A Correction
Final publish, I discussed that I might be utilizing British Airways Avios factors to get to Philadelphia to start my journey. In wanting over my notes, I obtained confused with a more moderen journey I took to Costa Rica (for which I used Avios). I up to date the opposite publish, however wished to make clear that I ended up taking a US Airways flight to Philadelphia (because it was so low-cost, $69 one-way).
The correction is definitely a pleasant segue into the topic of this publish: how did I get to China? Writing about it will make me fairly bitter, truthfully. Why? Once I took the journey, I had the coveted Government Platinum standing with American Airways, entitling me to all kinds of entitlements with which I had a tremendously entitled sense of entitledment…you get the thought. Life is sweet flying as an Government Platinum. March 1 was a troublesome day for me this yr. Not for any precise motive, however March 1 is The Nice Standing Reset Day. Logging into my American Airways account was far much less cool on March 1.
Dang it
Flying isn’t fairly as enjoyable as a Gold, nevertheless it’s okay. I’ve plans and designs for incomes again my EXP standing as rapidly as doable, for causes I detailed on this publish. I’ll element my technique as soon as this report is finished.
To China…I imply Philly
In any case, I made my technique to DFW Airport to catch my US Airways flight. American and US Airways have had a reasonably good integration up to now, with somewhat-reciprocal standing advantages for his or her elite members. My flight was leaving out of Terminal E, however I couldn’t go to DFW and never go to the Centurion Lounge, so I made my manner over to Terminal D and loved a pleasant 15-minute shoulder and again therapeutic massage. The masseuse, after beginning her therapy, mentioned “you recognize your again is mainly one massive big knot, proper? It is advisable to go go to somebody who can break by way of all that, we are able to solely go so deep right here.” Famous. I hopped onto the inter-terminal practice and went to Terminal E. The US Airways flight was taking off from the satellite tv for pc terminal, so I walked down the lengthy tunnel beneath the tarmac to fulfill my flight. I wished to vary my seat to a window seat and was speaking to the gate agent about it, after I casually talked about that I hoped every part was going effectively with them up to now, merger-wise. She abruptly responded, “In fact it’s, OUR persons are working the present now.” Oooooookay then.
The flight to Philly was largely uneventful. It was aboard a 737 that was constructed simply after the Wright Brothers’s flight in 1908, I’m nonetheless amazed it stayed in a single piece the complete manner. Hopefully the brand new airline will be capable of eliminate these older planes rapidly.
Anyway, I arrived uneventfully at PHL and proceeded to catch my shuttle to the Microtel Inn & Suites close to the airport. When you’re ever been to PHL, you recognize the final space that has all the airport inns and that one Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant that limits your choices for eating. It was truly fairly late by that time, so I skipped dinner and made my technique to my room. It was $79 and was precisely what you’d anticipate from an affordable final minute room at a lodge that has “micro” within the identify of it. Small, spartan, however appeared clear sufficient. I obtained a good nap (in all probability 4 hours of sleep) then awoke to start my journey.
Virtually not allowed to board
This part will function a pleasant reminder to everybody to know your stuff and convey paperwork when needed. I obtained to Philadelphia actually early (4:15am, proper because the desks have been opening) as a result of I wished to go away as a lot time as doable for my check-in. As a reminder, I used to be utilizing the Chinese language TWOV (transit with out official visa) program to keep away from the $170 visa to China. To be able to make the most of this program, you must enter Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou from one nation and depart for an additional inside 72 hours (and you should keep within the metropolis as effectively, no touring round China). Since my flights have been scheduled USA-Beijing-Japan, I certified. Chicago brokers know this gorgeous effectively, however the PHL brokers had by no means heard of it (which is comprehensible, it’s a comparatively new program). They clickety-clackitied on their keyboards and referred to as a supervisor, and many others. What they have been doing was looking out what’s referred to as the TIMATIC database for visa guidelines. It’s essential to inform them to attempt getting into you as a transit passenger together with your vacation spot because the third nation. In the event that they enter China because the vacation spot, the TWOV program wouldn’t come up. In the event that they entered me as a transit, it might’ve. Luckily, I had a printout from the Chinese language Embassy’s web site that detailed this system, and after about 40 minutes of standing on the desk (smiling and being extremely well mannered), I used to be given the coveted boarding passes, together with a “why the heck are you flying to Miami and Atlanta in your technique to Chicago?” remark. Be good to the check-in brokers people, they’re sometimes doing one of the best they will.
My journey to Asia, through…Miami
I used to be stunned that I even obtained TSA Pre-Verify and made it by way of the safety queue pretty rapidly (it was busy that morning) and waited within the departure lounge for my first flight. As a result of my (already lacking it) EXP standing, I used to be upgraded to First Class on all of my home legs earlier than the worldwide flight to Beijing. My plan was to remain awake on all the flights, so I introduced some studying materials together with me. Sadly, I are likely to learn books actually rapidly, and truly completed the primary e-book (Wolf of Wall Road) on the primary flight.
Flight 1: PHL-MIA
The primary flight was a wonderful morning flight. Good crew, full flight, respectable breakfast, nothing actually exceptional about it however I are likely to get pleasure from home First on American and discover the flight attendants often are joyful to be there and wish us to be joyful in entrance of the curtain.
I arrived in Miami with a couple of 2 hour layover. I wandered over to the worldwide terminal to take a look at the Oneworld lounge, solely to search out it was solely open within the afternoon and night, so I walked again to the (very good) Admiral’s Membership and…began one other e-book.
My second flight was a regional jet (ERJ 175) from MIA-ATL. It was like the primary flight, very good in an unremarkable manner.
Flight 2: MIA-ATL
Obligation, by Robert Gates, had simply come out and I used to be wanting to learn it. With out mentioning something concerning the politics across the e-book, I used to be wanting ahead to it as a result of Dr. Gates had truly handed me my diploma from Texas A&M College and I had immense respect for the person. I didn’t end the e-book till lately (it’s fairly a tome, over 600 pages), however discovered it to be extremely honest, apolitical, and informative. I’m a bit disenchanted with the political course of in America, so it was good to listen to of each Democrats and Republicans that love their nation very a lot and are doing one of the best they will.
I attempted to catch an earlier flight from Atlanta to Chicago however was unable to. My flight to Chicago already had a very quick connection and our flight was additional delayed, making it a REALLY tight connection. I used to be too distracted and nervous to take any footage of this flight, however managed to remain awake for the journey. I landed at Chicago and just about Dwelling Aloned it over to the gate for Beijing, hoping I’d be there in sufficient time.
The gate and airplane have been nonetheless there after I arrived, panting, on the desk. The gate agent checked out me just a little humorous and let me know they have been nearly to start out boarding First Class. I had made it! I didn’t have time to cease by the Flagship Lounge, however irrespective of, I used to be about to fly in Enterprise Class to Beijing!
The large one: ORD-PEK
For these of you who don’t recall, because it’s been a bit since my planning publish, I booked this journey when American had left a zero off the gas surcharges, equating to a $440 roundtrip from Philadelphia. I used to be ready to make use of a Systemwide Improve (among the finest advantages within the sky) to improve even this low-cost fare to Enterprise Class for the lengthy flight from Chicago to Beijing. Totally free. That’s why Government Platinum standing is value it.
I boarded with the First Class passengers (a good thing about standing) and made my technique to my seat. It was American’s older Enterprise Class longhaul seat, which can slowly get replaced with a more moderen seat (already accessible on their 777-300ER plane and reviewed by Fortunate right here). Certain it was the outdated seat, however then I obtained some nice information: the load in Enterprise was very mild that night, and nobody could be sitting subsequent to me. Rating! I had beforehand flown First Class and Coach on the 777-200, so it was good to lastly get pleasure from Enterprise Class.
AA Outdated Enterprise Class
The seat was good sufficient, had straightforward to make use of controls on the armrest, and reclined to a nearly-flat mattress. You possibly can see American’s new amenity package between the seats, which contained the traditional bits for a longhaul Enterprise flight.
We boarded quite rapidly (total there was a very mild load, not simply in Enterprise) and earlier than I knew it one of many flight attendants got here by and welcomed me to the flight. She was completely pleasant the complete flight and chatted with me about the place I’d be getting in China, laughed at my mileage working, advised me I just about had the run of the place on the flight because it was so empty and promised it’d be one of the best flight I’ve ever taken to Beijing that night. She had such an easygoing but skilled perspective that she made it a very memorable flight.
After we leveled off, a spherical of drinks got here by, adopted by the dinner service.
Tuna Appetizer
The tuna was wonderful, very spectacular for an appetizer in Enterprise. Then got here the Steak course.
Steak Course
The steak was very overcooked, however I just about anticipated that getting in. The candy potatoes have been wonderful, and I completed about half of the steak, saving room for The Sundae.
The flight attendant got here by to supply me dessert and mentioned “I’m imagined to give you the cheese plate, however you appear to be the kind of man who would need a sundae with just about every part on it.” Whereas usually I might’ve been all “IS THAT A FAT JOKE?!” to her, she was completely kidding and I kinda did in actual fact need a sundae with just about every part on it. She listed off all of the elements she had and form of trailed off when she noticed me merely nodding my head and I lastly placed on my greatest Ron Swanson voice and mentioned “What I worry you heard was I would really like a sundae with a variety of stuff on it. Convey me a sundae with every part on it.”
So she did.
The Sundae
Ice cream, strawberries, caramel, whipped cream, nuts, you identify it. It was scrumptious. I popped just a few melatonin drugs, laid my seat all the way in which again, did some bizarre contortioning till I discovered the appropriate place (it’s arduous being in an nearly lie-flat seat whenever you’re a abdomen sleeper) and had among the finest sleeps of my life on a airplane. I slept for 7 hours and awoke with about 3 hours remaining. The flight attendant got here by and supplied me some espresso whereas I watched some Anthony Bourdain episodes on the IFE system. Finally, the flight attendant got here by with my bre…sorry, second dinner. As a result of worldwide date line, the flight left from Chicago at 6:10pm on Thursday and arrived in Beijing at 9:45pm on Friday. So, as an alternative of breakfast, they supplied a hybrid breakfast/dinner. By that point I used to be nonetheless full from the dinner, so I nibbled on it for a bit after which obtained prepared for touchdown.
Brinner
We touched down on time at PEK. I used to be nervous concerning the TWOV, however I confirmed my documentation to the immigration officer and was on my manner after not more than 5 minutes. Manner sooner than it often takes me to get again into my dwelling nation. Not dangerous, China.
I like Flyertalk. It’s among the finest journey boards on the planet, and there are suggestions for almost every part you can think about. So after I requested the China Board a couple of good driver, they really useful Simon to me (I didn’t wish to mess with the language barrier arriving so late). I’ll share extra about Simon later, however he supplied an important service at a particularly reasonable worth, so I employed him to drive me from the airport to the lodge and on a tour the subsequent day.