Day 1

After taking the train from ticketing at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, I went inside Delta Air Lines’ BusinessElite International Lounge in Terminal E. I walked up to the desk and presented my ticket. One woman behind the desk questioned the fact that I was going to New York and not traveling internationally. I explained to her that this segment of my itinerary was actually part of my international itinerary. A puzzled look conquered her face as she looked at my ticket in sheer bewilderment. She then solicited the assistance of a co-worker seated next to her. After a brief discussion, I was then asked what was Air France flight 1, as there was no designation of either business or first class. I replied ever-so-innocently, “That is the Concorde.” Her co-worker’s eyebrows immediately popped up and, while smiling and nodding, replied in an obviously joking manner, “I guess the Concorde qualifies!” The first woman had no clue as to what Concorde was and was still befuddled as I retrieved my ticket and proceeded to a window seat. That scenario, along with both women’s expressions, was in itself worth the miles used to fly Concorde!

The lounge was nice, spacious, clean and comfortable, but provided little in sustenance. There were some pretzels, creme-filled waffle cookies and a few other “munchies”, along with some juice, water and soft drinks (and possibly alcoholic beverages, but I do not drink so I do not know). I did see someone behind the counter setting up for what appears to be a serving for hot hors d’oeuvres, but I never did sample them nor even ever found out what they were since I had a 3:30 (15:30) flight to catch.

I made the journey to gate E34 (almost as far to the end as one can go in the airport in Atlanta) and arrived just in time to board. I was on a 767 with BusinessElite configuration, so I got to play my electronic games on the built-in console. I was served a turkey and cheddar cheese sandwich on a roll with a pickle, some lettuce and tomato, and a bland cucumber and tomato salad with what appeared to be dill seasoning. It was served on that oversized paper-towel-on-steroids (instead of the white linen) which Delta currently uses in their domestic premium cabins. Overall, it was a very pleasant flight which arrived at Kennedy Airport on time. The weather was nearly perfect in Atlanta, but cloudy, cold and dreary in New York.

After departing from that lousy excuse-for-a-terminal 3 at Kennedy Airport and finding the obscure shuttle stop around the corner from the terminal exit, I waited a long time for the shuttle to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel at the airport, before finally figuring out how to contact the shuttle to come in the first place (I thought it made regular rounds around the airport, which some other hotel shuttles were doing). I was assured that the shuttle would be there in a few minutes and that I was waiting at the correct location. Nothing is obvious at this terminal, and I am a seasoned traveler. In fact, I grew up and lived in Canarsie in Brooklyn at one time, which is only 15 minutes away! I have used Kennedy Airport many times (no sympathy necessary, please), yet I somewhat felt I was in a foreign third-world country, breathing obnoxious exhaust from speeding cars and buses. No shuttle appeared after my first call, so I called again. The shuttle finally appeared after my second call, more than an hour after I first arrived at that shuttle stop. The flight landed at approximately 5:40 (17:40) but I did not step into my hotel room until 7:00 (19:00).

The Courtyard by Marriott NYC/JFK Airport hotel is not in the best of neighborhoods (Jamaica, New York), but it is convenient, clean and quiet. I was in a room on one of the upper floors with a view facing west of the hotels next door, the Belt Parkway, the Van Wyck Expressway, and Kennedy Airport. I was facing Canarsie but was too far away to actually see it. I attempted to call a Kosher delicatessen in the Mill Basin section of Brooklyn to deliver food to my hotel room, but they wanted more than $25.00 just to deliver it, exclusive of the cost of food. I declined. Needless to say, despite its limited menu, the restaurant downstairs was good but nothing spectacular. Aside from dinner, the hotel room was absolutely free because I had a certificate to stay one weekend night at any Marriott up to a category 4 hotel. This property graciously accepted my certificate, no questions asked. If you need to stay near Kennedy Airport for the night, I would recommend staying here.

The bed was comfortable, although I did not get much sleep that night. I still had no idea whether I was going to be flying Concorde the next day. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I called my answering machine at home. No messages. I have no idea as to the status of the Air France strike the next day or of the air traffic controllers strike in France the day after. I set the alarm clock early the next morning so that I may catch the 5:30 Courtyard by Marriott shuttle to arrive at Air France ticketing at 6:00 sharp. Only then will I find out whether or not I will actually fly Concorde...

[This message has been edited by Canarsie (edited 06-26-2003).]