Airways Magazine December 2024 | Page 32

AIRWAYS TRAVELER your arms and legs . The views of the Great Lakes and the Rocky Mountains were comforting but , when — shortly after 16:30 ( US Pacific Time )— the Captain announced that we had begun our descent into LA , I cheered just as I do when I travel Economy on long-haul flights .
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After landing , the aircraft docked at the Tom Bradley International Terminal 200 gates , situated in the satellite opened in 2021 to the west of the main building . That required a very long walk to immigration but , having spent 11 hours in a not-so-comfortable seat , the ‘ stroll ’ was almost pleasant .
later ‘ consoling ’ myself with The Hangover Part II ( I had already seen it , but I always enjoy rewatching it ).
While flying over northeastern Canada , with four hours still to go to LAX , the crew passed through the cabin to hand out the snack that is usually served an hour and a half before landing . On the same plastic tray covered with a paper napkin used to serve lunch there were a cellophane-wrapped sandwich filled with a mysterious ‘ tomato sauce ’ ( discarded ), a largeish jar of apricot yogurt ( a few spoonfuls ), and a mini chocolate cookie ( a meager consolation ). The food was accompanied by a hot or cold drink . I must say that , based on the decent lunch I had consumed a few hours earlier , I expected more . But , after all , Frenchbee is a low-cost airline .
10 At LAX , both Frenchbee and Norse use the Tom Bradley International Terminal , situated at the westermost end of the terminal complex . The building hosts all international airlines operating into LAX , with very few exceptions
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TAKING THE NORSE WAY HOME
Three days later , I was back at the airport for my Norse flight ( Z0712 ) to LGW . The Norwegian carrier adopts an unusual procedure for passengers leaving from LAX : it checks them in at Terminal 2 , which is mostly used by Delta Airlines ( DL ), and then buses them to Terminal B ( the Bradley terminal ), where its Boeing 787s to LGW and CDG
The remaining three and a half flight hours were ( as always , when not traveling Business Class ) the most demanding in point of physical effort : sore buttocks , aching back , and that impatience to land and stretch
11 While plenty of flights connect Los Angeles with London Heathrow Airport , Norse ’ s N0712 is the only non-stop service operating to London Gatwick
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32 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2024 www . airwaysmag . com