Leisurely trip...

[Stoopidsteve]

As titled, this is a leisurely trip, with only 9 sectors over the next 10 days in all classes. I will even have a bit of time for some leisure. Looking forward to a day or so in NY.

BNE-SYD-LAX (QF11) JASA

LAX-STL-LGA (US) A

JFK-CLT-AVL (US) E

AVL-EWR-HKG-BNE (US and CX) E/PE

Pics and experiences to follow, but started with a silly o'clock pick up by Brunel Chauffeur (courtesy of QF) getting to BNE in plenty of time. But definitely better than getting stuck on Gateway Motorway.

 

[TomVexille]

Sounds entirely leisurely

Looking forward to following along

 

[chooms]

...but started with a silly o'clock pick up by Brunel Chauffeur (courtesy of QF) getting to BNE in plenty of time. But definitely better than getting stuck on Gateway Motorway.

View attachment 35888

Complimentary? I thought QF ceased this over to the US?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Yup they did. I was adamant that I wanted the pick-up, and not the points compensation and got a manual booking

 

[chooms]

Yup they did. I was adamant that I wanted the pick-up, and not the points compensation and got a manual booking

Fair enough.

 

[blackcat20]

Oh, looks good! Leisurely...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

QF511 0750
Picked 1A at T-80, but there were only 5 in the J cabin.
David CSM
John Hayho captain

Push back 0800, of the ground at 0812

Snacked on the omelette and bacon chunks, quite tasty, but need room for the rest of the day's excesses.

Nice chat with the CSM, then landed 1021, and at gate a few minutes after schedule.

Was in the Flounge about 30 minutes later.

Disappointed that Spa had no appointments (forgot to ring yesterday to book). I got some work doen, and a couple of calls. One of the printers had a dodgy toner cartidge, necessitaitng wandering to another printer and redoing, but then it was time to try some of the lunch menu..



Sashimi of Yellow fin tuna with organic soy and fresh horseradish. The tuna was fresh, melting. The soy was a little dominat (hard to do subtle soy sauce), and teh horseradish was almost non-existent in its subtelty
.
Crispy duck with broccolini, shiitake, sesame, ginger & jasmine rice:


It was indeed crispy. The ginger again wasn't there, and garlic dominated the sauce. Brocolini a little overdone for my taste.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

I had an upgrade request in. I had been most despondent from T-48, as I watched F seats disappearing. But got a text about T-18 "You need to get a new boarding pass".

Logged on, and only 4A available. Guess I'll have 4A then.

for those interested, here's the A row:



for those interested in F male amenities pack (frankly a little underwhelming)....

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Relaxed into the seat after t/o (which was pretty much on time)


Warm almonds and tiny olives...


Chose not to have the "degustation", as someone recently pointed out, it can be recreated at will from the menu!

Lobster and Chervil tartlet (v good)
Lamb Kibbeh with coughin spiced yoghurt

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Asparagus, goats curd, green peas and ligurian olive salad with lemon vinaigrette
Very clean flavours.


Prawn tortellini with pine nuts, preserved lemon, sultanas and burnt butter
TOOOOOO much butter. Prawn tasty. but pasta soggy. And bits of prawn shell…!



Rockpool Bar & Grill style braised beef cheek with “Mac and Cheese”, broccolini and mustard. Side salad lemon dressing
Cheek good. Mac & cheese over cooked/dry

 

[Stoopidsteve]

The creme caramel was yum. A bit later I had cheese platter (Glutton? moi?)

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Watched a bit of tv, did some work for a couple hours, then tried to sleep. Nope, still not good at that even in nice comfy bed. As in my only previous experience in F, was too warm for me to be entirely comfortable. But I got a few hours rest, prob 3-4 hours sleep.

Then more tv. Went for a quick circuit. J looked fairly full, as did PE. Economy, looked like lots of people with rows to themselves.

 

[robd]

View attachment 35992

Who is this? Where's Stoopidsteve?

 

[Pushka]

Who is this? Where's Stoopidsteve?

I think Wally was checking out F bathroom facilities.

Love the Wally socks too.

 

[robd]

I think Wally was checking out F bathroom facilities.

Love the Wally socks too.

So this is his minion then?

 

[anna2103]

Just done BNE - SIN in J and more than half of those dishes you have described are on the J menu. So much for a first class menu, not good enough QF

 

[Stoopidsteve]

F menu: I agree it certainly wasn't an amazing dining experience, but I don't have extensive experience of other airline F menus

And yes, minion decided to come along with wally on this trip.

Breakfast (and yes the eggs were hot):

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Landing into LA (I usually get the earliest arrivals), I was dreading huge queues for CBP....

nope. Even allowing for being amongst first off, the new kiosks made the whole process very efficient. I am not sure how busy it would be at other times, but I was kerbside within 25 minutes of doors opening, and pleased to see the first tag (put on in BNE) meant my one checked in was amongst first out. (I usually try to do HLO, but I'm not a real road warrior, and this trip's just a bit longer than I can manage).

I decide to break the trip in LA instead of the usual straight over to E coast. Taxi to Hilton DoubleTree, Culver City. Chosen for a couple of reasons: 1) close to Culver City Westfield for a quick shopping trip, and 2) half way to Venice Beach 3) not at airport

I arrived about 12, and room wasn't ready, despite an assurance in advance that they would try. Oh well. Dragged my jetlagged body over the road to Westfield to get some Nike 4 runners (about 2/3 price of Au), and a couple of things I needed from Target. Back to hotel by 2..... nope, room not ready. Snoozed in teh lobby (which was quite comfortable), before finally getting to the room.

I had asked for high floor and got 12 (can't remember how many there are, but not many more than that).

Bed comfortable, one of those horrible noisy in wall air con units that the lower end Hilton group have, but good enough. Room was clean, and fairly large. I intended to have a quick snooze then head out to Venice for dinner and people watching.....woke at 8 Oh well. There's always next time

A salad in the bar, an indulgent white choc cheesecake, then off to bed to make zzz's before early flight next day.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

LAX-STL-LGA, AA, AA American Eagle

So I was up again at 5.15 am local time after a solid sleep, taxi to LAX. Traffic was crazy around the airport, even at before 6. Kerbside checkin worked well, around 6am there. Security lines quite short, and into AA First Lounge by about 6.30. Not long in there before heading to catch the MD-80 to St. Louis.

Never been through St. Louis before, usually connecting via DFW and/or ORD. Why this STL route, I hear you cry.
Obvious, LAX-STL is 1583 miles (according to Qantas),putting it into the 120SC category for F cabin.

0720 departure pushed back pretty much on time. Full flight. I chose 3F to see some of LOTFAP, but mostly cloud all the way.



Quiche Florentine for breakfast


Flight was efficient, a bit bumpy coming down into STL, but nothing to write home about.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

An hour or so in STL, in the Admirals Club. Some pics (don't think I've seen many others, and I guess a few AFFers may choose STL if going to NY).