#aa jfk lax

[mostlysignssomeportents]

How plausible sentence generators are changing the bullshit wars

This Friday (September 8) at 10hPT/17hUK, I'm livestreaming "How To Dismantle the Internet" with Intelligence Squared.

On September 12 at 7pm, I'll be at Toronto's Another Story Bookshop with my new book The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation.

In my latest Locus Magazine column, "Plausible Sentence Generators," I describe how I unwittingly came to use – and even be impressed by – an AI chatbot – and what this means for a specialized, highly salient form of writing, namely, "bullshit":

https://locusmag.com/2023/09/commentary-by-cory-doctorow-plausible-sentence-generators/

Here's what happened: I got stranded at JFK due to heavy weather and an air-traffic control tower fire that locked down every westbound flight on the east coast. The American Airlines agent told me to try going standby the next morning, and advised that if I booked a hotel and saved my taxi receipts, I would get reimbursed when I got home to LA.

But when I got home, the airline's reps told me they would absolutely not reimburse me, that this was their policy, and they didn't care that their representative had promised they'd make me whole. This was so frustrating that I decided to take the airline to small claims court: I'm no lawyer, but I know that a contract takes place when an offer is made and accepted, and so I had a contract, and AA was violating it, and stiffing me for over $400.

The problem was that I didn't know anything about filing a small claim. I've been ripped off by lots of large American businesses, but none had pissed me off enough to sue – until American broke its contract with me.

So I googled it. I found a website that gave step-by-step instructions, starting with sending a "final demand" letter to the airline's business office. They offered to help me write the letter, and so I clicked and I typed and I wrote a pretty stern legal letter.

Now, I'm not a lawyer, but I have worked for a campaigning law-firm for over 20 years, and I've spent the same amount of time writing about the sins of the rich and powerful. I've seen a lot of threats, both those received by our clients and sent to me.

I've been threatened by everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Ralph Lauren to the Sacklers. I've been threatened by lawyers representing the billionaire who owned NSOG roup, the notoroious cyber arms-dealer. I even got a series of vicious, baseless threats from lawyers representing LAX's private terminal.

So I know a thing or two about writing a legal threat! I gave it a good effort and then submitted the form, and got a message asking me to wait for a minute or two. A couple minutes later, the form returned a new version of my letter, expanded and augmented. Now, my letter was a little scary – but this version was bowel-looseningly terrifying.

I had unwittingly used a chatbot. The website had fed my letter to a Large Language Model, likely ChatGPT, with a prompt like, "Make this into an aggressive, bullying legal threat." The chatbot obliged.

I don't think much of LLMs. After you get past the initial party trick of getting something like, "instructions for removing a grilled-cheese sandwich from a VCR in the style of the King James Bible," the novelty wears thin:

https://www.emergentmind.com/posts/write-a-biblical-verse-in-the-style-of-the-king-james

Yes, science fiction magazines are inundated with LLM-written short stories, but the problem there isn't merely the overwhelming quantity of machine-generated stories – it's also that they suck. They're bad stories:

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/24/1159286436/ai-chatbot-chatgpt-magazine-clarkesworld-artificial-intelligence

LLMs generate naturalistic prose. This is an impressive technical feat, and the details are genuinely fascinating. This series by Ben Levinstein is a must-read peek under the hood:

https://benlevinstein.substack.com/p/how-to-think-about-large-language

But "naturalistic prose" isn't necessarily good prose. A lot of naturalistic language is awful. In particular, legal documents are fucking terrible. Lawyers affect a stilted, stylized language that is both officious and obfuscated.

The LLM I accidentally used to rewrite my legal threat transmuted my own prose into something that reads like it was written by a $600/hour paralegal working for a $1500/hour partner at a white-show law-firm. As such, it sends a signal: "The person who commissioned this letter is so angry at you that they are willing to spend $600 to get you to cough up the $400 you owe them. Moreover, they are so well-resourced that they can afford to pursue this claim beyond any rational economic basis."

Let's be clear here: these kinds of lawyer letters aren't good writing; they're a highly specific form of bad writing. The point of this letter isn't to parse the text, it's to send a signal. If the letter was well-written, it wouldn't send the right signal. For the letter to work, it has to read like it was written by someone whose prose-sense was irreparably damaged by a legal education.

Here's the thing: the fact that an LLM can manufacture this once-expensive signal for free means that the signal's meaning will shortly change, forever. Once companies realize that this kind of letter can be generated on demand, it will cease to mean, "You are dealing with a furious, vindictive rich person." It will come to mean, "You are dealing with someone who knows how to type 'generate legal threat' into a search box."

Legal threat letters are in a class of language formally called "bullshit":

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691122946/on-bullshit

LLMs may not be good at generating science fiction short stories, but they're excellent at generating bullshit. For example, a university prof friend of mine admits that they and all their colleagues are now writing grad student recommendation letters by feeding a few bullet points to an LLM, which inflates them with bullshit, adding puffery to swell those bullet points into lengthy paragraphs.

Naturally, the next stage is that profs on the receiving end of these recommendation letters will ask another LLM to summarize them by reducing them to a few bullet points. This is next-level bullshit: a few easily-grasped points are turned into a florid sheet of nonsense, which is then reconverted into a few bullet-points again, though these may only be tangentially related to the original.

What comes next? The reference letter becomes a useless signal. It goes from being a thing that a prof has to really believe in you to produce, whose mere existence is thus significant, to a thing that can be produced with the click of a button, and then it signifies nothing.

We've been through this before. It used to be that sending a letter to your legislative representative meant a lot. Then, automated internet forms produced by activists like me made it far easier to send those letters and lawmakers stopped taking them so seriously. So we created automatic dialers to let you phone your lawmakers, this being another once-powerful signal. Lowering the cost of making the phone call inevitably made the phone call mean less.

Today, we are in a war over signals. The actors and writers who've trudged through the heat-dome up and down the sidewalks in front of the studios in my neighborhood are sending a very powerful signal. The fact that they're fighting to prevent their industry from being enshittified by plausible sentence generators that can produce bullshit on demand makes their fight especially important.

Chatbots are the nuclear weapons of the bullshit wars. Want to generate 2,000 words of nonsense about "the first time I ate an egg," to run overtop of an omelet recipe you're hoping to make the number one Google result? ChatGPT has you covered. Want to generate fake complaints or fake positive reviews? The Stochastic Parrot will produce 'em all day long.

As I wrote for Locus: "None of this prose is good, none of it is really socially useful, but there’s demand for it. Ironically, the more bullshit there is, the more bullshit filters there are, and this requires still more bullshit to overcome it."

Meanwhile, AA still hasn't answered my letter, and to be honest, I'm so sick of bullshit I can't be bothered to sue them anymore. I suppose that's what they were counting on.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/07/govern-yourself-accordingly/#robolawyers

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[afreen9]

Cracking the Code: A Look at 20 Key Airport and Airline Identifiers

Every time you fly, you interact with a hidden language of codes that keeps the aviation world running smoothly. Whether it's the three-letter airport code on your baggage tag or the two-letter airline code on your boarding pass, these identifiers serve as a critical shorthand, helping travelers, airlines, and airports stay organized. But what do they mean, and why are they important?

This guide will break down 20 essential airport and airline codes, explaining their significance and how they contribute to the global system of air travel. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or a curious traveler, knowing these codes can enhance your understanding of the aviation world.

IATA and ICAO Codes: What’s the Difference?

Before we dive into the list, it’s essential to understand the two types of codes that govern the world of aviation: IATA and ICAO codes.

IATA Codes (International Air Transport Association): These are the codes you're likely to see most often as a traveler. IATA codes are three-letter codes for airports (like LAX for Los Angeles International Airport) and two-letter codes for airlines (like AA for American Airlines). These codes are used on your tickets, boarding passes, and baggage tags to keep things organized and understandable for passengers and airport staff alike.

ICAO Codes (International Civil Aviation Organization): While less visible to passengers, ICAO codes are critical for the operations of airlines and air traffic control. These codes consist of four letters for airports (such as KJFK for New York’s John F. Kennedy International) and three letters for airlines (like AAL for American Airlines). ICAO codes are primarily used in flight planning, safety protocols, and air traffic coordination.

While IATA codes are designed to be user-friendly, ICAO codes handle the behind-the-scenes technical operations essential to global air travel.

10 Key Airport Codes and Their Meanings

LAX – Los Angeles International Airport (Los Angeles, USA) A major hub for international travel, especially to Asia and the Pacific. The "X" was added to fit the three-letter IATA format after codes transitioned from two letters.

JFK – John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York, USA) New York’s largest airport and a major hub for flights to Europe and beyond, named after the 35th U.S. president.

LHR – London Heathrow Airport (London, UK) As the busiest airport in the UK, LHR serves millions of passengers traveling across the globe.

HND – Tokyo Haneda Airport (Tokyo, Japan) Primarily used for domestic flights, but increasingly important for international travel as well.

DXB – Dubai International Airport (Dubai, UAE) A global hub for long-haul flights connecting Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

ATL – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta, USA) The world’s busiest airport by passenger volume, primarily a hub for domestic travel within the U.S.

CDG – Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris, France) One of Europe’s busiest airports, named after the former French president.

SYD – Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (Sydney, Australia) The main international gateway for Australia, handling millions of passengers every year.

SIN – Singapore Changi Airport (Singapore) Often ranked among the best airports in the world, known for its excellent services and facilities.

FRA – Frankfurt Airport (Frankfurt, Germany) Germany’s busiest airport and a major hub for flights to Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

10 Airline Codes and Their Meanings

AA – American Airlines One of the largest airlines in the world, American Airlines’ code reflects its prominence in the aviation industry.

BA – British Airways The national carrier of the UK, British Airways connects the world with British culture and tradition.

DL – Delta Air Lines Delta, one of the oldest U.S. airlines, uses "DL" as a reflection of its long history in aviation.

LH – Lufthansa Germany’s flagship airline, with "LH" standing for "Luft" (air) and "Hansa," representing its historical trade roots.

EK – Emirates Known for its luxury services, Emirates flies from Dubai to destinations worldwide, with "EK" representing its Arabic name.

AF – Air France France’s national airline, using "AF" as its two-letter code to represent its prominent status in global aviation.

QF – Qantas Australia’s largest airline, "QF" comes from "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services," its original name.

SQ – Singapore Airlines Recognized globally for its top-tier service, Singapore Airlines uses "SQ" as its international brand identifier.

UA – United Airlines United Airlines, a major player in global aviation, uses the two-letter code "UA" as a reflection of its name.

CX – Cathay Pacific Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, known for its premium service, uses "CX" to signify its strong brand identity.

Why These Codes Matter

Airport and airline codes may seem like a small detail, but they play a vital role in the seamless operation of global air travel. These codes streamline communication, reduce confusion, and make sure that everything from ticketing to baggage handling runs smoothly.

Airport codes, in particular, are essential in ensuring that your luggage arrives at the correct destination. Whether you're flying into a major hub like LAX or a smaller regional airport, these codes are critical to managing the flow of passengers and cargo. Airline codes, on the other hand, are vital for coordinating flights, managing partnerships, and organizing operations between airlines.

ICAO Codes: Behind the Scenes

While passengers mostly interact with IATA codes, ICAO codes are critical for airline operations and air traffic control. These four-letter codes help ensure that flights are safe, well-coordinated, and on schedule, especially in international airspace. For example, KJFK is the ICAO code for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, a key identifier for pilots and air traffic controllers.

ICAO codes also prevent confusion in communication, particularly in international operations, where misinterpretation of a code could lead to major issues.

Codeshare Agreements and Airline Partnerships

Airline codes also play a significant role in codeshare agreements, where multiple airlines share flight operations. For instance, a flight operated by British Airways may also have an American Airlines flight number, allowing passengers to book through either airline. This allows airlines to offer more routes and connections, enhancing convenience for travelers.

These partnerships rely heavily on precise identification codes to ensure smooth operations and coordination between different carriers.

Why It’s Useful to Learn These Codes

For frequent flyers and aviation enthusiasts, learning airport and airline codes adds an extra layer of insight to your travel experience. Recognizing these codes can help you better navigate flight schedules, understand connections, and even avoid confusion during check-in or boarding.

Final Thoughts: The Significance of Aviation Codes

Airport and airline codes are the silent backbone of air travel, making global aviation more efficient and easier to navigate. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just starting your flying journey, understanding these codes helps you appreciate the complex system that makes air travel possible. From your boarding gate to your final destination, these codes are at work, ensuring a smooth and efficient travel experience.

[sronson]

I will never forget the fear and horror of receiving an instant message on AOL from our father asking if anyone had spoken to Mark, as he was on an early flight to LA. No-one could reach him as all the phone lines were jammed, I finally received an instant message from Mark’s gf’s mother telling me he was safe and staying in Bklyn til he could get back into Manhattan. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to lose someone that day and my heart goes out to all the victims of that terrifying tragedy. We will never forget. Repost from @iammarkronson • 9/11/2001 I was sitting on an AA flight, 8am JFK to LAX when the captain said “there’s been a fire at the World Trade Center, we’re headed back to the gate to deplane”. I’ll never forget the panic, shock, despair and horror in the airport as people managed to call home and find out what was actually happening. They immediately shut down all the bridges and tunnels into the city so I stayed in Brooklyn that night at my dear friends Toure & Rita. Like everyone else, we watched the footage over and over, speechless. I remember watching the smoke and dust clouds from Fort Greene helpless, like it was another planet. The next few days, there was a huge overflow of people trying to volunteer and help. I already lived only 10 blocks from the towers, so I could get past the last checkpoint to volunteer without registering. I walked up and down the West Side Highway with a trolley cart of supplies and water and gave every last coat and sweatshirt I owned to emergency responders drenched in water, soot, etc… This obviously doesn’t compare one billionth to what so many gave on that day. I feel some sort of need to observe the loss and sacrifice of an unfathomably horrid event but I still can’t quantify it. What I do know is that it brought out the very best parts of the citizens of the greatest city in the world. To those who were lost, you will never be forgotten. For New Yorkers, you're forever in our souls and conscience. Love 💔💔❤️❤️❤️💔💔 https://www.instagram.com/p/CTsVVnpPsRY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[qatarairways]

We are delighted to welcome American Airlines’ passengers on Qatar Airways’ flights between the US and Qatar and to a range of exciting destinations in the Middle East, East Africa, South Asia and beyond.

The partnership agreement between QR and AA will create hundreds of new travel options and will allow millions of QR passengers to travel on AA domestic flights from BOS, DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD and PHL.

Read the news announcement.

[notwiselybuttoowell]

Here's the full timeline per the article:

July – American Airlines, JFK to LAX. Bradley P. Allen wrote, “My wife and I experienced this during an AA flight in July. To be clear, it was just sounds like the moans and groans of someone in extreme pain. The crew said that it had happened before, and had no explanation. Occurred briefly 3 or 4 times early in the flight, then stopped.” (Additional flight details via the LA Times.)

August 5 – American Airlines 117. JFK to LAX. Wendy Wanderman wrote, “It happened on my flight August 5 from JFK to LAX and it was an older A321 that I was on. It was Flight 117. There was flight crew that was on the same plane a couple days earlier and the same thing happened. It was funny and unsettling.”

September 6 – American Airlines. Santa Ana, CA to Dallas-Fort Worth. Emerson Collins’ [who recorded a video] flight. “These sounds started over the intercom before takeoff and continued throughout the flight. They couldn’t stop it, and after landing still had no idea what it was… I filmed about fifteen minutes, then again during service. It was calmer for a while mid flight.”

Mid-September – American Airlines, Airbus A320. Orlando, FL to Dallas-Fort Worth. Doug Boehner wrote, “This happened to me last week. It wasn’t the whole flight, but periodically weird phrases and sounds. Then a huge ‘oh yeah’ when we landed. We thought the pilot left his mic open.”

September 18 – American Airlines 1631, Santa Ana, CA to Dallas-Fort Worth. Boeing 737-800. An anonymous report passed on by JonNYC, “Currently on AA1631 and someone keeps hacking into the PA and making moaning and screaming sounds 😨 the flight attendants are standing by their phones because it isn’t them and the captain just came on and told us they don’t think the flight systems are compromised so we will finish the flight to DFW. Sounded like a male voice and wouldn’t last more than 5-10 seconds before stopping. And has [intermittently] happened on and off all flight long.”

As far as an explanation:

[billinghamn]

Holiday to Florida in Dec 2019: Summary

Another holiday completed; another trip to Florida. Not quite as exciting as some. Vick being ill for some of the time dampened her spirits at times on this trip.

Flights

BA were reliable as always. No delays; no dramas; just delivered good quality service, on time - just what we needed. I’m a little tired of the 747 now, but if we are flying through JFK its not always easy to avoid the jumbo. BA food was excellent, both on flights and in the lounges we visited.

AA were equally reliable, but there’s no comparison in terms of cabin crew. AA flights feel more like getting a seat on a bus. The AA Flagship Lounge at Miami is really good - on a par with LAX now.

Cocoa Beach

The Hilton at Cocoa Beach was very comfortable, and effectively we had the best room in the place, with lots of space. The weather wasn’t really conducive to doing too much outside activity, but we enjoyed our day out to Kennedy Space Centre, even in the rain.

Sarasota

The Homewood Suites at University Town Center (UTC) was fresh and new, but the rooms were a tad more compact than we would have liked. We also had some challenges with staff not being completely honest with us at times. UTC was alive with lights celebrating Christmas, and there was lots going on.

We had a nice trip out to the Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, and the Bayfront area is a nice place to spend some time. How will I ever recover from that Garlic Bomb Philly Cheesesteak?

Naples

The Hilton at Naples is our go-to hotel in the area. It’s a great place to stay, with a nice pool and really friendly staff. It offered a very tasteful Christmas make over. But the in-house steak restaurant (Shula’s) is a bit too expensive now.

The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary always offers an interesting and soothing half day out. Lots of interesting wildlife to see, especially the racoons.

Our Hertz Car Rental - Camaro SS

The beast was a real treat, and in red it was our perfect hire car.

[atsstory]

I'm NOT Going To Greece :( (PS EasyJet SUCKS!!!)

Welp thanks to Bozo Boris Johnson (and, to be fair, the coronavirus) I am not going to Greece. Our plan had been to meet Benji & Dallis in Northern Ireland, then on to London from which we would fly home (on a Virgin Atlantic A350!!!). But, it is not appearing the UK will be allowing US travelers anytime soon, so Benji & Dallis bumped their trip forward by two weeks. With all our moving parts, that added thousands of dollars to our trip (600 euros to the price of the hotel in Greece alone). I'm heartbroken - the NI meetup was pretty much a once in a lifetime confluence of events and now it'll probably never happen.

So, I'm now in the process of now trying to unravel it all. The biggest thorn has been the goddamn EasyJet flight from Chania to Belfast. We have a layover at London Gatwick, and it turns out EasyJet does not do true thru flights, so we actually have two reservations and would have had to get our bags, recheck them to Belfast, and go back through security at Gatwick. So that was enough of a pain until I discovered EJ has NO number for US callers! So in order to call & find out my options I would have to pay international calling fees (around $3 per minute!!!).

We had a good experience flying EasyJet from Edinburgh to Paris Orly in 2019 but now I have to say if you're in the US I would avoid them. I tried filling out their online form and explained I was unable to call due to the expense (especially as they quote long on-hold times). What did I get in response? A fucking form e-mail that stated if none of my questions were answered to....call their customer service. So obviously no one bothers to actually read these. Some bot checks them for keywords an generates an auto-response. GRRRRR!

So yesterday, I ponied up $15 per month (which I can hopefully cancel) for an international calling plan from AT&T and called them. The answer? Right now I can change my flight, and that's it. No refunds, no vouchers, nothing. Meanwhile every airline on the planet (it seems, and it seems like I've booked flights on the majority of them the last 6 months) is being super flexible due to COVID. But not EasyJet. Despite the "Protection Promise" they tout on their website, they will not actually do shit for you if your destination is still on lockdown and requiring a quarantine. So I may be out around $800 which is sickening. Meanwhile it took about 30 seconds on British Airways' website to find, request, and receive a voucher for our flight from Belfast to London City that is good until 2023!!

Our plan had been to fly from Tulsa to JFK on July 3 and stay overnight at the groovy TWA Hotel in the old TWA terminal and fly to Athens the next day. We are still going to NYC and staying at the TWA Hotel, but because we are ultra AvGeeks, we are hopping up bright and early the next morning and taking American Airlines Flight 1 to LAX. That's right....we're flying halfway across the country one day, then all the way back across the country the next. The plane is American's A321-T that is a unique plane type that they only fly on a couple of transcontinental routes (that's what the T in A321-T stands for). It has 3 classes of service, First, Business, Main which is very rare for a plane on a domestic route. We are in "Business" which has lie flat seats (the plane leaves at 8am and it's a 6 hour flight - I may need a nap). You can check out the layout of this unique plane on SeatGuru if you're into that sort of thing: https://seatguru.com/airlines/American_Airlines/American_Airlines_Airbus_A321_new.php?flightno=1&date=

We are also scheduled on an A330 from Atlanta to JFK on Delta, which is shocking! This is a twin aisle wide-body jet that you rarely will find on domestic routes. This is the same plane on which we were supposed to fly from JFK to Athens. The bad news is we leave Tulsa at 6am. The TWA hotel pool (an infinity pool which overlooks the runways at JFK!!!) requires paid reservations and you can only get a reservation on the day of your arrival so we need to get into JFK early. So basically it's like Caddy Day at the pool, but I imagine they had to do this to keep the pool from being overrun. I am actually just fine with these restrictive rules if they cut down on the amount of tools hanging about at the pool. Our room also overlooks the runways, so it should be AvGeek heaven.

So, we will be knocking off several AvGeek bucket list items: TWA Hotel, AA Flight 1, A321-T, and A350 planes that we have never flown on, and that you will not often find on domestic routes. So I'm feeling a little less sick about the other trip being cancelled (although not about the prospect of losing all that money to EasyJet). Although if BoJo soon announces the UK will open to US travelers from July 1, meaning our entire trips would have still been possible I will feel sick all over again.

And, we still have our Minneapolis Chicago trip coming up in September. And Wrigley just announced they are going back to 100% capacity! Mind you, it's not that I *like* crowds of peasants, but tickets at Wrigley are expensive enough without limited capacity. It'll be nice to get back into the Friendly Confines.

In other news, Ginny & Lisa (and maybe the El Patrons) and I are headed to Boise later in September to see oSu take on the Broncos on the blue turf!!! We are flying Southwest there and Delta back, with a layover in SLC which means I can finally check out the huge, swank new Sky Club there! Lisa and Felipe will have prime plane spotting on the outdoor skydeck. I love a good airport lounge! It's good to be (hopefully) travelling again....even if it's just in the lower 48!

[milesfromblighty]

AA loads schedule changes for August and September overnight - check your bookings!

AA loads schedule changes for August and September overnight – check your bookings!

I woke up this morning to lots of schedule changes with AA, both in August and September 2020.

The AA computer has done its usual job to making trips simpler – ie reducing segments. A 30 minute call to American Reservations in the US wasn’t answered and I gave up, calling the UK. They managed to resolve most of the problems, turning my JFK-PHX back to a JFK-LAX-PHX, although they couldn’t sort…

[ceocase]

新冠病毒肆虐，来看看中美航班还有哪些可以坐

周日下午，美国针对近期去过中国的外国游客开始运行入境禁令，而所有中国到美国的民用航班也被集中分流到指定的11个美国机场。这11个机场是：纽约 JFK 机场，芝加哥熬黑尔 ORD 国际机场，旧金山国际机场 SFO，西雅图塔科马国际机场 SEA，洛杉矶国际机场 LAX，夏威夷檀香山国际机场 HNL，新泽西州纽瓦克 EWR 国际机场，亚特兰大 Hartsfield-Jackson 国际机场 ATL，华盛顿杜勒斯国际机场 IAD，底特律大都会机场 DTW，达拉斯沃斯堡国际机场 DFW。

而中美航线很多航空公司已经取消或减少航班，让我们来看看还有哪些航班可以飞？

美国航空公司：

-Delta 达美航空：取消从2月2日到4月30日之间的全部中美航班

-AA 美国航空：取消所有中美航班，一直到3月27日；2月1日开始取消香港的航班一直到今天，之后每天重新评估是否要重开飞往香港的航班

-UA 美联航：

[mikejryan]

Transcontinental First Class...

Given my usual subject matter, this will be an unusual post, but it fills a need.  In all my web searches, sites visited and pages read, I found all the major sites and even many minor ones lacking in helpful details comparing transcontinental first class services.  

I have flown American Flagship First Class service from Los Angeles to New York on the Airbus A321T [1-1 seating]  

I have flown Delta One First Class service from Los Angeles to New York on the Airbus A330  [1-2-1 seating].

I have flown Air Canada’s Business Class [which is their version of First Class] from Toronto to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Toronto on the Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 [1-2-1 seating].  

The service on United’s Polaris does not measure up at the time of publication [January 1, 2019] because it does not have a dedicated single seat service from coast-to-coast, opting instead for the side-by-side lie-flat seating [B757 to EWR is 2-2 seating, B777 and B787 seating 2-2-2].  Since I prefer a window seat, I found Poiaris sub-par because you have to dive into a gymnastics routine to maneuver over the other seat to go to the restroom if your neighbor is asleep.  Also, I found the seats more cramped than AA or AC, even though there is not much difference in the measurements.  Overall grade is a B- so not in the same ballpark as the other three in my estimation.  

Ground Experience at LAX

#1 is American Airlines and their Flagship First at LAX.  Even though you check in with the rest of the priority passengers, the proximity of security is better than both Delta and Air Canada.  American’s system through security can be its own problem, but once through you have a dedicated lounge, separate from the rest of the priority travelers.  It is clean, well stocked with a wide selection of food and beverages, from fine wines and spirits to bottled water and various juices and sodas along with finger foods and an assortment of finer dining choices.  Between American’s Flagship food, beverages and lounge, there is simply no comparing the other two.  American wins this one hands down.  The passenger agents inside are truly dedicated agents who work tirelessly to ensure your trip goes smoothly and happily.  American’s lounge at JFK was not separate from its regular lounge when I traveled, so it was crowded, not the superior fresh selection of foods like at LAX and not the reading selection to match its west coast partner.  

Grades...  

Check in [through security]: B

Lounge - LAX Flagship: A-

JFK Lounge: B

#2 is Delta Airlines and Delta One.  Yes, it does have the dedicated check-in for Delta One at the eastern most edge of Terminal 2 [it’s the first door], the signage for it is not as helpful as you would hope for this latest  additional service.  It was also not quite what it says it is.  Delta’s on-line promotion says you can sit back and the agents will take care of your bags and check in while you sit back and enjoy a snack and drink.  First you have to pass the first ground agent who makes sure you are eligible to use Delta One.  Once inside, the agents are behind the counter, just like at all the other check-in kiosks/counters in the airport, and although they are arguably more attentive and personable, you still cart your bags around and up to the counter.  It’s not that big of a deal, except the way Delta makes it sound, you walk away, they do all the work, and you get your documents and they guide you to security.  None of that happened.  I did get a snack in the small lounge area, and that was nice, but there was no special service to security, and the walk from the lounge was not long, but it was longer than the walk at American’s terminal.  Now, once inside and off to the lounge, it is for every priority passenger, and even though it was well stocked and the personnel were attentive and brought drinks to you, it was still crowded and just part of the regular first, business or top frequent flyer experience, so nothing overly special, although Delta’s Sky Club does a better job than United or Air Canada.  They offer a fairly wide selection of real food, hot and cold, and an adequate supply of beverages. My one complaint, other than the crowded facility was that the restrooms were not very clean and were actually out of toilet paper.  When I went into the terminal, the restrooms there were actually cleaner than the Sky Club.  Reading material was slight.  They were obviously spending the money on the food.  

Grades...

Check in: B+

LAX Lounge: B

#3 is Air Canada’s Business Class.  Yes, it’s a new lounge at LAX, so it’s going through some growing pains.  Check-in is like American, with a check in for all Priority Passengers.  It’s about the same distance to travel from check-in to the security that you experience with Delta.  The LAX lounge can be a little tough to find, but seasoned travelers who read and pay attention will be properly rewarded.  Inside, Air Canada doesn’t do a great job on food and beverages in its lounges.  It’s usually the basics - breads, fruit, cereals, snacks foods, water, sodas, juice, wine and beer with light spirits.  In Toronto, well, it’s the same.  Lot’s of room, but also always busy and the elevator can get busy depending upon the time of day and day of the week you travel.  Air Canada does beat the other two airlines in one thing: reading choices.  There’s always a huge selection of magazines and newspapers.   

Grades...

Check-in: B

LAX Lounge: B-

YYZ Lounge: B

On-Board [from stepping onto the plane to exiting once the plane arrives at the terminal] Experience

First, all aircraft flown have lie-flat seats that are either one row on either side in the case of the A321 or 1-2-1 seating on the B787, B767, and A330.  

- All three offered drinks before take-off, however, here I would give the nod to American and Delta because they used regular glassware and kept refilling your drink up to the last possible moment before take-off.  Air Canada just got us one drink from a plastic container.  All three greeted you in a friendly manner and helped you to your seat if needed.  All three provide a pillow, duvet and amenities kit, to varying degrees of excellence.  

#1 - American Airlines A321T  - Attentive in-flight crew, menu was varied and like all American First or Business you can select your menu items before your flight.  You can select the time you want to eat.  The food was served at the proper temperatures, in a timely fashion, and was very tasty.  The lie-flat seat was comfortable and any adjustments were easy to make.  The amenities kit was simple yet sufficient for the flight and beyond.  It remains tied with Delta One’s amenities kit.  I am 6′7″ and the seat was comfortable and reasonably spacious.  I did not feel cramped in any way.  Since there are only 10 First Class suites, you get more personal attention that on Delta or Air Canada, and they made you feel welcome and at ease from stepping on board to walking through the door off the plane.  Pillow was standard size and duvet was comfortable.  The difference maker here is the slightly more personal care on board.  TV screen is stowed in the back of the seat in front of you.  

Seat Comfort: A-

Amenities: A-

Food, Beverage and Overall Service: A-

#2 - Air Canada B787-9.  Not quite as good as American but close and just a hair’s breadth above Delta One.  On all my flights here, the flight attendants ensure Business Class passengers exit the plane first, which is an added perk.  The amenities kit is small but sufficient - not of the same caliber as American or Delta.  Seat comfort was great, fully adjustable and easy to manage - even the firmness was adjustable.  Seat cover, duvet and pillow were typical but the pillow was smaller than standard size.  TV screen is mounted at an angle and can be watched easily at all times.  Food was quite good, but on board service was slightly below and less attentive than American and on par with Delta.  The food was the same menu served each time, but a selection...  Beverages served throughout, and a small bottle of water awaits when you board.  

Seat Comfort: A-

Amenities: B

Food, Beverage and Overall Service: A-

Difference-maker?  It’s the 787 and its quiet ride, ambiance, and overall feel.  

#3 - Delta Airlines A330/B767. Close to Air Canada...  On board services on par with Air Canada, but the Amenities kit was closer to and likely equal to American  The meal and snacks were rather good and you could choose your menu options shortly before a few days before your flight, and beverage service was on par with all the other carriers.  Seat was reasonably comfortable and fairly easy to maneuver and adjust.  Overall very little to distinguish it from the Air Canada flight except the plane itself and the amenities kit.  Duvet and pillow were comfortable and standard size.  

Seat Comfort: B+

Amenities: B+

Food, Beverage and Overall Service: A

If your business takes you to New York and you will spend some time on the ground, American is your choice.  If your travels take you to Canada then Air Canada’s 787 service is your answer.  American allowed access to the lounge before and after the flight, whereas Delta allowed it only before [as least as far as all notifications stated] on a layover.  Air Canada did not require a visit when landing, and I’m not sure if they would allow you access.  

[baonguyenngoc8486]

American Airlines là hãng hàng không lớn nhất thế giới về lượng khách, dặm vận chuyển và cả quy mô của đội bay. Sự tham gia của hãng hàng không American Airlines trên các hành trình bay từ Việt Nam sẽ đem đến cho hành khách nhiều sự lựa chọn hơn trong các hành trình bay quốc tế.

Mua vé máy bay giá rẻ American Airlines không hề khó

Tổng quan hãng hàng không American Airlines

Chính thức thành lập vào năm 1930, hãng hàng không American Airlines (AA) có trụ sở chính của hãng đặt tại thành phố Fort Worth, bang Texas, gần Sân bay Quốc tế Dallas - Forth Worth, nước Mỹ. Theo đó American Airlines là hãng hàng không có lịch sử thành lập lâu đời nhất tại Mỹ với mạng đường bay rộng lớn từ các thành phố của Mỹ đến các điểm đến hàng đầu thế giới như Châu Mỹ Latinh, Châu Âu và Châu Á Thái Bình Dương.

Đây là một trong những hãng hàng không lớn nhất và hiện đại nhất thế giới

Không chỉ vậy American Airlines là hãng hàng không lớn nhất thế giới về lượng khách, dặm vận chuyển và cả quy mô đội bay. Đồng thời đây cũng là hãng hàng không lớn thứ hai thế giới về doanh số hoạt động sau Air France – KLM.

Và American Airlines cũng là hãng hàng không uy tín hàng đầu của Mỹ vinh dự nhận giải thưởng của ủy ban chất lượng môi trường Hoa Kỳ vì những nỗ lực vượt bậc trong việc bảo vệ môi trường. Hãng này còn là một trong những sáng lập viên của liên minh hàng không One world (cùng với British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Qantas Airways, Cathay Pacific).

Mạng đường bay và thông tin giá vé American Airlines

Hãng có 5 trung tâm hoạt động chính tại: sân bay quốc tế Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), sân bay quốc tế Miami (MIA), sân bay San Juan (SJU), sân bay Chicago (ORD) và sân bay Saint Louis (STL). Trong số đó thì Dallas/Fort Worth là trung tâm lớn nhất của hãng với tỷ lệ các chuyến bay American Airlines chiếm 84% đến nhiều điểm hơn các trung tâm khác của hãng. Theo đó sân bay quốc tế Los Angeles (LAX) và New York City (JFK) là các thành phố trung tâm và các cửa ngõ phát triển ra quốc tế của hãng này. Hiện hãng có cơ sở bảo dưỡng ở Tulsa, Kansas City và Fort Worth Alliance.

Mạng đường bay của American Airlines rộng khắp mọi nơi

Hiện nay American Airlines khai thác các tuyến bay đến và đi hơn 200 điểm đến trên toàn thế giới với đội bay hiện đại gần 700 chiếc. Đội bay của American Airlines khá đa dạng về loại máy bay như: Airbus A319-100, A321-200, A321-200, A320, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 767-300ER, Boeing 767-200ER,  Boeing 777-200 Retrofit, Boeing MD 80, Bombardier CRJ-200, Bombardier CRJ-700, Bombardier CRJ-900 NextGen, Embraer ERJ-140 And ERJ-145, Embraer ERJ-175…

Từ năm 2004, American Airlines chính thức có mặt tại Việt Nam với đại diện duy nhất là Công ty HG Aviation (thuộc HG Holdings). Tính đến nay đã gần 14 năm làm người bạn đồng hành với hành khách Việt trên các chuyến bay đến nước Mỹ.

Mỗi ngày hãng này có tới 20 chuyến bay khởi hành đến Mỹ từ 3 thành phố lớn Việt Nam gồm Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng và Sài Gòn với 1 điểm dừng quá cảnh duy nhất tại 1 trong những sân bay tốt nhất Châu Á gồm Incheon (Hàn Quốc), Narita, Haneda (Nhật Bản), Hong Kong, Thượng Hải hoặc Bắc Kinh (Trung Quốc).

Theo đó nếu mua vé máy bay đi Mỹ cùng American Airlines, hành khách Việt sẽ được trải nghiệm hành trình trên những dòng máy bay hiện đại nhất như 777-300ER, 787 Dreamliner với không gian và chỗ ngồi rộng rãi, nội thất và các tiện ích hiện đại đem đến cho hành khách sự thoải mái tốt nhất.

Theo kinh nghiệm khi đặt vé máy bay đi Mỹ từ Việt Nam của American Airlines khởi hành vào buổi sáng và đến Mỹ vào giờ chiều, phù hợp đồng hồ sinh học của hành khách Việt, tránh cho hành khách sự mệt mỏi vì lệch múi giờ.

Dưới đây ABAY xin hệ thống một số đường bay có sự khai thác của hãng hàng không American Airlines:

Chặng bay                       Hãng hàng không                     Giá vé rẻ nhất (USD)

Hà Nội – New York          American Airlines                              679

Sài Gòn - Bangkok                                                                    670

Hà Nội – Los Angeles                                                               653

Sài Gòn - Los Angeles                                                              579

Sài Gòn  - Houston                                                                   965

Lưu ý:

- Giá vé máy bay American Airlines mà ABAY cập nhật là giá vé bay 1 chiều chưa bao gồm tiền thuế phí. Giá vé American Airlines có thể thay đổi tùy thời điểm hành khách mua vé.

- Liên hệ ABAY theo tổng đài hotline 1900 6091 để cập nhật giá vé chi tiết của hãng bay American Airlines.

Hạng ghế và quy định hành lý của hãng American Airlines

Hãng hàng không American Airlines hiện đang cung cấp vé cho hạng ghế là Hạng Nhất (First Class), Hạng Thương gia (Business Class), Hạng Phổ thông (Economy Class).

- Đối với ghế hạng First Class: hành khách được sử dụng quầy check-in chuyên dụng tại sân bay, được ưu tiên xử lý hành lý và lên máy bay. Bay với hạng First Class hành khách sẽ có được sự riêng tư, thoải mái với giường nằm phẳng được trang bị màn hình cá nhân với nhiều kênh giải trí hấp dẫn. Trang bị ổ cắm cho phép hành khách sử dụng máy tính cá nhân, Wifi truy cập internet miễn phí mọi lúc.

Hạng ghế thương gia siêu tiện ích của American Airlines

- Đối với ghế hạng Thương gia: Hành khách đi hạng ghế này được ưu tiên xử lý hành lý và lên máy bay, sử dụng chỗ ngồi thoải mái với lối đi khá rộng rãi. Khoang máy bay có cài đặt hệ thống Wifi giúp hành khách truy cập internet miễn phí và theo dõi tin tức mọi lúc, mọi nơi.

- Đối với ghế hạng phổ thông: Hãng trang bị ghế ngồi ngả 180 độ, có chỗ để chân thoải mái mang đến cho hành khách cảm giác thoải mái. Khách hàng được trải nghiệm đa phương tiện với màn hình lớn, nhiều kênh giải trí hấp dẫn, cùng các ổ điện khắp nơi tiện cho hành khách làm việc.

Quy định hành lý:

- Hành khách mua vé máy bay American Airlines được phép mang theo hành lý xách tay không quá 7kg, tổng kích thước không quá 45 in/115cm (56x36x23 cm).

- Đối với hành lý ký gửi:

+ Hành khách hạng Phổ thông được phép ký gửi 2 kiện hành lý, không quá 23kg cho mỗi kiện và tổng kích thước không vượt quá 62 in/158 cm.

+ Hành khách hạng thương gia được ký gửi 3 kiện hành lý, tổng kích thước không vượt quá 62 in/158 cm, không quá 32 kg cho mỗi kiện. Trong trường hợp hành khách chỉ sử dụng chặng bay nội địa của American Airlines thì sẽ phải trả phí hành lý ký gởi cho kiện đầu tiên là 25.00USD/kiện, kiện thứ 2 là 35.00USD/kiện.

Các quy định về hành lý thường thay đổi nên bạn cần cập nhật trực tiếp và thường xuyên nhé.

- Đối với hành lý xách tay, American Airlines quy định hành khách hạng phổ thông cũng như hạng thương gia đều được phép mang theo 01 kiện hành lý xách tay, mỗi kiện không vượt quá 7kg.

Đặt mua vé máy bay quốc tế American Airlines ở đâu?

Là một trong những đại lý chuyên nghiệp, chuyên cung cấp vé máy bay của các hãng hàng không trong và ngoài nước, ABAY.vn sẽ mang đến cho bạn những tấm vé máy bay American Airlines giá tốt nhất ở bất cứ thời điểm nào.

Bạn có thể liên hệ với ABAY qua tổng đài 1900 6091, qua fanpage, qua zalo… hay bấy cứ phương tiện nào. Cứ chủ động liên hệ chúng tôi sẽ hỗ trợ bạn săn tìm những tấm vé máy bay American Airlines giá tốt nhất.

[experiencetheskies]

Longest Non-Stop Flight Titleholder August 2017 Edition

Aircraft manufacturers Boeing and rival Airbus have been working hard on extending flight ranges in their 777/787 and A350/A380 programs since their introduction into service. In combination with lower fuel prices, airlines have been taken risks in flying longer routes non-stop shattering distance current operating records in the process. Experience The Skies have been following the trends since day one and have published two editions of non-stop flight titleholders thus far (2014 Edition), (2016 Edition).  This third edition is expanded with more insights.  

Longest Non-Stop Flight (August 2017)

The following is the top 20 longest non-stop flights in operation as of June 2017 in table and map formats: Rank From To Airline Flight number Distance Scheduled duration (hours) Aircraft type First flight date 1 Auckland (AKL) Doha (DOH) Qatar Airways QR 921 14,524 km (9,025 mi; 7,842 nmi) 17:30 - 17:40 Boeing 777-200LR 6 February 2017 2 Auckland (AKL) Dubai (DXB) Emirates EK 449 14,191 km (8,818 mi; 7,663 nmi) 17:05 - 17:25 Airbus A380-800 2 March 2016 3 Dallas (DFW) Sydney (SYD) Qantas Airways QF 8 13,799 km (8,574 mi; 7,451 nmi) 16:50 - 17:10 Airbus A380-800 29 September 2014 4 Johannesburg (JNB) Atlanta (ATL) Delta Air Lines DL 201 13,573 km (8,434 mi; 7,329 nmi) 16:03 - 16:55 Boeing 777-200LR 1 June 2009 5 San Francisco (SFO) Singapore (SIN) Singapore Airlines SQ 31 13,572 km (8,433 mi; 7,328 nmi) 16:30 - 17:15 Airbus A350-900 23 October 2016 5 United Airlines UA 1 16:25 - 17:25 Boeing 787-9 1 June 2016 7 Abu Dhabi Los Angeles (LAX) Etihad Airways EY 171 13,473 km (8,372 mi; 7,275 nmi) 16:35 - 16:45 Boeing 777-200LR 1 June 2014 8 Dubai (DXB) Los Angeles (LAX) Emirates EK 215 13,391 km (8,321 mi; 7,231 nmi) 16:00 - 16:20 Airbus A380-800 26 October 2008 9 Jeddah (JED) Los Angeles (LAX) Saudia SV 41 13,381 km (8,315 mi; 7,225 nmi) 16:10 - 16:40 Boeing 777-300ER 31 March 2014 10 Doha (DOH) Los Angeles (LAX) Qatar Airways QR 739 13,338 km (8,288 mi; 7,202 nmi) 16:00 - 16:15 Boeing 777-200LR 1 January 2016 11 Dubai (DXB) Houston (IAH) Emirates EK 211 13,115 km (8,149 mi; 7,082 nmi) 16:15 - 16:45 Boeing 777-300ER 3 December 2007 12 Abu Dhabi (AUH) San Francisco (SFO) Etihad Airways EY 183 13,098 km (8,139 mi; 7,072 nmi) 16:10 - 16:15 Boeing 777-200LR 27 April 2016 13 Dubai (DXB) San Francisco (SFO) Emirates EK 225 13,012 km (8,085 mi; 7,026 nmi) 15:50 - 16:15 Airbus A380-800 15 December 2008 14 New York (JFK) Hong Kong (HKG) Cathay Pacific Airways CX 831 CX 841 CX 845 12,962 km (8,054 mi; 6,999 nmi) 15:40 - 16:10 Boeing 777-300ER 1 July 2004 15 Abu Dhabi (AUH) Dallas (DFW) Etihad Airways EY 161 12,960 km (8,053 mi; 6,998 nmi) 16:05 - 16:35 Boeing 777-200LR 3 December 2014 16 Newark (EWR) Hong Kong (HKG) Cathay Pacific Airways CX 899 12,951 km (8,047 mi; 6,993 nmi) 15:45 - 15:50 Boeing 777-300ER 1 March 2014 16 United Airlines UA 179 15:55 - 16:00 Boeing 777-200ER 1 March 2001 18 Dallas (DFW) Hong Kong (HKG) American Airlines AA 125 12,945 km (8,044 mi; 6,990 nmi) 16:20 - 17:05 Boeing 777-300ER 11 June 2014 19 Doha (DOH) Houston (IAH) Qatar Airways QR 713 12,923 km (8,030 mi; 6,978 nmi) 15:50 - 16:40 Boeing 777-200LR 31 March 2009 20 Dubai (DXB) Dallas (DFW) Emirates EK 221 12,911 km (8,023 mi; 6,971 nmi) 16:00 - 16:15 Boeing 777-300ER 2 February 2012  

2017 Top 20 Longest Non-Stop Flights Map        Source: Great Circle Mapper   First place continues to belong to Qatar Airways' flight from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Doha's Hamad International Airport (DOH) with a Boeing 777-200LR in a two class configuration with 259 seats (42 Business and 217 Economy). This flight has been in operation since February 2017. Due to their geographic locations, Middle East based airlines Emirates, Qatar Airways, Saudia and Etihad Airways own 60% of the top 20 longest flights.  

Plane Types

  2017 Longest Flight Aircraft Analysis  Boeing owns 75% of the top 20 list with Airbus taking the remaining 25%. The Boeing 777-200LR (long range) continues to be the aircraft type of choice for the longest non-stop flights.

Future Flights

Within the next seven months, three airlines will start operating ultra long haul flights with Boeing 787-9s: First up is United Airlines which will make the top 5 with a new non-stop year-round flight between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Singapore's Changi Airport (SIN) starting October 2017. The Star Alliance airline will also use a Boeing 787-9 aircraft configured with a two class cabin totally 252 seats (48 Business and 204 Economy split between 88 Plus and 116 Regular). The flight will cover 14,114 kilometres (7,621 nmi) with a flight time of approximately 17 h 55 m. This will be Qantas Airways longest flight ever. It will be the longest flight operated by a US carrier and from a US city. Air Canada will begin new non-stop seasonal service between its hub in Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Melbourne Airport (MEL) in December 2017. While it will be using the same Boeing 787-9 aircraft for the operation like the other two carriers, its version will be configured with the most seats at 298 (30 Business, 21 Premium Economy and 247 Economy).  The flight has a distance of 13,200 kilometres (7,100 nmi) and be completed in around 16 hours. This route would be operated during the winter season and will be the longest Canadian flight eclipsing Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Finally, Qantas Airways will crack the top 3 with a new non-stop year-round flight between Perth Airport (PER) to  London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) starting in March 2018. The flight will be flown with to be delivered Boeing 787-9 aircraft configured with a three class cabin totalling 236 seats (42 Business, 28 Premium Economy and 166 Economy). The flight will cover 14,499 kilometres (7,829 nmi) with a flight time of approximately 17 hours. The extra distance is achieved due to ~20% less seat count than the recommended two class configuration of 290.  This will be Qantas Airways longest flight ever and is the first non-stop flight ever from Australia to Europe.

  To End

The longest non-stop flight in the world was launched in February 2017 by Qatar Airways who will likely keep the crown for at least a year. All continents are featured except for South America and Antarctica in the top 20 list. Airlines from the Middle East will continue to have the majority share of the longest non-stop flights until newer aircrafts are available. They will be discussed in a later post. Click to Post

[billinghamn]

2019 Jul – Phoenix TP Run: Day 2 - Thu 04 Jul 2019 - New York JFK to Los Angeles

I was soon through TSA Pre security and in to the Flagship Lounge. I asked about the possibility of moving forward on to an earlier flight to LAX, but with it being the holiday season, there was little to no chance of that happening. I was stuck at JFK for 6 hours!

It was lovely and warm in New York, and the view from the Flagship Lounge was nice and bright. I kept myself busy with the blog, photos, and a few walks around the terminal building. A visit to Starbucks near to Gate 42 was also much appreciated.

Flight: BA4338 Equip: A321T Sched Depart: 20:40 Actual: 21:05 Sched Arrival: 23:57 Actual: 23:37 Takeoff: 21:15 Landing: 23:32

It felt like a long wait for my flight to LAX. I finally headed down to Gate 35 about 50 mins before scheduled departure and I bumped in to the other guy on the flight from Bucharest at the gate. His name was Neil and he had worked as an In Flight Entertainment systems consultant.

Neil was in a similar position to me: collecting Tier Points and taking advantage of the low priced trips that had become available. He had also upgraded into BA First Class, but he had flown over on a later flight from Heathrow.

When we approach the gate when boarding was called, the lady at the gate welcomed us and asked us to hang on a while whilst other passengers boarded - we may be subject to a seat change. She also mentioned that she had come to the Flagship lounge looking for me, and noticed my colourful shorts!

We were very pleased to accept the opportunity of an upgrade from Business in to First Class on the Transcontinental - not often that happens. She also advised that BA GGL members could board alongside AA CK members, so that's worth remembering in future.

Neil and I relaxed in to our seats in row 2, and there was almost no one else in First Class! Lucky us eh? I was suddenly looking forward to the last flight of the day far more than I was previously.

We were delayed in pushing back, but the captain had no concerns that we were going to be late in to LAX. I didn't want to be held up from the few hours I was hoping to get in a hotel bed!

Immediately after taking off, there were some great views of Independence Day fireworks going off all around the city. Shame the lighting in the cabin made it impossible to capture any of it!

I watched Unbreakable again, with Bruce Wilis, Samuel L Jackson and Robin Wright. It was interesting watching all of the innovative shots by Shyamalan (the director), some of which worked well, and some not so well. Willis and Wright are also a bit weird, and don't behave in the way I would expect them to. Anyway, overall still a movie worth watching.

I dabbled with dinner, and ordered the beef. However, it wasn't much to write home about, and it wasn't long before I was horizontal and catching a bit of much needed shut-eye.

We arrived in to Gate 49A at LAX Terminal 4 a little before midnight. Neil had decided to kip in the terminal, and I headed out to pick up an Uber to the Hilton at LAX.

The Uber was quick to arrive, and it was only a 5 min drive down the road to the hotel. On arrival I was faced with a long queue for check in.

I managed to use the Digital Key feature and headed straight up to room 1669, and I found that I had been upgraded in to a one bedroom suite. Nice.

[mcclenneyireland]

Travel has started

Kay & Byron got started on the 18th...and are probably enjoying some lovely scenery, food, and relaxation near Cork right now...MMoore is probably in Dublin by now enjoying  the culture...and the rest of us are either on a plane or sitting in an airport..

Ben is somewhere in Newark airport killing 7 hours...flights on AA tightened up to JFK...so a last minute change of plans sent him through Newark onwards to Shannon...

Jack & Rachael just arrived in Chicago after 4 hr drive to Minny and short flight to Chicago...they have the late flight to Dublin...

Max & Shannon arrived from LAX mid-afternoon in JFK...and have enjoyed their first class seating and the lounges until departure time tonight...the luxury luck will catch up to them this evening as they head to Dublin (in the back like the rest of us)

Aline & Todd are enroute to Chicago and then onwards to Dublin...

Krissie & I came up a day early to Boston...and have just lounged around the hotel all afternoon...if nothing else...having some kind of hotel status pays off when you are able to stay in the room until 4p just by asking...and usually can get into hotel rooms at whatever time you arrive in the a.m. if you are traveling on an overnight flight...

Next step is the arrivals in Shannon & Dublin...and then the transit to Kenmare to get our family adventure fully started...