Why Oh Why

[blackcat20]

Once we arrived in TPE we joined the rather long immigration line. Fortunately it moved fast and we reached the baggage carousel just as our bags arrived (second and third off the plane). Then headed out to the bus terminal for the shuttle bus to the Novotel.

I really like this hotel. Rooms are small but have everything you need, modern, big bed and a funky shower with magic glass.


They had a funky panda Christmas tree in the foyer too.


After a great sleep we headed downstairs for our included breakfast. The selection was amazing! Crueset dishes as far as the eye could see filled with delicious western and Asian breakfast options; an egg chef, fruit, yoghurt and even someone making waffles.

 

[blackcat20]

After breakfast we took the shuttle back to the airport; check in via the priority line was quick and we headed airside. We were given a lounge pass for the China Airlines lounge which was unremarkable but sufficient. Then we were off to board our 737 to NRT. No photos of the seats as it was your standard Y; we took and aisle and a window.

The meal service was very good: a decent tray of salad, chicken rice, tofu, frittata and what was unfortunately a coffee mousse (I'm not a coffee fan).


It was quite a bumpy flight but the time went by quickly and we were soon in Tokyo, ready for the last leg to Chicago.

 

[blackcat20]

AA NRT-ORD On the Dreamliner.

A flight I had been both looking forward to and dreading. But we were lucky to find that we were in row 8 (front row of Y) when we checked in which eased my nerves a little. The flight was slightly delayed with no set boarding time but as soon as we went to take a seat to wait, boarding was called. It was a bit fun to be the first on board.



Unfortunately the block on the middle seat didn't hold and we ended up with a young woman between us, but she was intent on sleeping and didn't seem worried about being squished between us.

The flight attendants were absolutely fantastic; regular drink runs through the cabin (and our G&Ts were always doubles if we wanted them). The food was actually really good (TV had a photo of it).


After dinner things went downhill for me; I'd boarded with a thumping headache and it was progressively getting worse. I felt dizzy, then queasy. So I joined the line for the bathrooms, patiently waited my turn, then was quite sick. The crew were great, got me a sick bag, tea and wet wash cloths and kept me company till I was ready to head back to my seat. With the headache dissipating I put back my seat and was soon in the land of nod.

 

[love_the_life]

That didn't sound fun BC. Hopefully a one-off and no repeats.

 

[blackcat20]

That didn't sound fun BC. Hopefully a one-off and no repeats.

Apparently it's what happens when I don't drink tea for two days...something about a caffeine addiction

 

[love_the_life]

Apparently it's what happens when I don't drink tea for two days...something about a caffeine addiction

Get that tea brewing

 

[blackcat20]

As much as everyone likes to bag the AA inflight service, I have nothing but good things to say after this flight. There was constant drinks runs through the cabin all night, a mid flight snack box, then a hot breakfast before landing. Nothing was too much for them and it was one of the best Y flights I've been on.

The only downside was that the Windows remained locked down until minutes before landing, so we missed a lot of the view of Chicago under snow. We got this one when they finally remembered that people in Y actually like to look out the window.

 

[blackcat20]

Immigration took almost an hour despite the kiosks. I swear it gets slower every time, as the agents stuff around asking the same questions as the kiosk. Luggage came out quickly and we grabbed an uber for free using the AMEX promo. I spent much of the ride staring out the window at the snow and all the Christmas decorations. So magical.


Being late, we headed out for a quick Mexican dinner then headed to bed.

 

[blackcat20]

Christmas Eve was upon us, so we popped out for some last minute shopping. But first, I wanted to walk into town for ice cream, because ice cream doesn't melt in winter. Then we headed to the supermarket for Christmas dinner supplies, then Home Depot to see what Christmas trees they had. Apparently at 4pm on Xmas eve the trees are all free, so we scored well.


They also had some small table trees for free so we snagged one of those too. Then headed home and got it set up. Christmas spirit had arrived!

 

[NZflygirl]

Xmas just isn't xmas without a tree!

Interesting to hear your flight went well. I've not flown AA but admittedly not rushing to either.

 

[drron]

Not everyone thinks AA is bad.Our experiences are usually positive but then we tend to sit at the front.

 

[blackcat20]

Not everyone thinks AA is bad.Our experiences are usually positive but then we tend to sit at the front.

For Y I was very impressed.

 

[blackcat20]

Leaving Chicago was when the next round of fun started. We had two tickets; the first revenue to TPE, the second reward to MEL. Despite the rule changes regarding being checked through, the AA rules state that bookings ticketed before a certain date can be through checked. But the agent wasn't having a bar of it and would only check us to RSW. We found a lounge agent who checked us in to NRT but for some reason we couldn't be checked to TPE even though it was a single booking. We spent a stressful few hours wondering how we'd do a 1 hour transit in NRT with having to collect then recheck bags. Fortunately the last sector was checked while we were in the air.

The flight to RSW was unremarkable. A standard AA 737, we had bulkhead seats. A small snack was provided. We arrived on time. Priority bags worked like a dream and we headed to the Hilton Garden Inn for a mere five hours sleep.

 

[blackcat20]

At 5am we dragged ourselves out of bed and took the shuttle back to the airport. And things started going downhill quickly. While the bags were tagged through to TPE, we were only given two of the three boarding passes. The agent came out with the gem 'we can't give you a JAL boarding pass as they aren't part of oneworld'

Then we saw the seats on our DFW-NRT boarding passes. Row 42! we had selected MCE seats up the front and now we were down the back?? Turns out our lovely 777 was subbed for a non-refurbed 772; seats in a 2-5-2 config and no MCE. And no spare seats to be seen. Oh cough.

No lounge in RSW so we grabbed some bagels and sat at the gate; fortunately the gate agent was competent enough to produce the TPE boarding pass we desperately needed.

So here we were panicking about the connection in NRT and we discover the flight will take an extra half hour due to weather. We had confirmed seats on an earlier flight to NRT as a backup but that connection was now looking dubious.

PB was hilarious; they call it in four different stages but when they called First and military, half the plane joined the line, and were turned away. One lady complained that she had paid $25 for PB only to find that half the plane was allowed on before her.

At least we had the exit row; though the bloke in the middle seat seemed to think he got to use out hips as his arm rests. A few prods and he retreated to the arm rests.

On landing the plane was asked to stay seated so that those with tight connections could make a hasty exit, so of course everyone stood up and waited in the aisle...

 

[blackcat20]

We bolted off the plane and beelined for the air train. I even took my shoes off to make the run easier we reached the gate, handed over passports and... 'you're not on this flight'. Ah, yes we are. Showed them the reservation. But we were out of luck; it appeared we had been offloaded already.

So off to the lounge we went, commiserating with a G&T and a decent view.


The lounge agent was working to find us a better seat and it turned out the exit row was free, but available to gate agents only. So we hightailed it back to the gate where boarding had just started, and got the same agent who had denied us the earlier flight. Our boarding passes were ripped up and we were handed new ones. With a 'thanks, you're an absolute legend' to the agent, we headed on board.

Row 31 has great legroom and is a pair of seats. The door has slide cowling but it doesn't get in the way, and the FAs had no issue with me popping my feet up on it.


One of the FAs snuck us each an F amenity kit which was lovely and we were showing an early arrival into NRT so we could finally relax and enjoy the flight.

 

[QF WP]

Finally caught up on your TR - was expecting at least one gratuitous shot of the ring to get in here...

 

[blackcat20]

Finally caught up on your TR - was expecting at least one gratuitous shot of the ring to get in here...

Haha it's posted in other threads. And just visible in my ice cream photo.

 

[QF WP]

Actually in that photo, my first thought was you were skating as you're up on one leg. Need a fine eye to see the ring in the photo.

 

[blackcat20]

I was laughing


Not long after take off, the drink cart went through. Turns out you pay for spirits on AA international flights. I'd been lead astray by the endless free drinks on the flight to ORD apparently. But the first one was 'on them'.


Make no mistake, these planes are ancient. The seats have no padding left and I could feel the bar in the back of my seat. The pillow helped a little but I soon relocated it under my behind to reduce the discomfort. The IFE is also ancient; the screens are tiny, there are only 10 movies and they aren't 'on demand' so you have to wait for the next screening to start.




Dinner was decent. We were offered 'chicken or pork' with no further description. I chose pork which turned out to be BBQ pork with fried rice.



Then I settled in for a few movies and a snooze.
Around the 7-hour mark, the snack boxes come out. A focaccia, rice snacks and a tub of ice cream.

 

[blackcat20]

Views over Colorado.