November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

[JessicaTam]

Considering it is barely three days since I saw you in MEL, you have filled two pages of this thread with flights.

Have you had a "what airport am I in now?' moment yet?


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[Kangol]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

There is generally plenty of U availability on earl morning MEL SYD flights 10 months out - it's the LAX flights that are tough.

It took me a while but I think I got it - your EF alert was set for MEL-LAX but the only available result was routed MEL-SYD-LAX?

Looking forward to some more pics!

 

[serfty]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

It took me a while but I think I got it - your EF alert was set for MEL-LAX but the only available result was routed MEL-SYD-LAX?

Looking forward to some more pics!

No, my E/F alerts were set for each of QF15, QF107, QF93 & QF11.

Once alerted my booking search was for MEL-LAX. The engine offerred up quite a few via SYD routings with seating in U class for the connection flight. (e.g. 6am, 7am & 8am).

The 7am flight was a compromise between Flounge time in SYD and a flight from MEL accessible by me using public transport. (e.g. For the 6am option I would have needed to rent a car.)

ISTR that a MEL-(U)-xBNE-(U)-xSYD-(I)-LAX option was also offerred with this same search, but at a much higher points cost.

 

[serfty]

Steps: 29436

In AKL AirNZ Business lounge - uneventful flight, the lounge had really thinned out by the time boarding was ready.

Air NZ at LAX have this thing where their "in flight Concierge" will escort PAX from the lounge to the gate where they are the first to board - they do this from a different door away from the gate and even those with lounge eligibility standing at the gate have to wait for these escorted PAX or follow them.

In the lounge an announcement to assemble for the escort is made and in practice it seems you have about 30 seconds before the procession embarks. I have been caught out by this before so I was waiting nearby the point for the announcement and was able to join in. This time the flight gate was 25, but the procession from the lounge were boarded via gate 23. (There's a walkway between the outer windows and the lounge.)

As for the flight, the AirNZ staff were good, the catering continues to diminish (still good quality, just shrinking serves). I slept for 8 of the 12 or so hours and arrived in reasonable shape.

I hit the lounge for a shower which was really good and now have a reasonably long transit. (My original booking had one of 90 minutes but schedule changes cut this to 40 which was below MCT.)

 

[serfty]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

... Have you had a "what airport am I in now?' moment yet? ...

Not really - due to some short connections I have made myself very aware of layouts and gates, even with the 90 second disorientation at ORD.

 

[Bundy Bear]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Thanks for the updates serfty, very impressed with all the effort you have gone into writing it up.

Serfty is one person who will see a good deal, book it and then tell you all about it, maybe not always in this sort of detail but is a wealth of information.

 

[serfty]

Oneworld MIA 'E' lounge photos

PM catering

Some Drinks:

 

[serfty]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

... Dinner was a pasta or a 'grilled chicken' breast; I took the latter. It was smallish, but ok. Slept the last 30 minutes.
...

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In flight breakfast was a choice of cereal or omelet; choosing the latter I was served something that would easily pass as a "Frittata" - it was ok.
....

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...I was given a "Snack/Lunch" choice of cheese and fruit or a small chicken wrap.
...

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...

On board given another snack -same choice as this morning, this time I chose the chicken wrap. Until recently AA PM and evening "snacks" have really been meals - this is most definitely a snack.

Interesting though - it is rather Thai style with pickled Papaya and Carrot shreds on the side and a lemongrass / chilli sauce. The chicken itself is somewhat spiced. ...

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... "Indian Chicken". I had the latter but the guy next to me had the salad - it was a largish cutlet on a bed of salad. Gone were the pite crisps/dips.

I had the latter wich I would describe as a mild "Butter Chicken" with basmati rice accompanied by a cucumber and tomato raita salad.

 

[serfty]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Steps: 32677

Currently on train past Cheltenham.

763 flight was packed in economy - to make it worse the seat belt sign was on more than it was off for the 220 minute flight.

I had one of the better economy seats (10A), unfortunately my seat mate was about 7' with pointy elbows.:-|

Since I was on an economy ticket from the USA I Qualified for the "WORKS" package which provided complementary F&B, seat selection and IFE. Choice was between a beef curry with rice or a lamb casserole with mashed potato. I had the former.

Flew underneath an impressive rain cloud around 5pm just NW of Mt. Dandenong, giving the aircraft a couple of thorough 300kph washes.

Landed, disembarked gate 8 - it's got a long snaking airbridge extension to the gate 8 terminal location, still employing the original elevating departures/arrival ramp.

Through immigration/customs in 5 minutes and out to the T3 Skybus stop.

Plenty of cup revelers floating around the city and heading home on trains - some more worse for wear than others.

Should be home in 15 minutes which is the end of travel for part one of this TR.

 

[Mwenenzi]

re: November 2012 Status Run & a little NFL

Steps: 02851
That's the reading of the pedometer I put on this Morning before departure.

Steps: 32677
Currently on train past Cheltenham.

So 29826 steps [plus station to home]. But how many miles / SC ?
Your TR has been interesting reading over the weekend

 

[serfty]

...

After all that flying, you are not jetlagged serfty?

Huh? No - I had 7 hours sleep LAX-AKL and 8 hours last night. Was up at 6:30am today for work ...

I don't ascribe to jetlag as a condition I personally suffer - as long as I get at least 6 hours sleep in 24 while travelling, I am generally fine, if occasionally tired.

Note that I do work hard on this minimum 6 hours ... it been discerned from trial and error.

 

[serfty]

Steps: 33122

That's the reading on the pedometer that's been sitting on a desk the last few days.

Back into it - sitting on a train coming through Caulfield and off to Cincinatti!

Last weekends journey was composed of 4½ "bookings":

• A JASA MEL to LAX on QF,
• First Class (non refundable) LAX/SFO r/t on DL,
• First Class (Instant Upgrade) LAX-SJU on AA,
• First Class (Instant Upgrade) SJU-LAX on AA &
• Business "premium" (upgraded Economy) LAX/MEL r/t on NZ on NZ (outbound, return in March).

The most surprising thing is that all points/SC's/SP's for the 15 segments have credited correctly to my AFF and Velocity accounts.

This weekend's travel is a single booking on Qantas, even to codeshares on AA flights - all in economy!:shock:

I am heading for the Skybus and hope to be Flounging soon.

 

[Must...Fly!]

More?!

I will send you a little wave from my B767 serfty

Enjoy the FLounge!

 

[serfty]

More?!

I will send you a little wave from my B767 serfty

Enjoy the FLounge!

Yep - more - off to a "Football" game!

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Steps: 35134

Just had a nice breakfast in the MEL T2 Flounge.

"House" toasted muesli (Huge serve, only ate half) &
Poached eggs with chipolatas, mushroom, smoked salmon, spinach & tomatoe.

Washed down with tomato Juice, long black and am now waiting for a Delamotte.

Straight forward trip in. Will be boarding on 80 minutes.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Safe travels Serfty, I am very impressed with the stamina shown here.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[TonyHancock]

Are you heading for the Bengals/Giants game?

 

[serfty]

Are you heading for the Bengals/Giants game?

We have a winner.

monitor (of FT), a regular OzFest offender, is sponsoring me to the game (or at least obtained tickets) - He and his wife are Season Giants ticket holders. I was hoping for last week but had to be shifted after I had locked in the transpacific framework - so a QF $1400 sale fare and the USA two weekends in a row it is.

(I'll earn about 35000 QFF points for this trip).

 

[TonyHancock]

We have a winner.

Monitor, a regular OzFest offender is sponsoring me to the game (or at least obtained tickets) - He and his wife are Season Giants ticket holders. I was hoping for last week but had to be shifted after i had locked in the transpacific framework - so a QF $1400 sale fare and the USA two weekends in a row it is.

(I'll earn about 35000 QFF points for this trip).

Say hello to Cincy for me, it was my home for two and a half years in the 1990's. (Well Northern KY was my home!!)

I admire your stamina!

 

[serfty]

Say hello to Cincy for me, it was my home for two and a half years in the 1990's. (Well Northern KY was my home!!)

I admire your stamina!

I will, there's a chance I'll be flying out of SDF but that's to be determined.

As for stamina - 6 in 24 is my motto - and a few fortifying Delamottes ...

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Steps: 35465 (Well it's not SYD you know ...)

Interesting seating today.

I had been in 32A until three weeks ago when that disappeard.

All good seats were taken so I went for th most forward aisle I could.

Currently showing on E/F [H][X][H] - It seems I have a shadow!

Just an hour before the flight - check in is nearly closed, so I hope the shadow holds.

Looks like OQB is the beastie today - no internet on that'n ...

 

[kevrosmith]

We have a winner.

I was wondering when the NFL fitted in. Who will you be 'rooting' for? I guess if your friends are Giants fans, you'll be supporting them too? I picked Giants to win away from home over the Bengals. With Giants 6-3, including 3-1 on the road, they're a good chance against Bengals 3-5, with only 1 win at home.