Let's start with the New York trip Aidan went on in early August... 3 nights in LA and 5 nights in the big apple and it was a rushed trip. It all started with an initial question from the lady at the Emirates Airlines counter at Dubai International Airport - "Sorry sir, Business class is full, do you mind travelling first class". I thought to myself... 'hello, hello!!!! are you crazy?? Do i mind??'; but I said to her a simple "not a problem, thanks". Boarding was a breeze!
Stepping onto the plane and just about ready for take off, I had consumed all of the olives, caviar and other wonderful condiments offered to me. I was itching to change into my Emirates first class pyjamas to really finish off the nuttiness. Looking around though there was only one other passenger who had changed into them. They looked horrid and very hugging in the downstairs compartment. Let's save that for next time (maybe).
After 14 hours and consuming breakfast, lunch, four movies and a number of campari and sodas, I touched down in NYC - knowing there was another 6 hours to go to hit LA. Mannnn......why?!
Anyhoo... after personally taking my baggage off the carousel at JFK airport and rechecking it in at the American Airlines counter, I hopped on the plane. AA Business class is a little LESS roomy than Virgin Blue ECONOMY in Australia. Yep, crappola.
6 long (very long) hours passed and after waiting at the carousel for one hour for my bag to come out at LA airport, I eventually gave up and headed to the long line of about 100 people at the lost baggage counter for AA (services by 3 people). This is now 23 hours since I left Dubai and I am tired and grumpy. Now 10PM Sunday night.
The bag had been lost, I fill in a form, they tell me there is a 90% chance it will be on one of the next two flights out of NY. I waited for those two flights. No bag. Now midnight.
Checking at the hotel I had one set of clean clothes in my onboard! The Emirates pyjamas! Woo hoo! Style plus. Now 1:30AM Monday.
After hitting the shops on Rodeo Drive the next morning to buy some clothes with my generous $50US compensation voucher, I soon moved straight on to the Beverley Centre where things were more affordable. Long story short, I wore my jeans for 3 days and had the luxury of changing shirts throughout.
Checking in to take the flight to NYC, my luggage was sitting in the unclaimed luggage section. Nice. Not one phone call telling me that. Nice. No point complaining. It would mean waiting in the line again. sheesh.
On to NY to spend the Sunday wearing fresh clothes and relaxing at Liberty Island and Ellis Island. It was a nice, long walk down from West 44th Street to the ferry. I rocked up and went through the three security check points (each with an x-ray machine...hmmm....) to get on the ferry. The two islands rocked!! Enjoy the pics. The first and second are of Gumby's wife, the third is the men and women immigration levels into the US during the time Ellis Island was working, the fourth is a pic of an entrance to a building on Wall Street (big balls, hey!). Nice day all in all! (the next five days were all work - true!)
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