Brian-AAFlyer
Oct 3, 02, 9:49 am
First, let me state that this will not be the worlds most incredible trip report, I'm writing this basically because I'm bored senseless in London waiting for my family to come rescue me!
AA116 is the last flight from JFK, departing at 11:59pm, and this was a midweek flight, all the classic pointers were present.. This was a tourist flight.. arriving too late in the day to be of use to business types and too late a departure for anyone that can afford full fare..
But I'm getting ahead of myself. I left with plenty of time to spare.. Leaving Smithtown at around 8pm, the roads were quiet and I made good time... Until of course I turn on to the cross Island Parkway.. God knows why I did it.. It was a stupid move, everyone and their dog knows not to use the cross island, but there you go, stuck in stationary traffic for over an hour I start to think about the 'Flat tyre rule' and exactly how strict that 2 hour cutoff is http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif..
Well The police came by, towed the idiot drivers vehicles from the three lanes and traffic began to move.. I'm fine for time, but ONLY because I left rediculously early..
I arrive at JFK, then start following signs for the long term parking and follow.. and follow.. and follow.. Well the long term parking for JFK seems to be in Staten Island!
JFK seems to be a ghost town, this is my first time on AA116 rather than my usual AA100 and the difference at the airport is incredible.. Tumbleweeds wouldnt have been out of place here..
I head to UK checkin desks and then on to the Admirals club to sit at the bar and surf the wireless net a while and run in to a fellow FTer (Who remains nameless because I dont know his handle online)
We head out to the gates and I manage to avoid the primary screeners attentions, My fellow FTer is not so lucky..
At the gate, my fears are realised when I see the gate agent open the door and before boarding is even announced EVERYONE in the place stands and rushes the gate..
The poor agents are practically throwing people back away from the gates with 'Sir you are NOT in first or business class, please step aside'
I hang back a while chatting and wait until group 1 is called and head on board to 13J, an average 777 seat, which of course means that it collapses when you lean on the seatback, the headphone jack is barely servicable and the footrest needs a little 'persuasion'
My seat opponent is an older lady on a vaction away from her sick husband, she's also upgraded with miles for the round trip.
The Flight was about 5 minutes late departing due to a missing logbook (Did they check the glovebox?) and then we push back
The flight was smooth after the first 30mins of light chop, nothing spectacular, the food menu was the typical Steak/Pasta/Lamb/Chicken choices, although theyve changed the sauce with the steak since my last flight..
The steak was done to perfection (for an englishman) as I asked them to let it cook until 'Crisp' http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif (I know the texans here will shoot me on sight now)
[For those interested in menus, I'm sorry but I'm in an internet cafe, the list is long and I forgot to bring it]
After sleeping all the way through breakfast and half way through the decent, I woke up enough to stow everything and prepare for landing.. and WHAT a landing.. I dont think I've EVER seen anyone land a 777 so well, no hesitation, no coasting down the runway at 10 feet, we came in, no corrections, and *KISSED* the runway, if it hadnt been for the shocks taking the load on landing I'd have never known we touched down
Arrival was about 10 minutes early, making up for the slightly late departure and the lines at the Fastlane were very short, my fewllow FTer was connecting on to Berlin, so we said adios and I went through customs and in to the arrivals lounge
now with AA116 being the last flight, the place was deserted and rather messy, I'll forgive them this time, but next time I'd like to see the food a little less stale and the staff a TOUCH more attentive.. Nothing tangible, but I know the AC staff well enough to know that they can do better than this..
Took the paddington express and then a cab to the Grosvenor Marriott, checked in, they had my king room ready, said it was too early to give out upgrades (Fine with me) asked me what amenities I would like as a platinum guest and gave me access to the club on the first floor.. (Folks, I knew better but I did it anyway.. the English have no idea what Salsa is.. they think its ketchup! Be warned)
Impression of the hotel so far:
Its ideally located for shopping, very close to the US embassy and a tiny little bit 'Tired', another year or two and It'll need a brush up.. but the bed and pillows are SOOO comfortable I fell asleep, against my better judgement, for over an hour.
Well thats all for now, the remaining ITN (LHR-JFK-NRT-SIN-NRT-JFK) will come in installments as I find internet terminals..
I hope you like my first attempt at a report and if you have recommendations for the subsequent sections, let me know...
AA116 is the last flight from JFK, departing at 11:59pm, and this was a midweek flight, all the classic pointers were present.. This was a tourist flight.. arriving too late in the day to be of use to business types and too late a departure for anyone that can afford full fare..
But I'm getting ahead of myself. I left with plenty of time to spare.. Leaving Smithtown at around 8pm, the roads were quiet and I made good time... Until of course I turn on to the cross Island Parkway.. God knows why I did it.. It was a stupid move, everyone and their dog knows not to use the cross island, but there you go, stuck in stationary traffic for over an hour I start to think about the 'Flat tyre rule' and exactly how strict that 2 hour cutoff is http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif..
Well The police came by, towed the idiot drivers vehicles from the three lanes and traffic began to move.. I'm fine for time, but ONLY because I left rediculously early..
I arrive at JFK, then start following signs for the long term parking and follow.. and follow.. and follow.. Well the long term parking for JFK seems to be in Staten Island!
JFK seems to be a ghost town, this is my first time on AA116 rather than my usual AA100 and the difference at the airport is incredible.. Tumbleweeds wouldnt have been out of place here..
I head to UK checkin desks and then on to the Admirals club to sit at the bar and surf the wireless net a while and run in to a fellow FTer (Who remains nameless because I dont know his handle online)
We head out to the gates and I manage to avoid the primary screeners attentions, My fellow FTer is not so lucky..
At the gate, my fears are realised when I see the gate agent open the door and before boarding is even announced EVERYONE in the place stands and rushes the gate..
The poor agents are practically throwing people back away from the gates with 'Sir you are NOT in first or business class, please step aside'
I hang back a while chatting and wait until group 1 is called and head on board to 13J, an average 777 seat, which of course means that it collapses when you lean on the seatback, the headphone jack is barely servicable and the footrest needs a little 'persuasion'
My seat opponent is an older lady on a vaction away from her sick husband, she's also upgraded with miles for the round trip.
The Flight was about 5 minutes late departing due to a missing logbook (Did they check the glovebox?) and then we push back
The flight was smooth after the first 30mins of light chop, nothing spectacular, the food menu was the typical Steak/Pasta/Lamb/Chicken choices, although theyve changed the sauce with the steak since my last flight..
The steak was done to perfection (for an englishman) as I asked them to let it cook until 'Crisp' http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif (I know the texans here will shoot me on sight now)
[For those interested in menus, I'm sorry but I'm in an internet cafe, the list is long and I forgot to bring it]
After sleeping all the way through breakfast and half way through the decent, I woke up enough to stow everything and prepare for landing.. and WHAT a landing.. I dont think I've EVER seen anyone land a 777 so well, no hesitation, no coasting down the runway at 10 feet, we came in, no corrections, and *KISSED* the runway, if it hadnt been for the shocks taking the load on landing I'd have never known we touched down
Arrival was about 10 minutes early, making up for the slightly late departure and the lines at the Fastlane were very short, my fewllow FTer was connecting on to Berlin, so we said adios and I went through customs and in to the arrivals lounge
now with AA116 being the last flight, the place was deserted and rather messy, I'll forgive them this time, but next time I'd like to see the food a little less stale and the staff a TOUCH more attentive.. Nothing tangible, but I know the AC staff well enough to know that they can do better than this..
Took the paddington express and then a cab to the Grosvenor Marriott, checked in, they had my king room ready, said it was too early to give out upgrades (Fine with me) asked me what amenities I would like as a platinum guest and gave me access to the club on the first floor.. (Folks, I knew better but I did it anyway.. the English have no idea what Salsa is.. they think its ketchup! Be warned)
Impression of the hotel so far:
Its ideally located for shopping, very close to the US embassy and a tiny little bit 'Tired', another year or two and It'll need a brush up.. but the bed and pillows are SOOO comfortable I fell asleep, against my better judgement, for over an hour.
Well thats all for now, the remaining ITN (LHR-JFK-NRT-SIN-NRT-JFK) will come in installments as I find internet terminals..
I hope you like my first attempt at a report and if you have recommendations for the subsequent sections, let me know...