Cold Chicago, Warm Planes – Warming up slowly

Cold Chicago, Warm Planes – To Chicago with AA and BA
The Wrap-up – Warming Up Slowly.

• Let’s Play “Stacking Discounts!” (The Introduction)
• We’re going where the air is free (NX210 to LHR), BA Galleries Lounge AA Flagship Lounge
• AA87 London Heathrow T3 to Chicago O’Hare T5
• Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• One Time Exception – Millennium Park
• Back to O’Hare T3, American Airlines Flagship Lounge
• AA4253 Chicago O’Hare T3 to Toronto Pearson T3
• Toronto, Oh Toronto…
• The British Airways Galleries Lounge, Toronto
• BA098 Toronto Pearson T1 to London Heathrow T5
• Arrivals Lounge, Homeward Bound
• Warming up slowly…

Well… another trip done and dusted. Apart from the biting cold (as well as listening to The Girl and the Globe’s sage advice about layers), it’s time to wrap this up for another time….

• National Express did the job as usual, getting me from A to B. Whilst the cost was eye-watering, it’s still a cheaper option that hotels in the Heathrow area

• The British Airways and American Airlines lounges are showing signs of improvement still, with relaxing places to both dine, rest and work when needed (although those printers they have at the AA lounge are just plain odd)

• AA87 on a Boeing 767-300ER – whilst the Main Cabin Extra seating was a nice thing, the out of date IFE soultion (combined that the cabin crew wanted a dark cabin) doesn’t mix in my book.  The sooner the replacement 787s and A350 begin arriving to replace these planes, the better.

• The Crowne Plaza O’Hare was a good solid option, delivering a good nights rest and some nice elite benefits. All I can ask from a night-stop.

• The Hyatt Regency O’Hare is showing signs of major improvement after the last clusterhambles.  Whilst still needing a bit of polishing in some areas… it is better by a fair whack.

• Chicago O’Hare remains big, bad and acceptable. The American Airlines Flagship lounge is a nice example how I expect lounges to be in the US… not the cruet special that exists in most US Airline lounges .

• American Eagle’s new Embraer E-175s are a big step up from the ERJ-145s that used to serve these routes, with comfort levels that are better than mainline planes sometimes. Shame the service on them is just a cup of drink.

• Toronto Airport T3 remains in desperate need of being pulled down and starting again – especially for those passengers in transit

• British Airways Galleries Toronto remains one of the best lounges in the BA system in North America, with friendly service with a smile

• The British Airways Boeing 787 remains a good plane to fly on. They’re even better when nothing goes wrong aboard them. World Traveller Plus is very much a sweet spot cabin – especially if you can score a cheap cabin upgrade.

• BA’s ground handing at Heathrow was abysmal. One hour to deliver bags isn’t acceptable… especially at your home base. The only saving graces was that I could change my ticket for the coach home cheaply, and access the arrivals lounge

• And as for Chicago? A great city, with great friends in it. Do I need to say much more than that?

So some improvements… some drops. That’s why I do this route twice a year on pretty much the same airlines to see what changes there are.

Just makes the joy of travel a continual joy.

But there is more travel ahead as I move onto the next trip report… which will begin soon.

And it involves this character…

An electric mouse type Pokémon… of course- it’s Pikachu!

Please join me for Hello DayTrip! To the Paris Pokémon Centre with British Airways in Club Europe.

There will be semi live postings next week when I’m out there, with the lots of pictures… and with me, of course, plenty of shenanigans.

Comments welcome as always 🙂