Bound for the USA
I have finalised plans for the quick trip over to the USA. The combination of a strong Aussie dollar and the low prices currently on offer for Trans-Pacific flights due to increased competition on the route makes a short trip a possibility!
My allegiance to Star Alliance has me flying United Airlines on a super-cheap mileage earning fare. Sadly though, United has the worst in-flight product on the route, particularly when you are comparing the Economy class cabins. No personal TV's on United Boeing 747-400's in economy, only overhead LCD screens. But what United DO have that all the others do not, is Channel 9. This is one of the audio entertainment channels and so long as you have a captain who uses this feature, you can listen in to the VHF Air Traffic Control frequency your aircraft is currently tuned to! For aviation buffs like me this is FABULOUS! Of course, for the majority of the trans-pacific sector the aircraft communicates on HF radio whilst over water, so this is only useful at the beginning and end of the flight.
Red Carpet Club
My allegiance to Star Alliance has me flying United Airlines on a super-cheap mileage earning fare. Sadly though, United has the worst in-flight product on the route, particularly when you are comparing the Economy class cabins. No personal TV's on United Boeing 747-400's in economy, only overhead LCD screens. But what United DO have that all the others do not, is Channel 9. This is one of the audio entertainment channels and so long as you have a captain who uses this feature, you can listen in to the VHF Air Traffic Control frequency your aircraft is currently tuned to! For aviation buffs like me this is FABULOUS! Of course, for the majority of the trans-pacific sector the aircraft communicates on HF radio whilst over water, so this is only useful at the beginning and end of the flight.
My schedule is as follows:
Melbourne-Sydney-Los Angeles-Las Vegas .... 2 night stay ... Las Vegas-Los Angeles-New York JFK ... 1 night, 2 day stay ... New York JFK-Los Angeles-Sydney-Melbourne.
All sectors are on United, aircraft flown are Boeing 747-400, Airbus A320 and Boeing 757-200. This will be my first couple of flights on a Boeing 757!! I actually have never flown on one, we don't see them much in Australia and Asia where I more frequently travel.
This will be my first ever visits to United's Red Carpet Club's in LAX and JFK (and MEL also) airports. I hear they are really very poor when compared to the lovely lounges we get to enjoy in Australia and Asia with airlines like Air New Zealand, Qantas, Singapore, Thai etc.
Red Carpet Club
I'll post trip reports either during the trip, or when I get back!!
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