deaphen
Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 933
Location: India
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 Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject: Travelling to PHL on Etihad..turn of events |
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Hey guys:
So alot has been happening surrounding my trip to the states early next month, and since its of no intereest to normal people and much more interest to us aviation freaks i am going to share my experience with you.
You can consider this a pre trip report. So anyways, for a month in each semester in law school, we are required to intern with either a lawyer, firm or judge. So this semester, since it is my second last one, i decided that i would take up an offer made to me last year in brazil from this american lawyer who works in Philadelphia.
Ofcourse, my dad is also a lawyer and was more than delighted to have me go there since it would be great experience and coincides with our plans inthe future for our law firm.
First up, the race to choose an airlines begins, my parents are also going to Washington DC and iwas supposed to go with them in mid september but since this came up i was to leave early september and then subsequently meet up with them there. The American express travel services (which we use) had found various itineraries for my parents and they basically shortlisted 2 airlines EY and VS. But there was a alrge price difference in both fares.
VS: Rs. 2,06,000 in J class
EY: Rs. 1,43,000 in Pearl Zone
Both prices above include taxes. So my dad decided that it would be a good opportunity to try EY. I was delighted because that meant i would fly the 332 and the 345. But the other dilemma arose, which was concernign which class i would travel in since i was travelling alone (3 weeks before my parents).
I am always nervous with this aprt because last year we flew RTW on star alliance and i was booked in Y and my parents were in J. My dad is very particular about these things, specially these luxuries which he says i must earn for myself to enjoy! I agree with him, but then again, flying J is something anyone would love to do!
So anyways, my bookings are made for departure on the 2nd of september (on AUG 16) and to my surprise im booked in J!!!! So i am totally delighted and estatic and do all ym research and stuff. Now another dilemma, DEL-AUH i am confirmed BUT from AUH-JFK on the 3rd i am waitlisted!!! So im like DAMN, i wait and wait and finally on the 19th my seat gets confirmed through the whole trip so i am happy!
Theni go full out, i am in constant contact with the travel agents and make them to book me window seats on all my legs, sign up for Etihad Guest (EY's FFP) and talk to a classmate of my fathers who is some high up official for EY. He tells me that he will put my name on the "high priority" list for an upgrade to Diamond zone, but i still have got no such confirmation from him, so lets see what happens with that.
Then i had to decide how to get from JFK to PHL which is my final destination, then i realise that EY has a free limo service. So i find out about that, and the small print reads that the free ride is only upto 70 miles from JFK and anything beyond that must be paid for, so i am still waiting for confirmation from American express about the amoutn which i will have to pay extra to reach Philly.
Other than that, i just need to pack and get ready!
My whole routing will be DEL-AUH-JFK-PHL(by car)-ORD(to be booked on a LCC)-Washington DC-JFK-AUH-DEL.
Do leave any suggestions or comments for me, i would really appreciate it.
Oh i forgot to mention, while talking to a good friend who is a dispatcher for EY at AUH, he confirmed that instead of the 332 or 345 from DEL-AUH and vice versa, it will be their new 346 and may even get to fly on their latest 346 which is ready to be delivered any day. I also got the names of my pilots who will be flying me to JFK so hopefully my hopes of getting some good flight deck shots will come true!
Warm regards
Nitin |
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