The Black Cat and the Bermuda Triangle

[blackcat20]

At 9.15 we decided to head to our gate on the other concourse, and luckily we did as boarding commenced at 9.20am for a 9.59 departure. The problem with being in 1A is that it's almost impossible to take photos as every other passenger pushes past you. It would be a nicer experience if they boarded from the second door as the plane is designed to be used.

While we waited I exlored my seat. There is a little cubby hole to the side where bottled water and an amenity kit is waiting. And two more down below, perfect for storing your shoes. The tray table swings out from under the bench then unfolds to full size.




The tv, when latched, is angled towards the window and almost impossible to watch until you are in the air. Additionally, headphones arent handed out till then.



Only ten seats in the cabin.



The control panel. Found the remote to be pretty useless.




A pre-departure juice was also offered and accepted.

 

[JohnM]

1A in the A321T - but going in the opposite direction to you - brings back pleasant memories from late September . Be interested to find out if you and/or Jess tried what I thought to be excellent cappuccinos during my flight.

 

[JessicaTam]

1A in the A321T - but going in the opposite direction to you - brings back pleasant memories from late September . Be interested to find out if you and/or Jess tried what I thought to be excellent cappuccinos during my flight.

Bugger, I was thinking about dessert too much and forgot all about them.

 

[JohnM]

Bugger, I was thinking about dessert too much and forgot all about them.

Back you go .

 

[blackcat20]

1A in the A321T - but going in the opposite direction to you - brings back pleasant memories from late September . Be interested to find out if you and/or Jess tried what I thought to be excellent cappuccinos during my flight.

I don't drink coffee

 

[JohnM]

I don't drink coffee

But what about Eeyore - he looks a bit long in the face and could probably do with a buck-up .

 

[blackcat20]

The menu









And the supplied Bose headphones

 

[blackcat20]

Champagne and warm nuts



Entrée. I don't eat prawns so I ate around them. The salad was quite nice.



Main. It's still plane food. Chicken was a tad dry but edible.



Dessert. Yum!

 

[KitKat]

cookies cookies cookies...next?

 

[JohnM]

It ain't champagne - but it is a pretty reasonable California sparkling.

 

[JohnM]

cookies cookies cookies...next?

Begone, sugar-loaded cookies :!:.

 

[blackcat20]

It ain't champagne - but it is a pretty reasonable California sparkling.

I know, but they insist on calling it champagne...

cookies cookies cookies...next?

Coming!

 

[blackcat20]

After the meal I reclined the seat and settled in for a few movies. Not long after, our lovely FA came around with a a tray of freshly baked cookies, sparkling water, and milk.



A peek inside the amenity kit too. Didn't actually use any of it, but a decent selection of items to get you through the six hour flight.

 

[JohnM]

Far, far too much sugar for you, Eeyore....

 

[blackcat20]

Los Angeles
Once we arrived in LA we hopped on the shuttle bus to the car hire place and it wasn't long before we had our lovely red Cruze. Destination: In'n'Out burger! The one near the airport is packed, and the food wasn't as good as my previous experiences elsewhere.



At least there's some good plane spotting to be had.



We dropped JessicaTam off, then headed towards our hotel. The Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach. Such an improvement! They actually had a running computer system this time, and happily welcomed us at check in. Before long we were in our ocean-facing level four room. A quick unload, then a short drive to a nearby shopping galleria to stock up on a few necessities.



Pre-dinner drinks in the Exec Lounge, where the lovely attendant recognised us from our previous stay. Dinner was at The Cheesecake Factory, conveniently located across the road. The food is cheap but good, and the servings are massive. The Cobb salad is good. They also do a good peach coughtail.



And a piece of pumpkin cheesecake to eat back in the room.



Then it was bedtime after a very long day.

 

[blackcat20]

Los Angeles Day 2
Knowing we had a long night ahead of us, it was a sleep in, then breakfast in the lounge. They have a good array of toast, bagels, scrambled eggs, bacon, cereal and fresh fruit. Then a slow amble around Redondo Beach. Being the offseason, there isn't much happening. It feels like Santa Monica might during some sort of apocalypse.



The hotel gave us a late checkout, but we decided to head to Santa Monica around noon. But not before a quick stop at Costco so see if the Aussie stores live up to it. It was busy, and there were good liquor deals, but we left without buying anything. I already had a huge stash of m&ms from target...



My favourite lunch spot in Santa Monica: Blue Plate Taco. On the main strip with a view of the ocean, great margaritas and fabulous tacos. I always get the passion fruit margarita.




And the corn chips with fresh guacamole.



And this time the pork belly tacos.



Then we had a little browse though the shops, but didn't find much that appealed. All their winter stock is in, not so useful with the Aussie summer on its way. Exhausted we piled back into the car and pointed ourselves towards LAX. I expected traffic, but it was much worse than last time, and we took about 45 minutes to crawl 6km. But once past the freeway entrance it cleared up, and before long we were on the shuttle and being dropped at TBIT.

 

[blackcat20]

LAX
I bee lined for the OWS check-in line, where no one was waiting. I'd checked in online so it was a baggage drop and collect boarding passes. Mums bag was overweight (she doesn't understand the concept of pack light) so I had to shuffle a few items into my bag to avoid the excess weight charge. Whatever happened to agent discretion?


The security line was a nightmare! No priority line to be seen (not that I was entitled anyway), and the line snaked around and around. Realising there was a problem they opened up the line further down, pushed everyone through, then arbitrarily decided if you got the short line or back to the start in the long line. We got lucky, into the short line where we got to leave shoes and jacket on, and put our LAGS away.


Done, we headed to the lift and the QF/OneWorld lounge. Having only experienced the Star Alliance lounge, I'll admit to being a little disappointed. It was around 7.30pm that we arrived, but there was already quite limited seating, and we had to sit around the (fake) fireplace. The lounge is such an odd shape, with the food area tucked into an awkward corner. The extension is much needed and can't come soon enough.






Mum headed to the bar for a much needed drink, and I wandered off towards the showers, where I was seen to right away. By the time I emerged less than 10 minutes later, they were handing out buzzers to guests waiting to use the facilities.




I collected a drink, then went to peruse the food. The lasagne was all gone, so I had some chicken and rice, and lamented the fact I hadn't seen any of the publicised 'dude food'. When I wandered back the lasagne had been replenished. Pity they keep soup bowls next to it, but the plates are tucked over by the side wall with the cutlery. Not efficient at all. Then I thought I'd head back to get some of the tiramisu I'd seen, when I spotted someone carrying a hot dog. Then I spied the counter where a lady was assembling said hot dogs. I got two, but mum refused hers so I made friends with the gentleman sitting next to me, who could not turn down said offering.




Soon after, he came back with tacos, including one for me. They were good!




With departure time approaching, the lounge was bulging and they were making announcements asking people not to take up seating space with bags. I popped out to buy some bottled water, but checked with the desk that I'd be allowed back in. He promised to remember me on my return. I decided to cap off my lounge experience with a drambuie on ice; no such thing as rsa apparently! But I was on a mission to sleep through my dreaded Y experience, and it was sure to help.

 

[blackcat20]

So apparently I forgot to finish my trip report :shock:

 

[Major]

Ooops....