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Our week in Ireland via Air France La Première
Mrs. SFO777 and I are off to Ireland today to meet our OC travel friends for a week in the Emerald Isle.
They left Friday after I found them two last minute Lufthansa First seats on the evening LAX-FRA nonstop. The idea of Ireland started last summer after our fabulous Belmond/Orient Express barge cruise in the South of France. Belmond had announced their new Grand Hibernian train touring around Ireland. We booked almost a year ago, but delays in completing the train resulted in them canceling the 1st three weeks, including our week 3 trip. Since we had already planned for Ireland, we just made other hotel and tour arrangements. We saved money on the deal and received a sizable "we're sorry" discount on a future Belmond train or cruise. Yay. After our amazing Air France experience last year, we are both excited to be back on Air France and in La Première for the first of three long haul La Première flights in the next 6 weeks. Today, we are flying out of SFO as the return of our ex-OSL ticket from last year. So first stop is our local John Wayne Airport for the quick flight to SFO. Or so we thought. SFO weather and ATC delays gave us an extra hour on the ground at SNA as we waited for the ATC OK to depart. Fortunately, I always build in 3-4 hour connect time on separate ticket connections like today. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4216-L.jpg With only 20 minutes before our original boarding time and before any announced delays, we passed on the crowded Admirals Club and head for Gate 12. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4224-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4226-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4227-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4229-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4230-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4232-L.jpg Yeah, she looks like she's headed to the right city. As Mrs. SFO777 noted, no doubt she looked in the mirror this morning and said "damn I look good today". LOL. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4237-L.jpg Our first ATC delay. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4238-L.jpg And another one. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4244-L.jpg OK, time for something to eat. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4239-L.jpg Santa Ana-San Francisco United Express 5337 E75 10:47a-12:17p (sked) 12:13p-1:35p (actual) August 21, 2016 Seats 3CD After sitting for 90 minutes at the gate and watching one delay after another, Mrs. SFO777 decided she wanted to stand and be gate lice today. You go girl. No Global Services, military in uniform or families with small children under the age of 2, so we boarded at 11:45a. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4246-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4250-L.jpg I just love when an unfiltered Mrs. SFO777 speaks her mind. She wasn't expecting a United Express flight, so I got an memorable earful as we took our seats. I know now to write these pearls down immediately, so I have her exact words today... "… What kind of a fricking plane is this? This is not a real plane!… You never said it was United Express, you just said United... A few seconds later, more good ones… "... We waited all that time for this? What's the point of being in First?" And my favorite of the morning... "… Why don't we charter next time? How much would that cost?..." :eek: https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4252-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4253-L.jpg UA messaging. Usually pretty good but a little late on the last delay. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4254-L.jpg On the other hand, pleasant FA Ricardo offered an open bar PDB and was great on the short flight. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4255-L.jpg OK, I guess this is not so bad. United's inflight entertainment system is working and Mrs. SFO777 watches a movie. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4256-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4258-L.jpg We landed at 1:20p or about an hour late, and the did a few loops around the taxiways as our gate was still occupied. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4261-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4263-L.jpg We pulled up to the gate at 1:35pm and headed for the SFO branch of Yankee Pier, one of our of faves when we lived in San Francisco. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4271-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4266-L.jpg A penny for your thoughts. :D https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4268-L.jpg We both had the seafood tacos, one shrimp, the other blackened snapper... ignoring the gross beans. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4272-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_4274-L.jpg |
At around 2:15p we headed for the Air Train and the short ride to the International Terminal.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4277-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4283-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4285-L.jpg To the La Première counter at Air France check-in, where a friendly agent completed our check in and summoned a La Première colleague to personally escort us to security and the lounge. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4287-L.jpg ... where we used our CLEAR cards to jump the queue since AF is not a PreCheck participant... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4288-L.jpg ... meeting our rep inside security. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4289-L.jpg And then off to the Air France/KLM lounge. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4291-L.jpg Which is where the old Delta lounge used to be on the lower level just inside the lounge doors. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4312-L.jpg A pretty basic and crappy lounge with a reasonable attempt to segregate La Première passengers for the hoi polloi in Business Class. Not luxurious by any stretch of the imagination but I'm not sure what more they can do with only one F flight a day. This small space used to be the Business center when it was a Delta Sky Club. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4300-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4315-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4309-L.jpg Ordinarily I would blur faces of other First Class pax, but these two going back home to France were Business Class passengers at best. Not sure how they got in and why they were allowed to stay, perhaps friends and family, but they had grabbed the best seats and were happily stuffing their faces most of the time we were there. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4317-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4318-L.jpg There was a limited self serve food and spirits set up... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4293-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4294-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4295-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4296-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4297-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4298-L.jpg ... as well as a menu with a few substantial and fairly attractive dining options. A very pleasant attendant was assigned to the room and was eager to please. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4310-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4311-L.jpg Finally convincing Mrs. SFO777 to try her freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4316-L.jpg While I went for some cheese and authentic French macarons. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4321-L.jpg Some pics of the rest of the very crowded lounge. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4303-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4305-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4306-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4302-L.jpg But with a great view... https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4299-L.jpg At around T-35, our La Première rep Peggy came to escort us to our gate. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4322-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4326-L.jpg As a life long Cavaliers fan who thoroughly enjoyed our 1st NBA Championship ever over the overrated Warriors, LOL on selling these now useless T-shirts. https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4327-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4329-L.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Air...IMG_4330-L.jpg |
I just love when an unfiltered Mrs. SFO777 speaks her mind. She wasn't expecting a United Express flight, so I got an memorable earful as we took our seats. I know now to write these pearls down immediately, so I have her exact words today...
"… What kind of a fricking plane is this? This is not a real plane!… You never said it was United Express, you just said United... A few seconds later, more good ones… "... We waited all that time for this? What's the point of being in First?" And my favorite of the morning... "… Why don't we charter next time? How much would that cost?..." How quickly we forget that anything is better than economy. Sounds like me when we stayed in an Ibis airport hotel. When I got there i absolutely hated it. 1 hour in it was way too long (like Mrs SFO, my expectations have increased over time). My husband later said "I knew you wouldn't like it". I told him then why the heck didn't he tell me when I booked it!! Wish you'd find me 2 Lufthansa first tickets. Great trip report.. again! |
Speaking of authentic macarons, Ladurée is opening in LA (in the Grove) - maybe the next time you fly out of LAX!
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Really looking forward to this one. Ireland is on my must see list. LOL'd at Mrs. SFO777's comments. Keep it coming! Thanks for sharing. ^
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This is pure gold already! I hope the trip is fabulous and can't wait to read more :)
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Welcome back to the nose of the plane SFO777, and thanks for something to look forward to this week ^^. If you have time I have a bottle of scotch stuck in a store in Dublin that won't ship to the US. I'll share if you carry it home :D;). Have a great trip!
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Another great start to no doubt another great TR, SFO777:).
I'm flying from Paris to Dublin tomorrow too, although I don't think the Air France CityJet I'll be on will quite match La Première:D. http://flight-report.com/photos/3T1OpIc1w9/DSC_0581.JPG |
Not sure if you are still on holiday but hope you use Premier services on your way back. That is right up your street.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...ba-f-aa-f.html |
Originally Posted by DanielW
(Post 27110751)
I'm flying from Paris to Dublin tomorrow too, although I don't think the Air France CityJet I'll be on will quite match La Première:D.
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re your quote:
"Ordinarily I would blur faces of other First Class pax, but these two going back home to France were Business Class passengers at best. Not sure how they got in and why they were allowed to stay, perhaps friends and family, but they had grabbed the best seats and were happily stuffing their faces most of the time we were there." sfo777: Did you mean to sound so shallow and snob? Why you would only blur first class passengers faces ? Is the right to privacy not included in J or Y fares anymore? To the point, you should blur all faces? You could get sued in most of europe and FT should enforce that. While I have enjoyed some of your trip reports that comment + pic is plain wrong . Also, I think you should disclose what is comped or heavily discounted in your stays as some of your reviews have now an increasingly noticeable bias |
Originally Posted by palermo
(Post 27111432)
re your quote:
"Ordinarily I would blur faces of other First Class pax, but these two going back home to France were Business Class passengers at best. Not sure how they got in and why they were allowed to stay, perhaps friends and family, but they had grabbed the best seats and were happily stuffing their faces most of the time we were there." sfo777: Did you mean to sound so shallow and snob? Why you would only blur first class passengers faces ? Is the right to privacy not included in J or Y fares anymore? To the point, you should blur all faces? You could get sued in most of europe and FT should enforce that. While I have enjoyed some of your trip reports that comment + pic is plain wrong . Also, I think you should disclose what is comped or heavily discounted in your stays as some of your reviews have now an increasingly noticeable bias |
Originally Posted by SFO777
(Post 27109667)
[B]
Yeah, she looks like she's headed to the right city. As Mrs. SFO777 noted, no doubt she looked in the mirror this morning and said "damn I look good today". LOL.
Originally Posted by palermo
(Post 27111432)
re your quote:
"Ordinarily I would blur faces of other First Class pax, but these two going back home to France were Business Class passengers at best. Not sure how they got in and why they were allowed to stay, perhaps friends and family, but they had grabbed the best seats and were happily stuffing their faces most of the time we were there." sfo777: Did you mean to sound so shallow and snob? Why you would only blur first class passengers faces ? Is the right to privacy not included in J or Y fares anymore? Of the top10 most read reports here on FT, I think you wrote at least 5. But you didn’t use this entitled tone before, which just makes you look like snob or rude. |
Looks like another great report forming SFO777. We spent a week in Ireland in April with BA's F sale and loved it. Hope you have a similarly great time. Looking forward to reading the rest!
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The beginnings of a great report - Thanks SFO777!
A side comment - I appreciate the photography and writing style that SFO777 exhibits, especially the occasional flashes of sarcasm. Looking forward to the rest. |
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