![]() Sometimes these little Bucket list trips are the best because they are so focused. What a fun thing, love that you are doing it, and looking forward to the rest of your trip. More about the hotel when I finish this later. So that's what I did - left my bag and went to the static plane and up the stairs into a 1960's cocktail Lounge right out of a Matt Helms spoof - or maybe more like Austin Powers I went directly to the Admirals Club in Terminal 5 and got my Sunday boarding passes printed, then took the AirTrain to Jet Blue's Terminal 5 and walked maybe 7-ish minutes to the hotel (would have been an easier walk but there is masses of construction going on a JFK so a few detours on the way)Ĭhecked in and I mentioned the b-list thingy and the desk agent said I might want to leave my overnight bag with her since Connie would be closing for a private event so If I wanted to visit her it would have to be right now. Was mostly smooth and we arrived a bit early. Had maybe 45 minutes in the PHX Admirals Club then boarded the flight to JFK. But in the scheme of things not a biggie - got my 2nd choice so I didn't starve.Ī huge storm was headed towards the West Coast but it hadn't hit yet and the flight was smooth as can be. Only very teensy glitch - because my original itinerary was cancelled so was my pre-selected meal on the PHX > JFK. They trashed my boarding passes, printed me two new ones including my original '1st'/Business seat on the PHX > JFK flight and I sashayed on the plane. (Why the check in agent couldn't have given me the same seat - who knows? ). The angels there said no problem, there is one seat left - its a middle seat in a coach exit row and I could have kissed them Short flight SMF > PHX and even a middle seat is fine - plus being an exit row it wasn't actually crowded. I grumped up the escalator, was through security in seconds and went to the gate just on spec. She re-booked on a flight 4 hours later that would not get me to JFK until nearly 11PM! ![]() She said my flight was totally booked so no seats even in coach. I argue a bit - knowing it is fruitless but gave it a try. I get to the agent exactly ONE MINUTE late and she says no go! The gate has already given my seat away. Look at my watch - 10 minutes to cut off but I'm optimistic. Well the two women and toddler at the desk must have had big problems - OR - the agent was totally incompetent (I suspect the latter ) 20 minutes and her going back and forth between two computer terminals later she finally printed off their luggage tags and called up the next passengers. I hesitated to use the kiosks because if they also wouldn't check me in I'd have to get back in the check in line and it was growing. Get to the airport in plenty of time and going inside I see there are 3 parties in the Premium check in line. No worries - there is no traffic in Sacramento at 0400 on Sat mornings, and the parking garage is directly across the road from the AA check in desks. Flight out of SMF was a 0600 and I had not been able to check in from home on either the app or website. So off I went Slight / almost major hiccup on Saturday morning. But after the six (yes SIX) NY State and NYC taxes and fees plus the one small hotel add on - the total bill would be $368. Flagship 1st ( the REAL trans con 1st class with beds was something like 4,000 bleedin' dollars ( YIKES!) but this down market 1st was barely over $400.Ī Saturday night stay at the TWA hotel in a slightly upgraded room with views of the terminal was $298. until last weekend.įound a cheap R-T 1st class fare SMF > PHX > JFK leaving early Saturday morning and gettin in to JFK about 4PM, and a ugh return of JFK > BOS > PHX > SMF leaving 1-ish Sunday afternoon (AA calls it 'First Class' but its really domestic business just a step above Economy+). Figured I'd fit it in sometime on a layover en route to Europe or maybe go through JFK on my way to New England - but have not fit it in. ![]() ![]() ![]() It is a must for AV geeks, but for me it was more for the architecture, 60's vibe, the cocktail lounge in a 1958 Lockheed Constellation - called 'Connie' of course, old cars, - stuff like that. It is the old Eero Saarinen designed TWA terminal at JFK that has been converted to a mid century modern / sorta camp hotel. One of these 'B-string' check boxes was staying at the TWA hotel at JFK. As I've posted before I have a major bucket list I've been working on for years (Machu Picchu, flying 1st class TATL and TPAC, Bay of Fundy, certain Michelin 3 ✯✯✯ restaurants, some of the 'stans' along the Silk Route, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, NCAA Final Four, etc) and have been lucky enough to check off maybe 2/3 of the list so far - and a bucket list of fairly minor things that would be fun to do. ![]()
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