My 2nd Amtrak ride, the return, July 24

Amtrak 68:

We got up at 5:00 am, at breakfast at 6:30 am, and left the hotel at 7:30 am. We arrived quite early to the station and sat in the waiting area of “gate” 17. The students had lots of luggage, so they “checked” them with the guys who load up the bags in the back of your particular car at a rate of $3.00 per bag. Are those guys called porters?

About 30 minutes before boarding, everyone started to cue up to be in line for the “good” seats. There was a huge line. We ended up boarding about five minutes late and since we were going to YNY (Yonkers), we were in the 2nd car, away from those going to Penn Station, and we had our pick of seats. Somehow I ended up at the emergency exit row of my car and there was slightly more room. The conductor announced that this was going to be a FULL train for most of the 10.5 hour ride to NY. So it appears gas prices are affecting train loads.

We departed about 10 minutes late at 9:40 am. The trip back was extremely uneventful and LONG. The food was the same, the stops were the same, but the customs stop was only one hour 15 minutes this time.

The only complaint I would have is that when that train stops in Albany, they really ought to take out the trash from the cars, replenish/restock the snack car, and CLEAN and FRESHEN the lavs! Let’s just say the lavs got a bit rank after 10.5 hours and lots of people using them.

We arrived at YNY only 15 minutes late at 8:20 pm, purchased our tickets, and were off again on Metro-North back to Tarrytown. Yes, it was a backtrack. In retrospect, we should have purchased tickets from Croton-Harmon instead of YNY, but I purchased the tickets before we reserved the hotel rooms. We had nice accommodations in Tarrytown at the Courtyard for around $160 per night–including breakfast for four–and this is the third trip with students that I have stayed at this hotel. I am a repeat customer!

My first Amtrak ride: July 21, 2008

My first experience on Amtrak was a positive one. I arrived YNY (Yonkers) very early, because John had to drop me off on his way to work. I sat behind the station on the steps and enjoyed the breeze off the Hudson River and read until my students arrived from Tarrytown. We departed from track 2 (of four tracks total). The departure track changed three times, from 2 to 4, then back to 2. The train arrived five minutes late, but the friendly and funny conductor hustled us aboard and took our tickets after we were on our way. The train was so full we could not sit together, but were able to sit in the same car. Later on we were able to move about and sit with someone in our group. I was very pleased to see that there were two power outlets at every seat. The train reminded me of flying in many ways–with similar reclining seats, seatback pockets with an Amtrak magazine and Travel Mall catalog, and overhead storage–except there was more legroom, more overhead storage, and the lav was larger and cleaner! And the price I could not beat–$109 roundtrip–with the AAA discount!

The conductor during the morning realized we were from the South and told us a very lame joke as we boarded:

Question: What is the difference between Yankees and Damn Yankees?
Answer: The Damn Yankees stayed!

Somehow en route, we got behind by 30 minutes. We had a scheduled stop in Albany to change crews and the engine (I did not know they changed out diesel engines!) and I noticed that we arrived and departed there 15 minutes late (one of my students had picked up a route schedule.) The ride to Albany was very quick from Yonkers, about two hours 15 minutes. However, the ride/pace slowed considerably after Albany (after all the politicos were dropped off?) Each stop was 30-40 minutes apart and the customs stop was TWO hours. However, even after this stop and being 30 minutes behind, we still arrived only one hour late, at 8:05 pm.

Snack Car/Bar:
I had coffee and pita chips in the morning as I had eaten breakfast at John’s. The coffee was Green Mountain and was very good. The items cost $1.50 each for a total of $3.00. The coffee was a 12 oz. cup. For lunch, I had a corned beef and Swiss sandwich, today’s special, and a Sam Adams that were $5.00 each for a total of $10.00. And towards the end of the trip, I had a small cheese pizza and ginger ale for $5.00. The snack bar took both cash and credit and the lady working was very nice. Both times I took the food back to my seat, but the dining area was clean and spacious and there were two power outlets for each table as well.

Countdown to the end…LGA-CLT-TYS July 13

US 1233 LGA-CLT A321 seat 3C no seatmate
We started boarding 40 minutes before departure, not 30 minutes. There were LOTS of pre-boards with small children, one UM, one blind person with a seeing eye dog, and one person in a wheelchair. For some reason, I was the only one to board when they called zone 1. When I checked in online around 9:00 am, there were seven empty seats in F but on board there ended up being only one empty seat, 3A, the one beside me. The clientele looked to me to be very leisure except for about three or four men who looked business casual. There was a lady with a child and a man with a child in F. The two FAs I saw during boarding, a man and a woman, were dressed in what I call the dark navy leisure pantsuit (the jacket is zip-up.). The other FA had on the navy skirt and matching short-sleeved top of the same material. They all looked very nice and professional–I definitely prefer the more formal uniform pieces. Boarding finished at 11:00 am and we backed away from the gate 13 minutes early, at 11:02 am. No wonder they are on time backing away that early. There was no pre-departure drink. We were airborne by 11:15 am, our exact departure time. In-flight service was the usual beverage and snack basket service. The FA brought me a whole can of Bloody mix, the cup of ice with lime, and two minis, but never offered me anything else the rest of the flight. I have tons of A & Bs left, so I decided to give my FA one just because he gave me two minis and when I went up to give it to him, he was sitting and listening to his iPod! He works hard for the money indeed! Oh well! They did have the BoA spiel in this flight. We landed early at 12:32 pm, 49 minutes early! That might be a record! When I was deplaning, the FA thanked me again, very sincerely, for the A & B, and that made me feel like I did the right thing. I know things will only get worse for them.

US 2347 CLT-TYS CRJ seat 8C exit no seatmate
At 2:00 pm, the GA announced that our inbound aircraft had just arrived and we would be a little late boarding. We boarded at 2:15 pm, 15 minutes late, pushed back at 2:41 pm, but did not take off until 3:21 pm, 51 minutes late, due to a long line to take off and then a line of storms that briefly stopped westbound flights. Flight time was scheduled for 35 minutes take off to touch down and some bumps due to storms in the TRI/TYS area were expected. There was no bev service in flight “due to the short duration.” We landed at 3:55 pm, 28 minutes late.

Two response to my US flights on June 17

Dear C’est Beth:

It was a pleasure speaking with you this afternoon. We appreciate hearing from our customers and having an opportunity to address their concerns.

As promised, I have authorized a $100 Electronic Travel With US Voucher (ETUV) as a gesture of goodwill; in hopes of demonstrating our appreciation of your loyalty to US Airways. Your E-TUV is valid toward the purchase of travel on US Airways. Please be advised the E-TUV is not valid with Internet bookings. The E-TUV must be redeemed one year from the date of this email. In addition, please take a moment to read the terms and conditions listed below to receive the full benefit of this compensation. When you are ready to make your future travel arrangements, please call our Reservations Department at 800-428-4322 and provide the E-TUV code listed below.

C’est Beth, I appreciate this opportunity to explain, and again, apologize for your negative experience with us. We hope you will give us the opportunity to create a more positive travel experience in the future.

On behalf of US Airways and the entire Customer Relations team, please accept our sincere apology for the travel difficulties you experienced. Your concerns have been thoroughly documented and your comments have been shared with the appropriate management teams to help us improve our service.

————————————————————————————–

Dear C’est Beth:

We are unable to offer reimbursement for expenses incurred as a result of flight interruptions. We are able to compensate only for the flight interruption itself and to convey our apologies we have authorized one Electronic Travel with Us Voucher (E-TUV) in the amount of $50 as a gesture of goodwill. We hope you will allow US Airways another opportunity to regain your confidence. Your E-TUV is valid toward the purchase of travel on US Airways. Please be advised the E-TUV is not valid with Internet bookings. The E-TUV must be redeemed one year from the date of this letter. In addition, please take a moment to read the terms and conditions listed below to receive the full benefit of this compensation. When you are ready to make your future travel arrangements, please call our Reservations Department at 800-428-4322 and provide the E-TUV code listed below.

We know that you have many choices when it comes to traveling and we thank you for choosing US Airways.

July 11: TYS-DCA-LGA

US 2358 TYS-DCA CRJ seat 8C exit no seatmate
I arrived TYS early and was able to relax at Ruby Tuesdays, have a meal, and use my computer before flight time. Owen had just posted about the new TSA random search at the gate and lucky me, I was selected! The agent checked my computer and my rollaboard, but not my purse or me! We boarded late, at 4:25 pm due to a late-arriving and departing CLT flight at the same gate. There were about 15 empty seats of 50 total. We departed at 4:42 pm, 17 minutes late. But we landed at 5:50 pm, 9 minutes early. There was a full bev service in flight and an incredible approach into DCA over the Watergate and Kennedy Center and then I could see all the monuments and sights! Great way to arrive!

US 2184 DCA-LGA A319 seat 2C no seatmate
We started boarding 5 minutes late. There was a full pre-dep drink service. I had white wine, but it was awful. We boarded quickly as the plane was only about half full. There were three open seats in F. We backed away 7 minutes early, but took a 20-minute ATC delay. We took off at 7:26 pm, 26 minutes late. There was a full bev service in flight and I switched to Bud Light (I’m not a Bud fan, mind you) because I wanted beer and the only beer choices are Bud, Bud Light, and Heineken.  The beer was not cold so that was a little yucky, too. We also had the standard snack basket. After serving us, the FA went up front to her seat to read and eat Sun Chips! At 7:55 pm, we were put into a 20-minute holding pattern about 100 miles from LGA due to “traffic saturation,” so that gave me plenty of time to write most of this report–or so I thought! After five minutes, we were released early! And even with our delays totaling 31 minutes, we only landed five minutes late.

A note about the FAs. They mostly did their jobs, but I would not call them friendly or customer-oriented. It was more like they were “going through the motions” and they had a “toughness” about them that make them more like “surly.” I guess they are toughening themselves up for the onslaught of customer confusion when they have to start collecting $2.00 for drinks.

Two US flights down, four to go!

July 5: CO 2587 EWR-AVL, EMB 145 op by Express Jet

I arrived EWR early enough to eat lunch in the food court in Terminal A. Most CO flights are in Terminal C, but they have one “pod” in Terminal A, the middle pod, and they share this area with B6. There was an Elite Access line, but it was no quicker than the regular line, because there are so many CO elites in EWR! I passed time in the Terminal A President’s Club, with my free Internet. It is a very quiet and small club, right near the security checkpoints, but inside security, if that makes sense!

The terminal area was packed and it was a Saturday. Our flight boarded 30 minutes late, because our inbound aircraft was unable to get to the gate due to a late departing aircraft. We backed away from the gate only 15 minutes late at 4:44 pm, because the boarding process was amazingly organized and quick. We took off at 5:02 pm, 33 minutes late, but landed only 17 minutes late, at 6:34 pm. The service was exactly the same at my flight up – pretzels (one bag, 12 pretzels) and a standard beverage service. Non-alcoholic drinks are still free and alcoholic drinks are still $5. The beer choices were Heineken, Fosters, Miller Lite, and Miller Genuine Draft, by the way, and I had one Miller Lite. Our FA was Bobbie if you liked her and Anita if you didn’t! (Her words!)

My letter to US Airways Executive Offices & the DOT!

I will post my reply if/when I receive one!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Dear US Airways Executive Offices,

I am writing to share with you a very long and trying day of travel on US Airways that took place on June 17, 2008. I sincerely hope that experiencing three mechanical problems on two aircraft in one day is NOT the norm for passengers on US Airways and US Airways Express.

US 899 LGA-CLT, June 17:
I received a phone call from US’ automated system at 5:15 am alerting me of a “operational” delay that was going to cause me to miss my connection, so I called and was rebooked on the next connecting flight to TRI. My one hour 45 minute delay ended up being an hour and 15 minutes, so I thought, because it was announced in the US Airways club that our flight was going to depart at 9:30 am instead of 10:00 am. I went to the gate close to 9:00 am and we began boarding at 9:05 am. The reason for the delay was never mentioned at this time, although later it was announced that it was a flat tire. After sitting a while, I realized that it was past 9:30 am. Around 9:35 am, the pilot announced that we had a second problem, an indicator light that was showing something was not working correctly with the aircraft. We sat at the gate another hour until we finally pushed back at 10:27 am. After a long wait in line, we departed at 11:00 am, two hours and 45 minutes late.

US 4559 CLT-TRI, operated by Piedmont/US Airways Express, June 17:
After arriving two hours and 45 minutes late to CLT on US 899, I ran to my connection and said to the agent, “Tri-Cities?” The agent replied, “That flight is closed.” And I said, “It better not be, because it is US Airways fault that I just arrived.” Then the girl laughed and said she was just kidding, which was not funny. Another passenger and I boarded, and at 12:55 pm, four minutes early, we pushed back from the gate. We arrived the runway quickly and proceeded to take off. We were going full ground speed down the runway when the pilot suddenly aborted takeoff and we began to taxi back to the tarmac. Finally the pilot apologized for the aborted takeoff and said that it was either a situation with a propeller or a faulty indicator light. We sat on the tarmac while maintenance came out to our aircraft to test the props. Eventually the pilot announced that he was “rebooting” and everything appeared to be OK. We were not given beverages during the hour-long wait on the very warm Dash 8. We got back in line and departed at 1:55 pm.

Sincerely,
C’est Beth
Platinum Preferred xxxxxx

It pays to be an airline employee…or does it?

Airline travel could not be more stressful or disappointing. But airline employees and retired employees have it pretty well with non-revenue travel as a benefit. Or do they?

Apparently not, based on the air travel experienced yesterday and today of my friend and his wife, a flight attendant who just retired after nearly two and a half decades of employment with US Airways.

My friend and his wife arrived at their home airport in Providence, RI, yesterday to depart on a Fourth of July family vacation to Florida, and were pleased to be able to take advantage of their employee-earned non-revenue travel benefits. Luckily, they were able to make the flight to Charlotte, as non-revenue fliers are the last to be accommodated when there are empty seats.

However, their luck ran out. About an hour after arriving in Charlotte, their connecting flight to Florida was suddenly canceled. No reason for the cancellation was given (is anyone surprised?) until they pressed for an answer from a gate agent who finally said, “Says here maintenance.”

Of course, they were unable to retrieve their checked luggage. They stood by for a flight to an alternate Florida airport, but there were no seats. They ended up spending the night in Charlotte on their own dime, because displaced passenger accommodations are not offered to non-revenue passengers.

This morning they managed to get on the first flight to their original destination, but upon arrival, their checked bag was not there. They waited in line behind about 50 other passengers whose bags also did not arrive, and once they reached baggage services, inquired about the whereabouts of the bag and were told, “I have no way of knowing, we don’t have the equipment to track bags. We’ve got a new system where all the bags are scanned as they come off the airplanes, but we haven’t been trained on it yet, and who’s to say it will even work. I’ve filed a claim for you, as a courtesy. However, as airline employees, I need to tell you we won’t deliver this bag and frankly, I have no idea when we can even get it here.”

What? A courtesy claim? How could that be?

Well, it seems that since they were traveling non-revenue, US Airways does not guarantee the arrival or delivery of their luggage. In fact, the claim form reads:

THIS REPORT AND CLAIM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE LIABILITY – DO NOT DELIVER.

And handwritten underneath that statement was, “Bag will not be delivered.” That is, if it ever arrives at all.

As my friend’s wife said, “This is just one more example of how much they ‘care’ for us.” Indeed.

June 28: CO 2256 AVL-EWR

This trip report is going to contain a little more detail because I have not flown them in a year and I am being attentive to the little things I notice!

I arrived AVL and there was a line at the CO check-in, but two kiosks wide open! Why is it people do not “trust” or use them?

Anyway, I went to a kiosk, entered in my CO number, and I printed my BP. I had the option of looking at other flight options, changing seats, printing a receipt, and printing CO Currency, which is how CO handles on-board purchases–you pre-pay for drinks, etc., and you get a voucher to give to the FA.

Towards the end of the transaction, it asked me if I wanted to go ahead and AUTO CHECK-IN for my return on July 5 and I could select e-mail as an option! So I selected e-mail, so CO will e-mail me my BPs 24 hours in advance of departure! And if I want, I can reprint at a continental.com or at a kiosk. I have to say, I fell in love with CO all over again just by interacting with such a SMART kiosk and technology system. I SO WISH that they flew closer to me!

We boarded and departed late due to a late arriving inbound aircraft. It was an ATC delay both ways. We were given a wheels-up time of 12:15 pm, 17 minutes late, and took off at exactly that time.

The first officer introduced the crew. According to him, the FA’s name was “Boss Lady” (really Kimberly) and the aircraft’s name was Ashley, “but don’t let her size fool you!” I like it when a crew has a sense of humor and interacts with the passengers!

Kimberly first gave us mini pretzels, two bags each, as the flight was not full.

She then offered a full bev service. I had a margarita using one of my CO currency coupons, upon which Kimberly commented, “Oh, a ‘big girl’ drink!” And, I responded, “And I’m a big girl and I’m not driving!”

This was a quiet, relaxing, uneventful flight–just the way I like it–except for a few bumpy, towering cumulus clouds upon descent.

We landed at 1:45 pm, about 15 minutes early. We were supposed to arrive at CO’s pod in Terminal A, gate A25, but at the last minute we were redirected to C99.

I LOVE this direct to EWR!

Grade =A