UnitedF1RST
Jul 29, 08, 7:09 pm
Took two intl F flights in the past 2 weeks...what wonderful experiences both were!
UA934 LAX-LHR 19 July B777
First, UA934 LAX-LHR (that nasty 1:46 PM departure)...Check in went smoothly and we proceeded to the UA IFL.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714702799/ Entrance to UA IFL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714704847/in/photostream/ The lovely lounge ladies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714672187/in/photostream/ Lounge interior
Upon boarding, I tested my seat. An F/A came over and cheefully told me they had checked all the suites during their safety checks, but thanked me for being diligent and checking their work. I was glad they took it as a compliment...da retiring FA in the F cabin as the 'galley gal' cooking, Sheila. She was fantastic and came on at the end of the flight, thanking everyone for 30 years of memories and started to cry...so sweet :)
The purser, Susan, came over to my seat, 1A, and said "you seem pretty interested about the aircraft...wanna hear some interesting stuff?" during our taxi out to the departure runway. I of course obliged. She then told me about everything thats in the slide rafts: a canopy, desalination kits, iodine, flashlights, flares, medical supplies...the list went on but theres a lot in there i knew nothing about. During flight she and the entire F crew made sure to make frequent checks on me.
In the middle of the fight, I was taking pictures of my fully unfurled F suite (found here, I thought it came out purdy well: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715561198/in/photostream/ and I dropped my camera lens cap in the tray table stow area and couldn't get it out. So the purser Susan said "hmm...I'll call the captain" I thought wow, ^! Captain comes out and says "hello, what can I help with?" I told him what happened and he studied the situation a little more and said "ah got it. Roll up a news paper and we'll put some tape on the end and try to fish it out." So he got some masking tape and we fished the thing out in about 10 minutes. By now Susan, Sheila, the Captain, and myself were all huddled around my suite trying to get the thing out, trying our best not to wake any one. The Captain finally fished it out and went to sleep in the crew rest.
At the end of the flight, Susan came around and shook everyones hand in the F cabin and said "Thank you for your business." I thought that was a nice touch. ^^^
On taxi into T1, we passed SQ's A380
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715520292/in/photostream/
On arrival into LHR, I hit up the new *A Arrivals Lounge for a quick visit. The entrance of the lounge has a large *A logo and two ladies working a small desk. The showers were plentiful, looked to be at least 10 individual rooms.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714673997/in/photostream/ Sorry for the crappy shot, it was a precarious situation getting the photo to come out
The lounge was fully stocked for breakfast
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714675737/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715492620/in/photostream/ The lounge seemed small to me...
LX317 & LX1736 LHR-ZRH-FCO 23 July A321/A320
My first experience with Swiss was very positive. We made a quick stop to the LH C lounge, contracted for LX in LHR, and then went down to the gate.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714684715/in/photostream/ Sorry I couldn't get a better picture...the lounge isn't much to see though....
Onboard, we were served a hot breakfast in C. I had asked for a glass of water and the F/A said he would get some in a minute because he had run out. He continued with his service, and went back to the galley. I had forgotten about the water, but he came rushing out with a bottle of water about 10 minutes later saying "I am so sorry, I just remembered. I am so very sorry, here is some water." He impressed me that he remembered and I didn't :)
On our return to LAX, we were invited to the SEN lounge in FRA
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715495490/in/photostream/ Made the mistake of going to the LH F lounge upstairs first
UA905 FRA-LAX 28 July B777
After having an uneventful, short hop from FCO-FRA on an A321, we left the SEN lounge for the gate. On the way back, we had the same Captain as UA934 and we chatted in the gate area where he introduced me to the flight crew. I chatted with the F and C f/as and then the crew boarded, then shortly F boarding began. Between the time the crew boarded and I got on, the F f/a arranged that I go up to the cockpit for a visit with our Captain. She passed the purser and he said "all the bathrooms are occupied." She smiled to him and said "oh, thats ok. I'm taking him to the cockpit!" The Captain and co-pilot both turned around and shook my hand and showed me around and took my picture in the cockpit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715567530/in/photostream/ I was a happy camper
We taxied out to 7L in FRA, and while listening to channel 9, heard this communication in the thickest german accent I've ever heard:
"Controller: Lufthansa XXXX cleared to land runway 7L"
"LH XXXX: Cleared to land, 7L"
--a 10 second pause, and the LH plane had just touched down--
"Controller: United 905 Heavy cleared for take off, runway 7L"
"Captain: Cleared for takeoff, United 905 heavy"
Takeoff roll begins, then controller starts literally screaming:
"Controller: UNITED 905 ABORT TAKE OFF, ABORT TAKE OFF UNITED 905"
At this point, myself and another person clearly listening to channel 9 look around the a/c and make eye contact, wondering what was happening.
it clearly took a moment for the command to register for the captain because we continued rolling for a few more seconds before the engines were turned back down to idle. Controller then directs us to 7R and we take off without hitting anyone. Captain says during taxi between 7L and 7R:
"Well folks, just want to let you know the controller asked us to wait a moment after he cleared us to take off. So its business as usual and we'll be departing in a minute or two"
In flight, due to the LH strike, we received a tray service instead of the traditional 5 course service. We were still served all 5 courses, the salad, appetizer, main course, dessert, cheese/fruit but all in smaller portions. It actually took only half the time and I was satisfied with the shorter service. I then walked back to the C galley to chat some more with the C f/a I told in the gate area I'd visit, Rosie. I asked for some chocolates I had found on my outbound flight. But due to the catering problems, they didn't have any. Then Rosie said "hmm...follow me." She took me up to the F galley and handed me a piece of lemon cheesecake. I said "wow, thank you. Where did you get this?" She responded "Don't worry about it, it was in my crew meal. You can have it!" I told her that she could have it, it was hers. But she wanted me to have it and wouldn't take no for an answer. She then delivered it to my seat with a cup of coffee. ^^^^ ROSIE!!!
The rest of the flight went off without incident, with many visits to the galleys to chat with the f/as. They were incredibly friendly and all got GTEMs at the end of the flight.
UA934 LAX-LHR 19 July B777
First, UA934 LAX-LHR (that nasty 1:46 PM departure)...Check in went smoothly and we proceeded to the UA IFL.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714702799/ Entrance to UA IFL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714704847/in/photostream/ The lovely lounge ladies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714672187/in/photostream/ Lounge interior
Upon boarding, I tested my seat. An F/A came over and cheefully told me they had checked all the suites during their safety checks, but thanked me for being diligent and checking their work. I was glad they took it as a compliment...da retiring FA in the F cabin as the 'galley gal' cooking, Sheila. She was fantastic and came on at the end of the flight, thanking everyone for 30 years of memories and started to cry...so sweet :)
The purser, Susan, came over to my seat, 1A, and said "you seem pretty interested about the aircraft...wanna hear some interesting stuff?" during our taxi out to the departure runway. I of course obliged. She then told me about everything thats in the slide rafts: a canopy, desalination kits, iodine, flashlights, flares, medical supplies...the list went on but theres a lot in there i knew nothing about. During flight she and the entire F crew made sure to make frequent checks on me.
In the middle of the fight, I was taking pictures of my fully unfurled F suite (found here, I thought it came out purdy well: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715561198/in/photostream/ and I dropped my camera lens cap in the tray table stow area and couldn't get it out. So the purser Susan said "hmm...I'll call the captain" I thought wow, ^! Captain comes out and says "hello, what can I help with?" I told him what happened and he studied the situation a little more and said "ah got it. Roll up a news paper and we'll put some tape on the end and try to fish it out." So he got some masking tape and we fished the thing out in about 10 minutes. By now Susan, Sheila, the Captain, and myself were all huddled around my suite trying to get the thing out, trying our best not to wake any one. The Captain finally fished it out and went to sleep in the crew rest.
At the end of the flight, Susan came around and shook everyones hand in the F cabin and said "Thank you for your business." I thought that was a nice touch. ^^^
On taxi into T1, we passed SQ's A380
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715520292/in/photostream/
On arrival into LHR, I hit up the new *A Arrivals Lounge for a quick visit. The entrance of the lounge has a large *A logo and two ladies working a small desk. The showers were plentiful, looked to be at least 10 individual rooms.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714673997/in/photostream/ Sorry for the crappy shot, it was a precarious situation getting the photo to come out
The lounge was fully stocked for breakfast
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714675737/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715492620/in/photostream/ The lounge seemed small to me...
LX317 & LX1736 LHR-ZRH-FCO 23 July A321/A320
My first experience with Swiss was very positive. We made a quick stop to the LH C lounge, contracted for LX in LHR, and then went down to the gate.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2714684715/in/photostream/ Sorry I couldn't get a better picture...the lounge isn't much to see though....
Onboard, we were served a hot breakfast in C. I had asked for a glass of water and the F/A said he would get some in a minute because he had run out. He continued with his service, and went back to the galley. I had forgotten about the water, but he came rushing out with a bottle of water about 10 minutes later saying "I am so sorry, I just remembered. I am so very sorry, here is some water." He impressed me that he remembered and I didn't :)
On our return to LAX, we were invited to the SEN lounge in FRA
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715495490/in/photostream/ Made the mistake of going to the LH F lounge upstairs first
UA905 FRA-LAX 28 July B777
After having an uneventful, short hop from FCO-FRA on an A321, we left the SEN lounge for the gate. On the way back, we had the same Captain as UA934 and we chatted in the gate area where he introduced me to the flight crew. I chatted with the F and C f/as and then the crew boarded, then shortly F boarding began. Between the time the crew boarded and I got on, the F f/a arranged that I go up to the cockpit for a visit with our Captain. She passed the purser and he said "all the bathrooms are occupied." She smiled to him and said "oh, thats ok. I'm taking him to the cockpit!" The Captain and co-pilot both turned around and shook my hand and showed me around and took my picture in the cockpit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24202467@N08/2715567530/in/photostream/ I was a happy camper
We taxied out to 7L in FRA, and while listening to channel 9, heard this communication in the thickest german accent I've ever heard:
"Controller: Lufthansa XXXX cleared to land runway 7L"
"LH XXXX: Cleared to land, 7L"
--a 10 second pause, and the LH plane had just touched down--
"Controller: United 905 Heavy cleared for take off, runway 7L"
"Captain: Cleared for takeoff, United 905 heavy"
Takeoff roll begins, then controller starts literally screaming:
"Controller: UNITED 905 ABORT TAKE OFF, ABORT TAKE OFF UNITED 905"
At this point, myself and another person clearly listening to channel 9 look around the a/c and make eye contact, wondering what was happening.
it clearly took a moment for the command to register for the captain because we continued rolling for a few more seconds before the engines were turned back down to idle. Controller then directs us to 7R and we take off without hitting anyone. Captain says during taxi between 7L and 7R:
"Well folks, just want to let you know the controller asked us to wait a moment after he cleared us to take off. So its business as usual and we'll be departing in a minute or two"
In flight, due to the LH strike, we received a tray service instead of the traditional 5 course service. We were still served all 5 courses, the salad, appetizer, main course, dessert, cheese/fruit but all in smaller portions. It actually took only half the time and I was satisfied with the shorter service. I then walked back to the C galley to chat some more with the C f/a I told in the gate area I'd visit, Rosie. I asked for some chocolates I had found on my outbound flight. But due to the catering problems, they didn't have any. Then Rosie said "hmm...follow me." She took me up to the F galley and handed me a piece of lemon cheesecake. I said "wow, thank you. Where did you get this?" She responded "Don't worry about it, it was in my crew meal. You can have it!" I told her that she could have it, it was hers. But she wanted me to have it and wouldn't take no for an answer. She then delivered it to my seat with a cup of coffee. ^^^^ ROSIE!!!
The rest of the flight went off without incident, with many visits to the galleys to chat with the f/as. They were incredibly friendly and all got GTEMs at the end of the flight.