Dudemon
Jul 7, 02, 6:06 pm
SEA-CDG AAward and SPG Award Stay, June 18 – 24, 2002
Mrs. Dudemon and myself flew on a 160,000-mile J class AAward. The routing was originally SEA-JFK-CDG, CDG-ORD-SEA but AA dropped the SEA-JFK flights and we had to go SEA-ORD-BOS-CDG on the way over. I really wish the US and UK governments could come to an agreement on the flights over the Atlantic. BA Seattle to London would have been much quicker and easier (and nicer too!).
I had originally booked the Hilton Paris with a GLONP but when SPG offered their Platinums 50% off awards to their Gold listed hotels I took them up on it. I used 35k SPG points rather then 150k HH points. I only needed a five-night stay anyway so the SPG award worked well. Both hotels had no difficulty making the reservations, which surprised me since June is the high season. With AA we had some difficulty getting two J class seats over the pond but in the end it worked out just fine. Our only constraint we put on AA was we needed to be in Paris on June 21 for our anniversary.
The Trip Over
Blairvanhorn had posted this link (http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/Forum43/HTML/000053.html) for a French License Plate Club for me so I had contacted them and was bringing over US plates to trade for Euro ones. I was completely surprised when SEA security didn’t even notice the 16 sheets of Aluminum in my carry on! I didn’t mind, after all, IMHO I think we should regress to the pre 9-11 security.
After arriving at the Flagship Lounge in ORD we learned that most of Europe was under a work action as they put it. “Strike?” “Yes.” I wish I had the woman’s name in the FL because she was very helpful. We learned that we would be flying into BRU instead of CDG, which was fine with us. A little adventure is always fun when your not bogged down with work schedules and the like. The BOS AC was so busy it felt like the SJC AC, only three times the size. The FL was just as busy but much quieter. Since I wasn’t going to be able to use the CDG arrivals lounge I used the shower in the BOS FL before my flight. This was just what the doctor ordered!
When we landed in Brussels we were told that buses were provided to take us over to CDG. About 10% of the Pax, including us, tossed that idea and took the train at our own expense. It took 1.5 hours rather then the 2.5 the bus would have required and landed us right in Paris and not to CDG.
Paris – The Prince de Galles
Since we were coming from the metro we were walking down the street pulling our carry on luggage which consisted only of two very light bags. The bellhop who greeted us asked us if we would like help. This was perfect, I prefer to be asked rather then have tell them that I can handle it (or fight with them over it), which is the case most of the time. I don’t know if this would have happened if we arrived via cab.
We requested a UG ahead of time but when we arrived early they were having difficulty just finding us a room so I wasn’t going to complicate things by asking. Our arrival time was 1300, which was 4 hours later then we were originally scheduled to arrive. Other FTers had mentioned in this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/003737.html)thread that they had requested a king but were given two twins pushed together. We were given the option of waiting for a king to become ready or the conjoined twins right now. We choose the twins and even after 5 nights they didn’t seem too terrible. I’m glad they gave us the option, IMO that was the best way to handle the situation.
Our room was 228 which looks out onto the street (four seasons is opposite side of hotel). The room was clean and neat but the carpet was old, not gross, just old. Other FTers had comments on this but it didn’t bother either of us. Mrs. Dudemon generally has sinus problems in old rooms or hotels but she was fine after day one. There was some painting of the hall going on two of the days which left that paint smell around but it managed to stay in the hall.
We received the welcome Champaign and chocolates that first evening. As our stay progressed we saw several of the Champaign bottles and chocolate boxes in the hall so there must have been plenty of Plts in the hotel.
On the day we checked out we asked the concierge if we should arrange for a cab. There had been many in front of the hotel our entire stay so we didn’t think it would be a problem. The concierge suggested that we should “just in case.” This turned out to be a mistake since Paris cabs start their meter from the place they are called from. When we finished checking out with 15 minutes to spare before our cab would arrive we were told that we would have to wait. After a few minutes we decided to get our picture taken in front of the hotel. I think they must have thought us impatient because one the bellhop immediately asked us if we wanted one of the cabs waiting instead. We said yes and we didn’t have to wait or pay the fare for the cab to come to us. I have no idea what they told the cabdriver when he arrived but next time don’t bother with calling ahead for a cab. It was just an inconvenience.
On the return flt, SEA-ORD, my seat headrest was loose and rattling. I called the FA in the cabin over and she said she would take care of it. A short while later a mechanic came aboard and tightened the two loose screws. The flight was none eventful, which is what we wanted, and we arrived in ORD we cleared Customs and and the FA from our cabin came running up to us. I had forgotten my Day Planner! She was concerned that I had my passport in it but I had that with me. I thanked her and gave her a SOS. The flt ORD-SEA was nothing to mention but was pleasant and we were happy that it was a 757 and not a MD80!
Here is a interesting link on How to dress like a local (http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/Forum43/HTML/000052.html) that I posted before I left. Bottom line, people in Paris dress every way.
[This message has been edited by Dudemon (edited 07-07-2002).]
Mrs. Dudemon and myself flew on a 160,000-mile J class AAward. The routing was originally SEA-JFK-CDG, CDG-ORD-SEA but AA dropped the SEA-JFK flights and we had to go SEA-ORD-BOS-CDG on the way over. I really wish the US and UK governments could come to an agreement on the flights over the Atlantic. BA Seattle to London would have been much quicker and easier (and nicer too!).
I had originally booked the Hilton Paris with a GLONP but when SPG offered their Platinums 50% off awards to their Gold listed hotels I took them up on it. I used 35k SPG points rather then 150k HH points. I only needed a five-night stay anyway so the SPG award worked well. Both hotels had no difficulty making the reservations, which surprised me since June is the high season. With AA we had some difficulty getting two J class seats over the pond but in the end it worked out just fine. Our only constraint we put on AA was we needed to be in Paris on June 21 for our anniversary.
The Trip Over
Blairvanhorn had posted this link (http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/Forum43/HTML/000053.html) for a French License Plate Club for me so I had contacted them and was bringing over US plates to trade for Euro ones. I was completely surprised when SEA security didn’t even notice the 16 sheets of Aluminum in my carry on! I didn’t mind, after all, IMHO I think we should regress to the pre 9-11 security.
After arriving at the Flagship Lounge in ORD we learned that most of Europe was under a work action as they put it. “Strike?” “Yes.” I wish I had the woman’s name in the FL because she was very helpful. We learned that we would be flying into BRU instead of CDG, which was fine with us. A little adventure is always fun when your not bogged down with work schedules and the like. The BOS AC was so busy it felt like the SJC AC, only three times the size. The FL was just as busy but much quieter. Since I wasn’t going to be able to use the CDG arrivals lounge I used the shower in the BOS FL before my flight. This was just what the doctor ordered!
When we landed in Brussels we were told that buses were provided to take us over to CDG. About 10% of the Pax, including us, tossed that idea and took the train at our own expense. It took 1.5 hours rather then the 2.5 the bus would have required and landed us right in Paris and not to CDG.
Paris – The Prince de Galles
Since we were coming from the metro we were walking down the street pulling our carry on luggage which consisted only of two very light bags. The bellhop who greeted us asked us if we would like help. This was perfect, I prefer to be asked rather then have tell them that I can handle it (or fight with them over it), which is the case most of the time. I don’t know if this would have happened if we arrived via cab.
We requested a UG ahead of time but when we arrived early they were having difficulty just finding us a room so I wasn’t going to complicate things by asking. Our arrival time was 1300, which was 4 hours later then we were originally scheduled to arrive. Other FTers had mentioned in this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/003737.html)thread that they had requested a king but were given two twins pushed together. We were given the option of waiting for a king to become ready or the conjoined twins right now. We choose the twins and even after 5 nights they didn’t seem too terrible. I’m glad they gave us the option, IMO that was the best way to handle the situation.
Our room was 228 which looks out onto the street (four seasons is opposite side of hotel). The room was clean and neat but the carpet was old, not gross, just old. Other FTers had comments on this but it didn’t bother either of us. Mrs. Dudemon generally has sinus problems in old rooms or hotels but she was fine after day one. There was some painting of the hall going on two of the days which left that paint smell around but it managed to stay in the hall.
We received the welcome Champaign and chocolates that first evening. As our stay progressed we saw several of the Champaign bottles and chocolate boxes in the hall so there must have been plenty of Plts in the hotel.
On the day we checked out we asked the concierge if we should arrange for a cab. There had been many in front of the hotel our entire stay so we didn’t think it would be a problem. The concierge suggested that we should “just in case.” This turned out to be a mistake since Paris cabs start their meter from the place they are called from. When we finished checking out with 15 minutes to spare before our cab would arrive we were told that we would have to wait. After a few minutes we decided to get our picture taken in front of the hotel. I think they must have thought us impatient because one the bellhop immediately asked us if we wanted one of the cabs waiting instead. We said yes and we didn’t have to wait or pay the fare for the cab to come to us. I have no idea what they told the cabdriver when he arrived but next time don’t bother with calling ahead for a cab. It was just an inconvenience.
On the return flt, SEA-ORD, my seat headrest was loose and rattling. I called the FA in the cabin over and she said she would take care of it. A short while later a mechanic came aboard and tightened the two loose screws. The flight was none eventful, which is what we wanted, and we arrived in ORD we cleared Customs and and the FA from our cabin came running up to us. I had forgotten my Day Planner! She was concerned that I had my passport in it but I had that with me. I thanked her and gave her a SOS. The flt ORD-SEA was nothing to mention but was pleasant and we were happy that it was a 757 and not a MD80!
Here is a interesting link on How to dress like a local (http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/Forum43/HTML/000052.html) that I posted before I left. Bottom line, people in Paris dress every way.
[This message has been edited by Dudemon (edited 07-07-2002).]