Am I sure I wanted to do all this in Y ?

[docjames]

Was what I was thinking as we waited at Brisbane Airport. And waited at LAX. And waited at JFK. And CUN. And CUN again. And DFW, SCL and EZE.

But that's cutting too far ahead. A little background is needed.


First decent leave mrsdoc and myself have been able to get at the same time for almost 4 years (and first time since we got maried). Six days in NZ 18 months ago doesnt count. It was to be a reward for quite a number of years of hard work for both of us. A post-exam reward. We also always talk about how we want to go to an event, so that had to be factored in. mrsdoc has been learning Spanish, so Spanish-speaking coutnries were also a must. And we're not good at the "sit on the beach and do nothing" type holiday, so it had to be somewhere interesting. Our honeymoon was in Mexico 4 years ago, and we thought about going back, but there's so much more of Central and South America to go to.


And then there was the "event" - Davis Cup Australia vs Chile - that sounds good. A nice week in Santiago, and a week before and after travelling through South America. Except for one snag - the tie wasnt being played in Santiago. It was in Antofagasta. Where's that (all the non-miners ask)? About 1400 miles north of Santiago, the driest place on earth, a post city the is the access point for the mining of Chile and Peru. Bummer. Oh well, that'll have to be included now.

But wait, we finish work Friday, and due to the miracle of the International date line, we can leave Australia Saturday morning, and arrive in NYC by Saturday night. And mrsdoc was desperate to go to NYC. Some might say it was to catch the US Open Final, but I knew better, it was really just for shopping. So we did both.

And since we're in the USA, and have to travel to Chile, where can we stop on the way? Mexico - well, as above, that's been a little done already, let's try somethig else? Cuba? Sure, pain to get to but interesting. Want to see it before Castro dies. So that gets the tick. But also means transit through Toronto or Cancun. Cancun seems more logical perhaps. OK, tick that (never thought i'd willing go there again, but oh well, it's a transit only).

Now, how to get to South America. AA/LAN/MX have flights, but all list only full fare. Wait, i've got FF points - how about CUN-DFW-SCL - and for two people, only 30000pts + $40 taxes each. Okay, that'll do. Bit of a backtrack, but saved thousands in full fare one way airfares (60000 pts saves over $5500). Bargain.

That leaves 4 days to use up post-tennis. Well, they say Buenos Aires is the "Paris" of the South. Rio is too much travel and flights dont work wirher. Plus, it's Portugese-speaking. And again, that warning bell in the back of my mind goes off as the shopping opportunities dawn on mrsdoc yet again. Oh well, another ouch to the Platinum Amex - it might need a bigger limit by the end of this trip!


So after much planning, we have:
BNE-LAX-JFK (QF)
JFK-CUN-HAV (MX/CU)
HAV-CUN (MX) (enforced overnight for connections / "safety margin" to reward flight)
CUN-DFW-SCL-AFO (LAN)
AFO-SCL-EZE (LAN)
EZE-SCL-AKL-BNE (LAN/QF)


All in Y.



What were we thinking?

 

[docjames]

Pre-Departure:

Ok, Cuban Visas obtained. Platinum CC didnt arrive in time for bookings so now tix are on the Gold card and we have to take out extra insurance. bugger. Ok ok, the dog - what are we doing with him? Off to the puppy hilton it is (he should get SC/points at that place by now!). Much last minute scrabbling. Work sorted. mrsdoc's work undergoing total resturcure so in crisis - bad luck, we're not cancelling this trip for anything. It'll all still be there when she gets back. As hopefully will be her job! Haircut, rent paid up, wait, there's a problem. CCs dont work in Cuba, USD charged a "change fee" of 15%. Must take Euros, in Cash. No idea how much. Order random amount from Travelex.

So just the usual pre-trip chaos. All sorted. Let's go.

 

[NYCguy]

BNE-LAX-JFK (QF)
JFK-CUN-HAV (MX/CU)
HAV-CUN (MX) (enforced overnight for connections / "safety margin" to reward flight)
CUN-DFW-SCL-AFO (LAN)
AFO-SCL-EZE (LAN)
EZE-SCL-AKL-BNE (LAN/QF)


All in Y.



What were we thinking?

I couldn't say. Whatever you were thinking, you clearly weren't in a good state of mind!

 

[docjames]

Pre-departure - Brisbane Airport (International) Saturday 6th September 2008


Taxi arrived within two minutes of call on a cool Saturday morning. So soon we werent actually ready. After rushing out the door, the usual "did we lock the gate, was the stove off" moment happened but too late now. What we dont know wont hurt.

We're now way early, but checkin at the QC line was quick and efficient, if a little brisk from the checkin agent. Bags only weigh 14.5kg and 16.5kg so mrsdoc happy she can now do lots of shopping. I'm sure the credit card can already feel the pain.

Down to security. It seems the published information about carryons is still misleading. As with habit, we place plastic container separate to bag. My one, mrsdoc two. My carryon gets scanned first and passes through no problems. mrsdoc's doenst go so well.

Angry (but also seeming frustrated) security dragon: "You can only have plastic bag for liquids".
mrsdoc "But contact lens solution is exempt"
ASL: "No, you cant"
mrsdoc: "doc, get yours out there was heaps of room"

Proceed to do so, ASL noticed 120gm tube of toothpaste "That's over 100ml, i'm confiscating it. You can keep the lens solution."

Now, really biting my tongue here, and determined not to let things start pear-shaped. Given a new copy of the information sheet "for next time" and sent on our way. Dont mention that according to the info sheet toothpaste can calculate at about 75% of weight so 120gm should be ok. Also dont mention that other security let me through with it already. Also dont see why you would confiscate that and not the 200ml contact lens solution bottle. Can buy more toothpaste, can stuff holiday with three hours of interrogation by security. Tongue remains well bitten.

Immigration cleared relatively quickly, although i hate the mini-queues at each counter. You should go straight to the open one, and queue from one point, else you get stuck behind some dingbat who cant fill in the card correctly whilst others as flying through. More on that later when we've had some others to compare to.

QC - in short, a bit of a zoo. Rubbish piled on just about every table and noisy nosiy noisy. And the food was pretty average. And about 80% of the people there seem to have burnt the toast. Repeatedly, judging by the pile left next to the toaster, and scattered around the lounge. Read the newspapers (last aussie news for a while - if you call the courier-mail a newspaper). Eat burnt toast (add me to the 80% - maybe they need new toaster!).

At last the flight is called - requested upgrade hasnt happened. Bummer. Not entirely surprising given showing J2 in the 24hrs prior to departure. Further "random" screening at gate - mrsdoc gets special attention. Relief to be on plane at last and about to start holiday. Except "one passenger has failed to board, we are trying to locate them in the terminal or remove their checked baggage". Great. At last 45 minutes late we finally push back from gate. They should have bumped this person from the flight. Our connection in LAX is only 2 hours so already things are even tighter. But we're off.

 

[docjames]

September 6 2008 QF 175
BNE-LAX
747-400
12hrs 15mins
Seats 65JK
Flight 97% full

Pleasantly surprised at legroom in the back of the bus. mrsdoc kept commenting how great the little "flight planner" that comes as the menu/info card and telling you when things are supposed to happen (meals/forms/duty free etc). Read inflight mag within about the first 15 minutes, so start playing with the individaul screen - seems even though it's September we've got August's IFE. Doesnt matter. Watch for a while, meal comes - standard QF Y class "curry" that's lacking in flavour. Two beers and sun setting so ready for a snooze. Not real easy in the middle seat (mrsdoc insists on window so she can sleep - despite the fact she can sleep anywhere, i get stuck in the middle!) but manage a few hours sleep.

Snack randomly through the "night" on the little snack bag - a great idea and something other long-haul airlines need to copy rapidly!

Wake up and we're being served breakfast - must have slept more than i thought. Hot breakfast quite tasty (must have been hungry).

We end up actually arriving in LAX on a cold foggy morning, but we've made up heaps of time and land about 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

Sorry no pics - mrsdoc insisting i save the camera card for "better stuff" later in the trip. Overall I have to say a few of things:

1. Long haul (>10hr) Economy is HEAPS better than last time I experienced it!

2. Should have insisted I sat by the window.

3. I takes forever to get off if you're in row 65!

Overall we commented to each other quite a few times that for a long haul down the back of the plane it was a very very "easy" flight. At this point, we're hoping for quite a few more liek this one.

 

[docjames]

Sat 6th September
7am
LAX

Ok, so we're dreading LAX. Last time we were here (4 years ago) it was a shambles. But immigration is quite efficient (after we filled the cards without any mistakes - this was emphasised about 10 times on the flight or "you'll get sent to the back of the queue and made to fill in another". Also a bit nervous as we have Cuba in our sights and know how sensitive the Americans are about that (you must not have it on your onward ticket - it must be booked seperately). So we're asked "how long are you in the US for" and we tell of our NY plans for the next three days. Fortunately no followup questions (where next) and we pass thouough.

Short wait for tha luggage and there'a a huge queue for customs. But there's renovations at TBIT (which seem to be the same renovations they were doing 4 years ago!) and mrsdoc notices that the carousels over the far side are less busy and there seems to be a customs exit there. So we leave the single queue that has three jumbo loads queueing, and backtrack across to the other. We're now 3rd in the queue (not 333rd) and straight through.

Baggage transfer - last time in TBIT there were literally thousands of bags dumped here (in an "open" area!) but this time again, third in the queue, bags received and we're off for the short walk to terminal 4.

Arrive T4 and through screening (note need to buy slip on shoes as laces are a PITA) and we're into the Admiral's lounge. QF rep at Admirals' kind-of helpful in that she moved us into 26AB - this proved to be somewhat of a mistake (should have stayed in 65!), but more on that later. The lounge is pretty average compared to QC - no magazines, nothing but pretzels and the stupid drink vouchers - very unimpressed. Thinking - is there another lounge for First class? Internet access handy. Lounge quite busy. Get told plane is now delayed due to late incoming aircraft (QF 107 from SYD). Dont ever actually get told how long the delay is. Given another drinks voucher when i go to enquire (still not given answer). Despite it being 730 in the morning manage to down 2 coronas before flight called. Leave lounge thinking overall lounge is big but gives impression of cost cutting and really not worth much at all.

 

[Keith009]

Hey hey you're not the only one.
Nice start to the TR.

 

[serfty]

There's a Flagship Lounge at LAX T4 - it's on the west side of the upper level. (Other side from the A/C)

Note that since 1st October, all Qantas SYD and JFK flights as well as QF94 to MEL are departing TBIT with the remaining QF flights to AKL, BNE & MEL (QF26) now departing T4.

 

[Alanslegal]

Overall I have to say a few of things:

1. Long haul (>10hr) Economy is HEAPS better than last time I experienced it!

Nice TR so far, really good read.

Economy class isn't too bad if you don't expect everything, and the quality overall esp with QF has increased quite a fair bit IMO.

Anyway our last flight LAX-SYD in rows 70 of economy was really nice esp with those two seats on the sides. Plus when travelling partner developed a slight itch, one of the friendly cabin crew offered one of those Morrissey Pyjamas sets to change into - must've knicked from the front of the plane

 

[docjames]

QF 107
LAX-JFK
Seat 26AB
85% Full

We've moved into the front section (originally had 65 again) when no J upgrade available. Turns out this wasnt a favour - last row of the "little" Y cabin on a three class 747. And immediately we notice that there's not as much leg room as row 65! Bummer. But we get over that quickly as we're now excited to be soon in NYC.

Pushback but looooooong taxi and delay to takeoff.

Crew looking a bit blearly - wonder how many days off they had since LAX arrival? Announcement by the captain that due to the remnants of hurricane Hannah storms are expected in NYC and may be bumpy near arrival - no problem. We feel safe on Qantas (!).

Meal served and the first thing we notice :

/darryl eastlake on/ HUUUUUUUUGGGGGGEEEE /DE off/ servings, double dessert. Biggest aircraft meals I've seen. Try to get an hour's rest, but end up watching the IFE (updated to September on this A/C - annoying as i wanted to see the last episode I was watching on the previous flight.) Mrsdoc crashes instantly after the meal. At this point the Captain announces again there are major delays. But we've got plenty of fuel before we have to divert. So that's good. What's not so good is the holding pattern - basically 75 minutes continually turning left. Enough to make mrsdoc almost airsick (and she's never sick!). I think a few on the a/c were looking green. But finally we're on land again (impressively smooth landing given we came in almost sideways!). And excited.

Baggage - all makes it. Phew. THe baggage collection area is clearly designed for AA aircraft and not 747s - it's way too small and pokey and not what you'd expect arriving in NYC (it's worse than the old Adelaide domestic terminal).

Taxi - also a circus - blowing about 30-40kts, partial undercover, freezing, everyone basically getting blown with water. And the queue - i think every cab must have been on Manhattan island - after the queue goes nowhere for 15 minutes and is still about 100 people long, a bus arrives and against our previous judgement, we take it. And it was the right decision - straight to Grand Central Station. And the Grand Hyatt NYC. Into foyer, easy checkin, get to room, collapse. Ring fatherdoc and motherdoc - off to dinner, in bed by midnight into what by this stage seems THE world's most comfortable bed. First time horizontal in 24 hours. Fantastic!

 

[docjames]

Grand Hyatt New York
Dark foyer that even now i'm still not sure if i love or hate. I think hate, but can imagine if you're arriving at weird times of day there's an advantage I suppose. Either that or the designers think it's trendy. Room small but we'd scored a good rate (usd$220/nt) so for that price in a fantastic part of town - great! Didnt use room service, didnt eat in the restaurants so cant help you there. I still like personal checkin/out rather than the electronic check in/out but i suppose it's quick and easy.

Sunday we expected to be at Men's final of USOpen but as it turned out, delayed by rain so we saw Nadal-Murray and Serena Williams - Jankovic. Murray deserved to win, Nadal looked exhausted after a very long season. Serena never looked like losing, but Jankovic made a match of it and the crowd were rapt to see the Yank win. Fantastic day and night.

Monday was shopping - I cant even recall all the places we went. Mrsdoc had only one aim - some place reknowned for light blue boxes........ fortunately credit card not totally melted there so able to continue with rest of trip! Of course, that didnt negate the need to visit what seemed like hundreds of other stores. Dinner that night at Oyster Bar in Grand Central - was recommended to us by a few people - and although it was good food at reasonable price, it was nothing spectacular. But we'd had a great couple of days and were looking forward to starting the next part of our trip.

Early start Tuesday, and taxi to the airport with terrible driver - we certainly got close up views of plenty of bumper bars at crazy speeds. But having survived that trip, Cuba was going to be easy. Or so we thought. Until Hurricane Ike put a spanner in the works....

 

[Skyring]

Heh. Enjoying this TR. Y isn't bad on Qantas. I actually prefer the back of a 747 if I'm travelling Y, though there is the queue thing.

That midnight snack pack is a great idea, must agree, especially if I'm finding it difficult to leave my window seat.

NYC cabs are a bit hit and miss. Get a good cabbie and the trip's a delight. Others, well....

Have more to say on that in my own TR later. Still nursing a bruise.

 

[JohnK]

Very nice trip report. Looking forward to reading the rest of your trip.

Isn't WHY the only way to travel?

 

[docjames]

The Full A1 Experience at JFK (not)

Arrived seriosuly early @ JFK (about 2.5 hrs eary). Checkin done by AA agents acting for Mexicana (MX share AA's new terminal). Bit farcical actually - travelling with 2x QF CL members (fatherdoc and motherdoc) Ok, MX arent fully part of Oneworld (yet), but you'd think 1. agent was AA and 2. these would be customers you dont want to irritate!

Anyway, docjames first to check bag - weight 16kg - no problems (allowance 23kg). Bag tagged and away it goes. mrsdoc next - 20.1kg (very well done, all that pretrip goading about bag weights paying off!!!), meanwhile CL's checking in at adjacent counter - bags weight 26kg and 24kg. Agent lets 24kg bag slide - "but you'll have to pay excess baggage for the 26kg one".

Fatherdoc: "But their bags were miles under and we're all travelling together?"
Agent "sorry" (no you're not).

Anyway, farcical scenes as we hold up the entire queue as fatherdoc unpacks bag and places into mrsdoc's bag - whilst sitting on the scales - now two bags weighing EXACTLY 23kg each. Stupid waste of time. It annoyed us, it annoyed those in the queue behind, all to either try and get another $24! Sure, we could have paid it, but by this stage we werent going to on principle. And no, there was no way they could have packed less - they were carring clothing for black tie dinners in NYC, Chile, plus all the gear for holiday, so to only be 26kg i tought was a fair effort (work collegue had already taken x1 bag @ 32kg back to Aus!)

Movig through security, and the stupidity of US security was apparent. First, the squiggle on the BP (that could have been anything). Then, into screening. In queue - i'm behind now as laced shoes taking ages. mrsdoc enters queue and directed to one side - bag gets thoroughly searched, then she's directed through "that screener over there". Stands in, screened, walks out, then sign ON OTHER SIDE says "you are entitled to refuse Xray screening". mrsdoc relays this to me as i'm standing int he queue with CLs. Note - all those getting extra screening were all holding foreign passports - American passport holders were not getting this extra treatment. It was way too consistent to have been by chance - clearly they seem to think no-one with a US passport would ever be a terrorist! Stupidity.


Anyway, finally find the Admiral's lounge - this one was much better than the one in LAX - breakfast time so decent yoghurts, cereals, drinks, coffee etc - and no need for those crazy vouchers. The more AA lounges we visited, the more I realised QC isn't so bad (despite our gripes here about food/overfull etc).

Finally we are called to board (early actually) and off we go. Gate not far down concourse, boarding relatively quick, selection of newspapers just before aircraft in English and Spanish (I take one of each - that's 4 newspapers!) and we're on board! Nice new a/c, boarded early and we're ready to go (we think)......

 

[docjames]

MX 861
JFK-CUN
Seats 22BC
A318

So we're on board, pushed back, then nothing happens (post the dual spanish/english safety beriefing).

Eventually he pilot announces (in spanglish) that there's "delay". Helpful. It appears there's plenty of traffic this morning. Finaly we taxi at a million miles an hours - we soon see why. There's literally about 20 a/c lined up on the taxiway. but we take a parallel taxiway and pass all of them, line up behind one other plane and we're away! AWESOME!! Suspect they'd all missed their slots and being sitting waiting ready we got our (delayed) slot time.

After takeoff, full breakfast service, hot breakfast (omlette vs waffles - I have egg, mrsdoc has drinks only after eating in AAlounge). Flight attendants efficient and attractive, nice new plane, quiet (even in third last row!). No IFE (those 4 newspapers handy). Good view of US coastline as we track south, eventually obscured by cloud. At this stage, seatbelt light on as we're skirting the edge of Ike - this is not good as we;re starting to get the feeling our flight CUN-HAV not going to be looking so good. Personally I blame fatherdoc and motherdoc - they flew out of NYC on Sept 10 2001 - and were going to three day conference in CUN - where they promptly got sutck for a week waiting for the skies to open again. They think they're jinxed. But we're on holiday, so no point worrying about that now (more later!).

At this point, everyone's eaten and busting to use the loos so all ignoring seatbelt sign and heading past us to the loo - actually the biggest drawback of these seats (plus is they're not full so now armrests are up and we're relaxing across three seats). Good pitch on this a/c (better than the QF 747s we've just been on).

Bit windy coming into CUN but nice landing and we've arrived. Immigration quick and efficient, bags fast and we're through. Walk across to T3 and no sign of any flights to

Originally booked on Cubana, most surly, unhelpful agent of all time.

"Plane not going today - airport closed". okay, when will it go?
"maybe tomorrow". Okay, guess they cant help if airport closed, "so we're on tomorrow's flight?"
"You waitlist, but plane full." Mkay, not looking good, there's 4 flights not gone and everything is full.
"Will you pay for hotel room?" No.


Okay, so no room, no flight today, maybe no flight tomorrow. Madly emailing agent in Australia who's making various enquiries - we eventually decide to return to the airport the following morning to see if HAV is open. Phone Hilton CUN (where we were due to be staying overnight in a week's time!) - amazing, walk up rate $89USD (we paid USD$135 booking from AUS)!! Walk across to Hertz - hire car (Jeep) for $60usd for 24hrs and we're away from the airport (thankfully)

We find out why the Hilton was so cheap when we arrive - it's deserted! Nice room with nice view looking along beach.

We decide to use the rest of the day and make the best of a disappointing siutation - we drive down to Playa del Carmen - mrsdoc and I spent 6 days there as part of our honeymoon 4 years earlier - boy has it changed - much more developed and the mall now has McDonalds and BK etc unfortunately - another nice part of Mexico becoming mini-america. not as bad as Cancun (yet) but well on it's way. Dont think we'll be hurrying back to CUN anytime soon (that's also what my parents said after 9/11 but here they were!).

Drive back, now raining and maniacs are out but we miss them (just on occasion) and head back to the hotel. We're all a bit echausted after the early start, crazy NYC taxi, arguements with Cubana and the whole uncertainty of what we'll be able to do tomorrow, so we call it an early night after "Mexican" (more tex-mex really) dinner at the hotel. Madly watching BBC/CNN - Cuba is being slammed but Ike's now headed away and we go to bed hopeful we get there in the morning.

 

[Alanslegal]

Anyway, docjames first to check bag - weight 16kg - no problems (allowance 23kg). Bag tagged and away it goes. mrsdoc next - 20.1kg (very well done, all that pretrip goading about bag weights paying off!!!), meanwhile CL's checking in at adjacent counter - bags weight 26kg and 24kg. Agent lets 24kg bag slide - "but you'll have to pay excess baggage for the 26kg one".

Fatherdoc: "But their bags were miles under and we're all travelling together?"
Agent "sorry" (no you're not).

Anyway, farcical scenes as we hold up the entire queue as fatherdoc unpacks bag and places into mrsdoc's bag - whilst sitting on the scales - now two bags weighing EXACTLY 23kg each. Stupid waste of time. It annoyed us, it annoyed those in the queue behind, all to either try and get another $24! Sure, we could have paid it, but by this stage we werent going to on principle. And no, there was no way they could have packed less - they were carring clothing for black tie dinners in NYC, Chile, plus all the gear for holiday, so to only be 26kg i tought was a fair effort (work collegue had already taken x1 bag @ 32kg back to Aus!)

Interesting check-in the bag scenario but IMO I still think the check-in agent was correct to demand you to pay the weight penalty OR repack the bags in accordance with the rules. I understand that as a group you were under the limit collectively but the rules are weight per bag - not total weight per travelling party. After all, that is their principle / condition of flight.

All in all, much enjoying your TR.

 

[docjames]

I dont disagree - them's the rules - I bear no grudge againt the agent - but the rules are crazy. I dont also doubt at times in Australia (JQ and TT probably being the likely offenders) it's the same in Aus, and all around the world. The thing that sticks is that this was the only airport in the entire trip we had trouble. I love visiting America (the people are almost a cliche of themselves), but i hate their airports, and sadly, they're the first and last things you see when you go there.


I should also mention we were extremely annoyed about the scrrening xray - mrsdoc would definitely have refused if she'd known that was an option but as a "good" traveller, she just complied with the security instructions (no matterhow daft!). Should they not be warning people (I can imagine pregnant women sueing them one day, especially in the USA).

 

[Alanslegal]

Yes some rules are crazy however A check-in agent could use a little discretion now & again and let a few over kilos just slide, depending on the circumstance.

Last year I flew on a US Airways flight (also ex-JFK) and there was a lady who was yelling up and down the check-in area warning they would be strict with baggage weights. Lots of people were urgently re-organising their bags, guess people like to take alot of baggage around

 

[docjames]

Wednesday 17th September

Fatherdoc and myself head out early to CUN (flight goes 1445 daily), queue of 30 people at Cubana agent desk - no sign of it moving, irritable Europeans banging on counter, agent telling them to come back next day (it would seem). There's also about 100 people sitting in the checkin barriers. We give up and go to Mexicana service desk - 4 tix to HAV please. No room on 1330pm flight, so we score 4 tix on the 2025 flight. No certainty travel insurance will pay for changes, but at least we're on a flight and not going to miss any more of our holiday! Also probably a good thing not to be first flight in after the hurricane as even in CUN it's still seriously windy.

Then to Hertz - agree to extend rental by 4 hours for $20 (rather than chaging full day). Back to hotel, head out for some shopping / lunch, then back to airport. Use fahterdocs priority pass to score lounge access (4 pax, no excess charge for the 3 non-memebrs!) and "relax" (nervously). Flight finally boards at 2015. Note that the Cubana 1445 departure is still on the tarmac here at CUN. Prompt boarding, everyone looks nervous (anticipating a rough flight!) but we pushabck jut after 2100 and we're on our way!

 

[docjames]

CUN-HAV
Fokker 100
Click Grupo Mexicana

So, we're away, but nervous. The (very young looking!) crew rush around serving drinks and nuts. What a great aircraft! 35 (yes, thirty-five) inch pitch. Leather seats (I like the leather seats on short fights, many others dont). Sitting in the 5th back row however, the engines are NOISY (pardon?). They're not too bad at cruising, but every time the pilot moves the throttles an inch, everyone in the back few rows starts to worry (is the plane flying into a hurricane and about to fall from the sky!). No such problems, and we soon beging descent to HAV. This is a short flight (330mi / 55mins incl taxi at each end!).

Coming down, it's noticable how much the plane is wobbling around - plus, engines alternating LOUD roar, then spool down as the pilot clearly has his hands full. Nothing to bee seen out the window (pitch black) adds to the tension. Bang - we're on the ground! Well, to be fair, it was not to bad considering the ups and downs of the 15minute descent! WHOLE aircraft begins clapping even before the thrust reversers are deployed (somewhat disconcerting!) but we pull up (it's a huge runway) and taxi back to the terminal. We're relieved, excited, but not sure if all the messages we've been sending about our delayed plans have got through to hurrincane-hit Havana. And we're to sure how bad the damage is going to be. We're one of the flights in after the hurricane, so no-one really knows either. We're about to find out!

Immigration - single lines, and only go to the counter individually, not as a travelling couple / party (as per Australia etc) - get told off and i'm not even in the country! But "enjoy your stay in Cuba" (Coo-ba, not Cue-ba)and a half-smile! Phew. Motherdoc and mrsdoc all through ok. Fatherdoc not so much. Seems the muliple different visas/stamps etc in his (extra paged) passport deems he needs just abit more scrutiny. But he's through, bags screened ("customs") and we're through. Head out to the exit - and there's thousands of people crammed against the barriers with no way through. Four tour companies within protected area - none are ours. Polite enquiries to each of them - none have ever heard of ours. Oh dear. Go and change some money, make a few more enquiries, no sign of our agency, so we eventually decide to get a taxi - with some trepidation - justly it turns out...................