AA started new nonstop service two weeks ago from Oakland to JFK, offering 5,000 bonus miles in addition to regular miles. The total fare, including taxes, was $235, with a 7 day advance purchase, and it did not require a Saturday night stay.

I flew on AA272, a 757, on Friday night, OAK-JFK, scheduled for departure at 2245. We actually left about 30 mins late, due to late arrival of the aircraft, coming in from JFK. I prebooked 10F, an emergency exit row, and the two seats in front of me, in row 9, were empty, so I put a blanket on the armrest and propped my feet there for the entire flight. Only about 1/3 of the flight was sold.

I was surprised that they actually served a meal on this flight (turkey and cheese burrito, chips, cookie, granola mix).

I slept most of the flight and we arrived at JFK right at 7a.m. Saturday morning. After a quick airport tour (had to check out where the AA Eagle flights depart for a connection I have next month), I boarded the parking lot shuttle to the Howard Beach subway station, and bought an all day pass ($4 from computer kiosk with a credit card). I got off the train at the first Manhattan station, at Nassau Street, exited, and walked one block over to the World Trade Center viewing platform, getting there about 8:30. It was cloudy and rain was threatening, though it ended up not raining today.

The last time I was in NYC (I was born there and have relatives all over the tri-state area, and grandparents on both sides are from Ireland) was for Catman Do Trois, in March, 2001. Not only had I used the subway stations inside the WTC, I had also bought Krispy Kreme doughnuts at their shop on ground level facing the Millenium Hilton (it's still closed, with the lower floor windows covered in plywood painted black, and their entry way glass portico having shattered glass).

A sign was posted that the WTC viewing platorm opened at 9a.m. and required admission tickets that can be obtained at the South Street Seaport, but no one was collecting tickets, and due to the small amount of people at that time of day everyone just walked right up.

Everyone on the platform was quiet, as it is a site that requires some reverence. The television coverage I had seen did not accurately depict the damage to a lot of adjoining buildings, many covered in netting with serious damage. I left the platform and went down to street level, where the noises of construction equipment, and workers walking about, really bring home the devastation and loss of life. The WTC covered a lot of terrain. You get a much better sense of what happened there when you are there.

I took the ferry over to Staten Island. The Manhattan skyline looks so dismal without the WTC. On the ferry back, I was accompanied by a couple hundred firefighters, all in good spirits, on the way to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade.

I headed uptown by subway, and got off at Grand Central Station (picked up two black and whites and a carton of milk), and walked towards Fifth Avenue. It was closed off by police, so I made my way on side streets, through what felt like millions of people all going in the same direction, to my ultimate viewing point at Fifth Avenue and 55th, right across from the St. Regis Hotel and the Godiva cholcolate shop. I was hoping to park myself across from St. Patrick's Cathedral, but that entire block was closed off.

I stood there for 4 hours, and the parade was still going when I left. My hands are sore from applauding all the firefighters and pipe bands (but I'm ready to come back and do this again next year--I loved it). This is one huge parade.

Some parade highlights:

1. Rudy Guliani--got an enormous amount of applause, and people on the corner near me chanted "Rudy, Rudy, Rudy". He was going to both sides of Fifth Avenue shaking hands with onlookers and was very well received.

2. Mayor Bloomberg--quite the opposite of Guliani, he marched down the middle of the street and was surrounded by other people walking. I can't even recall him waving. Maybe he's not a parade person.

3. Firefighters--besides what seemed like the entire NYC Fire Department, there were firefighters marching from all over the U.S. (San Diego, Ontario, Fresno, Oregon were some that I recall) and Canada (Toronto).

4. Flag-carrying NYC Firefighters--very impressive. This unit had just passed me when all the firefighters turned around and took off their caps, facing lower Manhattan, for a minute of silence.

5. Bands--there were pipe and drum bands representing police and fire organizations from both NYC, Long Island, and New Jersey--the loudest applause was for the NYC Fire Department--there were also a number of Catholic high school bands from NYC (Cardinal Spellman, Mother Cabrini)--there were also pipe bands from IBEW, Corrections, and NY State Courts, and at least one from Ireland

After 4 hours standing, I headed over to Times Square, just amass with people, and got the A train to JFK. It took 1 hour and 10 minutes between the train and shuttle bus to AA terminal 9 at JFK. Security took about 10 minutes (4 scanners in operation) and the terminal was packed. My flight was scheduled to depart at 6:10.

We departed 30 mins late (again, due to late arriving aircraft) and it took 6 hours in the air to Oakland. I had the same seat on a 757. Dinner was beef or tortellini (I had beef) and directly after I was sound asleep, waking up 15 mins before arrival (my perfect flight--slept through most of it). Arrival was just before 10p.m.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Tom,

Great report.

I'm glad you had a chance to go to the WTC.
It's important.

Your description of the Parade is exactly the way I remember em. Lots of people, and fun.

Dan

Tom,
Wish I knew you were here. I also left sunnny LA to see the parade in NYC. Then saw The Full Monty on Broadway. NYC is still the IMHO the greatest city in the world.