up the glass, saw all the cork and asked the flight attendant to please pour me a fresh glass. Was this such an outrageous request? Apparently so. He picked up the glass, did a big dramatic rolling of the eyes, stared into the glass and said “You’re seeing things, there’s no cork in this.”
To this I replied, “If you hold it up to the light, you’ll see!”.
I could tell this wasn’t going anywhere. He held up the glass, shrugged his shoulders and loudly said “I don’t know what’s wrong with this, I can’t see anything, here you go.”
He put the glass down on my tray table and moved onwards without another word.
I sat there chewing this incident over for a bit. I thought his attitude was a little unnecessary, but of course, he might just be having a bad day. Maybe he was pissed with me because I pointed out the fact that the Bose headsets hadn’t been distributed? They made announcements to say the entertainment was starting, so surely it made sense to distribute the headsets before starting the entertainment system? I decided to let the incident pass, making sure I asked the other flight attendant for more wine.
Here are the wine list and menu selections, for your perusal….
Wine List
Champagne
Pommery Cuvée Madame Louise 1988
White Wines
Patriarche Chablis Premier Cru 1999
Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Washington State Sauvignon Blanc 1999
Red Wines
Bouchard Aine Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 1996
Beringer Knight’s Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
Aperitif and Dessert Wines
Osborne Amontillado Sherry
Graham’s Vintage Port 1983
Royal Tokaji ‘Blue Label’ Tokaji Aszú 1996
Lunch Menu
To Start
An assortment of warm roasted Nuts, to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
Appetizer
Lemon Shrimp Bruschetta with Artichoke Butter
Salad
Fresh seasonal Salad Greens
Offered with creamy Garlic Dressing
or Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar
Bread Basket
Warm Breads, freshly baked on board
Entrees
Filet Mignon
Salt and Pepper-crusted Tenderloin of Beef
enhanced by a Porcini Mushroom and Shallot Demi-Glace,
presented with roasted Root Vegetables
and Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives
Mustard-Seared Salmon
Seared Fillet of Salmon seasoned with dry Mustard,
accented by a Chanterelle Mushroom Vinaigrette
and offered with Orzo Pasta tossed with Spinach
Farfalle Pasta
Farfalle Pasta with a Three-Cheese Sauce,
complemented by Prosciutto, Asparagus
and freshly shredded Parmesan Cheese
Kentucky Bourbon Chicken
Herb-roasted Chicken served with Cornbread Dressing,
braised apples and a Kentucky Bourbon Sauce
Vegetable Plate
Season Vegetables that include
Lemon-scented Potatoes, wilted Spinach
and grilled Balsamic Tomatoes
The Dessert Cart
An assortment of Cheese
served with Grapes and selected Crackers
A scoop of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
Chocolates
I selected the Filet Mignon, which turned out to be quite tasty, but somewhat lacking in appearance. The beef was medium-well done, still pink inside, but not medium-rare how I prefer it. The mashed potatoes were creamy and smooth and the porcini mushroom and shallot demi-glace worked very well with the beef.
Dessert was Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream, my favourite flavour again! Bottled Evian was distributed, but I had to actually ask for it.
I tried to sleep and spent the next 4-5 hours snoozing, listening to the radio (the classical music channel) and attempting to read a copy of FHM magazine.
The crew started the second (Light Meal) service about 90 minutes prior to arrival.
Here’s the menu…
Light Meal
Spinach Salad with Smoked Trout
Fresh Spinach and Frisée Salad with roasted Eggplant and Capers,
served with a Champagne Vinaigrette and a Fillet of Smoked Trout
Sun-Dried Tomato Tart
Light Custard combined with Eggs and sun-dried Tomatoes,
Basil, Artichoke Hearts, and Asiago Cheese in a light Pastry Shell,
served with Field Greens and a Balsamic Vinaigrette
Apple Buckle
Apple and Ginger Filling
baked in a golden Crust and Streusel Topping
The grumpy flight attendant asked my what my choice was. I said the Sun-Dried Tomato Tart. I guess it was not my day. More eye-rolling ensued, followed by “We’ve only got 40 minutes to go, you’ll have to have the fish, I can’t wait for another tart from the galley.”
Was it my fault that they started the second service late? I don’t think so. I said I couldn’t eat the fish due to an allergy. The guy said nothing and put the fish on my tray. What choice did I have? Imagine how pissed I was when the guy across the aisle and one row behind me said he was also allergic to fish and couldn’t eat it, so the flight attendant went to the galley and got another tomato tart. I was fuming!
The service on this flight was poor. The flight attendant serving on my side of the cabin was very unfriendly, he gave the impression that everything was too much trouble for him. There were no water refills during the flight either.
Arrival in Miami was smooth and uneventful, as well as twenty-seven minutes early.
I headed swiftly to immigration where around four hundred people confronted me. Noooo! I headed to the far side of the immigration hall and joined what looked like a short queue. As if by magic, an immigration officer appeared in the booth adjacent to the queue I was in, so I headed quickly across and started a new line. In the end, my Immigration experience at MIA took no longer than three minutes! I passed swiftly though customs and out into the terminal. I had arrived at Concourse E. Of course; my connection was out of Concourse B. Could it be any further? I was grateful for the walk and the chance to stretch my legs. I arrived at the security checkpoint for the B concourse. There was an Elite line, but it was frankly a joke. The TSA person working the lines decided that it would be a great idea to put a group of around thirty US college students with around four to five bags each, through the Elite line, “because it would be quicker”. How can you argue with logic like that?
I made it through security after about twenty minutes and headed to the Admirals Club. The Concourse B club is apparently a temporary club. It’s on the upper level, it’s quite small, has a bar and a lot of seating, bathrooms, a tiny business centre and a ‘kids corner’. That’s it. No showers, no TV, no quiet area. I had a couple of ice cold Beck’s beers, made some calls then headed downstairs for boarding. I managed to dodge the gate security check, by hanging back and ensuring all the screeners were tied up. Also, I’ve found that if I get my boarding pass checked by a flight attendant and not a gate agent, then I never get screened.
Thursday May 23rd, 2002.
American Airlines AA823
MIA-LAX
Boeing 767-300ER
Seat 10D, Business Class
Scheduled to Depart 1705, arrive 1952
(Actual Depart 1700, arrive 1900)
I boarded, took my seat and just relaxed for a few minutes. The interior of the plane was hot, the guy next to me was almost hanging of the edge of his seat, and he didn’t bother to say hello, so I chose to say nothing too. Hey, I can be a snob with the best of them!
We pushed back five minutes early, had a short taxi and took off to the East. There was a full American Flagship Service dinner on this flight. I was quite full after my transatlantic trip but I decided what the hell, I should just try it anyway!
The flight attendant serving my side of the cabin came and introduced herself, shook my hand and offered me juice or ‘champagne’, which I suspect was sparkling wine. She was actually quite delightful, extremely pleasant and polite and smiled a lot, which was a complete contrast to the guy on the transatlantic. I asked her where she was based, expecting her to say LA. She replied “Miami. Does that surprise you?”
I told her about the crewmember on the flight from London and she mentioned that she hated working with colleagues like that, because they are in the minority but give crews a bad name. I agreed. Anyway, she apologised profusely, even though I said it wasn’t her fault and it wasn’t necessary for her to apologise to me. By now she had already earned her SOS.
Dinner choices were taken efficiently, as I was in the last row in Business, I got the very first choice. Here’s the wine list and menu selection:
Wine List
Sparkling Wine
Domaine Ste.-Michelle ColumbiaValley Brut
White Wines
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2001
Santa Rita Valle de Lontue Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Red Wines
Chateau Los Boldos Requinoa Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Rosemount Diamond Estate Bottled Shiraz 2000
Aperitif and Dessert Wines
Graham’s Six Grapes Port NV
Dinner Menu
To Start
Warm mixed Nuts or herbed Oyster Crackers
to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
Appetizer Salad
Mediterranean Chicken served with a fresh Mozzarella Salad
and seasonal Mixed Greens with roasted Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette
or creamy Basil Dressing
Bread Basket
Warm Breads, freshly baked on board
Entrees
Grilled Citrus Filet
Grilled Beef accented by a Thyme Demi-Glace,
accompanied by Broccolini and Butter
and Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
Pappardelle Pasta
Pappardelle Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms enhanced by a Cream Sauce
Roasted Chicken can be added to this entrée upon request.
Breaded Chicken Salad
Breaded Chicken served over a Salad of Mixed Greens,
Tomatoes and Corn Relish accompanied by Honey Mustard Dressing
And Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
Dessert
Tiramisu
Sponge Cake with Coffee Liqueur and Italian Cream Cheese
or
A scoop of Premium Ice Cream
Cordials
Prior to Arrival
Freshly baked on board, OtisSpunkmeyer Cookies
I selected the beef for the second time today. The appetizer salad was fantastic! It was huge, served in the large glass salad bowl that is never seen in International Business Class. It was served with three huge strips of chicken and really was big enough to be an entrée. The beef arrived and this time it was juicy and succulent, but I couldn’t detect anything of a citrus nature. I rounded off the meal with the ‘premium’ ice cream. It was a sort of rocky-road type thing. Nice enough, but no Ben and Jerry’s.
After the meal service, I decided that sleep was definitely in order. I tried, lord knows, I tried, but the cabin was heated to 80F! I asked the nice flight attendant if she thought it was hot, to which she replied “I thought it was too and I’m too young for the menopause!”
The cabin never did cool down for the rest of the flight.
We arrived nearly an hour early at LAX. It turns out that 7pm on a Thursday evening is a very bad time to arrive at LAX. Traffic backed up, complete nightmare. I waited 45 minutes for my courtesy van to the Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segundo. When I eventually checked in, I was just about ready for bed, but being the party animal that I am, I had to meet friends and head out into the night to party!
Friday May 24th, 2002.
American Airlines AA1936
LAX-SFO
Boeing MD80
Seat 3A, First Class
Scheduled to Depart 1310, arrive 1429
(Actual Depart 1310, arrive 1410)
A quick flight up the coast today. I got the courtesy van to LAX, arriving at 11.30am. The line from the Southwest Terminal headed all the way down to Terminal 4. I was glad that I fly ‘full-service’ carriers. I checked in swiftly at the newly installed machines and was through security in about four minutes. I’d never flown from this terminal before, so I thought I’d take a quick wander around. There’s not a lot there, only about three restaurants, a bar and a couple of shops. Fortunately, there’s a good view of the runways from T4, so I took up residence on seats near the windows and enjoyed the view.
Boarding was on time at 1240pm, I avoided the security check (YES!) and took my seat. Pre-departure drinks were offered by the very pleasant flight attendants. Push back was on time and take-off was some 10 minutes later. Service consisted of drinks and more of that colossal cheddar stuff. Yuck!
The flight up the West Coast was stunning. The view was just fantastic and I totally recommend window seats for any flights up the California coastline. We arrived early again and my friend who was to be my tour guide for the next two days met me and we headed of to play drums in the park!
Sunday May 26th, 2002.
American Airlines AA2058
SFO-DFW
Boeing 757-200
Seat 1A, First Class
Scheduled to Depart 0015, arrive 0527
(Actual Depart 0010, arrive 0455)
I arrived somewhat bleary-eyed at SFO at 10pm. I checked in and decided that I wanted to checkout the new domestic United Red Carpet Club. I passed through security with ease and took the hike out to the UA club. Very nice it is too! Still, why doesn’t it have any showers? Don’t people on domestic itineraries need showers? I guess not. I had some hot chocolate and fruit, read some magazines and newspapers and then was politely asked to leave the club at 11pm, as it was closing time. So, I headed over to the AA concourse to await the departure of my flight to Dallas.
Boarding commenced at 1135pm. I hung-back a bit, as is now customary, then shuffled up to the boarding door. The agent took my boarding pass, then asked me to wait for the secondary security search. Then, the most bizarre thing happened. She came back, looked at my boarding pass again, then pulled me to one side and said “Mr 777Brit, no need to be searched today, you’re our only elite member on tonight’s flight”.
I didn’t complain! Service consisted of Colossal Cheddar (at 1am? BIG mistake!) and beverages of my choice.
We arrived early at DFW and I went in search of McDonalds. I was hungry! On my way back from Macca’s, I noticed the DFW Red Carpet Club opened at 6.30am, so I thought I’d check it out. It had to be the smallest airline lounge I’d ever been in. Still, I had a nice cup of tea with lemon and brushed my teeth and had a shave. I now felt a little more human.
I headed off on the walk to Terminal A for my connecting flight to DFW, via the TrAAin. It had to be the most beautiful morning in Dallas. I photographed the sunrise several times, and took some great pictures of the planes shrouded in morning mist.
Sunday May 26th, 2002.
American Airlines AA644
DFW-BWI
Boeing 757-200
Seat 2F, First Class
Scheduled to Depart 0756, arrive 1156
(Actual Depart 0756, arrive 1130)
Boarding commenced at 7.40am, just sixteen minutes before scheduled departure. This had to be the lightest load I’d experienced on an AA flight for some time. 29 in Y, 3 in F. F consisted of 2 non-revs and myself. For the second flight in a row, I was the only elite AAdvantage member on board! What’s the chance of that happening?
Push back was on-time, take-off just ten minutes later. Breakfast was served on this flight, consisting of a cheese omelette with potatoes and a fresh fruit plate, or a fruit plate and Rice Krispies. After breakfast, I slept for the remainder of the flight, and even slept right through landing at BWI!
Monday May 27th, 2002.
American Eagle AA4834
BWI-JFK
Embraer RJ135
Seat 9A, Economy Class
Scheduled to Depart 0600, arrive 0705
(Actual Depart 0553, arrive 0640)
I arrived at BWI at 5am, during a heavy storm that had been raging all night long. Not the best weather to be flying in an ERJ! I was swiftly checked-in through to London, and headed to security. Today was my first experience of becoming a TSA ‘victim’. Why? Well, apparently because I had a Game Boy in my bag. It was a ‘security risk’. Since when? Does the TSA therefore search all under 16’s with Game Boy’s in their bags? I doubt it very much. I get to the gate at 5.35am, boarding is called, I get searched again. I can see how the day is going to go…..
We taxied out early, just as the sun was slowly rising. After a swift take-off, the very nice flight attendant offered us beverages. I asked for coffee. I didn’t think it would cause a problem. I was just sitting back and relaxing, thinking how smooth the flight was, considering the storms in the area. Just as the flight attendant was walking down the aisle, we bounced a little. She didn’t spill any coffee and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, after just one more step, we dropped. Literally. The Captain said we lost around 300ft in a matter of seconds. The flight attendant went up in the air, still clutching the coffee cup! She fortunately didn’t hit the ceiling and then landed back on her feet. The coffee went all over the empty seat 5A. I jumped out of my seat to check the flight attendant was okay. Fortunately, even though the coffee spilt on her arm, it didn’t scald because, she said, “We never serve it too hot, just in case!”.
I returned to my seat, then we commenced out descent in to JFK. We landed early at 635am and had deplaned just five minutes later. I headed off to the Admirals Club in Terminal 9. I asked the agent behind the counter if I could change my flight from the 9.30am departure (AA106) to the 8.30am departure. She said it would be no problem as my (upgraded) ticket was now treated as a full-fare business class ticket. I didn’t complain.
I headed off to the gate at 740am. The TSA did what they do best, again. I was getting used to this by now. I got to the gate and hung around until boarding was called at 745am.
Monday May 27th , 2002.
American Airlines AA142
JFK-LHR
Boeing 777-200ER
Seat 10D, Business Class
Scheduled to Depart 0830, arrive 2030
(Actual Depart 0830, arrive 1925)
I thought I’d skipped the boarding gate secondary search. After all, three people were being searched. Boarding was announced, I let a few people board in front of me, then walked up to the gate. I was asked to take a seat and wait to be searched. WAIT!! What is that about? Of course it ensures continuous screening if you ask people to sit and wait to be screened! So, I endured my fourth search in 90 minutes, then boarded the plane.
I performed my ritual seating check. The headrest wasn’t working but really, I was too tired to even care anymore. I took my seat and settled down for the flight home.
Pre-departure drinks came around (Champagne or Orange Juice) and then we pushed back right on time. We only taxied for 10 minutes, before being airborne at 0840. The Captain mentioned that we’d have a very strong tailwind the entire way, and our ETA was 1900! That’s ninety minutes early!
After departure, menu’s arrived, with a choice of beverage. The wine selection is the same as the outbound transatlantic flight above, so here’s the menu….
Brunch Menu
To Start
Your choice of Juices – Orange, Tomato, Apple
A variety of fine Twinings Teas, including decaffeinated selections
Seasonal fresh Fruit
Cinnamon Rolls
Assorted Breakfast Breads
Cereal with seasonal Berries or Lowfat Granola with Raisins
Yogurt
Entrees
Spinach and Cheese Frittata
Fresh Spinach and Swiss Cheese Frittata
garnished with a light Garlic Parmesan Cheese Sauce,
accompanied by roasted Red Pepper Potatoes
and Turkey Artichoke Sausage
French Toast
Offered with Pineapple Macadamia Nut Syrup
and grilled Pork Loin marinated in Pineapple
Lemon-Scented Shrimp
Lemon-seared Shrimp served with an Artichoke,
sun-dried Tomato and Spinach Saute presented over Cheese Tortellini,
complemented by a light Lemon Thyme Cream Sauce
Cinema Snack
Served at your request, fine Cheese with fresh Fruit and Crackers
I selected the French Toast, which was a somewhat interesting combination of thick slices of French Toast with two slices of Pork. The whole dish was too sweet though, the pineapple and syrup was a little overpowering.
I watched ‘Snow Dogs’, then settled down to get some rest. Mid-way through the flight, as I came out of the bathroom, a flight attendant stopped me and asked me if I was okay. I though this was a little strange, until he took me to the galley and told me I was having a nose bleed! I didn’t even realise! Anyway, ice packs were produced and the crew took really good care of me. Fortunately, the bleeding stopped after about five minutes and all was well again.
An evening meal appeared 90 minutes before arrival, and consisted of the following….
To Start
An assortment of warm roasted Nuts, to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
Entrees
Grilled Chicken
Grilled Chicken served with a Salad of Field Greens,
roasted Red and Yellow Peppers, Pink Grapefruit sections, Goat Cheese
and toasted Walnuts, enhanced by a Pink Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Pepper-Seared Beef
Balsamic-seared Tenderloin of Beef served with Garlic roasted Potatoes
and Salad Niçoise featuring Haricots Verts,
Carrots, Tomatoes and Kalamata Olives
Tea Sampler
An assortment of Tea Sandwiches
filled with deviled Tuna Salad and Pickle Relish
or Stilton Cheese with roasted Walnuts,
a mini scone with Chantilly Cream,
Tea Cookies and Fresh Fruit
Dessert
Chocolate Ganache Torte
Chocolate Torte with Fudge Filling,
accompanied by Häagen-Dazs Raspberry Sorbet,
enhanced by a Vanilla Sauce
I had the pepper-seared beef, because it was the only hot entrée. It was okay, quite tasty and the salad with it was nice. The Chocolate Torte was delicious, and the Sorbet worked very well with it.
Shortly after the meal service, the Captain announced that we’d be landing in 30 minutes, so the crew then started rushing about, stowing everything away, prior to our arrival.
We landed in the evening sunshine, arriving on the gate at 7.25pm, sixty-five minutes early! I cleared immigration and customs and headed off to the Heathrow Express for the ride home.
So, here endeth my trip report. I hope you enjoyed it, I can’t believe how long those menu’s take to type…!
[This message has been edited by 777Brit (edited 06-30-2002).]