globalflight
Mar 22, 02, 10:43 am
March 13, 2001
My routing had two purposes to maximize miles and to fly into Gatwick. I needed to get into Gatwick as I was flying Sierra National Airways to Freetown from there and did not want the hassle of moving my stuff from Heathrow.
EWR-ORD 12:30pm First Class
Check-in was painless. It was the first time since September 11th that I had checked bags and was made to accompany them to be x-rayed. Made my way to the Admirals Club and processed to use wireless internet for the next hour (really do like this service). Headed to the gate a little early. Waited for a few minutes before boarding was called.
When it was, one of the security screeners decided that I fit the profile of a terrorist and so I got a secondary screening. I was not the first person in the line, but was coming from a slightly different direction, which I think is the reason I was screened. I was carrying a laptop bag and medium duffel bag. Opens the duffel up first and sees a small computer screwdriver and says that he has to confiscate it. Well we start chatting and he asks where I am heading-Sierra Leone. “That is in Latin America.” I proceed to give him a history lesson while he does a poor job looking though my bags. One other comment of note, “Why are you going to help Africans? All they do is kill each other.” He was a 200-pound African American. I explain that Africa is not one big country but many different ones each with their own history and problems. Sierra Leone is a country that has had almost ten years of horrendous violence and needs some help rebuilding.
Nothing in my bag raises any suspicion; not the satellite phone or the multitude of chargers or exposed wires, he also missed at least four pockets of my Tumi briefcase and did not open some of my cases. I really doubt if these guys would be able to find any technically based weapon. All they seem to do is confiscate nail clippers and screwdrivers.
I was one of the last to board and had difficultly finding space for my bags- but managed.
Was offered a drink before departure and had a coke. Flight was off on-time and we were in the air quickly for the hour and fifty seven minute flight to O’Hare. Choices for lunch on this flight were a Ham and Cheese sandwich or grilled chicken breast on a bed of salad and pasta. Went with the chicken and it was pretty good. The cookies and cheese were prepackaged-if that matters. Popped open the laptop and did a little bit of work before decent began.
Made my way to the Flagship lounge for a little more to eat and a couple of drinks. They did not have sushi or shrimp like when I was there in December, but I made do. I really do like these Flagship lounges.
ORD-STL
4:30pm
As I walked onto the plane I realized that Trans World Airways still exists. Anyone who says any different has not been on one of their planes, eaten one of their meals, watched one of their movies or been served by their flight attendants. I also realized that if the MD-80 was any indication of the two flights to come I was going to be disappointed and starting my trip to the third world earlier than planned.
I was offered water or orange juice. Selected the juice and drank it from my TWA plastic cup. Flight was uneventful. Only drink service with a choice of almonds or pretzels. Slept for most of the fifty-eight minute flight.
STL-ORD Business Class
The Admirals Club in St. Louis, like TWA in general, was a bit tired looking. The airport also looks like not a dollar has been spent in ages on improving it.
I was one of the first to board and was warmly greeted by Patti. After meeting her I knew I was going to be in for a treat this flight. All the flight attendants that I encountered on this flight were incredible. All were from a different era of flying. While none of them looked less then six they all were still beautiful and must have been drop dead gorgeous in their day. Their manner of service was not perfunctory but really with warmth. They were even gracious when they did not have something as in the case of Fast Track cards for Gatwick.
I was offered Champagne or orange juice as I sat down, both were served in real glasses. I though that US carriers were not allowed to do that. I did not however ask. I took a glass of Champagne and made myself busy while the full plane boarded. Most of Business class was staff traveling for free or so it seemed because they knew all of the flight attendants and ground staff.
A red coat came on the plane and I spoke to her for sometime. She was originally New York based and did not seem particularly pleased to be in St. Louis. We had an interesting chat about the TWA and AA, but nothing new to report.
Take-off was slightly delayed with connecting baggage. After take-off we were offered 8mm videos for the in-seat TV monitors and I selected Serendipity. My mother had actually just taken me to the restaurant (she said she had always wanted to when I was younger but never did) so it was good timing to watch the movie. The movie was terrible. But dinner more than made up for it. Below you will find the menu. The appetizer and salad were very ordinary. For my main I had the steak and it was cooked to order. I ordered in medium rare and that is exactly how the big, tender, piece of meat came. The dessert was also to die for. Really the best I have ever had. TWA’s Business class meal was truly first class or at least this one was.
To Start:
Your choice of beverage accompanied by a smoked chicken bouchee, assorted grilled vegetables and black olive accompanied by mixed nuts with Thai seasonings.
Appetizer:
Chilled Prociutto
Presented with fresh seasonal asparagus tips, enhanced by papaya salsa
Warmed Coquille St. Jacques
Accompanied by grilled pineapple
Selection of Bread and Rolls
Salad:
Fresh spring greens tossed with cucumber, carrots, asparagus, cherry tomatoes and white onion with a choice of creamy Italian Gorgonzola dressing or Cabernet Sauvignon vinaigrette
Main Courses:
Signature Specialty
Chateaubriand accented by a mustard sauce flavored with red wine and chervil, complemented by Yukon gold potatoes with chives
Roasted Breast of Chicken
Napped with a Chardonnay sauce and served with basmati rice
Lake Perch
Enhanced by fines herbes butter, accompanied by Yukon gold potatoes with chives
Braised Young Rabbit
On a bed of basmati rice, enhanced by a red wine and juniper berry sauce
All main courses are accompanied by a sweet potato tapenade and a mixture of green and yellow wax beans
Cheese and Dessert
The Cheese Board
An assorted selection of cheese presented with fresh seasonal fruit
Chocolate Truffle Cake
Complemented by Melba Sauce
A selection of International Coffees
Continental Breakfast
Natural Granola Cereal
Fruit Yogurt
Selection of Breakfast Breads and Pastries.
Wines (Very sparse selection):
Red Wine
Geyser Peak California Cabernet
White Wine
Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay
Champagne
Domaine Chandon Brut NV
After the meal I asked for a second movie and promptly feel asleep.
Somebody on this board said that TWA right now really is the best of AA and TWA and I would have to agree. I hope that AA takes some of the things that TWA does right and implement them in their own business product-like the food.
I slept until about forty-five minutes before landing. I asked for some orange juice and before I knew it we were on the ground. Immigration was a hike, but thankfully there was no line. I was pretty skeptical that I would get my bags considering my routing, but both of them were among the first ten to arrive. I dropped them at left luggage.
I bought a top-up card for my Vodacom SIM and called the girlfriend. The girlfriend was in London with her mom for Spring Break. We had arranged to have lunch. I took the Gatwick Express to Victoria station where I met the girlfriend. We had a cup of coffee before grabbing a cab to NoBu for lunch. I must say that I was unimpressed with the food. I had their teriyaki chicken lunch special which included rice and miso soup. Nothing was spectacular and the service was timed oddly so that we all got our food at different times. All the wait staff also would yell a greeting in Japanese to people as the entered, which was very distracting.
After lunch the girlfriend and I headed back to the Langham and her mother went off to the British Museum. After a relaxing and having an enjoyable afternoon I took the train back to the Gatwick. Picked-up my luggage and headed to check-in.
Luckily at check-in I met one of the guys I was heading down to Freetown with. He was at the front of the line so I jumped up there with him. He makes the trip about once a month so we were talking to the head-handling agent. I was quickly checked in and we proceeded through security and had some dinner at Garfunkels, which is the British equivalent of Denny’s. The third person from DFID who was going down that night found us there.
LGW-FNA 21:30-4:30
I was the first one of my little group to get to the screening table, which meant that I was screened. The guy was very nice about it and checked every single pocket, baggie, and electrical item.
The flight to Freetown much like the last two flights are really sold by one company and operated by another. In this case Sierra National Airways sells the tickets but Monarch operates the flight. The flight was 102/235 in the 757-200 so everyone had a couple of seats to themselves. I stretched out over three seats after take-off and did not stir until about forty minutes outside Freetown. I am told that dinner was fine. The FAs had also left me a bottle of water, which was thoughtful.
I was first off the plane and through immigration very quickly thereafter. Absolutely no hassles or problems from immigrations, a rarity in West Africa (I think my NGO card helped). The terminal in Freetown is actually a World War two vintage hanger and was built by the US government. In half of the hanger were UN helicopters being serviced and in the other part was baggage claim and customs. Baggage claim was a couple of wooden boxes where the bags were dropped. The bags came within forty minutes and one of the other guys had organized porters to take us to the helicopter into town.
As it was still night I could not see the helicopter in all their faded glory, which was probably a good thing. The choppers were easily from the 1960s and had been cast off by the USSR and the UN. Our pilots for the flight were also from somewhere in the former Soviet Union. The charge was twenty bucks for the twelve minute ride into Freetown. The back of the helicopter opened and all of the stuff was loaded in. Passangers entered through the front door. The people I was traveling with were floored because there were seats albeit canvas ones. Before you had to sit on luggage or on a couple of seats that were along the sides of the chopper, now there were rows. Starting-up of the helicopter was truly unique I have never seen so much black smoke and heard so many banging noises. Nonetheless after a rolling start we were in the air (instead of the normal vertical approached used by helicopters). I must say it was a long twelve minutes and many people were crossing themselves and praying.
Hope you enjoyed the report. I should be doing some more UN helicopter flying in the coming weeks. I hope to also get away to another West African country for a little R&R and will post those reports. It took me two days to get online because the server (there is only one in the country) is terrible.
[This message has been edited by globalflight (edited 03-22-2002).]
My routing had two purposes to maximize miles and to fly into Gatwick. I needed to get into Gatwick as I was flying Sierra National Airways to Freetown from there and did not want the hassle of moving my stuff from Heathrow.
EWR-ORD 12:30pm First Class
Check-in was painless. It was the first time since September 11th that I had checked bags and was made to accompany them to be x-rayed. Made my way to the Admirals Club and processed to use wireless internet for the next hour (really do like this service). Headed to the gate a little early. Waited for a few minutes before boarding was called.
When it was, one of the security screeners decided that I fit the profile of a terrorist and so I got a secondary screening. I was not the first person in the line, but was coming from a slightly different direction, which I think is the reason I was screened. I was carrying a laptop bag and medium duffel bag. Opens the duffel up first and sees a small computer screwdriver and says that he has to confiscate it. Well we start chatting and he asks where I am heading-Sierra Leone. “That is in Latin America.” I proceed to give him a history lesson while he does a poor job looking though my bags. One other comment of note, “Why are you going to help Africans? All they do is kill each other.” He was a 200-pound African American. I explain that Africa is not one big country but many different ones each with their own history and problems. Sierra Leone is a country that has had almost ten years of horrendous violence and needs some help rebuilding.
Nothing in my bag raises any suspicion; not the satellite phone or the multitude of chargers or exposed wires, he also missed at least four pockets of my Tumi briefcase and did not open some of my cases. I really doubt if these guys would be able to find any technically based weapon. All they seem to do is confiscate nail clippers and screwdrivers.
I was one of the last to board and had difficultly finding space for my bags- but managed.
Was offered a drink before departure and had a coke. Flight was off on-time and we were in the air quickly for the hour and fifty seven minute flight to O’Hare. Choices for lunch on this flight were a Ham and Cheese sandwich or grilled chicken breast on a bed of salad and pasta. Went with the chicken and it was pretty good. The cookies and cheese were prepackaged-if that matters. Popped open the laptop and did a little bit of work before decent began.
Made my way to the Flagship lounge for a little more to eat and a couple of drinks. They did not have sushi or shrimp like when I was there in December, but I made do. I really do like these Flagship lounges.
ORD-STL
4:30pm
As I walked onto the plane I realized that Trans World Airways still exists. Anyone who says any different has not been on one of their planes, eaten one of their meals, watched one of their movies or been served by their flight attendants. I also realized that if the MD-80 was any indication of the two flights to come I was going to be disappointed and starting my trip to the third world earlier than planned.
I was offered water or orange juice. Selected the juice and drank it from my TWA plastic cup. Flight was uneventful. Only drink service with a choice of almonds or pretzels. Slept for most of the fifty-eight minute flight.
STL-ORD Business Class
The Admirals Club in St. Louis, like TWA in general, was a bit tired looking. The airport also looks like not a dollar has been spent in ages on improving it.
I was one of the first to board and was warmly greeted by Patti. After meeting her I knew I was going to be in for a treat this flight. All the flight attendants that I encountered on this flight were incredible. All were from a different era of flying. While none of them looked less then six they all were still beautiful and must have been drop dead gorgeous in their day. Their manner of service was not perfunctory but really with warmth. They were even gracious when they did not have something as in the case of Fast Track cards for Gatwick.
I was offered Champagne or orange juice as I sat down, both were served in real glasses. I though that US carriers were not allowed to do that. I did not however ask. I took a glass of Champagne and made myself busy while the full plane boarded. Most of Business class was staff traveling for free or so it seemed because they knew all of the flight attendants and ground staff.
A red coat came on the plane and I spoke to her for sometime. She was originally New York based and did not seem particularly pleased to be in St. Louis. We had an interesting chat about the TWA and AA, but nothing new to report.
Take-off was slightly delayed with connecting baggage. After take-off we were offered 8mm videos for the in-seat TV monitors and I selected Serendipity. My mother had actually just taken me to the restaurant (she said she had always wanted to when I was younger but never did) so it was good timing to watch the movie. The movie was terrible. But dinner more than made up for it. Below you will find the menu. The appetizer and salad were very ordinary. For my main I had the steak and it was cooked to order. I ordered in medium rare and that is exactly how the big, tender, piece of meat came. The dessert was also to die for. Really the best I have ever had. TWA’s Business class meal was truly first class or at least this one was.
To Start:
Your choice of beverage accompanied by a smoked chicken bouchee, assorted grilled vegetables and black olive accompanied by mixed nuts with Thai seasonings.
Appetizer:
Chilled Prociutto
Presented with fresh seasonal asparagus tips, enhanced by papaya salsa
Warmed Coquille St. Jacques
Accompanied by grilled pineapple
Selection of Bread and Rolls
Salad:
Fresh spring greens tossed with cucumber, carrots, asparagus, cherry tomatoes and white onion with a choice of creamy Italian Gorgonzola dressing or Cabernet Sauvignon vinaigrette
Main Courses:
Signature Specialty
Chateaubriand accented by a mustard sauce flavored with red wine and chervil, complemented by Yukon gold potatoes with chives
Roasted Breast of Chicken
Napped with a Chardonnay sauce and served with basmati rice
Lake Perch
Enhanced by fines herbes butter, accompanied by Yukon gold potatoes with chives
Braised Young Rabbit
On a bed of basmati rice, enhanced by a red wine and juniper berry sauce
All main courses are accompanied by a sweet potato tapenade and a mixture of green and yellow wax beans
Cheese and Dessert
The Cheese Board
An assorted selection of cheese presented with fresh seasonal fruit
Chocolate Truffle Cake
Complemented by Melba Sauce
A selection of International Coffees
Continental Breakfast
Natural Granola Cereal
Fruit Yogurt
Selection of Breakfast Breads and Pastries.
Wines (Very sparse selection):
Red Wine
Geyser Peak California Cabernet
White Wine
Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay
Champagne
Domaine Chandon Brut NV
After the meal I asked for a second movie and promptly feel asleep.
Somebody on this board said that TWA right now really is the best of AA and TWA and I would have to agree. I hope that AA takes some of the things that TWA does right and implement them in their own business product-like the food.
I slept until about forty-five minutes before landing. I asked for some orange juice and before I knew it we were on the ground. Immigration was a hike, but thankfully there was no line. I was pretty skeptical that I would get my bags considering my routing, but both of them were among the first ten to arrive. I dropped them at left luggage.
I bought a top-up card for my Vodacom SIM and called the girlfriend. The girlfriend was in London with her mom for Spring Break. We had arranged to have lunch. I took the Gatwick Express to Victoria station where I met the girlfriend. We had a cup of coffee before grabbing a cab to NoBu for lunch. I must say that I was unimpressed with the food. I had their teriyaki chicken lunch special which included rice and miso soup. Nothing was spectacular and the service was timed oddly so that we all got our food at different times. All the wait staff also would yell a greeting in Japanese to people as the entered, which was very distracting.
After lunch the girlfriend and I headed back to the Langham and her mother went off to the British Museum. After a relaxing and having an enjoyable afternoon I took the train back to the Gatwick. Picked-up my luggage and headed to check-in.
Luckily at check-in I met one of the guys I was heading down to Freetown with. He was at the front of the line so I jumped up there with him. He makes the trip about once a month so we were talking to the head-handling agent. I was quickly checked in and we proceeded through security and had some dinner at Garfunkels, which is the British equivalent of Denny’s. The third person from DFID who was going down that night found us there.
LGW-FNA 21:30-4:30
I was the first one of my little group to get to the screening table, which meant that I was screened. The guy was very nice about it and checked every single pocket, baggie, and electrical item.
The flight to Freetown much like the last two flights are really sold by one company and operated by another. In this case Sierra National Airways sells the tickets but Monarch operates the flight. The flight was 102/235 in the 757-200 so everyone had a couple of seats to themselves. I stretched out over three seats after take-off and did not stir until about forty minutes outside Freetown. I am told that dinner was fine. The FAs had also left me a bottle of water, which was thoughtful.
I was first off the plane and through immigration very quickly thereafter. Absolutely no hassles or problems from immigrations, a rarity in West Africa (I think my NGO card helped). The terminal in Freetown is actually a World War two vintage hanger and was built by the US government. In half of the hanger were UN helicopters being serviced and in the other part was baggage claim and customs. Baggage claim was a couple of wooden boxes where the bags were dropped. The bags came within forty minutes and one of the other guys had organized porters to take us to the helicopter into town.
As it was still night I could not see the helicopter in all their faded glory, which was probably a good thing. The choppers were easily from the 1960s and had been cast off by the USSR and the UN. Our pilots for the flight were also from somewhere in the former Soviet Union. The charge was twenty bucks for the twelve minute ride into Freetown. The back of the helicopter opened and all of the stuff was loaded in. Passangers entered through the front door. The people I was traveling with were floored because there were seats albeit canvas ones. Before you had to sit on luggage or on a couple of seats that were along the sides of the chopper, now there were rows. Starting-up of the helicopter was truly unique I have never seen so much black smoke and heard so many banging noises. Nonetheless after a rolling start we were in the air (instead of the normal vertical approached used by helicopters). I must say it was a long twelve minutes and many people were crossing themselves and praying.
Hope you enjoyed the report. I should be doing some more UN helicopter flying in the coming weeks. I hope to also get away to another West African country for a little R&R and will post those reports. It took me two days to get online because the server (there is only one in the country) is terrible.
[This message has been edited by globalflight (edited 03-22-2002).]