Book it Danno! Honolulu Airport, American Airline Lounge, US693 Honolulu International to Phoenix

Book it Danno! Honolulu Airport, American Airline Lounge, US693 Honolulu International to Phoenix

Index:

• A Rock, A Hard Place and Tier Points
• To Birmingham Airport, Ryanair FR693 Birmingham to Dublin
• A morning around Dublin
• Dublin Airport, BA4467 Dublin Airport to London City Airport
• Travelodge, London City Airport
• A Morning at London City Airport
• British Airways BA001 London City Airport – Shannon, Shannon to New York-JFK
• Über Takes on Manhattan
• Holiday Inn Express, JFK
• JFK T8, US Airways Flight US510 New York JFK to Phoenix, Arizona
• US Airways Club/Admiral’s Club, US694 Phoenix Sky Harbour to Honolulu
• The Aston Beach Waikiki
• Travel Plus… Doing – Exploring the Diamond Head Trail
• Travel Plus… Doing – Pearl Harbour and The USS Arizona Memorial
• The joy of British Airways Rebooking
• Honolulu Airport, American Airline Lounge, US693 Honolulu International to Phoenix
• US425 Phoenix to New York-JFK, Economy Class
• JFK Omnishambles
• BA002 JFK to London City Airport
• Involuntary Downgrade Chaos
• BA4462 London City Airport to Dublin
• A Five Hour Dublin Layover
• BA0837 Dublin Airport to London Heathrow Airport in Club Europe
• Homeward bound
• Aftermath: Points and Reflections…

With my time in Honolulu up, I headed back to the hotel to pick up my trash, and head on out. A bit of reorganisation – and I was ready to be picked up.

Waiting to leave in the downstairs waiting area.

The SpeediShuttle was actually rather speedi this time – as there was only one more stop in the pickup list.

With that done, our shuttle headed away from downtown Waikiki and back to Honolulu International Airport.

Honolulu International Terminal

After being dropped off, I headed to the US Department of Agriculture inspection point to have my bags scanned – and then to check in…

…where I confused the poor check-in agent who couldn’t work out what was happening with my ticket.

In the end, I managed to get the agent to check me in as far as JFK – and I’d try and check in for the JFK-LCY-DUB flights later. Annoying to be honest, as I wanted to cut my time playing connections at JFK to a minimum.

Honolulu International Terminal

With that done, it was time to deal with the TSA… who were being their TSA self even in paradise. Eventually, I was cleared through and on my way.

As I had time, I explored the airport – and found my way to the American Airlines lounge

Lounge stop American Airlines lounge

I was welcomed to the lounge, with my boarding pass zapped. With that I explored.

 
Seating

The lounge is a combined operation with Japan Airlines and one of the things the lounge has going for it compared to the main terminal… is the free WiFi.

That and there’s soup in the lounge.

And cruets as well. Can’t forget the cruets.

In its defence, the lounge is a quiet place, but again – it’s a very much an American Airlines lounge more than a Japan Airlines lounge, with lip-service paid attention to for food, but there is some free-pour beverages at least.

Some interesting drinks…

Free-pour soft drinks at least…

Coffee and nibbles

Whilst the lounge looked reasonable and was a good enough place to work or relax, it was nothing special to be honest. Still, better than being in the main terminal for the flight.

With time ebbing away, I left the lounge and headed down to the terminal for one final walk in the Hawaii heat, and towards the waiting US Airways plane.

It’s so retro… but it suits this place perfectly.

Pineapple anyone? Pineapple?

The waiting 757

Boarding was slightly delayed, but soon it was time to board. When first class was called, I presented myself and headed down the jet way to begin the long set of flights home.

US/AA693 Honolulu International Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport to
US Airways, Boeing 757. Seat 3A, First Class
2,916miles flown, 210 Tier Points Earned, 2,916 Base Avios + 2,916 Bonus Avios + 1,458 Avios Class of Cabin Bonus.

Heading in to the Boeing 757, I was greeted with the old seats I sat in on the way out to Honolulu.

This was going to a long flight home.

The environment is pretty much the same as my inbound flight – a slightly refurbished Boeing 757 with bigger seats in First Class, but with the same retro feel.

Pre-departure beverages were offered – I went for a Vodka and cola as usual.

Boarding continued along its merry way, with Hawaiian music playing in the background. Soon the cabin was buckled up and the jet-bridge pulled away – indicating it was time to depart.

With the jet-bridge pulling away, the safety video played on the overhead screens. With that formality done, our plane begun its taxi around Honolulu International Airport.

A fellow US Airways Boeing 757-200 waiting to depart.

`
Cabin during taxi

After a short taxi, our Boeing 757-200 lined up on the runway, and powered up its engines for the long flight to Phoenix.

With a smooth take off, the Boeing 757 took to the air, and tracked past the Honolulu coastline.

With the cabin still dark, the crew didn’t seem interested in doing any service at all… so I gave up and closed the blinds… and closed my eyes for a bit.

With nearly two hours on the clock before arrival,, I stirred from my rest to find the cabin still in darkness.

Breakfast appeared about half an hour later. I wondered what delights I was going to wake up to, thinking maybe I might had lucked out on a warm meal at breakfast. Was there one? Of course not – it was a cold fruit plate.

So, a first class seat, with near transcontinental timings – and we get a plate of cold fruit up the front of the plane.

Hmm.

On the plus side, the fruit was freshl the orange juice was cold thanks to extra ice and the coffee? Brown.

Not an inspiring breakfast at all.

Meanwhile – people were waking up and raising the blinds – I raised mine too to have a look at the outside world.

Well – that’s one hell of a nice view outside.

The world below

Edges of blue – looks like dawn isn’t far away…

As the plane closed in on Phoenix, the colours changed from night and inky blue to the glow of the morning.

With the sun coming up, it was our turn to begin descent to Phoenix Sky Harbor – with the plane descending.

Preparing to drop under the cloud layer…

… and under into the land of greens, browns and greys.

Soon the outskirts of Phoenix came into view, and the landing gears were released, indicating we were three minutes away from landing

With a very gentle approach, the Boeing 757-200 effortless landed with a thumb, completing the journey over the Pacific safely and comfortably.

Morning time at Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport

With a rather short taxi, the Boeing 757 taxied over to the A gates, and with that done – the bongs went off to signal it was time to leave.

With the jet-bridge attached, again it was a fight for everyone to get off from the 2L exit of the plane.

Overall: I suppose the term is “disappointing” again sums up this US Airways flight. There were ample opportunities for service post departure (in terms of a late night snack or a drink even), and the breakfast was uninspiring to say the least (plenty of room for a hot breakfast service in the time frame the flight has. Combined with the sense the crew wanting to be there lead to a very lacklustre service.

Or if I want to be positive (like I try to be) – plenty of room for improvement.

Next: US424 Phoenix Sky Harbour to New York JFK in Economy Class

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