October 24: RIC-CVG-TRI on DL

DELTA 6112 LV RICHMOND 200P AR CINCINNATI 345P 9A
DELTA 6057 OK N LV CINCINNATI 435P AR TRI-CITY TENN 537P 12B EXIT
My transportation service was quick and got me to RIC in 15 minutes. The DL kiosk offered me an earlier flight through ATL for $50, but I declined…and thank goodness, two flights through ATL were already delayed.

Anyway, I had plenty of time to enjoy RIC’s free WiFi and my first Cheeburger Cheeburger (http://www.cheeburger.com/home2/index.asp). Those burgers are huge and pretty good, plus this is the only meal option inside of security on the B gates side besides the Sam Adams bar and a coffee place. Some guy just started talking to me out of the blue in the burger place, so I was kinda happy when the burger was gone and I had an excuse to go back to my gate waiting area.

When I went to the hotel business center to print my BPs, I noticed that both my flights today are absolutely full.

We were delayed in boarding by 20 minutes because they needed three weight and balance volunteers. The compensation was $400 DL dollars. I tried to volunteer, but the GA did not want to risk re-routing me through ATL where there were lengthy weather delays. We finally boarded at 1:50 pm and all passengers were loaded by 2:00 pm. At 2:06 pm, 23 hours 59 minutes in advance, I checked in Van for his flight tomorrow using WN’s mobile site, scoring an A BP, and then we backed away from the gate at 2:08 pm. We took off at 2:18 pm, 18 minutes late. We had the standard DL in-flight bev service and choice of three snacks. The ride was quite bumpy due to weather, but we landed 7 minutes early at 3:38 pm. We came in at A 16/18 and my TRI flight departed from the next gate, A 20/22. I tried to get online with my T-Mobile Hotspot subscription, but the only site I could access was that one. So I downloaded the Connection Manager for next time.

We boarded the next flight about 10 minutes late at 4:15 pm. We pushed back at 4:40 pm and took off at 4:53 pm., 18 minutes late. The flight time was scheduled for 40 minutes at 16k feet. In-flight service was by request only. We landed at 5:38 pm, 1 minute late.

October 22; TRI-ATL-RIC on DL

Wed 22 OCT DELTA 5003 LV TRI-CITY TENN 159P AR ATLANTA 304P 8B EXIT

We boarded up and pushed back on time, but took a 14-minute hold and took off at 2:13 pm. There was no bev or snack service offered. I dozed off and we landed at 3:00 pm, four minutes early, but it took us about 15 minutes to get to our gate and deplane.

Wed 22 OCT DELTA 1715 LV ATLANTA 426P AR RICHMOND 604P 25C EXIT

I was on an award ticket, so no upgrade, but my legroom in the exit row aisle was plenty.

By the time I left the club, they were already almost boarded up and it was only 4:10 pm! We pushed back two minutes early at 4:24 pm and were airborne by 4:39 pm, 15 minutes later, which is still better than CLT these days. In-flight service was full beverage service and a choice of peanuts or Biscoffs. I took Biscoffs from the club, so I had peanuts and the FA gave me two bags. Sorry, Bruce, I did not count the peanuts! I also ponied up $7 for a drink, but donated my change of $3 to the breast cancer cause, as their goal for donations this flight was $100!

We landed 24 minutes early at 5:39 pm, and were to the gate in no time. I did have to wait for my checked bag, then had to wait a few minutes on my transportation service to the hotel. However, my timing was great and it only took 20 minutes to go from RIC to the West side of Richmond.

It was well worth (so far) my $124 award ticket plane ride and my $58 + tip of $17 roundtrip transportation ride to not drive the 650-mile round trip to Richmond alone in a state car!

October 19: LGA-CLT-TRI on US Airways

US 1177 LGA-CLT A319 seat 2D 10:00 am-12:08 pm
On my last day, this flight could not have gone any better, which is why I am very sad as I write this report. We boarded on time, with specials, then zone 1, etc. We pushed back 4 minutes early at 9:56 am and were airborne by 10:17 am. The safety video was the OLD one. I was familiar with the lead FA, I have been on quite a few of his flights before, and he has to be one of the nicest, most efficient, pleasant FAs around. In fact, all of the FAs looked so professional and were so nice that I gave them each an Above and Beyond and when the lead FA who was working F doled them out, each one of them came and personally thanked me profusely. I told them I wish I could have done more. This was a very moving experience.

The lead/F FA was great–he served our multiple times and he offered everyone a bottle of water to go. Someone came up from coach to get a cup of water so he or someone in his party could take medicine and he gave him a complimentary cup.

The flight was short and smooth and we landed at 11:33 am, 35 minutes early. We did have to wait about 15 minutes for our gate, which still put us into the gate 18 minutes early.

US 4559 TRI-CLT D3 seat 11C Exit 12:59-1:58 pm
We took a maintenance delay, but finally boarded at 12:55 pm, 26 minutes late.  We had shut the door when the pilot came out and opened the door again and three more passengers were allowed to board.  Our actual gate departure was at 1:17 pm, 18 minutes late, but we did not take off from ATL, uh, I mean CLT, until 1:42 pm, 43 minutes late. I fell asleep until we started taxiing down the runway. Shortly after we were airborne, the FA came around, took our drink orders, and offered us a COMPLIMENTARY bev service for our patience during the delay! I gave her an Above and Beyond and she said she’d give it to the captain, although I think they all deserved it really. Someone else tried to give the FA $5.00 for letting her on the plane when we opened back up and the FA declined, so I gace the FA another Above and Beyond for that lady to give her. We landed at 2:16 pm, 18 minutes late.

October 17: TRI-CLT-LGA on US Airways

US 4124, TRI-CLT D3 seat 11C exit 6:10-7:06 pm
The inbound aircraft arrived late, but we were boarded and pushed back by 6:10 pm. We took an ATC delay into CLT (the new ATL!) and departed at 6:29 pm, 19 minutes late. The FA did not sell a bev service. We landed at 7:18 pm, 12 mins late, and finally got to the gate 21 minutes late at 7:27 pm! I had to haul a$$ from E31B to D9 and Owen had his own issues w/US and was unable to come to D, so we talked on the phone as I power-walked to my gate. Upon arrival, zones 1-3 had already boarded.

US 1624, CLT-LGA A321 seat 2C faux (not refurbished; gray and worn interior) 8:00-9:53 pm
Faux class was full (one couple was downgraded as there was a “seat mix-up!”) and KATIE COURIC was in 3C (guess B6 was full? I hear she likes them…) There was a blanket and pillow in my seat and we received a full pre-dep bev service. I had a Bloody, no lime, one mini, in plastic of course. We pushed back on time and took off at 8:17 pm, 17 minutes late due to ATC again. In-flight service was “la crappe basket” and another Bloody for me, lime/2 minis/sticky (ewww!) can. Katie had water and appeared to be dozing or relaxing with her Bose headphones on (I went to the lav and noticed on the way back to my seat.) This bird still had IFE monitors with TravelQuest silently playing. 18 minutes out the FAs did the BofA spiel. We landed at 9:35 pm, 18 minutes early. Only 2 more US flights, thank God!

Miles for not flying? What’ll they think of next?

So United Airlines is offering the opportunity to earn bonus miles by buying an expensive ticket? US Airways has done one better: it’s offering bonus miles on mileage purchases.

read more | digg story

October 5: DL 5003 ATL-TRI

05 OCT 2008
DL 5003 ATL-TRI 12:25 PM-1:21 PM
Seat 8B Exit No Seatmate

Short but sweet!

We boarded on time with zone 1 first. We backed away from the gate at 12:21 pm and were airborne by 12:28 pm. Flight time was scheduled for 38 minutes en route. Our FA, Helen, came through with the snack basket with the usual three choices plus water.  She told us that she was not required to give us service on the short flight, but since she had snacks available, she wanted to be courteous and do so. Helen went above and beyond despite the “short duration” and I will be writing Delta to compliment her. She was great – and so polite and humble. It was also her birthday as pointed out by the pilot and the pax responded with applause. We landed at 1:06 pm, 15 minutes early.

Grade = A+; an awesome day for DL and DL Connection!

October 5: DL 905 LGA-ATL

05 OCT 2008
DL 905 LGA-ATL 8:00 AM-10:35 AM
Seat 6C, 757-200, 24 F seats

My fiancé dropped me off around 7:00 am. I reprinted my BP at the kiosk,was whisked through security by the Clear agent, and in the CRC for a quick coffee and yogurt by 7:10 am. We boarded on time at 7:30 am with specials, F, zone 1, etc. The GAs and FAs were all wearing some form of pink for breast cancer awareness month. They have some cool employee BC awareness T-shirts that I’d buy if they made them available for public purchase. I wore the pink ribbon that I received in the CRC Friday when I made a donation. In flight there was Minute Maid pink lemonade for sale for $2.00, with all proceeds being donated.

Like Friday, there were blankets, pillows, and mini Dasani bottles at each of the 24 F seats, 23 of which were occupied. We were served a full, pre-departure drink service in disposable cups (plastic or styrofoam.)

We pushed back at 7:58 am, but it took a while to be towed out of gate 1. We were in line for takeoff when the pilot announced there had been a runway change and we’d have to turn around and get in line going the other direction. We finally took off at 8:35 am, 35 minutes late, and our estimated flight time was 1 hour 56 minutes.

After we passed through 10k feet, one FA took our drink orders while the second passed out HOT TOWELS!  We were served our drink orders, then a continental breakfast (called a “light meal” on the flat screen gate monitor) consisting of Special K cereal, 2% milk, yogurt, fresh fruit, and a WARMED bagel with cream cheese.

The only ads present were an Amex Reserve CC coaster and a small, laminated GoToMeeting card the size of a short bookmark on my tray.  If that paid for my breakfast, then thank you!

Cockroach alert! After breakfast trays were removed, one of the FAs came through with the snack basket and I took a couple of bags of peanuts and my Dasani for my later DL Connection flight where there is not always service due to the “short duration.”

We landed at 10:25 am., 10 minutes early!

Grade = A+; As long as Delta loves me and treats me well, I will love Delta!

TRI-ATL-LGA October 3

DL 5133 TRI-ATL CRJ-100 seat 8B exit

This flight was so uneventful. Due to ATC delays in ATL, we departed 28 minutes late at 4:58 pm. There was absolutely no service in flight and to be honest, this CRJ’s interior was rather worn, sort of like some of the US planes I’ve been in. However, our flight time was only 40 minutes from takeoff to touch down, so we arrived at 5:38 pm. at gate D38, the last D gate at the end of the hallway.

CRC in ATL, near B-10

We had to wait a few minutes for our gate, but I was still able to get from the D concourse to a CRC in Concourse B, the one near B-10 and my flight gate was B-9, by around 6:10 pm. This is the CRC that is TINY and it was PACKED. I made my way to the agent to get my complimentary T-Mobile one-day pass for Internet, got a Bloody Mary at the bar and some snacks–olives, crackers and hummus spread, cheddar cheese, baby carrot sticks, and celery sticks–and found a table and chair near a power outlet. I ended up making this a quasi dinner and had more snacks and another Bloody. I left the CRC around my boarding time, 7:10 pm.

DL 926 ATL-LGA 757-200 with IFE in seatback seat 5C, First Class

I was upgraded nearly two days in advance of my flight, before midnight of the day of my actual upgrade window, which made me very happy. This was a 757 with 26 F seats and seatback IFE. Nice! We started boarding about five minutes late, around 7:15 pm, with first class and specials, then the remaining zones 2 and up.  Upon boarding there was a blanket, pillow, Dasani, and earbuds at every seat in F.  We received a pre-departure drink and I had my 3^rd Bloody of the afternoon/evening.

We had to wait in line to take off and were airborne 25 minutes late, at 8:05 pm. At first I had no seatmate, but then someone moved back because her IFE audio was not working. The service consisted of a snack basket service similar to US and a full beverage service in glassware. I selected original Sun Chips and peanuts and had two of the Rande Gerber/Stirrings specialty drinks, two margaritas.

Around RDU, we were put in a holding pattern for about 15 minutes and the pilot said he did not know why exactly. During this time the FA came through the F cabin repeatedly to make sure we were OK with drinks and snacks. The pilot estimated an arrival of about 10 minutes late, at around 10:10 pm. He was great about updating us and being honest about not know the reason for the hold.

We landed at 10:02 pm, only a few minutes late. Now that, my friends, is some padding!

Important Note: Delta is having an October breast cancer awareness and fundraising drive. When you book a ticket online and check in online, 250 miles per transaction is donated to the cause and the customer also receives a 250-mile bonus per transaction. I was also able to donate money in the CRC and received a pink ribbon to wear as a token of my donation. In flight, the FAs sold a pink Kool-Aid type drink for $2.00, all going for the cause. I wanted to point this out because my younger sister just successfully survived breast cancer treatment this year and I think this is a WONDERFUL move by Delta. Bravo! If any of you are flying Delta this month, PLEASE book online, check in online, and drink the Kool-Aid!  You never know when this disease might strike yourself or someone you love.