Flew SYD-JFK on UA back on May 29. Had promised to file a report (following my very interesting trip flying to SYD), but never got a chance to do so because I have been busy at work.

To refresh your memory, I had a service check (given to me in exchange for waiting for voluntary denied boarding) which entitled me to a one way international upgrade from any published coach fare to C. I bought a deep discount ticket for $1200 JFK-SYD and confirmed my upgrades. As instructed on the certificate, it was mailed in to UA Tickets by Mail. I received an e-ticket confirmation which showed I was confirmed in C.

Weather at JFK on May 18 was terrible, so the flights to SFO never left. Hotels were all full, so I rode on Greyhound to BOS (bus = my hotel room) to catch a plane the next afternoon to SFO. However, C class was sold out on May 19 SFO-SYD, so I accepted a downgrade provided my return was upgraded. I received a printed itinerary that showed my SYD-JFK trip was confirmed in C, with seat assignments.

Arrived at SYD around 9:30am on May 29, after a wonderful holiday in Australia visiting relatives in Sydney and Brisbane, and doing some sightseeing on my own. (QF trip report SYD-BNE-SYD to come..) I had a terrible time during the whole trip adjusting to the new time (I would go to bed around 8pm and wake up around 3am), most likely due to losing 3 nights of sleep on the way to SYD (the extra night due to the Greyhound bus). This whole jet lag thing caught up with me and I became a bit sick (cold symptoms) the night of May 28. But I had a job in NY to start on May 30, so I was headed to the airport May 29, feeling a little sick.

This basically was a two sided situation - being sick was lousy because I couldn't enjoy C class as much. But then, being sick in Y, flying on a 14 hour and then 6 hour flight would be terrible. But the bottom line was that UA wasn't going to let me save the upgrade for when I felt better, and I needed to return to JFK. (And, the weather in Australia had turned very cold on the last day or so of my trip, so I was ready to leave..)

Anyway, I check in at the Business Class line for my through flight, UA 862 SYD-SFO-JFK. Agent asks me for upgrade certificates. I explain that it is a service check that was mailed in. She is suspicious and says upgrade certificates are only redeemed at the airport. I explain my situation again, and also emphasize that my itinerary may have been rebooked incorrectly (recall my JFK-SYD was supposed to be in C, but SFO-SYD was downgraded). Calls over the supervisor. Supervisor is suspicious. Asks me where I sent the certificate. I say to the address on the back, as instructed, in Dearborn, MI. Supervisor is unhappy. She says that upgrade certificates are always redeemed at the airport. (Really?? When you have an upgrade confirmed at time of ticketing, i.e. FF miles, you don't redeem anything at the airport, do you?) Anyway, she says she will believe me this one time and I get my C boarding pass.

SYD is under construction, so I have difficulty finding the RCC. It is a very nice lounge, with a continental breakfast buffet and open bar (at 10am!!). I don't eat anything, just drink hot tea. I'm feeling worse. I board the plane as soon as boarding is called and am offered champagne and orange juice, with constant refills. I have a window seat on the lower deck in the rear C cabin, in the row behind the exit row, on the right side. I don't remember the seat number. The seats are the new C seats, which have all kinds of interesting bells and whistles.

Push back is on time at 11am, but there is a long taxi and wait for take off. We are not airborne until well after 11:30am, but the takeoff is beautiful, we fly right over downtown and have a beautiful view of Sydney Harbor. The captain says the plane ahead has reported turbulence, so the seatbelt sign is on for the next 45 minutes.

Lunch service begins shortly after, starting with warm mixed nuts, a shrimp appetizer, then the main meal. I chose the beef ribs, which were very tender and flavorful. Following the main meal, fruit and cheese (grapes with two cheeses) or chocolate truffle cake were served. I wanted both, but had to wait for the fruit and cheese plate until after service, to ensure everyone had been fed. Wine, coffee, and water flowed plentifully during service.

After the service concluded, the F/As disappeared. Midway through the flight, a snack cart, with sandwiches, fruit, and packaged cookies/crackers/chips, and beverages was placed in the cabin. Basically, I was sick and was sleeping through most of the flight. Drank about 12 bottles of water. Again, the snack cart basically means the F/As do nothing during mid flight. Actually, I think it is better than setting out tablecloths and doing a mid flight snack, or serving a box like in Y-class. You can eat as much or as little as you want. I just watched airshow, listened to music, and tried to sleep. I was feeling sicker (oh great, I start a new job the next day...)

About 2 hours out of SFO, breakfast was served. There was an omlet or fruit plate. I chose the fruit plate, which had a variety of melons and passion fruit, along with yogurt. Basically, a larger version of the main cabin fruit plate (2x size) with the same yogurt. Breakfast breads were offered too. I was not too hungry so this was perfect for me. But I was getting sicker....

Beautiful sunrise about 1.5 hours out. And a glorious landing over Monterey Bay over the coastal hills and Silicon Valley, over the Bay, into SFO around 7:15am. A very sunny day. I was one of the first off the plane. In SFO, you claim luggage before immigration and customs, my priority tag worked wonders and I had my bag through customs and immigration by 7:30am, and transit checked it to JFK.

Walked over to the main terminal, and went to the RCC to make phone calls. By this time, I felt really ill so I called my insurance company for advice on a doctor in NYC. They told me they could tell me nothing unless I was in NYC. Useless...

Anyway, milled around the RCC until my 9:15am flight to JFK. This plane was a 767-200 with the old C seats. I had 7A. These seats and pitch were inferior to the 747-400, I would feel a bit cheated if I had paid full fare. But I normally fly Y, so I didn't mind. Flight was very full and we pushed back a bit early. Long line for take off at SFO, airborne by 9:40am.

Breakfast was an artichoke pie or fruit plate. Fruit plate was very nicely presented, had all sorts of melons and berries. A+ quality. Trouble was service was slow. No breakfast til 2 hours after takeoff. They served biscotti and drinks in the meantime. About 90 minutes out, a deli sampler was served. Very nice variety of meats and cheeses, but lousy bread. Tried about 4 different types, but none of it was fresh.

Didn't enjoy (or remember much) from this flight because I was feeling very sick....much worse than when I started my journey in SYD. Arrived at JFK around 5:30pm to wonderful Terminal 6. My Priority tags meant nothing, since my bags were probably the last off the plane. Which was a real pain, because I was at the back of the taxi line. I waited 20+ minutes for a taxi downtown. Was planning on taking the subway, but I was sick and had lots of luggage.

Took a flat rate $30 cab to the Marriott Financial Center, which I reserved on Expedia Price Matcher for the unbelievable price of $50 per night ($75 - $25 rebate). I didn't really need a hotel, but figured it would be easier than moving into my apartment that day. The taxi went on the Brooklyn Bridge, so no tolls. I paid $31 and was scolded by the driver for a lousy tip. (Well, geez, I had to wait in line 20 minutes, which defeats the whole purpose of taking a cab, IMHO) The driver rejected the tip.....

Hotel was decent. But I was sick and needed to see a doctor. Called my insurance company. They said no one was open on Memorial Day. The hotel found me a Doctor...who charged $185. Called my insurance company. They say they will pay. So I get a prescription and am better within a day or so. Was a minor infection, I guess, from a small cold that got progressively worse due to jet lag.

So that is my flight report. Lousy menu details (sorry Carfield), but was an interesting experience. Probably won't be flying C for a while.....