Alaska Airlines First Class (Pancakes!)+AA Flagship First Class Suites Lounge PDX✈LAX
Sep 25, 2015, 3:18 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner
Posts: 740
Hey AAtticus,
Thank you for your kind words! 
Some, but not all of my pictures are digitally enhanced using the GNU Image Manipulation Program Stable Release 2.8. No, I do not take any analog pictures, I use these babies
:
-LPDAL
Amazing Trip Report as always.
I really like how much effort you put into these trips and reports and love to read about the side stories as well.
As small remark, I'm not sure if it's the camera or a filter that you applied but some of the pictures have a very weird hue (is that the right word?) to it. Do you take analog pictures and then scan them?
Nevertheless, great pictures and info, I hope you enjoyed your trip.
I really like how much effort you put into these trips and reports and love to read about the side stories as well.
As small remark, I'm not sure if it's the camera or a filter that you applied but some of the pictures have a very weird hue (is that the right word?) to it. Do you take analog pictures and then scan them?
Nevertheless, great pictures and info, I hope you enjoyed your trip.
Some, but not all of my pictures are digitally enhanced using the GNU Image Manipulation Program Stable Release 2.8. No, I do not take any analog pictures, I use these babies
:
-LPDAL
Sep 25, 2015, 5:53 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner
Posts: 740
Sep 25, 2015, 8:05 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner
Posts: 740
Sep 27, 2015, 8:26 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: TXL
Programs: A3 Silver
Posts: 1,116
Great trip report! I love the mix of old (the old photographs and history) and new. The star of this report has to be that pancake machine though. It even inspired me to look it up on youtube
.
I grew up in Vancouver BC, So I have spent a lot of time in Seattle and Portland over the years. Portland is an amazing city, with great coffee and great food. Hopefully next time you make it back you can get some real pacific northwest third wave coffee? STUMPTOWN is a great choice, I think you would enjoy the free daily coffee cuppings.
I grew up in Vancouver BC, So I have spent a lot of time in Seattle and Portland over the years. Portland is an amazing city, with great coffee and great food. Hopefully next time you make it back you can get some real pacific northwest third wave coffee? STUMPTOWN is a great choice, I think you would enjoy the free daily coffee cuppings.
Sep 27, 2015, 8:30 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner
Posts: 740
Hey MKJR, and thanks for another nice comment!
I'm looking forward to Virgin America First Class on FLL-JFK-FLL as I will have ample oppurtinity to plane spot -- then check out Times Square! Already have my tickets, hotel, and everything. ^
Hey Cloudship, and welcome back aboard!
Nooooo...I just wanted these to be seperate reports to make them a bit more manageable. 
More history coming in the LAX-MIA final segment, of course. Glad you enjoyed it!!
Thank you both again,
-LPDAL / Colby
Hey Cloudship, and welcome back aboard!
More history coming in the LAX-MIA final segment, of course. Glad you enjoyed it!!
Thank you both again,
-LPDAL / Colby
Sep 27, 2015, 8:53 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner
Posts: 740
Hi Montezume, seems you and I posted our comments at the same time! In any event, thank you for commenting! 
As I said above I had a ball with the automatic pancake shooter. I'll never get over the battery goodness!
Of course, I will return to PDX, and visit the city proper. One of the first places I want to go, however, is VooDoo Doughnut. And in the same region of course, Seattle (Boeing, Bungie, Nintendo of North America...What else ) is another destination I'd really like to see. What sucks is that AS does, in fact, fly a nonstop FLL-SEA-FLL flight which departs out of Concourse C (so I'd be able to use the United Club!!! ^) but the prices for first class are outrageous, ie $900 one way on most days and even during the slowest periods it is still $600+ O/W. I'll find a way to make it work, somehow...
Thanks again, Montezume!
-LPDAL
Great trip report! I love the mix of old (the old photographs and history) and new. The star of this report has to be that pancake machine though. It even inspired me to look it up on youtube pancake printer video.
I grew up in Vancouver BC, So I have spent a lot of time in Seattle and Portland over the years. Portland is an amazing city, with great coffee and great food. Hopefully next time you make it back you can get some real pacific northwest third wave coffee? STUMPTOWN is a great choice, I think you would enjoy the free daily coffee cuppings.
I grew up in Vancouver BC, So I have spent a lot of time in Seattle and Portland over the years. Portland is an amazing city, with great coffee and great food. Hopefully next time you make it back you can get some real pacific northwest third wave coffee? STUMPTOWN is a great choice, I think you would enjoy the free daily coffee cuppings.
Of course, I will return to PDX, and visit the city proper. One of the first places I want to go, however, is VooDoo Doughnut. And in the same region of course, Seattle (Boeing, Bungie, Nintendo of North America...What else
) is another destination I'd really like to see. What sucks is that AS does, in fact, fly a nonstop FLL-SEA-FLL flight which departs out of Concourse C (so I'd be able to use the United Club!!! ^) but the prices for first class are outrageous, ie $900 one way on most days and even during the slowest periods it is still $600+ O/W. I'll find a way to make it work, somehow... Thanks again, Montezume!
-LPDAL
Sep 27, 2015, 9:11 am
#26
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: TXL
Programs: A3 Silver
Posts: 1,116
Hi Montezume, seems you and I posted our comments at the same time! In any event, thank you for commenting!
As I said above I had a ball with the automatic pancake shooter. I'll never get over the battery goodness!
Of course, I will return to PDX, and visit the city proper. One of the first places I want to go, however, is VooDoo Doughnut. And in the same region of course, Seattle (Boeing, Bungie, Nintendo of North America...What else ) is another destination I'd really like to see. What sucks is that AS does, in fact, fly a nonstop FLL-SEA-FLL flight which departs out of Concourse C (so I'd be able to use the United Club!!! ^) but the prices for first class are outrageous, ie $900 one way on most days and even during the slowest periods it is still $600+ O/W. I'll find a way to make it work, somehow...
Thanks again, Montezume!
-LPDAL
As I said above I had a ball with the automatic pancake shooter. I'll never get over the battery goodness!
Of course, I will return to PDX, and visit the city proper. One of the first places I want to go, however, is VooDoo Doughnut. And in the same region of course, Seattle (Boeing, Bungie, Nintendo of North America...What else
) is another destination I'd really like to see. What sucks is that AS does, in fact, fly a nonstop FLL-SEA-FLL flight which departs out of Concourse C (so I'd be able to use the United Club!!! ^) but the prices for first class are outrageous, ie $900 one way on most days and even during the slowest periods it is still $600+ O/W. I'll find a way to make it work, somehow... Thanks again, Montezume!
-LPDAL
Last time I was in Portland I missed my chance to go to Voodoo donuts. I walked by early in the morning, it was open with no line, but I told myself I would go back later, came back and the lineup was around the block
I need to fly AS and try out that pancake machine
Sep 27, 2015, 10:32 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Nice report. How did you find the bulkhead seat on the AS 737? I've always found the non-bulkhead seats to be very cramped compared to F on other airlines. The pitch in AS F is definitely not industry leading. Service is generally pretty solid though.
Decent snack plate, though it looks like they could put a little more effort into it to bring it up to par with what VX is offering on similar flights.
Decent snack plate, though it looks like they could put a little more effort into it to bring it up to par with what VX is offering on similar flights.
Sep 27, 2015, 10:33 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner
Posts: 740
Last time I was in Portland I missed my chance to go to Voodoo donuts. I walked by early in the morning, it was open with no line, but I told myself I would go back later, came back and the lineup was around the block
I need to fly AS and try out that pancake machine
I need to fly AS and try out that pancake machine
Although I've heard some hotels and Qantas lounges have it as well.
-LPDAL
Sep 28, 2015, 12:03 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LHR, DFW, J Cabins WorldWide
Programs: AA EXP, UA GS, FB Gold, AS MVPG, MR Titanium, VS Gold
Posts: 954
Asking the import questions:
Sky Club or Board Room @ PDX?
After ~45 flights out this year, I cant decide, and always ask my FF friends their opinion.
Sky Club or Board Room @ PDX?
After ~45 flights out this year, I cant decide, and always ask my FF friends their opinion.
Sep 28, 2015, 9:56 am
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner
Posts: 740
Hey CMD320, and thanks for another great compare / contrast comment! ^
As I said, I don't really extend my legs, so all that matters is that there is sufficient space in front of my knees. The tightest such legroom I've come across in domestic first class when not counting any bulkhead rows are both PMUS and PMHP A319s:
LPDAL's Photostream on Flickr - Photo Sharing
However, strangely enough, the way the seatback is angled in proportion to the floor means that even with that tight knee room, full leg extension is possible, even though I didn't fully extend my legs.
By the way, that was on FLL-PHL, in case you were wondering.
Hey IWontRegretThis, and thanks for commenting!
I imported some PDX merchandise into FLL...
Haha, just kidding. Both lounges were pretty decent, but in the case of the Sky Club, I pretty much dashed in, snapped some photos, and dashed back out. It seemed to be nice enough, except for the fact that the lighting was way too low in tone.
I know low lighting is supposed to be calming, but I've never been required to use flash to capture a somewhat lucid photo (my DSLR kept exclaiming "SUBJECT TOO DARK, SUBJECT TOO DARK!!!" ).
I also see there is an United Club in PDX, which I would have used should I have had more time there. Rest assured, however, I will come back to the [west coast] Portland again!^
Thank you both again,
-LPDAL
Nice report. How did you find the bulkhead seat on the AS 737? I've always found the non-bulkhead seats to be very cramped compared to F on other airlines. The pitch in AS F is definitely not industry leading. Service is generally pretty solid though.
Decent snack plate, though it looks like they could put a little more effort into it to bring it up to par with what VX is offering on similar flights.
Decent snack plate, though it looks like they could put a little more effort into it to bring it up to par with what VX is offering on similar flights.
LPDAL's Photostream on Flickr - Photo Sharing
However, strangely enough, the way the seatback is angled in proportion to the floor means that even with that tight knee room, full leg extension is possible, even though I didn't fully extend my legs.
By the way, that was on FLL-PHL, in case you were wondering.
Hey IWontRegretThis, and thanks for commenting!
Haha, just kidding. Both lounges were pretty decent, but in the case of the Sky Club, I pretty much dashed in, snapped some photos, and dashed back out. It seemed to be nice enough, except for the fact that the lighting was way too low in tone.
I know low lighting is supposed to be calming, but I've never been required to use flash to capture a somewhat lucid photo (my DSLR kept exclaiming "SUBJECT TOO DARK, SUBJECT TOO DARK!!!" ).I also see there is an United Club in PDX, which I would have used should I have had more time there. Rest assured, however, I will come back to the [west coast] Portland again!
^Thank you both again,
-LPDAL