LGA-CLT-TRI September 14

14 SEP 2008
US 899 LGA-CLT 8:15 AM-10:19 AM A321 seat 22D exit; no one in center seat

We boarded on time with specials, then F/zone 1, and so on, and the first thing I noticed was that this A321 was brand new, because the blue seats, consoles/armrests, and walls with the logo swoosh all matched, the plane was impeccably clean, the overhead controls/lights were new, and there were no IFE monitors! It looked very nice, I must admit. There were also tons of blankets and pillows in the bins over my row 22 that FAs handed out to pax by request.

The FAs had to perform the safety demo live since there was no IFE/safety video. The one at row 22 kept turning and looking at the FA in the front to make sure she stayed in sync.

We backed away from the gate 5 minutes early at 8:10 am and were airborne at 8:23 am, 8 minutes late. The takeoff was smooth and the flight quiet. The FAs came through with the à la carte bev service, but I had purchased my own water before boarding as a matter of principle only, as I paid $2.16 for it!  From row 22 forward, I only saw them sell one drink and the flight was almost full. So much for the extra income from bev sales.

The flight was very uneventful. We landed at 9:40 am, 39 minutes early.

14 SEP 2008
US 4459 CLT-TRI 11:16 AM-12:14 PM Dash 8 seat 4C exit

We boarded late, around 11:00 am, but there were only 9 passengers, so we were on and outta there by 11:10 am and were airborne by 11:21 am!

The FA offered to see us drinks, but there were no takers. We landed at TRI at 11:58 am, 16 minutes early.

The only notable from this flight was that I was wearing across my body a wallet-sized Coach purse with my phone and BlackBerry inside. I usually wear it when I have a seat in a bulkhead or a row where there is no under seat space, so I have my devices when I land, and never have I received a comment about it. However, when this FA did the pre-flight check, she made me take off the tiny bag and put it under my seat. I thought that was just a wee bit anal-retentive! I mean, I was wearing it across my body, so there was no way it would go flying through the air!

TRI-CLT-LGA September 12

12 SEP 2008
US 4124 TRI-CLT 6:10 PM-7:06 PM Dash 8-300 11C exit
US 1624 CLT-LGA 8:00 PM-9:53 PM A321 seat 1A

The inbound to TRI arrived 10 minutes late, but they turned the plane around quickly, boarded the 18 (of 52 possible) passengers up, moved a few to the back for weight and balance purposes, and we backed away 5 minutes early.  We were given a wheels-up time of 6:18 pm, 8 minutes late.  There was no in-flight service.  We landed 11 minutes early and arrived at the gate on time.

The flight to LGA started boarding 10 minutes late, but the doors were shut 1 minute late at 8:01 pm.  F had two empty seats until a pilot boarded and took seat 1F.  This A321 had the new blue/grey seat covers and there was a pillow and blanket at each seat.  There were bottles of water at most seats, but not 1A or 1C, my row (?) After the doors were shut, the male FA offered a pre-departure beverage in anticipation of a one-hour ground hold.  He served me a full party cup of mystery white wine.  After we backed away and started our taxi, the pilot announced a shorter hold of 20 minutes.  A couple of minutes later, he told the FAs to be seated, and next thing we knew, we were taking off even earlier, at 8:13 pm, only 13 minutes late.

I did notice when we took off that my seat back reclined slightly on its own!  For a minute there I braced myself but then I realized it was not going any further back on its own power!

In-flight service was the usual snack basket and bev service we have come to “love.”  Biscoffs, chips, snack mix, granola bars are what’s for dinner!

A while later, I finished what I had and wanted more wine and chips (no dinner-I was starving!)  I looked up for the FA and he was in the galley, standing and reading while eating an orange.  Finally he brought the basket back out and I was able to get more chips and he refilled my plastic wine “goblet” absolutely full again.  I was trying to figure out what the wine was–it was in a green bottle.

Other than a trip to the lav (appeared clean), the flight was very quiet and uneventful, except for the man in 2A snoring loudly!  I fell asleep.

We landed to the south on runway 22 in light rain showers at 9:53 pm., on time.

LGA-CLT-TRI September 7

US 1177 LGA-CLT A319 seat 2C
This could not be a more perfect “day after the storm” to travel! The weather at LGA and CLT were magnificent! We boarded on time, actually slightly early, with specials, then F/zone 1. I received a pre-departure Bloody WITH LIME! F only had one empty seat. We shut the door at 9:50 am, 10 minutes early, and backed away at 9:52 am. We were airborne by 10:08 am. In-flight service was the same as yesterday, beverage and snack basket, but today, the FA WORKED the entire time. He also looked nice in the long-sleeved shirt! I gave him an A&B and he was so pleased! He pre-mixed my Bloody in flight, this time with lemon. I also asked for a bottle of water, so I would have a drink for the TRI flight and not have to pay. We landed 33 minutes early at 11:35 am. We had to wait 12 minutes on our gate, but still deplaned 20 minutes early!

US 4559 CLT-TRI Dash 8-300 seat 11C exit row aisle no seatmate
We boarded about 20-25 minutes before departure. There were only 19 passengers and a few had to move back for weight and balance purposes. We left the gate 6 minutes early and took off at 1:04 pm. The FA announced “beverage purchase would be by request only” and she did not receive any purchase requests. We landed 34 minutes later at 1:38 pm, 20 minutes early.

TRI-CLT-LGA September 6

US 2570 TRI-CLT CRJ seat 8B exit row aisle no seatmate
Who would believe traffic at 4:30 am on I-81 South north of Bristol, but there was—an accident that had just been cleaned up—and I arrived late at the airport at 5:10 am. However, it was TRI on a Saturday morning, so there was no line, no waiting anywhere and I had already checked in.

I passed through security and make sure to buy my $2.00 water BEFORE boarding.

We boarded up and pushed back 15 minutes early, at 5:45 am. We departed at 5:50 am, 10 minutes early and arrived 35 minutes early at 6:13 am. There were only 16 passengers and no beverages sold, although she offered.

US 1050 CLT-LGA A319 seat 3C
We boarded on time at 7:25 am. When it was boarding time, the two male gate agents started looking antsy–there must be real pressure on them to push back early/on time. Faux class was full and there were two older couples split between faux and coach. One husband took his seat in F, 3A beside me, and sent his wife to 9D while the other husband took his seat in coach and his wife sat in 2C. We were served a pre-departure beverage and of course I had a Bloody (no lime! BOO!) in that VERY flimsy plastic cup. I thought those were temporary? They shut the door 10 minutes early at 7:45 am. and after the obligatory 20-minute runway wait in ATL, uh CLT, we took off at 8:05 am. The in-flight service was the usual snack basket and Bloody (without lime again!) breakfast of Screw S elites! The older gentleman working F wore the short-sleeved, white, khaki and blue striped shirt that looks NOTHING like a uniform. I do not like that shirt! He brought me two minis and the can, but spent the rest of the flight up front reading. I went to use the lav and he peered up from his book and smiled! He did not come check on us or pick up trash–a coach FA picked up our trash during our initial descent!As you can imagine, the ride was NOT smooth at all due to Hanna, but we arrived at 9:33 am, 13 minutes early.

DL 907 and DL 4209 LGA-ATL-TRI September 1

Pre-trip report:
I arrived the DL terminal an hour and 15 minutes before my flight and was able to pass very quickly through security due to my Clear card. This time the Clear agent carried my purse and bag, arranged my computer, shoes, and quart bag in the bin for me, and told me go on through security, she would make sure my bins and bags came through–and they did. I was VERY impressed. It may have taken 2-3 minutes to pass through.

I arrived at the CRC and was greeted with a smile by the agent, who also addressed me by name as she scanned my BP. Today’s snacks included Montego Bay mix (primarily dried fruits and nuts), small cookies and pastries, and pretzel mix. I had orange juice, which I had to request from the bartender (sometimes it is already sitting out, self-serve.)

I looked at my BP and inflight service said, “refreshments” for F. Online it said “snack.” I am not sure if that means snack basket or something else.  Sometimes they have a continental breakfast snack and sometimes it is the basket, depending on the time and “route” competition. At any rate, I did eat breakfast, so I will be fine either way. At least I have a larger seat.

DL 907 LGA-ATL, 757-200 with 24 F seats and overhead monitors, seat 1C aisle:

When I arrived at the gate at 8:30 am, the agent was already boarding zone 3. We had a full pre-departure beverage service and there was a pillow, blanket, headphones (over ear), and a small bottle of Dasani at each seat upon boarding. Surprisingly, the early Labor Day morning flight was full. We pushed back on time at 8:55 am and took off at 9:10 am. The flight time was scheduled to be one hour 45 minutes, 761 miles en route. Two FAs, the male team leader and a female, worked the F section. One took our drink orders, addressing each of us by name and verifying whether we wanted the snack or not. There was a hot towel service and the “refreshments/snack” consisted of a beverage of one’s choice, 2% milk, cold cereal, fresh fruit (cantaloupe, grapefruit, and pineapple), yogurt, and bread. (PHOTO BELOW)

In-flight IFE was either music or the TV shorts interspersed with music videos and DL ads. One of the ads emphasized the 500-mile minimum earned on each flight.

We landed at ATL at 10:58 am, 37 minutes early. While taxiing to the gate, the FAs recognized the servicemen and women aboard the flight and all passengers responded with a round of applause.

I went to the C concourse CRC, which was right beside the gate for my connection. Upon check-in, the agent greeted me by name, scanned my BP, and notified me that my flight was on time.

MY FLIGHT AND DAY SO FAR ON DELTA = A+++

DL 4209 ATL-TRI CRJ seat 8B NO SEATMATE

We boarded on time. There were about 18-20 passengers on board. We backed away from the gate early at 12:18 pm and were airborne by 12:33 pm (scheduled departure was 12:25 pm.) We had a full beverage and snack service (crackers or peanuts), landed 18 minutes early at 1:09 pm, and arrived at the gate by 1:14 pm, still 13 minutes early. It was an uneventful, consistent flight.

GRADE = A