dede
Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2009
- Posts
- 490
Jun 4 MEL-LAX QF93 747-400
My requested upgrade to Premium Economy didn’t come through but Economy seemed to be better than the last time I flew it. Are the seats better than they used to be? Enjoyed the check in at the Business check in counter due to my recent elevation to PS.
On the flight had a window seat (67A) with an empty seat beside me. Watched a couple of movies, Day The Earth Stood Still, Milk and Behind The Scenes of Australia.
Had a few drinks then slept about 7 hours before waking up for breakfast and landing at LAX at 0730. The meals were all very tasty (yes, I like airline food too!)
Jun 4 LAX-JFK
Waited for AA40 (due to depart at 1100) in the Admiral’s Club courtesy of my complimentary invitation received for becoming PS. My original QF flight had been cancelled a couple of months before so I was given the option to take the later AA flight which I did.
Arrived in JFK at 1910.
Jun 5 JFK-MCO
0730 flight on Jet Blue to Orlando for a weekend of theme park heaven! Universal Studios on Saturday and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sunday. Universal was the better theme park overall – loved The Simpson’s Ride!
Disney had the Tower of Terror which I did three times and the Rock n’ Roller coaster but that’s about all that really appeals to adults.
Now for the silly bits....
I’d decided a few months ago after getting close to PS that it wouldn’t take too much of an effort to get to SG so that I would have lounge access for my trip to the UK later this year and for my flatmate who’s coming with me. Then I realised that with a few well placed YUPPs (KUPPs?) that I would be able to get to WP with not much more effort AND it might be the only time in my life that I get there. That would mean I would get benefits for the next few years at least because of my anniversary date on Jan 1.
So......
Jun 8 MCO-DFW-SEA
Departed Orlando 1750 AA897 seat 5F (Boeing 757)
Arr DFW 1945
Dep DFW 2055 seat 6F (MD80)
Arr SEA 2315
This was chosen to maximise SCs.
I also decided to do a SC run from SEA once I found that SEA-LAX-SFO was only US$249 OW for 150SC.
This is where it gets hairy....
I decided to stay in the terminal at SEA because the SEA-LAX flight left at 0600 the next morning. If I’d chosen a later flight I wouldn’t have been able to get back in the same day.
I passed my time surfing the net. Time passed quickly while I was Sleepless in Seattle.
Jun 9 SEA-LAX-SFO-LAX-SEA
Dep SEA 0600 on Alaskan Airlines AS240 seat 4A
Flying First meant I had access to the Board Room at SEA which opened at 0500. Very comfy and I thought it was better than the AC at LAX. Booze was complimentary and gets served from 0600 (Qantas take note! - not that I would have partaken at that time of the morning) Arrived at LAX on time at 0830 and changed terminals on the free shuttle which goes across the tarmac – means you don’t have to go through the security check again)
Boarded AA1928 which was due to depart at 1000 and arrive in SFO at 1120.
Once we’d all boarded we were told that due to a low cloud cover we wouldn’t be taking off until about 1145! Oh, oh! There goes my plan.
Late in Los Angeles.
I had thought about getting off the plane and foregoing the LAX-SFO-LAX leg and just getting the flight back to SEA but was told by Bruce the AA FA from San Francisco (yes, really!) that all flights would be delayed. More on this later.
We pushed back at 1100 – one hour late. Eventually taking off at 1145.
We had a flying time of 48 mins (down from 1:20)
We got off the plane in SFO at 1245 and were due to take off at 1300. Times from here on are a bit hazy as I didn’t write it all down. Fortunately it was the same plane going back to LAX and Bruce knew that my drink of preference was a Vodka Cranberry. Thank you Bruce!
Speedy in San Francisco!
We landed in LAX at Terminal 4 at sometime after 1400. My AS flight back to Seattle was still due to take off at 1530 and I had to get back to Terminal 3. After transferring between terminals, walk, bus, wait, I arrived at the gate as the plane was boarding. What a day!
We landed back in SEA on time at 1813. I arrived at my hotel, the Mediterranean Inn –an Expedia cheapie but quite handy to everything.
I don’t think I really thought it all through when I booked it but I managed to get a couple of hours sleep at some point during the previous 34 hours since I’d woken in Orlando the day before.
Needless to say I slept well that night.
The next day was spent sightseeing in Seattle. I walked the length of the city, had a cruise of the harbour, took in a view from the Smith Tower, rode the monorail, visited the Science Fiction museum and finally went to the top of the Space Needle. Frasier Crane was nowhere to be seen. Seattle has a short memory! Rhe weather was beautiful!
Sunny in Seattle!
Jun 10 SEA-DFW-EWR
Dep SEA 2320 AA1230 seat 6F (MD80)
Arr DFW 0505 in the midst of ferocious thunderstorms.
I was meant to depart DFW 0630 AA1590 but it was cancelled!
Booked on to AA1874 at 0925 – unfortunately had to take a seat in coach.
Have to get back to Newark so it’s the best thing to do. I’ve got a ticket to see Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit that night.
Gate C21 was changed an hour later to Gate A20 but the Skylink isn’t running due to lightning so it was a long walk around the terminal. Sitting at the gate and the flight is now scheduled to leave at 0940. I’ll get there eventually.
Now delayed to 1030
Now delayed to 1200
Then delayed to 1215, then 1230, eventually took off around 1300
See thread at: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage/963741-anything-getting-out-dfw-june-11-merged.html
When I returned home I found that I’d been allocated Economy miles and SCs for this flight!
A polite letter to Qantas about getting SCs for the class booked, not necessarily flown, resulted in the appropriate miles and credits later being added to my account. After all, the weather situation was out of my hands.
Arr EWR late at 1745 due to avoiding more storms and flying slower to avoid turbulence. It was a pretty bump flight!
Luggage came off the carousel and I made it to Blithe Spirit (missed the first scene but at least I saw it!)
For the return journey JFK-SYD-MEL I was SG so was able to take advantage of the BA Terrace Club at JFK – very well appointed. Lots of snacks, good wine, plenty of room, plenty of choice. QF 108 from JFK-SYD
My upgrade from O to J (from the recent promotion) came through so I was able to sleep on the way home.
Arrived in Sydney on Tuesday at 0730 and had to transfer to Domestic for my flight back home in Melbourne.
This was my first time having to transfer so I was told to take the Qantas seamless transfer bus – upon getting there I was told that there was an hour and a half wait! I would miss my 0930 connection flight if I waited.
I walked outside and just missed the TBus, so ended up getting a taxi.
I still missed my flight but the lovely Qantas lady booked me on the next flight. I had a shower in the lounge to freshen up because I was going straight in to work. The next flight ended up being delayed by about 30mins anyway.
All in all I have to say it was a very enjoyable mid year break - and well done to Qantas for making the trip so nice. Looking forward to my trip to London in November (and my elevation to WP)
My requested upgrade to Premium Economy didn’t come through but Economy seemed to be better than the last time I flew it. Are the seats better than they used to be? Enjoyed the check in at the Business check in counter due to my recent elevation to PS.
On the flight had a window seat (67A) with an empty seat beside me. Watched a couple of movies, Day The Earth Stood Still, Milk and Behind The Scenes of Australia.
Had a few drinks then slept about 7 hours before waking up for breakfast and landing at LAX at 0730. The meals were all very tasty (yes, I like airline food too!)
Jun 4 LAX-JFK
Waited for AA40 (due to depart at 1100) in the Admiral’s Club courtesy of my complimentary invitation received for becoming PS. My original QF flight had been cancelled a couple of months before so I was given the option to take the later AA flight which I did.
Arrived in JFK at 1910.
Jun 5 JFK-MCO
0730 flight on Jet Blue to Orlando for a weekend of theme park heaven! Universal Studios on Saturday and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sunday. Universal was the better theme park overall – loved The Simpson’s Ride!
Disney had the Tower of Terror which I did three times and the Rock n’ Roller coaster but that’s about all that really appeals to adults.
Now for the silly bits....
I’d decided a few months ago after getting close to PS that it wouldn’t take too much of an effort to get to SG so that I would have lounge access for my trip to the UK later this year and for my flatmate who’s coming with me. Then I realised that with a few well placed YUPPs (KUPPs?) that I would be able to get to WP with not much more effort AND it might be the only time in my life that I get there. That would mean I would get benefits for the next few years at least because of my anniversary date on Jan 1.
So......
Jun 8 MCO-DFW-SEA
Departed Orlando 1750 AA897 seat 5F (Boeing 757)
Arr DFW 1945
Dep DFW 2055 seat 6F (MD80)
Arr SEA 2315
This was chosen to maximise SCs.
I also decided to do a SC run from SEA once I found that SEA-LAX-SFO was only US$249 OW for 150SC.
This is where it gets hairy....
I decided to stay in the terminal at SEA because the SEA-LAX flight left at 0600 the next morning. If I’d chosen a later flight I wouldn’t have been able to get back in the same day.
I passed my time surfing the net. Time passed quickly while I was Sleepless in Seattle.
Jun 9 SEA-LAX-SFO-LAX-SEA
Dep SEA 0600 on Alaskan Airlines AS240 seat 4A
Flying First meant I had access to the Board Room at SEA which opened at 0500. Very comfy and I thought it was better than the AC at LAX. Booze was complimentary and gets served from 0600 (Qantas take note! - not that I would have partaken at that time of the morning) Arrived at LAX on time at 0830 and changed terminals on the free shuttle which goes across the tarmac – means you don’t have to go through the security check again)
Boarded AA1928 which was due to depart at 1000 and arrive in SFO at 1120.
Once we’d all boarded we were told that due to a low cloud cover we wouldn’t be taking off until about 1145! Oh, oh! There goes my plan.
Late in Los Angeles.
I had thought about getting off the plane and foregoing the LAX-SFO-LAX leg and just getting the flight back to SEA but was told by Bruce the AA FA from San Francisco (yes, really!) that all flights would be delayed. More on this later.
We pushed back at 1100 – one hour late. Eventually taking off at 1145.
We had a flying time of 48 mins (down from 1:20)
We got off the plane in SFO at 1245 and were due to take off at 1300. Times from here on are a bit hazy as I didn’t write it all down. Fortunately it was the same plane going back to LAX and Bruce knew that my drink of preference was a Vodka Cranberry. Thank you Bruce!
Speedy in San Francisco!
We landed in LAX at Terminal 4 at sometime after 1400. My AS flight back to Seattle was still due to take off at 1530 and I had to get back to Terminal 3. After transferring between terminals, walk, bus, wait, I arrived at the gate as the plane was boarding. What a day!
We landed back in SEA on time at 1813. I arrived at my hotel, the Mediterranean Inn –an Expedia cheapie but quite handy to everything.
I don’t think I really thought it all through when I booked it but I managed to get a couple of hours sleep at some point during the previous 34 hours since I’d woken in Orlando the day before.
Needless to say I slept well that night.
The next day was spent sightseeing in Seattle. I walked the length of the city, had a cruise of the harbour, took in a view from the Smith Tower, rode the monorail, visited the Science Fiction museum and finally went to the top of the Space Needle. Frasier Crane was nowhere to be seen. Seattle has a short memory! Rhe weather was beautiful!
Sunny in Seattle!
Jun 10 SEA-DFW-EWR
Dep SEA 2320 AA1230 seat 6F (MD80)
Arr DFW 0505 in the midst of ferocious thunderstorms.
I was meant to depart DFW 0630 AA1590 but it was cancelled!
Booked on to AA1874 at 0925 – unfortunately had to take a seat in coach.
Have to get back to Newark so it’s the best thing to do. I’ve got a ticket to see Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit that night.
Gate C21 was changed an hour later to Gate A20 but the Skylink isn’t running due to lightning so it was a long walk around the terminal. Sitting at the gate and the flight is now scheduled to leave at 0940. I’ll get there eventually.
Now delayed to 1030
Now delayed to 1200
Then delayed to 1215, then 1230, eventually took off around 1300
See thread at: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage/963741-anything-getting-out-dfw-june-11-merged.html
When I returned home I found that I’d been allocated Economy miles and SCs for this flight!
A polite letter to Qantas about getting SCs for the class booked, not necessarily flown, resulted in the appropriate miles and credits later being added to my account. After all, the weather situation was out of my hands.
Arr EWR late at 1745 due to avoiding more storms and flying slower to avoid turbulence. It was a pretty bump flight!
Luggage came off the carousel and I made it to Blithe Spirit (missed the first scene but at least I saw it!)
For the return journey JFK-SYD-MEL I was SG so was able to take advantage of the BA Terrace Club at JFK – very well appointed. Lots of snacks, good wine, plenty of room, plenty of choice. QF 108 from JFK-SYD
My upgrade from O to J (from the recent promotion) came through so I was able to sleep on the way home.
Arrived in Sydney on Tuesday at 0730 and had to transfer to Domestic for my flight back home in Melbourne.
This was my first time having to transfer so I was told to take the Qantas seamless transfer bus – upon getting there I was told that there was an hour and a half wait! I would miss my 0930 connection flight if I waited.
I walked outside and just missed the TBus, so ended up getting a taxi.
I still missed my flight but the lovely Qantas lady booked me on the next flight. I had a shower in the lounge to freshen up because I was going straight in to work. The next flight ended up being delayed by about 30mins anyway.
All in all I have to say it was a very enjoyable mid year break - and well done to Qantas for making the trip so nice. Looking forward to my trip to London in November (and my elevation to WP)
