Time for a new series of Snapshots, providing you a quick look into a recent trip I've done. In case you've forgotten how trip reports work on Economy Class and Beyond: Snapshots - They provide a quick look at a travel event (be it a flight or hotel) with a little commentary Trip reports - Provide the full in-depth trip details, with commentary and humor. So first … [Read more...]

Time for another Snapshot - this time looking at flight FR666 between Birmingham and Dublin with Ryanair Wait.. the flight is FR666? Why yes. Yes it is. The flight to hell.... Maybe. The Plane It's a Boeing 737-800. Ryanair doesn't operate pretty much anything else for (yet). Boarding Boarding was from the 100 gates at Dublin (the low-cost pier). This pier … [Read more...]

Time for a snapshot - today featuring on the short-haul experience with Aer Lingus flying EI263 between Birmingham to Dublin. Boarding Boarding was done by fare class, frequent flyer membership and finally "everyone else". (Yours truly was in the "everyone else" queue). Gate 57 is an odd gate at Birmingham Airport - mainly as it's a tarmac gate (one has to head down the … [Read more...]

Time for a two-for-one snapshot - involving British Airways. With the service identical between Heathrow - Hamburg - Heathrow, I'd thought I would lump them together, with the differing experiences on the ground. The Heathrow Experience: Terminal 5 remains a reasonable hub to go through. Not bad, but not excellent. At least security wasn't 10 miles long. I swear sometimes … [Read more...]

Time for a hotel snapshot which I know a lot of you have been looking forward to.. the IBIS Budget in St Pauli. Location: It's near St Pauli U-Bahn Station over the road from the Hamburg DOM. Pretty easy to reach via the Hamburg S-Bahn and U-Bahn. About 20 minutes walk from The Messe (or a 5 minute train ride if you have energy, 10 minutes and a change if you're a lazy person … [Read more...]

Time for another snapshot, this time looking at British Airways old World Traveller Plus product between Boston and Heathrow aboard BA202: Transit and Security Of course, there's no connection between the AA concourse and the International terminal - meaning you have to leave security, take the bus, and re-clear security. This is all well and good... except for the 30 … [Read more...]

Time for an aviation snapshot as we take to the air with American Airlines AA1205 between Chicago O'Hare and Boston Logan. Check in: Handled quickly enough, with bags tagged to Heathrow.  However, only the first boarding pass out of two could be generated. Lemme guess - Emotional Support Animal. Security: With more time in hand than usual, I went for a full pat down … [Read more...]

Time for another Snapshot, this time at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. Check-in: Check-in was handled efficiently, and I was allocated a high room in the main block. For those unfamiliar with this property, there is the main building and the "Executive Wing". I prefer the main block simply because after catching up with friends at 2am... a hike to the Executive wing isn't … [Read more...]

It's time for another Snapshot - and it's featuring one of my regular hotels in Chicago - The Crowne Plaza O'Hare. Yes, it's a regular propety stop for me, mainly becasue - it's reasonablly well priced, and convient to where I need to go next (yes, the Hyatt Regency O'Hare). And getting the Hyatt Regency on the rates I use can be a "challenge". So, the outside. It's a file … [Read more...]

Time for another Snapshot - this time, looking at American Airlines AA87 between London Heathrow T3 and Chicago O'Hare Transit and Security Clearance: Sadly, changing planes at Heathrow can never be a simple task - whilst it is a matter of following the signs and boarding the shuttle bus - there re a couple of complications - namely the American Airlines security and … [Read more...]