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[Warks]

Back in the Admirals Club in LAX again now on the way home. Flew out of Raleigh Durham (RDU) to Miami this afternoon and just got off the long haul from Miami to LAX. All those AMericans complaining about what a long fligth it was! They should follow it up with a real flight - the 14.5 hour odyssey I've got coming up.
RDU has kerbside luggage collection and check-in on arrival - good service but no good for international connections. Still got someone to carry my bags in (for a tip). Not a complicated airport. Went to the Admirals Club in RDU - it was in a corridor! Rain damage from Hurricane Isabel has meant its closure for now but they have a stand-in operation. Friendly staff. Didn't have time for the club in Miami - a vast airport - had to walk from Terminal A to D - there were signs on the way saying how long a walk it was to the various terminals - 9 min, 13 min, 16 min etc. Of course these were walking times for the very old or the very obese. Still I only could pause for a moment and grab some less than tasty fare in Terminal D before jumping on the plane. Would you believe they (AA)actually served a meal this time? The usual salty cheesy pasta stuff but at least it was something. Pretty good supply of drinks (non alcoholic). Travellers advice for Miami - not a bad looking 'Grill' in Terminal A but I didn't have time to sample the fare.
Had 2 new AA planes today after the relics on the way over. On the MIA-LAX leg they trumpeted the larger baggage cabins and improved leg-room - it was true but in the window seat you could no longer see the TV screen.
Two planes out of LAX for SYD tonight - wish I could change to the earlier one! But the bag wouldn't make the transfer. Star spot: saw Toni Collette leaving the Club as I came in. A half hour wait for the shower so it's reasonably busy. Florida Marlins just won game 4 of the so called World Series.
Point of interest for frequent flyers with an interest in aviation - managed to visit Kitty Hawk which was about 3-4 hours drive from Raleigh on the coast. December 17 is the 100th anniversary of the first flight by the Wright Bros. Not a massive shrine to aviation but a good display nonetheless.
Oops there goes the buzzer for my shower! See you in Sydney!

 

[dajop]

All those AMericans complaining about what a long fligth it was! They should follow it up with a real flight - the 14.5 hour odyssey I've got coming up.

... all those Sydneysiders moaning about their 14.5 hour flights, try adding another 50 mins to that to get to MEL .....

Thanks for the reports, always good to hear others experiences.

Interesting your comment about Admirals Club in RDU being in a corridor. At least it was open! Turned up at Boston for a 9:50pm flight to Toronto - got through security at about 7:50, headed straight for the Flagship Lounge (or Admirals Club hey I'm not picky) for a drink or three, and they'd already been closed for 20 minutes. What's worse nothing else was open in the terminal, and couldn't even find a vending machine. RDU sounds positively heavenly......

 

[Warks]

To quote JRR Tolkien in the last line of Lord of the Rings "Well I'm back" he said.
Excellent flight with QF home. No sign of the Skybed until mid 2004. As QF only compete with UA on this leg they are in no rush and have put the Skybeds up against BA, Cathay and Singapore where they've got competition. Still the Business Class seat gives you a chance for some shut-eye.
Sat next to a QFF legend - was it one of you guys? He travelled to the USA at least monthly from Perth and often went to Singapore for an afternoon meeting. Said he'd collected 3500 Status credits last year - that's more than double platinum! He could have started a shop with all the Business Class toiletries kits he'd picked up.
Got in about 730am with about 4 other 747s and the resulting chaos with all the foreign nationals queueing in the Australian passports line. No fun. If you tried that on in any other country you'd be lined up and shot (especially USA!) - but our officials were all understanding and let everyone go through.
Nice to be back.

 

[icemann]

Has anyone seen the Skybed animations on the Qantas website (or better still, been on one ?)

This will sound odd - because the animation doesn't show that the skybed goes all the way out (horizontally) and in J class already, the seats allow you to stretch out and get some decent sleep.

Have they changed the seat angle / pitch at all ? It would be interesting to know just _what_ has really changed on the seat, apart from the cocoon shell and the back massager.

Warks, you're right. That's probably why the US route is going to be one of the last; they're putting it on the LHR and HKG / BKK routes first.

 

[redrat]

Has anyone seen the Skybed animations on the Qantas website (or better still, been on one ?)
This will sound odd - because the animation doesn't show that the skybed goes all the way out (horizontally) and in J class already, the seats allow you to stretch out and get some decent sleep.

Have they changed the seat angle / pitch at all ? It would be interesting to know just _what_ has really changed on the seat, apart from the cocoon shell and the back massager.

Warks, you're right. That's probably why the US route is going to be one of the last; they're putting it on the LHR and HKG / BKK routes first.

Some of the DOM terminals have the skybed set up so that you can go for a test run. I think I saw it at the SYD terminal.
Some QF people told me my whole 6'4" (body) will be able to fit in the bed comfortably. Apparently it lies flat with a cocoon at the head. What will be really interesting is the fact there is still a middle row in J class where that person usually needs an iron-cast bladder. :roll:

 

[QF WP]

Warks, albeit belated but welcome back...what trip you say???

Now we are all waiting for Skybeds - I'm off to USA 27 Dec but I'm not holding my breath. Being 6'2", I'm not sure whether the new bed will fit me without toes being crushed - will have to try and find the SYD based "tryouts" while I'm there next week.

After all this advertising during RWC, I'm keen for one...

 

[Warks]

What trip indeed, Lindsay - nothing but a memory and a credit card bill.

Actually dashed off to Hobart for a long weekend on points the weekend after I got back to try and earn back some much needed brownie points with the Better Half. Booked 6 months in advance and while we got direct flights from SYD down on the return we were stuck with a 3 hour lay-over in Melbourne. Flight was then delayed - however the highlight was being in the QC with the upper echelons of the Wallabies. It was spot-a-star time. Lucky they'd won the night before vs Ireland other wise they might have been given some curry by punters in the lounge. It was interesting to note that when we went to our gate the rest of the team (ie those earning less than $500K per year) were waiting in the uncomfy chairs (especially for some of those 2 metre tall forwards!) and occasionally being asked to sign autographs by 'riff-raff' (term of endearment). So there is elitism within the team - that wouldn't help unity. nothing will probably help them beat the All Blacks anyway. Almost prefer the ABs to win as they may wipe the smirk of the Pommy faces!!
Anyway Tassie was great for a short break. Stayed at Wrest Point on CBA True Rewards points. Sensational water view - up there with Sydney Harbour in my book but sooooo quiet. Must return for a family holiday in a camper van in a few years when the kids are a bit older.

On Skybeds - they had testers in Melbourne as well - some of those giant Wallaby forwards should have tried them out! Next big trip to France next March should be in a Skybed at least.

 

[redrat]

Warks, albeit belated but welcome back...what trip you say???

Now we are all waiting for Skybeds - I'm off to USA 27 Dec but I'm not holding my breath. Being 6'2", I'm not sure whether the new bed will fit me without toes being crushed - will have to try and find the SYD based "tryouts" while I'm there next week.

After all this advertising during RWC, I'm keen for one...

Lindsay, the much heralded skybeds will be put on the UK route in competition with BA. QF are installing them in all the B744s over the next two years and you can bet your bottom dollar OZ-LAX will be last in line I'm 6' 4" and they told me I should fit OK.

 

[thadocta]

I'm not so sure that AU-US WILL be last in line. With the conversions they are getting rid of the different sub-fleets - once completed there will be only one config. for 3-class 744's, with all hulls operating everywhere (with the possible exception of the -438ER's being (mostly) restricted to US routes).

Given this, I would not be surprised to see one of the Skybed aircraft operating to the US before LHR/HKG is fully kitted out.

Dave

 

[Warks]

I hereby withdraw my negative comments about the Wallabies. They won and won well. Good luck for the final against the Poms. A word to the management - promise all team members QClub membership if they win the World Cup!! :wink:
And give them all a Skybed for home use - be just like a Jason Recliner![/quote]

 

[icemann]

And if we win....do we get BA Exec Club membership ?

oh, sorry....it's closed. :cry:

 

[icemann]

Sorry boys. Doesn't look like you're getting QC membership, and if you do, you'll get it thrown at you like Johnny Howard did with the medals.

What a beautiful result

 

[Warks]

I didn't undertand the relevance of the BA club reference Icemann until now - your honourable English allegiance comes to the fore... Well done to the Poms anyway - lay the ghosts of 1966 to rest and talk about something new!
What do you reckon on the business opportunity of opening a pub out by the Olympic Stadium called "Sweet Chariot" and running the RWC final game on a permanent loop on the big screen. Think of how many Poms we'd get there every week spending their hard-earned. A tour of the stadium and the chance to stand on the spot where St Jonny drop kicked the winning goal. Gotta be on to a winner here!! NSW Tourism is mad if they don't capitalise on this!
What do you think?
If they re-lay the turf on the stadium one day they can sell it for 20 quid per square inch to the Poms (bit like they sold off Lords a while back)