July 21st. 2007 - Before getting settled into our seats headed for LAX Dallas and Austin went to the cockpit to speak with the crew. They were very accommodating and even let AT sit in one of the pilots seat wearing the Captains hat while Dallas took his picture. It looked like he was flying. It'll be a great photo to enlarge for his room.

The flight was a smooth one while everyone settled into their routine. Lunch was served, some ravioli with chicken. The chicken was a bit tough but the rest wasn't so bad. Austin was watching his I-POD video and writing in his journal while Dad was listening to his and resting his eyes while I watched the in-flight movie "Mumsy". The pilot just mentioned that we were flying over Rosdale, New Mexico where all the alien sightings have been and heading towards Albuquerque then into LAX.

Arrived in LAX where we had to gather all of our baggage and load them onto the carts to cart them all across the airport to Tahiti Nui terminal,checked it in through security and drop it off and then headed up to the VIP Lounge. A nice treat from Dad. Thanks DAD!

Austin especially loves the VIP lounge because the food is unlimited. They serve sushi, soup, all kinds of drinks including alcohol such as champagne, all types of beer, hard liquor and lots of desserts. Naturally, we all took advantage of our favorites. We then stuffed our backpacks with bottles of water knowing we were going to need them on the island. We took the opportunity to charge up all the battery packs, too.

We decided to head back to check in for our flight and it was a good thing because the line was extremely long to get through security. Once we were through Dallas tried to get into first class but they wouldn't budge without spending the difference. First class ended up with just 3 ppl and 3 empty seats. Our section was full. We didn't mind because we had wonderful accommodations. The seating in Business Class is so comfortable and colorful. Each seat had a colorful pillow with a nice warm blanket. We each had our own personal tv moveable reading light and a reclineable chair with foot rests. The service was wonderful. The attendants on Tahiti Nui are always smiling and bringing around coffee, tea, bread and wine or champagne not to mention impeccably dressed. The start the flight in one style of uniform then when they are ready to serve the food they change into a different outfit all together.

In flight Dallas decided he had to go to the rest room and went towards first class and the attendant almost tackled him. It appears we are not able to use their rest room. Poof on them !!! The flight was very long but flying Business Class made it very comfortable.

Austin's Entry

As usual, up early 6:00 to get ready for our trip. After I took a shower I made sure I had everything I needed and put it in the car. After we had all our stuff in the car we said our goodbye's to the dogs. Nancy drove with us to the airport because she was going to use the car until she left so we all had to cram ourselves in the car. When we were half way there I remembered that I left the camera battery charger in my plug wall. I was so mad at myself. When we got to the check in counter we said goodbye to Nancy and I took a picture of Orlando's Intl Control Tower. We checked in, got our tickets and gave Delta our baggage.

So we headed to security and we put our bags thru the X ray machine. Then we walked thru the medal detector. We got thru in 5 minutes because it was so early and there was no one there. We headed to a Starbucks that was in the airport and we grabbed a bit to eat for breakfast. I got a blueberry muffin, My Dad got a scone, and my Mom got a banana nut muffin. We found a seat nearby and we sat and ate our breakfast. When my Dad and I were done we walked down the terminal where Virgin Atlantic parks at there gates but there was only one plane there, a Frontier plane that was boarding.

We went back to meet mom and we headed to our gate which was 71. It was Delta flight 645 heading to Atlanta, Georgia. It was a 767. We walked down the terminal and looked at all the planes. When we boarded we were in First class, Zone 1, Seat 1 D, E, F. So we had to put our bags in the overhead cabin. I took the camera out, My headphones and I-pod, My Trip Journal, and a pen. But before we left the gate my dad and I went up the Flight Deck to talk to the pilots and to look at all the instruments. The pilots were very nice and informative.

We had to go back to our seat because they had to get ready for the flight. I took some pictures and when we were taxing my dad had a good idea. To record all the flights that I take, the plane, time left, time arrived, tail number, roll time and speed. So I recorded everything. The whole flight I listened to my Ipod and wrote in the journal for today. The flight wasn't that long. When we arrived we had to go down the terminal to catch our connecting Delta flight 407 to Los Angeles. Its another 767 and it was departing gate A26.

While we were waiting in line to take off I looked out the window and saw a Delta 777 coming in to land so I took a picture of it. We were going to ride this plane back to Atlanta on the 6th of August. So we were number 5 for take off. We lined up with the centerline and the pilots put the engines to full throttle. Right before we took off I saw another 777 taxing to the gate and I tried to get a picture put I didn't get the whole plane. The flight lasted about 4 hours and 37 minutes.

When we arrived in LAX and we were taxing to the gate, I saw a Singapore 747 and a United 777 and an American Airlines 777. When we arrived at our gate and we had to head to the baggage claim to get our bags. We found our bags and got 2 carts and we went to the Air Tahiti Nui Check in Counter. But it was on the other side of the airport so we had to walk quite a way. When we got there, there was no one in line because we were so early. I think we were 4 hours early. They let us go to the Lounge before we board but before we went there we had to bring our bags thru security we had to wait in line for about 15 minutes. Then we just left the bags with them.

We went to the lounge they had everything. Drinks food and plugs to charge your stuff and it was right next to a taxiway so we could see planes that would taxi by. We had to go out of the lounge then go thru security. Once we got passed security we went to the gate were the plane was at. I took lots of pictures. When my dad and I walked further down to see the other side of the plane the tow tug was towing a British Airways 747 into the gate next to the A340.

I took lots of pictures of it. We Boarded and we were in Business Class. The seats were awesome. They reclined almost all the way back. You got a blanket, a pillow, headphones, and a night sleeping kit. When you get on they bring a drink of what you want to you and they give you a hot towel. Its very nice. But when my dad and I went up to the flight deck we wanted to see it but when we said something to the pilot he started yelling and was very rude to us so we didn't get to see it.

We got our push back clearance and they pushed us back all the way out of the terminal. Then we started our engines and taxied to the runway. When we were turning onto the runway a little propeller plane went in front of us and took off. I got a good picture of it. It was really quite when we took off. I got a good picture of the Beach right next to the airport. When we were high in the air I looked out the window and down and I saw an island that looked like the clouds were rotating and there was going to be a tornado. I listened to my Ipod and watched the little TV's they had.

They when it was night I went to sleep. I woke up an hour before we landed so I watched more t.v. they have a video camera in the front of the plane so when we were on final approach I could see the runway and it was really cool. The flight got in around 9:35 PM. I tried to get some pictures of the plane at night but there not the best. When we arrived in the terminal we saw our hotel personnel standing there so we showed them our tickets and they loaded our luggage up to the van. The van ride was less than 5 minutes. But it took awhile to get everything straight about the rooms and everything. Our room was the farthest away so we had to walk quite away but it was on the ground. We got ready for bed and brushed our teeth and we went to sleep because it was a very long day for all of us.