What Have I Done....Regret Booking

[DC3]

.... Just beware their coffee is s***....

+ 1 to that. The USA brewed coffee is a cultural/no-taste-bud thing and should only ever be tasted once, so as you know what we mean.

If you are ever near any of these places, try out the real coffee from home:

BLUESTONE LANE at 55 Greenwich Avenue (Perry Street); 646-368-1988; bluestonelaneny.com

BRUNSWICK at 144 Decatur Street (enter on Marcus Garvey Boulevard), Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and 240 Prospect Park West (Windsor Place); Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn; 347-404-6832; brunswickcafe.com

LITTLE COLLINS at 667 Lexington Avenue (East 55th Street); 212-308-1969; littlecollinsnyc.com

TOBY’S ESTATE at 125 North Sixth Street (Berry Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 347-457-6160; tobysestate.com

TWO HANDS at 164 Mott Street (Broome Street); twohandsnyc.com


See this article for more details:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/dining/australians-arrive-serving-breakfast.html?_r=0

 

[Ataj]

Thanks for all the positive vibes.

question, can the pilot fly 14 hrs straight ?

i know my mates have booked the back because they reckon it's the smaller economy section and I should fell a little less claustro.

I have like 3 weeks before going and because of mum transferring points from her to me I have 70,000 ff points. Would that be enough to book an exit row ? Or if I go should I decide on seats in the last 24 hrs as apparently I have read that more seats get us in-greyed then ?

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF Ataj.

Economy is not that bad. You will find a way to pass the time. Watch some movies. Play some games. Drink some alcohol. Sleep. You will survive.

I was planning on doing 7-8 round the worlds in economy with my Qantas points. I love flying. I wish I had the time.

 

[harvyk]

Thanks for all the positive vibes.

question, can the pilot fly 14 hrs straight ?

i know my mates have booked the back because they reckon it's the smaller economy section and I should fell a little less claustro.

I have like 3 weeks before going and because of mum transferring points from her to me I have 70,000 ff points. Would that be enough to book an exit row ? Or if I go should I decide on seats in the last 24 hrs as apparently I have read that more seats get us in-greyed then ?

No the pilots won't be flying for 14 hours straight, there will be relief pilots who will take over for a few hours, check out http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/ask-the-pilot-30478.html for more answers about flying and pilots.

Also, don't stress too much about that long in Y. It's really only a privileged few who get to sit at the pointy end, the vast majority of flyers happily fly around the world in Y every single day with no probs.

 

[MR N]

No the pilots won't be flying for 14 hours straight, there will be relief pilots who will take over for a few hours, check out http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/ask-the-pilot-30478.html for more answers about flying and pilots.

K worked out the quote thing.

Thanks for the link. Apparently I can get seats 35D or E supposedly exit row upstairs, however on the qantas map they dont look like there is much space between those rows.

 

[drron]

welcome to AFF ataj.I think you have done yourself a big favour.We have spent several Decembers in NYC and still feel amazed at the sights.We were there last December and naturally I did a trip report-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ip-photos/experiences-of-a-redneck-56179.html

Going with friends you will definitely enjoy the trip and remember it for years.

 

[NFF]

Don't go then if you don't feel like going. Defer it to another day.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Hi Happy Travellers.
1 long flight from Sydney in econo....never had such a long flight.

Seriously, one fourteen hour leg is not that big a deal. At worst it's a whole bunch of movies or a series or two of a TV series. At best you'll sleep 8 hours of it.

Hi Happy Travellers.
2 plane seems to be full only flexi fares left and we are stuck down the back.......very nervous about this claustrobic feeling, only ever done 3 hrs.

Upstairs at the back of the A380 is the nicest bit of economy. But you should go for a walk downstairs at some point and check it out in case you decide you'd rather sit there on the way back. You're lucky you're travelling with friends so you can all sit together and chat and not worry about a stranger next to you and having to keep out of their personal space.

Hi Happy Travellers.
3 apparently Sydney to la is very very bumpy and turbulent.

I've never noticed it to be so.

Hi Happy Travellers.
4 then after 3 days in la I have to face 6 hours to NYC.

That'll be a doddle after you've done the fourteen hour leg and realised it's not that bad

Hi Happy Travellers.
5 the weather in NYC is brutal apparently in winter.

Yeah but it's New York!

Hi Happy Travellers.
i could cancel and let 3 friends down. For the past month I have been belting my self up about booking with them at the travel expo. I mean don't even really want to go to the USA I prefer Europe, haven't been but they all have.

You know, I never wanted to go to the US either.
And then I went, and I really enjoyed the place (I've been three or four times now).

Hi Happy Travellers.
just the thought of this trip and I'm pouring another scotch and coke. Keep thinking what have I done ?

That's the spirit! Just keep doing that on the plane as well and you'll sleep fine.

 

[cambriamarsh]

As others have said do go. Swmbo and I went in2012 for Xmas inNew York. It was cold but thermals and thick socks and a thinsulate ski beanie fix all that. The people are great, NY is spectacular, ice skating when it's snowing in Central Park is magical and you will remember it forever. However if you decide you really can't face it I know someone who will keep your buddies company.
Cheers

 

[BAM1748]

Howdy and welcome.

I don't enjoy the flying bit, but if you wanted to swap my name for yours I would go.

Economy is doable and I have done it plenty of times, just sit back and watch a few movies with a drink and have a snooze.

Yes it's a long trip but if you are going to wait until you save up for first class you'll never get there.

I enjoy winter in the USA, a great time to be there.

Matt

 

[Milboo]

Definitely go! Yes NYC is cold at that time of year but it's nothing that thermals, a coat, scarf and gloves can't deal with. I was there this time last year and got the snow and it was magical walking down 5th Ave looking at the Xmas windows, the tree, the ice skating and that real feeling of Xmas we just don't get here. I am heading over in 6 weeks (4th year in a row) and am sad to be missing all the Xmas stuff.

For the flight - yeah it's a drag but it's manageable especially in an exit row. I've never noticed much in the way of turbulence to be honest. I pass time by eating, watching the entertainment and sleeping and a bit of walking around.

I do recommend breaking the trip with at least a day in LA as I am not a fan of the back to back flights.

 

[get me outta here]

Keep an eye on the seating plan as the exit rows may open up, even so, it's just a matter of napping, drinking lots of water, moving around a bit and then doing all that again. What's your dep date and flt number and maybe we can check the seating availability for you.

As this is a frequent flyer forum, you will have noticed that pretty much everyone says go and enjoy it, it will be OK . On the long hauls I take a little something to help me sleep, most of it is attitude though. They show you how to move about whilst staying in the seat - wiggling the toes and ankles when sitting down. Don't worry and don't think yourself into a tiz and really enjoy the arriving. You may even find a couple of empty seats to stretch out a bit. Have fun with your mates and go to EU next time.

Yeah thought about the sleep tablets but it's cramped in economy and you have to move around to prevent DVT.

aparrently there are 2 exit row seats on the top econo deck but can you book them if you're only 5 foot 8 ?

they are 2 seats in a row of 3 and the 3 seat is already taken.

 

[Zampari]

I've flown to LA return twice. Once ex Sydney with Qantas(A380) & once ex BNE with Virgin(B777) both in Economy. The return Virgin flight was a little bumpy but that may have been because I was sitting in the very last row. Friends sitting in PE said there was no bumps up that end of the plane. I've had rougher flights from BNE-PER & BNE-MEL than either flight was to LA. Economy is definitely doable. I've never flown in any other class as I simply can't afford it. Unless I win lotto a fancy seat up the pointy end will always be out of my piggy banks range.

A few days rest in LA is plenty between flights. On my Virgin flight in October we arrived on the tarmac at LAX at 06.30 and were on our way to Boston on a Virgin America flight by 09.00. I do not recommend that. That makes for an extremely long day. Thank goodness the Virgin America seats are comfortable as the VA ones are atrocious.

NYC will be incredible this time of year. All the Xmas decorations etc will just be amazing. Go and enjoy your holiday with your friends. It's a wonderful opportunity you won't regret. Europe is around a 24 hour flight so this will be a good test run for when you have the opportunity to go there.

 

[ajd]

I survived flying SYD-LAX-JFK in Economy on an American airline before, so it can't be that bad! The 14 hours will be a bit painful, but you'll make it. I can't remember it being much more turbulent than any other flights I've taken. Exit row is worth it if you can get it, and you'll want to bring some entertainment + noise-cancelling headphones + earplugs. Given you've got a few days in LA, your flight to NYC will be just fine - I managed it with a whole 2 hours of connecting time in LAX, but having a few days in LA is probably nicer.

NYC is amazing - I went there in winter, the weather was cold but the city was just as alive as it always is. And you've got plenty of places to visit in the north-east - I spent a week in DC which was absolutely fantastic.

The flights are a bit painful, but absolutely manageable, and America's well worth seeing, so you'll regret it if you don't do it!

 

[dajop]

Add my name to the list of those saying go. If you can't get an exit row seat definitely try to get an aisle seat if you are worried about being cramped. Then you can easily get up and wander about as you please (subject to seatbelt sign being off - which it will be except during landing, takeoff and turbulence).

Also sometimes 14hr flights are no more painful than 3-4hr flights, if you put yourself in the right frame of mind first. Viewing at as an opportunity to relax, watch some TV/movies, have some drinks and generally have time out can make the journey go relatively quickly. You can even go onto QF website to see what's playing this month.

And New York definitely an amazing place to visit.

 

[aaflyer]

My parents always had zero desire to visit the USA always opting for Europe.

A a few years ago they were dragged here by some friends and they've never regretted it. They now want to do more in Canada as well as the USA.

Lifes too too short for regrets. Thousands of people fly coach to/from Australia/USA every day. But the bullet and go, you won't regret it. Australian accents get you a long way in the USA just don't forget to tip

 

[Fantic125]

At 5'8" you shouldn't find your seating too cramped even in Y. Just note that if you choose an exit row or bulkhead seat the seats are slightly narrower due to the fixed armrests.

There's plenty to watch on the IFE system in between snoozing, and time passes fairly quickly.

In one 12 month period I flew SYD-LAX return 6 times in Y and didn't find it an issue. There's others here who have done the SYD-LAX return flights more often than me (including one just to get a burger from their favorite burger joint in LA!)

 

[harvyk]

At 5'8" you shouldn't find your seating too cramped even in Y. Just note that if you choose an exit row or bulkhead seat the seats are slightly narrower due to the fixed armrests.

There's plenty to watch on the IFE system in between snoozing, and time passes fairly quickly.

In one 12 month period I flew SYD-LAX return 6 times in Y and didn't find it an issue. There's others here who have done the SYD-LAX return flights more often than me (including one just to get a burger from their favorite burger joint in LA!)

I did CBR-SYD-LAX-MEL-CBR for a weekend just to go to a party, and did it all in Y...

 

[Alanslegal]

1 long flight from Sydney in econo....never had such a long flight.
2 plane seems to be full only flexi fares left and we are stuck down the back.......very nervous about this claustrobic feeling, only ever done 3 hrs.
3 apparently Sydney to la is very very bumpy and turbulent.
4 then after 3 days in la I have to face 6 hours to NYC.
5 the weather in NYC is brutal apparently in winter.

Go, go, go, go. It's not about letting your friends down, it's letting yourself down. The experience and memories will be worth it many times more than the 30-40 hours you end up spending on the plane. To make it easier, select an aisle seat, so then you have the aisle to make the space "appear" more open, it also gives you the chance to stand up and wander around if you feel the need to or worried about DVT. NYC will be cold but that will give you another perspective of a great city in the winter season. Any flight can get bumpy but I'm sure the pilots (and Qantas pilots are very very good) will do whatever they can to make your journey more comfortable.

 

[Ataj]

Thanks you're all making it sound tempting, like when I was at the travel expo.

Going to do a test and sit in my car rear seat (30 inches) for 2 hours watch a movie then get up, see how it goes.

I can apparently book an exit row on the upper deck in economy but its way down the back, 35D does it get quite cold in the exit rows ?