ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Selling Postcards at Airline Collectible Conventions
#46
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Thank you for yet another wonderful trip report Seat2A, it was a delight to read. Thank you also for the memories, I loved the first photo of the Air New Zealand DC8 First Class service. My first international flight in 1972 was on a TE DC8 Sydney - Christchurch. It was very exciting for a 9 year old and an extra bonus, I was allowed to hand out sweets prior to landing! Warmest regards from Sydney.
Originally Posted by jmj9905
Seat 2A another great trip report. Don't ever wonder about an audience for your written trip reports. I too am an old timer and remember the "Good Old Days". My first international F was on American from DFW to Gatwick. in the mid 80's. They served cavier, Coquilles Saint-Jacques, and had a chef's special. It was truly amazing. There are many good things about international F today including the lie flat beds. But, for me, the graciousness and civility is long gone. I look forward to your TR on your 2017 trip to Australia. We are planning on returning there in 2021.
Originally Posted by pjs
Always a pleasure to read. I don't eat olives either, but my wife is the beneficiary of this every time we travel together. By the way, I believe the CCR boardroom chairs are from the actual Concorde.
More to come this evening...
#47
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Nice report as always. Having gone through an extensive interview in TLV, I've what that's like for security to be interested in your travels.
I took British Airways business class LHR-ORD last year, it was "meh.." but sound like it was a nice flight for you - of course one class better. My seat on the A380 was one of those that faced backwards - other than probably superior protection in the event of a crash, I didn't appreciate the rearward seat. Of course, other than paying a significant amount (to me, but it was also the point of it), I couldn't select my seat head of time. In business class! It was an award ticket but still...
I took British Airways business class LHR-ORD last year, it was "meh.." but sound like it was a nice flight for you - of course one class better. My seat on the A380 was one of those that faced backwards - other than probably superior protection in the event of a crash, I didn't appreciate the rearward seat. Of course, other than paying a significant amount (to me, but it was also the point of it), I couldn't select my seat head of time. In business class! It was an award ticket but still...
It could be I got lucky with BA on these flights. Then again, it could be that I tend to focus on the positives. That's not to say that other's never do but as a rule minor lapses in service I tend to brush aside provided they don't define the flight - a bump in the road as opposed to a bumpy road, per se. But that's me. Other's grade on a much harsher curve. That said, your Business Class experience as described above would be pretty disappointing to me, too - enough so that I'd have real reservations about flying BA's Business Class if not being able to select my seat ahead of time were the normal policy. Is it?
Originally Posted by TheFlyingDoctor
It's a small world - I managed to pick up this report whilst making my own meandering way to AMS, and drove past the hotel which hosts the Aviation Fair you built the trip around! Sadly my extended routing was not in such luxury, nor by choice.... the inbound plane (which should have been KLM's first 737 service to BRS) went tech and returned to base, so a routine hop turned into several hours of queuing, four more in a taxi to central London, then alternative routing on BA for an eventual arrival some eight hours behind schedule. Although your pictures didn't make it into my phone's cache, all the words did, and it's a testament to your report style that that does not hinder the enjoyment of them whilst in the wifi-less confines of a shorthaul flight.
I'd be interested in a FlyerTalk meetup at a fair like this - I've gathered together a few mementos across the years, although mostly restricted to moments from my flying history or aviation employment to prevent the collector / hoarder instincts getting too far out of check. I would definitely echo JAXBA's recommendation of the BA Heritage Centre at Waterside, not just for its collections but the endlessly knowledgeable staff. In the meantime, as part of the BA 100 celebrations their photographic archives have been opened up and put online - creating the Centenary Archive Collection. It's a bit confusingly organised, but is an absolute treasure trove of unseen and / or vintage material that you might enjoy browsing.
I'd be interested in a FlyerTalk meetup at a fair like this - I've gathered together a few mementos across the years, although mostly restricted to moments from my flying history or aviation employment to prevent the collector / hoarder instincts getting too far out of check. I would definitely echo JAXBA's recommendation of the BA Heritage Centre at Waterside, not just for its collections but the endlessly knowledgeable staff. In the meantime, as part of the BA 100 celebrations their photographic archives have been opened up and put online - creating the Centenary Archive Collection. It's a bit confusingly organised, but is an absolute treasure trove of unseen and / or vintage material that you might enjoy browsing.
You'll find that trip report right HERE.
Last edited by Seat 2A; Jun 19, 2019 at 4:13 pm
#48
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Yeah, me too. And meals were a lot more elaborate (up front) then too - proper cocktails and canapes, roasts carved on a trolley etc.
Wonderful report though. Bit of a fail missing the First Wing at T5 LHR as we've been campaigning for a 'cut-through' since the Terminal opened and it does keep you away from the great unwashed (heh heh). I haven't flown BA F this year yet, but I hear the canapes are back and the food has been tweaked up a bit.
Loved this report. We are blessed.
Wonderful report though. Bit of a fail missing the First Wing at T5 LHR as we've been campaigning for a 'cut-through' since the Terminal opened and it does keep you away from the great unwashed (heh heh). I haven't flown BA F this year yet, but I hear the canapes are back and the food has been tweaked up a bit.
Loved this report. We are blessed.
#49
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Yeah, me too. And meals were a lot more elaborate (up front) then too - proper cocktails and canapes, roasts carved on a trolley etc.
So true. The old "proper" style of service has unfortunately been replaced by that which is generally most expedient. Most of today's flyers were not raised in that era of "proper" cocktails, canapes, roasts carved on a trolley etc., and so consider today's stripped down service standards as perfectly amenable, if not acceptable, while they enjoy the flight in their track suits or shorts and t-shirts. Sigh... How times have changed. That said, this is the new style of travel so I guess we old timers need to get with the flow. As much as we can, of course. I mean, everything within reason, old chap!
Wonderful report though. Bit of a fail missing the First Wing at T5 LHR as we've been campaigning for a 'cut-through' since the Terminal opened and it does keep you away from the great unwashed (heh heh). I haven't flown BA F this year yet, but I hear the canapes are back and the food has been tweaked up a bit. Loved this report. We are blessed.
So true. The old "proper" style of service has unfortunately been replaced by that which is generally most expedient. Most of today's flyers were not raised in that era of "proper" cocktails, canapes, roasts carved on a trolley etc., and so consider today's stripped down service standards as perfectly amenable, if not acceptable, while they enjoy the flight in their track suits or shorts and t-shirts. Sigh... How times have changed. That said, this is the new style of travel so I guess we old timers need to get with the flow. As much as we can, of course. I mean, everything within reason, old chap!
Wonderful report though. Bit of a fail missing the First Wing at T5 LHR as we've been campaigning for a 'cut-through' since the Terminal opened and it does keep you away from the great unwashed (heh heh). I haven't flown BA F this year yet, but I hear the canapes are back and the food has been tweaked up a bit. Loved this report. We are blessed.
Avianca First Class ~ circa 1965
Pan Am First Class circa 1973
SAS First Class Smorgasbord - Those were the days!
#50
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BTW, you are wanted over here, but your FT profile will not permit PM's or EMAILS. This is time sensitive.
Last edited by serfty; Aug 2, 2019 at 7:23 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
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Posts: 12,139
@Seat 2A - I like olives, can you keep some for me please
It'd be nice if we could meet up one a these days at an OzFest or whatnot, but alas, they are always during peak season here. Whatever... One of these days we'll make that happen. In the meantime, enjoy your olives from whatever their point of origin, and I'll look forward to when next we meet.
Last edited by Seat 2A; Aug 4, 2019 at 3:44 am