DEN-LAX-JFK again

Another day, another drive to DIA. 

Good news today as South PreCheck is open and empty.

A quick stop at the Admirals Club which was packed to the gills with BA passengers waiting for the DEN-LHR 744 departure.  Looks like they cleaned out the limited food offerings faster than the staff can re-supply.

At T-35, down to level 4 and the short walk to Gate A53.   DIA in Broncos fever mode with the departure boards sporting Broncos colors.  

What a difference a week makes, with the more typical lack of gate lice.

DEN-LAX
AA 5977
E75
4:15p-5:40p
January 11, 2016
Dinner

FA seemed pleasant enough but a little challenged today, although she did manage a PDB. 

A beautilful sunny winter afternoon in Denver.

And the mountains.

Afternoon in Vail.

Even though our FA had a Catering Service page clipped to the galley cabinet, he obviously didn't bother to read it as she offered a choice of "garden salad" or "vegetarian plate". Huh? When I inquired as to whether there was chicken or salmon with the "garden salad", she retreated to the galley and pulled out one of the trays. "Oh sorry, this is new to me. You must fly this route a lot." Okee-dokee. Wow. The garden salad turned out to be the Cobb Salad. She then proceeded to deliver a tray with the meal, drink and nuts all at the same time.

But whoa, Nellie. Even by USdbaAA standards, the most forlorn serving of "chicken" since the palace coup. I'm not touching this sucker.

Improvising to have nuts and drink first. It's not like the meal is going to get cold.

The Cobb Salad, just the salad, was actually pretty good if you hadn't had lunch and you ignore the chicken.

Gorgeous sunset as we approached LAX.

Pulling into the now way too familiar Bus Terminal.

Lining up for the bus shuttle.

After the bus ride to Terminal 4, up to the Admirals Club and inside behind locked door, the LAX Flagship Lounge.   Tonight's guests include Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell on their way to Sydney.  Also CNN's Anderson Cooper who is on my JFK flight sitting in front of me in 2F.

A new menu this week.  Looks interesting...

But once again, reality is substantially less.

Chicken TIkka Masala

Shepherd's Pie

Fish and Chips.  OK I saw the fish (cod) but chips were no where to be found.

Unless the Potato and Yam Gratin was the "chips". ??

Vegetable Medley.  I think I'll pass on this one.

Tried a little of each.  Meh.  Surprisingly the Shepherds Pie was the least bad.  ;)

Gone are last week's specialty desserts, replaced by the lunch brownie-type sweets.

At T-20 I pulled myself away from the Alabama/Clemson National Championship Game and headed downstairs to nearby Gate 40.

LAX-JFK
AA 10
A321T
9:30p-5:40a +1
January 11, 2016
Late Night Supper
 

Since most everyone had already boarded, there was no line at the gate or on the jet bridge.   

Tonight's menu, the same as last week...

Another lazy, challenged crew tonight. I ordered a G&T and it arrived without a lime. When I asked for a lime, FA brought it a minute later with my meal tray.

Despite a warning from Flyertalker surftb15, I decided to to try the Shrimp Sliders with Asian Aioli. Yikes, looks like a whole lot of bun to me.

Looks like Hector is cutting costs by reducing the hummus and spinach/artichoke serving size.

And under the mass of bread, there is indeed some type of shrimp cake.

And when you get rid of the bun, it was actually pretty good. Nicely grilled and moist. The aioli was awful.  
There was nothing remotely Asian about it, tasted like Mayo from a 5 gallon Costco container.

By the time I got around to the ice cream, it was sufficiently melted to eat. But my God, is this Three Twins stuff garbage? Yeah, I know Haagen-Dazs costs more.  Apparently some people love the Three Twins ice cream, but perhaps handling by AA and/or the caterer took its toll.

Prior to arrival, smoothie and scones. Sorry for the bad pic. I was just waking up.

Apparently someone forgot that there is a new logo and has been for 3 years.