SFO777 The First Class Travel Blog

Follow our Instagram Travel Videos @sfo777dotcom

The First Class Travel Blog

Off to Croatia

Mrs. SFO777 and I are off for a week in Croatia to celebrate my milestone round number birthday.  Croatia has been on our bucket list and was a no brainer this year as it is one of the few countries in Europe which permits Americans to visit without quarantine.  All we need is a simple negative PCR test taken not more than 48 hours prior to arrival.  We're visiting Dubrovnik and Split as well as some of the Dalmatian coast islands.   Traffic flowed smoothly up the 405 all the way from South Orange County and we made the 60 mile driive in arround 50 minutes.    Both Air France and Lufthansa had one connection options to Dubrovnik.  While we love Air France La Première, I opted for Lufthansa.  While both have cut back ground services in their hubs, Lufthansa reps at the First Class Hotline seemed less confused than the clueless staff at the Ligne La Première who couldn't even answer some of the most basic questions.  In the end, I went with Lufthansa primarily for the 747-8 and the availabiity of 1AK.  

The Ghost Town that is LAX

The most striking thing about LAX today was the lack of many cars or many people.  We parked in the T4/TBIT garage and simply walked across the street to the Bradley Terminal.   This was surreal.  Who needs traffic lights?

Inside on the departures level, finally some passengers for the relatively few international departures these days. 

OK, some folks at the Lufthansa counters.

These guys have a long day and night ahead on their way to Sweden.

No line at the entrance to security.

Although PreCheck doc check funneled into the same security conveyors as non-PreCheck, those with PreCheck get green cards which let us pass with the normal PreCheck protocols.

The Amex Centurion Lounge has a great location immediately after security...

... which wiill be useful someday.

Inside, empty.

\

... with most of the stores closed.

Restaurants? Forgetaboutit. 

 I was aware that no TBIT airline lounges are open, but decided to check them out just for laughs.  The Star Alliance First Class Lounge.  Not exactly sure what the DANGER is.  You're just closed.

\

And the Business Class Lounge, which rated big diagonal DANGER signs.

But the winner for the biggest lie of the day goes to Qantas.  The Qantas Lounge is closed "due to social distancing requirements".  LOL.  How about being honest? Like we're closed because we don't fly to LAX, or pretty much anywhere for that matter, and our One World partners and Air France don't pay us enough to keep the lights on.

So we headed to the only "lounge" open today, Hudson and Starbucks...

\

A little later, the long, long walk to the end of the south concourse.

Past today's other option...  

At least LAX is being honest.  We don't want to pay the power bill to run these suckers.  

Our beautiful 747-8...