-
Ok, I really need to get in the habbit of doing these...I'll start with the flight info, then add more as time allows. Had a good trip to YYZ Toronto, Canada) last weekend.
Thurs 9/15: as I'm wrapping things up in the office, I check the PHXYYZ flights for the next day. We're listed on the 8:45am, and there's about 20 seats left. F has 11/12 so not counting on that, but figure at least we'll get on the plane. Plan B is HP's noonish flight, Plan C is AC (Air Canada) at about 2pm.
Fri 9/16: Wake up at 4:30am to get an early start. For international flights, HP standbys can't check-in online. Arrive at the airport about 6:30ish, smooth sailing through East Economy parking, arrive at the ticket counter about 6:45am. Turns out when I made the listing, the person in res didn't do the ticketing properly...but the agent is nice enough. She asks if we want to check bags. Ask how the flight looks...she replies, "Overbooked by 2." What?? Did not check bags, just in case.
7:00am--pass through security, minimal line, and head to the gate to take a look. All quiet in the high A's area of T-4. Use a club pass and we wait in the club, take out the laptop and check the flight on there. Turns out they downgraded the plane from an A320 to A319. As time passes, slowly see the numbers drop down, eventually at 8am with 5 seats available.
8:15am--boarding time. Head to the gate, ask if they've done anything with standby, they say no. Find a seat, and notice that the plane still isn't there.
8:45am--time the plane is supposed to leave. Agent calls our names, we get seat assignments (both middle seats). Still no plane.
9:15am--we see a 319 getting tugged to the gate. The agents start to do their stuff, crew goes on board.
9:35am--our group gets called for boarding, we head on. Surprisinly, find space for 2 roller bags, a backpack, and the laptop.
9:45am--plane gets pushed back from gate. Starts to make its way to runway, but then stops off to the side. We see other planes going past. We sit for about 10-15 min.
10:00am--finally head to the runway. At least we still take off to the East. Pilot says he'll try to, "make up time."
4:30pm (Eastern): land in YYZ, fairly incident free. Onboard movie was, "Mr & Mrs Smith," was OK. They play the merger video just before landing.
5:00pm--in line at Canadian customs. It seems that several planes landed at the same time (BA, a Chinese airline, etc) and the line takes about 15-20 min. Customs itself is fairly routine, no issues.
5:15pm--make it outside, head to the downtown shuttle. Advised it is running late.
6:00pm--shuttle FINALLY arrives (supposed to run every 20 min). Traffic is a nightmare...
7:00pm--arrive at hotel (Wyndham Harbor Castle, a Priceline deal).
Sunday 9/18 afternoon:
Check online system for next day's flight. Looks great, only 5/12 in First!!!
Monday 9/19:
1:10pm: wait outside hotel at shuttle stop. First an inbound shuttle arrives, says the outbound will be there in 5 minutes.
1:15pm: outbound shuttle arrives, we are the last stop. Trip to airport is about 30 min.
1:45pm: check-in at airport. CO handles HP's services at YYZ (for now...) Agent is very nice. He gives us boarding passes (with seats, not first), and says F has 7/12.
2:00pm: arrive at gate. When leaving YYZ, US customs is done there, is fairly routine, and no line at all.
4:00pm: same agent who checked us in is at gate. He calls us to the podium, we trade boarding passes for 1A-1B (F).
4:15pm: boarding begins. Since we're in F, we board early, get our seats, relax.
6:15pm (AZ time): arrive in PHX. Plane arrives early, but gate not ready. We end up at gate around the scheduled time.
I'll add a bit more about what we did in Toronto, etc in the next few days...maybe even a picture or 2.
Tim
-
Lots of detail Tim, but I'd like to know, what's in the HP first class meal ? http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
Great report, looking forward to the next installment.
Keep'em flying
-
Choice of meal was:
1. Chicken caesar salad, with desert
2. Vegetable lasagna, side salad, desert
I prefer just having the extra legroom and roomy seat (and the side wings around the head). The constant flowing of wine didn't hurt either. The snacks in first are better too.
So what food does AA serve in F? Did they finally take away 'free' food from coach?
Tim
-
Tim just noticed your post was edited. The last time I got first was LAX/LHR/LAX (a 777)
Dinner/Breakfast http://bestsmileys.com/eating1/10.gif
Things started with hot towel service then warm roasted nuts & fresh vegetables, followed by a very nice caviar tray ( I believe the caviar tray has since been eliminated, cost-cutting) Main meal--salad with lobster tail, chateaubriand and two sides. I'm a little foggy on the side dishes, but like you I remember there was champagne and a very nice California wine; later there was a fruit and cheese plate and then a hot fudge sundae.
A while later there were another round of snacks but I couldn't eat a thing. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Breakfast--Yogurt, cereal, a bread/sweet roll tray, omelet and fruit.
Hmmm... first class, if I had only known I would have skipped the pizza at the airport.
Soooo now that you're US Airways, start planning that trip to Europe. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
Keep'em flying
-
Tim, I am looking forward to trying HP as US gets our ID100s starting Oct 5th. If you have any questions about US please let me know because I plan to check with you for the questions I have about HP.
We are excited about the merger (and getting out of bankruptcy) in all our stations. I hope the HP folks are looking forward to the merger as we are.
-
Hi Coyne,
Yes, I am (as is nearly everyone I know) excited about the merger...tons of opportunities for everyone. There are several openings at the CHQ in Tempe if you are interested in moving. They posted merger photos on our employee site and I was surprised how many stations participated, even small ones near where I grew up like AVP, ABE, MDT, and IPT.
I've been corresponding with Paul (CLT) for a few months now, and we've filled in each other. Of course if you need any info on HP operated flights send me a PM.
And to answer Migflankers question, yes, I am thinking of a trip to LGW, probably late April. Maybe 4-5 days there, then head over for a day or 2 at Eurodisney, then fly out of CDG or AMS.
Tim
