A long w/e in London
May 26, 2000 | 6:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: New York, NY, AA 4MM PLT, BA Gold, VS Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Platinum, IHG Platinum, CC Gold
Posts: 1,099
A long w/e in London
Thursday, 18-May-00
Left the office a bit early and hopped the A train to Kennedy. Not even drink service, standing room only, but managed to get a seat at W. 4th. Got the NYC Transit Authority's Frequent Rider Program perk of one free ride by buying a 10-trip Metrocard. Arrived at Terminal 8 in just over an hour (this includes the bus transfer). Can't wait until the AirTrain is completed - but they definitely need to add a one seat ride to Manhattan.
Checked in at the Admiral's Club located above the International Departures check-in and was told that the flight was leaving on time. Found the club to be more crowded than usual -- this being due to a combination of moving more OW airlines into Terminal 8 (over the last several years) and the stormy weather to the west of NY causing numerous delays on inbound aircraft which were scheduled to be used for European and West Coast flights.
Left the Admirals Club about 40 minutes before the scheduled 7:30 departure. Got to Gate 31 quickly and boarded shortly after arriving. Settled into my favorite Business Class seat (#7D) on the 767-200. About 7:20 the skies opened up and the fun began. The main cabin door was closed by 7:30 (so we'd qualify as an "on-time" departure). We ended up sitting on the ground until approximately 11:45. First class was offered their DVD players/movies about an hour into the ground delay. In Business and the main cabin we were shown videos (Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Beverly Hillbillies, etc.). We were told that due to FAA regulations that our meals couldn't be served, but we did get drinks and the "snack attack" service. About an hour after takeoff we were served dinner - I opted for the vegetable plate which I found to be a bit sparse. After the raspberry sorbet I was out like a light until shortly before landing.
Arrived at LHR about 11:30 Friday morning, breezed through Fast Track (I wish we had these facilities in the States) immigration and customs and went to the Arrivals Lounge to take a long, hot shower. The lounge was fairly empty. After my shower I had some breakfast (I'd slept through this on the flight), made a few calls and was ready for the tube ride to Earls Court.
Grades --
A Train - B+ (Basic reliable subway service, bypassing all traffic jams).
Admirals Club - JFK - B (I prefer it to be a bit less crowded).
AA#104 - B (Would have been better if the Sony Watchmans were passed out in Business Class during our lengthy ground delay).
AA Arrivals Lounge - LHR - A- (Had I been offered a clothes pressing service this would have been a solid A)
Monday, 22-May-00
Took the Piccadilly line from Earls Court back to LHR. A quick, pleasant ride as subways go.
Used 1st class check-in, zipped through fast track and decided to give the BA 1st Class Lounge a go. Showed my boarding pass and Executive Platinum credentials to the friendly staff at the front desk and entered the lounge. I found it to be a bit small and sterile. After 10 minutes, thanked the staff and popped over to the AA Flagship Lounge. Much bigger, warmer with a better variety of food/snacks.
30 minutes before flight time made my way to the gate to board AA#105 back to JFK. Again seat #7D and again a 767-200ER Luxury Liner. Was offered water, oj, or champagne by the friendly crew. Take off was on time, had the vegetable plate (was sparse again), but the Hagen Dazs (sp?) Caramel Cone Explosion filled me up. Landing was about 10 minutes late and we were at the gate shortly thereafter.
A long line at immigration as the AA CDG flight and the IB BCN flight arrived around the same time that we did. As I only had carryon I breezed through customs and hopped the A train home.
Grades --
BA 1st Class Lounge - B-
AA Flagship Lounge - A
AA#105 - B+
[This message has been edited by AAPlatinum (edited 05-27-2000).]
Left the office a bit early and hopped the A train to Kennedy. Not even drink service, standing room only, but managed to get a seat at W. 4th. Got the NYC Transit Authority's Frequent Rider Program perk of one free ride by buying a 10-trip Metrocard. Arrived at Terminal 8 in just over an hour (this includes the bus transfer). Can't wait until the AirTrain is completed - but they definitely need to add a one seat ride to Manhattan.
Checked in at the Admiral's Club located above the International Departures check-in and was told that the flight was leaving on time. Found the club to be more crowded than usual -- this being due to a combination of moving more OW airlines into Terminal 8 (over the last several years) and the stormy weather to the west of NY causing numerous delays on inbound aircraft which were scheduled to be used for European and West Coast flights.
Left the Admirals Club about 40 minutes before the scheduled 7:30 departure. Got to Gate 31 quickly and boarded shortly after arriving. Settled into my favorite Business Class seat (#7D) on the 767-200. About 7:20 the skies opened up and the fun began. The main cabin door was closed by 7:30 (so we'd qualify as an "on-time" departure). We ended up sitting on the ground until approximately 11:45. First class was offered their DVD players/movies about an hour into the ground delay. In Business and the main cabin we were shown videos (Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Beverly Hillbillies, etc.). We were told that due to FAA regulations that our meals couldn't be served, but we did get drinks and the "snack attack" service. About an hour after takeoff we were served dinner - I opted for the vegetable plate which I found to be a bit sparse. After the raspberry sorbet I was out like a light until shortly before landing.
Arrived at LHR about 11:30 Friday morning, breezed through Fast Track (I wish we had these facilities in the States) immigration and customs and went to the Arrivals Lounge to take a long, hot shower. The lounge was fairly empty. After my shower I had some breakfast (I'd slept through this on the flight), made a few calls and was ready for the tube ride to Earls Court.
Grades --
A Train - B+ (Basic reliable subway service, bypassing all traffic jams).
Admirals Club - JFK - B (I prefer it to be a bit less crowded).
AA#104 - B (Would have been better if the Sony Watchmans were passed out in Business Class during our lengthy ground delay).
AA Arrivals Lounge - LHR - A- (Had I been offered a clothes pressing service this would have been a solid A)
Monday, 22-May-00
Took the Piccadilly line from Earls Court back to LHR. A quick, pleasant ride as subways go.
Used 1st class check-in, zipped through fast track and decided to give the BA 1st Class Lounge a go. Showed my boarding pass and Executive Platinum credentials to the friendly staff at the front desk and entered the lounge. I found it to be a bit small and sterile. After 10 minutes, thanked the staff and popped over to the AA Flagship Lounge. Much bigger, warmer with a better variety of food/snacks.
30 minutes before flight time made my way to the gate to board AA#105 back to JFK. Again seat #7D and again a 767-200ER Luxury Liner. Was offered water, oj, or champagne by the friendly crew. Take off was on time, had the vegetable plate (was sparse again), but the Hagen Dazs (sp?) Caramel Cone Explosion filled me up. Landing was about 10 minutes late and we were at the gate shortly thereafter.
A long line at immigration as the AA CDG flight and the IB BCN flight arrived around the same time that we did. As I only had carryon I breezed through customs and hopped the A train home.
Grades --
BA 1st Class Lounge - B-
AA Flagship Lounge - A
AA#105 - B+
[This message has been edited by AAPlatinum (edited 05-27-2000).]
May 26, 2000 | 10:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Programs: AA PLT, SPG GLD, PC PLT SPIRE
Posts: 4,531
AAPlatinum,
[QUOTE]Originally posted by AAPlatinum:About 7:20 the skies opened up and the fun began. The main cabin door was closed by 7:30 (so we'd qualify as an "on-time" departure). We ended up sitting on the ground until approximately 11:45. First class was offered their DVD players/movies about an hour into the ground delay. In Business and the main cabin we were shown videos (Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Beverly Hillbillies, etc.). We were told that due to FAA regulations that our meals couldn't be served, but we did get drinks and the "snack attack" service.
[B]Thursday, 18-May-00
I can share your pain. I too was at JFK that afternoon, taking the 7:00p.m. to LAX. We may have crossed paths because I visited both the domestic Admirals Club as well as the international Admirals Club (I like the international Admirals Club much better). Our flight pushed back from gate 40E at approximately 7:00 p.m. (also for an ontime departure) and then the sky opened up and let us have it. We were #12 in line for departure and just like you we sat on the tarmac until 11:45ish. My flight only being a domestic flagship service, we did not have the option of the individual movies even up in 1st. We did watch the same shows as you did.
One positive? was that when we finally did take off and were flying through the clouds, the lightning show was one to behold.
[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 05-26-2000).]
[QUOTE]Originally posted by AAPlatinum:About 7:20 the skies opened up and the fun began. The main cabin door was closed by 7:30 (so we'd qualify as an "on-time" departure). We ended up sitting on the ground until approximately 11:45. First class was offered their DVD players/movies about an hour into the ground delay. In Business and the main cabin we were shown videos (Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Beverly Hillbillies, etc.). We were told that due to FAA regulations that our meals couldn't be served, but we did get drinks and the "snack attack" service.
[B]Thursday, 18-May-00
I can share your pain. I too was at JFK that afternoon, taking the 7:00p.m. to LAX. We may have crossed paths because I visited both the domestic Admirals Club as well as the international Admirals Club (I like the international Admirals Club much better). Our flight pushed back from gate 40E at approximately 7:00 p.m. (also for an ontime departure) and then the sky opened up and let us have it. We were #12 in line for departure and just like you we sat on the tarmac until 11:45ish. My flight only being a domestic flagship service, we did not have the option of the individual movies even up in 1st. We did watch the same shows as you did.
One positive? was that when we finally did take off and were flying through the clouds, the lightning show was one to behold.
[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 05-26-2000).]
May 27, 2000 | 3:25 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: New York, NY, AA 4MM PLT, BA Gold, VS Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Platinum, IHG Platinum, CC Gold
Posts: 1,099
onedog, sorry to have missed you in the lounge. We didn't get the airborne lightning show - at least I didn't notice it from 7D.
We were #21 for takeoff and the pilot announced there were 47 flights waiting to take off, so it made 21 seem less daunting.
I'm surprised that you didn't get movies to watch in 1st. Have the inseat videos been removed?
We were #21 for takeoff and the pilot announced there were 47 flights waiting to take off, so it made 21 seem less daunting.
I'm surprised that you didn't get movies to watch in 1st. Have the inseat videos been removed?
May 28, 2000 | 1:35 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: T82
Programs: AA Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 2,845
AAPlatinum and onedog--do you have your FlyerTalk baggage tags on your bags?
http://www.flyertalk.com/storefr.htm
http://www.flyertalk.com/storefr.htm