2013 stoopidity: here, there, everywhere.. incl around the world (twice). .

[Stoopidsteve]

Next flight, AA2364 DFW-ORD schedule for 1520 from gate A19, so I didn’t bother finding Admiral’s club (for info, the nearest was at gate A23 or so).

Boarding started at 1450, still piling on board at 1520. As usual, the call comes for people to put things under seats, or check them in.

I am convinced that the baggage bins on AA domestic flights are links to alternate universes, able to shift matter across dimensions. It is one of only a few rational explanations I have for the capacity of those aircraft to lift all the passengers and their excessive carry-on luggage. Either that or they are a new form of matter converter, shifting the huge amounts of hand luggage from how we normally perceive it into super dense material to fit the available space, and back again when the bins are opened.

Or there’s TARDIS technology on every US aircraft..the bins are bigger on the inside. Which is why they all seem to go bankrupt every couple of years. Time Lord technology isn't cheap, don’t you know?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Anyway.

Back to reality.

Doors closed at 1527. Mike Yoda skipper welcomed us aboard and we took off soon after, but still late.

More food. Beef wrap wasn’t that appetizing, but the cranberry white choc cookie up to the usual sticky soft deliciousness. Coffee was tolerable considering we're in USA.

 

[JessicaTam]

That is a decent sized mug of coffee. Standard fare?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

That is a decent sized mug of coffee. Standard fare?

Dunno, I didn't ask for a big one. Maybe the FA saw how sleepy I was and needed extra caffeine?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Touchdown into Chicago (ORD) 1730, off plane and head to Admirals Club, but get redirected to First lounge by K19. Check with staff…the AA288 scheduled for 1850 to BOS isn’t due to leave until after 2000. Grr. But it gives me the opportunity to explore the lounge.
1 minute later... I had explored. No it’s not very big and has no showers.

It does have food available, a major advance on AC, and self serve alcohol and other beverages. Not a touch on even the domestic business lounges back in straya.




Apparently we're told not to play with food.How Boring is that?



The chicken on sticks is very, very dry. The scallops and bacon were OK, but the big prawns nice texture but no flavour. OR should I say flavor now I’m in LOTFAP?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

AA288 ORD-BOS
Finally we start boarding the 737 (fourth aircraft type in 30 odd hours) at about 2035. I settle in 3B. Many grumpy looking people at the lateness.

remarkably quickly, push back is at 2050, and in the air just after 2100. Missed crew name.

supper of overdry salmon, but the salad is OK.


I snooze some more, and we touchdown 2343,a nd doors open a few minutes later into Logan (BOS).

A quick taxi ride, and I check in at 0015.

All up about 34 hours door to door. Of course if the USA transit had been in Y, it would have been most direct routing.

Thoughts are of sleep, but reflections are that I was quite fortunate that all connections worked (there were storms brewing in DFW).

So I can stop for a few hours. Onward to UK in less than 24 hrs.

 

[k_sheep]

I see you've gone for the hi-vis cap instead of vest. Weight saving?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

I see you've gone for the hi-vis cap instead of vest. Weight saving?

less of a struggle to put on and off. Besides, would be boring if I had to wear the same stuff day in day out

 

[Stoopidsteve]

So a few hours sleep in a bed. Staying at the Hampton Inn and Suites. FOr Boston, it's a reasonable rate (includes wifi and breakfast). A little dated but a clean bathroom, hot water, comfortable bed and shuttle to airport. And close to BU were I needed to be in the morning.



Off to meeting at 11 after incldued breakfast. Not stunning but adequate for needs. Coffee terrible of course. Good discussions. Then we pop into Flour bakery and cafe for something to eat.

Recommended. Fresh food, freshly cooked, always busy, always cheerful satff (At least on the few times I've visited).

Menu | Flour Bakery

Still a little time to visit CVC pharmac_ to stock up cheaply on some items that are way more pricey at home. Good job the meeting finished early as it takes nearly an hour to get back to hotel on bus.



I'd hoped to do some pics of Boston but the weather is atrocious.



I later learn it's not just weather holding up traffic, there's a truck hanging off a road somewhere just out of town and it's completely screwed up all traffic. Start getting a little apprehensive on the shuttle bus as it takes us 20 mins to go just a couple of miles, then it clears.

Arrive at Logan about 1720 for 1900 flight. Had hoped to get a shower, but I'm on BA metal. After a looooong wait for security (think LAX), and having my bag unpacked to show that the big dense item in my bag really is a book, I make it to the BA lounge.

Disappointing.
Very.
No shower, no food except for a few tiny sandwiches and sticks and dips. "You'll be fed on the plane sir, so we only provide snacks". There is a barred off dining area with real food for genuine F pax. This is actually one of the few occasions when i deliberately wanted to eat loads in the lounge (well, more than I usually!) and then forgo food on plane for sleep.




We get called down, but the horror, we actually have to wait around for a few more minutes until boarding commences.

 

[Fifa]

That is a decent sized mug of coffee. Standard fare?

Those mugs are standard in AA first.
I find the coffee blaaaaah :-|. But then it's hard to find good coffee in the US.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

AA6163 (BA212)

Boarded at about 1840. I'm in 29K it's a row back from the emergency exit front row, but no seat in front. Great seat for Y. Person in 28J did not fill the floor space by her side, and she was sitting in such a way as I could squeeze past out that way.

Downside is the IFE screen on the rotating arm, and the in arm tray does seem to make the seat narrower. Or maybe all BA seats are that narrow?

 

[JessicaTam]

Those mugs are standard in AA first.
I find the coffee blaaaaah :-|. But then it's hard to find good coffee in the US.

Thanks.

And impossible to find a good cup of tea!

 

[Stoopidsteve]

We're advised that John McQuin is captain, Phil Gardner is first Officer, and John Harwood is CSM. Flight time is projected at 5hr 25, and several times it's mentioned as being a very quick flight time, but with LHR curfew we can't land too early.

Push back is right on schedule (1905), took off 1923, and the flight is absolutely full in Y.

There's a thread about Emirates treatment of Platinums in Y. If there were one on WPs in Y on BA, my contribution would be: No acknowledgement. Nada. No greeting from any staff at all, let alone a WP specific one. NO complaints, just data.

Maybe they didn't like what I was wearing.


Takes about an hour before evening meal service (a drinks round happens prior to that). mexican beef or vegetarian pasta dish.
I go beef. "mexican" means it has beans in the rice. And a vaguely salsa-ish tomato sauce.


settle for sleep, and grateful for the extra legroom afforded in 29k. not really long enough, but woke as "breakfast" is being served. Should have stayed asleep....coffee is just as bad as on AA!

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Captain starts talking at us again at about 0520 (UK time), again telling us about Curfew. Sure enough, he says we go into "racetrack" holding pattern SW of London (Surrey), and slowly spiral down.



We break through the cloud layer, then are heading west, south of central London. Crepuscular rays light up the river.



As the flaps and other stuff happens to the wings I can just imagine the outcry from my kids at this "AAAAAGGGHHHHH. Dad, the transformers have taken over the plane. Look at the wings, they're changing!!!!!"

 

[Stoopidsteve]

And of course as we come in to land, always come keep an eye out for that wonderful feat of engineering, the Concorde...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

We touched down at 0613, and at gate a few minutes later. We're into the B gates, so onto the train to main concourse, and into immigration hall. About 10 min to get through that, then up to level 4 of the car park to pick up Avis car. Apparently I was supposed to go to the ringroad location to pick up, but the nice man at the terminal processes for me, and I'm on my way out of the car park by 0720.

A quick trip to 24hour Tesco on the ringroad, then to my friend's house in Oxford. I juts HAD to get English summer strawberries and raspberries. I don't know why, but these fruit back home in straya just ain't the same...

A short snooze and freshen up then I head a few miles to a family gathering, uncles, aunts, cousins and their offspring. Many I have not seen for 14 years, some small ones I've never met. Only my wife and kids, and one other cousin are not present. And they didn't know I was coming....

The weather is a lovely sunny day, so different from the miserable, wet, cold few days I was last here in May. A pleasant day.

Not surprisingly, I was a little tired that night. In bed by 8pm local, but wake again about 11pm. Temazepam ensures I have a full night on local time, and ready for a good day on Sunday.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

A nice day spent with friends on Sunday.

Door 74, Cowley Road, Oxford:
Default

brunch here, I have salmon and eggs. Coffee better than USA, but not great. No skinny milk, and glad I ordered extra shot.



Large serve of salmon, but eggs just slightly overcooked. Companion has French Toast with bacon and maple syrup. His comment is that he's had that same thing 3 times, and each time it's different....

 

[Stoopidsteve]

After brunch, we go for a walk around South Parks. This park has many associations for me as I lived around the corner from here during my teens. It has a great view of the skyscape of Oxford...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Then we decide to head to North Oxford, and walk along the river by the great flood plain that is Port Meadow. (Quick drink in the Trout first)

To fly planes you have to be a member of the beautiful people (models).




Over the bridge where we encounter a sign that must rate as "we have to put this up for the stupid people"




First stop, Godstow nunnery.12th Century, turned into a private house after reformation, extensively damaged during English Civil war.

Now an ancient monument, and as such protected, it is well used by the locals...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

View attachment 17954
View attachment 17955View attachment 17956