Thanks for thr report
DocWatson. Some very good comments on all the flights you took, and impressions of US - I recently had my first flights with them a few weeks ago having flown AA before.
Originally Posted by
DocWatson
I asked where we were when I saw ice flows below (the A318s need moving maps!) and 5 minutes later the captain appeared with his iPad to sit beside me and explain our route and the new iPad flight bag system. This medium-level avgeek was in heaven, especially when invited to the flight deck on arrival!
Jammy sod
I didn't get the captain coming to chat to me unfortunately, but earlier in my exBRU trip on my HEL-LHR sector we were held on the ground for 40 minutes so I asked about a cockpit visit. The FO came out to the galley and I went in to take his seat and was there talking to the captain for 20 minutes. We looked through the charts and the weather forecasts for LHR and chatted about other aviation stuff. Really enjoyed that
I got my bag, took it through customs, and gave it to the BA re-check desk on the right after the customs door. I wasn’t too hopeful it would make it as it just sat there another 10 minutes while I updated my phone, but BA at JFK promised…
I am of the opinion that if you are doing a same day connection at JFK and collecting your bag coming off BA3 you might as well take it with you to T8 and drop it off there rather than relying on the JFK inter-terminal bag transfer. In fact even on BA1 I would tend to get the bag checked to JFK only, take it to T8 and check it back in. It is only one stop on the airtrain. For an overnight I am also tempted to take it to the hotel rather than leave it at JFK.
PHX is an absolute zoo before the 8.30-9am departure bank, with 3 flights leaving in 10 minutes from adjacent piers and a general rammy for boarding. The rest of the airport was crowded too.
I noticed, I was there last Tuesday morning at 8-9am at the far A gates (A15-A30) and it was packed.
BOS is not a great place to transfer. Inter-terminal transfers are landside, the connecting bus is infrequent, and security at Terminal E was the worst of 10 security experiences on this trip. It took around 35 minutes from joining the queue in the biz/first line.
I did a US to BA transfer from B to E last Tuesday. I think the easiest ways are either walk across the parking garage but you need to know the way, or use the buses. There are actually quite a few inter-terminal buses you can get from B to E so any of 11, 88, 55, 66, and Silver Line. So if any of those turn up at B you can get them and they will either go directly to E or stop at C and then at E depending on route. I had a very quick security queue so I think from stepping of my US flight to getting airside at E was less than 30 minutes.
Down to the BA Lounge to check out food, but it wasn’t that inspiring, so I went up to the pub for some chicken and special Sam Adams. Then back to the lounge for another drink pre-boarding.
Did you look at the pre-flight dining options? I went for that last week and I thought they were fine.