DL 4302 and DL 926: TRI-ATL-LGA August 29

DL 4302 TRI-ATL CRJ Seat 8B Exit NO SEATMATE!
This flight was so uneventful, thank goodness! We departed eight minutes late at 5:43 pm. In flight, we had a full snack service, the normal choice of three, but the beverage service was water by request only. However, we landed at 6:23 pm, 26 minutes early. How much better can you get than that–a quick and easy 40-minute flight!

DL 926 ATL-LGA 757-200 Seat 5B (F), NFL SEATMATE!
I arrived at ATL and had about 10-15 minutes to hit the B10 CRC. That is by far the smallest CRC I have been in and it was PACKED. But somehow I got a cubicle and a T-Mobile card and was able to get online briefly and got a Bloody Mary, too!

I arrived at the gate at 7:10-7:15 pm and boarding had already stared and they were on zones 1-2 (DL boards F, zone 1, and then zone 2.) The gate agent did honor Breezeway boarding, so I was able to board rather quickly even though there was a regular line as well.

Once on board, our F seats had blankets, pillows, and the small bottles of Dasani. A guy came back from row 1 to sit with me, because he had switched with a father who was going to sit with his son. We struck up the usual small talk and our professions came up and he said he played football. Come to find out his name was Erik Coleman, http://www.nfl.com/players/erikcoleman/profile?id=COL271731. He played his first four years for the NY Jets and now is a starting free safety for the Atlanta Falcons. I was completely impressed how friendly and polite he was. He chatted with me about how football was always his dream and how he and his wife met in NY.

DL sells ear buds (in ear, no longer the over ear ones) for $2 in coach for the IFE, which was the usual DL TV programming: http://entertainment.delta.com/television/. This plane was an older 757 with the dropdown monitors.

Other than that, the flight was easy and just about as good as it gets. I received a pre-departure beverage (another Bloody!) and in flight, I had one of their new margaritas (excellent!) and Merlot. It was a snack basket flight like US, except that they give you the choice of the crackers, in addition to granola bars, peanuts, Biscoffs, and Sun Chips. We took off about 15 minutes late at 7:55 pm, but landed about 9:37 pm, 31 minutes early, and arrived at the gate around 9:49 pm, 19 minutes early.

Grade for both flights = A

Broken promises: Delta starts de-hubbing in Cincinnati

Is Delta Air Lines de-hubbing Cincinnati ahead of its merger with Northwest Airlines? It sure looks that way. Although the airline claims it isn’t, it appears the cutting has already begun.

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DL 5166 and DL 8933 LGA-CVG-TRI August 16

DL 5166 LGA-CVG, CRJ 900 with F class seat, 3A single seat side:
I passed through security using the new Clear line at LGA! They make you feel like a rock star and pull you all the way to the front of the line. People stare and wonder if you are famous! I went to the CRC and was impressed with the little spread of olives, hummus dip, crackers, and cheese, in addition to the usual crunchy snacks. They also have Sam Adams on tap! I am happy to report that this flight was uneventful! We backed away from the gate 10 minutes late, did the usual LaGarbage wait, and took off 30 minutes late at 4:55 pm. In flight service was the standard three-snack options (with seconds and thirds for F class) and the standard bev service with free booze in F. I had peanuts, crackers, and a Bloody Mary. The two male FAs worked the entire plane together. We landed in beautiful, fall-like CVG 27 minutes early, at 6:20 pm. The A club is closed weekends, so I hiked over to B. There the spread was olives, chick pea salad, chicken salad with walnuts, carrot sticks, celery sticks, crackers, and cheese, in addition to pretzels and Biscoffs. They had Michelob Amber Bock on tap.

DL 8933 CVG-TRI EMB 145 seat 12A single seat exit:
Another uneventful, good flight from DL (aka Chautauqua!) We boarded about 20 minutes before departure, all 11 of us (9 males, 2 females.) We left the gate 5 minutes early at 7:55 pm and took off 9 minutes late at 8:09 pm. We had a full bev and three-snack choice service. We landed 14 minutes early at 8:49 pm. Great job, Delta/Delta Connection! Consistent and on-time service!

TRI-ATL-LGA on Delta, August 13

DL 4209 TRI-ATL CRJ seat 8B exit (NO SEATMATE!)
We boarded and departed late due to the late inbound aircraft. As we were boarding, I noticed there were a few “amateurs” bringing aboard rollaboards and large bags, which the FA ended up having to “re-position” under seats to keep from having to gate check them. Where were the luggage guys to prevent that from happening? At any rate, we left 20 minutes late at 2:20 pm. The FA handed out the still complimentary crackers, peanuts, and Biscoffs prior to departure, which allowed her to complete a full, still complimentary bev service to our nearly full aircraft on our short 40-minute flight. We arrived ATL at 3:00 pm, 20 minutes EARLY (padding is my friend!), and were able to park at our gate, but we had to wait about 10 minutes on the jetway operator. By the time we deplaned, we were still five minutes early.

Crown Room Club, B10
This is by far the smallest CRC I have ever been in (I guess I usually go to B25 when I am in B?) but my flight was departing from B4 and I wanted to be close to my gate as my layover was short. The club was packed, but luckily I was able to get a cubicle with power outlets where I could research the Spanish train schedules and info for Van’s trip to Spain in November using the club’s complimentary T-Mobile Hotspot. I also had a wonderfully spicy, complimentary Bloody Mary, with lime and three olives in a DL branded highball glass! You better believe that bartender got a tip! The drink was great! Plus I snatched a few Biscoffs for the ride!

DL 920 ATL-LGA MD-88 seat 25C exit row aisle (3-seat side)
As I am lowly Silver, I did not get upgraded today. In fact, there were only two who were cleared for upgrades as per the gate monitor and I was number 18 on the list after the two cleared (that made me 20th on the list originally!) The plane was absolutely full–no empty seats at all.

We boarded on time, but left the gate about five minutes late and waited in line until we took off at 5:12 pm, 32 minutes late. This is similar to the wait time in CLT these days, at least in my experience. Flight time was scheduled at two hours 33 minutes (4:40 pm to 7:13 pm), but actual flight time was announced at one hour 37 minutes. So Delta padded this flight by 56 minutes. (I think my math is right this time!)

Our wait at the gate and during taxi was slightly uncomfortable as there was a maintenance issue with the ground air conditioning system, but once in flight, the inflight AC system worked great and I about froze my derrière off!

The flight was about 70% business, 30% amateurs, based solely on my observations. There were many businesspeople in coach. My two seatmates, both male, were both business guys. And the one beside me hogged the armrests and took his shoes off…eww…sweaty sock feet!

We had a full beverage and snack service. First came the complimentary snacks (same as above) and snacks for purchase and then came the drinks. I had a drink chit so I had another Bloody Mary (but no lime or olives), as I was not in the mood for their special cocktails, the margarita or the Manhattan. I miss the pomegranate martini! That was awesome. And I heard the Cosmo was also good and it is gone, too.  The beer choices were Heineken, Amstel Light, Miller Lite, and Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat. At least for $7.00 you get more than a Bud, Bud Light, or Miller Lite!  The guy in the window seat in my row had white wine and it was Redwood Creek Chardonnay. He also had a drink chit. Since the flight as kind of long and I was not driving, I ponied up the $7.00 for another Bloody. The second one had a lime—yay! Today the credit card handhelds were not working so it was cash only and I had exact change just in case!

The approach was a little longer than originally expected, but it’s LaGarbage! However, we arrived at LGA at 7:01 pm, 12 minutes EARLY.

US 975 MSP-CLT August 10

US 975 MSP-CLT A319 seat 1A

I arrived MSP about two hours early. Check in at the kiosk was quick and easy. I also passed quickly through security and found a NW WC to pass the time. I arrived my gate and we boarded on time at 9:35 am with F class first! F was full and the décor was the familiar gray, but not as dingy/dirty as my inbound in Thursday. The FA offered a full bev service and I received a potent Bloody.

We departed the gate 10 minutes early and took off 7 minutes late at 10:12 am CT. We received the standard inflight bev and snack basket service, but this FA kept us watered and fed the whole time. In coach they actually had a limited number of snack boxes for sale for $5!

Get this, we landed at 12:55 pm, 53 minutes early from the projected arrival time of 1:48 pm (or 44 minutes early based on the above itinerary time, 1:39 pm!)  In other words, really, really early. I was surprised we went straight to a gate!

Wow, it confuses me when US does things right. It makes me tempted to call my new “Executive Liaison” and use my remaining vouchers!

US 982 CLT-MSP A 319 seat 1A, August 7, 2008

US 982 CLT-MSP A 319 seat 1A, August 7, 2008

I arrived to CLT early around noon, parked in long term lot 2, rode the shuttle bus, reprinted my boarding pass, and passed through security, all in about 40 minutes. The one thing I noticed on my way in is that about one half the shuttle bus got off at the stop for the other airlines. It used to be that almost everyone would be US Airways, but that is no longer the case.

I was able to buy a quick lunch and head to Starbucks.  I sat at a table surfing the Internet and doing e-mail on CLTNet until I went to my gate. We boarded on time. This was an old US A319, with the two-tone, very worn, dirty, and gray interior, but the seats had been refurbished. The seats in F were two-tone medium dark blue/gray and the seats in coach were medium dark blue. I like the new seat look, but the medium dark blue just does not go with the old, worn, dirty gray. I sure hope they plan to refurbish the interior walls and carpets as well. Funny note—my seat, the part where my back rested, already had pen marks! How does that happen? There ended up being one open seat in F and the FA brought someone forward to fill that seat. We also received a full pre-departure drink service. I had white wine.

We departed the gate 2-3 minutes early (scheduled departure was 2:40 pm), but we sat in line for another 25 minutes before taking off. So in all reality, we departed about 20 minutes late, so I assumed that we used up our “padding” in CLT.

My seatmate and I had a great time talking. He was about my age and leads a software sales team for Computer Associates. He actually got to where he is today with an associate’s degree from a NC technical/community college in computer-something and told me his story of how he owes his career to the training, mentoring, and work-study experience he received at his local community college. We discussed technology, software, computers, etc., and how community colleges are well positioned to play a major role in training students with the appropriate technology skill sets for specific companies.

I asked him if he was still all US Airways and he said yes, that he saw no other way to travel except US Airways. I did not ask him what his status was, but he earns enough miles and points through his air, hotel and car rental travels that he can take his family of four on a full vacation every year free except for meals and incidentals. He said most recently he has taken his family to San Diego and Hawaii all on miles/points.

Oh yeah, we also talked football! He is a Carolina Panthers season ticket holder. And he was a NY Yankees fan, too, but his son prefers the Braves, so his loyalty for the Yankees had waned!

The inflight service was the standard snack basket and beverage service. The snack basket contained Fiesta Snack Mix, Biscoffs, Granola Bars, and Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips. I elected for a Bloody Mary. Honestly, that is not much to eat at all for two and a half, three hour flight. And in coach, they really should sell snacks for a flight that length, IMO. I am so glad I ate lunch, was upgraded, and did not have to BYOB.

The BofA credit card spiel was reserved until the descent.

Thank goodness the flight was completely uneventful, with no Beth Effect whatsoever. We landed at 4:22 pm Central Time, 7 minutes early.

I took my pre-paid Super Shuttle to the Hilton Towers downtown. And because I am now Hilton Gold, I received free Internet and I get to eat and have cocktails in the Executive Lounge! This is a very nice property, right in downtown Minneapolis. Perfect for a Minneapolis virgin like me!

US Airways says “buh-bye” to in-flight entertainment

US Airways, the beleaguered airline undergoing a painful transformation plan that it hopes will return it to profitability, has decided to end in-flight entertainment on some aircraft.

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Have an airline voucher to redeem? Read this first!

Have you ever received a voucher as compensation for an unpleasant travel experience or for volunteering to take a later flight? If so, make sure to understand how the voucher may be used and with which fares — all vouchers are not created equal!

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Another US Airways voucher redemption issue!

August 5, 2008

Dear US Airways Executive Office,

I called US Airways on Friday, August 1,to redeem a $100 E-TUV for a TRI-LGA roundtrip ticket connecting through CLT. The fare online was $402 including taxes, which would have been about $302 with the voucher.

I called, gave the agent my E-TUV confirmation code, and she found the same fare and itinerary as me. She put me on hold for 30 minutes. She came back and told me that the reservations system would not let her redeem my voucher with that particular fare. She told me these were my options:

Buy the online fare for $402
Buy the regular fare of $570
Redeem the $100 voucher and pay a fare of $462, $60 more than not using the voucher at all!

She recommended I buy it online. I thanked her for her time and hung up.

Using an E-TUV as per the Terms and Conditions, “May be used toward the price of one ticket/one fare on US Airways, US Airways Shuttle, and US Airways Express, as well as their codeshare partners,” should not cost more, nor should it take 30 minutes to find out that the voucher is essentially worthless.

I bought my ticket from Delta for $385 taxes included, no voucher required, in a transaction that took about five minutes.

Regretfully,
C’est Beth

UA ROA-IAD-JFK/EWR, August 1 and 3

UA 7291 ROA-IAD CRJ seat 10C aisle:
My first flight was pretty uneventful, except they announced that the lav would be inoperable–before we boarded –thank goodness! The flight was only 33 minutes from takeoff to touchdown. The flight was boarded first with specials/Global Services/1K, then by zone.  I was in 10C (no E+ seats on a CRJ!) and 3 exit row seats went empty–they are only for 1P and up and they no longer sell them at check-in! But that was OK, there was no one beside me so I could spread out for the “long” flight! Once we arrived about 30 minutes early to IAD, we had to wait on the tarmac for a few for the rampers to show up. We still got to the gate about 20 minutes early. However, once I arrived IAD, I found out my 10:05 to EWR was delayed to 11:30! I was going to pass time in the NWA WC at the B gates, but it closed 20 minutes after I arrived! So I made my way to the people mover and came on over to D. I finally found customer service and because I was Premier Associate, they hooked me up on the JFK 10:05, an EMB 170, aisle seat! I am soooo glad I credited to UA!

UA 7291 IAD-JFK EMB 170 seat 6D aisle:
We boarded up and finally departed 50 minutes late at 10:50 pm. The flight was supposed to be 38 minutes, but it turned out to be 50 minutes, with an arrival time of 11:40 pm. We took a 15 minute wait on the tarmac to allow some large planes to land. By the time we arrived the gate and deplaned, it was about midnight. There was no service on board, but I loved the EMB 170!

UA 7888 EWR-IAD EMB 145 seat 14A:
We boarded and departed 18 minutes late, at 10:20 am, due to a late inbound flight. Although we landed at 11:05 am, 45 minutes later, we received a full beverage service and the flight was almost full! We arrived 15 minutes early! In the interim, my earlier flight to ROA was canceled due to a mechanical. I was called by the EasyUpdate automated system, received an EasyUpdate e-mail, and automatically rebooked on the next available flight to ROA, UA 7291, before the gate agents announced the cancellation. I snagged one of the last seats; people in the Customer Service line were told that the flight was full. To pass the time, I found the NW WorldClub in Terminal B, where I was able to enjoy complimentary snacks, beverages, and Internet.
US 7291 IAD-ROA CRJ-200 seat 11C aisle:
This was an uneventful flight except that we departed 30 minutes late at 6:05 pm after a long wait on the plane, but arrived two minutes early at 6:36 pm. There was no beverage service and I only saw two open seats.