Los Angeles International

We arrived earlier than expected at terminal 2 of LAX. Since rcs85551 was flying in Business Class and still Flying Blue Gold we could use the Business Class counters. At the Economy Class counters were longer lines, but we had also to wait a few minutes before an agent became available.

We were able to take our carry ons with us and did not need to check it. This was a gesture of goodwill, especially since I was only travelling in Economy Class without any status. The lines at the checkpoint for the ID was not that long, but again thanks to rcs85551 I could use the lines for passengers travelling in premium cabins or with elite status in one of the Skyteam frequent flyer programs. Security was a mess. One line was not moving at all and all of sudden they closed a checkpoint, opened another one and directed us to a third one. At least this line was moving faster and I caused no additional beep and did not need to be manually searched. We headed for the Air France lounge, which is the former Northwest Worldclub lounge. According to rcs85551 there was no renovation or refurbishment done and therefore the lounge looked tired and run down. Food and beverage offerings were very basic and in addition the lounge was crowded. There were way too few power outlets and we left the lounge earlier and headed for our gate.

By the way, this lounge is also used as a Priority Pass contract lounge.

Boarding had started with First Class passengers and for passengers with disabilities and families. Boarding was done by rows and this was enforced by the agents doing the passport check. But after a few minutes, it was my turn and I could board the aircraft.

01 January 2010
LAX – PPT
[Los Angeles – Papeete ]
AF 674 (Air France); Boeing 777-200 (F-GSPC)
Gate 26
22:05 – 04:45 [effective 22:05 – 04:54]
Economy Class
Seat 28 J

I was friendly greeted at the door and the two flight attendants at the door wear a funky had and there was a big “Happy New Year” at the wall. I was shown directions to my seat and I passed Business Class for my seat in the first part of the Economy Class cabin. I had an aisle seat and stored my carry on in the overhead compartment and my laptop under the seat. I do it this way the most time travelling in Economy Class, since I have experienced a few times passengers, who did not really care what is already placed in the overhead compartment and throw their heavy Carry on on laptop bags, jackets and other items already placed there. Usually I am able to find a space for my laptop bag later on. The passengers on the window and middle seat had not yet arrived and so I waited for them to arrive. The middle seat was taken by a young girl with the rest of the family in row 29: Unfortunately, she changed the seat with his father, who was a men with a few pounds too much. As the passenger in front reclined, the seatback nearly got on his belly and he could not lower the table any more. And he was occupying the armrest and half of the seatback of my seat. So far for surviving Economy Class.

Menus were distributed and I had a quick look (click on icon for menu).

Since I was now tired I felt asleep a few times while we pushed back and during take off and also during meal service. According to flightstats, we took off with a five minutes delay.

I have not many memories of the first third of the flight, since I was able to sleep during this time of the flight. Later, this was not possible any more. My seatback did not recline fully and the passenger in front of me reclined fully and also the passenger in the middle seat used the armrest and sometimes his arm felt on my seat. At least I was able to get out of the seat easily, making it not that annoying. If I would have been the passenger on the window seat, I am not sure, what I would have done.

I walked to the galley a few times and got me something to drink and stretched my legs by walking through the cabin. I dozed a bit and tried to sleep, but could not. Since it was impossible to use the laptop due to the recline I watched a movie I have missed in German cinemas: “Good Bye Lenin”.

The flight was several times a bit bumpy and the seat belt signs were switched on. But the crew did not enforce this too much. It was possible to walk to the lavatories or galleys, the flight attendants did not tell you to remain seated..

App. 100 minutes prior to lading the cabin lights were switched on and the crew began with the breakfast service. The breakfast consists of a fruit salad, a croissant and a roll, confiture, butter, a yoghurt and a orange juice. In addition a beverage round was made and soft drinks as well as coffee, tea and cacao. I opted for a tea, but only had parts of the fruit salad, the yoghurt and the roll and the croissant. I skipped the rest. The food was typical airplane food and nothing special.

Trays were cleared later and soon it was time to prepare the cabin for the arrival in Papeete.

We touched down at 04:50 and taxied for the terminal. There are not jetbridges at Faa'a International airport. Then plane parked in front of the terminal four minutes after touch down.

Economy Class Passengers were hold back until the most of the Business Class passengers had left the plane. It took a few minutes, before I could disembark through the Business an First Class cabin and walk the few metres to the terminal. .

Immigration was fast, as there is not need for a visa on arrival for citizens of the EU. I headed over to the AVIS counters were rcs85551 was waiting for me.

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