16985 miles in 132 hours final Part 7 posted

Part 4
AA283 LAX-HNL

We left the lounge about 40 minutes before departure and as we arrived at the gate boarding started, the 767-300 did indeed have the new J seats but like a prat I didn't get a snap of the empty cabin. It's a J2000 kind of affair but with loads more buttons for adjusting it. Welcome on board was a glass of pink fizz very palatable, and a menu.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk028.jpg[/img]
It seemed to take an age for everyone to board, it gave me time to look at the seat controls and the slot in the wall in front, where the self contained IFE system would sit on international flights.Quite a good idea for retro fitting older aircraft.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk026.jpg[/img]
Everyone was on eventually, apparently the computers had gone down at the gate and they had to keep doing head counts to get all the standby Pax on. F was full again infact every flight had been full upfront and down the back.
Pushback was on time to the second but we must have waited a good 10 minutes before taxi proper.

We took off toward the coast right over Marina del Rey and past Malibu fantastic views. more pink fizz and nuts were quickly offered, this was the least attentive AA crew of the trip but they were still not bad, a lot bigger galley to hide away in.I started to muck about with the seat it did everything including going backwards and forwards. In the forward position the table out of the wall in front joins with the seat table giving a very big space indeed .In fact I was having so much fun adjusting my seat I was told off by Mrs JP and had to settle for another glass of pink fizz that kept appearing in larger glasses and larger measures. Another AA salad was served this being one of the larger variety.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk029.jpg[/img]
I opted for the steak with teriyaki sauce very very good.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk030.jpg[/img]
Mrs JP the Pasta which AA do seem to excel at.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk047.jpg[/img]
We both finished with cheese that came with Carrs biscuits made in Carlisle
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk100.jpg[/img]
After a couple more warm medicinal brandies, the seat was fully extended with the arm rest down, a proper quilt and my head on a real pillow. Totally out for the count until rudely prodded awake by Mrs JP for snoring, as if. It really is a good J class seat and the amount of adjustments are incredible it even has a memory button if you find that just right position you can return the seat to it automatically later. The flight time of 5.30 pasted swiftly, I just had time to watch (no sound) on the cabin screen some of the abysmal US sitcom offerings that no doubt are either already on our screens or coming our way soon. You can just imagine the script meeting, this ones the Joey character he's Ross etc.

We landed a little early into a warm and humid Honolulu evening at about 7pm.With no checked baggage we yomped through the covered/open/covered terminal and were at the Taxi rank in about 5 minutes. Cost was $40 with a tip to the Hilton Hawaiian Village which is located on the Honolulu side of Waikiki. Taxi did the run in about 15 minutes as there was no traffic at all, its usually horrendous and can take 40 minutes easily.

TBC

The saga continues...

It's get better and better, looking forward to the next leg![y]

JP, you really are teasing us now. That steak looked delicious[y]
Carrs biscuits with cheese, one of the simple pleasures in life.

Great stuff

Iain

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
Part 3
AA2427 DFW-LAX

He also twigged we like a drink and tried to drown us.



I'm loving your TR's and pics but that comment made me laugh - I suspect he would need to go and find a tsunami to achieve that!!!!

[y]

Keep em coming JP

Regards

John

Part 5 A tale of 2 cities, sparkle fizz to Krug on Eurostar (Sorry that's the wrong report)

HNL-SFO 31-12-2008 AA 28 First

We had a mostly relaxing 3 nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village I would have never believed an AC unit could leak that much water.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk061.jpg[/img]

I like this vast hotel and especially this stay as the total bill was only $15 thanks to burning HH points. But some of the staff are real rude *******s and 3 stays in the past 3 years have resulted in bog standard rooms when upgrades should have been forth coming either through amex FHR or by being HH Diamond. Anyhow after a stand up row and disputed charges being removed from the bill it was back to HNL by taxi for the beginning of our return home.
It was raining quite heavily and the traffic was very slow, the Cambodian driver kept us amused with his rather erratic driving style.$40 with tip and we were checked in at the empty first class counter within an hour of leaving our room ( this included the 10 minute scrap with the front desk). Flight was at 1.50pm and on time, there is an AA lounge(actually they share QFs).It is miles away from the gates AA use and on a previous visit the AA dragon insisted that I couldn't have more than 2 beers or I would be refused boarding on the account I would be blind drunk, yeah OK.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/lhr-bos-lax-hnl-ord-%20bos-lhr/Picture049.jpg[/img]
We headed to the Continental lounge courtesy of our priority pass cards, another charming lounge guardian who was all stressed because she had to swipe 2 cards. It used to be help yourself but now had an efficient lady behind a make shift bar, who made the most fabulous bloody marys. After more than 2 drinks and about 15 unsuccessful online attempts to change our seats on the BA BOS WT+ return leg it was time to head for the gate about a 5 minute walk away. Whilst sat in the gate holding area we watched a beagle and handler working the room. The dog sniffed bags the handler told numerous people no you can't pet him but some still tried, I was expecting the ÒDO NOT TOUCH THE FEDERAL AGENTÓ line to be used at any moment. Then the dog sat down in front of a Japanese couple, yeah a real live drug bust. The handler removed the offending 3 bananas from the women's back pack and gave Fido the fruit sniffing dog a treat, well it passed 5 minutes.

Boarding was called and we settled into 1AB on a 757 we always go for the front row even though this means a little restricted legroom. The bulkhead wall makes a sort of reasonable foot rest especially for those of Mrs JPs smaller stature and even for us 6 footers it's possible to get a little bit of leg elevated comfort. No drinks were offered pre departure but its virtually impossible to serve them on the one aisle planes when they are full.Boarding first in row 1 you begin to wonder where all the people are going as they file past. Flight time of 5 hours announced and expected delays into SFO because of low cloud, with heavy snow falling in Boston this was looking like being an interesting return trip. A swift departure followed the Oahu coast past the Hilton then we were in cloud. Watches reset as you loose a lot of time going east it was going to be a short day and one where we would miss new years eve altogether. Usual consistent AA service, drinks and nuts, meal order taken, then a couple of refills then the meal. We both went for the fish it looked a bit ropey but not quite as bad as my photo suggests. It was in fact very tasty.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk095.jpg[/img]
Mrs JP contorted herself into a ball and went to sleep, I finished a bottle of decent Chardonnay and then tried to join her in the land of nod. I must have dropped off because thankfully Bad Santa had finished when I next looked up at the CRT screen in the roof. A couple of good mugs of coffee and we were heading into SFO, well stacked because of low cloud. On eventually breaking through we were very low with gear already down, a rather fun landing thanks to a good cross wind and the captain was off to his new year party it was 9pm local.

TBC

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
We had a mostly relaxing 3 nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village I would have never believed an AC unit could leak that much water.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk061.jpg[/img]

I like this vast hotel and especially this stay as the total bill was only $15 thanks to burning HH points. But some of the staff are real rude *******s and 3 stays in the past 3 years have resulted in bog standard rooms when upgrades should have been forth coming either through amex FHR or by being HH Diamond. Anyhow after a stand up row and disputed charges being removed from the bill it was back to HNL by taxi for the beginning of our return home.
It was raining quite heavily and the traffic was very slow, the Cambodian driver kept us amused with his rather erratic driving style.


Fantastic saga - enjoy each Chapter and eagily await the next one.

I too stayed at this hotel in 207 as pasrt of a conference - I was thre for 2 weeks and loved every minute of it - except the daily/nighlty show about a certain american singer who made this hotel famous does get a tad boring - but the best long island ice teas I have ever had did help drown them out .... sorry your tay there wasnt every where as good as it should have been - diud you go swimming in the sea with the turtles ??

Anyway roll on the next part of your TR !

Regards,

Hackneyguy

Excellent TR it just keeps getting better, im trying not to be blind with jealosy but its not working. look forward to the next part.

cheers

alex

[ChuckC]

Oh, you world travelers, you! Your saga is most interesting, JP, and even more so now that we've actually met.

Chuck-

What a TR! This is a great read and I can't wait for the next chapter.

[HighFlyer]

Loving this saga. Looking forward to the next part!

Thanks,
Sarah

Part 6

SFO-BOS 31-12-2008 AA150 First
We entered the SFO Admirals club at around 9pm, after having a scout round the terminal but found nearly everything closed don't know if this was because it was new years eve.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk036.jpg[/img]
ACs have become meaner over the years by only giving their OW guests 1 drink coupon each but this is better than they treat their own elites and first class pax by not giving them lounge access at all on domestics. Mrs JP was sent to the bar to order a couple of bloody marys as I went to find internet access. My iphone was refusing to do online check-in for the BA flight home. I had us both sides of the aisle in the front row of WT+ and really wanted to grab the blocked cot seat so we would have a pair of bulkhead seats by the window. Plenty of terminals at the bottom end of the lounge and of course the cot seat had gone so I switched to 2 of the four seats in the middle bulkhead row, all would be fine as long as there wasn't a squawker next to us.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk035.jpg[/img]
The bloody marys slipped down fine as we watched the aftermath of new years eve in times square on the box. The lady behind the bar was very chatty and brought us a couple more drinks vouchers which were gladly used as BMs was $8.50 each. After finishing a 3rd BM we bid the jolly lady goodnight and a happy new year and made our way to our gate. The flight was already boarding, again a 757 with the front bulkhead seats booked. Looked quite a few empty seats and only about half full in F. The captain said the snow had stopped in BOS and he didn't anticipate any problems. I had checked in the lounge and all the BA and VS flights had arrived and departed ok so assumed the ploughs had been working well. A swift departure and straight into that low cloud this being a red eye AA don't serve a full meal but something like VS goodnight express, a one shot tray. I hate this on all airlines and still think it's a cheap cost cutting rip off ,but that's only my opinion. I started with a couple of G&Ts and declined the warm nuts I was beginning to dream about them. I ordered the warm beef salad and have to say AA really can still do a good steak in the air.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk101.jpg[/img]
Mrs JP went for the cheese plate very good and a better offering than the one in CW on the way out.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk099.jpg[/img]
A couple of glasses of wine and we had both had enough sleeping juice this coupled with a long day made sleep come very easily. The next thing I knew was 20 minutes to landing. I don't know if any sort of breakfast was served as the cabin had been cleared.

We landed 30 minutes early into a very wintery Boston at about 8.30am and had quite a long wait for a stand. How the snow was blowing about outside was quite mesmerising it looked like a mini tornado/rolling sand storm.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk104.jpg[/img]
Another AA trip under the belt and again I have no real complaints all flights punctual food edible/very good, generous with the drinks and best of all consistent crew and service. As this was booked a few months ago at 2$ to the £ it was outstanding value as well.
I used one of the house phones in baggage reclaim to call the Hilton courtesy bus. I'm not sure if you are able to walk to the central parking area then onto the Hilton from the AA terminal as you can from BA/VS's Terminal E. Standing outside you realise how cold minus 15 is and we were both glad to see the blue minibus arrive within a couple of minutes. We had intended to go into the city for lunch but as our return flight was on the early 6pm service we decided to ditch this plan and get some sleep. The decision had nothing to do with the ambient temperature, snow covered streets and both of us only having open toed crocs on our feet, the joys of packing light.
TBC

Still a great read, JP![y]

Must have been a slight shock to the system going from the warmer climates of HNL and SFO to the snow swept surroundings of BOS, brrr!

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
both of us only having open toed crocs on our feet



Crocs! [:0][xx(][:?]

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
[quote]Originally posted by jaguarpig
both of us only having open toed crocs on our feet



Crocs! [:0][xx(][:?]


Yes crocs and I'm going to buy a Decker hoodie[:D]

[buns]

Your excellent Journal continues Mr Fogg[oo][oo]

I admire your stamina and envy your ability to endure all that AA F can throw at you[:D]

Please keep your reports and photos coming[y]

buns

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
[quote]Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
[quote]Originally posted by jaguarpig
both of us only having open toed crocs on our feet



Crocs! [:0][xx(][:?]


Yes crocs and I'm going to buy a Decker hoodie[:D]


I wouldn't, you may have issues coming back into the country with it.

Anyways, another set of flights down and more proof that in reality AA really isn't that bad, at least up in 1st.

Part 7
BA212 BOS-LHR 1-01-2009 WT+(well nearly)

After a few hours rest at the always excellent airport Hilton we decided to check out at 3pm and abuse the BA first class lounge hospitality. Always a good idea I find when down the back or in WT+. The same fantastic guy who checked us in earlier and indeed who booked the day room a month back checked us out and wished us a prosperous new year and enquired if we were returning in the new year, I hope so.
A swift 10 minute walk and we were first inline for the just opened f check-in.There was already a massive line for fast/slow bag drop and Y.
The queue comber asked if we were travelling in F, I'd just seen him reposition 2 groups of PAX out of the J line to the correct Y one .I told him we had gold cards and he said yep they work as well. Security was a breeze and I had fun making the rather nice looking young lady smile at me as she checked my boarding pass and passport, even though she was trying to keep her best hard face on show. As with many of you reading this, we were the first people in the lounge fancy that. The lady on the desk has worked for BA at BOS a long time and recognised us, which is always nice.
Right turn for F side.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/Picture020.jpg[/img]
Left for J
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/Picture023.jpg[/img]
both very similar J is buffet food and
F is table service.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/Picture025.jpg[/img]
I headed for the Moet and finger sarnies, no pre-flight dinning for us as you only get a dinner token in J/F. I find this quite a mean policy and not consistent with the LHR F lounge. Not one F pax ordered any food in the dinning area, the menu looked very good as well. After empting a couple of bottles of fizz it was time to board, this is announced in the lounge and it's a quick walk past the VS CH and up one floor. Boarding was well underway, I recognised the queue comber guy from check-in as we got to the BP scanner. He leaned over and said ÒMr & Mrs JP I've got new boarding passes for you, thanks for your continued customÓ. With new J BPs in hand we thanked him and he again said no thank you. We skipped down the jet bridge, our second opup on BA ever and the first one was because my mate was a BA CSD many years ago.
We settled into an old style and very full CW 777 cabin. The seat across the aisle was empty but I over heard a conversation between the CSD and CW purser that a pax was being moved from Y as she had had a nasty fall before boarding. Middle aged lady appeared who looked like she had gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson, must have gone face first into something very hard. I did my good deed for the day and stowed all of her kit in the overhead, rather than the crew having to disturb her just before take off. The floor around your seat in CW has to be free of all bags for departure and landing.The most miserable measure of champagne and no refill consumed and it was departure time. I had to drive home on our arrival so intended to have a couple of drinks with the food and then sleep as long as possible then grab some breakfast in arrivals. Mrs JP had a veggie meal booked in WT+ so that sort of shoots down the Òyou never get an OPUP if you book a special mealÓ school of thinking, I just hoped there was something on the menu she could eat as we hadn't had many solids in the day.

I don't mind the old club world seat but unless I grab a bulkhead one with no hard shell at the footend I can't lay down flat.As with any opup you take want you are given so bed for me would be half reclined which is still a lot better that WT+. A drinks round followed after departure,I stuck to the Charles Heidsieck this time a proper glass full.The early evening departure isn't a sleeper service and was the reason I booked it,just in case we were opuped at the gate. If it had been a sleeper we wouldn't have been able to eat in the lounge and there wouldn't have been a meal in the air.
I had said to Mrs JP on boarding the crew member serving us was going to be a lazy so and so and this proved the case. Everything was too much trouble for her, my IFE screen had packed up after the safety demo.I told her about it and she said she would get the CSD to do a reset, this never happened. Even though it wasn't a sleeper the crew tried to throw the food out asap and get everyone bedded down,so they could curl up with Hello.
I really hate the sweet being presented on the set up tray with the starter its just lazy(ok and expected in Y and W but this is business class FFS).
The mozzarella salad was very good I just didn't like my pud looking at me while eating
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk105.jpg[/img]
I went for the braised short ribs and they were excellent tasting a lot better than they photographed.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk106.jpg[/img]
Mrs JP went for the Mahi Mahi which she pronounced as good a bit of fish as she has ever had in the air.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk107.jpg[/img]
To be fair the pud was very nice but I'm sure the cold custard on the side should have been warmed. I don't know if this is the correct service schedule but I think it was done to avoid another trolley run with sweet and top ups.I again tackled the FA about my non working IFE and again no action. When she came round with the duty free I asked her for a service recovery form.ÓOh I will get you the CSDÓ why it took 3 times to get any action from her is beyond me. IFE issue sorted by a very good CSD immediately, this resulted in a bottle of Clos du Moulin from F and a report being submitted so I could claim some miles from CS by email.
Satisfied I reclined my bed and that was it I was out of it, I heard the 40 minute announcement but as I had packed everything away before I went to sleep, stuck it out until 20 minutes before landing and seats belts on. No stack at all and we landed about 5.30am and came to a stand still at where T5C satellite is being built this meant a bus transfer in. We were the last people onto the first bus that was waiting and consequently the first off of the bus to immigration. We were in the arrivals lounge by 5.45am with breakfast and a bottle of highland spring on the table. Breakfast selection is self service very good and kept fresh. I had scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, fried bread, beans, black pudding and mushrooms. The plates could do with being a bit bigger. If you arriving in F there is a Concorde breakfast room where I believe breakfast is served to you, will try that out on Monday.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk040.jpg[/img]
A cup of coffee dispatched and we headed for the T5 long stay parking bus stop 22.The bus arrived at the same time as us and we were back at the car by 6.30am.Traffic was very light and I got my foot down managing to get my respectable MPG of 25 on the trip down to a not so good 17.I was opening my mail at 8.30am not bad 3 hours from landing and a 150 mile drive home. Secure in the knowledge that we had our BA gold cards for another year I went to bed.
From the trip we earned an approx net amount of 50k miles including 15k I was awarded for the IFE acting up and the 25k I had used to upgrade the outbound plus the all important 810 TPs.As well as 4 J amenity kits 2 little boxes of chocs and a bottle of rather nice fizz that didn't live past 7pm on the 2nd of Jan.
[img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c315/jaguarpig/HNL%20xmas2008/desk043.jpg[/img]
Roll on the next HNL run, which will be our 5th in 5 years.

[Decker]

Absolutely brilliant. What an epic whirlwind of travel food drink and people. So impressed with Mrs JP's stamina keeping up too - assuming she helped out on 'emptying a couple of bottles of fizz' [:)].

JP,

Absolutley fantstic and what a marathon. Mrs JP did look a little bit tired in the last TR and not surprisingly so. From what I gather the AA/BA service in premium cabins lived up to expectations and an op up is just the icing on the cake especially on the last leg.

Well done the both of you and many thanks for taking the time to post such excellent reports

cheers
Iain

[HighFlyer]

Wonderful read JP! Let us know when you decide to do the 6th, you might well have company [:D]

Thanks,
Sarah

Great end to a great read, thank you JP!

Welldone on an outstanding TR! [^]
Like a great book, i could smell the food and more importantly taste the booze! The photo's were slotted in nicely and i thank you for painting such a vivid picture of what it is like to travel in such great style!

Cheers.
Helen.

[buns]

JP

A wonderful ending to a fantastic voyage[oo]

The Op-Up was no doubt very welcome, and the announcement to you pure text book, shame it was undone by the tardy service.

It only goes to show that VS does not hold the monopoly in this regard.

Take care

buns

As I have said before you are indeed a 'man of steel' (not forgetting Mrs JP) with these epic HNL runs!

The TR's are bloody brilliant too!

Regards

John

Just caught up with the saga. A great read, thanks for putting it together.

Paul