The Great Hong Kong WIng Ding, Part I (Long)
Nov 22, 2003, 1:35 am
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The Great Hong Kong WIng Ding, Part I (Long)
The Great Hong Kong Wing Ding of 2003
This is a nearly “as it happens” trip report of my little wing ding over to Hong Kong. It has turned out to be a trip of firsts…first trip to NRT and Hong Kong (did the ab-fab TPE trip with 13 other FTers where we arrived back in the states on 9/9/01); first time ever on a 747-400 (sitting upstairs..can’t wait!); first time checking out the Wing, Cathay-Pacific’s lounge in Hong Kong; first time on Cathay-Pacific which so many FTers rave about.
I had a business trip that was taking me to Maine then to Maryland for a few days and with the Holiday week coming up, my schedule had cleared out a bit and I decided this was the time to make a MR to lock in AA EXP for next year. As it turns out I needed less than 10,000 miles and could have made a cheap Europe run but my adventurous spirit said “go East middle-aged man” so now I’m going to get over 15,000 status miles and clear nearly 38,000 with bonuses and such.
Found a DCA-MIA-JFK-NRT-ORD-MCI fare of $777.30, upgraded with VIP03s; cashed in 60,000 for the NRT-HGK-NRT in C; cashed in a FFN and some award nights at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and everything was set. I arranged everything just two weeks before my departure.
11/17
MCI-ORD
AA830 MD80
Scheduled 3:02 p.m. – 4:24 p.m.
Due to weather in ORD, we were delayed out of MCI (not to mention a touch of weather in MCI).
Uneventful flight, Had 20D and E remained vacant though every other seat except for 21E was full. The FA giving the Exit Row Briefing went into more detail than I have ever heard. “Flames,” “fire, “damaged wing,” “flaps extending,” “pilot checklist,” all were mentioned. After he was done with his diatribe, the 8 souls seated in the 2 exit rows looked at each other and commented on the very specific and formal tone.
With the delays and a very out-of-the-way routing, my 1:46 layover in ORD became a 13 minute layover. As I was walking from K10 over to G20, I heard the final call for my Portland, ME flight but it was only 6:05 and the flight showed delayed until 6:20 on the info screens so I continued walking (I don’t run for any airline, not even AA). When I heard my name being paged to report to G20, I may have picked up the pace slightly, but without even breaking a sweat, I entered the lovely RJ140 and surveyed the other souls winging their way to LL Bean country.
ORD-PWM
AA4025 RJ140
Scheduled 6:10 p.m. – 9:32 p.m.
Nearly 2 hours in an RJ is just plane (!) ridiculous so when I saw that the 3BC seats were available, I plopped down there instead of in my assigned exit row since I think there is more leg room in that bulkhead row than anywhere else on this craft. Door closed, we were off for a long taxi and wait but finally airborne. Plane was maybe half full. FA did one pass for beverages then vanished for the rest of the flight until she swung thru with the trash bag.
Arrived, had a bit of a run-in with a National Car rental agent who insisted that there was no way she could add my Emerald Isle number after the reservation was made without changing the rate. After I pointed out to her that every other location in the US does it with no problem she informed me that they were wrong and shouldn’t be doing it. Well, I admired her chutzpah!
At that point another agent came over and quietly talked the very self-assured though totally wrong agent thru how to enter my number. I was off to my car and the South Portland Sheraton.
Not a bad hotel. Had the new beds which aren’t Westin level but are better than the old Sheraton sleeping shelves. No club lounge open but given a coupon for a non-alcoholic drink (what’s the point?) and an appetizer. I had escorted my youngest daughter to breakfast that day but hadn’t had anything else since then so I waltzed down to the bar and enjoyed a lovely cheese and fruit tray and a gin and soda or 3. Also got an Amstel Light to take back up to the room which required me being escorted to the elevator by the MOD who holds your beverage until you are solidly ensconced in the elevator with the doors beginning to shut at which point the drink is transitioned into your hands. Liquor laws are at best bizarre and at times just downright stupid.
Went back up, paid the $9.95 for high-speed internet access, cruised the net for a while then hit the sack.
Got up the next morning, scraped the windows of the rent-mobile with my HHonors Diamond Card since in Maine in the fall and winter, National as decided ice scrapers are not necessary then drove up to Auburn, ME, did meeting, drove back down and returned car.
11/18
PWM-IAD
UA7288 CRJ
Scheduled 6:35 p.m. – 8:17 p.m.
Nothing special about this flight except it was on time leaving and early arriving. On the Emerald Isle, got a Grand Prix with 5 miles on it and more bells and whistles than I could stand. Headed over to Rockville, MD and the Best Western Washington Gateway Hotel.
Oh my…this is one of those hotels that specializes in hosting youth trips and foreign tour groups. I arrived into my room at 8:59, threw down my stuff, and went down to grab a bite of dinner. Waltzed into the dining room only to find myself in the midst of some corporate presentation complete with overhead and flipchart. Luckily, the bar, which is separated from the dining room by a cubicle-like divider, was open. Sat down and realized the person next me watching Frasier was the bartender. He hopped up and I order my usual and asked to see the menu. He said, and I thought this was priceless…
“Sure, no problem…but the kitchen is closed.”
CLOSED???? It is now 9:05 and the kitchen is closed…and the bar closes at 10:00.
Well, went back up and made full use of the free high-speed internet and dozed off.
Next 2 days involved meetings at a favorite client of mine. I was feeling very excited about upcoming HKG trip so the days went a little slow, but before I knew it, it was 3:00 on 11/20, I had just wished my training session attendees a polite good-bye and was in the ab-fab Grand Prix headed down the 270 towards our Nation’s capital and my crazy little out-of-control MR.
11/20
DCA-MIA
AA2283 B737
Scheduled 6:40 p.m. – 9:14 p.m.
Check-in was smooth and before I knew it I was thru scrutiny and ensconced in the lovely Admiral’s Club at DCA. It was more crowded than usual due to a delayed ORD flight and it being Thursday and all, I guess. Since I was on the first leg of an international flight, I got some free drink coupons which I made use of. Needed to get on the internet to download some work stuff and so paid the $9.95 for 24 hours of access to T-Mobile figuring I’ll take advantage of it tomorrow at MIA. (OOPS, my bad as you’ll read about later!)
Time passed, I wandered down to the boarding corral. Flight was very full. This was a 737 with the “enhanced” FC which was full and the Y folks just kept coming and coming. Where, exactly, do all those people go? This ain’t no 747-400!
Well, eventually, the flow of humanity eased and the FAs made their way into the aisle to collect coats and deliver pre-departure drinks, though they seemed less than thrilled to have to do either.
It was only after the wheels had left the runway that I realized there had been no announcement about the “no pee-pee for 30 minutes” rule out of DCA. Only during the after-takeoff PA did the FA finally mention it…
FA: “Due to new (?) security guidelines, passengers are required to remain in their seats for the 30 minutes PRIOR to takeoff.”
Well, I knew what she meant, but I was just sure that one of the many “non-English as a first language” guests on our flight tonight would not and we would surely be rerouted into IAD but, fortunately, the FAs misstatement was not misinterpreted and with no fanfare at all, the pilot turned off the seatbelt sign about 20 minutes into the flight.
This seemed very odd. I mean, usually, they repeat the no pee-pee rule ad nausea in the gate area, again onboard during the boarding process, and for 30 minutes after takeoff about 5000 more times but, tonight, it was made only once on the plane and the pilot never, ever mentioned it.
This rule is just stupid, does nothing to enhance security, and probably is contributing to some poor soul’s urinary health decline.
Well, I decided to see if I could get a smile or chuckle out of the 2 stern-faced FC FAs so I went into charm mode.
As the FAs brought the cart down the aisle to deliver the tray containing a salad and the ubiquitous cheesecake with red goop, one of the FAs delivered my tray and asked what bread I would have…
Me: “I’ll have the sesame.”
FA: “That’s not sesame, its wheat.” (little roll-of-her-eyes)
Me: “But it has sesame seeds on it.”
FA: “Well, it is wheat.”
And with that she plopped my wheat/sesame roll down, took one look at my seat opponent who was sound asleep and said…
FA: “I just can’t believe people can actually sleep on a plane.” (with a little more roll-of-her-eyes)
Me: “I know, but I’m going to Hong Kong tomorrow so I hope I can sleep some.”
FA: “That is one long flight and deserves some kind of pill.”
Me: “I know and my wife didn’t get her Ambien refilled in time.”
FA: “One word, Benadryl.”
Me: “Two words Tylenol PM.”
FA: “You know that is just Tylenol with Benadryl.”
Me: “Yup. Half a bottle of champagne and 2 of those little wonders and I’ll be out till Hawaii at least.”
FA chuckled, smiled and moved on to the next row.
One down, one to go.
Other FA is now running entrees. Tonight the choices were chicken (looked good with a wedge of parmesan potatoes au gratin and veggies) or steak. I chose steak. Dressings were Caesar or Vinaigrette. I chose the later.
As FA sat my filet with baked potato and the fix’ens down (sour cream, whipped butter, chives and shredded cheese) I said…
Me: “Yummy, Ruth’s Chris!”
FA: A look flits across her face as she ponders what I just said and then it finally dawns on her as she is about halfway back up the aisle. At that point she turns, looks directly at me and announces…”THAT IS HARDLY RUTH”S CHRIS!” and turns and disappears into the galley.
When she comes back to pour my wine, she leans down and whispers...
FA: “That is not Ruth’s Chris, you know.”
Me: “At 30,000 feet, I think it is just great.”
FA: (Mustering a bit of a smile that relaxes her very serious librarian demeanor) ”Well, I guess your right!”
GAME/SET/MATCH! I’m now 2 for 2 getting a smile out of these 2 tired but professional FAs. I can sleep in peace tonight. My work here is done.
Well, read a little, dozed a little, skipped CBS Eye on American since I’ll have a chance to see it many times in the next few days.
Before long we are landing at MIA a little early. I hop the train-thing from my E gate over to the terminal, hit an ATM, then find a taxi over to the Omni Coral Gables where my $50.00 Priceline.com bid was accepted even though I really wanted the Hyatt, oh well.
Wow, lovely hotel and they treated me like I was royalty. Champagne offered at check-in, laughed about all the alarms I needed to set so I wouldn’t miss my flight in the morning, took my AA number so could get some miles and off to the room I was.
Room 328 is about a mile and a quarter from the elevator but a lovely room with king bed overlooking pool deck. I plop my stuff down and head back down to check out the bar. Enjoy a Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka on the rocks and listen to the guitarist for a while then take off for a walk around the block. Lovely evening with a nice breeze. What a week…scraping ice one day, trapped in a downpour of epic proportions another and now looking at wafting palm trees…lovely!
See an interesting bar/restaurant so I pop in only to discover that they have the music turned up so loud I can actually feel it rattling my organs. I really felt like my heart might go into some kind of death quiver. The place was nearly empty and I think I know why. I asked the bartender why they kept the music so loud and she said it was broke but they were working on it.
Head out of there and drop into Houston’s for a nightcap just in time to see some poor sloshed soul order a drink, get a little aggressive with the bartender, only to have the manager come up, take the drink out of his hands and announce “since you were ordering liquor for the underage ladies at your table, you cannot drink here anymore.”
Wow, I guess I nearly missed all the fun.
Headed back to hotel, set alarm clock, 2 alarms on cell-phone, and verified my 4:30 wake-up call and 5:00 taxi. GOOD NIGHT!
11/21
MIA-JFK
AA518 AB6
Scheduled 7:35 a.m. – 10:17 a.m.
4:15 alarm goes off, I momentarily consider canceling everything and just hanging out at South Beach for awhile but then reality sets in and I’m up and at the curb by 5:00 a.m. where my waiting cab beckons.
On the way to the airport, I spy a 24-hour Walgreens and the taxi driver offers to whip a U-turn so I can stock up on Benadryl (buy 1 get 1 free…like paying yourself!), Tylenol, and generic Pepcid.
Back in cab and off to airport where lines are just beginning to form but within moments I have boarding passes in hand, make the long trek from the AA counters down to the B gates and sprint right through scrutiny.
Now up to Admiral’s Club where very friendly greeter just gushes about Hong Kong and the shopping. Everyone seems to have a Hong Kong story!
Settle in to do some work; go to sign on the web and discover no T-Mobile here. Oh bother, there went $9.95 down the drain.
Soon it is time to wander down to the gate area and I saunter through Duty Free just because I can, spritz on a little Polo Blue and then am first one onboard the AB6 and take seat 3B.
I have only been on an AB6 twice before. It was when I first started my current job back in the early 90s and I got sent 2 times to Miami then on to San Juan, PR. Those were AB6 flights that, back then I think I was only Gold, I could never get upgraded on. But in coach, they served a nice dinner and it wasn’t that long until the lights of the island appeared and I was in a casino.
Now I’m sitting up front. Coach is maybe ˝ full if that and F is almost full with 3 open seats. I scoot over to 3A to take advantage of the window.
Very friendly service from the moment I walked on. The 2 FAs serving FC made it look easy and I think they really loved their jobs. Had pancakes with very spicy sausage for breakfast (NOTE TO AA CATERING…what is with all the spice on the breakfast tray? Not only was the sausage very spicy the sautéed potato slices were piled high with grilled onions…luckily, I had taken a prophylactic dose of Gas-X!) My coffee, water and Bloody Mary’s are kept refreshed and it is a beautiful day for flying.
Soon, we are turning inland and making a lovely, swooping descent into JFK. Of course, we come in to B Concourse and NRT is out of A10 so out through scrutiny, back in through scrutiny, again no problems and make a few phone calls then they are boarding at 10:40.
JFK-NRT
AA167 B777
Scheduled 11:25 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. (arrival on 11/22)
After spending so much time in Domestic FC, I forget the absolute spaciousness of Business Class on the 777. There are only 20 souls in BC; from what I can see, FC is not full but I see several heads, and Y is fairly open. I’m in 13G and E and C are both empty so I got space, baby!
While still at the gate, the pilot comes on to say it is going to be a very long flight today and estimates flight time at 14.5 hours putting us into NRT only about 25 minutes late. I’m watching the skymap throughout the journey thinking for every minute I spend up here, that is one less minute I have to check out the FC Cathay Pacific Lounge in NRT.
Settled in and enjoyed 2 glasses of sparkling wine as boarding continued.
Take off is smooth and then the first issue arises. Odd numbered flight, I chose a seat to the back of the cabin sticking with the FEBO approach of entrée order taking. But no, apparently this crew has decided that they will take orders from the front on the way over and from the back on the way back…and of course I want the Japanese meal and of course they are out of it when they get to me.
So much for FEBO…RIP.
The BUSINESS CLASS MENU
Champagne
Heidsieck Monopole Brut
White Wines
Laboure-Roi Chablis Grand Cru
Kenwood Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc
Red Wines
Chateau Lynch-Moussas
King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir
Aperitifs
Emilio Lustau Sherry
Choya UMESHU Plum Liqueur “Excellent”
Sake
Gekkeikan Horin Daiginjo Sake
Dessert Wine
Graham’s Vintage Port
WESTERN LUNCH
An assortment of roasted Nuts to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
Appetizer
Teriyake Beef with Snow Peas, Red Peppers and Bean Sprouts
Salad
Fresh seasonal Greens served with Peppered Romano Cheese Dressing or an individual bottle of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
Bread Basket
Assorted Breads or Japanese steamed Rice
Entrees
Fillet of Beef – A tender cut of Beef seasoned with fresh Sage, complemented by a Port Wine Demi-Glace, accompanied by oven-roasted Carrot Slices and Lemon Mashed Potatoes
Seafood Risotto – Grilled Shrimp and Scallops serve3d with a roasted Tomato Risotto and a creamy Goat Cheese Sauce.
Lemon Thyme Chicken – Breast of Chicken seasoned with Lemon and Thyme accompanied by Mashed Red Potatoes and roasted Asparagus
The Dessert Cart
Seasonal fresh Fruit Medley
Toffee Crunch Cheesecake
JAPANESE CUISINE AUTUMN MENU
Appetizers
A selection of Sushi
Main Tray
Kobachi Dish – Rice Wine-marinated Calamari accented by Wasabi Mayonnaise, presented with Flying Fish Roe on a bed of Radish Sprouts, Red and yellow Cherry Tomatoes, julienned Jicama and Leaf Lettuce
Hassun Dish – Grilled Chicken topped with Carrot Paste, accompanied by Cauliflower with seared Dengaku Miso, sweet simmered Herring, Cod Roe Egg Cake and grilled Shi****o Pepper filled with Cream Cheese
Simmered Dish – Japanese-style stewed Beef with Potatoes and Carrots
Entrée – Stewed Chicken complemented by assorted Mushrooms, offered with Taro and Mizuna in Miso
Soup – Miso Soup with Wakame Seaweed and Tofu
Accompanied by steamed Rice and an assortment of seasonal Pickles
Snack Attack
Please feel free to help yourself to an assortment of sweets and other snacks in our alley, at any time after your meal.
Afternoon Refreshment
Fresh Fruit, Cheese and Tea Snacks or Japanese Soba Noodles
SUPPER
Entrees
Pineapple Chicken with Asian Slaw- Chicken Breast in a Pineapple Soy Marinade, offered with julienned Asian Slaw, enhanced by a Rice Wine Vinaigrette
Spinach Salad with Smoked Trout – Fresh Spinach and Frisee Salad with roasted Eggplant and Capers, served with a Champagne Vinaigrette and a Fillet of smoked Trout
Dessert
Zuppa inglese – A light sponge Cake topped with Whipped Cream
Well, as it turned out, the FA serving my side of the cabin came back and said…
FA: “Well, you got your Japanese…it took a bit of finagling but someone gave their’s up.”
Me: “Thank you.”
Before long, the carts where in the aisle and International Flagship Service was underway.
Had the Champagne…yummy.
The Japanese Cuisine meal was fabulous. And the sake was very good. Loved the lacquer tray and the little dishes with the oriental print on them. FA informed me she had put a few more sakes on ice for me and just let her now when I was ready for more.
Enjoyed the toffee crunch cheesecake and then had 2 fake Benadryl, another sake and some green tea…its slumber time. With over 11 hours and 5116 miles left till touchdown in NRT we are somewhere over the Hudson Bay, according to the flight map. Ground speed is 536 mph and we are cruising at 35,000 feet. The air outside is a balmy 57 degrees below zero.
Slept for about 2 hours, did a lap of the plane, Kiehl’d my face, lips and hands and read the NY Times. Had some more sake and green tea. Raided the Snack Attack station for some cheese and grapes.
Just over half-way into the flight, the FAs brought around the Afternoon Refreshment selections. I chose the Soba Noodles which where a little too cold but tasty. Had another sake, more green tea and watched “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
We took a long northerly loop over Canada and across Alaska. It was only then that we finally were over water.
This flight went on FOREVER. Even the FAs were getting ansy to get off this bird. They were wonderful and we enjoyed several laughs together. They had heard there was a Costco near the airport and were heading out to find it so they could buy some excellent but cheap green tea in bulk ala Costco!
We finally landed after nearly 15 hours in the air and taxied for ever then got parked at a cargo facility right across from the AA gates in Terminal 1. This meant shlep everything down stairs, onto a bus, up escalator, through security check, down stairs, check in at connecting flight desk, then up elevator to Admirals Club.
So far so good, though and am looking forward to my flights on Cathay Pacific.
To be continued…..
This is a nearly “as it happens” trip report of my little wing ding over to Hong Kong. It has turned out to be a trip of firsts…first trip to NRT and Hong Kong (did the ab-fab TPE trip with 13 other FTers where we arrived back in the states on 9/9/01); first time ever on a 747-400 (sitting upstairs..can’t wait!); first time checking out the Wing, Cathay-Pacific’s lounge in Hong Kong; first time on Cathay-Pacific which so many FTers rave about.
I had a business trip that was taking me to Maine then to Maryland for a few days and with the Holiday week coming up, my schedule had cleared out a bit and I decided this was the time to make a MR to lock in AA EXP for next year. As it turns out I needed less than 10,000 miles and could have made a cheap Europe run but my adventurous spirit said “go East middle-aged man” so now I’m going to get over 15,000 status miles and clear nearly 38,000 with bonuses and such.
Found a DCA-MIA-JFK-NRT-ORD-MCI fare of $777.30, upgraded with VIP03s; cashed in 60,000 for the NRT-HGK-NRT in C; cashed in a FFN and some award nights at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and everything was set. I arranged everything just two weeks before my departure.
11/17
MCI-ORD
AA830 MD80
Scheduled 3:02 p.m. – 4:24 p.m.
Due to weather in ORD, we were delayed out of MCI (not to mention a touch of weather in MCI).
Uneventful flight, Had 20D and E remained vacant though every other seat except for 21E was full. The FA giving the Exit Row Briefing went into more detail than I have ever heard. “Flames,” “fire, “damaged wing,” “flaps extending,” “pilot checklist,” all were mentioned. After he was done with his diatribe, the 8 souls seated in the 2 exit rows looked at each other and commented on the very specific and formal tone.
With the delays and a very out-of-the-way routing, my 1:46 layover in ORD became a 13 minute layover. As I was walking from K10 over to G20, I heard the final call for my Portland, ME flight but it was only 6:05 and the flight showed delayed until 6:20 on the info screens so I continued walking (I don’t run for any airline, not even AA). When I heard my name being paged to report to G20, I may have picked up the pace slightly, but without even breaking a sweat, I entered the lovely RJ140 and surveyed the other souls winging their way to LL Bean country.
ORD-PWM
AA4025 RJ140
Scheduled 6:10 p.m. – 9:32 p.m.
Nearly 2 hours in an RJ is just plane (!) ridiculous so when I saw that the 3BC seats were available, I plopped down there instead of in my assigned exit row since I think there is more leg room in that bulkhead row than anywhere else on this craft. Door closed, we were off for a long taxi and wait but finally airborne. Plane was maybe half full. FA did one pass for beverages then vanished for the rest of the flight until she swung thru with the trash bag.
Arrived, had a bit of a run-in with a National Car rental agent who insisted that there was no way she could add my Emerald Isle number after the reservation was made without changing the rate. After I pointed out to her that every other location in the US does it with no problem she informed me that they were wrong and shouldn’t be doing it. Well, I admired her chutzpah!
At that point another agent came over and quietly talked the very self-assured though totally wrong agent thru how to enter my number. I was off to my car and the South Portland Sheraton.
Not a bad hotel. Had the new beds which aren’t Westin level but are better than the old Sheraton sleeping shelves. No club lounge open but given a coupon for a non-alcoholic drink (what’s the point?) and an appetizer. I had escorted my youngest daughter to breakfast that day but hadn’t had anything else since then so I waltzed down to the bar and enjoyed a lovely cheese and fruit tray and a gin and soda or 3. Also got an Amstel Light to take back up to the room which required me being escorted to the elevator by the MOD who holds your beverage until you are solidly ensconced in the elevator with the doors beginning to shut at which point the drink is transitioned into your hands. Liquor laws are at best bizarre and at times just downright stupid.
Went back up, paid the $9.95 for high-speed internet access, cruised the net for a while then hit the sack.
Got up the next morning, scraped the windows of the rent-mobile with my HHonors Diamond Card since in Maine in the fall and winter, National as decided ice scrapers are not necessary then drove up to Auburn, ME, did meeting, drove back down and returned car.
11/18
PWM-IAD
UA7288 CRJ
Scheduled 6:35 p.m. – 8:17 p.m.
Nothing special about this flight except it was on time leaving and early arriving. On the Emerald Isle, got a Grand Prix with 5 miles on it and more bells and whistles than I could stand. Headed over to Rockville, MD and the Best Western Washington Gateway Hotel.
Oh my…this is one of those hotels that specializes in hosting youth trips and foreign tour groups. I arrived into my room at 8:59, threw down my stuff, and went down to grab a bite of dinner. Waltzed into the dining room only to find myself in the midst of some corporate presentation complete with overhead and flipchart. Luckily, the bar, which is separated from the dining room by a cubicle-like divider, was open. Sat down and realized the person next me watching Frasier was the bartender. He hopped up and I order my usual and asked to see the menu. He said, and I thought this was priceless…
“Sure, no problem…but the kitchen is closed.”
CLOSED???? It is now 9:05 and the kitchen is closed…and the bar closes at 10:00.
Well, went back up and made full use of the free high-speed internet and dozed off.
Next 2 days involved meetings at a favorite client of mine. I was feeling very excited about upcoming HKG trip so the days went a little slow, but before I knew it, it was 3:00 on 11/20, I had just wished my training session attendees a polite good-bye and was in the ab-fab Grand Prix headed down the 270 towards our Nation’s capital and my crazy little out-of-control MR.
11/20
DCA-MIA
AA2283 B737
Scheduled 6:40 p.m. – 9:14 p.m.
Check-in was smooth and before I knew it I was thru scrutiny and ensconced in the lovely Admiral’s Club at DCA. It was more crowded than usual due to a delayed ORD flight and it being Thursday and all, I guess. Since I was on the first leg of an international flight, I got some free drink coupons which I made use of. Needed to get on the internet to download some work stuff and so paid the $9.95 for 24 hours of access to T-Mobile figuring I’ll take advantage of it tomorrow at MIA. (OOPS, my bad as you’ll read about later!)
Time passed, I wandered down to the boarding corral. Flight was very full. This was a 737 with the “enhanced” FC which was full and the Y folks just kept coming and coming. Where, exactly, do all those people go? This ain’t no 747-400!
Well, eventually, the flow of humanity eased and the FAs made their way into the aisle to collect coats and deliver pre-departure drinks, though they seemed less than thrilled to have to do either.
It was only after the wheels had left the runway that I realized there had been no announcement about the “no pee-pee for 30 minutes” rule out of DCA. Only during the after-takeoff PA did the FA finally mention it…
FA: “Due to new (?) security guidelines, passengers are required to remain in their seats for the 30 minutes PRIOR to takeoff.”
Well, I knew what she meant, but I was just sure that one of the many “non-English as a first language” guests on our flight tonight would not and we would surely be rerouted into IAD but, fortunately, the FAs misstatement was not misinterpreted and with no fanfare at all, the pilot turned off the seatbelt sign about 20 minutes into the flight.
This seemed very odd. I mean, usually, they repeat the no pee-pee rule ad nausea in the gate area, again onboard during the boarding process, and for 30 minutes after takeoff about 5000 more times but, tonight, it was made only once on the plane and the pilot never, ever mentioned it.
This rule is just stupid, does nothing to enhance security, and probably is contributing to some poor soul’s urinary health decline.
Well, I decided to see if I could get a smile or chuckle out of the 2 stern-faced FC FAs so I went into charm mode.
As the FAs brought the cart down the aisle to deliver the tray containing a salad and the ubiquitous cheesecake with red goop, one of the FAs delivered my tray and asked what bread I would have…
Me: “I’ll have the sesame.”
FA: “That’s not sesame, its wheat.” (little roll-of-her-eyes)
Me: “But it has sesame seeds on it.”
FA: “Well, it is wheat.”
And with that she plopped my wheat/sesame roll down, took one look at my seat opponent who was sound asleep and said…
FA: “I just can’t believe people can actually sleep on a plane.” (with a little more roll-of-her-eyes)
Me: “I know, but I’m going to Hong Kong tomorrow so I hope I can sleep some.”
FA: “That is one long flight and deserves some kind of pill.”
Me: “I know and my wife didn’t get her Ambien refilled in time.”
FA: “One word, Benadryl.”
Me: “Two words Tylenol PM.”
FA: “You know that is just Tylenol with Benadryl.”
Me: “Yup. Half a bottle of champagne and 2 of those little wonders and I’ll be out till Hawaii at least.”
FA chuckled, smiled and moved on to the next row.
One down, one to go.
Other FA is now running entrees. Tonight the choices were chicken (looked good with a wedge of parmesan potatoes au gratin and veggies) or steak. I chose steak. Dressings were Caesar or Vinaigrette. I chose the later.
As FA sat my filet with baked potato and the fix’ens down (sour cream, whipped butter, chives and shredded cheese) I said…
Me: “Yummy, Ruth’s Chris!”
FA: A look flits across her face as she ponders what I just said and then it finally dawns on her as she is about halfway back up the aisle. At that point she turns, looks directly at me and announces…”THAT IS HARDLY RUTH”S CHRIS!” and turns and disappears into the galley.
When she comes back to pour my wine, she leans down and whispers...
FA: “That is not Ruth’s Chris, you know.”
Me: “At 30,000 feet, I think it is just great.”
FA: (Mustering a bit of a smile that relaxes her very serious librarian demeanor) ”Well, I guess your right!”
GAME/SET/MATCH! I’m now 2 for 2 getting a smile out of these 2 tired but professional FAs. I can sleep in peace tonight. My work here is done.
Well, read a little, dozed a little, skipped CBS Eye on American since I’ll have a chance to see it many times in the next few days.
Before long we are landing at MIA a little early. I hop the train-thing from my E gate over to the terminal, hit an ATM, then find a taxi over to the Omni Coral Gables where my $50.00 Priceline.com bid was accepted even though I really wanted the Hyatt, oh well.
Wow, lovely hotel and they treated me like I was royalty. Champagne offered at check-in, laughed about all the alarms I needed to set so I wouldn’t miss my flight in the morning, took my AA number so could get some miles and off to the room I was.
Room 328 is about a mile and a quarter from the elevator but a lovely room with king bed overlooking pool deck. I plop my stuff down and head back down to check out the bar. Enjoy a Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka on the rocks and listen to the guitarist for a while then take off for a walk around the block. Lovely evening with a nice breeze. What a week…scraping ice one day, trapped in a downpour of epic proportions another and now looking at wafting palm trees…lovely!
See an interesting bar/restaurant so I pop in only to discover that they have the music turned up so loud I can actually feel it rattling my organs. I really felt like my heart might go into some kind of death quiver. The place was nearly empty and I think I know why. I asked the bartender why they kept the music so loud and she said it was broke but they were working on it.
Head out of there and drop into Houston’s for a nightcap just in time to see some poor sloshed soul order a drink, get a little aggressive with the bartender, only to have the manager come up, take the drink out of his hands and announce “since you were ordering liquor for the underage ladies at your table, you cannot drink here anymore.”
Wow, I guess I nearly missed all the fun.
Headed back to hotel, set alarm clock, 2 alarms on cell-phone, and verified my 4:30 wake-up call and 5:00 taxi. GOOD NIGHT!
11/21
MIA-JFK
AA518 AB6
Scheduled 7:35 a.m. – 10:17 a.m.
4:15 alarm goes off, I momentarily consider canceling everything and just hanging out at South Beach for awhile but then reality sets in and I’m up and at the curb by 5:00 a.m. where my waiting cab beckons.
On the way to the airport, I spy a 24-hour Walgreens and the taxi driver offers to whip a U-turn so I can stock up on Benadryl (buy 1 get 1 free…like paying yourself!), Tylenol, and generic Pepcid.
Back in cab and off to airport where lines are just beginning to form but within moments I have boarding passes in hand, make the long trek from the AA counters down to the B gates and sprint right through scrutiny.
Now up to Admiral’s Club where very friendly greeter just gushes about Hong Kong and the shopping. Everyone seems to have a Hong Kong story!
Settle in to do some work; go to sign on the web and discover no T-Mobile here. Oh bother, there went $9.95 down the drain.
Soon it is time to wander down to the gate area and I saunter through Duty Free just because I can, spritz on a little Polo Blue and then am first one onboard the AB6 and take seat 3B.
I have only been on an AB6 twice before. It was when I first started my current job back in the early 90s and I got sent 2 times to Miami then on to San Juan, PR. Those were AB6 flights that, back then I think I was only Gold, I could never get upgraded on. But in coach, they served a nice dinner and it wasn’t that long until the lights of the island appeared and I was in a casino.
Now I’m sitting up front. Coach is maybe ˝ full if that and F is almost full with 3 open seats. I scoot over to 3A to take advantage of the window.
Very friendly service from the moment I walked on. The 2 FAs serving FC made it look easy and I think they really loved their jobs. Had pancakes with very spicy sausage for breakfast (NOTE TO AA CATERING…what is with all the spice on the breakfast tray? Not only was the sausage very spicy the sautéed potato slices were piled high with grilled onions…luckily, I had taken a prophylactic dose of Gas-X!) My coffee, water and Bloody Mary’s are kept refreshed and it is a beautiful day for flying.
Soon, we are turning inland and making a lovely, swooping descent into JFK. Of course, we come in to B Concourse and NRT is out of A10 so out through scrutiny, back in through scrutiny, again no problems and make a few phone calls then they are boarding at 10:40.
JFK-NRT
AA167 B777
Scheduled 11:25 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. (arrival on 11/22)
After spending so much time in Domestic FC, I forget the absolute spaciousness of Business Class on the 777. There are only 20 souls in BC; from what I can see, FC is not full but I see several heads, and Y is fairly open. I’m in 13G and E and C are both empty so I got space, baby!
While still at the gate, the pilot comes on to say it is going to be a very long flight today and estimates flight time at 14.5 hours putting us into NRT only about 25 minutes late. I’m watching the skymap throughout the journey thinking for every minute I spend up here, that is one less minute I have to check out the FC Cathay Pacific Lounge in NRT.
Settled in and enjoyed 2 glasses of sparkling wine as boarding continued.
Take off is smooth and then the first issue arises. Odd numbered flight, I chose a seat to the back of the cabin sticking with the FEBO approach of entrée order taking. But no, apparently this crew has decided that they will take orders from the front on the way over and from the back on the way back…and of course I want the Japanese meal and of course they are out of it when they get to me.
So much for FEBO…RIP.
The BUSINESS CLASS MENU
Champagne
Heidsieck Monopole Brut
White Wines
Laboure-Roi Chablis Grand Cru
Kenwood Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc
Red Wines
Chateau Lynch-Moussas
King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir
Aperitifs
Emilio Lustau Sherry
Choya UMESHU Plum Liqueur “Excellent”
Sake
Gekkeikan Horin Daiginjo Sake
Dessert Wine
Graham’s Vintage Port
WESTERN LUNCH
An assortment of roasted Nuts to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
Appetizer
Teriyake Beef with Snow Peas, Red Peppers and Bean Sprouts
Salad
Fresh seasonal Greens served with Peppered Romano Cheese Dressing or an individual bottle of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
Bread Basket
Assorted Breads or Japanese steamed Rice
Entrees
Fillet of Beef – A tender cut of Beef seasoned with fresh Sage, complemented by a Port Wine Demi-Glace, accompanied by oven-roasted Carrot Slices and Lemon Mashed Potatoes
Seafood Risotto – Grilled Shrimp and Scallops serve3d with a roasted Tomato Risotto and a creamy Goat Cheese Sauce.
Lemon Thyme Chicken – Breast of Chicken seasoned with Lemon and Thyme accompanied by Mashed Red Potatoes and roasted Asparagus
The Dessert Cart
Seasonal fresh Fruit Medley
Toffee Crunch Cheesecake
JAPANESE CUISINE AUTUMN MENU
Appetizers
A selection of Sushi
Main Tray
Kobachi Dish – Rice Wine-marinated Calamari accented by Wasabi Mayonnaise, presented with Flying Fish Roe on a bed of Radish Sprouts, Red and yellow Cherry Tomatoes, julienned Jicama and Leaf Lettuce
Hassun Dish – Grilled Chicken topped with Carrot Paste, accompanied by Cauliflower with seared Dengaku Miso, sweet simmered Herring, Cod Roe Egg Cake and grilled Shi****o Pepper filled with Cream Cheese
Simmered Dish – Japanese-style stewed Beef with Potatoes and Carrots
Entrée – Stewed Chicken complemented by assorted Mushrooms, offered with Taro and Mizuna in Miso
Soup – Miso Soup with Wakame Seaweed and Tofu
Accompanied by steamed Rice and an assortment of seasonal Pickles
Snack Attack
Please feel free to help yourself to an assortment of sweets and other snacks in our alley, at any time after your meal.
Afternoon Refreshment
Fresh Fruit, Cheese and Tea Snacks or Japanese Soba Noodles
SUPPER
Entrees
Pineapple Chicken with Asian Slaw- Chicken Breast in a Pineapple Soy Marinade, offered with julienned Asian Slaw, enhanced by a Rice Wine Vinaigrette
Spinach Salad with Smoked Trout – Fresh Spinach and Frisee Salad with roasted Eggplant and Capers, served with a Champagne Vinaigrette and a Fillet of smoked Trout
Dessert
Zuppa inglese – A light sponge Cake topped with Whipped Cream
Well, as it turned out, the FA serving my side of the cabin came back and said…
FA: “Well, you got your Japanese…it took a bit of finagling but someone gave their’s up.”
Me: “Thank you.”
Before long, the carts where in the aisle and International Flagship Service was underway.
Had the Champagne…yummy.
The Japanese Cuisine meal was fabulous. And the sake was very good. Loved the lacquer tray and the little dishes with the oriental print on them. FA informed me she had put a few more sakes on ice for me and just let her now when I was ready for more.
Enjoyed the toffee crunch cheesecake and then had 2 fake Benadryl, another sake and some green tea…its slumber time. With over 11 hours and 5116 miles left till touchdown in NRT we are somewhere over the Hudson Bay, according to the flight map. Ground speed is 536 mph and we are cruising at 35,000 feet. The air outside is a balmy 57 degrees below zero.
Slept for about 2 hours, did a lap of the plane, Kiehl’d my face, lips and hands and read the NY Times. Had some more sake and green tea. Raided the Snack Attack station for some cheese and grapes.
Just over half-way into the flight, the FAs brought around the Afternoon Refreshment selections. I chose the Soba Noodles which where a little too cold but tasty. Had another sake, more green tea and watched “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
We took a long northerly loop over Canada and across Alaska. It was only then that we finally were over water.
This flight went on FOREVER. Even the FAs were getting ansy to get off this bird. They were wonderful and we enjoyed several laughs together. They had heard there was a Costco near the airport and were heading out to find it so they could buy some excellent but cheap green tea in bulk ala Costco!
We finally landed after nearly 15 hours in the air and taxied for ever then got parked at a cargo facility right across from the AA gates in Terminal 1. This meant shlep everything down stairs, onto a bus, up escalator, through security check, down stairs, check in at connecting flight desk, then up elevator to Admirals Club.
So far so good, though and am looking forward to my flights on Cathay Pacific.
To be continued…..
Last edited by mwp2paris; Feb 12, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Nov 22, 2003, 5:07 am
#2
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Join Date: Oct 2003
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I’m watching the skymap throughout the journey thinking for every minute I spend up here, that is one less minute I have to check out the FC Cathay Pacific Lounge in NRT. </font>
So far, great report! I totally prefer the J over Y on AA167 and AA168 anyday. And it is also good to read they are changing their menues very often on the Japanese meals.
BTW, CX does not have a FC lounge at NRT. It is just one lounge and quite nice with four (4) Internet workstations. The first two are PCs, the second two are new laptops connected. Also WIFI exists.
The FC lounge *you want* to be in is The Wing at HKG. I recommend The Pier FC Lounge to be visited as well, only if you know you will return to HKG to see the Wing (the better of the 2 FC lounges...but both are just awesome)!
Nov 22, 2003, 11:54 am
#3
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Join Date: Oct 2000
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Posts: 702
You are right about the CX lounge...don't know what gave me the idea that they had a separate FC lounge. I was directed to it and it was quiet and peaceful. Wanted to check out the other lounges so I waltzed through the AC and it was packed to the gills. In fact, they were actually telling people at the reception desk that the club was full and please make use of the BA club just across from reception.
The smoking lounge was in full swing with folks just off of or just getting ready to board long NS flights.
Had a gin and tonic, signed on to wireless to do some work and before long it was time to head down to Gate 14 for my CX flight.
The smoking lounge was in full swing with folks just off of or just getting ready to board long NS flights.
Had a gin and tonic, signed on to wireless to do some work and before long it was time to head down to Gate 14 for my CX flight.
Nov 23, 2003, 9:27 am
#4
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Join Date: Mar 2001
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Great report (as always) Mikey.
I love HKG - just got back a couple of weeks ago from my latest trip.
I know your wife would LOVE LOVE LOVE the purses at Mayer leather in the Mandarin Oriental... not "cheap" knockoffs like you will find all over town, but NICE reproductions of Chanel, Hermes, Prada, Gucci, Fendi, etc. Whenever I've visited, there has always been at least one New York socialite in there who has decided that owning one Hermes Birken isn't enough and that she simply must get a replica copy in the color she wants with the long waiting list. The store uses its base of those type customers to get ahold of the "real" thing to make bag patterns, buy matching high quality hardware (the sure sign of a bad knockoff normally), and uses top quality leathers/skins. Their workmanship is fabulous. (I bought my own "Birken" in there earlier this month - $325 US vs. $6600 US.) They also do shoe copies (a la Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, et al). Guy Betsy introduced me to the place a couple of years ago and I love going there! For yourself, check out the wallets, belts, briefcases, mens shoes, etc.
Other tips a la Jen... go get dim sum at the Jade Garden (in Star House next to the Star Ferry terminal on Kowloon side), have high tea at the InterContinental (the best of them... fabulous view of the harbor), buy trinkets for your girls at Chinese Arts and Crafts (also at Star House). And if you have an extra half-day to kill, take the hydrafoil over to Macau for some shopping/gambling... if you like any type of Asian furniture, they have a couple of streets there just lined with importers... expect to pay less than Pier One prices for custom pieces (and that is after you pay the shipping... which will be more than the furniture itself). I got a quote on two handcarved ma-jong tables with eight chairs - all made FOR me to MY specifications... $750 US plus shipping for the whole lot! Let's see... what else? Cool asian jackets for the wife/girls in the shopping arcade next to the Intercontinental... wish I could remember the name of the place, but we bought lots in there.
[This message has been edited by techgirl (edited Nov 23, 2003).]
I love HKG - just got back a couple of weeks ago from my latest trip.
I know your wife would LOVE LOVE LOVE the purses at Mayer leather in the Mandarin Oriental... not "cheap" knockoffs like you will find all over town, but NICE reproductions of Chanel, Hermes, Prada, Gucci, Fendi, etc. Whenever I've visited, there has always been at least one New York socialite in there who has decided that owning one Hermes Birken isn't enough and that she simply must get a replica copy in the color she wants with the long waiting list. The store uses its base of those type customers to get ahold of the "real" thing to make bag patterns, buy matching high quality hardware (the sure sign of a bad knockoff normally), and uses top quality leathers/skins. Their workmanship is fabulous. (I bought my own "Birken" in there earlier this month - $325 US vs. $6600 US.) They also do shoe copies (a la Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, et al). Guy Betsy introduced me to the place a couple of years ago and I love going there! For yourself, check out the wallets, belts, briefcases, mens shoes, etc.
Other tips a la Jen... go get dim sum at the Jade Garden (in Star House next to the Star Ferry terminal on Kowloon side), have high tea at the InterContinental (the best of them... fabulous view of the harbor), buy trinkets for your girls at Chinese Arts and Crafts (also at Star House). And if you have an extra half-day to kill, take the hydrafoil over to Macau for some shopping/gambling... if you like any type of Asian furniture, they have a couple of streets there just lined with importers... expect to pay less than Pier One prices for custom pieces (and that is after you pay the shipping... which will be more than the furniture itself). I got a quote on two handcarved ma-jong tables with eight chairs - all made FOR me to MY specifications... $750 US plus shipping for the whole lot! Let's see... what else? Cool asian jackets for the wife/girls in the shopping arcade next to the Intercontinental... wish I could remember the name of the place, but we bought lots in there.
[This message has been edited by techgirl (edited Nov 23, 2003).]