alexoster
Sep 26, 07, 9:50 am
AA 685 – First - 4A - B737-800
MIA-IAH - September 6th 2007
AA.com claimed that check-in will be from MIA concourse A, when I got there I was told that in fact I need to check-in through concourse D. Truth is, MIA is rather confusing at the moment as there’s loads of construction going on in preparation to their brand new terminal so its all a bit of maze. I walked over to D, checked-in at the domestic AA first class section where this lovely lady checked my suitcase through all the way to London.
Although security lines were overloaded, I went through the dedicated premium line like a breeze. Shoes off, laptop out, liquids in a see through zip-locked bag and I’m on my way to the Admirals lounge. Being a smoker I have always appreciated how there’s a smoking area right before the entrance to the lounge which is kind of rare (although not unheard of) for a US airport.
Was greeted with a warm welcome into the lounge to which I have access through my BA gold card (rather then my F domestic AA ticket) and was given as usual a drink voucher. I pulled up a stool by that bar which to those of you who ever sat there will know that it has this special atmosphere, usually a calm chat with other traveler’s over a hot soup or honey mustard chicken sandwich (which unlike BA/European/Asian lounges you gotta pay for).
Crossed over the walkway which connects concourses D to E and headed towards gate E4 where I was the last one to board my IAH bound flight. I boarded the B737-800, took my window seat 4A and straight away started chatting away with the guy in 4B who shares a similar passion for flying as the rest of us.
On AA (as with BA) when it comes to cabin crew you gotta be lucky, I usually can sense after 5 minutes if a crew will make it or break it. This particular bunch was top quality and although MIA to IAH is just a 2.5 hours flight they made us feel really special. Pre takeoff drinks were served (in plastic cups as usual) and we were on the runway two minutes ahead of schedule.
The usual mixture of TV shows and comedy sitcoms was shown on the overhead screens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443425237/in/set-72157602171118933/) and drinks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444287964/in/set-72157602171118933/) (this time in a real glass) followed by dinner was served. The choice was chicken with pasta or turkey croissant with mushroom salad; I chose the latter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443425423/in/set-72157602171118933/) which was actually rather good. For dessert we got the regular warm delicious chocolate chip cookie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444287770/in/set-72157602171118933/) which I had with a cold glass of milk (twice…). I did some work on my laptop in preparation for my conference in London and before I knew it we were getting ready for landing.
Although being very hot and humid in IAH it was also very stormy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444292224/in/set-72157602171118933/), they warned us from the cockpit that the descent will be rather bumpy, indeed it was a rocky way down and actually rather fascinating seeing the lighting so close up. But I lived to tell the tale; it wasn’t that bad and very soon after I am making my way into a very beautiful IAH.
I must say I really loved this airport, very clean, modernly designed with a large choice of stores and stalls. We landed into terminal A and my BA flight was to leave 2.5 half later from terminal D. I had 2 choices to get from TA to D, an upper train or lower train, upper train is faster while lower train is more direct and since I was in no rush as my bags had already been checked from MIA all the way to LGW, I went down two floors to the train platform (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444291778/in/set-72157602171118933/).
Oh, and what a sweet little train it is, takes a maximum of 12 passengers, 4 tiny carriages, and comes every 3 minutes, stops at each terminal as well as in the Marriott airport hotel, twists and turns on its little tracks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444292118/in/set-72157602171118933/) and (embarrassed to admit) was loads of fun.
BA 2026 – First – 3K - B777
IAH-LGW - September 6th 2007
I arrived (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443428199/in/set-72157602171118933/) into terminal D and went through security very quickly, up the escalators and into the BA F lounge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444291124/in/set-72157602171118933/) which was right opposite the gate.
I read on FT mixed reviews about the lounge in IAH and wasn’t sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. It is small but not tiny, any time as big as MIA and the interior is truly beautiful (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443428573/in/set-72157602171118933/), comfortable couches, large working desks and a decent selection of cakes, biscuits, delicious sandwiches and all kinds of drinks. No workstations or free wireless but T-Mobile/BT Openzone members have wireless internet access or you can buy hourly/daily vouchers.
In the F section of the lounge sat mostly business people on their blackberries or reading newspapers and an older couple playing Scrabble in a corner. I peeked into the J/Silver lounge which actually is rather small but still very cozy with the same food and drinks selection. Because this lounge served one flight only we were personally invited for boarding by the dragon (is that the official name for the lounge people?), two lines were formed by the gate one for WT/WTP and the other for F/J/Gold/Silver, all very efficient and under control by the BA IAH staff (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443429197/in/set-72157602171118933/).
I must give it to her she did try to greet me by my name but she nearly broke her teeth trying to pronounce my long Jewish surname, instead she said “Welcome Sir” and with a big smile and showed me to my seat (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444290100/in/set-72157602171118933/) 3K in the F cabin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444288712/in/set-72157602171118933/) of this B777.
I sat down to what turned out to be my best flight ever (ever ever ever..!). I’m not an alcohol person, I tried dinking beer and wine in the past and always ended up throwing up, its still a mystery to me how people can drink when to me it tastes bitter. So when the steward asked me what I want to drink I told her that throughout the flight I will have only water.
Smirnoff is right, the F cabin on the 777 is much more spacious then on the 747 and that’s because on the 747 it narrows significantly towards the front. My seat was the regular BA F seat although with the older smaller screen without the games or built in video tape player (which always gets stuck anyway).
Pre takeoff drinks were served along with tasty macadamia nuts (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443426809/in/set-72157602171118933/), a form to tick off your DVD choice and of course pajamas, slippers and velvet wash bag (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444289898/in/set-72157602171118933/). We pushed back bang on time and after waiting a few minutes for some CO planes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444291834/in/set-72157602171118933/) to take off before us (IAH is CO’s main hub) our 777 zoomed off into the clouds.
Newspapers and magazines were offered, over the years I fell in love with Business Traveler magazine and chose that. Hot wipes were given out and collected; the lovely CSD Susan Cook introduced herself to each of us and menus/landing cards were handed out.
I handed back the DVD form and they brought me a portable DVD player (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444289150/in/set-72157602171118933/) with my movie inside it. I chose the movie Waitress which I believe is an old comedy, was a bit of a girly film but alright.
The hors d'oeuvres (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443426713/in/set-72157602171118933/) were seriously good and from the menu I chose mushroom soup for starters and steak for the main dish. The soup (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444290392/in/set-72157602171118933/) was served in a large bowl and was really tasty; the steak (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443427811/in/set-72157602171118933/) was rather rubbery but not too bad. For dessert I got the cheesecake (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444289264/in/set-72157602171118933/) which was sinfully delicious.
After dinner the main cabin lights were dimmed and the stewards offered us turn down service which meant turning the seat into the bed position, laying out a mattress, duvet and pillows with slippers at the bedside.
I tried my best but couldn’t fall asleep so I chatted with the crew (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443426033/in/set-72157602171118933/) in the galley, noshed on the CW larder, solved some crossword/Soduku puzzles and watched sitcoms from the IFE.
For breakfast I had a smoothie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444290200/in/set-72157602171118933/), some hot pastries (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443426905/in/set-72157602171118933/) and a bacon baguette (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444288638/in/set-72157602171118933/).
After a thoroughly enjoyed flight we landed into LGW, my bag was already on the belt when I walked up to it, I walked across to the Sofitel Hotel for the arrivals lounge. The lounge here is shared with Delta and Emirates and although not as exciting as BA arrival lounges in LHR it still is a relaxing environment, with snacks and drinks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443429537/in/set-72157602171118933/), computers with internet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444292374/in/set-72157602171118933/) and showers.
I will take this opportunity and also share this picture I took last year after a BA flight JFK-LHR, I was in the UD with Paul Bettany and Sir Michael Caine was in F. This photo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443429763/in/set-72157602171118933/) is in LHR T4 by the baggage belt, the man in the cap is Sir Michael.
MIA-IAH - September 6th 2007
AA.com claimed that check-in will be from MIA concourse A, when I got there I was told that in fact I need to check-in through concourse D. Truth is, MIA is rather confusing at the moment as there’s loads of construction going on in preparation to their brand new terminal so its all a bit of maze. I walked over to D, checked-in at the domestic AA first class section where this lovely lady checked my suitcase through all the way to London.
Although security lines were overloaded, I went through the dedicated premium line like a breeze. Shoes off, laptop out, liquids in a see through zip-locked bag and I’m on my way to the Admirals lounge. Being a smoker I have always appreciated how there’s a smoking area right before the entrance to the lounge which is kind of rare (although not unheard of) for a US airport.
Was greeted with a warm welcome into the lounge to which I have access through my BA gold card (rather then my F domestic AA ticket) and was given as usual a drink voucher. I pulled up a stool by that bar which to those of you who ever sat there will know that it has this special atmosphere, usually a calm chat with other traveler’s over a hot soup or honey mustard chicken sandwich (which unlike BA/European/Asian lounges you gotta pay for).
Crossed over the walkway which connects concourses D to E and headed towards gate E4 where I was the last one to board my IAH bound flight. I boarded the B737-800, took my window seat 4A and straight away started chatting away with the guy in 4B who shares a similar passion for flying as the rest of us.
On AA (as with BA) when it comes to cabin crew you gotta be lucky, I usually can sense after 5 minutes if a crew will make it or break it. This particular bunch was top quality and although MIA to IAH is just a 2.5 hours flight they made us feel really special. Pre takeoff drinks were served (in plastic cups as usual) and we were on the runway two minutes ahead of schedule.
The usual mixture of TV shows and comedy sitcoms was shown on the overhead screens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443425237/in/set-72157602171118933/) and drinks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444287964/in/set-72157602171118933/) (this time in a real glass) followed by dinner was served. The choice was chicken with pasta or turkey croissant with mushroom salad; I chose the latter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443425423/in/set-72157602171118933/) which was actually rather good. For dessert we got the regular warm delicious chocolate chip cookie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444287770/in/set-72157602171118933/) which I had with a cold glass of milk (twice…). I did some work on my laptop in preparation for my conference in London and before I knew it we were getting ready for landing.
Although being very hot and humid in IAH it was also very stormy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444292224/in/set-72157602171118933/), they warned us from the cockpit that the descent will be rather bumpy, indeed it was a rocky way down and actually rather fascinating seeing the lighting so close up. But I lived to tell the tale; it wasn’t that bad and very soon after I am making my way into a very beautiful IAH.
I must say I really loved this airport, very clean, modernly designed with a large choice of stores and stalls. We landed into terminal A and my BA flight was to leave 2.5 half later from terminal D. I had 2 choices to get from TA to D, an upper train or lower train, upper train is faster while lower train is more direct and since I was in no rush as my bags had already been checked from MIA all the way to LGW, I went down two floors to the train platform (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444291778/in/set-72157602171118933/).
Oh, and what a sweet little train it is, takes a maximum of 12 passengers, 4 tiny carriages, and comes every 3 minutes, stops at each terminal as well as in the Marriott airport hotel, twists and turns on its little tracks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444292118/in/set-72157602171118933/) and (embarrassed to admit) was loads of fun.
BA 2026 – First – 3K - B777
IAH-LGW - September 6th 2007
I arrived (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443428199/in/set-72157602171118933/) into terminal D and went through security very quickly, up the escalators and into the BA F lounge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444291124/in/set-72157602171118933/) which was right opposite the gate.
I read on FT mixed reviews about the lounge in IAH and wasn’t sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. It is small but not tiny, any time as big as MIA and the interior is truly beautiful (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443428573/in/set-72157602171118933/), comfortable couches, large working desks and a decent selection of cakes, biscuits, delicious sandwiches and all kinds of drinks. No workstations or free wireless but T-Mobile/BT Openzone members have wireless internet access or you can buy hourly/daily vouchers.
In the F section of the lounge sat mostly business people on their blackberries or reading newspapers and an older couple playing Scrabble in a corner. I peeked into the J/Silver lounge which actually is rather small but still very cozy with the same food and drinks selection. Because this lounge served one flight only we were personally invited for boarding by the dragon (is that the official name for the lounge people?), two lines were formed by the gate one for WT/WTP and the other for F/J/Gold/Silver, all very efficient and under control by the BA IAH staff (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443429197/in/set-72157602171118933/).
I must give it to her she did try to greet me by my name but she nearly broke her teeth trying to pronounce my long Jewish surname, instead she said “Welcome Sir” and with a big smile and showed me to my seat (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444290100/in/set-72157602171118933/) 3K in the F cabin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444288712/in/set-72157602171118933/) of this B777.
I sat down to what turned out to be my best flight ever (ever ever ever..!). I’m not an alcohol person, I tried dinking beer and wine in the past and always ended up throwing up, its still a mystery to me how people can drink when to me it tastes bitter. So when the steward asked me what I want to drink I told her that throughout the flight I will have only water.
Smirnoff is right, the F cabin on the 777 is much more spacious then on the 747 and that’s because on the 747 it narrows significantly towards the front. My seat was the regular BA F seat although with the older smaller screen without the games or built in video tape player (which always gets stuck anyway).
Pre takeoff drinks were served along with tasty macadamia nuts (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443426809/in/set-72157602171118933/), a form to tick off your DVD choice and of course pajamas, slippers and velvet wash bag (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444289898/in/set-72157602171118933/). We pushed back bang on time and after waiting a few minutes for some CO planes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444291834/in/set-72157602171118933/) to take off before us (IAH is CO’s main hub) our 777 zoomed off into the clouds.
Newspapers and magazines were offered, over the years I fell in love with Business Traveler magazine and chose that. Hot wipes were given out and collected; the lovely CSD Susan Cook introduced herself to each of us and menus/landing cards were handed out.
I handed back the DVD form and they brought me a portable DVD player (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444289150/in/set-72157602171118933/) with my movie inside it. I chose the movie Waitress which I believe is an old comedy, was a bit of a girly film but alright.
The hors d'oeuvres (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443426713/in/set-72157602171118933/) were seriously good and from the menu I chose mushroom soup for starters and steak for the main dish. The soup (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444290392/in/set-72157602171118933/) was served in a large bowl and was really tasty; the steak (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443427811/in/set-72157602171118933/) was rather rubbery but not too bad. For dessert I got the cheesecake (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444289264/in/set-72157602171118933/) which was sinfully delicious.
After dinner the main cabin lights were dimmed and the stewards offered us turn down service which meant turning the seat into the bed position, laying out a mattress, duvet and pillows with slippers at the bedside.
I tried my best but couldn’t fall asleep so I chatted with the crew (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443426033/in/set-72157602171118933/) in the galley, noshed on the CW larder, solved some crossword/Soduku puzzles and watched sitcoms from the IFE.
For breakfast I had a smoothie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444290200/in/set-72157602171118933/), some hot pastries (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443426905/in/set-72157602171118933/) and a bacon baguette (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444288638/in/set-72157602171118933/).
After a thoroughly enjoyed flight we landed into LGW, my bag was already on the belt when I walked up to it, I walked across to the Sofitel Hotel for the arrivals lounge. The lounge here is shared with Delta and Emirates and although not as exciting as BA arrival lounges in LHR it still is a relaxing environment, with snacks and drinks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443429537/in/set-72157602171118933/), computers with internet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1444292374/in/set-72157602171118933/) and showers.
I will take this opportunity and also share this picture I took last year after a BA flight JFK-LHR, I was in the UD with Paul Bettany and Sir Michael Caine was in F. This photo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14252069@N08/1443429763/in/set-72157602171118933/) is in LHR T4 by the baggage belt, the man in the cap is Sir Michael.