Greetings from the UnitedClub at JFK Airport! I’m here awaiting for boarding of my flight to San Francisco (in the lounge courtesy of my AGR Select+ status).
The trip I’m about to embark on is a three and a half week trip I’m entitling finishing California to an AGR Loop. The first nearly two weeks I’m spending in Golden State where I have to attend a wedding and have budgeted (hopefully) plenty of time in San Francisco (to do Caltrain and ACE), Sacramento (for the Capital Corridor rush hour branch to Alburn), and Los Angeles (The new Expo Line and Metrolink). I will end by returning home on an Amtrak adventure. My first AGR redemption that I’ve milked to near maximum value (as I booked it the high bucket sticker price was about $1,800). The redeemed itinerary is Phoenix to Flagstaff (Thruway Bus) to Los Angeles (Southwest Chief) to Portland, OR (Coast Starlight) to St. Paul (Empire Builder).
Stay tuned!
Getting to the Airport, I didn’t think this part of my trip would require so much mentioning but the end of Fasttracks on my little branch of the A train turned it into a real adventure. I was also nervous because AirTrain was shut-down from Federal Circle through the Central Terminal Area overnight until 7:00am and the Van Wyck Expressway into the Airport (detour via the JFK Expressway) was closed (as I left the house I check again and find out it reopens at 6:00.
I leave the house at 4:58am. At 5:01 I’m on the elevator (with an operator) who warns me the subway hasn’t opened quite yet and recommends the shuttle bus. I hear the bell of a work diesel on the elevator. The token clerk says the station has reopened. I’m the third person to enter the platform. It stinks of diesel fuel.
- 5:07 – Two work trains, one comes in going downtown, with some flat cars. Two are empty, the last one has orange and black trash bags. This I recognize from photos. Then one refuse train Uptown, an exciting morning at 181 Street–(11 Photos)
- 5:10 – The first uptown A train stops. The platform gets more crowded.
- 5:14 – I get on what I assume is The first Brooklyn-bound A train of today with the FasTracks shutdown (to Lefferts Blvd with 8th Avenue Express, Fulton St Local signs) arrives, as a diesel going the other way, with an odd looking car like its for cleaning purposes enters.
- 5:19 – 168 street with a C train leaving. We’re held and the conductor says Express stops. Then they change it to local stops to 145 street.
- 5:25 – At 145th street were held by the dispatcher. I hear a D train arriving downstairs that should be express. I go down and get on a standing room only train. Then: “I’ve been informed by the dispatcher that we’re making all local stops to 59 Street.” At least I can take this to 7th Avenue and have an easier transfer to the E with one staircase and not the up and over mezzanine. We clearly leave behind my A train.
- 5:31 – 125 street. They announce all local stops again and I’m amazed how many people get off to try and get on an express train that is clearly not running yet of delayed. I find a seat.
- 5:33 – 116th street
- 5:34 – 110th street
- 5:35 – 103rd street
- 5:36 – 96th street
- 5:38 – 86th street
- 5:39 – 81st street
- 5:40 – 72nd street
- 5:42 – 59th street and the same refuse diesel train I saw earlier going through 181 street is sitting on the express track. Rerouted for trash!
I get to 7th Avenue at 5:45 and I and a bunch of other passengers head downstairs for the E. Almost immediately I hear a bell and head back upstairs for a photo of the same refuse diesel train I photographed at 181 street earlier. It’s heading to the 36th Street yard I assume where the MTA’s trash goes.
At 5:53 my E train arrives exactly when my Transit time countdown app tells me. I look up and to my dismay find all of the local stops on the FIND on Queens Blvd. I assumed the E would be running express by now. I try and read.
6:00 – 21st/Ely Avenue, “This is a Jamaica Center-bound E Local train”
6:02 – Queens Plaza, transfer is available to the E and R trains (have since appeared on FIND, they weren’t there when I boarded) this should the case if the E is running local. Maybe it’s time dependent and rush hour service is activated on FIND at 6:00am. We leave Queens Plaza slowly so I know what’s about to come as I feel the switch onto the local track. I also notice FIND has the J/Z in Jamaica that wasn’t there earlier!
- 6:04 – 36th Street
- 6:06 – Steinway
- 6:08 – 46th Street to an M train going the otherway
- 6:09 – Northern Blvd and pass an R train
- 6:10 – 65 Street
- 6:12 – Roosevelt Avenue-Jackson Heights
- 6:14 – Elmhurst St
- 6:15 – Grand Avenue-Newtown
- 6:17 – Woodhaven Blvd
- 6:18 – 63rd Drive-Rego Park
- 6:20 – 67 Avenue
- 6:22 – come to a stop outside of Forest Hills. I wonder if there is a terminating train. I briefly get cell service, enough to tell me my gate has changed to 12 in the passbook app that circles the fact.
- 6:24 – Forest Hills/71 Avenue
- 6:25 – 75 Avenue with an F train of R46s going the other way.
- 6:27 – Kew Gardens I don’t follow the announcement for the Q10 bus to JFK (although bad my first A train to Lefferts been a quick express I might have done it). With less than 2 hours before my flight I need AirTrain.
- 6:29 – Brairwood/Van Wyck, a not in service R160 is on the Queens-bound Express track wrong railing. Its windows are all wet.
- 6:31 – Jamaica/Van Wyck
I finally arrive at Sutphin Blvd at 6:33. I hop in the elevator to the LIRR. the two moving walkways for faster AirTrain access has one going the wrong direction and the other off.. I pay my $5 and at 6:38 Im boarding an AirTrain that says its going to all terminals although station monitors say it should be shut down until 7:00am.
- 6:40 – “Please Stand Clear, the doors are closing.” I grab the front window and stand. We zoom above the Van Wyck
- 6:45 – Federal Circle. I notice a bus wrapped for the Delta Jitney now used for terminal 2 to 4 transfers. The sign for terminal 3 is still up but says Terminal Closed in the list of airline signs along the Van Wyck.
- 6:49 – Terminal 1 and my train turns into “This is a Howard Beach Train,” terminus shifting from Jamaica to Howard Beach, interesting
- 6:51 – Terminal 2, signs have been updated in the station, no more 2/3. The Delta Airlies lettering is gone around the WorldPort. There is fencing around most of it but I notice some planes parked overnight at the outer gates.
- 6:54 – Inside Terminal 4. Pass an Arik (Nigeria) and Carribian Airlines planes
- 6:55 –Terminal 5
At 6:57 I get off at Terminal 7. The old United tulip is still outside the terminal. The rest updated. I stop at a kiosk to grab a paper boarding pass. It offers be Buisiness class for $800-something just like at check-in yesterday (better than the $1900 opportunity when I booked the flight).
I go to security ask if my Amtrak card does anything, saying it gets me into the UnitedClub. I think the entry point minder sees the silver and let’s me into the slightly shorter Priority Line. My ID is checked, and I get my computer out put it in a bin and unforchunately am stuck going through the nude-o-scope wave scanner. The backscanners I won’t go through. The radio waves seem less harmless.
I clear security and head up the escalators, past the British Airways Clubs and at 7:10 I’m checking into the UnitedClub. The friendly agent knows what to do with my AGR Select+ card. Boarding pass is scanned, AGR card swiped. I mention that the last time I used it in Denver the agent was basically “What’s Amtrak?” She asks me if I earn points. I say no only on codeshares to and from EWR(I don’t think she knows what I’m talking about). I don’t go into the details that you did earn AGR points until the end of 2011. She also mentions that Amtrak accepts United tickets if your flights been delayed from New York to Washington.
Next thing I know I’m into the club for a breakfast of two mini bagels, granola, four donut holes and a decaf mocha from a machine that’s quite good. It’s nice and almost eerily quiet. There is announcement for my flight’s gate change and also a couple names, opt-ups I assume but not me. (These flights are considered international for Business class upgrades, so all the Premiere Members don’t automatically get upgraded to the empty seats). I fantasize about getting an upgrade.