Business trip to Nth America via HKG; QF, CX and AC J

[TomVexille]

We are booked on a UA flight (one way) and got the seats for $311.40 each which at the time I thought was a ripoff. I also paid an extra $34 for economy plus seats. I don't have any status however I did quote my Krisflyer number. Not sure if I will score any points. UA has a monopoly on this route as far as I can tell. Your customer obviously doesn't have a policy "Cheapest fare on the day" like most other companies I have worked with have.

Pretty much every (non-award) fare class on UA will earn to Krisflyer.

 

[Bolthead]

Pretty much every (non-award) fare class on UA will earn to Krisflyer.

Thanks, good to know.

 

[RooFlyer]

Great trip report RooFlyer. Mrs Rugby and I were in that Calgary lounge a couple of summers ago, and also went up the ski lift at Kicking Horse Resort near Golden and watched mountain bikers throw themselves off the mountain - lots of shredded tires. I'm enjoying reminiscing! Cheers.

Golden is one of my main work areas .

But as I said, I'm not a skier, so here's the Kicking Horse ski fields in the summer ...




And the Colombia River Valley just to the side (view from my 'office') ...





And gratuitous cute bear pic (poster):

 

[Rugby]

Still have my bear bell, I use it as a Xmas tree decoration, I understand that's about all it's good for anyway

 

[defurax]

Still have my bear bell, I use it as a Xmas tree decoration, I understand that's about all it's good for anyway

Making noise, talking, whistling, singing is still the best way to avoid startling a bear. Especially in early July when they are too busy eating wild berries to pay attention to their surroundings.

 

[TheEmu]

Still have my bear bell, I use it as a Xmas tree decoration, I understand that's about all it's good for anyway

Apparently so...

 

[RooFlyer]

Is that pepper I can smell ?

 

[RooFlyer]

Ok, its started to snow again.



Actually, along the side of the apartment block, the snow is going upwards

Time to leave! And the fact that my upgrade to F came through on the QF bird back to Oz, won't tempt me to stay.

I have half a day at LAX transit, with a car, so I'll be visiting all those places touted as 'things to do for a ~5 hour transit at LAX', camera in hand for an "illustrated guide".

So far its:

Fry's electronics
In-n-out burger joint
Westfield Culver City
Marina del Ray
Santa Monica Pier
Venice Beach.

Any other requests?

 

[badrastafari]

So as we drove back to the airport I got some pics out the car window. But if anyone can tell me that the heck the sign on the right is all about, I'd like to know! :shock: Is it like a Tupperware party?

View attachment 26123

Ha! Tupperware!

Pretty Lights is a local DJ in the area so I'm guessing its a music gig of sorts.

-Andrew

 

[TomVexille]

Ha! Tupperware!

Pretty Lights is a local DJ in the area so I'm guessing its a music gig of sorts.

-Andrew

Google reveals that it's an dance music duo

 

[RooFlyer]

Google reveals that it's an dance music duo

Ah! The Dance of the 15 Flick knives!

 

[TomVexille]

Ah! The Dance of the 15 Flick knives!

Apparently they were in Australia recently for the Future Music Festival

 

[RooFlyer]

So time to go home. The day dawned cloudy, and we had snow overnight.




The limo arrived. OK, OK, they don't make Lincoln Town Cars like they belong in a Presidential motorcade any more ... but it still beats a cab (and is similarly priced). Who needs QF Chauffer Drive




The freeway was pretty clear, which was a bit of a pity, as I allowed an hour and it only took us half that. Blowing snow approaching the airport, but fine and clear up above and ops appeared normal.




Calgary airport is undergoing expansion. Ho hum you say. Well, its not only an entire new international terminal, but a new runway .. (for A380s). I'd bless the day I simply got a 737 to LAX, rather than AC's dinky E190s!

 

[RooFlyer]

The reason you don't want to arrive too early to USA flights is:

1) They don't allow you into the US Immigration pre clearance area until 2 hours before the flight time and

2) There is no airline lounge in the USA departures pier.

I had a coffee to kill time and went through to US immigration. 20 mins, which is probably the longest time I have waited. Another 10 mins through security. Its 'March break' so chokkers with families and kids heading down to Disneyland etc. So really tedious through security.

I amused myself for a while watching the de-icing operations, which is shown in detail in this thread

Then to the gate, needing to be there early. Although AC has efficient Priority Boarding, because its an E190, with half the bins in J tiny, you need to be one of the first on to make sure you get a bin.

Taxiing showed Calgary downtown and the mountains behind it




AC have 3 rows of 1-2 in J and 2A is my 'regular' seat. Done this route many times. AC's J isn't bad. TPAC its very good; USA flights its pretty good - juice before departure; hot towl afterwards, drinks service pre meal, decent hot lunch (2 choices), plenty of top-ups etc. Seat is good, as is the IFE.




Here's the lunch menu (English version!) and the chicken. Got a good Chilean sav blanc to go with it.




Then the mountains gave way to the coast and it was LAX, on time and ready to explore for half a day.

 

[Kangol]

Time to leave! And the fact that my upgrade to F came through on the QF bird back to Oz, won't tempt me to stay.

Well done! Looking forward to lots of F food, drink and menu pics!

 

[RooFlyer]

Well done! Looking forward to lots of F food, drink and menu pics!

Ah well, I'll do my duty

During the day in LA, I had expected a call from the First Host in LAX. Do they call at the LAX end, or only for Australian departures? Although my contacts up-to-date, no call. I found 1K assigned at check-in, but asked for an alternative (1K I had previously and it gets light from the curtains opening and some noise from crew accessing the cupboard adjacent). 2F was just fine.

A couple of farewell pics of the 1st lounge at LAX. Soon to be expanded and we hope re modeled out of all recognition! It was nearly empty when I go there but by flight time it was packed, as usual. Although the Wi-Fi seemed to keep up. Main memory was a lady-of-late-years who for the better part of an hour kept up with stage whispers, encouragement to her husband to "Relax. Don't WORRY!" . Jeepers, I'd be permanently stressed if I had to face that all the time!





Onto boarding and shocked at the new TBIT concourse. Last time I was there, there was just a new, unfilled shell. Shops! Duty Free! Brightness! Colour! Los Angeles Airport joins the late 20th century!

CPre departure canapés of lavosh biscuit and marinated artichoke with thyme goats curd and, I think, Tattinger. Nice, but I prefer the old marinated olives and almonds . Also our great crew. Really nice and everything you would hope for in a crew. Best F crew I've had the pleasure of flying with.




Then the Captain came round and introduced himself, with warmth and enthusiasm. Never experienced this before - I, and obviously others, greatly appreciated it. The CSM Scott was quite chatty and as a consequence got trapped by an equally chatty lady in a seat adjacent to mine. I'm sure they could have gone on for hours, but Scott DID have to go and look after the plane ...

Here are the menu items for the flight:

 

[RooFlyer]

So here was my dinner: Zucchini and Basil soup, and Herb crumbed lamb rack with pearl barley, mint and orange salad, Asparagus and Romesco. The soup was delicious, but the lamb disappointed just a little. A little side or pot of gravy would have gone down well with me.




Desert of Vanilla Pot de Crème, then bed. I slept really well, which hasn't been the case when I've been in First before. I'm sure one of the reasons this time is that the cabin was cool, not warm to hot like I often find it. Also, the air vents were actually putting out cool air.




I woke up about 3 hrs out of SYD and a bit later checked out our position on the moving map. Cripes! Did the pilots forget something in LAX :shock: The display stayed the same for the rest of the flight.




Breakfast for me was energizer, Bircher muesli and scrambled eggs and salmon with crème fraiche. Nice!




A few moments ago this little guy crashed into the windows of my den/office. The windows are floor to ceiling and tinted and I often get birds banging into them mid flight. After regaining his senses, he was obviously pretty piszed off, as he started cackling to his reflection, and then launched himself a few times at himself , always coming off second best. Finally he perched on the covered up outside furniture, gave his nemesis a good heckling, and flew off.

 

[kevrosmith]

A few moments ago this little guy crashed into the windows of my den/office. The windows are room height and tinted and I often get birds banging into them mid flight. After regaining his senses, he was obviously pretty piszed off, as he started cackling to his reflection, and then launched himself a few times at himself , always coming off second best. Finally he perched on the covered up outside furniture, gave his nemesis a good heckling, and flew off.

If you care to, you can buy mock bird cut-outs, like of eagles and hawks, to put on your windows and that seems to prevent other birds from crashing into the windows... I've seen this done a few times and seems to help.

 

[RooFlyer]

Landed at SYD, quick through immigration thanks to SmartGate; still thinking nice thoughts about Qantas after a great F flight. Then a bloody irritating wait for bags. "Priority bags" my cough, Qantas! Nice thoughts about Qantas evaporating. There was a free mix of J tagged and non 'priority' tagged bags at first; it was 3 minutes of the bags appearing on the carousel before I saw a F tagged one and 15 mins before mine appeared. :evil:

To the domestic check in place, then join the 50 person queue to get on a bus to Domestic. Oh well.

Shower at SYD Dom J lounge, ready to board QF1019 to HBA. On time; 1D. Morning refreshment was a hot choice or fruit; I chose the latter.



Nice and refreshing.

Arrive HBA on time. Priority bags a failure again - complete mix of J/F tagged and un-tagged. Mine arrives on third load from the plane. Bloody hopeless. As we all know Qantas - IF YOU CAN"T DELIVER PRIORITY BAGS, THEN STOP PROMISING IT! :evil: :evil: :evil:

So, another trip ends. I loved CX J and unsurprisingly, QF F. Also AC J was good as well. Pretty good all round.

Got a survey from Qantas about my international flight. Don't like these much as they usually don't let you say what you really feel. I was particularly irritated by its questions about which airlines I had used in last 2 years & how many trips. Set list of airlines, no choice of 'Other'. No Air Canada (it does service Australia), so how was I supposed to list my 9 AC trips?

Just checked my QFF account. Oops - what's up here:





Well, OK, take the 45K points for the F upgrade, but I think I'm supposed to get the J points and SCs that were paid for I'll give 'em a few days to get it right, then (sigh) call them. Last time I had to do this, I was knocked back two times, only to succeed on the third.

Thanks for reading, and for the comments. I recommend CX J and The Mira in HKG. The Wing Lounge in HKG. QF F if you are lucky enough to afford it, in either cash or points.

 

[LadyC]

Thanks for posting - it was a very interesting trip report