Boston and back via Honolulu, Trinidad and Barbados

[Platy]

Hilton Boston Back Bay

The reception area of the Back Bay Hilton instantly had a feeling of hustle and bustle, perhaps because of the small size of the lobby. I am upgraded to a deluxe room, which is high in the building in the corner of the building thus offering expansive views to the south and east. There are breakfast vouchers for the buffet in the temporary downstairs Diamond Lounge, in reality a room adjacent to the ground level restaurant.

The breakfast buffet proves to be the least substantial encountered in all of my Hilton visits, comprising just cereal fruit and bakery items and thus no cold meats or smoked salmon. The vouchers can be redeemed for a paltry $5 discount against a cooked breakfast in the next door eaterie, hardly an attractive deal compared to the generous effective $20 credit in the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The Diamond Lounge is just that, for Diamond VIPs, so lowly Golds such as myself are not invited.

The Back Bay certainly has a good location, but lacks the feeling of “class” of the Financial District Hilton and the relaxed service of the Logan Airport Hilton. I guess choices come down to location and price on the day.

 

[Platy]

Back in Boston (shopping!)

The Back Hilton is very well situated and perfectly placed to grab an early evening curry with Miss CL in amongst the nearby boutiques and eateries of Newbury Street after my journey from Barbados.

Then I have a day to rest in Boston and also catch up on some shopping. There are several discount stores in Boylston Street immediately north of Copley Square, including Filenes (http://www.filenesbasement.com/). I am also delighted to find that Saks (within the Prudential Centre) has a consolidation sale with many racks of items at around 70% discount.

Back at the hotel my weathered bag can only just hold my new purchases and the zip only reluctantly closes after I have sat, knelt and stood on he long suffering hold all.

Once again I set the alarm for 4am and retire early ready for three days of back to back travel to get home to Cairns with one night stops in Honolulu and Sydney.

 

[Platy]

Taxi driver (steamy vents and Bernard Hermann scores)

It is 0410 I step into a taxi outside the Back Bay Hilton. I assume the driver will turn west, pick up the westside freeway and the straight forward tunnel route right to Logan Airport. Before I realise what is happening he has turned left, passed the Christian Science complex and is heading north on the east side of the city area. For a while I am comfortable since I know that this leads back to the Financial District and alternate entries to the tunnel system, but somehow he has turned even further east and we are now passing through deserted docklands in a maze of roads and freeways with the sense of getting further from, not closer to, the airport. It is still pitch black out, there are no people in these parts, just occasional other vehicles.

At one point I am convinced we have driven straight past a sign pointing left to Logan Airport. We are certainly in parts of Boston that cannot visualize from studying Google Maps and Google Earth before leaving Australia. I decide that all I can do is to wait and see how this situation resolves.

Eventually we seem to be on track, the driver’s route finally concords with road signs to the airport and we duck into a tunnel to pass under the Charles River opening to the airport complex on the north side.

Although I am convinced I have gone kilometers out of my way, the fare is quite similar to the inbound one. I am heartily glad to be at the airport and to know exactly where to go to get my first class boarding passes to Chicago and onto Honolulu.

 

[Platy]

BOS-ORD (odd and even flight numbers)

There is a 10 minute hiccup at check in since it appears that the counter is not even yet opened. This is a surprise to me having checked in at 0430 for my Miami flight just under two weeks earlier. I am not too concerned knowing that the Admirals Lounge doesn’t open until 0500.

Those ten minutes lost to late staff seem to have also made the difference at security, and I queue much longer than my previous visit, believing that there were two instead of one line last time so that first passengers were through in seconds.

The ORD flight is at 0605 so I have 30 minutes to relax in the lounge. When I reach the gate 30 minutes before departure many have already boarded and I saunter onto the aircraft to seat 6E. There is a very different feel on this flight since there are predominantly business types shuttling between Boston and Chicago.

We push back within minutes of the scheduled departure time and I am now on welcome and familiar ground when the breakfast omelet arrives!

Cabin crew share a vital piece of information:

• On odd flight numbers catering is dispached from back row to front row!
• On even flight numbers catering is dispached from front row to back!

As I am now on odd numbered flights, I can relax and enjoy the pick of the catering choices.

I make a mental note to alter my seating strategy accordingly – even flights sit at the front, odd flights sit at the back of the first cabin.

We land in Chicago close to schedule and I have ample time to wander from one terminal arm to another to search out the Flagship Lounge.

 

[Platy]

ORD F Lounge (strawberries and champagne!)

I am clutching the map I printed off of the AA website, but it still takes me a few minutes to locate the lounge door. The intent is obviously one of exclusivity and discretion so the lounge does not appear to be signposted, but I eventually spot the door tucked in a corner.

The gentlemen manning the desk, was extremely welcoming. I have time for some mineral water and fruit before heading back down the terminal arm to the gate. I find that the departure time has been put back at least 30 minutes, so no worries, it’s back to the lounge where this time I have a muffin followed by strawberries and a glass of American champagne. The chap on the desk is helpful and assures me he will let me know when it is time to walk back down to the gate for boarding whilst an engine part is located, installed and tested.

This takes about 40 minutes so I am soon back at the gate and wandering onto the 767 with sleeper seats for the long flight to HNL.

 

[Platy]

ORD-HNL (a coveted seat)

There is a brief stand off as I protect my claim on seat 6B in the face of a usurper! The women in question is determined to find a vacant aisle seat or displace someone from their allotted pew. Fortunately there are indeed empty seats so I end up with 6A and 6B over which to park my butt and spread out my things as cabin crew reseat her elsewhere.

We leave about an hour late around 10am, but with no more connections and a comfortable bed waiting for me on arrival at Waikiki, I relax into the long 9 hour plus flight.

Despite being scheduled for a 9am departure, they serve a lunch on this flight, which suits me fine, although the lamb signature dish from some chef with a Hawaiian name, is tough and non descript. The sides of fruit and cheese are fine and offered again later in he flight as a snack.

I try to get some sleep, but find that the sleeper beds are simply too narrow to be very comfortable – there is nowhere to put my arms except way up on the arm rests which are far above you when the bed is fully reclined, or crossed on my chest.

When Brahms 2nd Symphony turns over on the classical channel for the third or fourth time, and the TV show video is showing the same programs for the third time I figure we must be getting close to Hawaii!

Eventually we are on descent into Honolulu. We track along the line of islands and come over Oahu from the west and north affording excellent views of the whole island, Waikiki Beach and eventually Pearl Harbour on final.

Once again I am now on familiar territory and slip through the terminal, downstairs and out to the bus and taxi pick up area. The taxi dispatcher organizes a cab, but a stretch limo the length of bus rocks up. The dispatcher assures me that it is operating as a taxi and the fare will be the usual $35 or so to Waikiki.

So I sit at the back inside this coffin like vehicle amid bunches of flowers, and a long bar furnished with decanters and crystal glassware. We take the freeway into the eastern end of Waikiki before slipping south through local streets to Kuhio and the Hilton Prince Kuhio hotel.

 

[Platy]

Hilton Prince Kuhio Waikiki (501s reclaimed)

This hotel has been refitted and I am delighted with the upgraded room with stunning views of the main part of Waikiki Beach lying one block to the south. There is a plasma screen, small balcony, modern bathroom and two queen beds ready to accommodate both myself and Canuck, who is due off an Air Canada flight later that evening so we can travel together back to Australia.

It is still only mid afternoon Honolulu time so I can take a leisurely walk to the beachside area and loop back to the hotel.

I visit the concierge desk and reclaim my conference satchel bursting with four pairs of $30 Levi jeans, which I had stashed on my outward journey a month earlier.

After a relaxing tub, I head down to the Executive Lounge, but once more this is a ground/basement level temporary room offering light canapés and charging for beer. A pre-dinner ale on the waterfront seems a better idea so I check out a couple of nearby places. The first, the surf club, has toilets right by the steps up into the bar area, which unfortunately stink to high heaven, so I turn around and walk straight out.

I find a large bar/eaterie on first level a block away and sip on one or two Longboard ales on tap before returning to the Hilton for a very early meal of salmon and mash after a brief visit to the lobby level business centre to check the email!

Canuck arrives at the airport at 9pm from Vancouver, but, if you recall, being thrifty to the point of stupidity, manages to take another two hours to get to the room to secure a few hours sleep before our early departure for the Jetstar flight back to Sydney. He took the shuttle bus instead of a taxi and enjoyed an extensive scenic tour of the all of the hotel entrances of Waikiki!

I enjoyed the Hilton Prince Kuhio and would prefer it over the Hawaiian Village especially at times of year, which could be busy. It is a little closer to the centre of Waikiki, but lacks on site facilities of the Hawaiian Village and proximity to the ubiquitous Ala Moana Mall!

Alarms are set one last time for the familiar 4am wake up routine.

 

[Platy]

ODUs and QPs (island style)

We get to HNL airport well in advance of the opening of the check in desks 3 hours before the scheduled flight time of 0915. I stand in the Starclass line with fully paid booking and Canuck lines in economy itching to secure an upgrade. The lines become manned a little late and I check in after about 5 folk, obviously Jetstar employees riding in Starclass have checked in before me.

Canuck asks for the ODU and presents at the service desk. There is about 20 minutes of messing around since nobody seems to be able to launch the right screen to process the upgrade.

By the time we reach the security lines, they are building with the imminent onslaught of Japanese passengers that will later fill the numerous 747s lining the international gates. I am slightly annoyed that Starclass doesn’t seem to afford “gold line” privilege and thus priority at the security station.

We hike down to gate 26 and up in the lift to the Qantas Club. It is now after 0600 and we have about 90 minutes to fill upon fruit and croissants.

The Jetstar employees are ensconced in the main area of the lounge so we head to the smaller siting area close to the computer booths. With just the Jetstar flight and no Qantas flight back to Sydney on a Friday, the lounge can easily accommodate everyone.

This lounge is functional, if overcrowded on my previous visit. With more time and fewer people, I did notice that it is badly in need of a spring clean. The glass partitions close to where we were sitting were caked with dirt and grease. Yuck!

A little late, we are called to go to the gate. This turns out to be a long hike to the end of the international terminal. We even become briefly trapped (gate 32?) trying to get to our gate (33?) as some automatic sliding doors are disabled forcing up to back track, exit the building, advance externally and re-enter the building just by the requisite gate.

The boarding for Starclass is poorly handled in that the two lines for Starclass and economy have been allowed to become mushed together. We hold back to avoid the melee and thus become some of the last to board.

The Airbus cabin is suddenly very familiar and I finally feel that home is not too far away now although there is a 10 hour flight to endure before we reach Sydney.

 

[Platy]

HNL-SYD

Canuck’s ODU has scored him seat 6A right next to his best buddy in Seat 6B! We amuse ourselves joking about the Jetstar issue black and orange dinky travel kit and settle back for the hop to Sydney. The plane leaves about 40 minutes late and again we taxi right to the far runway past the golf course.

Once into the flight the laptop is produced to fire up the scrabble whilst the portable movie tablets are handed out by the cabin crew.

The crew aren’t sure whether we’re doing breakfast or lunch. Breakfast is announced since scheduled take off is 0915 and breakfast style drinks or tea, coffee and so forth are offered. However, a chicken pasta appears on the tray.

After this meal, we pass the time with scrabble and movies. Canuck is muted after I dump a 7 letter word on my first go and proceed to nab sufficiently well balanced letter trays to maintain an average score of 40 plus per go.

I find the movie tablet extremely annoying in that the buttons seem to be very loose and easy to knock. I repeatedly send the system back to the menu and have to fast forward.

In fairness to Jetstar they have elected to produce a snack or meal every few hours, which seems like a good idea to me, although the quality is very much standard economy fare. There is a tray of snacks brought round from which I grab a small bar of toblerone and later in the flight a cheese burger of all things! Actually this is most delicious, if of suspect nutritional value, perhaps due to my ravenous appetite and glass of Sticks Pinot Noir.

The time passes agreeably enough although I am very glad it is a daytime flight and I am not once again trying to sleep on the domestic standard seats.

My overall conclusion is that although Starclass is a lot cheaper than full business class, it falls between two stools and is clearly not well patronized on the flights I experienced. The loadings in economy didn’t seem to be that crash hot either judged on a few glances towards the back of the aircraft.

I have grave doubts about the future of Jetstar International – I question the product and have the feeling that Jetstar is infested with a bunch of mickey moose managers who I imagine dithering around in black and orange pyjama outfit.

They haven’t thought things through and service suffers from very poor attention to detail.

I am displeased to find my QF FF SCs and points have not credited after a week despite details being correct on my booking.

I am sent a feedback questionnaire after this flight, which is lightweight and poorly contructed , bad effort once again from ANOP - my assessments deliver low rankings on most questions (except for the professional and attentive cabin crew) and I add numerous positive suggestions for improvements, none of which should come as a surprise to the good but misguided folk at Jetstar!

Goodness help Qantas with the Irish dwarf taking over as CEO!!!

 

[Platy]

Hilton Sydney (the bonsai experience)

Being back in Sydney with only the short hop to Cairns to go the next morning I could easily end here, but I have a few final comments to share on the local Hilton, plus some praise once more for the F lounge.

We reach the Hilton Sydney after a swift passage through Sydney customs and immigration and a professional drive downtown courtesy of Silver Top Taxis. I score another upgrade to the Executive Level and we have twin room just next door to the Lounge.

With friends to visit for drinks and dinner we don’t experience the lounge, however, the refitted room is very well appointed with impressive modern bathroom. My only quibble is that it is extremely small! Everything is organized, packed and stacked to make best use of the tiny space. By booking well in advance we have secured a reasonable price ($180), but if I was from overseas and thinking of my experiences in other Hiltons on this trip I would be very surprised to find how, well, bonsai, the rooms are. I think if I had paid anywhere near the going rate it would be an unwelcome shock.

 

[Platy]

SYD F lounge (this time for brekky)

I arrive at Sydney Airport by 0600 for the 0805 flight to Cairns, content to ride this international service’s domestic leg before it is withdrawn from service under dubious circumstances discussed extensively elsewhere on this blog.

I am very quickly through check in, customs and security and take the back stairs to the lounge.

It is time for a breakfast feast! Bircher muesli followed by a large cooked breakfast which is frankly absolutely delicious! Two glasses of Chateau Deveaux champagne completes the gastronomic pleasure.

Some internet/email time wiles away the remaining minutes before boarding, but not before indulgently scoffing a delicious raspberry muffin gathered from one of the self serve areas near the library and computers.

I’ll say it again, this is the one thing Qantas absolutely gets right!

I am content enough to face the final 3 hours of 60 hours plus of flying and three days of back to back early starts and long travel days!

 

[Platy]

QF167 (the passing of an era)

I sit in economy at the back hoping for a spare adjacent seat, but end up with a personable couple from France to amuse with hints on where to go in Cairns and Port Douglas. I cannot be bothered to upgrade on points, I find the service levels in business class too erratic to face with pleasant expectations. Last time on this flight, they couldn’t be bothered to turn the entertainment system on in business class because 3 hours is supposedly too brief to watch a movie.

Now I am happy at the back, with a full tummy of good food, musing on the many times that I have taken this flight in the 6 years I have lived in Cairns, many of which involved frequent commutes to work in Sydney. This may be the last or one of the last runs on this flight before it is retired from the schedule.

Soon we are on descent. We fly over the Tablelands and turn into final along the Northern Beaches. I am nearly home, with a swag of frequent flyer points (about 80,000), status credits (about 1400) and a laptop full of data that needs to be processed for my project before a return trip to Boston later in the year.

I am Platinum for another 18 months, with only setting foot on one Qantas aircraft. OK, there were 3 Jetstar flights to make the requisite 4 qualifying sectors.

After my next trip I may even make partner gold and barter the card for my mother’s stash of frequent flyer points putting me well on track for a first class trip back home to London, providing the Irish Dwarf doesn’t put his thieving hobbity hands on our points by then!!!

Tomorrow I will borrow the neighbour’s car and take the run up the range to Kuranda to see if the puppy still loves me after leaving him for 5 weeks. This time I’ll take the pet carrier. And extra towels.

The plane lands around 1130 and I can't resist calling my local Brazilian friend for one last lunchtime feast of fine wine and food at downtown cafe, Perottas, before facing some badly needed detox and restarting an exercise program to dispel my newly found 3 kilos...

 

[Bundy Bear]

Thanks for writing the trip report.

Nice detail on the flights but also on the places you visited.

How many SCs did the trip generate.

 

[straitman]

Platy,

Great report thanks.

 

[Platy]

Thanks for writing the trip report.

Nice detail on the flights but also on the places you visited.

How many SCs did the trip generate.

Thanks Bundy Bear.

The 13 flights generated 1350 SCs at a cost of $6,500 in flight costs.

I could have hit the magic 1200 to requalify for Platinum without one of the Starclass flights, thus made WP again for $6,000 on the same routing.

These costs should have been about $250 less without the hugely overpriced CNS-SYD sector in school holidays.

That means for my route I should have been able to hit the 1200 mark for about $5,750!!!

Obviously the main trick is buying instant upgrade fares from AA...for comparison consider I could have travelled CNS-SYD-LAX-BOS return on a Qantas economy ticket and only scored 180 SCs for a $4,000 outlay :shock:

 

[Platy]

Platy,

Great report thanks.

Thanks, mate!

 

[serfty]

I think this is a very good trip report.

Well done ...

... Cabin crew share a vital piece of information:

• On odd flight numbers catering is dispached from back row to front row!
• On even flight numbers catering is dispached from front row to back!

As I am now on odd numbered flights, I can relax and enjoy the pick of the catering choices.

I make a mental note to alter my seating strategy accordingly – even flights sit at the front, odd flights sit at the back of the first cabin. ...

This is a fact well known to many regular posters on this board.

Do a search on AFF for threads with the keyword FEBO ... it currently brings up 18 (after this post it will be 19 )

On the FT AA forum it's a well know tenet. AA FA's call it "Preferences".

Now, for me food is food and I have generally not been too concerned - preferring a bulkhead to a meal preference ; however even when served last there has always been something substantial available (I have been led to believe that are as many meals as there are seats in F/J on AA flights). Maybe someone snaffled a meal or two between the airport caterers kitchen and being served. :-|

Oh, and FEBO? ... "Front Even, Back Odd"

 

[Platy]

I think this is a very good trip report.

Well done ...Now, for me food is food and I have generally not been too concerned - preferring a bulkhead to a meal preference...Oh, and FEBO? ... "Front Even, Back Odd"

Thanks, Serfty.

Yes, somehow I missed the FEBO wisdom in my eagerness to maximise return on investment in the hunt for SCs.

It was just really that breakfast of cornflakes on the 4 hour BGI-MIA that left me short!

 

[JohnK]

Very nice trip report.

Congratulations on requalifying QF Platinum.

 

[Platy]

Very nice trip report.

Congratulations on requalifying QF Platinum.

Many thanks!

May be repeating the trip in Oct/Nov! Considering 24k Global Explorer in L class (uni paying this time so no budget for the pointy end):

My jetlag seemed to be easier going westwards on daytime flights, so considering:

CNS-NRT-HEL-BRU-LHR-BOS-JFK-SYD-CNS

Trying to keep to airlines that give 1 pt per mile in discount economy where possible!