'Twas with some trepidation I anticipated my first non-biz class international flight this century. (I don't count One Star with their pseudo business class, I do confess to ultilizing their dubious facility several years ago to and from Bali).
The seating plan showed a half full PE cabin with an empty seat (10A) next to my 10C. Mine was the best seat choice - bulkhead but you can sneak your feet forward around the edge of the toilet wall and stretch right out for sleep - it isn't as bad as it sounds! There are 2 toilets, in theory shared with Row 5, which is the Rock Star Row on VA. Located behind the biz bar, and ahead of the optimistically named PE Bar, Row 5 has curtains so a couple (either side) or a three-some (centre set of sleeper seats) can get some - ahem - privacy.
As to the PE bar, it is but a narrow walk through ahead of the row 10 bulkhead - with some drinks lodged up there. You can't actually congregate in there, according to the FA in charge. Who was nice about it, and broke up our party.
They leave snacks like crisps in there, and there is plenty of this and that. Maiz codged some kind of spirit, which they hauled down from Biz class. Not that he really drinks, he just wants us to think he does.....
I was a little whelmed to be greeted with great enthusiasm at checkin by the agent to be informed my erstwhile travel colleague The Maiz had somehow managed to get bumped up from economy and would be seated NEXT TO ME. Oh joy. Much as I enjoy hanging with Maiz I enjoy an empty seat even more. Turned out the whole PE cabin was chocka, as was Y. Then I heard another Plat (I am a Plat) had been bumped up to biz - and realised that could have been me. But for The Maiz!
The Air NZ lounge was great but fairly full, with UA and SQ flights all in there as well.
We had the economy meal, and plenty of wine.
Maiz pulled out a GPS dongle and his Palm - so he could GPS track us. He didn't feel this was a prescribed electronic device, so it is fortunate the intertial nav on the tripler didn't munt us down to oblivion via the Antarctic.
The crew were fine, I managed 5 hours sleep, and then we endured a 2 hour welcome to LAX. I read somewhere the USA is seeking to build inbound tourism, but the immigration experience is still akin to being guilty until proven innocent. Some lightening up would not hinder their homeland security requirements - they need to make tourists feel welcome, I think!
Maiz and I hired a Mustang Convertible from Hertz which we broke 110 miles out of Vegas, in 110 degree heat. That is another story altogether, one that Hertz will hear a lot more of. They didn't treat their top category of elite plastic holders with any kind of respect at all - just flipped us on to a contractor. 3 hours beside the road with no shade. Terrific.
A week later it was reverse procedure - the LAX lounge was the Alaskan Lounge, with them gone to another terminal it was the right size for the Sydney and Melbourne VA flights.
They don't yet have a liquor license - so they give you a pass to go down the stairs to the bar, and get what you need. It isn't too much of a hassle. As usual for the USA there are no showers in the lounge, which is a bummer. I'd gone to Travelodge for a $90 shower earlier in my 5 hour layover, and had a meal at the Hilton next door.
Boarding the 777 I again missed out on (a) Upgrade and (b) the new extra padding on the seats. Several purloined blankets assisted my backside. The lovely Mel was our attendant, I met her previously in Business Class and she is very good. Enjoyed the meal, drank too much as usual, slept 5 hours, and landed happy.
I'd do it again. Minus sitting next to Maiz....
The seating plan showed a half full PE cabin with an empty seat (10A) next to my 10C. Mine was the best seat choice - bulkhead but you can sneak your feet forward around the edge of the toilet wall and stretch right out for sleep - it isn't as bad as it sounds! There are 2 toilets, in theory shared with Row 5, which is the Rock Star Row on VA. Located behind the biz bar, and ahead of the optimistically named PE Bar, Row 5 has curtains so a couple (either side) or a three-some (centre set of sleeper seats) can get some - ahem - privacy.
As to the PE bar, it is but a narrow walk through ahead of the row 10 bulkhead - with some drinks lodged up there. You can't actually congregate in there, according to the FA in charge. Who was nice about it, and broke up our party.
They leave snacks like crisps in there, and there is plenty of this and that. Maiz codged some kind of spirit, which they hauled down from Biz class. Not that he really drinks, he just wants us to think he does.....
I was a little whelmed to be greeted with great enthusiasm at checkin by the agent to be informed my erstwhile travel colleague The Maiz had somehow managed to get bumped up from economy and would be seated NEXT TO ME. Oh joy. Much as I enjoy hanging with Maiz I enjoy an empty seat even more. Turned out the whole PE cabin was chocka, as was Y. Then I heard another Plat (I am a Plat) had been bumped up to biz - and realised that could have been me. But for The Maiz!
The Air NZ lounge was great but fairly full, with UA and SQ flights all in there as well.
We had the economy meal, and plenty of wine.
Maiz pulled out a GPS dongle and his Palm - so he could GPS track us. He didn't feel this was a prescribed electronic device, so it is fortunate the intertial nav on the tripler didn't munt us down to oblivion via the Antarctic.
The crew were fine, I managed 5 hours sleep, and then we endured a 2 hour welcome to LAX. I read somewhere the USA is seeking to build inbound tourism, but the immigration experience is still akin to being guilty until proven innocent. Some lightening up would not hinder their homeland security requirements - they need to make tourists feel welcome, I think!
Maiz and I hired a Mustang Convertible from Hertz which we broke 110 miles out of Vegas, in 110 degree heat. That is another story altogether, one that Hertz will hear a lot more of. They didn't treat their top category of elite plastic holders with any kind of respect at all - just flipped us on to a contractor. 3 hours beside the road with no shade. Terrific.
A week later it was reverse procedure - the LAX lounge was the Alaskan Lounge, with them gone to another terminal it was the right size for the Sydney and Melbourne VA flights.
They don't yet have a liquor license - so they give you a pass to go down the stairs to the bar, and get what you need. It isn't too much of a hassle. As usual for the USA there are no showers in the lounge, which is a bummer. I'd gone to Travelodge for a $90 shower earlier in my 5 hour layover, and had a meal at the Hilton next door.
Boarding the 777 I again missed out on (a) Upgrade and (b) the new extra padding on the seats. Several purloined blankets assisted my backside. The lovely Mel was our attendant, I met her previously in Business Class and she is very good. Enjoyed the meal, drank too much as usual, slept 5 hours, and landed happy.
I'd do it again. Minus sitting next to Maiz....
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