Showing posts with label Alaska Board Room. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alaska Board Room. Show all posts

Friday, May 19, 2017

Havana Running Part 2- I Promise Not To Call This Sleepless In Seattle....


SEA approach at its best!
The Story So Far:
 
…But it kinda is.  I have to face facts, having a toddler has made me old.  It’s not even 10pm, and I’m ready for bed.  I’m trying very hard right now not to think about how I won’t be able to actually lie down to sleep for a good 18 hours.
This is, of course, unless I’m right about my DFW-MIA plane configuration.  Please let me be right about that!  In that case, I’ll get a blissful 3 hours of lie flat time.  Fingers crossed.

Anyhow, I had an uneventful flight up to SEA, the highlight of which was a beautiful light show on the descent over Puget Sound.  When SEA is on its game, there’s few approaches in the world like it.  Maybe YVR, but I won’t say that too loudly around here.

In other news, I think I successfully signed up for “Clear.”  It was fairly simple since I already made my profile online- Finger scan, iris scan, picture, ID check, a few questions….okay now this sounds more complicated than it was.  I may have spent too much of my life in security lines and passport checks that I’m desensitized to all this.
The upside is that in theory it should limit such nonsense and cut all the lines in the future (where the service is provided).   We’ll see.  I’ll update with a review the first time I use it “for real.” Tonight I did get to cut the precheck line though, so it's promising.

I then spent the next couple hours having some quality time in the SEA Centurion Lounge.  Shout out to my buddy there (you know who you are, but unless a certain other buddy passes this on….you’ll never know).  As I’ve repeatedly, repeatedly said the Centurion lounges are head and shoulders above the average domestic lounge, and are the main reason we cough up the Platinum card renewal fee.  Had some specially made skinny margaritas, and dinner before the club closed at 10pm.

Since this was 2 hours before my next flight, I did what any red-blooded mileage runner would do in the situation- found the next best club.  In this case, the Alaska Airlines Board Room that I can access on Priority Pass, or my Admiral's Club access since I'm flight American for my next flight.  All's well and good when there's options until boarding.  I can't go back to the terminal....I just can't!! ;)

So, can I just take a moment here to encapsulate what exactly trips like this can add to your life?  Tonight I walked off the elevator of the Board Room, zombie style, right smack into a priest in full floor length robes… holding what appeared to be a dirty martini.  As in- the priest had the martini, not me. 

And that, Charlie Brown, is what the spirit of Mileage Running is all about.

Next up- DFW (I’ve missed you).

~Cruising Altitude

Thursday, October 24, 2013

'Bloody Good Choice.....' PreFlight Post



I really should be editing a 'totally serious and insightful' trip report, but I'm not.  I'm having a Bloody Mary in the LAX club before my LAX-DFW-EWR trip to a good friend's wedding.  Had initially considered trying to hop an earlier flight to DFW to check out the NEW Centurion Club that my Plat. Amex gets me into (very very excited about this...very), but earlier today my upgrade cleared for my 767 flight to Dallas, and I'm not about to sacrifice a lie-flat seat on a domestic flight.  The Centurion will have to wait for another (hopefully soon) date.  

Wait, what was this post supposed to be about?  Sorry....distracted by a shiny new club for a second there...

Right, Bloody Marys!  In short- one of my favorite pre- and post- departure beverages.  Couple reasons- socially acceptable many hours of the day (although anything generally goes in airports), low on the sweetness factor, heigh on flavor, and some article awhile ago that I half remember seemed to say they were healthy....ish.  

However, besides there seems to be some science behind the case that bloody marys are delicious in flight.  It turns out that the same altitude symptoms that shut off about 30% of your taste buds at 35,000ft, also take some of the acidity out of the flavor, making them taste even better at cruising altitude. That, combined with the already bold flavors, make it a good choice.

That said, here's a quick rundown of where (and where not) to order one: (Can't write a travel blog entry without giving unsolicited advice)

1- Alaska Airlines Board Room, Seattle.
For some reason, this place consistently makes the best airport Bloody Mary I've had.  No clue why....maybe it's the rain....

2- Admiral's Club, SFO.
Great bar staff (great staff in general), plenty of kick.  Plus, if you're in the mood for something else, ask for a skinny marguerita (can't get these in LAX).

3- Admiral's Club, LAX (or DFW, or BOS).
Standard fare, no complaints, plus it's free.  Varies day to day.

4- On the plane!
As said above, altitude helps.  I've had them mixed and doctored up by the FAs on occasion, but on shorter flights you're looking at a bottle to Titio's and a can of Mr&Mrs T's.

5- Alaska Airlines Board Room, LAX.
Not sure what's up with theirs, but I wouldn't do it again.  Too sweet...but strong enough I didn't need a second...for sure.

Time to finish up & head out.  Until the next 'round,' fly safe!

Cheers!

~CruisingAAltitude