TPRun

nufnuf77

MarkedMan

It's a remarkable experience when you travel across the south west in summer how flash storms can pop up and pour buckets on you. It literally is buckets, on a few occasions we just had to stop the car as you could not see. 15 minutes later, gone. Literally monsoon-like weather, tho' not quite as persistent as when you reach the gulf. There it can drench you for a good while and the humidity and heat become crippling.

SWISSBOBBY

page not found!!!

gcuk

TPRun

florens

We'll be on the same flight to HEL, but I don't come to the Do. If you want to say hi, drop me a PM. We'll be in CX F from about 1430.

Edit: I just realised you're on the earlier AY flight. I should read more carefully in the future.

jms_uk

1840 BA798 LHR/HEL brainless69, megaloman, teledude, TPRun
I will be on this flight as well - not related to this DO, but PM me if you need an extra Gold to guest anyone [most likely in CX F, but open to suggestions].

Was a little bit surprised to see CE going past emergency exit row [my favourite on BA shorthaul], and then I remembered this thread

TPRun

greenmeadie

Hi all,

Further to my post on the tier point thread, thought I'd share a few tips from my recent OTP-PHX run:

OTP:
- Taxi's at OTP are odd - you need to find one of the machines in the terminal, randomly select a taxi company, see if they have any taxi's arriving, and then collect a ticket with the car licence plate. To both the Vienna and RIN, its about 10-15 RON. Cheap as chips. There is a foot bridge, but if its a night or a hot day, just get a cab.
- Both the Vienna Hotel and RIN are nice hotels, and great value. RIN has the better facilities, but you need to pay to use their swimming pool (but, strangely, they offer free tickets to the water park next door until the end of August!), Vienna has the better breakfast. Rooms are both of a comparable quality. Both hotels offer a shuttle to the airport, and the RIN does pick up but they are only hourly, and taxis (as above) are cheap.
- The lounges. With the pass you get at check in, you can use the TAROM lounge, which after reading about the other lounge there, sounds better. It has a reasonable bar, snacks, including sandwiches which are infrequently put out so keep your eyes peeled and a coffee machine. Few plugs, and no wifi apart from the general airport wifi

PHX
- I stayed at the Econolodge, which is cheap and decent for the price. I believe all the airport hotels offer a free shuttle that picks up from around door 7 at PHX arrivals. Bugger all around the hotel though. Bit of a wasteland, but pretty much to be expected.
- Avoid the smaller lounge, A19-21 I think, as its tiny and gets rather warm; the other ones are pretty decent. They no longer do drinks vouchers, its now electronically attached to your boarding pass. You get two in the Admirals club.

LAX & JFK
- Head straight into the flagship lounge if you're Gold or Silver. They are great, much better than BA lounges; full bar (I made myself a Manhattan, and it was decent!), great food, great showers etc. In LAX, there is a quiet room if you need a nap; its past the shower area (turn right after entering)

Any questions just shout!

Ldnn1

Thanks for the useful info greenmeadle. Can you pay on card for the taxis? I don't plan to get out any cash.

greenmeadie

I don't think you can; The machines have the option of how you'll pay and it's either cash or voucher. Not sure what the voucher option is. Honestly, I'd recommend getting a Monzo account (or similar) for overseas no fee, best exchange rate usage and then just draw out £20.

Ldnn1

Cheers, I have a Halifax Clarity card so get free withdrawals with that, but won't have any use for even a tenner's worth of Romanian cash so reckon I'll just walk to the Rin.

Incidentally am also awaiting my new Horizon card to replace the Etihad Guest Visa - anyone received theirs yet? Would likely make use of that on this trip.

madfish

onobond

Yes, Uber works fine in BUH. Roughly half the price for the return trip to the city, compared to my first visit when I had a pre-arranged taxi pick me up at the airport and the Hilton.