November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

[serfty]

Steps: 02851

That's the reading of the pedometer I put on this Morning before departure.

Just in my seat.

Walk to station, train to Southern Cross, sky bus to airport and a little breakfast in the MEL QF domestic J lounge.

Met briefly with Jess Tam before they had to head off ..

7am service to SYD, 333, seat 1A.

2L boarding today, oh the "joy of turning left"

More to follow ...

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[serfty]

Landed, smooth enough flight - slightly bumpy on approach. According to captain, there are 20knt winds gusting up to 50knt from the south.

At gate 13-won't make 830 bus.



Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[serfty]

Steps: 3416

On transfer bus, departed a little early.

Gate did not matter as disembarkation was delayed due to a door still showing as "armed" on the cabin monitor.

Still it is a longish walk from one end of t3 to the other.

Emigration next ...

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[markis10]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Sydney Airport, Australia (YSSY) 33-57S 151-11E 3M
Nov 01, 2012 - 05:00 PM EDT / 2012.11.01 2100 UTC
Wind: from the S (170 degrees) at 25 MPH (22 KT):0
Visibility: greater than 7 mile(s):0
Sky conditions: mostly clear
Temperature: 60 F (16 C)
Dew Point: 44 F (7 C)
Relative Humidity: 55%
Pressure (altimeter): 29.94 in. Hg (1014 hPa)
ob: YSSY 012100Z 17022KT 9999 FEW035 16/07 Q1014 NOSIG
cycle: 21

 

[Simo]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Look forward to the next episode.

Hope you get a good seat on next flight

 

[serfty]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Steps: 04127

Was in 5J but last night that seat disappeared and I could not select a seat, now in upper deck exit row.

It looks like OJI is the substitute.

I was in First Lounge by 9am, thank goodness for express cards - it looks like there were as many counters for express passengers as there were for the 'hoi polloi' - any way it moved pretty quick.

Showered and with a light third breakfast of a BLT (rating 6/10) and a couple of Delamottes (sp?) I'm ready to go.

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This all started back in January when I secured a (U)JASA available for this date from MEL to LAX.

I had been looking at this weekend to start my new QFF year with a bang.

Since originally booking the config has change several times - 4 class sold as four (23D), 4 Class sold as three (4a) after QF abandoned F on QF107, 3 class sold as three (5j) and now 3 class (old config -no 5j ).

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Boarding soon - as on Upper deck I need to head to the gate to assist in getting my carry on stored.

 

[serfty]

Steps: 04505

Air crew boarded just 30 minutes before scheduled departure.

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update ...

Waited until boarding commenced only 20 minutes before schedule.

Long time since I've been in upper deck - only half the PAX here and already problems with carry on storage.

Seems the flight time is scheduled at 13:10.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[serfty]

Steps: 06597

(Most of the 2000 steps was TBIT to T5)

Plane finally departed ~11:45am - waiting in a queue for 16R.

Landed 7:07am LAX time, 8 minute Taxi, then 15 minute wait to be towed to gate 120 and doors opened.

One of the first off at 7:30am and I headed down to immigration pensive about the queues only to see the hall empty!

Was processed almost immediately after being called across to a "Residents" booth by a chatty officer.

It was 7:37am when I surfaced at the departures level of TBIT whereupon I walked around to T5 via T4 (where I checked in for my later flights).

I rechecked in for my Delta flight to SFO at a machine where I was offered a check in for my flight back to LAX later today. I declined as I want to see if I can come back earlier.

Searching around T4 I found the Sky Club where the agent did not blink at the Velocity Gold card, welcoming me in. I am currently waiting for a call fo a shower.

Dang - I just realised I have forgotten my power adapter for US sockets, so will have to buy a new one. That can wait for SFO.

---

As for the flight, 16J is quite a reasonable seat, although people walking up and down do make the floor vibrate noticeably.

I had a Duck terrine starter, beef main and cheese for dessert. Later on I had a seared Tuna snack.

 

[serfty]

By the time I arrived at the SYD First Lounge I was not really hungry.

Here's some photos of why:

MEL T1 J Lounge




On Board Business MEL SYD flight:



The MEL-SYD business meal was very nice - but I left most of the flan.

In any case that still was more than enough, hence FLounge BLT:

 

[turtlemichael]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Keep up the good work (and steps lol). I think you may have left the US before we get there in a couple of weeks. Have fun.

 

[serfty]

Here's what I had on the flight:

Starter:

(Duck and Pistachio Terrine with Spiced Apple Chutney and Watercress Salad)

Main:

(150 Day old Grain Fed Sirloin with Black Vinegar Vegetables, Fragrant Rice and Chilli Sauce, I washed this down with a Knappstein Cab. Sav.)

No photo of the cheese plate - it was quite reasonable.

Later in the flight I had one of the Ad Hoc snacks/refreshments, it was very good:

(Glass Noodle Salad with Seared Yellowfin Tuna and Lemongrass Dressing)

For breakfast:

(Sauteed Mushrooms, Scrambled eggs, Sausage)

 

[serfty]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Steps: 09175

My flight was running 20 minutes late, so I left early to track down a new power adapter. After finding one for $27, I espied an ATM so out came the 28 degree card for some cash. $2 charge on top.

The gate had changed with the delay, so it took a bit to locate the new one. Boarding seemed to have commenced just before I arrived, so I walked up as I was in First Class. I was handed a luggage label and stub and told to attach the label to to my case.

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This was a crj900 and with regional jets, most rollaboards are too big to have as carry-on. They have a system where a tag gets attached to the bag which is then left at the end of the airbridge. Handlers then take the bags and load them into the hold of the aircraft, delivering them back to the airbridge upon arrival.

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As I headed down the airbridge there was another passenger at the end fiddling with their bag and the tag. On arrival I did the same leaving it in the airbridge and entered the aircraft.

After boarding I was offered a 'pre departure beverage' - I requested a "Club Soda" and sat back to wait.

This was actually about another 25 minutes, followed by another 10 minutes after the door was closed while waiting for several other aircraft to clear the apron.

Then another long taxi - from T5 back around to the northern runways for a departure on 24L.

Service on board was another beverage followed by a selection from a basket of assorted snacks.

The flight was quick through a hazy sky before landing into SFO.

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This was a side trip I booked on Delta as I had a 13 hour wait before my onward flight. The first class fare was about $360 round trip. It should earn 80 Velocity SC's. I also got to check out the Delta "Sky Clubs".

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On arrival I waited with about 20 other passengers for bags to be unloaded and returned to us in the airbridge - mine was the third last one to be brought up and with that in tow, I headed into the terminal.

There, I started looking for the SFO "Sky Club", after a bit of wandering and with no luck I took the plunge and headed landside to ask someone - where I was to discover the lounge is actually landside.

That is where I am now.

I used the lounge Wifi with Skype to check in with home and am now waiting for my next flight.

 

[Bundy Bear]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Thanks for the updates.

That is pretty insane,

Steps: 09175

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This was a side trip I booked on Delta as I had a 13 hour wait before my onward flight. The first class fare was about $360 round trip. It should earn 80 Velocity SC's. I also got to check out the Delta "Sky Clubs".

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Will be interesting how many flights you can keep up with the updates, it is tough.

 

[TonyHancock]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

The first class fare was about $360 round trip. It should earn 80 Velocity SC's. I also got to check out the Delta "Sky Clubs".

DL seems to have some half decent pricing for F, I'm thinking of trying them in April next year. How were the Delta Sky Clubs?

Nice reports and updates. Keep up the steps!!

 

[geordieladinoz]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Nice reports and updates. Keep up the steps!!

Next trip will be a set of scales in the carry on updating on weight gain/loss as the steps go up but the food consumption goes up and up!

 

[moa999]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

13 hours and you only did LAX-SFO-LAX...

 

[serfty]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

13 hours and you only did LAX-SFO-LAX...

Hah! - ever heard of fog? Delays? etc ... with SFO as a side trip, KISS comes to mind. (I once had to abandon a final leg to SFO due to a four hour delay from LAX)

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Steps: 10761

Now in LAX T4 F/L after a nice meal at "Flemings" with the pleasant company of Cove, his wife and Mike, a work associate of theirs.

Soon to board a flight to LAS.

The flight from SFO was a quick 47 minutes, boarded on time straight from gate to runway and takeoff. Was waiting in the airbridge for my bag 25 minutes before schedule. Even better, mine was the second delivered. The opposite of the trip up.

A few texts to finalise arrangements and 4:25pm I was collected by the cove party at T5 arrivals and whisked of to the restaurant where red meat is the big deal. By 6:30pm your well fed correspondent was deposited nearby the premium AA entry of T4.

The lounge was rather crowded on arrival, but with the call to board a flight to London it has thinned out markedly.

They have some interesting looking "Parmesan Encrusted Chicken Breast" with potatoes and green beans here but I am thoroughly sated from the early meal, so have given it a miss.

 

[serfty]

Steps: 12924

Now in the "Club at LAS" - D concourse. Used my Amex PP to enter. More here: The Club at LAS - Las Vegas It took a bit to find. I have been using the United Club at D concourse (D35) here as it is also a PP lounge, but decided to try something different. Eventually I had to log into the McCarran free Wifi to search for it - the entrance is indeed not obvious.

This one is closer to the D gates that AA employ. My step count is up a bit as I took a walk as well as the airside train over to the recently opened T3. There is a lounge there I could have used but E2 is really a bit far from D8.

Still another couple of hours here to wait.

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The flight to LAS was uneventful. I did leave the F/L 40 minutes before schedule but they were already up to Priority AAccess when I arrived at the gate. No pre-departure beverages - I wish AA would get this consistent - other airlines seems to be able to do so.

The flight filled up, not too many initially seated in first then some stand-bys boarded, two of whom high fiving each other when they found their newly minted BP's represented seats in First Class.

On the flight service took a while to get started, when it finally began I requested a Bloody Mary - I was given ice in a glass with a 50ml miniature of vodka poured over it, an open 330ml can of Mrs. T's and a second 50ml bottle. Vodka on the rocks with a Mrs T on the side anyone? This late start to service on a 50 minute flight had later repercussions as they had to make an apologetic announcement that beverages would need to be consumed or shortly taken away with cleanup.

Great views of the "Strip" out of my left window on a clear night as the aircraft flew South of it before a large left loop to land to the West.

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I am currently enroute approx. 22 hours of travel on the one booking for LAX to SJU, this one-way trip cost a little over $500 when booked back in February. It has transits in LAS, ORD, EWR and MIA.

I have been very closely watching the weather and general situation in NYC this week as I'm booked via LGA as well on the return - both ports had been closed earlier this week.

 

[JohnK]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Very nice trip trip report serfty!

Steps: 02851

I did this many steps just looking for my ball in the creek on 13 today....

 

[Kangol]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

This all started back in January when I espied a (U)JASA available for this date from MEL to LAX.

How did you find a U class JASA MEL-SYD-LAX? or did you book it MEL-LAX at the cheap "classic award rate" and change it afterwards to include a stopover?

Great TR btw!