OK, update report.
Aer Lingus lounge at JFK, absolutely beautiful place. Internet, great snacks, very comfy, and probably the best view of planes at JFK. Love it!
Crummy Best Western last night here at JFK, Hotwire. Was hoping I was getting the Hampton Inn which is quite nice here.
Oh well.
Fun AA flight last night out of Heathrow. More lively than usual, more later during the full report. Had a nasty stew on there who drove everyone crazy, where is Donald Trump when you need him?(fired!), but otherwise, good crew and fun. 2 seats to myself which is better than Business if you have to share, just so much room and privacy, especially on AA.
Was spoiled rotten flying CDG to LHR on BA. Show up at the BA counter and a friend of mine, friend of a friend, now a friend, was working. Sweet Lebanese guy who friend in Paris brought to the house in Malibu, we played on the beach, then did Japanese, he remembers it well.
And I quote:" You don't think I am going to let you sit in coach, do you?"
))
Full red carpet treatment, even left a note to AA to upgrade me, which did squat, but actually, was happy in coach.
BA Business was great. Sat next to a wonderful woman, fellow World Traveler
, who lives in Paris, from suburbs of Portland. We talked the whole flight, with a lengthy delay at CDG. She was great to talk to and so much fun. I intro'd her to the Business Travel(l)er magazine, had the Euro addition with me which I was reading and told her to sign up. I sub. to the Yank one.
Oh and my friend walked me to the front of the line at security which was insane and they hated us for it, I loved it! The Britts even cursed him as we passed by them in the narrow hallway and he is like, I am working your flight. DUH! He should have thrown them off.
Had no idea security at 2B was so bad, which I am sure helped delay the flight to LHR.
Of course we had to bus it out to the plane and he told me quietly that it is Air France screwing BA at CDG. I believe it. They always put Air Algerie next to BA, a long story and contentious issue.
Transfer at LHR was fun, saw everything.
Stupid BA wouldn't let me into their Terminal 1 lounge and she was a pain, but the IB agent walked me right in and the Priority Pass lounges at the other terminals let me in as well. (Snuck, by accident) into the JAL lounge at T3. Went in to get a magazine and she was busy and walked in, to see how far I could go. Was the only Anglo there and was funny to see how far I could go, like 3 Perriers, 2 magazines, some JAL napkins and some other odds and ends, then quietly walked out, OK.
Made up for the Singapore, Lufthansa, and BA T1 lounge 'wardens' who chased me away.
Today is my last day on my Untied Prem Exec card, so much for that.
Varig at JFK chased me away as well but atleast gave me a magazine, said my girlfriend is Brazilian.
Anyway, enjoying the Aer Lingus lounge now. Scheduled for the 8pm AA to LA but may decide to standby for an earlier flight.
I have the Westin LAX tonight, also via Hotwire. Amazing, from the Best Western at JFK to the Westin LAX, what a diff.
Comfort Hotel at CDG was a dump but atleast it made me want to get out of there. Room is like a college dorm. I now understand the term 'water closet', LOL. It snowed in Paris, which made it fun.
Friend in Paris spoiled the daylights out of me. Took me out to a fantastic pizzeria/ristorante Italiano on the Champs Elysees, then bought my drinks for the night and drove me around the Eiffel Tower when it did its sparkle thing, saying this is special, just for me.
Loved it. We also did some, cough, 'Airport Shopping', if you will allow for the phrase, and we did very, very well, hopefully everything will get home to me.
BA checked all my bags thru to LA which was great.
I really do get the royal treatment in France. Now we can add Israel to the list.
London I ate alone at the McDonalds near Heathrow. That country is so freaking expensive. UGH!
Ok, will wrap up tomorrow or Tuesday and then we can start the 'real' trip report, will be fun.
Take care all, ciao
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LA-Miami, Raleigh, Gatwick, Frankfurt, Heathrow, Tel Aviv/Jerusalem, LHR, Paris CDG, LHR, New York JFK, and home!
AA Plat,Lifetime Gold, UA P/E, Marriott Silver, Sheraton Gold,
Hilton Silver(for now)