RNE
Jul 7, 08, 9:36 am
The Statuesque Mrs. RNE and I went to Cancun for the Independence Day holiday weekend (Friday, July 4 – Sunday, July 6). Here’s our experience.
July 4 Outbound Itinerary:
CO1045, CLE-IAH, 06:00-07:48, B739
CO364, IAH-CUN 10:30-12:50, B738July 6 Inbound Itinerary:
CO1409, CUN-CLE, 12:05-16:35, B738
Hotel: Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa. My wife wanted a spa weekend, near the ocean. This seemed perfect. It was. But I’ll get to that in a bit.
On all flights, I booked FC reward seating for my wife. As a Platinum Elite, I was upgraded into FC on all flights.
Check-In at Cleveland: We were a little groggy, having wakened at 3 a.m. to make our 6 a.m. flight, but were in good spirits with the prospect of sun and fun in Cancun. Our smiles faded when the Continental rep checking our small suitcases sarcastically quipped “Oh, that’s nice. Going to Mexico for the 4th of July.” Thank you, Continental, for branding us “un-American.” Note to Larry Kellner: What department at Continental formulates the Company’s jingoistic policies?
Our flight to Houston was pleasant and uneventful. We dined on mushroom omelets breakfast. (I think the folks in coach had cereal.) In Houston, we proceeded to the nearest President’s Club.
We boarded our flight to Cancun, along with a hundred or so other un-Americans, all of us thankful we were not lined up and shot by Continental’s redcoats for trying to leave America on Independence Day.
Onboard, we dined on split pea soup and a sandwich. (I think the folks in coach had a cold sandwich.)
The airport at Cancun is very modern, spacious, well laid out and welcoming. Not welcoming, was the 65-minute wait in line to get through immigration! I have traveled to 40 countries, and never have I had to endure such a protracted wait. Is there a big problem with people trying to sneak into Mexico!? Then we had to go through Customs. They searched both our bags—but it only took 12 seconds, so who’s complaining? We got a shuttle to Le Meridien.
We were given an upgrade to a balcony room that overlooked the pools and ocean. Beautiful view! Our room was not quite ready (check-in time is 3 p.m.), so we spent some time looking around the property. Lots of marble inside and lovely landscaping outside. There are three pools that cascade down toward the beach and ocean. There are tennis courts atop a gymnasium atop the extensive spa: sauna, steam room, whirlpool, plunge pool, massage and therapy rooms, salon, etc. Our room was very elegant—particularly the marble floors. Nice touch. The only real problem at the hotel is construction noise from the lot next door. That went on until past 9 p.m. Friday and until noon Saturday. I wanted to explore Cancun, but my wife loved the pool area so much, she didn’t want to leave. We hung out at the pool all day, every day. The attendants were great and service was spectacular! Stay there, if you can. I wish I could tell you more about Cancun, but I never saw much of it. Sorry.
Flight home was interesting. The Continental gate people were somewhat disorganized. When FC boarding was called, my wife and I walked down the jetway toward the plane. The passengers were stopped just before boarding, because the cleaning crew had not finished. Eventually, they did finish and—something I never knew—the cleaners were all frisked after leaving the plane. What’s up with that? Anyway, then we enter the plane. The flight attendants were sitting in the FC seats reading magazines. A big blonde FA said “What are you doing here?” as we walked in. Huh? I guess the FAs didn’t know the GAs had started boarding. Good organization, Continental. Anyway, we took our seats and so did all the other passengers.
Then odd things started happening. The big blonde FA hugged a male passenger in FC. (Hmm. That’s service I’ve never seen before. I wondered when she would hug me.) Well, it turned out the man is her (the FA’s) brother. His wife and kids (her sister-in-law and nieces) were in coach. The FA left the aircraft, returning a little later and mentioned to the other FAs, “I got three upgrades!” So, here come the man’s wife and kids into FC, plopping down in open seats—after asking other passengers to move all round so they couldl sit together. Now, I’ve got no problem with any of this—except I know there was an elite passenger and his wife sitting in coach and not upgraded; my wife and I spoke to them at check-in. He lamented that he hadn’t gotten an upgrade. Shouldn’t he and his wife have had those seats before the FA's sister-in-law and nieces?
We are served drinks while waiting for the plane to pull back from the gate. That’s nice. Not nice is that the FAs forgot to collect the drinks before takeoff. So, we were all holding onto our drinks as the plane rolled and climbed.
Midway through the flight, the big blonde FA brought one of her nieces into the service area. They sat down together in the jump seats to chat. This went on for about 30 minutes, with the FA leaving several times for several minutes—thus allowing the girl to be unsupervised in the service area. Now, she didn’t look like much of a threat to me, but why is an FA letting anyone sit up there and—worse—leaving that person alone?
Anyway, we watched the movie “Penelope.” It’s awful.
But Le Meridien Cancun is wonderful!
July 4 Outbound Itinerary:
CO1045, CLE-IAH, 06:00-07:48, B739
CO364, IAH-CUN 10:30-12:50, B738July 6 Inbound Itinerary:
CO1409, CUN-CLE, 12:05-16:35, B738
Hotel: Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa. My wife wanted a spa weekend, near the ocean. This seemed perfect. It was. But I’ll get to that in a bit.
On all flights, I booked FC reward seating for my wife. As a Platinum Elite, I was upgraded into FC on all flights.
Check-In at Cleveland: We were a little groggy, having wakened at 3 a.m. to make our 6 a.m. flight, but were in good spirits with the prospect of sun and fun in Cancun. Our smiles faded when the Continental rep checking our small suitcases sarcastically quipped “Oh, that’s nice. Going to Mexico for the 4th of July.” Thank you, Continental, for branding us “un-American.” Note to Larry Kellner: What department at Continental formulates the Company’s jingoistic policies?
Our flight to Houston was pleasant and uneventful. We dined on mushroom omelets breakfast. (I think the folks in coach had cereal.) In Houston, we proceeded to the nearest President’s Club.
We boarded our flight to Cancun, along with a hundred or so other un-Americans, all of us thankful we were not lined up and shot by Continental’s redcoats for trying to leave America on Independence Day.
Onboard, we dined on split pea soup and a sandwich. (I think the folks in coach had a cold sandwich.)
The airport at Cancun is very modern, spacious, well laid out and welcoming. Not welcoming, was the 65-minute wait in line to get through immigration! I have traveled to 40 countries, and never have I had to endure such a protracted wait. Is there a big problem with people trying to sneak into Mexico!? Then we had to go through Customs. They searched both our bags—but it only took 12 seconds, so who’s complaining? We got a shuttle to Le Meridien.
We were given an upgrade to a balcony room that overlooked the pools and ocean. Beautiful view! Our room was not quite ready (check-in time is 3 p.m.), so we spent some time looking around the property. Lots of marble inside and lovely landscaping outside. There are three pools that cascade down toward the beach and ocean. There are tennis courts atop a gymnasium atop the extensive spa: sauna, steam room, whirlpool, plunge pool, massage and therapy rooms, salon, etc. Our room was very elegant—particularly the marble floors. Nice touch. The only real problem at the hotel is construction noise from the lot next door. That went on until past 9 p.m. Friday and until noon Saturday. I wanted to explore Cancun, but my wife loved the pool area so much, she didn’t want to leave. We hung out at the pool all day, every day. The attendants were great and service was spectacular! Stay there, if you can. I wish I could tell you more about Cancun, but I never saw much of it. Sorry.
Flight home was interesting. The Continental gate people were somewhat disorganized. When FC boarding was called, my wife and I walked down the jetway toward the plane. The passengers were stopped just before boarding, because the cleaning crew had not finished. Eventually, they did finish and—something I never knew—the cleaners were all frisked after leaving the plane. What’s up with that? Anyway, then we enter the plane. The flight attendants were sitting in the FC seats reading magazines. A big blonde FA said “What are you doing here?” as we walked in. Huh? I guess the FAs didn’t know the GAs had started boarding. Good organization, Continental. Anyway, we took our seats and so did all the other passengers.
Then odd things started happening. The big blonde FA hugged a male passenger in FC. (Hmm. That’s service I’ve never seen before. I wondered when she would hug me.) Well, it turned out the man is her (the FA’s) brother. His wife and kids (her sister-in-law and nieces) were in coach. The FA left the aircraft, returning a little later and mentioned to the other FAs, “I got three upgrades!” So, here come the man’s wife and kids into FC, plopping down in open seats—after asking other passengers to move all round so they couldl sit together. Now, I’ve got no problem with any of this—except I know there was an elite passenger and his wife sitting in coach and not upgraded; my wife and I spoke to them at check-in. He lamented that he hadn’t gotten an upgrade. Shouldn’t he and his wife have had those seats before the FA's sister-in-law and nieces?
We are served drinks while waiting for the plane to pull back from the gate. That’s nice. Not nice is that the FAs forgot to collect the drinks before takeoff. So, we were all holding onto our drinks as the plane rolled and climbed.
Midway through the flight, the big blonde FA brought one of her nieces into the service area. They sat down together in the jump seats to chat. This went on for about 30 minutes, with the FA leaving several times for several minutes—thus allowing the girl to be unsupervised in the service area. Now, she didn’t look like much of a threat to me, but why is an FA letting anyone sit up there and—worse—leaving that person alone?
Anyway, we watched the movie “Penelope.” It’s awful.
But Le Meridien Cancun is wonderful!