US Airways started seasonal service to Oslo, Norway in May 2009. My father and I decided to try out that new service and go to a place not many Americans know exists, never mind visit. I hope you enjoy the following trip report from our August 2009 trip.

We live in New York City and decided to drive to Philadelphia for our flight. It’s about a 2 ½ hour drive from our house to PHL and we often drive to it faster than fly.



Outside the US Airways international terminal at PHL.



US Airways:


Air France:


Terminal:



I could not get a good view of our plane, but here is the one at A20:


On board:



Contents of the seat pocket:





The take off was a usual powerful takeoff from a 757. It was also smooth. Shortly after takeoff headphones were offered for $5. I did buy a pair to keep, even though I had my own pair with me. The film on board this evening was the new Star Trek movie. I did watch it and I was surprised I enjoyed it. Full of fun action and battles which is just what I like in a movie.

Dinner service was next. The choices were pasta or chicken. I got the pasta and my dad got the chicken.

Pasta:


Chicken:


My pasta was very good. The downside to the meal is that the portions were too small, especially for transatlantic. I finished it with room for more.

My drink of choice: Coke Zero

After dinner the F/A’s came around with the duty free trolley. I continued to watch the Star Trek movie and after that ended turned on my IPOD and a magazine I bought in PHL. I also read US CEO Doug Parkers column in the US Airways magazine. It was as pointless and as boring as usual. I don’t think I slept for long, if I dozed at all. I know I tried to as nothing was going on. I’m not the biggest fan of doing Transatlantic on a 757 either. It’s too small and I personally like more room to walk around.

The flight actually went faster than I thought it would and before I knew it, it was bright outside.



Soon came the pre-landing service:


A danish…small, yes…but it did have an upside. It was hot, which improved my initial opinion of the service.




Land (I assume in Norway):




Snow in August:


Decent:


Landing:





OSL:

SAS:


Eastern Airways:


Lufthansa and SAS:



SAS:


Oslo terminal building:



After debarking we went through immigration. Our bags came out pretty fast and we went through customs. The Norwegian currency is called the Kroner and we exchanged some dollars in for kroner’s.
We stayed at the Comfort Inn Boersparken. It was located near Oslo S train station in the city centre. The city was very nice with a free breakfast every morning. The breakfast was good enough and it included eggs, sausages, ham, cheese, bread, etc. The hotel was located in the heart of the city and it was very handy for tourists. We had no complaints about it. It also has free 24hr coffee, which we used to get over our jetlag.
Hotel bed:


View outside window:


After we settled into the hotel we got a map of the city from the front desk and headed out to look at some attractions.


Our first impressions of Oslo were very nice:



Norwegian parliament (The Storting):


Main mall by the Storting:


It was a beautiful sunny day with temps of about 65 degrees. (which was a nice break from the heat of NY)

The Royal Palace (home to King Harald V):



Royal guard:


The palace was on a bit of a hill. Here is a nice view from the front of the palace:


More Oslo:




After our walk we went back to the hotel, exhausted but we refused to sleep! The free hotel coffee helped with that battle. We watched some and the only English channel was BBC News….which was fine at first, but they repeat after a few minutes. We found a nice restaurant for some food. I had what was called Norwegian meat. I wanted to try some real Norwegian food and it was to die for. Some of the best food I’ve ever had.
We went for another walk after some food:




The Opera House:


The Opera House is beautiful. You can walk up onto its roof and it offers spectacular views of Oslo’s skyline and fjords.





The next day we wanted to use the highly convenient Norwegian train service that was a short walk from our hotel. I wanted to go to somewhere in Norway outside Oslo to get to see more of the country itself. I wanted to be able to say I saw more of Norway than just Oslo. My dad and I got a morning train to Lillehammer. Lillehammer is a small Norwegian city north of Oslo. It hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics and this is one of the reasons that I picked Lillehammer.
Outside the train station in Oslo:

On the train:


Oslo Airport:

Some airplane:


Norwegian countryside:




Old classic looking train:

Nice views:





Approaching Lillehammer:


Lillehammer from a distance:


Lillehammer:




Outside Lillehammer station:


Walking uphill:

Blinds on the outside? Why?

A square:

A market:


My dad bought a bag of cherries from a similar stall, except selling fruit and veg.



Olympic rings on street:






View of the modern part of Lillehammer station:

Back on the train:


Lillehammer was fun. After that we went back to Oslo and visited Akershus Fortress:






The fortress was still in some sort of use by the Norwegian military with guards and Military Police:


The next day was our last full day in Oslo and I took my dad to see the American Embassy.



An Aston Martin (James Bond car) parked in Oslo:


Oslo City Hall:


Nobel Peace Centre:


The next morning we got up early for breakfast and so we would have time to pack. Our fight was not till around 1pm and the trip to the airport was fast.
Watching BBC News:


The modern train to the airport:



OSL:



US Airways at OSL:



SAS agents worked the flight, but there was one US Airways agent on the scene to assist the SAS workers. This lady was originally from PHL and was very experienced and knew exactly what she was doing. We are standbys and decided to upgrade on this flight as there were seats in Envoy.




Norwegian Air Shuttle:


SAS:





I would have loved to have flown SAS.


Our craft back to PHL:


End of the walkway:

Passport control:


Thai:


British Airways to LGW:



Boarding the plane:


Envoy seats:


I personally can’t wait to try the new Envoy flat seats! They look amazing and US plans to have them on all A330s soon.



Orange juice:

Menu:


The menu was written in English and Norwegian.
Newspapers were soon handed out by F/A’s. The Wall Street Journal:



Thai:




Takeoff five minutes early from departure time (nice!):


Bye bye Norway:


Empty TV container:


I hate the Envoy tv system…

TV in place:




The headphones get rid of a lot of outside sound:


Nuts and a Coke Zero:


Appetizer:


My dads main course of chicken and rice:


My main course of pasta with something good on top (the brown things look bad, but are good…whatever they are):


Lovely dessert with cream:


Chocolate dessert:


Both desserts came with cheese and crackers:


Tea:


The meal and flight was highly enjoyable. I watched The Pink Panther 2 and Star Trek again during the flight.
On both flight the F/A’s were extremely professional and friendly and I applaud them for it.
Soap container in bathroom with America West emblem in it:


This plane would not have been used by AW…so finding this was funny.

Pre-landing service:


It was some cheese and tomatoes on a piece of toasted bread.

New Jersey coast:


Hot towel:


Atlantic City:


It was a rough and bumpy landing with T-storms in the area. We were lucky to even land.
PHL:
Airtran:


US Airways:



AA:


That was a fun trip and I highly enjoyed Norway. I would go back for sure.

Thanks so much for reading my report! Comments would be appreciated! Thanks.