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Sat Jun 09 – BA2193 LGW 1035 / DFW 1430 Boeing 747-200/300 Seat: 10K (Flight 9/17)
Boy am I dreading this - 5 flights in a row, and 4 of them on my least favourite airline. I get the feeling that I won’t try this SC style trip again – not if it means flying AA – an airline I try to avoid at all costs. I understand it’s worth it for the first class (if that’s what you can call it) and extra SC’s but what a high price to pay! There’s some slightly tight connections throughout the AA run, so I have to hope everything runs on schedule. Anyway, this is meant to be about the BA flight so…
At Gatwick I have to check in my bag for the first time since the wonderful BAA consider a ladies handbag as a piece of luggage. I decided to check it through to Dallas only, knowing I’d have to collect it there anyway. I got a second boarding pass for DFW/ANC but no more than that.
The first thing I notice about this BA plane is how tatty and somewhat grubby it is. Sure the seats are clean, but look to the back of the armrest where the cleaners don’t and there’s a major build up of dust and dirt. Even worse is the air vent down near my feet – it’s come off the wall and I can see cables etc completely caked in grime and grease. OK, I’m being picky I know. This is the first time I’ve flown BA in a window seat and it’s going to be backwards all the way so that should be fun! There’s approximately 40 seats in J and it’s half full.
10 mins after scheduled take off we’re told there’s been a problem with BAA’s luggage conveyor belts and most luggage isn’t yet loaded. The captain doesn’t want to take off without the plane loaded so we have to sit and wait. He tells us they say 30 mins, but we all know what that means! While we wait we’re offered drinks and I’m told my veggie meal is loaded (Yay)!
11.30am and still no bags. I’m cursing Gatwick for having the one bag only rule now, and cursing myself for not simply making everything fit into the one bag (which I could off if I’d put the effort in). There’s only a 2h20m connection time between this arrival and my flight to Anchorage – and I have to clear immigration. Normally that’s ample time of course, but not if this flight gets any more delayed! I consider leaving my bag on the conveyor belt in Dallas if necessary to avoid missing the one flight per day to Anchorage – if I miss it, it will screw 3 other flights as well!
11.45am and the bags are finally on (well, some of them). We’re told some won’t make it, which is worse really! Imagine having to wait an hour in Dallas only to find your bag didn’t make it! We’re told we’ll be arriving into DFW at 4pm – 50mins before my scheduled departure for ANC. I decide not to stress about it any further, knowing that it won’t resolve anything anyway.
The weirdest thing about taking off for this flight was having the FA come and reset my seat to a reclined position! And here I was sitting upright dutifully for the last hour for nothing – I wasn’t expecting that one! That explains why the seat was reclined when I first sat down I guess. Normally take off is my favourite part of flying, but sitting backwards didn’t float my boat at all – I had to tightly grab my blanket, headphones etc to prevent everything flying forward and the noise of the engine is blasting in my ears. Other than take off and landing however, you don’t notice the difference at all.
So far the FA’s are offering a great and slightly overattentive service but I must say I don’t really like the privacy thing being pulled down every 5 mins to ask if I want something (and especially to ask if I want to buy any duty free). Lunch for me was a Raviolli that was slightly dry and overcooked, but still good. I watched a crappy film about Andy Warhol (played by Guy Pearce) and tried to sleep the rest of the time (even though it’s day time) knowing that I have four crappy AA flights coming up so all rest I can get is important.
So – were the flat beds as good as everyone says? For me? No. I think my footrest was slightly faulty (leaning forward), resulting in a dip in my ‘flat bed’ roughly where my ankles & shins were. I assume it’s normally not the case, but pretty annoying for me. I can’t tell you much more about the flight as I attempted to sleep as much as possible. I awoke to be told we were arriving into DFW a little earlier at 3.40pm. Phew – that gives me 1h10m so I have a slightly increased chance of making my next flight!
Sat Jun 09 – AA278 DFW 1650 / ANC 2035 Boeing 757-200/300 Seat: 1A/1F (Flight 10/17)
I raced to immigration and my line didn’t seem to be moving so I changed to the line next door and just like you see on those TV ads or Minties wrappers, the immigration officer serving my new line decides to leave her booth and go for a wander. My previous line is longer so I’m faced with that age-old dilemma – move or wait – oh crap – why did I change lines??? I watch the guy that was originally behind me go through and yep – I’m still waiting. Eventually I get there and she wants to chat. I often have a hard time at US immigration due to having a few work visas in my passport. This time I don’t have one and have to explain in 5 different ways why I don’t need one for a week of meetings and no I am not travelling with anyone and uh no – no pets are with me either?!?! A terrible situation as I feel I have to be polite and chat to her about pets to get my stamp but time is ticking and I don’t want to miss that flight!
Finally I get to baggage and a BA rep tells me that not all bags made it. I explain my situation and that I’m coming back to DFW the next morning, so can I leave my bag and get it then? Of course she advises that I can’t usually, but in light of the situation if it doesn’t come through within the next 10 minutes, bail on it and let her know. Cool! As it turns out, my bag was the third one through so I race through security again (well, not race – it’s security after all) and get the wonderful Skylink (LOVE that thing) to the right concourse for the ANC flight. I get to the gate at 4.30pm – it took a full 50mins from arrival - and I would have just scrapped it in except that the flight is delayed 20mins so I get a breather before boarding.
While waiting to board there’s an announcement that the flight is oversold by 2 and they’re offering $300 and a flight via Denver that arrives 5 hours later at 1.30am into ANC. After 2 announcements they finally get 2 takers and we start to board, finally taking off at 5.30pm, 40mins behind schedule.
So this heading says seat 1A/1F. That’s because when I booked the flight through Qantas, I asked them to do my seat allocations for me as I have a major preference for the left hand side of the aircraft. So far most flights allocations haven’t changed from what Qantas originally had issued, but hey – we’re with AA now so it’s a different story. BTW – have I told you how much I hate flying in the front row?
I ask for a pillow on boarding only to be told ‘your blanket is your pillow – it’s a two for one deal’ – what?? No pillow? No pillow and some crappy earplugs in a yellow plastic bag – oh I love flying AA. We’re offered a drink in a crap plastic cup prior to take off.
As the next 3 flights are also AA and are ALL crap, I won’t bore you all with too many details, suffice to say that I HATE flying AA and avoid it at all costs usually. That said, this is the one flight that offers a vegetarian option for a meal so I actually get to eat which I wasn’t expecting (a mushroom pasta) and a lovely raspberry and chocolate ice-cream desert. It was the only meal I was able to eat for the four flights.
Sat Jun 09 – AA279 ANC 2205 / DFW 0725+1 Boeing 757-200/300 Seat: 1A/5A (Flight 11/17)
Sun Jun 10 – AA2332 DFW 0900 / ORD 1115 MD-80 Seat: 3A/5A (Flight 12/17)
Sun Jun 10 – AA255 ORD 1355 / LAX 1620 Boeing 757-200/300 Seat: 1A/6F (Flight 13/17)
I had to go out to the check in area to get my next boarding pass and it’s another rush as the last flight arrived 30mins late. I’m thankfully issued with the next 3 boarding passes: ACH/DFW DFW/ORD ORD/LAX.
Another seat change, but a LH window and not the front row so I’m happy. I note on this flight that there’s 3 other QF WP’s and wonder how many of them are regular readers of this forum – why else would they be flying to Anchorage Alaska??? I also spot someone with a flyertalk.com luggage tag.
Again no pillow and on this flight it’s chicken or turkey, so no food either. Forgive me, but why is AA part of one world when the service is clearly substandard by comparison? No special meal options (I can’t even buy food) and no pillow on a red eye flight. Lame. Thankfully I’d anticipated as much and spent $18USD at ANC to get me through the next few flights with as much sleep as possible.
I won’t waste your time slagging AA any more – let this one count for all 3 flights. Um… arrived a little late into DFW but had enough time to grab a quick bagel for dinner/breakfast before the ORD flight. Also, I must be the only one to think so, but I really prefer the MD-80 we took to Chicago vs the 757 on all other flights. The big grey leather seats with no seat pitch are horribly uncomfortable, whilst the blue seats on the MD-80 have an adjustable headrest and better seat pitch. Definitely my least hated of the four flights. As a short person, the lack of foot rests is a major problem and I started getting a tingle in my legs half way through the flights that I’m still suffering from now – yes I tried to exercise my ankles etc as much as possible.
The only lounge I had time to check out was the Chicago one – not worth it. Just like the other Admirals clubs, I’m offered one voucher on arrival and have to present my Qantas Platinum card to gain access. There’s food available for purchase but it’s all cold meat based sandwiches. I take advantage of the power to charge my iPod and that’s about it.
Take me back to Qantas (and Qantas Club) please. Soon – only 4 flights to go now.
Sorry for being so negative, 37h45m of flights and transit time will do that to you!! It’s 7.15pm LA time and I’m typing this up to help me stay awake until at least 10pm so I can get my jetlag sorted for 3 days of meetings starting tomorrow. I’ll try write some nice positive things about my final 2 AA flights, but don’t hold your breath!
I tried to do the ANC run but couldnt manage it (I could either getup there and not get back or get back but not get there).
