Tim_T

This trip was planned with most items booked a year ago to secure the flights we wanted etc. The UK-USA flights were on points along with the Hilton Waikoloa, both popular for redemption and therefore ‘the early bird catches the worm’. Even booking as early as possible, our choice of flights was limited to one of the multiple flights a day on BA. In addition, I kept checking the hotel and car hire rates, and changing to lower rates as they came available. This resulted in significant savings.

This was a month off work, with nearly four weeks in the USA. It all started with OLCI for the Newcastle to London flight on BA. With no status on BA, we had not been able to pre-assign any seats for this short flight. OLCI revealed that we had been assigned 3 seats together even though we had two e ticket bookings (due to 2 seats being a 2 for 1 AMEX redemption, and the other as a regular points booking). I changed the seats to be a bit further forward, and then printed boarding passes. The next day we drove the 2.5 hrs to Newcastle, dropped the car at secure parking and checked in our bags. We had access to the terraces lounge at NCL due to our onward first class flight the next day. Technically I don’t believe we should as it was slightly more than 24 hrs away. The lounge is bigger than I expected, and probably too big for what use it sees. The lounge was completely empty whilst we were there. The brought us some cut sandwiches whilst we waited. The flight down to London was short at less than an hour with minimal delays. However our bags took longer than the flight to arrive at the zoo of baggage claim.

A short hop on the Heathrow express to T4 (soon to end, as it will only go to T5 next year) allowed us to get to the Hilton. This was booked as a prepaid rate of only 100gbp – very cheap for this hotel which often sees rates over 200gbp. The rate also included breakfast. An upgrade to the 5th floor + lounge access had been preasigned, and we were able to check in even though it was just after lunch. We were told about refurbishments going on (a common theme for this trip!) and that breakfast would be in one of the meeting rooms. We dumped our bags, grabbed a sandwich from the lounge and then took the tube into London for the afternoon as it was a great sunny day, and walked around the parks etc. We didn’t eat in the hotel but enjoyed a drink in the lounge. The next morning we lazed around and had a swim. The main restaurant was closed for extensive repairs, and as this over hangs the swimming pool there was noise and dust coming from this area. Also, people were working on the whirlpool part of the swimming pool. Around lunchtime we went to the lounge for a sandwich, checked out and walked over the T4.

The flight the Seattle on BA was our first time in first class, and therefore we were looking forward to it. We had OLCI the night before from the Hilton lounge for the flight but had not printed boarding passes. We therefore went to the desk in zone R and received these + dropped our bags. The flight appeared full with only one free seat in first class. Security was OK, and after a short walk around duty free we went to check out the lounges. I think we tried them all – Concorde, first class, and both terraces. They were all really busy, and we were only able to find three seats together in the Concorde lounge. We also had a shower at the MB spa. All the lounges were a disappointment. The service was poor, especially at the Spa, and they were really busy. I was expecting something more relaxing, and I guess compared them to the Virgin lounge which, in my view, stands well above any of these lounges. Eventually we boarded the plane and settled into our seats. At just under 10hrs, the flight didn’t have the full sleeper service. We were offered amenity kits + pajamas and sleepers but no duvets etc. The blankets we had were awful, scratchy, thin and so loaded with static I could operate the controls on the seat without touching the switches. How they can give these to first class passengers I don’t understand - I’ve had better blankets on Airtours. Service generally was OK, however no child meal was offered (even though it had been booked) and the crew clearly wanted you to eat at the times that suited them. This was a 777 so no AVOD. The seats were comfortable (apart from the lack of duvet and pillows) and we were able to sleep a bit. Landing into the Seattle was on time and after clearing security and collecting our bags we took the bus into the city.

The Seattle Hilton is right in the centre of town with the airport bus dropping off at the door. The lobby is confusingly on floor 14 (I think) with the first 13 floors being carpark. We were upgraded to an exec room with lounge access and given coupons for breakfast. The room was nice with views over the city to the space needle. We were told the lounge offered breakfast, but given that it didn’t open till 10am I couldn’t understand how. We did try to go to the lounge on evening, but 1) they don’t allow kids in claiming liquor laws, and 2) it was tiny and overflowing into the corridor. We had a couple of nice days in Seattle doing tourist things, and found the hotel OK. On our last day we checked out and took a taxi to our next hotel.

We had an early flight from SEA airport to HNL so decided to change to a hotel nearer the airport. Also, this gave an extra stay and therefore miles ! We had chosen the Doubletree south centre since you could walk to the Mall. The hotel was pretty standard. Not sure if we had any upgrade, but were given coupons for breakfast. Some refurb was going on in the hotel, but appeared to be limited to replacing carpets and some painting. We walked over to the mall, did a bit of shopping and grabbed some dinner. The next morning we were up early, had some breakfast and took the shuttle bus over to the airport.

Our flight to Kona was via HNL. We had pre-asigned our seats in economy for the SEA-HNL leg, and had booked FC for the interisland as it was only a small amount extra. After check in we used the continental lounge via our free priority pass with Amex. We had one of the new planes to HNL and found the seats OK. The service was good, with plenty of drinks offered. At HNL we couldn’t find any lounge to use so just sat in the terminal area and had a starbucks. Short flight over to Kona, and collected our bags. We had a bit of hassle at the Avis desk in collecting our car. My preferred info was missing from the booking so we had to wait for a desk agent, who was a trainee. She then managed to over right the rate code with a more expensive one, which I only found out when we dropped back the car a week latter.

Short drive to the Hilton Waikoloa from the airport for our 6 nights point stay seamed a lot busier than we remembered from our last visit. We arrived at the hotel and valet parked for the first night. I had emailed the hotel previous and requested an ocean tower room. This was pre-assigned as 6079, which was on the same floor as the lounge with a great ocean view. We have always received good rooms here. They have been standard size (which are bigger than normal hotel rooms anyway) but with views and lounge access. The hotel appeared very busy, and we were told it was sold out for some nights. Some refurb was going on to the tram track, with only one tram running. A poster with details was in the lobby saying 3 new trams were due in the fall. The reason for the busy hotel appeared to be a pokeman world competition. Why anyone would hold an indoor event like this in Hawaii I don’t understand, some of the competitors looked like they hadn’t seen the sun in years.

Whilst the hotel was busy, we had no problems with the crowds as the hotel is so large that it can cope. Even the lounge was Ok most of the time, and seamed better managed that our last visit. We spent most mornings at the hotel pool or lagoon, with drive outs in the afternoon to avoid the worst of the sun. We counted over 8 turtles swimming in the lagoon, mostly around the waterfall. We also drove saddle road (after checking with Avis that we were covered). All the people that talk that this road is bad have obviously never driven wrynose / hardknott pass in the UK. http://www.rural-roads.co.uk/lakes/wrynose.shtml We found the road very easy, and nothing to be scared about.

We had picked up in the newspaper about Hurricane Flossie on its way to Hawaii. The day before it was due to hit we had letters under our door explaining what the hotel was doing. They closed all the pools, moved the furniture of the balconies and held the luau in the main ballroom. However, in the end the hurricane fizzled out and we saw no real effects from it. We also never noticed the earthquake that hit the island !

After our 6 nights we checked out, drove to the airport for our short flight via HNL to LIH. The lounge was closed for refurb. After arriving at LIH, more hassle at the Avis desk and then a 10 minute drive we arrived at the Hilton Kauai. We had booked the hotel using the entertainment book. I must say this represents an excellent investment for this hotel, and saved us a huge amount of money (nearly a thousand dollars) as it reduces the best available rate by half. After the HWV, this hotel initially was a disappointment. We didn’t receive an upgrade from our booked ocean view, but were given lounge access. We were told we would have to pay a 12.95usd resort fee covering parking etc, but in the end this was no charged (no idea why). Service was not up to the standard of the HWV, with the front desk staff being a bit poor and the house keeping very poor. The pool has loads of rules, including no own food and drink, taking showers after using restrooms etc.

After a day or so, we started to warm to the hotel. The lounge provided plenty to eat at breakfast and in the evening. The free drinks around the bar were plentiful. The pool was never crowded and the beach great for evening walks. It is not in the same league as the HWV, but was never the less a good hotel and suitable base to explore the island. We would stay again if we came back to Kauai.

A short drive back to the airport and then to HNL and the Hilton Hawaiian village. We had arranged a stretched limo transfer from the airport, and after a phonecall, we found the car! Traffic was slow to the hotel, and then the limo got stuck in all the roadworks in the hotel grounds. How the driver managed to maneuver a stretched limo around all the traffic cones was impressive. We had booked the Ali tower partial ocean view via American express FHR rate, and were upgrade to a full ocean view. The check in was slow and over complicated, first checking in at the desk in the lobby and then being passed to another desk for a repeat process before getting our keys and being escorted to the room.

The HHV was much busier than any of the other hotels, and we never really found a quite spot. The FHR rate included breakfast in the Ali tower café which was very nice, and had snacks in the evening. We also received a free lunch in the rainbow tower restaurant, which consisted of starter, main and dessert + soft drinks and gratitude. The work going on at HHV with the new tower and lagoon is extensive. The Ali tower is about as far away as possible from the work. Some of the rooms in the rainbow tower must be a real problem as they are right next door to all the noise and dust.

We had an 8am flight back to the mainland and LAX airport which required a very early check out. Our flight home was an older plane than coming out, but the service etc was still very good. On arrive at LAX (which makes LHR look organized !) we collected our bags (twice), and took the shuttle over to the Avis lot. Our preferred worked this time, but I went to the desk anyway and was able to upgrade to a full SUV from a compact for 10usd per day.

The drive to the Anaheim Hilton was as slow and painful as expected. The rate for this hotel had initially been very high, at around 200usd per night. I had been monitoring it for a number of months when finally it dropped to 79usd per night. We were upgraded to exec floor, and I was able to secure a Disney view as well. Lounge access was provided, which had a decent selection for breakfast and evening nibbles. Some refurb was going on in the hotel, mainly on the 5 floor. However one day they painted most of the doors in our corridor. A poster was in the lobby describing the new rooms they were installing. On our last day we found a letter under our door explaining that they would have to make urgent repairs to the hotel water and would be turning it off from 10am to 4pm. However, I’m not sure that they actually did. There was also some protesting outside the hotel to do with a labour problem at the Marriott, but this did not affect us at all. After 3 long days at the parks, including a very early start to avoid the 2hr + line for Nemo, we were completely bushed and ready for home.

We used the free internet in the lounge to OLCI for our return BA flight in J to London. Luckily, we had been able to pre-assign our seats before BA changed their seating policy, and therefore had secured three seats together in row 13. At OLCI, there were no other seats together, so I was glad we had. To me with no status on BA, this is a stupid policy. Other airlines eg Virgin, can offer pre-assignment of seats in all classes to all passengers, I have no idea why BA can’t. Because we had an onward flight to NCL, we were also able to checkin for this flight and secured row 1.

After returning the car we went to drop our bags at the airport. What a painful process this was, requiring us to first get the bags tagged at the BA desk, then take them to security screening which consisted of one machine per area. Off course, we picked the line which had the broken machine and therefore stood for half an hour debating if we should move. In the end we did, and joined another slow but moving line. We grabbed some lunch from the food court area and proceeded thru security, before taking the bus over to the temporary business class lounge. On return to the gate we waited to board the flight. This appeared to take a while but eventually we settled into our seat. This flight had the new clubworld seats installed with AVOD. The service on the return leg appeared better than outbound in F. A child’s meal was given, and generally level of service was more attentive and friendly. The AVOD worked well with no problems, and I was able to watch a couple of films. The seat and generally product was the biggest let down. It’s not very comfortable, the foot rest on the seat behind is right by your head when in the bed position and, at least for my seat, it kept falling down and making my whole seat shake waking me up a number of times. The plastic screen between the seat rattles, and the biggest problem (as on the old seats) is trying to get over the other seats when you are in the window seat. Again, I refer back to Virgin which I believe offers a much better seat and cabin arrangement.

We arrived at LHR on time, and decided to exit and go to the arrivals lounge. This is now open to 2pm, which is much better for this later LAX flight. After a shower and a snack, we went back thru security and on to the domestic lounge. We waited here for a couple of hours before our flight up to Newcastle, and then our drive home. I was pleased to see our bags made it thru LHR and appeared on the baggage claim at Newcastle.

In summary, a very enjoyable trip to the USA. Everything pretty well worked out as planned. Thanks to Tesco’s and Amex for allowing us to travel in F/J on BA ! Having now traveled in BA J (both old and new seats), BA F and Virgin J, I have to say that in my opinion Virgin J is much the better product, even beating BA F. I can see why people like BA F as it is much better when compared to BA J, however Virgin’s seat is more comfortable to sleep on, has better pillows and duvet, a much better lounge at LHR, and allows pre-assignment of seats !