AKL-LAX UA842 F Trip Report
Mar 12, 2003, 6:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Zug / BKK
Posts: 186
AKL-LAX UA842 F Trip Report
Nothing to write home about, but I decided to post it because UA decided to discontinue this route... ;-)
Routing: AKL-LAX
Date: 03 Jan 2003
Flight: UA842
Aircraft: Boeing 777
Class: F
Seat: 3J
Ground
Check-In was fast and efficient and friendly. The Check-In Agent offered to have ground concierge walk me to the lounge. I declined as I wanted to do some shopping and go to the smokers lounge first. The smokers lounge is located on the lower floor near gate 5 and there is no such facility in the Lounge.
The First-Class lounge is shared with Air NZ and very nice. Standard selection of beverages including champagne (no vintage ;-) ) and wines. Small snack buffet (cheese & crackers, fruits, sandwiches, quiche, etc.). Ground concierge came about 30 minutes prior to departure to escort us to the plane. Secondary security check was very fast.
Plane
Load factor 100% in all cabins. I recognized 5 PAX from the lounge, not sure whether the other 6 pax were upgraded or just did not go to the lounge. Pre-departure drinks were offered. Altough the cabin crew looked like the ususal UA prison matrons they were very nice and attentive. One FA even wrote a mini-guide to San Diego for me. The rest of the flight was uneventfull.
Food
Did not even met the low expectations I had after reading some posts on FT. Maybe it is just this route but the only thing that was bearly etable was the salad. Below a transcript of the menu:
##Wines##
Champagne
Brut 'Le Grande Dame' Veuve Clicquot
Regional Wines
Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale 1999 (Shiraz)
Dashwood Awatere Valley Marlborough 2001 (Sauvignon Blanc)
##Food##
*To Begin
Grilled shrimp with chervil sauce and risotte with parmesan cheese
or
Smoked ham, salami and Swiss cheese antipasto
Garden Fresh Salad with balsamic seal salt vinaigrette or creamy dill dressing
*Main Course
Filet mignon with a mustard demi-glace Sautéed vegetables and roasted potatoes
or
Sautéed snapper with citrus Hollandaise sauce, saffron rice and a vegetable medley
or
Country roasted chicken with jus lié, green peas and garlic mashed potatoes
or
Cheese tortellini with Gorgonzola cheese sauce, roasted artichoke hearts and grated Parmesan cheese
*Dessert
International cheese selection
Ice cream with sundae toppings
Fresh seasonal fruit
*Midfligh Snack
Hot sandwiches are available upon request...
*Prior to arrival
Breakfast breads, butter and fruit preserves
Scrambled eggs Florentine with Hollandaise sauce home-fried potatoes and a fresh fruit appetizer
or
Fresh seasonal fruit plate with creamy yogurt.
Baggage Handling
My bags did not make my connection to San Diego. They were delivered 7 hours after arrival, even though a ground agent promised they would be on the very next flight and thus only about two hours late...
Routing: AKL-LAX
Date: 03 Jan 2003
Flight: UA842
Aircraft: Boeing 777
Class: F
Seat: 3J
Ground
Check-In was fast and efficient and friendly. The Check-In Agent offered to have ground concierge walk me to the lounge. I declined as I wanted to do some shopping and go to the smokers lounge first. The smokers lounge is located on the lower floor near gate 5 and there is no such facility in the Lounge.
The First-Class lounge is shared with Air NZ and very nice. Standard selection of beverages including champagne (no vintage ;-) ) and wines. Small snack buffet (cheese & crackers, fruits, sandwiches, quiche, etc.). Ground concierge came about 30 minutes prior to departure to escort us to the plane. Secondary security check was very fast.
Plane
Load factor 100% in all cabins. I recognized 5 PAX from the lounge, not sure whether the other 6 pax were upgraded or just did not go to the lounge. Pre-departure drinks were offered. Altough the cabin crew looked like the ususal UA prison matrons they were very nice and attentive. One FA even wrote a mini-guide to San Diego for me. The rest of the flight was uneventfull.
Food
Did not even met the low expectations I had after reading some posts on FT. Maybe it is just this route but the only thing that was bearly etable was the salad. Below a transcript of the menu:
##Wines##
Champagne
Brut 'Le Grande Dame' Veuve Clicquot
Regional Wines
Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale 1999 (Shiraz)
Dashwood Awatere Valley Marlborough 2001 (Sauvignon Blanc)
##Food##
*To Begin
Grilled shrimp with chervil sauce and risotte with parmesan cheese
or
Smoked ham, salami and Swiss cheese antipasto
Garden Fresh Salad with balsamic seal salt vinaigrette or creamy dill dressing
*Main Course
Filet mignon with a mustard demi-glace Sautéed vegetables and roasted potatoes
or
Sautéed snapper with citrus Hollandaise sauce, saffron rice and a vegetable medley
or
Country roasted chicken with jus lié, green peas and garlic mashed potatoes
or
Cheese tortellini with Gorgonzola cheese sauce, roasted artichoke hearts and grated Parmesan cheese
*Dessert
International cheese selection
Ice cream with sundae toppings
Fresh seasonal fruit
*Midfligh Snack
Hot sandwiches are available upon request...
*Prior to arrival
Breakfast breads, butter and fruit preserves
Scrambled eggs Florentine with Hollandaise sauce home-fried potatoes and a fresh fruit appetizer
or
Fresh seasonal fruit plate with creamy yogurt.
Baggage Handling
My bags did not make my connection to San Diego. They were delivered 7 hours after arrival, even though a ground agent promised they would be on the very next flight and thus only about two hours late...
Mar 12, 2003, 8:56 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 1,570
Many thanks for the UA report garfield5 -
Isn't it funny how even though you flew in 1st, that your baggage was late. Hmmm - I wonder what went wrong in the process?
Your menu sounded yummy though, I'd be happy - I guess I am one of those weird airline food lovers...lol :-)
Happy travels to you in the future.
------------------
Patrick A. Inouye, CMT
volunteer trip reports moderator
Isn't it funny how even though you flew in 1st, that your baggage was late. Hmmm - I wonder what went wrong in the process?
Your menu sounded yummy though, I'd be happy - I guess I am one of those weird airline food lovers...lol :-)
Happy travels to you in the future.
------------------
Patrick A. Inouye, CMT
volunteer trip reports moderator