Some random observations from my first DONE4

[Febs]

Hi all,

As much as I'd love to write up a TR...I just didn't/don't have the time or willpower...so instead, here's a dot-point collection of some of the good, bad and humorous parts of my just-completed 6 week DONE4 (SYD-BOM-all around India-DXB-LHR-HEL-JFK/LGA-DFW-ANC-DFW-LAS-LAX-SYD)

1) What was looking like a flawless DONE4 (even the Indian domestic flights all went to plan...but that's probably because Jet Airways are brilliant) all came apart on the LAS-LAX sector on Friday night. Onboard a tiny American Eagle jet (26 seats, and I swear there were at least 20 Aussies on board)....we experience two aborted takeoffs (it's weird getting almost to takeoff speed, then suddenly slowing down). Great, back to the gate, everyone off (eventually).

Advised to call AA, we do, and are told there's nothing available LAS-LAX, except a Southwest flight which we'd have to pay for. Group splits up and forms smaller groups. Some pay for Southwest, some are booked on United, others wait at the AA ticketing desk. A group of 6 of us manage to get on the Southwest flight and get AA to pay for it (with a hand-written cheque, believe it or not!!) In the end I think everyone ended up on the Southwest flight.

Advised that our luggage "Will make it's way to LAX...but we don't know how - United, US Airways or Delta...it'll get there." We didn't hold much hope, but were happy to be getting into LAX in time to catch our QF flights (I was on QF12, but moved to QF150 to give myself a bit more time.)

Luggage never turned up in Sydney (of course)...not sure where it is. Could be on QF108 (in which case, I should have it this arvo), otherwise it's still in LAX and will be here tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

2) Southwest are brilliant, and their flight crew hilarious. Announcements such as "If you smoke there's a $2,000 fine, and we know y'all don't have $2,000 because otherwise you wouldn't be flying Southwest" certainly helped brighten an otherwise average experience LAS-LAX.

3) AA check-in staff need to learn geography.
AA check-in staff, LGA: "Where are you off to?"
Me: "Anchorage"
AA: "Passport please."
(Confused as I know this isn't necessary, but whatever...)
AA: "When are you returning to the United States?"
Me: "Pardon?
AA: "How long are you spending out of the US?"
Me: "I'm going to Alaska."
AA: "Yes, and?"
Me: "...and Alaska is in the United States."
AA: "....oh, oh, I'm sorry, silly me!"



4) I wish airline travel was a bit more like the ferry between Helsinki (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia). Cheap, huge lounges/bars/restaurants to spread out in, free WiFi, and best of all - no immigration at the other side. I mean, the booths were there, but the staff weren't. Just walk straight through!

5) I can't work out AA's inconsistency. On ANC-DFW (6h 30m flight) they use an ancient plane with a very-average First class...yet on DFW-LAS (2hrs something?) they give us a 777 with the NGBC seats! It can't be due to lack of demand for F on ANC-DFW - I was waitlisted for weeks! Could've really used that NGBC on the (overnight) trip from Anchorage!

6) Why no Admiral's Club at LAS? ANC I can understand of course, but surely Vegas warrants an AC?

7) Award for the most inappropriate airline food goes to...Finnair, for crayfish! Don't get me wrong - absolutely delicious...but that's a lot of waste to keep onboard for a very small meal. Tasty though, and I liked the way the air hostess explained that "In Finland, we have to have a shot of this before eating Crayfish" then handed me a shot of some random clear Finnish spirit. Don't think I've ever seen an airline carry shot glasses before, but I liked it!

8) New QF J kits are decent. A little flimsy, but worlds ahead of the useless plastic kit. No more skin spritzer in the bathrooms though.

9) DFW-ANC-DFW is a brilliant little earner. 300 SCs! (If your waitlist clears...which luckily mine did. 5min before boarding on the DFW-ANC sector.)

That's it for now...I'm sure I'll think of more later. Hope you enjoyed.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Leumas]

Anchorage is a great place to visit. I hope you spent a bit of time there rather than just turned around. The people there is very friendly.

Even if there's no AC at ANC, the restaurant there is quite nice - lots of greasy food, with bottomless soda. The DFW-ANC flight is always quite full when it's on because it connects for people going on cruises. I think AA fly ORD-ANC too, or at least used to...

You might have got lucky with your 777 to LAS, but good for you. Not entirely sure why there's no AC at LAS either. Perhaps the airport is quite new and they haven't got around to it...? Perhaps they just want to push you through to the pokies at the airporrt...?

How did you find Helsinki?

 

[Mal]

Thanks for the info. Yeah, agree with most of your points. They seem so logical, but the airlines somehow manage to miss them.

Finnair has a special crayfish menu for about a month between HEL-NYC based on Finnish tradition.
News : Finnair

Crayfish is served in Business Class from August 15

The traditional crayfish season will start in Business Class on Finnair flights from Helsinki to New York on Friday August 15. This is the eighth year that Finnair has included crayfish on its menu.

The genuine Finnish crayfish will be delivered fresh from the waters of Lakeland Finland and prepared according to the expert instructions of the chefs at the kitchens of Finnair Catering.

Crayfish is a traditional delicacy in the late summer in Finland and is consumed at special crayfish parties. In keeping with tradition, the crayfish on Finnair flights will be served with toast, dill and lemon as well as the appropriate Finnish schnapps accompaniment. Crayfish will be served until August 28.

The wine list of the season introduces the excellent Clos du Roy 2006 to be enjoyed with river crayfish.

Finnair Business Class meals offer a wide range of food and drink to choose from. The customer feedback for the New York flight’s crayfish menu has been overwhelmingly positive, with some passengers even breaking into traditional song in true crayfish party style.

Extravagant - Yes! But sounds so mouth watering!

 

[Bundy Bear]

Thanks for the quick review.

Just some questions and comments.

a) How was the Finnair MD11.
b) Las Vegas is probably low yeild so why bother with an AC.
c) Southwest are good and try to be funny, something that Virgin Blue tried to copy but failed.
d) Lucky AA gave you a first seat, Qantas would rather the seat went empty than give it to someone.
e) How was Anchorage; you were there for more than just a turn around.
f) How was Dubai.

 

[Febs]

Anchorage is a great place to visit. I hope you spent a bit of time there rather than just turned around. The people there is very friendly.

Definitely. Spent two nights (Sheraton Anchorage - bargain at 7,000 starpoints/night ) and hired a car. Drove about an hour down the Seward Hwy, saw a Glacier, stopped at a wildlife reserve (saw bears, moose etc...) and went paragliding at Alyeska resort. Spent the second day around downtown Anchorage. Cool place, nice people.

How did you find Helsinki?

Not bad, but I preferred Stockholm. Bit more lively (and much better talent ).

Finnair has a special crayfish menu for about a month between HEL-NYC based on Finnish tradition.

Wow...my flight was on the 15th August. Had no idea it was so limited. Good timing.

a) How was the Finnair MD11.

Not bad. Much noisier in the J cabin than a QF 747, but I find QF 747's pretty quiet compared to anything really. Seat probably wasn't as good as a Club World seat (and hence nowhere near as good as a skybed), but comfortable enough. Service was very good.

d) Lucky AA gave you a first seat, Qantas would rather the seat went empty than give it to someone.

Heh, yeah, though I was on a paid F (A) ticket (DONE4). I felt kind of bad for all the people on the upgrade waitlist - they had no chance right from the beginning (there were 2 x F pax who hadn't checked in, and 2 of us with paid A seats).

e) How was Anchorage; you were there for more than just a turn around.

2 nights, yeah. See above.

f) How was Dubai.

Absolutely amazing. Loved it - highlight of the trip.

You wouldn't want to spend more than 4-5 nights there (and that includes a lot of pool/beach-side relaxing)...but definitely a great place to visit. If all goes to plan, it'll be an amazing place in 10-15 years.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[anat0l]

Wow. Just read this as a sideline feed and Febs I am green with envy.

How did you get to DXB? Carrier-wise that is (can't think of a OW carrier that links from India to DXB)

I've heard good things about ANC, so when I save up enough for a xONEx I know ANC will make its way into the itinerary there somewhere (the other place I wouldn't mind going to is IPC, i.e. Easter Island).

I see that some of your sectors (particularly AA) were flown in F rather than in J (as per your DONE4). Makes some sense since there is no real J inventory on AA domestic. How much did you have to pay for upgrading from D to P (or other F class equivalent)? I guess still surprising this seems to break the old rules of "upgrades credit into originally booked class".

As the English say, "Good show, old boy!"

 

[serfty]

... How did you get to DXB? Carrier-wise that is (can't think of a OW carrier that links from India to DXB) ...

This is a useful tool in planning xONEx's:

• oneworld Online Timetable.

It shows CX fly a 773 betwixt BOM and DXB.

 

[Febs]

Thanks mate, it was a fun trip.

How did you get to DXB? Carrier-wise that is (can't think of a OW carrier that links from India to DXB)

As serfty mentioned - Cathay have a direct flight (it's only 2h 50m). CX685 was the chariot. First time I've flown Cathay J and was very impressed (being such a short flight, the seat was nothing special, but the service was fantastic. First and only time I've ever had a specific Emerald welcome, on any airline ).

(the other place I wouldn't mind going to is IPC, i.e. Easter Island).

Hmm...now that would be interesting!

I see that some of your sectors (particularly AA) were flown in F rather than in J (as per your DONE4). Makes some sense since there is no real J inventory on AA domestic. How much did you have to pay for upgrading from D to P (or other F class equivalent)?

That's the beauty of AA domestic sectors on a DONE4 - there's no D or J, so they have to book into A/F/P (pending availability). Even better - it's not an upgrade, but technical "paid First" so if you're waitlisted in First, you get priority over those trying to upgrade.

Brilliant little SC earners. On my usual SYD-MCI (Kansas City) run...I make 180 SC's SYD-LAX in J...then another 180 SC's LAX-DFW-MCI in First!

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Keith009]

Febs - I agree with your comments regarding OW elite recognition on Cathay. Even though I find fault with 90% of my Cathay flights (really, I do not mean to nitpick ) and am not as enamoured with the service as others, I am consistently impressed by their commitment to OW and going above and beyond the 'script' in extending special recognition to (non Cathay) OW elites.

This is a useful tool in planning xONEx's:

• oneworld Online Timetable.

It shows CX fly a 773 betwixt BOM and DXB.

Could also do BA via LHR.

 

[Febs]

Could also do BA via LHR.

Could you though? Would the xONEx rules allow Asia-Europe-Middle East-<somewhere>?

I guess you could do it easily enough if you were going the other way around the world.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Keith009]

Could you though? Would the xONEx rules allow Asia-Europe-Middle East-<somewhere>?

I guess you could do it easily enough if you were going the other way around the world.

Cheers,
- Febs.

Europe+Middle East+random bits of North Africa considered same continent. You are allowed to go Europe-Middle East-Europe-somewhere so long as you meet the "far reaches of Europe" restriction which limits you to 2 flights between UK and a list of destinations in Europe/ME (see rules for list).

My first DONE4:
NRT-xSIN-xLHR-DXB-xLHR-FCO-LHR-LAX-xx_

2nd one is ticketed as:
xx_-AKL-xSYD-xLHR-MCT-xLHR-IST-LHR-LAX-xx_

 

[serfty]

Could you though? Would the xONEx rules allow Asia-Europe-Middle East-<somewhere>?

I guess you could do it easily enough if you were going the other way around the world.

Cheers,
- Febs.

Certainly, for xONEx purposes, the middle east is considered part of Europe.

I have travelled -SYD-LHR-DXB-LHR-LAX- on a DONE4.