Dec 1, 2010

Routing PDX-DFW-ORD-DEL

Flight #1 - AA 1596 PDX-DFW MD-80 Seat 4F Departure: 6:00am

Check In at PDX at 4:45am was quick and painless. Agent commented on my "long day of flying." Tagged my bags with Premium tags. Very friendly Agent addressed me by name and wished me a safe trip. PDX is a great Airport: security was quick, plenty of shops, very clean.

Boarding began at 5:30am. Flight booked 100%. Offered a pre-departure beverage. FA did'nt blink when I asked for a bloody mary and brought it quickly. After takeoff, offered breakfast choice of pancakes or a western omlette. Chose the omlette, which came with potatoes, Canadian bacon, fruit, and a bagel or biscuit. Pretty standard AA breakfast. Enjoyed several beverages during the 3:16 flight time. FA quite friendly for such an early flight. No inflight entertainment on MD-80, internet was available but I watched a movie on my DVD player and was content. Arrived at DFW 10 minutes early at Gate A24.

Flight #2 - AA 2350 DFW-ORD 777 Seat 2J Departure: 1:00pm

Took Skylink to Terminal D. Went to Admiral's Club. No Flagship Lounge at DFW, surprising since this is AA's largest hub. Was given 2 free drink coupons and continued to upstairs Club. Free internet and snacks. Great view from clean, modern Club. Used a drink coupon for a class of wine and gave the second away to a frazzled woman with 3 kids, who looked as if she needed a drink. Left for Gate D32 at 12:30pm.

Flight was boarding when I arrived at Gate. Greeted by a FA as I boarded and arrived at Seat 2J and had pillow and duvet waiting. Was offered a beverage, I asked for a vodka/seven and it came quickly and was very strong. First was 100% full, but Flagship suites very comfortable and private.

At 12:55 the door was closed but the Captain announced that ORD was having "flow control" issues and our "wheels up" time was 1:42pm. No worries for me as I had 4 hour layover in ORD. Flight time was 1:49. FA took lunch orders: choice of chicken enchilada or salmon. I chose the enchilada, which came with rice. Taxied to runway at 1:30 and took off soon.

Entertainment options included movies, TV shows, and music programs. I love the Flight Tracking system and left that on for the entire trip. Used my own headphones to listen to an NPR program.

Warm nuts and cocktails served 15 minutes into flight. Several FA's worked quickly in First. Lunch arrived shortly and was pretty tasty. Enjoyed a glass of wine served in a very large glass, which the FA told me was new to the 777 and 767 fleet. I mentioned that I was connecting to the Delhi flight and the FA chatted for several minutes about it as he had worked the trip recently. A warm chocolate chip cookie finished the meal and the FA brought me a second one before landing. Landed at O'Hare at 3:25pm and arrived at Gate K-16 at 3:40pm, only a few minutes behind schedule.
Headed to Flagship Lounge near Gate K-19.

Flagship Lounge

AA's Flagship Lounge is open to International Pax traveling in First and One World Emerald Members in First and Business. The Club at O'Hare was a bit of a disappointment: seating was limited and only 3 computers were available. There is only 1 small restroom and too few windows add to the lack of comfort.There was a small buffet and a pretty decent open bar. I enjoyed shrimp and champagne before claustrophobia set in and I headed out into the Concourse.

Flight #3 - AA 292 ORD-DEL 777 Seat 3J Departure: 7:40pm

Before boarding, I picked up a to-go burger at Chili's and some Mrs. Fields cookies to make sure I had plenty to snack on during the flight, which clocked in at 14:10.

The Agent at the Flagship Lounge suggested I be at Gate L-8 at 7:00pm, as boarding could be "chaotic." He was'nt kidding. Upon arriving, the Gate area was packed with people, including plenty of screaming kids. At 7:15pm, the Gate Agent announced that Cabin Service was still onboard and that boarding would commence shortly. Finally, at 7:45pm they called boarding for First and Business Class passengers.

I arrived at Seat 3J to find the same pillow and duvet as was used on the DFW-ORD leg, along with some slippers. I took my seat and observed the frazzled FA's trying to prepare the cabin. A sweet grandmother type FA brought me a menu and an amenity kit, which contained lip balm, moisturizer, eye shades, socks, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and some breath mints. A secondary pack containing writing paper, a pen, and some envelopes was in the seatback bin. I soon was offered champagne or orange juice. I tried the champagne, which was mediocre at best. I asked for a vodka/seven as boarding was taking a very long time. Initially I was told it would have to wait but a drink soon appeared. The door finally closed at 8:30pm. First was 75% full, the rest of the plane was packed. It was very hot in the cabin as we pushed back at 8:45pm, more than an hour late.

As we prepared for takeoff, the Captain announced that despite our late departure, our 14:10 flying time would put us into Delhi near our scheduled arrival time. I expected a very long takeoff roll but the 777 seemed to lift off fairly quickly. Bose headphones offered after take-off but I had my own set.

The menu was pretty standard AA International fare: the main courses were chicken, lamb, or pasta. Beef is not offered out of respect for the Hindu culture. Warm nuts and antipasti were brought on a cart and I chose a Sauvignon Blanc from the impressive wine list. I attempted to make passing conversation with the Purser as she served me but she was cold and uninterested. Thinking she was rattled by the chaos at boarding, I let her go on her way. She soon reappeared with the appetizer, which was shrimp and lobster on a bed of lettuce with cocktail sauce. It was OK, but nothing special. The salad and bread cart came next. The salad had a few strips of tasteless chicken and some vegetable strips but I drowned it in the peppercorn dressing. I chose the lamb for my entree, which came with risotto and asparagus. It was quite tasty, but the portion was small. The best thing was the dessert - a loaded ice cream sundae which I had doused with Kalhua. The entire service took about 90 minutes and I soon settled in with my DVD player and several glasses of wine.
The entertainment consisted of US and Indian films, along with TV and music programs. I watched the flight tracker as we crossed the Atlantic.

I nodded off in the Flagship lie-flat bed and woke up as we approached Ireland. The Purser came by and refilled my wine and asked if I needed anything. Soon after, my table was set and a turkey sandwich arrived that was good and filling. I nodded off again and woke up as we were crossing into Russia. I retrieved my Chilis burger and fries and took it to the galley and asked the Purser if she would zap it in the oven for me. Now much more pleasant, she heated everything up and even served it to me on a plate. I insisted that she share and she seemed to appreciate that. Now 9 hours into the flight I slept for another few hours and was awakened by the Purser with an omlette, potatoes, and a croissant and a stiff bloody mary.

The last two hours seemed to drag. We flew over Afghanistan and Pakistan and I was able to glimpse K-2 as the sun was setting. Cookies and milk were offered and sparkling water with orange came just prior to landing. We landed in Delhi at 9:40pm local time. The Purser thanked me by name as I deplaned.


Overall Impressions

The domestic legs were pleasant and having the 777 on the DFW-ORD leg was a plus. The ORD-DEL flight was a mixed bag. Boarding was a mess. The food was nothing special. The fact that a turkey sandwich and an ice cream sundae were the best things off the menu says volumes about AA's Catering. The cabin crew was OK, but nothing like an Asian or European carrier. The lavs began to reek about 4 hours from Delhi and lacked any amenities. The Flagship Suite was great..I slept for several hours and arrived in Delhi in decent shape.