At around 0630hrs, I decided to wander inside and check-in - I'd already used OLCI to secure seat 37A, but as always, went to the UC check-in desk to check my bags. UC check-in was completely deserted save for the check-in agent - no security check or anything. The check-in agent was superb & very quick. Didn't ask me any of the usual security questions, just asked how many bags I was checking in (2, both weighing ~15kg). No prompt required for the FastTrack sticker on the BP, and I was out of there in less than 5 minutes [y]
Used FastTrack security, and in this instance it definitely was faster than the normal line. Typical security paranoia that we've recently been subjected to - shoe carnival, etc.. etc.. etc.. Through there and remembered to look for the Iris registration office, though I knew it wouldn't be open just yet. Couldn't find it and thought 'I'll come back to that later'. It must've only been 0640hrs by now, so I was still too early to go up to the Clubhouse so I had a wander round some of the shops in the departures lounge. Then I went off to the smoking area to the side of O'Neills - wistfully remembering the days when I'd have had breakfast and a few beers in there before the flight.
At around 0655hrs, I decided to head on up to the CH, where I found the shutter down and nobody around. Boy, did that feel strange, being the first person waiting for the CH to open! [:I] Bang on time, the shutter was pulled up and my BP/Au card checked so I could go in.
This was the first time I'd been in the CH since phase 2 opened - the place is amazing and very spacious. It's hard to believe there was ever a dividing wall between phase 1 and the development of phase 2. Unfortunately, upstairs was closed off before I got a chance to go up there - it later transpired that it was for some X-Factor nobodies that were off to Sharon Osbourne's 'boot camp' [ii][ii] Despite this, I had a good wander round before settling myself in the smoking area (which no-one told me had changed to just the lower end of that area!).
I settled in for a few glasses of champagne and a full English breakfast with scrambled eggs. I seemed to be the only person in the smoking area to have anticipated the ban on lighters at security (and as a result of finding out at LGW a couple of weeks earlier that it's impossible to buy matches airside) with a couple of books of safety matches - one from the Stratosphere, and one from the LAS First Class Lounge [:D] So I made a lot of new friends while sat in the CH [:D]
Soon enough it was batting on towards 0800hrs and time for my Rhinestone Cowboy treatment - before I made my way into the treatment area, I thought I'd try my luck at using miles to upgrade my 'don't touch this with a bargepole' N-class ticket. I enquired at the concierge desk if this was possible - I asked if there were any moves to be done, and if so, I'd be willing to offer miles to move up a cabin or two. Yes, there were moves to be done, but they wouldn't know for a couple of hours yet. I actually think they got the wrong end of the stick and thought I was enquiring about op-ups.
Anyway, I went for my Rhinestone Cowboy, which was absolutely fantastic - though it's good to tell that I hadn't had enough to drink yet, because I stayed awake all the way through [:0] After my treatment, I wandered into the library to make an obligatory hello to the CH from the PCs. Then wandered back to the smoking area to carry on drinking as instructed by Paul (I didn't want to, honest [;)]). I decided that champagne was just getting a little tedious, so moved on to a Mojito - very refreshing & minty - absolutely lovely. Followed that up with another full English (this time with fried eggs) and a couple of berry cocktails (can't remember the exact name [:I]) before going back to champagne for my last couple of slurps.
Boarding was called at around 1015hrs, and I went back to the concierge desk to check if there was any news on the upgrade front - again I think they got the wrong end of the stick, because they just informed me that I hadn't been moved and I could ask again at the gate. I collected my bag from the cloakroom and trundled off up to gate 32 - seeing that reporter, Steve, while I was on the route march. Didn't get chance to say hello as he looked busy and I figured I should get to the gate anyway. The gate was a complete nightmare - no separate priority boarding queue due to the extra security measures and those measures were taking an age to complete.
Eventually I got through to the search area and was patted down & had my bag searched again. I was asked if I was carrying any lighters or matches and answered in the affirmative that I had safety matches - these were promptly confiscated [:0]! Since when was that in effect I asked - since liquids were banned was the answer. Well, that's news to me, and was most frustrating [?] Anyway, I got to the BP area and asked if there was any possibility of using miles to upgrade at this point - 'Should've asked at check-in' was the brusque reply. Hmmmm, told her that I'd already asked in the CH and was told to ask at the gate, but that cut no ice. After that & the 'security' debacle, I dejectedly made my way down the ramp and boarded G-VWOW (Cosmic Girl).
I got into my seat and noticed that whilst the legroom itself wasn't absolutely terrible, my problem was that the seat in front rubbed on the top of my shins when I tried to stretch my legs underneath it - this was to be a constant annoyance through the flight, as I just couldn't get my legs completely comfortable. Still, at least I knew that I could safely recline all the way back for the whole flight without anyone being behind me!
Not long after sitting down, I drifted off to sleep while the rest of the pax were boarding, waking up to find that the other 2 seats in my row were occupied and we had taxied out to the runway threshold. I think it was around 1215hrs, not sure why we were delayed that long. We had a nice smooth take-off & climb out, and were soon at cruising altitude. V:Port was switched on, and after enduring the welcome message (which quite frankly is starting to annoy the hell out of me), the system was ready. I selected a couple of films (DaVinci Code & another one - can't remember now) and some comedy TV (Peep Show, Little Britain), adding them all to my favourites to watch later.
After the drinks service (Vodka & Tonic - only 1 serving, no refill offered) I stuck my iPod on and started playing Trivia, whupping a few folks around and narrowly missing getting on the high scores list ([:#]). Then it was onto Tetris - for some reason, after all these years I still find the game too addictive and I'm afraid to say that my TV choices were rapidly falling by the wayside. At this point I was semi-saved by the lunch service starting - choices were: Chicken/Pasta/Brocolli, Braised Beef/Mash/Veg, Mushroom Risoto. I had the beef, and it was fairly good - a glass of red wine to accompany (only 1 serving, no refill offered) and followed up with a tea/coffee round as usual (to which a refill was offered, go figure - offer a refill on the non-alcoholic stuff [ii]).
After lunch was cleared, it was back to more Tetris, then I watched a little of Peep Show. At some point, I ordered some duty free smokes (still on the special offer I mentioned in my LAS report), and later had a good 3 hours sleep, which was nice - except that when I woke up, my legs & lower back were aching all over [:(] Back to Tetris - although it wasn't long before afternoon tea was served. I think I had some sort of chicken panini and it was nice, but your guess is really as good as mine at this stage - the passage of time really affecting my recollection. Tea/coffee service as usual, with refill.
By now it was about 1140hrs (local - PDT) and we were about 2hrs out of SFO, so we were actually going to be slightly early. This was a good sign, as my coach to Napa was scheduled to depart at 1400hrs PDT and I was clinging to a very faint hope that I'd clear immigration & customs in time for that (the next coach doesn't depart until 1630hrs). I watched iMap the rest of the way down - watching as we flew directly over Napa (my final destination). Thanks to my Tetris & Trivia addictions, I never did get to see the rest of my programmed viewing [:I]!
The descent into SFO was very smooth, and with no fog, the views of the city were fantastic. We landed at 1340hrs PDT, so we were indeed 10 minutes early, and were on stand a few minutes later. I noticed that both the BA & KLM flights had arrived too and was expecting that immigration would be a nightmare with us adding to 2 other newly arrived loads from 747s!
Disembarkation was very quick, and we soon on the march up to immigration. The immigration area was the quietest I've ever seen it - even quieter than arriving on Xmas Eve a couple of years ago - was through that in just a few moments, only having a couple of questions thrown at me. Onto baggage reclaim, where bags were just starting to appear and with 5 minutes to go before the coach left, I thought I had half a chance of actually making it - at least, that was until priority baggage handling completely & utterly failed me [}:)][}:)] You could clearly see UC & PE bags coming out, then the EC bags started.....until mine were 2 of the very last ones off the flight, arriving on the belt some 45mins after the bags started appearing (I've since written to FC about this - awaiting their reply) [}:)]
I collected my bags and headed over to Customs - after a couple of questions by the initial agent, I was selected to 'have a chat' with one of his colleagues at the desk. No problem - I had the best part of 2hrs to kill (it was now around 1440hrs and the coach had long gone). I answered the agent's questions and he wanted to examine my carry-on and only one of my cases - quite why he didn't want to examine the other one I don't know. Of course, all was clear, and I was heading outside within minutes. Thanks to UK security confiscating my matches, I had nothing to light a cigarette with, so I joined the hoardes outside, scrounging a light from a fellow addict and keeping cigarettes going until the next coach to Napa came at 1630hrs *sigh*
In summary this flight was wholly average - check-in & the CH being the best bits of the whole experience - and I have to say that there'd been nothing in the service levels to assuage my recent feelings of disillusionment with being FC Au.
Cheers
Michael
