May 14, 2003
AQ 73 OGG-HNL Lv1055 Arr1126
Boeing 737-200 Advanced N821AL
Well, check in went fine as usual. Priority tags were available but there was no ticket jacket. First class got seat assignment, and 3D was mine. F was full, but half of them were staff. Gate 15 was packed when I got there after checking in. Boarding began at 10:44am and the door was closed at 10:55am. We pushed back at 10:57am and headed to Runway 2 shortly. We took off at 11:01am. Flying time was twenty minutes, and four minutes later, oshintori towels and beverage were served for F class passengers, and the second F/A began passing out juices at Y. Descent began at 11:12am, and shortly we were at our final approach. We touched down on Runway 4R at 11:24am, and parked at gate 51 six minutes later. The flight was a typical inter-Island affair and nothing much to discuss. During our taxiing, I spotted two Japan Airlines Red Resocha Boeing 747-200s, a JALWAYS’ DC-10, a JAL’s Boeing 747-400 (NRT), a Northwest’s Boeing 747-200, and a Korean’s Boeing 777-200. Well, coincidently, I just read the Honolulu newspapers, which stated that JAL will cut its NRT flight to once daily, KIX flights to once daily, and several cuts to secondary Japanese cities.

AQ 442 HNL-OAK Lv1245 Arr2046
Boeing 737-700 N742AL
I went to Suite 737 (AQ lounge) and had another cup of juice. But for future reference, please remember to get the code in the future. If not, you will have to stand outside of the lounge and wait for someone to show up. Also, the agent will not open the door for you if you knock. I personally find it irritating. Anyway, my aircraft was already at the gate, when I got into HNL. I went through the agricultural check and then sat at the gate for five minutes. Boarding began at 12:20pm, but door did not close till 1:02pm due to the requirement of medical assistance of one of the F class passengers. She was old and required medical staffs to carry her aboard. I personally think that AQ should have pre-boarded that passenger in advance especially the plane was in early. Anyway, Nate, our handsome Aloha flight attendant, served us pre-takeoff beverage of Mai Tai, water or orange juice. I could not resist the Mai tai anymore, and the lovely pineapple accompaniment was nice. Then printed menus were passed out. We headed towards Runway 8R for takeoff shortly. We lifted off from a beautiful Hawaiian day at 1:12pm. Flying time was four hours and forty-eight minutes, but was a bit longer due to ATC traffic. We climbed up to 37,000ft for a relatively smooth ride across the Pacific.

Hot towels were passed out shortly after takeoff, followed by our beverage with a bowl of macadamia nuts. (No extra nuts today!) Here is the menu transcript:
(Alan Wong was still the chef!)

In-Flight Meal Service:
A TASTE OF THE ISLANDS
Hawaii to West Coast

TROPICAL TENDINGS
Char Siu Chicken Salad
In a Won Tin Basket, Guava Hoisin Mustard Salad
A nice salad with shredded lettuce, carrots, cucumber slices, topped with shredded roasted pork. The salad dressing was excellent. The choices of bread include taro (ran out), plain, or wheat.

PARADISE FOUND
Choice of One:
Grilled Snapper
With Hukilua Stew and Bay Shrimp Salsa
Or
Grilled Beef Tenderloin
With Potato Gratin and Shiitake Mushroom Sauce
A nice slice of meat and the potato tastes great. But I liked the salmon BLT better on the inbound flight.

ISLAND SUNSET
A Special Delightful Dessert
Another classic hot fudge sundae but with both vanilla and coffee ice cream with the usual toppings – macadamia nuts, hot fudge sauce, whipped cream and cherry

For economy class, the choices of entrées are meatloaf with mashed potatoes and chicken with pasta in a cream sauce. After dinner, tea and coffee order was taken, followed by the showing of our movie this evening – The Recruit. In between the movies, a bottle of Dasani bottled water was passed out to each passenger and I got more guava juice. Then after movie, there was the mandatory chocolate chip cookie and milk, followed by a hot towel service. A destination video of Oakland/Bay area, and Boeing 737NG video were shown shortly before landing. Descent began at 5:37pm, and we slowly circled around the Bay area. Gear came down at 6:05pm, and we landed on R/W29 at 9:10pm PST (HNL was three hours behind of OAK), and we taxied to gate 11 shortly. In general, it was a good flight, but I like the inbound flight better. It is also important to note that AQ has not escaped from the cutback route. AQ used to offer more courses (more sumptuous appetizers and larger entrées). Let hope that it will be reinstalled once the environment gets better. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful product for US domestic flights, and the price tag, $1200RT, was not bad, considering HA and other major, except NW, was charging $2000 for the same flights. Also you can issue a free first class ticket through United… a good bargain! I highly recommend AQ to everyone. BTW, I heard a rumor (overhearing some conversations between staffs in the lounge) – the next AQ destination is Reno.

I stayed overnight at Holiday Inn at Oakland Airport – highly not recommended. The facility was poorly run and I guess I will feel better if I stayed next door at the Hampton Inn or at the Holiday Inn Express. It is really frustrating when they only have a shuttle every thirty minutes (8 passengers).

May 15, 2003
CO 146 OAK-IAH Lv0630 Arr1224
Boeing 737-900 N71411 “411”
Check in was really busy and of course, we had to use the machines. All my seat assignments were changed, but that was fine. Gate 3 was the designated CO gates at OAK plus the international gates for Mexicana. The flight was overbooked and agents were offering $250 vouchers. Boarding time was 5:56am, and door was closed at 6:22am. Flying time was three hours and twelve minutes, with a cruising attitude of 33,000ft.

The flight was full in F as expected, and we pushed back shortly. We took off from Runway 29 among a number of Southwest’s Boeing 737s at 6:46am. Service was on the good Continental’s side – the F/As were fairly attentive. Beverage service began, followed by fruit plate and entrée.
Here is the menu transcript (my creation):
Fruit Plate (3 cantaloupe slices, 3 melon cubes, 2 orange and 1 grapefruit segment with the mandatory strawberry), accompanied by choice of breads – biscuits and cinnamon rolls

Main Courses
Cheese Omelet with home fried potatoes, bacons and sausage
Not good at all… on the gross side – is it really difficult to serve a hot breakfast?
Or
Cereal – Wheaties with Milk and a Banana

Movie, “Just Married,” was shown during breakfast, followed by Continental Visions. Then we had a chocolate chip cookie prior to descent. Descent began at 9:39am and landed on Runway 27 at 12:04pm Houston time CST (IAH is two hours ahead of OAK). We parked at Gate C-37 shortly.

CO 50 IAH-EWR Lv1315 Arr1756
Boeing 777-200ER “009”
Due to our early arrival, I went to the PC for a short rest. I had a cup of tea and some peanuts. Then I headed off to C-14 for boarding. Nothing much to report, except F was full, and Y was about 70% full. Pre-takeoff beverage was offered and my garment bag was hung after the F/A spotted me. Door was closed on time at 1:14pm, and we were pushed a few minutes later. We took off from Runway 15L at 1:37pm.

Flying time was two hours and fifty-one minutes and we climbed to 37,000ft. Service began with the starting of the personal television system and then a beverage service with a bag of mixed nuts. Lunch choices include:
Shrimps and Romaine Lettuce Salad
Or
A hot Turkey Pastrami & Swiss cheese sandwich with coleslaw and pickles

Soup of the Day – Tortilla Corn Soup

Dessert – Pecan Delight

The sandwich was pretty bad and salty. The turkey was dried out completely. The soup was fine but I consider this meal as a snack, rather than a full meal. Soon we began our descent at 3:55PM CST. Gears came down at 4:24pm and we landed on R/W22L at 5:26pm EST (EWR was an hour ahead of IAH). We taxied toward Gate 98, but we waited a bit, as a Boeing 767-400ER still occupied our gate. Interesting spotting – SAS’s A340-300, rather than A330-300, SAS’s Classic Boeing 767-300ER in the white and classic livery, and a NW’s new livery A319.

I hope you enjoy this trip report – this month will be an exciting month of traveling. There will be a NW domestic report next. Then AS flights to Orlando and more international flights on EI, AY, BA, QF, NZ, OS, SK, BD, UA, NH, and JL.

Carfield

PS. The menu is still created by Alan Wong.