5W: Iceland Express to go Ghetto, and offer iPads as IFE

Ah. This iPad as an IFE (in-flight entertainment) device.

Jetstar is inching closer, and today, abudget carrier Iceland Express (unsurprisingly, based out of Iceland), is planning to offer them on their London Gatwick to Newark Airport via Reykjavik.

Although if you want an iPad and you're not on first, there could be fun as there will be 25 units assigned per flight. Which isn't that many consider how many seats a 737-700 can hold.

Rentals will cost £9 a flight, with the iPad lasting 10 hours, the flight in total lasting 11. Which whichever way you cut it is a long time.

It'll be interesting to see how the content is locked down, and what deals are signed for the IFE.

Still - an innovative use - by the traditional problem will remain how to mount the thing....

LH: Lufthansa shows it cares... by devaulating your miles

Miles are a flexible currency, and like any currency, the value of them tends to go down as well as down.

And in the case of Lufthansa Group flyers you'll learn about miles depreciating, with Miles and More suffering a 20% devaluation from next year.

Affected Airlines: Adria, Air Dolomiti, Austrian, Croatia Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa (and affiliated airlines), LOT, LuxAir and Swiss.

Here are the hard numbers: read them and weep. (With thanks to rcs85551 at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/1154001-new-m-m-award-chart-01-01-2011-c-f-rumour-confirmed.html)

Europe – North America (Business Class / First Class):
Previously 90.000 / 140.000, Now 105.000 / 170.000

Europe – S America (Business Class / First Class):
Previously 120.000 / 180.000, Now 135.000 / 210.000

Europe – S. Africa (Business Class / First Class):
Previously 90.000 / 140.000, Now 105.000 / 170.000

Europe – SEA or Far East (Business Class / First Class):
Previously 120.000 / 180.000, Now 135.000 / 210.000

3-Region-Award (Business Class / First Class):
Previously 160.000 / 240.000, Now 185.000 / 290.000

Round-The-World-Award (Business Class / First Class):
Previously 280.000 / 400.000, Now 325.000 / 480.000

Other Changes inculde:

• two stopovers allowed per award
• one way awards are now 50% and no longer 75%
• same day award 'penalty' of 10k has been removed

There's also a full breakdown of the image (again from the Flyertalk thread and http://www.vielfliegertreff.de/blogs/rcs/21-aenderungen-bei-miles-more-bessere-bedingungen-teurere-praemienfluege-insbesondere-first.html)

My advice: Whilst I'm not an avid collector of Lufthansa Miles, this is one hell of a devaluation, and should serve as a warning to BMI Diamond Club members who will eventually merge into Miles and More.

The simple advice I'm going to give is this:

• If you want to redeem at the old rates, spend now.
• Diamond Club members, unless you want a really bad devaluation, spend now.
• Those who are considering status for 2011-2012, unless you can take advantage of a 30 Sector to Silver on the cheap or are flying business anyway, I'd seriously reconsider your strategy.

And it serves as a reminder - the value of miles goes down, as well as down. 

Unite Vs BA: Here we go again - Ballot to Strike

Well I haven't had the deep joy about writing about this for months as it's been bubbling away. But Unite has decided to call for strike action against BA again.

This time, it's over travel perks, and reinstatement of those perks for members who striked who had had them revoked.

Unite's mouthpeace Tony Woodley quotes that the decision that BA took was "needless and vindictive", whilst his Unite staff have been "victimised and harassed" by BA.

Balloting will commence in 7 days time with up to 11,000 voting. Should a majority vote for a strike (not the total membership - just the ones who vote), then new industrial action could take place in the New Year. Thankfully for those travelling over the Christmas/New Year period, it's too soon to call a strike.

The balloting process will begin in seven days' time. If a majority of the 11,000 members vote for industrial action, this could begin in the New Year.

Whilst this is one of the four issues outstanding, it's the one that Tony Woodley and Unite are pushing at. The rest have not been disclosed, but it does get rather long in the tooth.

The big question remains - do the staff have it in for another long fight, or are they prepared to compromise?

Or will the Union mouthpiece continue to make noises whilst the world changes around them with their head stuck in the sand?

BD: Get's annoyed with BAA and Heahtrow over access charges... and small planes.

BMI is as we know a funny olde airline. It'll run ERJ-145's for the fun of it into it's main hubs whilst sending off A320's to do charter work.

As regular readers know we know their revenue management also has a weird effect helping putting those small planes on trunk routes.

Well BAA at Heathrow is sort of getting annoyed at the Domestic traffic, with them increasing the passenger service fee to the same price as the international fee (the fee you pay to travel through London Heathrow from from £13.43 to £20.25).

To the point where BMI has asked the Civil Aviation Authority to review the changes and filed a compliant.

BMI Chief Exec, Wolfgang Prock Schauer has gone on the offensive saying:

"It is clear that BAA is unfairly penalising domestic passengers at Heathrow and discriminating against airlines flying between Heathrow and Scotland and Northern Ireland.


BAA is favouring long-haul airlines and neglecting the needs of local, UK airlines serving the domestic and Northern Ireland markets.


BAA’s plans will cause huge inconvenience and higher costs for travellers and so we have written to the CAA to make it clear that we will be seeking legal remedies under the Airports Act 1986. Without doubt, these planned higher charges by BAA would damage the economic links between Heathrow and key regions across the UK.


bmi has written to the political decision makers in Scotland and in Northern Ireland to outline the damage that BAA’s higher charges would do to the economy. We are receiving enormous support from Scotland and Northern Ireland on a political level and from the business community."

Alas, these charges aren't good, least of all they'll divert traffic away from UK domestic, turning it Heathrow into an "International hub only" , and most of all if you think BMI will food the bill for this, you're dreaming - it'll be the passenger.

Alas, BMI is on a loosing front as it cut backs it's Domestic services and putting on smaller planes. There appears to be some change in the strategy recently with larger Airbus's taking over from ERJ's. But if BMI can't fill an ERJ thanks to the Low-Cost Competition eating from below (in the form of EasyJet and Ryanair) and higher quality airlines (such as Aer Lingus from Ireland) eating from the top, what hope is there for BMI to fill an Airbus A319 - let alone anything larger?

Again, this is where runway 3 would had helped. Alas, that isn't going to become a reality for at least the next 4 years,so BMI has to do something to get custom up. A few suggestions include:

• Running services that actually connect with long haul services
• Getting some of the codeshares back with other airlines
• Sorting out the pricing so it doesn't look like someone in accounting has priced people off the plane
• Running a decent and logical frequency for some services

Of course, this is BMI. With all the advantages it has (Their lounges and the relative peace of Terminal 1), they have to learn and take advantage of what they have.

Or else the competition will eat them alive.

Surely you cannot be serious? I am serious - and don't call me Shirly - Leslie Nelison passes away

A sad loss in the world of entertainment, and one who allowed many a frequent flyer to laugh out loud in "Airplane", Leslie Neilson has passed away yesterday at the age of 84.

A serious actor at first, he found his comic timing, and it delivered in Airplane! followed by Police Squad and the Naked Gun Series.

A very sad loss indeed - but his humour will live on in the films.

Unsurprisingly however, airlines didn't take to having Airplane! on their In-Flight Entertainment. A shame.... because sometimes you do need a bit of fun in the air.

So don't take the fish, make it a bad day to give up drinking, and head to http://www.awesomefilm.com/script/airplane.txt for a lunchtime chuckle.

Airplane p0rn - Delta 757 & CRJ-200

It's Sunday again, so it must be time for some airplane p0rn.

This week, it's a Delta 757 lined up on the runway at Los Angeles, with a CRJ-200 sneaking into shot as it'll be next to take off - whilst I'm lining up for landing in a United A320. 

More next week!

Safety Video Saturday - Krasiair IL-96

Well as you prepare to put your seat into the upright position, here's something a bit more unusual this week, with Krasair (Krasnoyarsk Airlines)'s safety demonstration for an Ilyushin Il-96-300




More next week!

UK - A dusting of Snow - Except Delays

For those of you travelling from the regions, expect delays as snow has fallen and is starting to cause minor to major delays

Check your airline, and double check your airport - you can find a list of UK airports at GhettoIFE.com, and visit their depature/arrival boards.

Good luck!

TSA Bumper Stickers - in full

Me? TSA (Transportation Security Administration) Bashing? Could be - dread the thought some of them are competent, but alas - I seem to get the ones who are 1) deaf or 2) don't understand the meaning of "Manually Scan my Film".

And I'm looking forward to the day I'm selected for a Millimetre Wave Scan - as we all know, these scan are X-Ray based, and X-Rays's are a cumulative effect - not a gradual fade.  

So instead here are some bumper stickers from Flyertalk. Make of them and print them as you feel ;)

And closer to the truth than the Transport Security Administration would care to admit....

Credit: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security/1150875-new-tsa-bumper-stickers.html

OS: Releases new seat. And it's a vision of hell.

Some people like them, but I'm not a fan.

Austrian Airlines (as well as Lufthansa and BMI) show off their new Europe Seat.

And oh dear. How thin does this look?



And spin forward to 50 seconds or so, and you'll see this

Image - Austrian Airlines, grabbed from Video.

Oh dear. Silm seats, zilch padding, and it does look... ermm. Yes well.

Can anyone say uncomfortable?

787 - Further delayed

As you may have read elsewhere, Boeing has had a few more problems with their 787 fleet, and having to ground the entire test fleet due to an onboard fire aboard a plane during test


The findings are out - and it's not good news with Boeing have to develop “minor design changes” and updates to power distribution panels and system software.

Tests have been carried out in the labs, and are moving towards fixes on the ground, whilst it revises the planes to re-deploy the 787 test fleet into action. This will require FAA approval before they can take to the air again.

So yes, the 787 programme is grounded, and delayed again. Boeing state that “a revised 787 programme schedule is expected to be finalized in the next few weeks”.

Which is going to annoy ANA as they are first to fly the aircraft. However, Qatar are now reported to be annoyed, and Qatar airlines's CEO going so far to say

"I was really taken aback by the (787) programme. I never expected a programme could be delayed so much with a company like Boeing, which has pride in its quality. They have very clearly failed,"

Ouch.

Considering the popularity of this frame, those are very harsh words indeed. Harsh words that has 60 aircraft in the balance (both in firm and options)

Can Airbus avoid a messup with the A350 frame now? I think not alas. The 787 is having a very troubled birth alas......

Nude-O-Scopes, Security Theatre and ... Porn Stars...

A blogger has had some intresting times blowing apart the fun that is the TSA at Seattle-Tacoma Airport.

Visit http://www.feminisnt.com/2010/my-experience-mocking-tsa-security-theater-at-seatac-as-a-nearly-naked-enfant-terrible/ (NSWF!!!!!)

Yes, it's not safe for work. And another example of security theatre. But she has some classic lines...

The TSA wanted to feel me up or see what I look like without clothes.  I get it.  I'm a sex worker.  My main porn site gets about 3 million unique visitors a year, and clients pay $4 a minute to see me naked on my web cam, so the TSA's interest in me came as no surprise.  Normally, I would charge for such a service, but this one was on the house.  Duty, country, sacrifice, patriotism, all that

Furry Girl/Feminisnt.com  (NSFW!!!!)

Well anything for a freebie in TSA land I guess. Heck. This is the agency that has Pizza consumers as part of it's recruitment demographic.

Oh yes, she logs 30K a year. In Miles.

I'll let you watch in the comfort of your own home and your own opinions, but yes - Security Theatre - at it's best.


NSFW = Not Safe For Work. You have been warned!!!!!

QF: A380 Statement of Re-entry into service

The following is a bulk email sent to all Qantas Frequent Flyer Members - reproduced with just the text.

I am pleased to advise that Qantas will resume A380 services, commencing with an initial A380 service to London via Singapore on Saturday 27 November.

We have undertaken a rigorous inspection program in conjunction with Rolls Royce and Airbus to ensure the fleet is ready to return to service.

We always put safety first, and we continue to take a conservative approach to the reintroduction of the A380 fleet. So we will initially operate the A380 between Australia and the United Kingdom. As more A380s come into service, we will assess when and how best to deploy them.

I want to assure you that we have full confidence in our A380 aircraft fleet, and will not fly any individual aircraft unless we are completely sure that it is safe to do so.

Qantas has six A380s in its fleet, and is scheduled to take delivery of two new A380s before the end of this year, and a further two next year. With our fleet of more than 250 aircraft, we are able to maintain a full international and domestic network, so you can book and fly with us with confidence.

I want to thank you for your loyalty and patience. On behalf of all of us at Qantas we deeply regret any inconvenience. We look forward to welcoming you warmly when next you fly.

ALAN JOYCE
Qantas Chief Executive Officer

GhettoIFE.com will continue to monitor as Qantas continues to bring it's A380 back online and into service.

QF: A380's to slowly re-enter service

Well it's taken long enough, but Qantas has annoucned that it's slowly completing it's safetey checks and are planing for their A380 aircraft to reenter service.

Services will commence on the 27th November - over 3 weeks since the engine on QF32 decided to uncontain itself and had to return to Singapore, grounding the fleet.

Qantas will be restricting the use of the fleet as aircraft come back into service into what it calls "routes that requires the use of maximum engine thrust" - on their own orders, not those of Airbus or Rolls Royce.

To quote

"The decision to restore A380 services follows an intensive Trent 900 engine inspection programme carried out in close consultation with Rolls-Royce and Airbus. Together with the engine and aircraft manufacturers and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Qantas is now satisfied that it can begin reintroducing A380s to its international network progressively," 

"In line with its conservative approach to operational safety, Qantas is voluntarily suspending A380 services on routes that regularly require use of maximum certified engine thrust and will do so until further operational experience is gained, or possible additional changes are made to engines. This is an operational decision by Qantas and pilots still have access to maximum certified thrust if they require it during flight. It is not a manufacturer's directive," says the airline.

Expect slow filtering of aircraft and short substitutions. QF31 will be the first, operating from Sydney to London via Singapore. This will be "the" A380 as Qantas decides how best to deploy them, and where to deploy them

Qantas are currently down to 5 A380's currently (the 6th being the unit stuck at Singapore), however an additional 2 aircraft are expected towards the end of the year. How these are deployed will be the important question - or if the engines will be donated to other aircraft to keep the rest of the fleet going.

Qantas's approach to safety has be visually applauded, but there have been a series of gaffs over the past weeks (with another contained engine failure, and a failure of a service from EZE where it had to turn back). 

Hopefully, this will mark the end of this chapter, and we'll hear more positive A380 news.

GA: SkyTeam signs another premier airline - Gaurdia Indonesia

Well SkyTeam is continuing apace with it's "quality" signings, with negoitation in place with Gaurdia Indonesia for it to join the alliace during the next year to 18 months.

SkyTeam has been expanding recently, with Vietnam Airlines onboard this year, and China Airlines of Taiwan joinign too.

The joining is these memembers SkyTeam will hope meet demands of customers. Other members in Asia include Korean Air and China Southern.

This will add another 30 destinations to the SkyTeam map, but you can't help by feeling apart from the very core of SkyTeam (Delta and AirFrance-KLM) there seems to be an alliance of "not great quality" airlines....

BD: Business Traveller Mazagine interviews Herr Prock-Schauer

For those of you in Diamond Club land wanting to see what the future hold, head to http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/bmi-update where their team has been interviewing Wolfgang Prock-Schauer about some of the changes coming to BMI.

I'll be publishing my analysis a bit later on this evening - but there are little titbits of information for those who are worried about the migration to Miles and More.

D7: Heading off to Paris

It's confirmed that Air Asia X will serve Paris Orly to Kuala Lumpur Low Cost International Airport

The service will commence on the 14th February 2011, with fare from November 22 (inculding a launch fare with taxes by the bucket load)

Scheduldes are loaded

Winter to Kuala Lumpur

Day       Flight No  Depart ORY Arrive KUL

Monday    D72015     17:10      12:50

Wednesday D72013     10:00      05:40

Thursday  D72015     17:10      12:50     

Sunday    D72013     10:00      05:40

Winter to Paris Orly

Day       Flight No  Depart KUL Arrive ORY

Monday    D72014     09:00      15:40

Wednesday D72012     01:05      07:45

Thursday  D72014     09:00      15:40

Sunday    D72012     01:05      07:45

Flights will operate from Paris Olry to KLIA LCC Terminal, with a Airbus A340 aircraft. There are variances in the timetable for the summer periods, so keep a close eye out.

If the service goes full time (7 days a week), there could be a price to pay elsewhere in the Air Asia X network.  Considering how "happy" they are with the British due to taxation and other fun, for Orly to go 7 days a week, STN<>KUL could suffer.... 

Saturday Night Live on the TSA....

With thanks to Lucky, Saturday Night Live take a close look of what can happen if you refuse to go through the Nude-O-Scope/Millimetre Wave Scanner this Thanksgiving weekend



Alas and sadly, very close to the truth...

Airplane p0rn - Singapore Airlines 777-300ER

It's Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane p0rn.

This week, it's a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER preparing for the long scretch to Hong Kong and Singapore.

More of course, next week!

Safety Video Saturday - JAL

Time to put that seat of yours in the upright position and put your tray tables away as JAL present their safety video.



More next week!

BD: Wha? You actually *fly* BMI? 10% off sound any good?

This in from Business Traveller, and it's another 10% off flying BMI.

Your magic code is: 10BMIFLIGHTSPECIAL

You need to have made your booking before midnight November 25, with your travel completed between January 1-31, 2011.

Valid only on BMI metal flights (ie, Flown by BMI for BMI, not Codeshares, Wet leased services or BMI Baby)

And of course, it's valid on the BASE FARE only (excludes Tax/Fees element). And considering how much some BMI airfares actually are (In some cases, a few pounds), this isn't great.

But better than a kick in the teeth....

Durham Tee Valley Airport adds additional Passenger surcharge, Free Screw with every payment*

Durham Tees Valley Airport has started charging passengers more to use its terminal.

From Monday 8th October, every departing passenger has to pay a "Passenger Facility Fee". This is £6 for an adult, and £2 for children aged 3 to 15

Alas, this passenger facility fee isn't built into the ticket price. So yes, it's ANOTHER £6 a time if you want to depart from the airport.

So why not bundle the fee in? Simple - they want to keep the airlines there. If the airport fees raise, airlines will go away. Durham is vulnerable from above and below with Newcastle, Leeds or Manchester all within spitting distance of Durham Airport.

Durham airport Chief executive, Craig Richmond bleets the following excuse

"It’s a tough time when you see your passengers drop off between 30 and 40 per cent. I hope our customers will recognise that it is something we have to do."

Actually, no I don't. Either make the fees transparent and paid for in advanced, or give up. The way this is being done is akin to paying TWICE for the same privelage of flying from that airport.

Passenger Facility fees are also in use at Blackpool, Newquay and Norwich.

Durham Tees Valley Airport has released an FAQ. Which as is as interesting as watching paint dry.

Actually, paint drying is more interesting.

The other problem Durham has is the lack of operators who use it on a schedude basis. BMI used to send planeloads of up to 150 passengers a plane until BMI Revenue management managed to screw that up sufficiently and kill the route off by downsizing it from A320's to ERJ-145's.

Today, the most regular users are KLM and Eastern Airways, with Monarch Airlines, Thomson Airways, Onur Air running seasonal charters, and Aer Arann, Ryanair and Flybe running sometimes seasonal services.

Considering most of these are run with small aircraft by the schedule users, and varying aircraft by others, it's not an extensively used field.

So I'm sorry you're loosing money Durham Tees Valley Airport. Is it my problem that you're extending the charge? No. Is it my problem that you haven't planned for the future? No.

Is it my intention to even consider using you? What do you think the answer to that is?

JQ: Jetstar to GhettoIFE Lovers - You're still going to have to make your own for a bit.... (iPad IFE Delayed)

For those of you who make GhettoIFE units with iPods, iPhones and iPads on Jetstar, and were hoping to use their iPad IFE unit, a bit of bad news as they're delayed for a bit.

Originally due for roll-out towards the end of this year, something has fouled up on the way - with contract negotiations with Apple and Media Companies proving to be the sticky point.

JetStar will be rolling out the devices next year - but why wait when you can create your own IFE system with your iPod/iPhone? Click here to read my intro to GhettoIFE.

Rolls Royce A380's: Oh Dear....

Bad news for Rolls Royce Powered A380's with the news today that more engine swaps will be required.

Qantas estimates that up to 40 engines will be required for swaps throughout the global A380 RR Powered fleet.

Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas quotes:

"We've been talking to Airbus and Rolls-Royce and we understand that the number is around 40," he said.

"We'll have a daily dialogue with Rolls-Royce to determine which engines actually need to be taken off," he said.

Trent 900's are used on A380s operated by Lufthansa, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines, which in total operate 20 aircraft, each with 4 big Trent 900 engines installed in them.

This is going to cause major issues as Lufthansa has found out as it needs to change another engine on one of it's A380's, and there are few spare units available.

And it's used it's spare to keep going this moment.

Lufthansa confirms the aircraft is safe to fly, subject to precautionary checks required by Rolls Royce and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

If anything, one of the powerplants from it's due to be delivered A380's may be sent off to Frankfurt to power the rest of the fleet. Therefore, it's a question of time.

And of Rolls Royce making engines that don't have faults in them.

FR: Time for another delay thanks to Ryanair....

Yet another story of why travelling on Ryanair can contain so many levels of fun, it's unfunny.

See http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101117/ts_afp/belgiumirelandprotestairlinecompanyryanair for the entertainment.

Perhaps the most telling thing in the whole piece is this

"A Ryanair spokesperson was not immediately reachable for comment."

Say it all really...

DL: Boston and Miami Flights times announced

Delta confirms the annoucment last week of the new Boston and Miami routes from from London Heathrow.

Boston is operated twice daily (all times local).

Outbound

LHR DEPART   BOS ARRIVE

10:30        13:20

13:35        16:25

Return

BOS DEPART   LHR ARRIVE

1850         0645

2240         1035

The daily Miami flight will operate as below (All times local):

LHR DEPART   MIA ARRIVE  MIA DEPART  LHR ARRIVE

0940         15:05       17:30       07:30

Routes are confirmed to begin from 27th March 2011. Fares and such should be availing on Delta.com and your preferred GDS soon.

The services will be operated as part of the Delta/Air France/KLM/Alitalia transatlantic joint venture programme, and will be run using Boeing 767-300ER.

As SkyTeam smallest grouping at LHR before the independent airlines, this gives Delta a major boost over the pond.  If the frequencies are good enough as well as the revenue, this is a good sign for them. 

Pundit Kitchen on Nude-o-Scopes...

No further comment really.  http://news.icanhascheezburger.com/2010/11/16/political-pictures-problem-solving/

AZ: Another Alitalia discount code for UK Flyers (£20).

Yes, I believe people actually fly Alitalia still. To entice more people to fly Alitalia, there's another discount voucher going on.

Use code UKWINESP2010 to get  £20 off. 

Usual rules:

• Tickets can be purchased until 23 November 2010 to fly between 1 January and 28 February 2011. 
• Valid for purchases made on UK website only for tickets departing from the UK.
• Not valid on Italian domestic flights. 
• Not valid on One Way flights.
• Not valid on infant and child tickets.

If you can use it, £20 off is never to be sniffed at (although not as generous as they have been in the past) - although my thoughts on Alitalia can be summed up in one word -  Why?

U2: EasyJet targets business travellers, rolls out new packages

EasyJet are slowly pulling away in certain parts from their Low Cost Carrier routes, and today have "soft launched" a new set of fully flexible fares.

The fare will allow:

• Unlimited changes to ticket details within a four-week window - one week before and up to three weeks after the original booked travel date. 
• Automatic priority boarding 
• No booking fees 
• One free checked-in item of baggage

Fares will start at £99 for routes, and have been soft-launched.  You'll be able to get these through GDS's and Business Booking Channels initally, with a rollout in 2011. 

Expect some minor changes to this to tweak the programme such as additional charges to change tickets and other fine tuning.



However, expect the inflight experiance to be the same. On the upside, it's showing EasyJet is trying to innovate and differentiate itself from other Low Cost Carriers and Traditional Carriers... by becoming more "Traditional Carrier" like.

If it pulls in the revenue, don't argue....

Branson to wear skirt as he serves on Air Asia X....

Lotus Racing and Virgin Racing Bosses (Tony Fernandez of Air Asia fame, and Richard Branson of Virgin Group) had a little bet at the beginning of the season to who would do best this Formula 1 season.

Whilst both teams scored a big fat ZERO points, Lotus Racing had better placings all season.

Which means Sir Richard Branson will be parading up and down the aisle of an Air Asia X flight between Kula Lumpar and London


Sir Richard was greeted with his uniform at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix...

 

Both teams have agreed to run an online charity auction for the seats on our Kuala Lumpur / London route to raise money for a charity of Richard's choice

Well at least some good will come of it from the kings of self publicity....

BD: We aplogise for the slight delay to our service to Tripoli... .

You can never blame BMI being too hopeful.

It seems there are issues regarding the proposed London Heathrow and Tripoli (Libya), with with the 1st December 2010 start date now pushed back 21st February 2011.

BMI cites that the delay is due "to complete the necessary regulatory procedures and other operational preparations".

So yes, it's the joy of red tape again. Or they can't find a spare A319 to do the job. Which for BMI, is about right.

For those who booked, expect to be re-accommodated on other carriers.

S7: Joins OneWorld, makes Star Alliance's life a bit more of a pain

S7 Airlines have today formally joined the OneWorld Alliance, making it the 12th member to join.

With S7 joining, it also brings in another airline - Globus Airlines who will join OneWorld as an affiliate. With this move, OneWorld's coverage will now serve 90 extra destinations extra in 28 countries, with 55 new cities within Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) area - a total of 9 extra countries

For those wanting a few extra miles and are OneWorld members, there's a double miles promotion going on
S7 Members can get double miles on all flights
All other OneWorld members get double miles on S7 flights only.

This is valid to 15th January 2011.

With this, S7 is now firmly anchored in the area, Aeroflot contioues to be is a long standing member of the Skyteam, whilst currently Star Alliance has no "home" carrier there (mostly "visiting" carriers such as Lufthansa and BMI).  With expansion in this region going apace, can Star Alliance live by itself in the area or will it be forced to find a partner to dance with.

And if so, who? Interesting times in the Russia/CIS area....

Airplane p0rn - United Airlines A319

It's Sunday again, and it's time for some Airplane p0rn.

This week, it's still from the balcony of the Hyatt O'Hare and it's a United Airlines A319-100 on final approach.

More airplane p0rn next week!

Remembrance Sunday

No other words needed other than "We Will Remember Them"

Safety Video Saturday - Kingfisher A330

It's Saturday again, so before you do anything - pop your seat into the upright position and please stow your tray table as Kingfisher Airlines provide this week's safety demonstration



More next week

BC: Postive A380 news! Skymark to order 4 A380's for Japanese Domestic use

It's time for some positive A380 news after the QF32 engine incident - and we'll kick off with Skymark Airlines of Japan who have confirmed to Airbus they wish to order Four A380's for Japanese Domestic operations only.

That's right. Domestic Operations.

Japan has a habit of needing to shift a lot of people around - and it's not uncommon to find 747-400's that were build for "Domestic" use only (ANA's Pokemon aircraft are a speciality).  More recently, 777-300's have been rostered into this duty.

Which is nice.

However, A380's will give one heck of a capacity to these routes -especially for an airline that currently runs a fleet of 15 737-800'.

Configuration of these aircraft is yet to be decided, but it could be the second operator to pack their aircraft to the theoretical 800+ passenger capacity an A380 has - although Skymark has indicated they wish to run these aircraft on "long haul" routes.

What this means is anyone's guess as they're a domestic operation... at the moment.

Another interesting fact is these will be the first A380's to be based and brought by a Japanese firm.  Could this give ANA and JAL a kick to operate them? Guess we'll see....

Rolls Royce: Engine Component failed on QF32

News is emerging from Rolls Royce over the QF32 incident with their inital investigations of the QF32 uncontained engine incident.

Rolls Royce has concluded that that a component failure in the turbine section of an engine fitted to a Qantas A380, the ultimately led to the oil fire which destroyed the powerplant in-flight. This was located in a specific component" in the turbine area.

Rolls Royce has not released much more detail, but says this issue applies to the Trent 900 engines fitted on 20 Airbus A380 aircraft only.


They also say:

"Our process of inspection will continue and will be supplemented by the replacement of the relevant module according to an agreed programme," says Rolls-Royce.
"These measures, undertaken in collaboration with Airbus, our Trent 900 customers and the regulators have regrettably led to some reduction in aircraft availability.

The three operators of Airbus A380's who use Trent 900 engines have undertaken engine changes. Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa continue to fly them - the Qantas fleet remains grounded.

However, with all these engine swaps going on, if your on an A380 and it's pulled, don't expect to be back in the air for a while as the spare engines are now becoming a scare resource, with all three carriers concerned over the amount of spare left.

Expect more questions to be asked of Rolls Royce...

Austria follows Germany... another country to avoid for high departure taxes

Well if you're planning a mileage run, redemption or a trip that starts in Austria, prepare to be stung for the latest fun from their government... another environmental tax akin to Air Passenger Duty, dressed up as an "Eco" Tax.

The exact date has yet to be announced but it could be as early next year.

Unlike Germanys tax or the United Kingdom's APD, this seems to be easier to understand with a charge of €8 for a short-haul flight and €40 for long-haul a flight. Importantly, if you are transiting through Austria, you are not liable for the charge.

Of course, this has raised a stink with airlines who moan at yet another tax to pass onto their customers, and threats of airlines opening bases elsewhere.

"EcoTax"... that's short for filling Government coffers for nothing isn't it? And exactly how much is spent on "Eco" projects with this tax?

I don't think I need to even answer that question.

DL: Nabs BA/AA JV Routes to BOS and MIA, Services and Dates TBA...

It seems that the slots British Airways and American Airlines vacated due to the join venture tie up are to be awarded to Delta.

Delta's request has been granted by US Department of Transportation and the European Commission for:

• London Heathrow - Boston
• London Heathrow - Miami 

As approved, services are due commence in March next year.

Like BA/AA, and the Star Alliance Joint Venture, these routes will be operated within the SkyTeam joint venture (involve Delta, Alitalia, Air France-KLM)

Final schedules and the prices are due to be announced in the near future.

An interesting wrinkle as Delta's operations at Boston are limited in comparison to some of it's hubs, where as Miami is more limited - although it does open up the fight and links for Caribbean services.

Rememberance Day in the United Kingdom

I'll take a moment to stop yattering about broken A380's, Alliance Memberships, and all the normal stuff that I talk about about to talk about something a bit more important - Rememberance Day.

If it was not for those people who have given their lives in conflicts around the world, it would simply be not possible to travel the world in freedom.

On the 11th hour on the 11th day in 1918, the Great War (World War 1) ended.

In the fields in France and Belgium, poppies grew disturbed by the soil from the fighting of 4 long years.

As is tradition in the UK, both on the 11 (the day of the armistice) , and on the Sunday that follows, respect is given for two minutes silence for those who have fallen in past conflicts.

See http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ for more information

The words can be heard in service after service through the land:

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
we will remember them.

LH: One A380 to have an engine changed.

Well it was to be expected, but Lufthansa is change one of the engines in their fleet of Airbus A380's "as a precaution"

This is after the QF32 uncontained engine failure last week.

The change has been made, even though no findings have been discovered in relation to the Qantas incident. Lufthansa has been carrying out checks recommended by Rolls-Royce.

Meanwhile Rolls-Royce has yet to determine the nature of the engine failure and is continuing to advise A380 operators who have Trent 900 engines installed to check for oil leakage.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines is completing the changes for their fleet. Qantas's A380 fleet remains grounded for now.

AV/CZ - signing up for Star Alliance - The Battle for South America is joined

Well that didn't take too long for Avancia-TACA to join in the Star Alliance party. After a couple of weeks of announcing the codeshare with Lufthansa, Avancia-TACA has been accepted as a member to be of Star Alliance.

Following behind them, and much delayed is Copa Airlines. Copa (who were part owned by Continental at one point) exited SkyTeam when Continental left - however it has been sitting on it's hands working out if it wanted to join Star Alliance. It's finally pulled the trigger and is also signing up to Star Alliance too.

Both members are expected to join the alliance formally in one year to 18 months depending on systems integrations and other formalities.

It also gives Star Alliance a backup plan, if the combined LAN/TAM entity decides it will wholly swing to OneWorld.

SkyTeam has in the area AeroMexico, and Aerolineas Argentinas joining it's alliance.

I don't think this will be the last of the overtures in the area - the battle for South America for the airline alliances is joined...

Free Gogo WiFi inplane!

Providing you can put up with adverts for Google Chrome, Gogo is offering free WiFi in-plane with Google.

This is for US Internal flights operated by

• Air Tran
• Delta
• Virgin American

This starts on November 20, 2010 and operates to January 2, 2011.

Of course, the WiFi as usual will be disabled for important parts of the flight and some services are limited (such as VOIP), and is limited to if the plane has Gogo WiFi installed with the carriers above.

Considering it's up to $15 a trip, it's not to be sniffed at. Now if only more actual airports offered free WiFi...

More information at http://www.freeholidaywifi.com/ ... and please visit GhettoIFE.com when you're up there!

QF/SQ - A380 Engine Changes and odd oil.

Singapore Airlines is modifying three of its A380 aircraft after the inspection run that's been recently inspected. These aircraft are in London, Melborne and Sydney, and will be returned to Singapore for the engine swap.

To quote Singapore Airlines:

"Based on further analysis of inspection findings as the investigation into last week's incident involving another operator's Airbus A380 is progressing, Singapore Airlines will be carrying out precautionary engine changes on three A380s," says the spokesman.

No detailed reason has been give, however Flight gives an excellent analysis of the reasons why.

And yes, operations are going to be disrupted whilst the engine changes are completed.

Qantas has already changed two engines on it's still-grounded A380 fleet. The fleet remains grounded until further notice.

Lufthansa has not given any indication if their engines need work in their A380 fleet.

BA: Off to RAK (Marrakech), and bigger to LAS

British Airways have announced a new route operating from London Gatwick to Marrakech.

With service due to recommence next year, this is a continuation of the route previously operated by GB Airways (which EasyJet brought).

This will bring BA into conflict with EasyJet and Royal Air Maroc (who also fly from Heathrow), and with Ryanair from London Luton.  BA will be attempting to compete on the "Quality" front, with demand from it's customers

The service will be operated 3 times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using the Gatwick short-haul fleet as BA2892 on the way out departing at 13:05, arriving 15:35, returning as  BA2893 departing 16:20 arriving 20:55.

Lets hope the route can be made a success

Meanwhile, BA is beefing up its flights to Las Vegas for Summer 2011 season, with the direct flight from London to Las Vegas being upgraded from a 3-Class (Club/WT+/WT) 777-200 to a 4-Class (First/Club/WT+/WT) 747-400.

BA sees that the route is performing well, and is adding the capacity. And the fact that some people do actually like Las Vegas....

BE: FlyBe makes it's Frequent Flyer programme even worse....

Flybe has released a statement, that it's changing it's frequent flyer programme by blocking redeptions to destinations in Croatia, Portugal, or Spain due to "heavy demand" on those routes

Excuse me. For a scheme that is limited in the first instance (in terms of routes, earning and otherwise), least of all the amount of tax you'd have to pay on a redemption, this is rather rich.

These routes will also have limited availability over the upcoming winter period up to Match 30, 2011.

So in other words, if you want to redeem out to those destinations, consider yourself doneover.

Flybe states:

"Over the past few months we have become increasingly aware that the heavy demand for flight redemptions on what is actually just a small number of the routes Flybe operates is putting huge pressure on some of our most popular ’sea and sun’ routes such as those to Spain and Portugal".

And to really knee you they also add

"As our network evolves over the next few years this situation is unlikely to change".

So, if you were hoping for that redemption to the sun, forget about it.

We've all seen frequent flyer program devaluations in the past - and this is quite harsh even by some I've seen least of all due to FlyBe's international network being comparatively limited.

As usual, my recommendations for companies who do this to you is 1) Cash out and 2) Take your cash to a company who will appreciate your custom.

Because quite frankly, FlyBe sounds like it couldn't care less about your loyalty. 

NH: Aims to have 787's flying 1 week after delivery.. if they ever arrive....

In the same breath, ANA is hoping to have it's 787's in commercial service 1 week after initial delivery

ANA president and CEO Shinichiro Ito says

"The move into commercial service takes a very short time. It could just be one week from the delivery,"

No destination or "flagship route" has been revealed yet for the aircraft, although delivery is due to take place during Early 2011.

ANA's initial plans are to run them domesticity first to gain experience of the aircraft, and then deploy internationally as required.

This is all well and good on one hand, but with the other ANA are at Boeing over the delays of the 787 with talks over compensation regarding the late delivery of these frames.

The 787 has had a very delayed start, and the move to commercial production is still taking a long time, trying iron out the latest issues with it as they attempt to make units that are "ready for flight". As the test frames continue to fly, more updates are needed as well as fixes so that the aircraft can be certificated "safe for flight", rather "experimental".

Early 2011 is the current estimate. I'm not sure. Middle of 2011 for certain, but some things over the 787 are looking way too ambitious...

QF: A380 Safety checks to continue until Wednesday

Don't expect Qantas A380's back in the sky for a few days yet, as inspections are still ongoing.

Qantas estimates it may not finish inspecting the engines on its grounded A380 fleet until Wednesday, and no re-entry into service has been given. Inspections on the damaged A380 are still on-going with the damaged aircraft that safely returned to Singapore after the failure.

During the weekend, two more of the Qantas A380's had engine changes in Sydney and Los Angeles. Whilst the change has been made Qantas notes that they do not imply the engine itself is faulty.

Expect substitutions and BA 777 charters to help out in the meantime....

Airplane p0rn - JAL 777-300ER

Time for this weeks Airplane p0rn, and this is shot from the balcony of the hotel where I was staying in Chicago.

This week, it's a JAL 777-300ER with wheels down in its landing configuration, about to complete the long journey from Nartia to Chicago.

More of course next week!

Trip Report - Mixed Classes, Infinite fun and/or Madness: The Autumn Run with United Airlines

Mixed Classes, Infinite fun and/or Madness: The Autumn Run with United Airlines
LHR-ORD, ORD-LAS, LAS-LAX-SFO-DEN-LHR

What you’ve missed so far...

LHR-BRU-LHR ... or "How do you burn a £50 BMI voucher without too much pain?"
MAN-ORD on BMI (29/10 ... or Did Kevin Make it to ORD?)
Kevin goes for a little mileage run on UA - ORD/CHM/IAD/EWR/ORD
ORD-MAN in BMI Premium Economy (with Pictures)
Kevin’s American Adventure – MAN-ORD-SEA-ORD-MAN (4 flights, 2 weeks) in Y..
ORD - MAN in BMI Premium Economy: How hard can a PE product drop? (also random moans)
LHR-PHL-SEA, SEA-PHX-ORD, ORD-PHL-LHR - In Y, Come and be scared with US!
LHR-SFO-LHR - If you're going to San Francisco - SFO MegaDO Trip report
Gold Run - Mr Kevincm goes to Washington with EI and US
Long Haul Commuter Run - LHR-IAD-ORD and back with UA
Saying Goodbye to a Friend - Travelling for the wrong reasons - LHR-PHL with UA (Also on GhettoIFE.com - expanded)
The BA Y+/Y Class Long Haul Experience LHR-BKK/SIN-SYD and back on a bargain fare (Also on GhettoIFE.com -Expanded)
The Autumn Run - Mixing Business with Pleasure (C/F/Y adventures with UA and US) (Also on GhettoIFE.com -Expanded)
Long Way Home - The Spring Commute with UA and CO (Also on GhettoIFE.com - Expanded)
Atlanta or Bust (and Frankfurt too!) - (Also on GhettoIFE.com - Expanded)
Drinks in Belfast with the BMI Board with LCC’s - (Also on GhettoIFE.com - Expanded)
Kevin get’s a bit of Seoul - First and Business class with Asiana Airlines and Thai to Seoul and Hong Kong (Also on GhettoIFE.com - Expanded)


For those of you who have forgotten, this is my semi-regular audit to see how things are with United - if the service has improved, deteriorated or other. Whilst not perfect, it provides entertainment, amusement and of course, iPhones in sick bags (but then you already knew that ). For regulars, it’s “business as usual”.

Continuing a tradition I started in the last trip, I’ll be adding a segment to the trip report on one thing I did during the trip - this falls into a section I like to call “One Time Exception”

What was originally a simple Y class run-around has degenerated into C, Y, F, F, F, Y run. Confused? Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be as confused as me you... moreso by the end of this run.


Direct routes are for kids... (Yes, the long winded introduction... )

Chicago comes at least twice a year for me, and it’s always good to get back to The Windy City (least of all I have no Oreos in the flat and no Ranch Dressing- which is good considering I’m one heck of a diet at the moment) .

But again, the need for miles is apparent and the need to re-qualify for Gold (with the oncoming storm that is Diamond Club merging to Miles and More, I want Gold secured and in-situ). So it’s time to see how and if I can milk this run. And rather than take the long way home on the East coast, it’s time to head West. Why? Because I can .

Considering a standard revenue return jumped in a day from £364 with Air Canada to £440 for the same dates, I factored AC out of this trip. This leave the UA, CO and US behind.

Well after binning US Airways (and the joys that airline has, as well as the joy of PHL), I popped in a few random routes into the CO engine - to be met with all UA aircraft and routes. So once again, it’s back to the flying tulip to see what they’ve got.

Initially, I priced out a LHR-ORD-LAX-SFO-LHR which priced out at a not outrageous £501 for 11665 miles. Not bad, but could do better . Considering the base fare to Chicago was £425, the extra miles 3000 miles would come in handy for an extra £76. I was all set to book that when I had one of my dreaded 3am in the morning thoughts - could I route this via Vegas to increase the miles?

A bit more prodding of the United Fare engine gave this beauty: LHR-ORD-LAS-LAX-SFO-DEN-LHR for £503 (yes, a grand total of £2 extra in taxes) and 12290ish miles (as well as a night in Sin City). An extra segment worth of miles could become critical at the end of the year, so the hammer went down and my credit card went crunch.

So here’s the map and route:


Map of course, Great Circle Mapper - www.gcmap.com.

Segment 1: LHR-ORD (in pink)
Segment 2: ORD-LAS (in green)
Segment 3: LAS-LAX-SFO-DEN-LHR (in blue)

So, around 12990ish status miles there (by the time the odd BMI Great Circle calculations all balance up) and a fair whack of bonus miles too.

Now, some time ago, I scored a couple of bump/recovery certs, and after a bit looking around, someone was in need of vouchers more than me, so I swapped them for an SWU (Single Way Upgrade) and some Domestic upgrades, with the SWU applied to LHR-ORD, and my internal legs from LAS-DEN (with all stops in between) upgraded to F. Well it’s cheaper than paying United I suppose .

And on the plus side, it makes me feel like the £503 I spent on the fare hasn’t been in vain.

Denver to London would also be interesting as a few weeks after the booking, the seatmap switched from a 2-5-2 layout to a new 3-3-3 layout - indicating new configuration 777-200. An additional sprinkle to the run....

Well that’s the intro. How hard will the come down be from the wonderfulness that was Asiana F/C and Thai C to United C.... and dread the thought - United Y-....

Read on and find out!

Part 1: Coaches LHR T1 and Lounges.
The pictures


Off to LHR!

So of course, a 7:45 pushback from T1 means of course the 2:45am from Birmingham Digbeth bus station. Joy. I could ask myself why I put myself through this pain, but that would be futile as trying to get a semi cheap room near Heathrow when I want to travel is akin to finding hens teeth. So once again - relegated to the coaches.


My trash at Digbeth.

National Express 210 Birmingham Digbeth Coach Station to London Heathrow.
Price paid: £41.50, Cashback £2.11.

What was a simple coach journey however started with the coach stalling… in the middle of the bus station. Oops. After sitting like a dodo for 10 minutes a fix was tried, and in the end, a replacement bus was sent out.


Delayed...

45 minutes late – the clock had started ticking. That’s quality lounge time at LHR down the pan.

One word. Blegh. And it still feels like I’ve been taken into an alley and asked politely to open my wallet and hand over everything.

However we did get a move on, and the driver was in the mood to “go”, and thus madeup 10 minutes on the way, getting us in for just before 6am. On the plus side, it is a direct coach to the airport, and it does the job.

Heathrow Terminal 1

It was then time to run like the wind, and the great push to T1.

Thankfully, my sponsored upgrade held, and I was confirmed in Business Class. Bags were tagged, and it was off to Zone Y to drop everything off.

Security was quick as I utilised the fast track and was though within 5 minutes. Not bad going.

Like a shining beacon of a shopping centre complete with airbridges attached the edges - this is the joy of T1. Again, I wasn’t interested in the shops, I was only interested in the lounge. And since National Express had chewed through most of the spare time, I made a bealine for the Star Alliance Lounge as combining this and the BMI lounge wasn’t going to happen - least of all for the long hike between them (and to the back end of the Gate 38 complex).



Star Alliance Common Lounge

I was welcomed in, and reminded no boarding calls were being made. I wandered around and took up my usual position near the food station and treated myself to the first bacon and sausage rolls I’ve had in months


FOOOOD


Jammin...

There was a fair mix of people in the lounge, but this lounge… is starting to get busier. And there needs to be a lot more light – it’s far too dark for it’s own good.


A quite section of the lounge


Busier

Soon enough, 7am came around, and I packed up my trash and headed for the back end of Heathrow T1 – Gate 41.


To the back end of nowhere...

Upon arriving, the boarding pass was inspected and I was waved through as Zone 3 boarding had already commenced. A quick march to the red carpet line, and I was allowed on board.

Part 2: Business Class Across The Pond

UA929 London Heathrow - Chicago O’Hare International
United Airlines, Boeing 767-300ER, Seat 6K, Business Class (Upgraded fro Y to NC)
3953 Miles flown, 3942 Miles Earned
Channel 9: Off
The Pictures

I was welcomed aboard, and turned right to the first row of business class, where there was a surprise of a seat mate there already. No biggy – but this is what you get for relying on a seat map.

Drink offers were made – of course, this being about 7:15 in the morning, there’s only one drink to have – Champers of course (Pol Roger Blue Top amazingly).


Morning fizzypop.

Boarding was completed very quickly, and we pushed back early… and we were all greeted to Jeff Smisek's face.


Like a god smiling down to his followers...

Just the sort of thing you want to see first thing in the morning.

All the plastic was tided away, and we begun one of the shortest taxi’s I’ve done recently – push back, turn, and taxi over to the near runway, and off we went.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT4YoRzWug8


Climbing out

Soon enough, we had climbed out, and the breakfast service commenced. I decided to risk my neck again with a UA Omelet.


Set table, Fruit Starter and Croissant



Again, it was hearty fair, with the fruit very nice and fresh. The Omelet, whilst a bit stringy was edible, the chicken sausage was completely inoffensive. God knows what Alpha Catering did to the Hash though – I’m still trying to work out what was in it....

Soon enough, the service was cleared away quickly, and popped the seat into recline and checked the IFE out. And now I can do a proper review of it as the headphones worked (as opposed to last year)

The content of the IFE as pretty reasonable – whilst not mostly to my taste, it wasn’t exactly bad. Which is a good thing. It has the important bit of IFE on it though – keeping up my traditions of being sad:

http://pb-i4.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/6247-1287768051-5.jpg
Herb has the time of his life with Chris – Family Guy presents Blue Harvest

And to be honest, I kept to the comedy selections when I was awake. When I wasn’t, I popped the seat into full flat mode and snored by way from somewhere over the Atlantic to just over St Johns. Where I caught up with 30 Rock.


Somewhere....

About 1 and a half hours before landing the second service commenced – and boy this felt rushed since service commenced the best part of 1:15 before landing. At least they were quick getting to me..


To start with...


Mixed nuts!



Duck Starter with a salad (Asian Sesame Seed dressing)

I decided to risk the fillet mignon – and it wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t exactly tough but it required effort to get into it. But it was edible as were the potato wedges and beans.


Fillet Mignon

Of course by this point there was 35 minutes left on the flight – and desert was rushed. I went for the chocolate moose thing and whilst nice, it was a time pressure to finish it in 5 minutes before they started to clear down the cabin for the approch into O’Hare.



[img]http://pb-i4.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/6247-1287768051-20.jpg[img]
Closing in to Chicago over Loyola

Soon enough, that was cleared away, and the cabin prepared for landing.

Youtube landing video

After a nice landing at ORD, the plane taxied it’s way to the International Terminal and parked up at one of the best gates in the place – M9 – which drops you off right at the Immigration hall. Which is important when Chicago immigration is getting worse by the trip...


Crossing the bridge over to the terminal

Overall: Compared to recent experiences (and even last year’s trip in Business), I’m sad to say this was distinctly average. United does have win’s in the hard product of the seat – but the soft product needs urgent attention in terms of speed of delivery. Catering, whilst OK, wasn’t stellar, and I feel there could be a little effort spent here that wouldn’t go a miss.

Oh and stick on Channel 9 please…

Immigration

Welcome to the USA. Again, queues galore as the Korean Air and JAL flights had made it in (and it’s easy to tell with the amount of Shilla/Lotte Duty Free bags lurking around). However, I was seen to in 10 minutes, and after very light questioning, I was let into the country. However I did look behind me as I went though to see the mass of people queuing, and this leads me to a nasty comment about US Immigration.

WHY CAN’T YOU HAVE MORE AGENTS DOING US IMMIGRATION FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS? There was about 2 planeloads of people there and all the switchbacks were jam packed solid.

Or if any DHS person is reading this: You’re charging $14 for per head for an ESTA into the United States of America. Kindly put that money to good use and GET MORE IMMIGRATION AGENTS!!!!

Or in simpler language - SORT IT!

With that rant over, it was time to head to the luggage belt where my main rucksack was just completing it’s first or second trip on the belt, so it was picked up, and after a few minutes the buzzer sounded on belt 9A indicating that the ski bag was on the way.

After another grilling at Customs (as I dare to continue my education to the America’s about why chocolate doesn’t have to taste like wax), I was free to enter the United States.

20 minutes from door to door. For the USA – that’s nigh on amazing going by recent experiences. I was banking on a full hour or so.

Alas, I needed to get to the Hyatt Regency, and of course – I didn’t have a Taxi driver who didn’t know where he was going, so I had to guide him in. And pay for the privilege of course.

Part III - Hyatt Regency O’Hare

Hotel: Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont.
Rate paid: $119++
The Pictures


Yes, I walk outside. I don't take cabs everywhere...

Yes, I have my reasons for being here. The fact this hotel is one of my preferred ones in the USA is besides the point really. But for those who haven’t been here, I’ll recycle through the points again .

My luggage was taken from me and I was invited to check in. Initially I couldn’t at the Kiosk, but a lovely agent released one of my preferred rooms, and reminded me of my benefits (Free Internet and late checkout) and I went upstairs to crash and decompress for a bit with my luggage following behind me.

A reason why I love this hotel is that you can request balcony rooms. For smokers, this is great. But I don’t smoke... so why would I want a room like this? The Hyatt is on the approach to O’Hare, and gives a very nice spotting area to watch planes in the comfort of your own hotel room...



The hotel itself very nicely appointed with a large atrium area a reasonable bar and restaurant, and just lots of nice artistic touches.

Moving onto the room, it’s a classic Hyatt room, which is spacious, full of Portcullo smellies (I think I can go on record to say I actually like the white ginger stuff they have), and the bed… Oh if I had the money to have a Hyatt bed…


Bed


Work area


Handtowels..

The staff as usual were excellent during the stay - and some of the ones who I had seen before welcoming me, and their convention services staff were their excellent selves.

Additionally, staying 5 nights here does have a very useful purpose - it qualifies me for an extra 10,000 Hyatt points. Which could be a useful later trip (but that’s besides the point for now)...

Right - enough of this flying malarkey for a bit. Time for something completely different - and it involves water

One Time Exception - The Chicago Architecture Foundation Boat Tour.
Price paid: $32

The pictures:

• Set 1 - http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/201...ur-1-of-3.html
• Set 2 - http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/201...ur-2-of-3.html
• Set 3 - http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/201...ur-3-of-3.html

Call me a romanticist, but I’ve always loved the skyline and buildings of Chicago, with the great amounts of variation of design. And I thought it was high time I actually went on the water.

It’ll also be the first time I’ve actually managed to get on the water in Chicago too. Not bad after... what? 9th visit to the place? (11 if I included the “Just Passing” trips).


Chicago's First Lady

I made my way down from O’Hare on the L, and walked from Clark and Lake to the boarding area, and directly to the boat after paying the $32, and being a photography geek that I am – I took the top deck in the centre, sat down and just spent the time watching, listening and clicking.

See for yourself


Trump and Wrigley Buildings


United shareholders should know this building...


Those bridges are *low*


Merchandise Mart




Boeing HQ.


The Loop


Towards the river mouth


The Wills Building

The commentary was excellent with explanations of the designs of the buildings, the architecture styles and the history of Chicago, with the 90 minutes flying by.

Overall: You don’t have to be an architecture buff to enjoy this cruise, and if you’ve ever been to Chicago and looked at the Skyscrapers and buildings in the city/Loop area in wonder, for $32, this cruise comes highly recommended. Just make sure you go when the Chicago river isn’t iced over….

We now return you to your usual programming of inane babble of sitting in seats and moaning.

Back to the Bunny

Yes, I got out of bed late – it had been one hell of a busy weekend (and disastrous in other ways too – with printers dieing and cameras following right behind them - but that’s besides the point).

Once again, all my trash was packed and I went to check out. After given my receipt, I found there was a shuttle bus about to leave (which was jumped on).

After going to the other Hyatt in the O’Hare area to drop off a passenger, we drove to O’Hare were my luggage was unloaded and I made my way in and to Premium Check in to have a discussion with Mr Chicken (The Check in Machine). A quick look and my original assignment of 22F had been blown out of the water… but instead upgraded with one of the best exit rows in the United fleet – Row 16, Seat F.

Now that’s what you call an upgrade! Heck, whilst service may be crap, it’s practically infinite legroom.

After dumping and tagging my luggage it it was off to security and it was straight through. Alas, my flight was going to leave from back end of nowhere - C25.


Through the brainwashing tunnel in B-C concourses


Heading to C25


As time was running short – I couldn’t be bothered to head to the lounge, so it was straight to the gate with about 10 minutes left before boarding.
Judging by the queues, I thought I stood a chance of a bump, but alas, no one was biting. Oh well. 16F is pretty hard to turn down, so I joined the line with the gate lice when boarding was called, watching all the Zone 4’s getting turned away from boarding

Soon enough, Star Golds were called to board, and after a missy wanted to try and take two mini rollaboards on a plane, I negotiated around her and made my way aboard.

UA547 Chicago O’Hare International - Las Vegas McCarran International
United Airlines, Boeing 757-200, Seat 16F, Economy Plus
1514 Miles flown, 1514 Miles Earned
Channel 9: On

The pictures

I was one of the first Y class victims to arrive, and found to my delight that I had the perfect exit row seat with an acre of space in it. Which is very nice. As the plane loaded up slowly, seats started filling until push back where the seat in the middle was taken.


A good sign on a 757...


... and legroom to boot.

The fight attendants did their check that everyone was ok to do the safety tasks in an emergency, and everyone was nodding away (and very few verbal yes’s sadly). However, I really don’t think the family in-front didn’t actually understand what the flight attendants were saying (or pointing at come to that).

The Merger video appeared with Jeff again (without Rhapsody playing in the background) and then the usual video played. A slow taxi around O’Hare due to the weight of traffic (15 minutes or so), but soon enough the plane turned onto runway 28 and the P&W engines roared into life, taking a full load into the sky.

The flight was pretty much light chop all the way, with a drinks service arriving 50 minutes into the air. But that’s not the worst part as some idiot decided it would be fun to self upgrade himself into E+ about 20 minutes into the air



Of course, did the flight attendants protect E+ at all? Surprisingly no. Very disappointing. Naturally I made sure I had to step out a fair bit on him and land my size 10’s on his feet. Oh ah, and his sales pitch for Sear’s Mytag/Whirlpool Black Friday plan didn’t make any sense to me… But what do I know about selling stuff? I’m just a simple Systems Administrator/Alternative Photographer…

But I’m not a bitter vindictive person at all . Beside, I had a few umm… Alternative Picture sets to process up. So what if they’re of an… alternative nature

Anyhoo… almost an hour in the flight attendants finally got around to serving drinks – and I’m sorry, that is horrendously slow to get to Row 16 on a daytime flight even with chop. I partook in a coffee which was lukewarm. Not good, but drinkable – which helps I suppose. There was also a snackbox/fresh breakfast snacks service that I also failed to partake in.


Funny how "Coffee and Coke" turns into just a coffee...

As we went over the various ATC centres, the turbulence was all over the shop, with a few airpockets to boot (causing a few interesting drops making the crowd go woo, and me grabbing the side of a seat) – which made the flight interesting -if not smooth at all – infact more of a moderate turbulence than anything.

Eventually the flight begun to smooth out – but by the time cloud cleared there was nothing but red desert with an hour to go… before it went choppy again and clear.


Bump... chop...

In fact chop and clear seemed to be the message of the day. With Channel 9 on, at least I could guess which times were reasonable to go to the little room when needed.


Over Las Vegas bay...


The Strip not too far away


Vegas Baby!

Soon enough we begun our decent, and landed at Las Vegas, and taxing to the D gates where we were released

Overall – Whilst the service was sluggish and incomplete, it was better than nothing. The E+ gift was a nice present from United was very welcome, however I’d wish they would protect the product better…..
Viva Las Vegas!

Arriving into Vegas means hiking across from the D gates, catching the little train, finally getting to the luggage, and then deciding to get the cab. As I was going to deprive myself of internet for a bit, I took the opportunity to load up my email and any extras I need for the next few days, and then went to queue and get fleeced for a taxi to the hotel

The Flamingo, Las Vegas (Harrahs)
Price paid: $39++ ($43 or so ~ £28.80 - Prepaid rate).
The photos



So I’ve gone slightly down market from last time, but I’m being cheap (hey, a voucher her or there never hurts to help things along), so it’s off to the Flamingo this time (it was a choice of the class that is “Hooters”, and The Excalibur was shoved aside mainly due to the exuberant “Resort Fees” that Vegas Hotels love to charge (and would had worked out the same prices as The Flamingo – rather sad really).

And boy... talk about going downhill. No bellhops to tote the luggage around for me meant that I had to drag the lot everywhere with me. Considering I tote a not inconsiderable 52kg in checked luggage and god knows how much in carry on, you can tell I was getting a little fraught. Especially with the mile long queue to check in.

Thankfully, I was seen to relatively quickly, and given a hotel room near a lift - so when I checked out I wouldn’t have to hike far. No card imprint was taken as payment was already taken.


Pink




The Flamingo's main industry...

After getting to my room - a very nice size, comfy sofa and soft bed - I decompressed and relaxed for a bit before heading off into the bright lights and sun of Vegas.




The room


Do we do a One Time Exception here? Oh why not .

Las Vegas One Time Exception - The Freemont Street Experience
Free (+$7 for a 24 hour bus ticket to get there from the Strip and what ever you want to tip the locals)




Some people know how to make an entrance...

Whilst we can all marvel at the wonders that is the Strip, I’ve decided to head north for this one (as I ran out of time to go up the Stratosphere on this trip... or as the bus driver said, the one place where you can eat dinner and then throw it up in the same place...) so instead I’ve headed to the older part of Vegas - Freemont street.

Redeveloped from the days of “Diamonds are Forever”, It’s a pedestrian area with the older Las Vegas








Austin and his Vegas Friends


Again, it’s nice to walk around during the day as it doesn’t have the hussle and bustle of the Strip, and there are bargains to be had like the $1.99 Shrimp Cocktails at The Golden Gate Casino.




What else is there to say about Vegas.

Ah yes, it can can be summed up in one image which you’ll find at the D Gates at LAS...



Guess you’ll have to head over to my Photoblog to find out what I did

Now, onto the the “creative routings” section of this trip to help with the re-qualification run. Ready? Lets get back to LAS first.

Part VI- The Mileage Run - The creative way to Denver.

After checking out using the TV (what a novel experience), I made my way with my trash downstairs and headed for the taxi queue, and was offered a shuttle just was about to depart for the airport. Rather than pay $20 again, this was a more palatable $6.50 (+$2 tip... and a very interesting half-dollar coin). After a short wait we left and took the slow way to the airport via the back roads.

After lugging the stuff over to check in, I was checked in for all my flights, with upgrades holding. I cheekily asked if there anything that could be done with the DEN-LHR leg, and a bit of tapping later, I got 33K assigned - which is an exit row seat. It never hurts to ask does it?

After clearing the laughable thing that is premium security, I was randomly selected by the scanner for a hand wipe-down. Without a new pad. And I continually asked for a new pad that the TSA agent wasn’t listening to.

Oh dear. NOT GOOD. If you are selected for one of these scans, it is a requirement for an agent to use a new pad if requested. Only halfway after did the agent listen.

And the major she said Oops.

Oops.

And you wonder why I have near enough ZERO confidence in America’s finest screeners. Eventually she sheepishly apologised after declaring I was clean, and promised to listen more closely to people in the future. Sadly however, I doubt this will happen.

After that disappointment, it was time to head back to the D Gate annex, and to the Continental Presidents Club Lounge. After going up in the scary creaking lift I was welcomed in and as I was still in Vegas, made my way to the bar for the first Vodka and Orange of the day.

Continental Presidents Club
Vodka’s sunk: 1
Nutella: Tastes the same as it does anywhere round the world...


Breakfast


The lounge
With some prepacked bagels too. And Nuttella. Breakfast of Champions (or as good as it will get in CO Lounges)!

It was useful just to relax there, update my mail and check everything before the madness that is a West Coast Mileage Run begins. It’s a reasonable little club, with nice views over the tarmac, and a seemingly endless supplies of bloody mary’s being made.

However time was moving on, and so I thanked the lounge dragon, and proceeded to the 50’s, passing row after row of slot machines, and to Gate 54 where the flight was being prepped for departure.

My boarding pass was scanned, and I was allowed aboard.

UA0289 Las Vegas International - Los Angeles International
United Airlines, Airbus A320, Seat 1D, Domestic First Class (NF)
236 Miles flown, 600 Miles Earned
Channel 9: Off



I was welcomed aboard and after a few minutes, drinks were offered. Having a little bit of a cold gave me an excuse for an orange juice.


Legroom was a bit tight in seat 1D, but wide at least.

The plane unexpectedly filled out, and we pushed back on schedule, and took off into the Nevada skies, climbing above the strip with it sprawled out to the right hand side.


The Strip

Once we started climbing, the crew informed people to have their drinks choice ready when the crew came to them “to expedite service on this short flight”

Well at least they could be bothered to do a drinks service.

After a few minutes, and the plane settled down - it was time for 1D to have his drink. Keeping in the theme of the day, it was of course an other Vodka and Orange.


And later on during the flight, another

There were snacks from a snack basket - Sun chips, peanuts, etc - I went for the premium Sun Chips as a snack.


Final approach into LA

However, it was a short flight, so service was cleared down and the cabin secured, and we begun the slow descend into LA.

After a landing and a short taxi, we were at the gate - and in time for my connecting flight. I bidded the crew thanks, and left the plane.

Overall: There’s not a lot that can be done in 45 minutes. Courteous and prompt service is the name of the game - at it was delivered. Not bad at all.

By the time I was off the plane, there was near enough 10 minutes left till boarding begun of the next flight - hardly worth wandering to the RCC. Instead, I camped near the gate and beeped my boarding pass through when invited to board, boarding my second A320 of the day


Waiting to board...

UA808 Los Angeles International - San Francisco International
United Airlines, Airbus A320, Seat 1A, Domestic First Class (NF)
337 Miles flown, 600 Miles Earned,
Channel 9: On



Again, I was welcomed aboard, and took my place on this differently configured A320 with a cut out for feet. It’s amazing what a little cutout can do to leg room...


The seat

F was full again, and being in 1A I was offered drinks first. At this time I examined a few pictures and realised that there was another minor fault in the camera, so a bit of air and we were ready to rock again

Shortly after Jeff's smiling face gazed down upon us, and the plane taxied and rocketed away.


Climbing out


Turning

We were advised that the service would be an hour long and that Channel 9 was on

Service commenced, and again, I’m clocking up the Vodka’s here



Again, the snack basket came around, and I had some reasonable choclates and Sunchips



For most of the journey, we hugged the west coast, with the cabin cleared down and soon enough the plane landing at San Francisco


Hugging the coast


Coming into SFO

Soon enough, we docked at San Francisco where I thanked the crew, and disembarked... off to hunt down an RCC...

Overall: Again, a 1 hour service, but a few local touches were nice. Again, good work United...

Part VII - An RCC, And a SFO-DEN Adventure.
As I had more than 10 minutes between connections, I decided to take advantage of the Domestic RCC

United Red Carpet Club,
Domestic Club


Waiting to get in...

After getting in, I found a nice window seat, and powered on the laptop still to find paid Wifi. Small matter. I just charged my laptop for a bit and did a few bits of picture sorting.

It was typical RCC food... mixed snacks and cruets with ranch dressing.

.

Again, I only partook of a coke to keep myself going and just sat back in comfort for a bit. Soon enough, it was time to head off back to the gate, and after stopping off at the Ghirardelli chocolate shop, I saw we were about to board. Therefore for the final time this trip, I stepped up to the red carpet and boarded the plane

UA318 San Francisco International - Denver International
United Airlines, Airbus A319, Seat 1A, Domestic First Class (NF)
967 Miles flown, 967 Miles Earned
Channel 9: On

The Pictures

First on the plane and I was pretty much on a good start with the crew as the purser was making coffee and touching trolley... Very Pam Ann. To which I got a laugh. Instantly I knew this had the makings of a good flight.


Waiting for boarding to complete

Again F was full, as was the rest of the plane as it took its time loading. Eventually Jeff’s smiling face beamed down from us on high, and we begun our taxi. With Channel 9 on, I was listening for our flight number, and the words “Flow control to Denver Area... 1 hour stop”

Gulp. Although I would had loved the overnight stop, I really didn’t fancy working through the madness of what would had happened.

Soon after the engines spooled down, and the flight attendants were picking up the phone, and finally the captain explained what was going on.

He also said he was going to open the cockpit door for those who want to ask questions. How could I refuse a look out of the window next to a main runway? Doesn't happen every day y’know.

So I went and paid my respects to the captain, and thanked him.

And ended up in the left hand seat. With a picture that has been hidden from the world in case I smash any more lenses.

After thanking the captain, I was asked if I wanted a drink. Knowing that I was on the ground I asked for a Orange Juice, and idly said maybe a bit stronger. The flight attendant knew what I was thinking and asked what sprit to mix with it.

So yes, yet another vodka and orange. I’m making one heck of a collection of them at the moment...

As the drinks service was completed on the ground we were given clearance to proceed - so what was a possible 1 hour stop turned into 20 minutes. Another 5 minutes to re-secure the cabin, and the A320 turned to the runway, and off we went into evening Pacific sun, climbing out, with the City of San Francisco to the left of me.


San Francisco, the Bay area. Look for the bridges!


Golden

Soon enough the purser came around again, asking if we would be joining in for a Turkey sandwich. In the intrests of research - and knowing the possible pain to come on the next flight, I accepted.


So here’s the tray - served with a salad and another pack of SunChips.


Salad
It looked ok, but there was something up the bread that made it hard to cut through. The salad was fresh, and the purser pre-punched a hole in the dressing to “prevent it exploding”.


Punched for your safety

Some simple steps, but again - appreciated.

The service was cleared down, and more drinks were offered, and during this period a cart was put across the forward galley entrance to allow a service to be carried out for the front office.

However, there was also a milk and Cookie service. Which was a very nice touch.


United made me booking... and I ated it.

Eventually, dusk fell and the plane begun the descent into Denver.


Denver International from above

Of course I was listening into Channel 9 and was listening as we descended. Then the magic words were uttered - “UA318, Go-Around, Go-Around, 9000ft”.

And boy those engines roared as we climbed back up. Once we claimed a bit, the captain came on the tannoy and told us what happened, and that we were to land on a different runway.

The second time, we made it on the ground safely and taxied to the B concourse at Denver, only 20 minutes late.

I thanked the purser, and asked her to thank the captain for me as I wasn’t sure what state the London flight would be in and the cockpit door was shut still.

Overall: A stellar performance in terms of customer service, safety and communication. When United wants to shine, it really does. But please... sort out those Turkey sandwiches...

But now the premium experience is over, and it’s time to go back to my normal roots, and to economy. Will I survive?

Part VIII Denver, and New UA777 and Home.

Landing at Denver B Concourse it was a matter of finding where the next flight was going from - which was basically a gate and a bit over to the right. Whilst good in theory, with a 10 minute before boarding call, I couldn’t be bothered to go to the RCC - it was easier to queue for the flight.


Waiting for the long journey


Premium boarding commenced with F and C, then Star Golds were invited to board. I took this opportunity to board the aircraft.

UA948 Denver International Airport - London Heathrow Airport Terminal 1
United Airlines, Boeing 777-200, New Configuration, Seat 33K, Economy Class
4670 Miles flown, 4670 Miles Earned

The pictures

So news international configuration eh? What the heck is this all about? It seems United is finally getting around to updating some of the 777’s (and lets face it - some of them are getting very ratty - the joy of being the first delivered customer), so United have been beavering away and updating the configuration of the aircraft.

As we’re down the back, we’ll review the back. Most importantly, gone is the 2 x 5 x 2, and we welcome a more “standard” configuration of 3 x 3 x 3 across (well, we should be grateful they didn’t decide to implement 3 x 4 x 3 like some airlines).

It also seems United is trying to cram more people in with slimline seating, and a new AVOD system.

And the first impressions of the seat... are awful. Ok - I have an emergency slide for a friend, but the padding on the seat is very minimal. And on a long flight with a dicky back, this could prove... difficult.

Anyway, the plane boarded and I was questioned on my willingness to perform emergency exit duties - which of course I agreed to. After a while, the plane had filled, and we weren’t moving. It turns out we had a maintenance issue which needed to be addressed and filled with paperwork. Which was enough to keep us on the ground for another hour or so. And be even more uncomfortable in the seat.


The View into Economy Plus
Eventually we pushed back and were under way, with a manual safety demo and no Jeff smiling upon us. A short taxi, and the engines spooled up for the long 8 hour trip to Heathrow.

Service took quite a while to kick off - again, slow and sluggish due to the conditions above Denver, but it seems to be that this were an inbound crew who really didn’t want to be aboard this evening.

However, before we go onto the joke that is an economy class meal, lets look at the New IFE system!


Hopeful...


Well it’s shiny. Almost like the 767-300ER’s (so we’ll say for sake of argument it’s a Pansonic EX2 system).

And errm. What’s this? PAID FOR IFE??? ON A LONG HAUL FLIGHT?


You are joking me aren’t you?

The content itself is split into the two sections - paid and unpaid - the unpaid section being the same content as in United Economy, where as the Paid section is akin to what is shown in United International Business/United International First Class.



And considering I’ve watched what I wanted to watch, there is only one real soultion isn’t there?


Well it's not family guy for once, It's Dilbert! -tthe GhettoIFE unit here is resting on top of the IFE unit

Lets now talk about the food service which was... late. As usual, it was a tray meal, with a choice of chicken or pasta. The chicken was a odd afair, with a chicken brest, carrorts, peas and something else that was hard to identify.


Drinks service


Meal Service

Whilst not inedible, it did strain the fork a bit. The salad was fresh as usual, and shock and horror - had something other than lettuce on it. That’s a first for United. However, they do insist on a cookie sort of thing for desert. Still disappointing...

Service was cleared down relatively quickly whilst the cabin was kept in darkness, and that was the last I saw of the flight attendants most of the night - other than them heading down to the crew rest. Myself, I just drifted in and out of sleep.

As morning broke and the day grew older, the crew started wandering around again (without glasses of water, but still wandering), and about an hour fifteen from London it would be good to do a breakfast service. This being United, I knew exactly what to expect and wasn’t disappointed.


Breakfast

The pastry wasn’t great, and if I was blunt, I went nowhere near the yoghurt. The diet coke perked me up a bit and cured a bit of the dehydration.

Again the crew suddenly found they were beginning the decent, and rushed to clear down the plane and secure it for landing. Of course, being late meant being stacked, so we joined the Ockham stack for a few turns, and then Channel 9 suddenly came on.


Stuck in the stack

We proceeded to fly over Central London, before turning and lining up for Heathrow and touching down after the 8 hour journey, pealing off near T3, and taking our time back to the T1 dock where the jetbridge was attached, and we were allowed to disembark.


Canary Wharf



Nearing the ground

Overall: Disappointing, with a few minor highlights to the end. The term “could had done better” applies to the crew here. The new cabin configuration isn’t that hot, and if I was bluntly honest, I think there are some poor decisions with the new seats - least of all the padding in them is near enough nothing. Suffice to say I preferred the old configuration 777’s - even in Row 42.

Of course, we docked at the back end of T1, so it was a long hike to Europier and then to UK immigration where for once IRIS was open! A gaze into the mirrors, and I was let back into the United Kingdom. Admittedly walking at this point wasn’t that bad as my back was hurting from that UA seat...

Going down to luggage reclaim, bags had started going around the belt, and of course the Heathrow unloaders weren’t paying attention to any baggage tags, so my bags came out midway of the unload process. Loading everything up, it was through customs, pass the Heathrow Express ticket seller, and finally into T1 arrivals, for the long push back to the Central Bus Station.

Back to the flat
National Express 210 London Heathrow - Birmingham Coach Station

Thankfully I selected the right time for the bus and only had a 20 minute wait for it. Whilst there’s not much to talk about the bus journey (a quick zip along the M40, a divert into Birmingham Airport and finally Digbeth), sitting in the disabled seats I sadly found more legroom than there was in United Domestic First in Row 1....

Eventually, the coach arrived at Digbeth, and I caught a cab, and let myself into the flat, bringing the end of this adventure.

Once again, the end of a journey, and back at the flat



In Closing Up....

I said earlier that United were “Distinctly Average” in business class. And whilst there were flashes of good service (especially in the first class), there appears to be the usual lack of caring down the back.

The staff were mostly friendly along the way, and have improved a fair notch - maybe Jeff's smiling face is working on them day by day. I've got to say that people have been a lot friendlier this trip than any other United run I've done before.

But some little things just made this trip bearable. The Vodkas helped, but I'm seriously unsure about the refurbishment of the 777's. The seating isn't great and there is next to no padding on them. The A320 First seats were acceptable as recliners, and the International Business seat is an excellent seat.

So, apart from the glaring 777-200, the hard product was fine. However, the soft product needs to be tightened up quickly - as well dare I say the timings of the product need to be improved too. Starting a service at T - 1:15 to landing is quick to get everyone fed, and tided down again ready for landing. And that's probably the most disappointing thing - the timing of the service.

US Security and Immigration also need a shakeup. The queues are getting longer, the questioning is taking longer and it takes forever to do anything. A case of more people needed, and people who actually listen.

Oh bother. 12277 miles down, and 9000 miles short. I guess I should had focused on earning miles rather than spending them earlier this year.

No matter. Coming early next year and just time time for *G re-qualification is what promises to be a pain filled epic (and trust me, from the amount I’ve fun I’ve had with misconnecting flights with it already, it’s promising to be a corker): Blame Canada! It’s only a mileage run anyway! (with a motley collection of Star Alliance carriers)

Until then - safe travels!

Comments and Thoughts welcome