2024年。最初の渡航先はトルコちゃんのビジネスクラスでイスタンブールでした。
サンフランシスコ空港の国際線ターミナルで、最初に寄ったお店はここです。
ウェンディーズで軽いランチを摂取することにしました。
遅れてるのはいいけど（ホントは良くないけど）… 出発はＡ１３だって！？
もらった搭乗券を二度見して、チェックインカウンターの姉さんに確認しました。
「ねぇ… Ａゲート出発だと、ラウンジはどうなるの？」
「Ｇゲートにあるポラリスラウンジがご利用いただけます♪」
「そしたら... セキュリティくぐってラウンジへ行って、出てきてまたセキュリティ？」
「・・・そうなります♪」
笑顔で返されて『ダメだこりゃ』気分です。
やはりムスリムなので、米国では嫌われているんでしょうか？
ちなみに、復路で SFO へ到着した時も A8 ゲート着でした。
トルコちゃんの機長… 迷ってＧゲートへ向かっちゃって、途中でＵターン。
降機時に機長が出てきたので、からかってやりました。
「最初Ｇゲートへ向かったでしょ？ ここ、儂のホームエアポートだから気づいた♪」
「いや～。Ａゲートってどこにあるんだか判らなかったよ～。(笑)」
おかげで降機が十数分遅れてバス１本逃したのは黙っててやりました。ｗ
Ａゲートには Priority Pass で入場できるラウンジがみっつあるから、まあいいや。
最近はタッチパネルで注文するので、ベーコネーターのエクストラベーコンで。
ハンバーガーのセットひとつでおなかいっぱいです。これでラウンジめしが悲惨でも大丈夫。
Ａゲート側にも TSA Pre✔ があるから、実際はＧゲートとＡゲートを行き来するのも平気だけど…
セキュリティをくぐると、こういう景色です。
英国航空とエミレーツ以外は、左側のほうにラウンジが集結しています。
Priority Pass のアプリでみると、こんな情報が出てきます。
J.P. Morgan その他の銀行系アカウントは会員番号が長い…。
アメックスのほうが５桁くらい短い。
客相は… 朝鮮人ばっかし。
ちょうど大韓航空の出発時刻あたりで入場してしまったみたいでした。
なかなか混雑していますが、仁川行き出発のアナウンスが入ったらガラガラになりました。
バーテンダーに体面で注文できるドリンク類以外は、みんなこれでオーダー。
注文用の画面ですが… 内容が驚くほどショボくて、ある意味感動しました。
クロワッサンひとつ頼むのも、ここからです。しかも10分待ち！？
ユナイテッドクラブでさえ山積みしてて自由に持っていかせるクロワッサン。誰かが注文したのを見かけましたが、皿の上にちんまりと乗ったクロワッサンは、ユナイテッド航空の品質とほぼ一緒で、ざんねんすぎます。
自分でバンバンできるのは、コーヒー紅茶と、おひやくらいでした。
こんな感じ。ユナイテッド航空よりさらに劣化が進んでいます。
脱脂乳、豆乳、普通の牛乳だけ。しかも、おしなべてほぼカラッポ。
通りかかったラウンジのおばさんに聞きました。
「ハーフ＆ハーフは無いの？」
「ありません。そこのみっつから選んで」
「どれもほとんど空で、容れ物も汚いね」
ラウンジ婆は儂をにらみつけてから無言で立ち去りました。もちろん補充もありません。
一口飲んでみて、放置。コーヒーが酸化してて不味いのなんの。
自分の中で VS に対する評価が、星５つくらい下がりました。
前の人が出たばっかしで、そこはかとなくウソコのかほりが。VSの評価星、あとふたつ減点。
便所を出たら、青いフィルムが貼ってないあたりの椅子に座り直して。
なんかここ、イマイチすぎて不満。他のラウンジはどこかなぁ？
さっそく処女大陸航空のラウンジを出て、階下にある中華のラウンジへ向かいました…。
便所にはシャワーも着いていましたが、あんまり衛生的にもみえなかった。
こういう景色です。朝鮮人がいなくなってサッパリしました。評価の星ひとつ復活♪
バーカウンターでコーラをもらってきましょう♪
「コーク・ゼロをいただけますか？」
「ダイエットコークしかないけど？」
「それでいいです。お願いします」
コーラを受け取って、５ドル札でチップを手渡して。
「カムサハムニダ～♪ おかわりはいつでも言ってね♪♪」
おばさん… 儂が朝鮮人に見えるのか？ また星ひとつ減点！
でも、あわせる。
「ちょん真似よ～♪」←どういたしまして。と言ったつもり
レイシストな暗い喜びに浸りながら、着席。
さすがにダイエットコークは普通に美味しい。
忘れずに、ラウンジ内の Wi-Fi も計測しておきました。
上下とも 65 Mbps くらい。PING 反射が 5ms で、ここはストレスフリー。
あ。岡山の先生が大好きな中華航空のラウンジにも入れる♪
I was immediately drawn in by the title "Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse SFO." I've flown in Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class on two round trips between Narita and London and once on a one-way trip from Hong Kong to London.
ReplyDeleteI've been interested in Virgin for a while. In the midst of the consolidation of the European airline industry into the three major forces;
BA and Spanish Iberia Airlines merging into International Airlines Group
Air France-KLM
Lufthansa German Airlines
Virgin held its own unique position and made its presence felt.
Led by the visionary Sir Richard Branson, the company introduced innovations that were unheard of in the airline industry at the time, such as installing a bar counter on board and allowing passengers to order in-flight meals whenever they liked, which have now become commonplace in business class.
At Heathrow Airport, the headquarters I visited, the "Clubhouse" with amenities like a hair salon and sauna, as well as a dedicated check-in for business class passengers arriving in their private cars, was famous. It was often referred to as the "world-class lounge" at the time.
When I first flew with them (as a paid passenger), there was no transfer service from a Tokyo hotel (at that time it was The Westin Tokyo at Ebisu) to Narita, but there was a transfer service between Heathrow and the hotel (you're probably familiar with 47 Park Street Hotel, which seems to have become 47 Park Street - Grand Residences by Marriott now).
I added AmEx's MR points to the Virgin Atlantic miles I received at that time, and for the second time, I flew round-trip between Narita and London on an award ticket. However, there was no transfer service this time, as it was a reward ticket.
It's a shame that Virgin Atlantic has since withdrawn from the Japanese route.
Your first destination in 2024 was indeed Istanbul with Turkish Airlines in Business Class. At the international terminal of San Francisco Airport, the first shop you visited was Wendy's, right? You mentioned a "light lunch," but was it the Baconator from Wendy's? The name itself makes me think of the Terminator. Just by looking at the images, an average Japanese like me can feel the sheer volume and the muscular, Terminator-like image of that hamburger.
ReplyDeleteHowever, do you know why Turkish Airlines was removed from the G Gates where the Star Alliance gathers? Regardless of the reason, you'll have to go through security once just to use the Polaris Lounge in the future, right? It would be nice if you have some spare time, but it seems like quite a hurdle.
When you arrived back at SFO, you landed at Gate A8, and it seems like the Turkish Airlines captain got a bit lost and ended up heading towards the G Gates, and then had to make a U-turn? Moreover, the captain said, "Well... I had no idea where the A Gates were (lol)." I think the air traffic controller probably gave them instructions for taxiing to the A Gates, but maybe they didn't listen properly? With the recent incident at Haneda, I'm starting to feel a bit anxious about air traffic control.
From G Gate, there are three lounges at A Gate that you can access with Priority Pass, right? I've had this Priority Pass for decades now since I became an AmEx Platinum holder, but I still haven't used it. It's truly a case of "having a treasure and letting it rot," "casting pearls before swine," or "throwing money to the wind" (now, which idiom is closest to describing me?).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's surprising that you can access Virgin's lounge with Priority Pass. As I mentioned in a previous comment, Virgin has a unique presence and it made me think that only a few select airlines' passengers could enter their lounges. But if even Priority Pass holders can get in, then it means almost anyone can (lol). It's a sign of changing times, but as someone who remembers the Virgin of the past, which had an air of arrogance (?), it's a bit sad.
Oh, I had heard that JAL and ANA use QR codes for ordering almost all items in their lounges, but it seems Virgin's lounge operates similarly. It's nice to be able to order some alcohols from the bartender in person, but as you mentioned, the content on the ordering screen is surprisingly limited. Even ordering a croissant takes 10 minutes!? Moreover, it seems the lounge staff aren't very friendly either. It's disappointing for me, who used to be a Virgin enthusiast. It seems your assessment of Virgin has dropped by about 5 stars, and I feel the same way.
Furthermore, it seems that the toilets in Virgin's lounge have limited availability, and they don't appear to be very hygienic either. I suppose that's another two-star deduction from your Virgin rating, and I feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteOnce you left the restroom, the Korean gentlemen were gone, which was quite a relief. Does that mean your Virgin rating goes up by one star? I'd like to restore three stars ♪ (Am I reveling in a racist dark joy more than you?)
By the way, when you received your cola at the bar counter (whether it was Coke Zero or Diet Coke), you handed over a $5 bill as a tip, right? I would probably only leave about $1, but is it common courtesy to give that much in an airport lounge?
Furthermore, "Kamsahamnida~♪ Feel free to ask for refills anytime♪♪," said the lady... Did she mistake you for a Korean? That's another star deduction from your Virgin rating! I would deduct two stars (Am I more of a racist than you after all?)
Certainly, I understand why you're dissatisfied with this Virgin lounge. And it seems your next destination is the China Airlines lounge. I'm not particularly fond of this airline myself, but the only reasons I have ever used them are because they used to offer convenient direct flights from Haneda, not Narita, to Honolulu, and because they provided affordable first-class seats even during peak travel seasons like Golden Week, Obon, and the year-end holidays through AmEx bookings. Nonetheless, it allowed my family to visit Hawaii multiple times on their first-class, and we also once used miles converted from AmEx’s MR points for a round-trip first-class journey on a B744 from Bangkok to Amsterdam, so I cannot deny that it's a familiar airline for my household.