Erk's 2014 Pacamerican Circle

[erkpod]

Safe travel. If you are traveling in Y, try and get row 26. I flew VA7 the other week and this is an exit row with bulkhead. 26C gets toilet traffic but more leg room. I was in 26D and that was all good.

I'm in an exit row a little further back, 39A. I'll have to keep 26 in mind. Thanks!

 

[bass_ke]

You are a mad man erk! Keep up the pictures and writing! I expect to see an album uploaded as soon as you land in La!

Intending to travel on a VA 777 this year so I'm curious to hear of your experiences as an SG

 

[erkpod]

What do I find as I'm leaving the lounge? VA hotdogs, you guys!

 

[erkpod]

Boarding now. VA1 is VH-VPD. Lots of people thinking they can get priority boarding. VA doing a good job sorting through the zoo of people.

Next stop LA!

 

[erkpod]

Onboard shots







Where is everybody?



39A doesn't have a nice window view. Lesson learnt.

 

[DGW]

39A doesn't have a nice window view. Lesson learnt.

That's gotta sting...

Have a good trip, I'm looking forward to seeing some more pics. I did MEL-LAX return in J a couple of months back and was underwhelmed so I'm interested to see what the Y experience is like.

 

[erkpod]

Awaiting a tech to reset the IFE. Estimated 15 min before this is finished. Am giving Kylie the FA some NYC travel tips.

Seat buddies thought they needed the VA in-flight app because they can't see their screens in the exit row.

We have Dennis as our PIC who has welcomed us aboard. Expecting some bumps 2 hrs out & near the Equator.

Looks like VA don't call their CSM a CSM any more, at least on VAi. Cabin Leader is the new term it seems.

 

[erkpod]

That's gotta sting...

Have a good trip, I'm looking forward to seeing some more pics. I did MEL-LAX return in J a couple of months back and was underwhelmed so I'm interested to see what the Y experience is like.

I've had no dramas in VAd & VAi Y. I've done east coast domestic J but not transcon J, transcon Y or longhaul J. I am doing transcon J in March & hopefully VA29/30 J in June.

I was mostly after the legroom in 39A but a window would have been nice.

 

[erkpod]

1455 update from CSM:

Panasonic tech still working on system. Rebooting system again, could be another 10-15 minutes before we are good to go. The reboot might take 60-90 minutes to fully take effect. We can go into the air during that period & sometimes it comes good in the air. Can't say 100% if the IFE will work for part or all of the trip.

Crew & pax are calm, even the LOTFAP citizens...

1502 update. Departing in a few minutes hopefully.

 

[vitagen]

Safe travels mate!

 

[erkpod]

View from 40A's window from 39A.



CSM Todd just came to me asking me what did I want for dinner & breakfast before others because I'm a VFF SG (my words, not his). I am having the chicken for dinner. Either breakfast option does not appeal.

1511 - Captain & CSM advises that we are going to be delayed another 20 min in a very last attempt to get the IFE working. The Captain is going to turn the plane off & then on again (my parapharse).

VA Ops have said to get on the move soon as we are fast running out of leeway before connections start becoming tight. ETD at least another 20 min (around 60 min late).

 

[erkpod]

The plane has been turned off & back on again. The Captain, CSM & my nearest FA (Kylie on L4) are doing a good job, I think the pax are calm because they have internet. As I just said to my seat buddies, I hope the IFE is worth watching. We seem to be good a good job of IFEing ourselves.

The toilets are getting a workout! The FA's seem to be battling a few nappies in there.








View from the window in L4 from 39A.

 

[erkpod]

1530 Update from CSM

Final call for ground crew to leave the plane. Going dark, door closing.

 

[jukebox333]

Happy New Year and safe travels, Erk!

 

[Melburnian1]

The SYD airport website had earlier altered VA1's forecast departure from 1525, then to 1540, which is pretty much in line with what our man on the spot was saying.

Despite erkpod not getting away until just after 1530, VA1 will make up time and is expected to arrive at the LAX gate at 0935, 20 minutes behind schedule.

 

[erkpod]

Day 1, Wednesday 01 January 2014
Delta Sky Club, LAX

I have arrived in the LOTFAP. Wheels up for VA1 was at 1559 & plane to street took about 45 minutes at LAX. TBIT is so much better than my last flight through there in 2009. CBP were rounding up ANA pax from Japan to try & make things easier.

More on the flight shortly but here I am awaiting my DL flight to LAS. The flight leaves from T6 so I made the schoolboy error of going to T6 & expecting a Sky Club and/or being able to get into the AS lounge. Somewhat related, my DL BP still says I'm VFF silver because I was when I booked it.

 

[erkpod]

Flight report, VA1 SYD - LAX 1/1/14

Plane: VA B777 VH-VPD
Captain: Dennis
CSM: Todd
Closest FA: Kylie
Class: Y
Seat: 39A

Flight: Mostly smooth. 3 occasions of extended turbulance.

On Time Running: Wheels up around 90 min late. Touchdown around 20 minutes late.

Crew communication: Good. PIC & CSM did well during extended delay in SYD due to faulty IFE.

IFE: IFE or lack thereof caused delayed departure. Came good while heading to cruising height. Range of movies/shows disappointing & less than similar trip Jan 2013. Seat buddies thought they could use the VA IFE app. IFE screen unable to erect myself. Could not find headphone jack in the dark. 5 seconds of torchlight by FA in general direction of jack was no good.

Seat buddies/shadow: No shadow. Older couple in B/C also heading to Vegas.

Seat: 39A. No window. Could see with problem through 40A's window. Seat very snug but exit row legroom welcomed. Not a fan of IFE intruding on seat space. Eating (if I ate!) hard due to my size & design of tray due to exit row.

Food: CSM asked if I wanted to order before my seat buddies due to FF status. Could not find chicken buried under other stuff. Mr Fussy isn't flying Carnivore Airways. Had a couple of hotdogs in the ANZ lounge. I rarely eat on planes.

Crew: Overall, they were professional & gave good service. I gave my nearest FA (Kylie) some travel advice about NYC & Niagara Falls during the IFE delayed departure. Crew seemed eager to run on LA time & turn the flight into a night flight.

Sleep: Slept about half the flight.

Status recognition: Priority check-in ok. Staff enforcing rules well, as they did for boarding. Standard welcome, CSM gave me priority food ordering for dinner/breakfast.

Lounge: SYD T1 ANZ Koru lounge. Nice. Food lacking for pre-international flight. Discovered hotdogs immediately before leaving the lounge. Spirits are available!

CBP etc: Australia (out) - quick. Entire plane - street at TBIT around 40 minutes. Most of that was Immigration. Bags arrived soon after my arrival.

 

[erkpod]

Pics from Delta Sky Club, LAX.



You can see some gates of T5 & T6


Bar area. You. Must. Pay. For. Booze.





Lounge has been busy. Not a place to eat unless you like small amounts of rabbit food.

 

[erkpod]

Waiting for pushback on DL758 LAX - LAS.




1A/1B (now taken).





The CSM is in a festive mood on New Year's Day.


Waiting for pushback.

 

[DaleS]

Looking forward to some good reading for the next few weeks. Have a great trip Erk.