Tier Points posted today

The points seem to have posted already, quite impressive 48 hours later and all looks accurate.  Hooray!

Transaction date	Posted date	Description	Tier Points	Avios
09-Jul-14	11-Jul-14	AMSTERDAM - LONDON HEATHROW   (M/N) BA443(Booking ref: 7X....)	10	500
		Tier Bonus	0	125
09-Jul-14	11-Jul-14	LONDON CITY AIRPORT - AMSTERDAM   (C/J) BA8455(Operated by: BA CityFlyer)(Booking ref: 6GL...)	40	500
		Cabin Bonus	0	250
		Tier Bonus	0	125
08-Jul-14	10-Jul-14	NEW YORK-JOHN F KENNEDY - LONDON CITY AIRPORT   (J/R) BA4(Booking ref: 6GL...)	210	3,461
		Cabin Bonus	0	3,461
		Tier Bonus	0	865
08-Jul-14	10-Jul-14	PHOENIX - NEW YORK-JOHN F KENNEDY   (F/A) AA425(Operated by: American Airlines)(Booking ref: HXV...)	210	2,155
		Cabin Bonus	0	1,078
		Tier Bonus	0	539
07-Jul-14	10-Jul-14	HONOLULU - PHOENIX   (F/A) AA693(Operated by: American Airlines)(Booking ref: HXV...)	210	2,916
		Cabin Bonus	0	1,458
		Tier Bonus	0	729
05-Jul-14	08-Jul-14	NEW YORK-JOHN F KENNEDY - PHOENIX   (F/A) AA679(Operated by: American Airlines)(Booking ref: HXV...)	210	2,155
		Cabin Bonus	0	1,078
		Tier Bonus	0	539
05-Jul-14	08-Jul-14	PHOENIX - HONOLULU   (F/A) AA694(Operated by: American Airlines)(Booking ref: HXV...)	210	2,916
		Cabin Bonus	0	1,458
		Tier Bonus	0	729
04-Jul-14	06-Jul-14	LONDON CITY AIRPORT - NEW YORK-JOHN F KENNEDY   (J/R) BA3(Booking ref: 6GL....)	210	3,461
		Cabin Bonus	0	3,461
		Tier Bonus	0	865
04-Jul-14	05-Jul-14	BRUSSELS AIRPORT - LONDON HEATHROW   (C/J) BA393(Booking ref: 6GL....)	40	500
		Cabin Bonus	0	250
		Tier Bonus	0	125
04-Jul-14	05-Jul-14	LONDON HEATHROW - BRUSSELS AIRPORT   (C/U) BA388(Booking ref: 6HE...)	40	500
		Cabin Bonus	0	250
		Tier Bonus	0	125
Total:			1,390	36,574

So it really did work as advertised, albeit with a little patience and need for deep breathing when told I no-showed at BRU so my whole itinerary had been deleted.

Thanks to all at FlyerTalk, Raffles and www.headforpoints.com for the help in getting me nearly to Gold in one trip.  Now I just have to explain to the family that I'll be disappearing for a few hours during the family hol to California in a few weeks to do a swift LAX-LAS-LAX trip in F to get the remaining points needed......

BA443 AMS2110-LHR2110 Economy!

Typical European internet, Schipol Airport gives you 2x 30min free and then requires that you upgrade to premium.  This is really annoying.  Before it dropped out though, I find that 24 is actually 12 episodes so I have three more to watch, not one.  This makes sense as when in Whitehall a few weeks ago, there was filming going on and Mrs Metty enquired what it was all about....she was told it was a 'Spooks' thing, but I bet it was actually 24, as I had been musing that the number of '14' vehicle reg plates must mean it's fairly recently shot.

Anyhow, on to the last flight and the last row of economy on the 'rusty pigeon' (Olympic dove) colour schemed A319 to Heathrow.

Arrived on a remote stand so the bus had to wait for me.  And so to home, safe and sound, except I had completely forgotten which floor of the car park I'd left the Cube on.  The vehicle plate guidance system was u/s.  So a little exercise followed.

BA8455 LCY1530-AMS1730

Excel in the background

The next flight is an Embraer 170 and it was almost full although I had a spare seat next to me.  No, there wasn't a smellometer operating and yes I only took 2 pairs of underwear and socks on the trip but in my defence I did buy 2 new shirts and was wearing trunks, shorts, whatever they are called, in Hawaii.  And I have had 3 showers in between Honolulu and here.

The food was the nicest of the whole trip.  It was a bit like a BA cream tea combined with a main and proper lettuce.  Do things like lettuce actually grow in the US or, because there's no way of modifying it, wrapping it or processing it to 'add value' is it just too simple to be sold or put on a plane?

The weather in AMS is grey and overcast so that's my excuse to stay airside and check that I can just arrive into the terminal on my flight from City and wander around for a couple of hours watching excited cloggie World Cup fans (it's Semi Final tonight) in the bars before going to the gate for my Heathrow flight.

I can't see why a same plane turnround wouldn't work, but after my Brussels experience I don't think I'll risk it myself in case there's ticketing issues.  Fine if you already have a boarding pass....just that most of the time I couldn't get more than one.

I have felt so much worse after normal trips, never mind 3 long haul sectors, 6 hours in the East End then a short haul.  But I'm not home yet...let's see how the M3 goes later.

I have one more episode of series 9 of '24' to watch, I've quite enjoyed it as it's based in London this series.  My New York taxi companion earlier suggested that 'The Fall' is good.

Tot seens as they say...

Radisson Blu BA London City arrivals facility

Because there's no posh lounge at the airport, BA use the Radisson Blu close to the airport.  It may be close but the BA transfer by taxi took 30-40 mins as the driver had never done the trip before; I wasn't too worried at the scenic tour of some untouched parts of the East End and a journey down each bore of the Blackwall Tunnel, but my taxi companion just wanted a shower before going to the office.  Poor driver seemed a bit upset but I have to admit I didn't know where the hotel was, I know the area reasonably well and it was poorly signed.  Plus the satnav to the postcode sent by the company took him the other side of the river near the O2.

It's in here, behind the Ibis

...and a clearer view from Blackwall DLR station

We were shown to the East SIde Spa and a private treatment room and shower that I was told I could stay in all day, which would have been nice - apart from the risk of sleeping until tomorrow - but as ATC colleague from City was going to meet me after his shift, I wouldn't be staying long.   As Mrs Metty likes a spa, I took a price list as if the JFK-LCY flights come up as reward flights, this would be a nice end to the journey.  And there's a discount for BA pax, although I forgot to ask what that is.

I chatted to the concierge about my trip; whilst trying to comprehend why I was flying later from City to Amsterdam to then fly to Heathrow, he was interested and helpful, employee of the month, a credit to Radisson!  After showering, breakfast is available but as I'd already had 2 US Airways breakfasts and 2 BA breakfasts, I declined in favour of a coffee and hung out in the bar until my friend arrived.  

The spa's relaxation room overlooking the Thames and the O2 across the river

Later I made my way back on the DLR to London City.  Although the Daily Mail readers are probably in a frenzy and camping out at the airport the day before their flight due to the reported travel chaos caused by enhanced screening, I have noticed little that's different to normal (apart from having my possessions examined at JFK of course!)  

BA4 JFK2145-LCY1000

Well no trouble having a human check me in at JFK.  Having googled people being secondarily inspected, I am curious to see whether the code letters on my boarding pass are going to lead to an invitation upon leaving the country.  I won't upload a pic here as NASA870 the Predator drone may get excited, assuming that it's still got eyes on me.

No it's not Grandma's living room, it's where I've taken up residence in the BA lounge at JFK.  It seems very busy, but as the 747s start departing for LHR I guess it'll thin out.  

It has thinned out, been for a nice shower.  

Reflections so far

I love the Pacific Islands, understand completely why some friends go to Raro for their winters, not that I've been, yet.  

Why don't Americans let people in from side roads when driving?  Bit like mainland Europeans and queueing....it just doesn't feature in the thinking?  Or are we just brought up to be deferential and humble and giving and helpful?

Fuel at $4.35 in Hawaii....no wonder they drive small cars...

Wifi everywhere with no stupid catch you then spam you clauses...

Nobody engaged me in elongated chat on planes, unwillingly at least.  Maybe it's just that in the pointy end you're not in someone else's personal space.  Or maybe I looked unfriendly

The people side of US Airways service was great.  Sam Adams cans are nice.  757s First Class seats are poor.

I know this is an indulgence that's cost me my West Ham season ticket and a bit more, but it's actually not too difficult.  Everything has worked in the end, if a little stressful at times.  And as travel is exciting, if I'm with someone else, I naturally drink too much.  Not drinking makes it *much* easier.

Nobody has said 'have a nice day!' and even the New Yorkers were lovely.  Hallelujah, sincerity.

Selfie on the A318, another free seat next to me, so I won't be waking anyone with my snoring!  Food wasn't very exciting, I'll spare you another meal photo, I guess the idea is to eat in the lounge before departure.

Only 16ish passengers tonight and a quick trip home 6hr 8min

Taxying in at City, my mate Dorian in the TWR.  Our early arrival had 'caught them out' according to a PA from Capt Speaking....not sure what he expects anyone to do, there's only so many stands here and they are all full....there was a plan to tow us along the taxiway and wait as our tail was hanging over the runway....but we parked within a few minutes.

US678 PHX0845-JFK1645

A brief sojourn in the Admirals Club lounge to recharge my batteries and noticing the BA announcement about keeping your electronic goods batteries charged or they won't be flying.  I've had no interest in my electronics all trip.

The Airbus 321 on this flight is the 7000th Airbus built.  Better than the 757 on the previous sector, the seat doesn't squeak and it has wifi.

I chatted to my daughter on Facebook during the flight using my pre-purchased gogo internet pass; nothing out of the ordinary happened.  Everyone fairly jolly and it was only 4 hours 8 minutes.  I am beginning to think that all US Airways pilots are staunch Republicans or the starts and stripes ties (of which there seem to be more than one version) are company issue.  Each to his own I suppose.  

I try on my HNL airport purchase T-shirt upon arrival at JFK. 

US693 HNL2215-PHX0730

I turned up at the airport way too early, I couldn't self-check in as 'there are greater than 3 segments in your itinerary' so I had to wait until the US Airways folks pitched up to check me in manually.  There are no food and drink outlets, apart from a Starbucks, landside.  All the food and drink is airside.  I amused myself by trying to check in with a human at American, suggesting that they were all one company.  'Not until March next year' was the response and I was sent away to observe some cross people trying to get the US Airways desk staff to come out of the office early.

They were fighting off a few people slightly fed up that the other Phoenix flight had been cancelled, thank goodness mine was operating.  The lounge was ok.  T5 Galleries still the best (well apart from the Concorde Lounge in T5 of course).

Little to report from the flight, I vaguely remember taxying but seemed to fall asleep vertically, awaking in time for a strange breakfast and 2 glasses of wine.  

This flight is notable only because I asked hostie to snag my seat as 2A squeaked every time I moved, keeping, presumably, others around me awake.  And as I'd read somewhere, the 757 seats feel like they've shined with some slippery polish that means that gravity tries to make you slip forward.  So to those who have trouble sleeping in them, I understand why.

Pearl Harbor

Woke up early due to excessive aircraft noise, I guess my first night being a Saturday of a holiday weekend, there weren't many nocturnal cargo flights.  The FedEx Cessna Caravan fleet didn't move.  Last night it was Sunday; apart from the FedExes, the Aloha and other noisy Boeing 737-200s were off delivering the Sunday papers to neighbouring islands.

I could smell beer; it was then that I remembered that I'd put my 2 remaining bottles of Third Shift in the freezer last night before I expired.  Why I did that, I don't know, as I was never going to drink 6 in one evening.  Anyway, there was a sort of beer slush puppie mess to sort out.  Oops.

So, my last 12 hours in Hawai'i - I thought I'd better spell it right once - and I have survived the US Customs and Border protection, the mystery of Oneworld and missing flights, Hurricane Arthur and the new security regulations for US bound electronic devices.  So far so good.

Having cleaned up the slush I thought I'd best check my homebound reservation and see if I could check in for the first flight at least.  No, I can't check in online and the US Airways app won't allow me either.  I have a look at ba.com and aa.com to find that, surprise, surprise, my JFK-London City leg is missing on both.  But curiously the London City-Amsterdam sector is there.  No point worrying that US Airways only shows me getting as far as JFK, it always did.

I try 1-800-AIRWAYS from the room phone...'callers are waiting for an excess of 1 hour'....then try skypeing the UK Executive Club number.  Same.  I try ringing aa.com, prepared with a list of PNRs and my ticket number.  I actually spoke to a helpful human who told me not to worry, 20 minutes later, actually sorted it out and BA4 shows in my aa.com itinerary at least.  

.

So off to the Pacific Aircraft Museum which is on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor.

A nice lady from Alabama asked if I would take her family's photo so I asked her to take a photo of me and mine.  The car park was one of those entertaining observational things for a European used to the idea of park and walk (park and ride being available when you have to park 2-3 miles away from where you want to be); there was a fair amount of car park anger brewing as the spaces were a 10min walk away and people seemed to think that a shuttle bus should be provided instead of legs.

Because it's an active naval base, no photos or video or selfies once on the shuttle bus that takes you to the sights.  Shame as the USS Ronald Reagan was just being tugged away from USS Pelieu with jolly jack tars manning the rails.  

Apparently, this is one of the actual Zeros that attacked Pearl Harbor.

  

  

 

Ye olde Control Tower and the Hawaiian flag, not surprisingly, the only time the Union Flag appears in a US state flag.  July 31st is Hawaiian Flag Day....can't say I saw as many of these as I did US flags, maybe due to the sheer volume of military on the island.

A Raytheon testbed outside the hangars in the static display.  Not sure why it's here, maybe a radar test connection with Pearl Harbor.  Rather than hang around, I had this romantic notion that I'd be able to get close to the Ronald Reagan as she left port at the end of Lagoon Drive close to the rotation point of 08R (the 'Reef' runway) departures.

Well it's a way off but she sailed out of the channel

An hour or two later, all the F-18s departed from Hickam, presumably to their home on the carrier, about 20 in total.

Why do I take photos of flowers when on hols?...

Learjet that's part of the exercise

locals doing a 'St Maarten'.  Ish.

There's two US Airways flights to Phoenix tonight.  One is cancelled, luckily it's not mine, :).  Out of interest I replay a couple of hours from my time at the end of the runway and notice that NASA appear to have a role watching over us from above, which made me start thinking about the security measures that must go with the carriers....presumably subs and drones overhead.  NASA drone showing on FR24 over the Ronald in plane sight at FL225 is presumably testing or researching something (new payload?); although it is widely googlable as being involved in Project Ikhana - research into forest fires - clearly there won't be any over the sea and it seems to have had an upgrade since then.  N.B. any active duty military drone that's up there too will not show on FR24.

Here's what NASA870 looks like and what a stock MQ-9B looks like

Oahu

I woke up before dawn and watched the goings on at the airport; I find it slightly odd that you can monitor all the ATC frequencies using liveatc.net, especially at a major base such as HNL.

Without much of a plan, I set off for a drive around Oahu, starting at the aircraft museum at Kolopea airport, the former Barbers Point base.  It was well and truly closed.

So I then set course for the farthest corner of Oahu and ended up at Dillingham where there's a nice beach

A Cube....looks like someone's nicked the wheel trims though...

North Shore was rather pretty, if full of Asian types dutifully queuing for Sunday lunch at the toursity places.  The beaches, surf shops and macrobiotic vegan stores were more interesting and it had a nice vibe.  Out of hours it must be beautiful; Oahu on the whole probably isn't anywhere you could describe as beautiful, but as with the other Hawaiian islands, I love it.  It's the geography for me, the rain over the volcanoes and the sun at the shore, so many micro climates!

On the east coast there's a national park where you can see the Kaneoehe Marine Corps base in the distance and many of the aircraft participating in RIMPAC.  Lots of P-3 Orions here, Canadian, Japanese and no doubt US ones with false serials that have mid air collisions with Chinese QRA aircraft.

And one more pretty flower....actually this is out of focus....replace....

Then back to the room with some beers and a strange garlic chicken meal for the microwave as although Waikiki is not far away, it's busy and parking looked a problem.

US694 PHX1330-HNL1740

Phoenix, Valley of the Sun, was fairly warm at 100F.

The Admirals Club lounge is on the mezzanine level above the moderate chaos of the concourse below.  It looks like you only get in the lounge with status, not just because you are travelling First.  So the Cathay Pacific Gold card - which equates to BA Silver and OneWorld Sapphire was the entry ticket.  I could be wrong.  Plenty of plugs and charging points, a bag of nuts, some water and the World Cup is on the TV, so watched the first 20mins of Netherlands vs Costa Rica.  Of the few people that I have talked to, Costa Rica has been recommended, especially a Danish guy whose father had a property there. 

The flight to Honolulu on this 25 year old Boeing 757 was delayed in boarding because... the aircraft was too hot inside.  They had been working on the aircon for an hour to no avail.  When we did board, this was at the whim of the gate agent who received a bo**ocking from Shelley, our First hostie for this trip, as it was still 88F down the back and that was violating some new health and safety regulation.  But at least we were ready to go!

Or so we thought.  One of the escape slides was showing as u/s when we closed the doors, that delayed us another 30min while the mechanics fixed it by cleaning dirt and dust out of the door.  A common problem according to a white haired grumpy old man.  No, not me, Captain Speaking.

There's 4 rows of 2:2 seats in the forward section of the 757.  Today, only 6 customers.  
Soon after we passed over Los Angeles heading out over the Pacific, there was a 'is there a physician on board?' PA request.  I briefly thought about volunteering my A Level Physics knowledge before remembering that Lizzie seems to be able to do her GCSE science papers better than me.  There's a 4-5 yo girl who's not well in 14A; I'm wondering whether we press on or divert back....we press on....

CBs over Palm Springs

US Airways 'premium' beverage and snacks with a list of additives so long it fills the whole reverse of the packet

Chicken Tarragon

The seats aren't very comfy and seat pitch isn't great by today's standards but it's (a) way better than being down the back and (b) the US Airways service is good.  No hiding away in the galley or going for a kip, they keep on coming with the drinks, nibbles and asking if Mr Metty is ok.  On this one, the only thing wrong was that I was - very unusually - freezing cold, I guess a factor of the a/c issues.  So I ended the flight wrapped in blankets, nodded off and woke up as we broke cloud for Honolulu.

Short final for 08L at Honolulu; Hickam AFB is a segregated area of the same airport, sharing the runways with Pearl Harbor top left.

 A few additional aircraft here for the RIMPAC exercise.

Medics met the aircraft, the girl was whisked off and I went off to pick up the car from Dollar and drove the 100m to the Best Western, where I asked politely for a nice airport view room, got a furrowed brow, then an upgrade to rm1120 which is the only one left with a view.  Of the airport of course.

As I'd emailed Dr Emily Morse from the aircraft on the way over with some feedback on her podcast - it keeps me amused while at work and she talks a lot but it's sense - I was delighted to get a reply!