The co. that I am interviewing with (still in process--cross your fingers) said they'd pay for Economy to visit them to interview (they seem always to fly Y across the Atlantic). My choices were UA (for multiple miles) or DL (which I had SWUs on). UA was tough to book (no upgrade room) but DL was a breeze (with judicious choice of European connecting points--since u can't upgrade AF intra-Europe it really doesn't pay to use CDG as the connx point.

Friday 9/30 ATL-MAN on DL
Kind of fun to walk up to the tkt counter and buy the tkt--usually either book ahead or use a tvl agent. I commented to the agent that their "Worldwide Partners" sign was looking a bit bare w/o Sabena and Austrian (I think SR still was showing b/c DL handles several other airlines here than Skyteam). She said everyone was bi**ing about it, especially having only CDG as a connecting point with DL flight numbers.

I chose MAN as a connx point b/c I could use the SWU on a Fri. night flight. Went over to the BizElite lounge on E. DL uses bartenders there so you can't pour yourself (or just take a can of soda)...there were some pretty picked over munchies--crudites with ranch drsg, smoked salmon dip with rye bread, and some little sandwich things. I really enjoy looking thru the int'l newspapers there that they always have, especially scarce ones like those from South Africa (Beeld, in Afrikaans always seems to be left over. This time there was also the Sowetan, also). They annce boarding about 20 mins before flight time, so walk over to gate where the 777 is there and they are just starting boarding.

Go on during preboarding. Not much visual difference btwn 777 and MD11--roughly same cabin width. 6-across means seats roomy.

End up taking off about 15 mins late. Tailwind means flight time only 7:05.

They hand out menu and winelist--old July winelist w/Chardonnay (Magleri and GRGICH), Viognier (VidalFleury and LES DOMAINES PAUL MAS), Amarone (Nicolis, Allegrini and SPERI) and Medoc (Ch Branaire-Ducru and CH TAYAC), same Henriot champagnes, and Peller icewine.

Meal:
Goat cheese crostini w/fig chutney, accmp. by citrus shrimp bundles and mango-lime salsa

salad w/croutons and cherry tomatoes

Beef Tenderloin (Omaha, with mushroom sauce, white lentils and veg medley carrot, green bean and squash)

Seared Turbot (white wine and scallion sauce, roasted sweet potato mash and veg medley)

Vegetarian pasta (3cheese tortelloni) with butternut squash and leeks, golden bell pepper sauce (optionally with chicken)

Soup, cream of mushroom w/portobella

Fruit/cheese

Dessert: on menu was ice cream sundaes, actually served was Klondike bars. The f/a mentioned the breakage problem as the cause for the loss of the sundaes. I can accept that...imagine, let's say, they have 4 trays of 12 ice creams all frozen with dry ice in those rocks glasses...one glass breaks on one of the trays, contaminating it with glass shards, and you have to disappoint up to 1/4 of the passengers. (They can't individually wrap the glasses very easily to prevent the contamination).

Chocolates were passed.

With an Ambien, I dozed off after dinner, but again the service out of ATL is SLOOOW. My movie was over and still I had my tray out finishing dinner.

Skipped b'fast (standard continental or egg crepe w/asparagus and red pepper).

This menu was marked ATL/BRU/DUB/LGW/MAN/SNN, CVG/LGW, JFK/BRU. (I guess they don't do 3-language menus for Brussels).

Got in right on time. 2 people (!) on the flight making connections--me to CPH, a lady to BRU. We take the right turn to the transfer desks, where they sort us out, as she stays in that terminal but I had to change terminals. After waiting about 10 minutes to ensure that there wasn't anyone else, we go on an expedition and I'm bussed over to the other terminal, where I wait another 10 minutes for the proper handling company rep to show up, then another 10 minutes for her to emerge with a hand written (!) boarding pass for SK. Exit through security and find the shared lounge for SK. *G gets me right in. Very quiet on a Sat. 2 747s there for Singapore (on Sat goes MAN-BOM-SIN) and PK.

Out to gate where a proper BP was there for me. No UA number printed, but agent assures me that it's on there.

Board DC9 and of course I'm in 2d to last row...about 2/3 full, lots of older Brits on the flight/very few identifiably Scandinavian folks.

Cold chicken breast lunch passed out, I picked at it. 2 passes of drinks and we were in CPH. Bit of a wait for luggage (no * priority tag on it) but was off.

Had booked Sixt car, which is handled by Mudan there. Had requested smallest (and really wanted a Twingo) but ended up with a quite new Nissan Almera. Pleasant to drive but with an awful gear shift, and also strange that there was no neutral start switch.

450 kms around Jylland trying to decide if I can go there for 3 years...place I'd be working is about 20 kms outside of CPH in an exurban area (although on the S-train system).

Reasonably good interview.

Heading home--stay tuned.

jl