I got there late, but, I did get to say hi!

So, what did I miss????

We all want to go wave-runnering as a group!

Sounds good to me, but I want my OWN waverunner :D

All, if you check the Radisson website the PG is sold out on its first 9/11 sailings in 2005...methinks we're lucky to be sailing on her this year..r/wes

I think it's time to start a separate thread in Cruise Talk on PG excursions. Then we can get the input of others who have been there already. I will do that.

I'm thinking that perhaps in another month, there will be threads on: what to bring; what to buy; parties, ...?

Wendy,

Good Idea!

Might post this here and then also under the ROLL CALL for PIP.

I have always recommended collecting and rechecking your luggage for TAhiti because SO MANY bags go missing in the connections to Air Tahiti Nui at LAX. Not sure why that is but it happens all the time.

Well now with the security there is a LONG separate line to get your bags xrayed before you check in for the Air Tahiti flight. EVerytime I got through LAX that lines seems to be longer.

I am not sure that it is worth it anymore. So if you check your bags all the way through I suggest that "just in case" they lose your bags take a little something in your carry ons. If your bags are lost they usually meet you in Bora Bora so it is a couple of days.

Ngaire, or anyone else:

We are flying Air France out of LAX for PiP. We actually arrive 15 hours earlier from Orlando since we are spending the day in LA. I am sure we will be forced to collect our bags.

When we check in for the Air France flight that night, do we check in at Bradley International Terminal or Terminal 5, where Delta is located and, I think, where Air France flight departs from? If we check in at Terminal 5, is it the normal Delta lines or is there a separate Air France check in?

Thanks,

Marc, I'm sure Ngaire will answer, but I'm fairly certain that all the FP flights leave from Bradley.

On the subject of baggage, we have no choice, since we overnight in L.A.

I'm hoping we can check our bags through to Toronto on the way back--I seem to remember passengers complaining that they had to collect and re-check in L.A. Just wondering if this has changed, or if I'm remembering incorrectly.

I think it will be from from Tom Bradley but I dont know for sure. The line is "generic" no matter which airline you are on for the xray. After you get them xrayed and tagged then you are off to check in with your airline.

Wendy Americans have to clear customs in LAX and therefore collect their bags. I am not sure if you are continuing on to Canada if you can just check all the way through. GOOD question. I dont know the answer.

Ngaire, is that one xray point for the ENTIRE airport?

I checked on Delta site. At least last night, flight left from Terminal 5. It sure would be bad to have to go to generic (i.e., no priority) xray line in Bradley and then have to go to Terminal 5.

I will keep researching.

Marc I am sure they have one in terminal 5. I am just talking about Bradley. It is right inside the door. They may even have more than one check point in Bradley. We have not been to Tahiti for a couple of years now and all our flights through LAX we have been going to other international destinations and have just checked our bags through. I just have been noticing how this line keeps getting longer and reconsidered my advice about checking bags in at LAX for ATN instead of checking them through.

Ngaire, when we came back in 2003, the lines were horrendous. Worse for "foreigners" than Americans, but bad all around. We were staying in L.A., so had to retrieve our bags.

So this is another good reason not to deviate coming back, if we can check our bags straight through. I wonder who I can ask about that. I'll try AC, I see we are flying with them coming back.

Marc, I believe all Air France flights out of LAX leave from Delta's Terminal 5. Also, there is definitely a xray line for checked bags in each Terminal (was in LA today).

Peter:

Since I go to Medallion line to check in, do I need to go to xray line first? Is there a medallion line for xray? Is it normal Delta medallion line to check in for AF or do they have their own counters/

thanks,

I am a AMERICAN flyer Marc so dont know about Delta. One World AA and partners do have a separate line for elite FF members but I think the Xray issue is not subject to the airlines FF flyer programs. My guess (and only a guess) is everyone is equal when it comes to the xray screening of bags. Peter will be the expert here.

Marc, You check-in first at the counter (I've never noticed a separate AF check-in counter - but maybe there is one - in Cincinnati they use the regular Delta counters) - then you take your bags tagged for destination over to the x-ray line (however, sometimes if the TSA is overstaffed there will be a TSA agent hovering near the Medallion check-in who will hand inspect your bags and allow you to bypass the xray line). On a side note, the expedited Medallion security line now works better at LAX since there is a separate line to go up the escalator (always was) and then once you get up the escalator, there is again a separate Medallion line (where before you end up in the regular line once you get up the escalator).

Sheri and I are now bunking together in cabin #413 :pass: with a two night precruise at the Beachcomber in an overwater bungalow <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" /> .

Whoo Hoo! A bunch of us are at the Beachcomber pre-cruise. Shall we plan dinner Friday night?

Suzanne, you and Sheri are going to have a blast together!!!

Wish I could make the Friday night dinner, but we'll still be in Bora Bora. Oh well . . .

And we'll be on the other side of Papeete, at the Radisson hotel. But we will see each other on the ship, I'm sure.

Cyndi, we figured out we are flying to PPT together.

Wandra - when do you fly in? We go in on Tuesday on the 4:20 flight arriving at 10ish

On no! The troublemakers are staying together :D :D We will have to make sure our bungalow is opposite their's <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />
We are doing two-night precruise also. What flights are we all on?? I will check, maybe we could start the party on ATN!!

Sheri and I are on the Thursday 5/19 ATN flight that leaves LAX at 4:20 pm. Anyone else??

I figure most of us (except Wendy who will still be on the PG) will be on the same return flight on Saturday

Hmm... Suzanne (Suzette) and Sheri together??? Now that sounds a bit like TROUBLE! <img border="0" alt="[drinker]" title="" src="graemlins/all_coholic.gif" />

Anthony

Darn!! I thought we'd be on the same flight out of LAX, we depart 19th/1pm, arrive 6:20pm. Suzanne, you guys are going to get in so late :( Can't you fly out with us??? I figured by the time we get there, check in, freshen up....we'll still have time for dinner and a drink or two. We fly back on the 28th at 10pm, anyone else on either of our flights?

Kimmi,

I think we fly home on that flight - Party on ATN!

Kathy, are the four of us going to have our own private party on ATN Tue 5/17? Anyone else going for a 4 night pre-cruise? Well, we will just have to get the party started and the rest of you 2 night pre-cruisers can carry on for us on Thursday!!! Any going on a 3 night pre-cruise?

I guess all of us who are PIP #1 and using Radisson air will most likely be on the same flight home - 28th at 10:00pm. That should be fun!!! Although I don't know if I'll have any energy left to party :) But at least we'll still be together for one more night of bonding. Wendy, David, Marc & Arlene will just have to carry on the party for us after we leave (did I miss any other B2B or PIP #2? Sorry if I left you out - hard to keep track!)

Kim,

I was hoping to be on the 1pm flight, no problem for me coming in from San Francisco. Sheri doesn't arrive that morning until 10:58 am, maybe that's why we're on the later flight :( .

Editing to say that I've just emailed Ngaire to ask her about the earlier flight.

Cyndi, I didn't think Marc was doing a back-to-back. I thought that Fred and Pat were the only other ones on that list.

We're on the 1 p.m. ATN flight #1 on Thursday going out.

Wendy, you are right about Marc (sorry Marc - I tried to get you B2B :D ). See how confused I can get. To make it worse, I think I was getting him mixed up with Wes, who of course is going in March B2B!! And of course, I shouldn't have forgotten about Fred & Pat. Sorry all!! I better quit while I'm behind :D

Ngaire is awesome!!!

She got us on the 1pm flight on Thursday!!

RSSC may not be as comfortable with the flight connection, but it gives us less time at LAX ( :rolleyes: )and more time in Tahiti( :cool: )!!

Great! See you in the departure lounge!

:pass:

And are we all travelling coach? I sure am! :rolleyes:

Me too!

Coach for us.

We are on AF leaving at 0030 on the 19th arrive PPT at 0530.

We leave at 0830 on Saturday so we won't have the long day upon disembarkation.

Alas, we too are flying coach. :(

Coach for us too - rather save my money for pearls or future cruises.