Montréal and New Orleans the long way... via Cathay Pacific First Class
#46
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
How was the Omni, SFO777? Unfortunately, we've had a rather rough run with that brand the past couple of stays (Charlottesville, Houston, and Providence) last month. The Waldorf Astoria and RC in NOLA aren't that great, so I'm curious to get your opinion. Finally, I didn't see it in your TR, but hopefully you made it to the Jazz Brunch at Commander's Palace; one of my absolute favorites! Thanks for sharing!
#47
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
I always enjoy your TRs, especially when they involve Montréal... also a frequent destination of mine.
Your pics of the empty CBSA lines at YUL are par for the course... I don't recall ever seeing a big backup there, no matter the hour of the day. My last trip to YUL, it had to be only about 12 minutes from the time I left my F seat on Delta to the time I boarded the 747 bus at the curbside (and that's without NEXUS... the walk from the US gates is the longest part, as you know).
Your pics of the empty CBSA lines at YUL are par for the course... I don't recall ever seeing a big backup there, no matter the hour of the day. My last trip to YUL, it had to be only about 12 minutes from the time I left my F seat on Delta to the time I boarded the 747 bus at the curbside (and that's without NEXUS... the walk from the US gates is the longest part, as you know).
Liverpool house looks interesting.
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
How was the Omni, SFO777? Unfortunately, we've had a rather rough run with that brand the past couple of stays (Charlottesville, Houston, and Providence) last month. The Waldorf Astoria and RC in NOLA aren't that great, so I'm curious to get your opinion. Finally, I didn't see it in your TR, but hopefully you made it to the Jazz Brunch at Commander's Palace; one of my absolute favorites! Thanks for sharing!
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,351
Thanks for another good read SFO777.
Delta’s SkyClubs do at least look fairly modern, if a little bland and crowded.
The green colours and carpets everywhere makes YVR look very dated. The CX lounge looks superb as always. Surely anyone could throw anything over the glass partition at the gate?
I wasn’t very impressed with CX J (notably the catering) when I flew them for the first time last year, but I think that was probably the ex-HKG catering which is dodgy on many airlines. CX F is very much still on my to-fly list.
AA’s latest lounges are more function over style. They seem dated already, despite being supposedly brand new concepts.
Great sunrise over Montreal on your sector to PHL.
The irony of you being told twice to keep the noise down at your New Orleans hotel when you’re the first to complain (in trip reports) about other people’s noise is not lost on me.
Did you forget to post the return AA sector here?
Delta’s SkyClubs do at least look fairly modern, if a little bland and crowded.
The green colours and carpets everywhere makes YVR look very dated. The CX lounge looks superb as always. Surely anyone could throw anything over the glass partition at the gate?
I wasn’t very impressed with CX J (notably the catering) when I flew them for the first time last year, but I think that was probably the ex-HKG catering which is dodgy on many airlines. CX F is very much still on my to-fly list.
AA’s latest lounges are more function over style. They seem dated already, despite being supposedly brand new concepts.
Great sunrise over Montreal on your sector to PHL.
The irony of you being told twice to keep the noise down at your New Orleans hotel when you’re the first to complain (in trip reports) about other people’s noise is not lost on me.
Did you forget to post the return AA sector here?
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
American so-called First Class back to LAX
We were able to negotiate a 2:15pm checkout and Uber'd it for the 25 minute drive to the airport. OK, this is one sorry looking facility. Apparently a new terminal is under construction although to augment not replace this old relic.
AA catering is so bad that we tried to find something healthy to eat in the terminal. Zero, zip, nada.
Man, this place is ugly.
With 3 gates jammed together at the end of this lovely seating area.
So old with few electrical outlets for charging.
At least we're on time and can get out of this depressing place, except that we have to fly a depressing airline.
New Orleans-LAX
AA 2580
737-800
January 15, 2017
"Dinner" LOL
Now playing the field, my last AA mainline flight was 5 months ago. Only a cheap fare and expiring SWUs brought me back to this sorry excuse for an airline.
First generation slider seats with no seat back IFE of course.
But reasonable legroom.
Hard to believe but catering has gone from bad to disgusting. Choice of chicken pot pie or stuffed peppers. I pre-ordered one of each so Mrs. SFO777 could choose between the lesser of the evils. Unfortunately, both were gross and inedible.
Both the corn and arugula salads were awful. But they were both positively gourmet compared to the chicken pot pie...
Which had absolutely zero chicken...
Or the stuffed peppers, which smelled and tasted just plain nasty...
After I asked, one of our FAs brought me a BOB chicken wrap and even refused my offer to pay. Amazingly, unlike the chicken pot pie, the chicken wrap actually had chicken. What a concept.
To complete today's wonderful AA experience, catering forgot to load dessert. Our FA apologized for the lack of cheesecake and tried to make the best of it...
We were able to negotiate a 2:15pm checkout and Uber'd it for the 25 minute drive to the airport. OK, this is one sorry looking facility. Apparently a new terminal is under construction although to augment not replace this old relic.
AA catering is so bad that we tried to find something healthy to eat in the terminal. Zero, zip, nada.
Man, this place is ugly.
With 3 gates jammed together at the end of this lovely seating area.
So old with few electrical outlets for charging.
At least we're on time and can get out of this depressing place, except that we have to fly a depressing airline.
New Orleans-LAX
AA 2580
737-800
January 15, 2017
"Dinner" LOL
Now playing the field, my last AA mainline flight was 5 months ago. Only a cheap fare and expiring SWUs brought me back to this sorry excuse for an airline.
First generation slider seats with no seat back IFE of course.
But reasonable legroom.
Hard to believe but catering has gone from bad to disgusting. Choice of chicken pot pie or stuffed peppers. I pre-ordered one of each so Mrs. SFO777 could choose between the lesser of the evils. Unfortunately, both were gross and inedible.
Both the corn and arugula salads were awful. But they were both positively gourmet compared to the chicken pot pie...
Which had absolutely zero chicken...
Or the stuffed peppers, which smelled and tasted just plain nasty...
After I asked, one of our FAs brought me a BOB chicken wrap and even refused my offer to pay. Amazingly, unlike the chicken pot pie, the chicken wrap actually had chicken. What a concept.
To complete today's wonderful AA experience, catering forgot to load dessert. Our FA apologized for the lack of cheesecake and tried to make the best of it...
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
And thanks for the reminder about the last segment. Just posted above.