No, I will not throw away a First Class ticket to London even if it is on American
May 7, 2017, 11:35 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,587
Another great TR so far - looking forward to the rest! I'm surprised that Mrs SFO777 eschewed the trip, considering La Premiere for the return. Did AF have another premium sale for LHR-CDG-LAX? I fear they don't use their La Premiere for SFO but think $3k would be worth La Premiere on the better plane.
SFO777 such a pathetic excuse for a flagship lounge, was hoping (clearly not happening) that the F dining experience would be completed by the time the fiancee and I leave to LHR via DFW mid June. Your report gives me some hope on our upcoming RT to LHR just not sure if it will be catered identically (assuming not) but minus the Pistons fan of course 
no thanks! LOL Keep up the great work and appreciate the updates!
no thanks! LOL Keep up the great work and appreciate the updates!The Flagship check-in area looks nice, so I suppose there's hope for the lounge. Still, I'm surprised that AA even has that space open given the state of it. For crying out loud, I've been in VFW halls with better ambience and cuisine, LOL. Still, the onboard service in your trip reminds me of better days when AA was the premier domestic airline in terms of F standards. And for oneWorld, which your report tends to confirm, I'll still take AA
F over BA F any day. Thanks for sharing, SFO777!
F over BA F any day. Thanks for sharing, SFO777!
Haven't flown the new Polaris service yet, but it is getting good reviews... for those few planes that have the new seats.
I rarely fly so usually I look totally clueless because of user error and my thoughts of pure joy when I'm seated. I'm always taking pictures of myself and my child during the flight. I have the same trouble - I don't understand how to post pics on FT while using only an apple phone. I'd love to do TR but just can't comprehend how to post pictures.
May 8, 2017, 3:34 am
#32
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: CX DM, A3 Gold
Posts: 96
I like the FL check in experience, it certainly added some great value to the premium experiences. I don't have pre-check and the porter escorted me all the way to the front of the regular line. The FL lounge was a disgrace, there was also some hot food options when I was there two weeks ago, but it was not worth mentioning. My flight got some mechanical issues and got delayed, the AAngels were truly amazing.
May 8, 2017, 7:51 am
#33
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Plat Pro, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 193
Reading the food description on the AA flight, All I could think was "Who absconded with SFO777 and is writing this in his place?"
A nice change from the usual food that you have experienced
A nice change from the usual food that you have experienced
May 8, 2017, 10:04 pm
#35
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
May 9, 2017, 4:44 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,587
Four hours in London
With no Mrs. SFO777 to worry about, I decided to take the Heathrow Express into the city. OK, this extraordinarily convenient and efficient… 15 minutes nonstop to Paddington Station. Plus free Wifi on board. This is the way to get into the city. There were numerous Heathrow Express point of sale stations along the way and I bought a round trip First Class ticket for 55 quid.
Finding the Heathrow Express was easy. Just follow the signs.
The First Class car is quite nice, spacious and quite comfortable. And free Wifi worked well.
Decisions, decisions. Where to go.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at Paddington Station in Central London. Wow, that was fast. Now what? No idea where I was going but decided to try to find a Hop On Hop Off bus which was supposed to have a Paddington Station stop.
This would have been a good choice to exit...
... but no, I followed the Exit and Taxi signs and got to the Taxi Queue. Didn't want a taxi, just the exit. With the help of my iPhone map app, I tried to navigate my way to the other side of the station.
About 10 minutes later, I found a Big Bus sign, bought a ticket and hopped on the Hop On Hop Off Big Bus for the next 2+ hours. Sure, it's hokey and touristy but, except for New Orleans and Tallinn, it is a great way to get an overview of most cities.
I hopped off at the return stop at the Parliament Buildings and walked for 20 minutes up to and past Picadilly to Bocca Di Lupo, a West End restaurant recommended by London-based Flyertalker baggageinhall who unfortunately had a last minute work conflict and couldn't make it.
Cream of langoustine & red prawn risotto was very good.
Chicken scallopine with lemon & parsley was delicious.
But the surprise dish was the Courgettes trifolate - sauteed with garlic & chilli. This was spectacular.
After dinner, I walked the block and a half back to Shaftesbury and hailed a passing taxi for ride back to Paddington Station.
And was just in time to catch the 7:35pm train back to Heathrow.
My own private train car.
Sure enough, fifteen minutes later, we arrived at Terminal 3. Wow, what a great way to get into and out of the city.
With no Mrs. SFO777 to worry about, I decided to take the Heathrow Express into the city. OK, this extraordinarily convenient and efficient… 15 minutes nonstop to Paddington Station. Plus free Wifi on board. This is the way to get into the city. There were numerous Heathrow Express point of sale stations along the way and I bought a round trip First Class ticket for 55 quid.
Finding the Heathrow Express was easy. Just follow the signs.
The First Class car is quite nice, spacious and quite comfortable. And free Wifi worked well.
Decisions, decisions. Where to go.
Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at Paddington Station in Central London. Wow, that was fast. Now what? No idea where I was going but decided to try to find a Hop On Hop Off bus which was supposed to have a Paddington Station stop.
This would have been a good choice to exit...
... but no, I followed the Exit and Taxi signs and got to the Taxi Queue. Didn't want a taxi, just the exit. With the help of my iPhone map app, I tried to navigate my way to the other side of the station.
About 10 minutes later, I found a Big Bus sign, bought a ticket and hopped on the Hop On Hop Off Big Bus for the next 2+ hours. Sure, it's hokey and touristy but, except for New Orleans and Tallinn, it is a great way to get an overview of most cities.
I hopped off at the return stop at the Parliament Buildings and walked for 20 minutes up to and past Picadilly to Bocca Di Lupo, a West End restaurant recommended by London-based Flyertalker baggageinhall who unfortunately had a last minute work conflict and couldn't make it.
Cream of langoustine & red prawn risotto was very good.
Chicken scallopine with lemon & parsley was delicious.
But the surprise dish was the Courgettes trifolate - sauteed with garlic & chilli. This was spectacular.
After dinner, I walked the block and a half back to Shaftesbury and hailed a passing taxi for ride back to Paddington Station.
And was just in time to catch the 7:35pm train back to Heathrow.
My own private train car.
Sure enough, fifteen minutes later, we arrived at Terminal 3. Wow, what a great way to get into and out of the city.
Last edited by SFO777; May 13, 2017 at 7:34 am
May 9, 2017, 4:58 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,587
I like the FL check in experience, it certainly added some great value to the premium experiences. I don't have pre-check and the porter escorted me all the way to the front of the regular line. The FL lounge was a disgrace, there was also some hot food options when I was there two weeks ago, but it was not worth mentioning. My flight got some mechanical issues and got delayed, the AAngels were truly amazing.
Poetic license or perhaps trying to full up the screen??http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...phy-forum.html
May 9, 2017, 5:04 pm
#39
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Norwegian flyers in Premium class receive access to the oneworld lounge. I'm guessing the TV departure times setup in the Qantas First lounge is shared with the oneworld business lounge.
https://www.norwegian.com/us/travel-...lounge-access/
https://www.norwegian.com/us/travel-...lounge-access/
May 9, 2017, 5:20 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,587
Norwegian flyers in Premium class receive access to the oneworld lounge. I'm guessing the TV departure times setup in the Qantas First lounge is shared with the oneworld business lounge.
https://www.norwegian.com/us/travel-...lounge-access/
https://www.norwegian.com/us/travel-...lounge-access/
May 9, 2017, 5:29 pm
#41
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
To be fair, the rest of their lounges look like the most mediocre options at all of the other airports though...
Oslo Airport
LoungeLocated on the 2nd floor above the international departures area
May 9, 2017, 8:58 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: St. Paul, MN
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, IHG Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 448
Great report as always. I read a bit early your experience with AF in F on the way home. Wow - what a product. The foie gras looks incredible!! Definitely an amazing looking First Class cabin. Everything looks incredible!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
May 10, 2017, 12:58 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Programs: BA Bronze, Emirates Silver, Virgin Silver, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,399
Great pics of London on your HOHO tour!
The Heathrow Express looks to have upgraded their 1st class carriage since the last time I used it (got a free upgrade voucher with my Virgin membership) and while happy to use the freebie, I wouldn't pay for it myself as its not worth the money for 15 minutes.
The Heathrow Express looks to have upgraded their 1st class carriage since the last time I used it (got a free upgrade voucher with my Virgin membership) and while happy to use the freebie, I wouldn't pay for it myself as its not worth the money for 15 minutes.
May 10, 2017, 2:48 am
#45
Join Date: May 2006
Location: NBO, MEL
Programs: QR Platinum, TK Elite
Posts: 1,354
I also thought the Hop On Hop Off bus was toursity, until I was forced to use one in Cape Town. It was such a brilliant way to get an overview of a city, that I now do swear by them in a new city - get an overall idea of what the city is about, and then explore later on my own. Have used them in Paris, London and Athens.
