entropy
Jun 21, 06, 11:49 am
On my sad way back from TLV....
CO 85 TLV-EWR
Security was busy dealing with a pax who had special documentation (he was the only one in front of me in the premium line). Unlike the TSA, they did it with a smile on their faces, and politely. My interview was about 30 seconds. Walked up to the BF check-in, the concierge was asking people who went up there if they were in BF (good, keep out the riff raff). Was issued BPs for my flight and connection on AS to SEA. The agent told me to make sure that I collect my bags at customs in EWR, and handed me the BP's and lounge pass. I picked up some CDs at the landside shop and mailed some postcards at the post office.
The security to airside took less than a minute. No shoe removal :) Passport control I waited about 30 secs behind someone, I used the Israeli national line though I do not hold an Israeli passport. 15 s later I was on my way. Grabbed 4 bottles of Castel grand Vin 2002 (highly recommended) at the duty free (they were doing buy 3 get one free, so it was 26 a bottle, a great price). Before heading to the lounge I grabbed an orange juice at Juiceland (for those of you who don't know, the oranges in Israel are the best in the world)\, so I had my last taste of OJ. While I was standing in line, the waterfall started running, it is a really nice sight. Fortunately in the lounge you can bring outside food, so they didn't have a problem with the OJ. I picked up 6 glass bottled diet cokes, and some tomatoes and hummus and some pastries for breakfast, along with an espresso. The lounge was moderately busy but certainly not overcrowded. The wireless worked quickly and easily (small sign on page, free of course).
I walked to the gate 15 minutes after the boarding on the BP, they were running the BF/EA, there was a crowd, but the agents were properly denying the non-EA people. No line up in the jetway. Greeted with a menu and kit. No personal welcome from the FSC/Concierge. Diet coke for pre-flight. Orders were taken pre-departure, they checked to make sure I had ordered the KSML. For KSML, they pass out the nuts and drink, while the rest of the whole setup is in the first part of the meal. The meal was made by Madaan. The salad was good, better than the usual CO one, with hard boiled eggs, asparagus and beets. The dressing wasn't even necessary. It also came with smoked salmon, which I don't particularly like, so I didn't eat it. There was a chocolate and nuts mousse also, it was a bit tasty. And a roll, that was also good. When the appetizer cart rolled by I got one of the dried beefs. They brought the entree, unfortunately, it was marked FISH. That made me unhappy, I don't like fish. It was still relatively tasty, and the rice (mixed white and wild with diced red and orange peppers) was great with it, and the veggies were good. The steak that my seatmate had looked great, I think I would have liked it better.
They didn't have Israeli wine yet, except for Yarden Kosher wine, which isn't that good. I got the cheese, fruit and ice cream with cobbler. 2 espressos, with a smile on their face for a change, I was surprised that they asked if I'd like a second. Wine and water were kept properly refilled throughout.
5 hours into the flight was the first snack. the usual midflight egg/chicken sandwiches. They are decent, but they had the kosher ones, which were much better. They were larger sandwiches, chicken with tapenade and olive oil. And a cinnamon custard. After was the pear tart, and coffee/tea.
Interestingly, whereas usually we head almost straight north, through eastern europe, the route back has been very southerly, through italy, and then spain and over Porto, through the mid-atlantic, almost due west. Ground speed is still showing 570 mph, and, midway through an ETA of 3:55p.
IN another 2 hours we had the hot cookie service, they came on plates. It was chocolate with walnuts. they were good, but I like the plain chocolate chip better. The FAMs (3 of them, taking up valuable J seats... .......s) were usually congregated in the 2L area. They were very obvious, thick guys. When going thru customs they used the crew line, suspicions confirmed :) 1:30 before landing they passed out the landing cards, and the last meal. It was a chicken sandwich, or turkey, I couldn't tell. With mozzarella on rolls. I just ate the chicken, which was good. They had forgotten to give me the KSML, but another guy near me had it and it was a hamburger, that looked decent. The meal came with fresh fruit (quite good), and chocolate which I didn't eat. Overall there were 2 great FAs in our cabin, the FSC seemed like he was kinda off the mark. The concierges were just standing around. I forgot to mention that the movies sucked.
We arrived going south, TD at 4:15, got to the gate 10 minutes later. I think we either beat CO 9 or got in significantly after because we didn't have much cross-traffic. I had a bad line, 4 people who took for-freaking ever. No problem for me, 30 seconds. The luggage was out in another 5, The total time until I was outside security was about 25 minutes from the seat. Airtrain'd it over to A, no line, much to my surprise, yay! went to the club, the agent seemed unhappy to see me, welcome back to NYNJ. After about 20 minutes I headed to the gate where they were already boarding. On AS they give you a mini bottle of water preflight. I haven't been on one of their 73G's, their F seats are weird. Very uncomfortable for sleeping. Choice of pork chops or sesame chicken. Sesame chicken was the choice. We pushed 3 minutes early, but got stuck in the queue, and ATC put us in the penalty box. 50 minutes later we were on our way. They passed out digEplayers. The choices were lousy, Big Mama 2, I guess Dodgeball is kinda funny in a stupid way.
Got a G&T, with these gross sesame sticks flavored with honey mustard. ick. The salad was very nice, better than CO's usual offering, but the tomato was tasteless. They had a prayer card on it, I find that kinda tacky, but oh well. It came with a roll that was so so. The sesame chicken was a breaded chicken breast with very salty but thick soy sauce drizzled over it. It was ok, the chicken itself was good, but the sauce was too salty, the vegetables were eh, and the rice was good but there wasn't much of it. The dessert was a slice of caramel pie, I passed. Of note there was no hot towel service.
We arrived in SEA 30 minutes late. Bags came out about 15 minutes later.
CO 85 TLV-EWR
Security was busy dealing with a pax who had special documentation (he was the only one in front of me in the premium line). Unlike the TSA, they did it with a smile on their faces, and politely. My interview was about 30 seconds. Walked up to the BF check-in, the concierge was asking people who went up there if they were in BF (good, keep out the riff raff). Was issued BPs for my flight and connection on AS to SEA. The agent told me to make sure that I collect my bags at customs in EWR, and handed me the BP's and lounge pass. I picked up some CDs at the landside shop and mailed some postcards at the post office.
The security to airside took less than a minute. No shoe removal :) Passport control I waited about 30 secs behind someone, I used the Israeli national line though I do not hold an Israeli passport. 15 s later I was on my way. Grabbed 4 bottles of Castel grand Vin 2002 (highly recommended) at the duty free (they were doing buy 3 get one free, so it was 26 a bottle, a great price). Before heading to the lounge I grabbed an orange juice at Juiceland (for those of you who don't know, the oranges in Israel are the best in the world)\, so I had my last taste of OJ. While I was standing in line, the waterfall started running, it is a really nice sight. Fortunately in the lounge you can bring outside food, so they didn't have a problem with the OJ. I picked up 6 glass bottled diet cokes, and some tomatoes and hummus and some pastries for breakfast, along with an espresso. The lounge was moderately busy but certainly not overcrowded. The wireless worked quickly and easily (small sign on page, free of course).
I walked to the gate 15 minutes after the boarding on the BP, they were running the BF/EA, there was a crowd, but the agents were properly denying the non-EA people. No line up in the jetway. Greeted with a menu and kit. No personal welcome from the FSC/Concierge. Diet coke for pre-flight. Orders were taken pre-departure, they checked to make sure I had ordered the KSML. For KSML, they pass out the nuts and drink, while the rest of the whole setup is in the first part of the meal. The meal was made by Madaan. The salad was good, better than the usual CO one, with hard boiled eggs, asparagus and beets. The dressing wasn't even necessary. It also came with smoked salmon, which I don't particularly like, so I didn't eat it. There was a chocolate and nuts mousse also, it was a bit tasty. And a roll, that was also good. When the appetizer cart rolled by I got one of the dried beefs. They brought the entree, unfortunately, it was marked FISH. That made me unhappy, I don't like fish. It was still relatively tasty, and the rice (mixed white and wild with diced red and orange peppers) was great with it, and the veggies were good. The steak that my seatmate had looked great, I think I would have liked it better.
They didn't have Israeli wine yet, except for Yarden Kosher wine, which isn't that good. I got the cheese, fruit and ice cream with cobbler. 2 espressos, with a smile on their face for a change, I was surprised that they asked if I'd like a second. Wine and water were kept properly refilled throughout.
5 hours into the flight was the first snack. the usual midflight egg/chicken sandwiches. They are decent, but they had the kosher ones, which were much better. They were larger sandwiches, chicken with tapenade and olive oil. And a cinnamon custard. After was the pear tart, and coffee/tea.
Interestingly, whereas usually we head almost straight north, through eastern europe, the route back has been very southerly, through italy, and then spain and over Porto, through the mid-atlantic, almost due west. Ground speed is still showing 570 mph, and, midway through an ETA of 3:55p.
IN another 2 hours we had the hot cookie service, they came on plates. It was chocolate with walnuts. they were good, but I like the plain chocolate chip better. The FAMs (3 of them, taking up valuable J seats... .......s) were usually congregated in the 2L area. They were very obvious, thick guys. When going thru customs they used the crew line, suspicions confirmed :) 1:30 before landing they passed out the landing cards, and the last meal. It was a chicken sandwich, or turkey, I couldn't tell. With mozzarella on rolls. I just ate the chicken, which was good. They had forgotten to give me the KSML, but another guy near me had it and it was a hamburger, that looked decent. The meal came with fresh fruit (quite good), and chocolate which I didn't eat. Overall there were 2 great FAs in our cabin, the FSC seemed like he was kinda off the mark. The concierges were just standing around. I forgot to mention that the movies sucked.
We arrived going south, TD at 4:15, got to the gate 10 minutes later. I think we either beat CO 9 or got in significantly after because we didn't have much cross-traffic. I had a bad line, 4 people who took for-freaking ever. No problem for me, 30 seconds. The luggage was out in another 5, The total time until I was outside security was about 25 minutes from the seat. Airtrain'd it over to A, no line, much to my surprise, yay! went to the club, the agent seemed unhappy to see me, welcome back to NYNJ. After about 20 minutes I headed to the gate where they were already boarding. On AS they give you a mini bottle of water preflight. I haven't been on one of their 73G's, their F seats are weird. Very uncomfortable for sleeping. Choice of pork chops or sesame chicken. Sesame chicken was the choice. We pushed 3 minutes early, but got stuck in the queue, and ATC put us in the penalty box. 50 minutes later we were on our way. They passed out digEplayers. The choices were lousy, Big Mama 2, I guess Dodgeball is kinda funny in a stupid way.
Got a G&T, with these gross sesame sticks flavored with honey mustard. ick. The salad was very nice, better than CO's usual offering, but the tomato was tasteless. They had a prayer card on it, I find that kinda tacky, but oh well. It came with a roll that was so so. The sesame chicken was a breaded chicken breast with very salty but thick soy sauce drizzled over it. It was ok, the chicken itself was good, but the sauce was too salty, the vegetables were eh, and the rice was good but there wasn't much of it. The dessert was a slice of caramel pie, I passed. Of note there was no hot towel service.
We arrived in SEA 30 minutes late. Bags came out about 15 minutes later.