This is a Trip Report for my first ever TP run to HNL.

I booked it in the flash sale after looking at going to New York for new year at the bargain price of £1,005. Decided I would see how much it would be to tag on a quick jaunt to HNL. This reduced the price to £953 so I then decided HNL it was and elected to pay the extra £100 for a domestic NCL-LHR return instead of getting the train to LHR. Upon doing this the price again dropped to £853.01 so I was a very happy bunny and booked it there and then!

So the trip was booked and I then found out by the forum that griep would be on the same NCL-LHR and PHX-HNL flight as me although he was only going to have a few hours in HNL before heading back to BRU.

I arrived into NCL to see a long queue to check-in (OLCI wasn't working) and the Fast-track check-in closed, alas I stood in the line anyway and the check-in agent stopped another gentleman in the normal queue from going to check-in and called me forward....good start. Got to the lounge about 45 minutes later than expected due to traffic on the A1(M) (completely forgot about it being the 27th and sales on at the metro centre) and spotted who I thought was griep straight away and thankfully it was him!

We had a good chat over soup, sandwiches and I introduced him to the delights of pimms and lemonade Not 100% sure he enjoyed it as much as I do.



We boarded the aircraft and I was seated in 12C emergency exit row, the flight was very full. Pushed on time and a prompt arrival into LHR T5.

At this point I asked griep whether he would like to go to GC South or North, his response was "I'll follow you" so we headed for GC South. It wasn't too busy and I think griep was quite impressed with the lounge. A few sandwiches and more pimms for me and I then got the lovely feeling of wisdom toothache coming through so a quick trip to WHSmith for some Panadol Extra Advance. On the way back I noticed that my flight was delayed 15 minutes which went to 25 minutes and then 45 minutes. Grieps flight was on time so instead of letting him try find his own way to the gate in satellite B I offered to show him. We arrived quickly and said our goodbyes as he headed off to his gate whilst I headed upstairs to the T5B lounge, first time ever in there and I think I'll head there every time should I be flying out of T5B again, lovely lounge and nice and quiet.

I went out to see the lounge angel who advised me the flight was delayed due to the aircraft late in being towed over from maintenance, oh well...another pimms and lemonade?



She found me about 15 minutes later and advised me they were now ready to board First/Club passengers and I could head to the gate at my leisure. With this being my first ever CW flight I wanted to spend as much time on board as possible. This is where things got a bit silly/childish from the G4s guard. I walked up to the boarding point where he stopped me and advised me there were only boarding First/Club and executive club pax only, I politely told him I know, I'm flying club and EC Silver, he huffed and walked over to the bit where they scan your BP and he advised me I had been 'randomly' selected for secondary screening where he personally escorted me to the secondary screening point. I just smiled and got on with it knowing that within 10 minutes I'd be enjoying a champagne sat in my CW seat on the UD

I was made to feel very welcome and was guided to my seat by the crew member. He immediately asked if I would like a champagne and offered to take a picture as I think it was obvious from the beaming smile it was my first time in Club. 63A was my seat and I had just put all my stuff away when the other member of the crew sorting out upstairs asked me if I was set on having a window seat. I noticed a couple had been split up and had no problem with swapping seats which paid dividends later on for me! I travel alone a lot of the time so really don't mind giving up my seat as long as I get an equivelant.



I was moved to 64J? My seat partner was a nice chap and we had a long chat all through dinner before he got his head down for 3 hours then as soon as he woke up we chatted again until we landed and de-planed. During the flight I'd asked the CC to stop calling me Mr Robson or Sir and just call me Jamie. Each time my champagne glass was getting low it was topped up and more Heineken was brought including several glasses of water!

I was also first to be asked what I would like for my meal, I think it was a thanks for moving seats without blinking an eye and they could tell how much fun I was having. The prawns were awesome and the steak was cooked as good as you could expect for an aircraft! The dessert was also amazing but it didn't last long enough for me to get a picture! I wandered down the back a few times to stretch my legs and chat with the 2 guys running the cabin who were so friendly!







Before I knew it we were an hour out and afternoon tea was brought round, unlike what some people have made out I thought it was perfectly adequate considering the meal we had and the amount I had drank. Then we had landed in JFK and the crew allowed me up to the pointy end to have a quick gander.



Waited about 20 minutes at immigration, swaying slightly after what was worked out to be about 1 1/2 bottles of Tattinger and 10 cans on Heineken. Made my way across to T7 or T8 I can't remember but then chilled for a few hours and slept a little before heading to the admirals lounge. Promptly boarded the aircraft at 0600 and we were away by 0625.

The seats were fine for the almost 6 hour trip to PHX and I managed to drink all 8 cans of Heineken on the aircraft. The FA offered to bring me another type of drink but I figured it was time to give it a rest so I could at least be in some kind of fit state for HNL. The breakfast on the flight was delicious and the 1 FA running the cabin was very active constantly bringing me fresh drinks.



Arriving at PHX I went looking for griep and after 10 minutes of searching found him and we went for a quick 10 minutes in the lounge, very basic but good enough for a quick toilet break and orange juice.

Boarding of the flight started promptly 45 minutes before departure and we made our way to row 1, miracolously we had managed to book seats 1A & 1C before knowing we were on the same flights. More Heineken followed before a smooth departure and an amazing Steak dinner with a side salad and some other meat thing?





After the meal I fell asleep and slept like a log on the seats that almost went fully flat, woke up for about 15 seconds and realised we had turbulence before falling asleep again until just before we were landing. Managed to spot Air Force 1 on approach (I know it's not AF1 unless the president is on board but hey ho) and named all the other military aircraft that were lined up. The approach into HNL is absolutely stunning may I add!

We were quickly out and into a taxi heading for the hotel I was sharing with JMS87.