dg1
Feb 2, 00, 11:26 am
I love acronyms and abbreviations http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
MT CMH N: Marriott Columbus North
I stay at this hotel pretty often when I have early morning departures from Columbus. I left Pittsburgh at 8:15pm for the three hour drive to Columbus. While it is a long drive, I actually don't mind it as it is an easy, low-traffic, 65mph and most importantly NO TOLL drive as opposed to driving the shorter two hours to Cleveland. Apparently I was speeding a bit since I made it in a bit early at 11:00pm to the Marriott.
Checked in to receive a room on the Concierge Level floor; of course at this hotel like most others the lounge is not open on weekends. For the first time in a long time I checked in to find my platinum box not there. However, a quick call downstairs and they sent it up immediately. It was a good box; it had honey roasted fruit/nuts type thing, sourdough pretzels and chocolate. All the stuff I like in the box.
Got up at 6:30am on a Saturday, express checked out, got to the airport in 15 minutes, parked in the red long term lot right next to a shuttle bus stop. A shuttle bus pulled up right next to the car and waited patiently, just like last time I was in Columbus. I really like that. Got on the bus, got to the airport and checked in at the first class line at 7:00am for my 7:45am flight. Walked over to the gate and boarded in a few minutes at 7:10am.
US CMH-PIT USAirways 7:45am flight CMH-PIT (30 minutes flying time)
Flied right back home; the irony of low fares. First class was half full; economy was less than half full. Plane was an old DC-9; glad to only spend 30 minutes on it. Left on time and arrived ten minutes early into Pittsburgh. Got to eat a couple of bags of the Cape Cod potato chips I so like; weird for breakfast, but don't get too many opportunities.
US PIT-SFO USAirways 9:15am flight PIT-SFO (5 hours 40 minutes)
Walked the short while from gate A-11 to gate A-17 and waited about fifteen minutes before I boarded. First class was full; I did not see coach but I think it was pretty full too. Take-off on time and they showed Double Jeopardy on the flight. Interesting movie. I was in 2A and 2C and going west bound USAirways goes from the front back so I got my first choice of meal which was the omelette. It was a very good breakfast; ate it all. For Carfield and anyone else interested here is the contents of the menu card given us:
To Start: Seasonal fresh fruit
Bread Basket: Warm croissants and banana nut muffins
Entree Selection: Swiss and mushroom omelet topped with wild mushroom ragout accompanied by scallion potato cake and peppered chicken sausage
French Toast served with grilled Canadian bacon and maple syrup
Kellogg's low fat granola, reduced fat milk, banana and blended yogurt
Prior To Arrival: Scampi chicken with mediterranean pasta salad, fresh fruit, ghiradelli chocolate
The flight arrived nearly an hour early at 11am in San Francisco. From there I took the courtesy hotel shuttle from the airport.
MT SFO AP: Marriott San Francisco Airport, 2 nights
I really liked this hotel, from start to finish. When I arrived, the complimentary shuttle driver was extremely friendly and helpful. Check-in was fast; I was upgraded to the Concierge level. And most importantly, the concierge lounge was actually open 9am-noon and 3pm-10pm on weekends so I got a selection of donuts and the like which helped me skip lunch since I was eating dinner early that night. After the Superbowl I spent some time in the hot tub; a nice touch is to have a TV in the same area. Later on during my stay I arrived about five minutes late for the buffet, but the waitress got me all the stuff I would normally get from the buffett manually from the back but still only charged me the buffet price. Needless to say a great tip (40%) was given.
HZ SFO: Hertz SFO Airport
While I could have picked up at the Marriott I decided to pick up at the airport anyway-- so I took the courtesy shuttle back and then took the rental car shuttle that all the rental car companies use. When I arrived my name wasn't on the Gold board; apparently a lot of other people were having problems. I told the lady I would take any car better than class D. She gave me a convertible for my $35 buck rate. Sweet. It was too cold and rainy to keep the top down on the first day but as I returned the next day was able to zip up 101 at 85 mph with the top down.
US SFO-PIT USAirways 1:15pm SFO-PIT (4 hours 20 minutes)
Another nice flight. Got to the airport early and ate at the Bay View restaurant in the South Terminal. I had the fried rice. Pretty good. My wife had the chicken salad. She liked that too. By the time we were done and walked over to our gate, the plane just started boarding. First class was full again; I doubt coach was full but probably still a profitable flight for USAirways. Boarded and left on time. Movie shown was Anywhere but here with Susan Sarandon. First thing I told my wife on seeing that: oh no, a chick flick. And I was right. I watched it but way too boring for me. The lunch menu is included below.
To Start: Shrimp Lovers Cocktail
Salad: Seasonal salad garnished with cucumber tomato salad offered with your choice of Italian herb vinaigrette or creamy ceaser
Sunflower boule, rye sourdough rolls and pumpernickle rolls, served with butter
Entreee Selection: Filet of Beef: Herb encrusted filet served with Santa Fe black bean sauce accompanied by roasted garlic mashed potates and vegetable medley
Mediterranean Chicken: Complemented by Borelaise sauce enhanced by sauteed spinach and carrots and red bliss potatoes
Grilled Chicken cold plate: Hickory grilled chicken and pineapple accompanied by vegetable slaw
Desert: Lemon pineapple mousse garnished with fresh fruit
What was interesting was as the flight attendant gave me the money she told me 'You fly USAirways a lot don't you?' I answered 'Yes, over 150 times last year'. She then whispered into my ear 'I'll come back later to you first and ask you for your meal choice. I'll take your wife's meal choice too even though she's only US 3.' (I know from past times US 3== Preferred). After she handed out all the menus but before she started service from the back of first class, she came over to my seat and took my tray of mixed nuts and asked me to point to the menu .. she explicitly said 'Don't speak, just point'. It was good she came to me first since my meal choice DID run out around my row (I wanted the beef).
This is the first time this has happened to me -- and since I didn't see her take anyone else's mixed nuts in advance I assume I was the only Chairman's Preferred in first, and probably on the plance. It's good to be the king http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I also attempted to use the club with one of those comp passes and was told I didn't need it.
US PIT-CMH USAirways 10:20pm PIT-CMH (45 minutes)
Got there about 15 minutes in advance. Flight was already delayed due to mechanical problems. An hour later I got sick of waiting. Since I was actually flying to CMH for the three hour drive back to PIT (I live near that airport) and the delay would bring me back near 5am, I called the Chairman's Preferred desk and asked to be put on a flight after work the next day even though the flight wasn't cancelled. The lady there said she'd stretch Rule 240 for me and booked me on the 6pm flight the next day. I left the airport, took a short taxi ride home and got a full night's sleep and won't have to drive down I-70 at 2am! I'm glad I left at around 11pm since the flight didn't leave till midnight, nearly two hours late. Hopefully today's flight is not as eventful.
MT CMH N: Marriott Columbus North
I stay at this hotel pretty often when I have early morning departures from Columbus. I left Pittsburgh at 8:15pm for the three hour drive to Columbus. While it is a long drive, I actually don't mind it as it is an easy, low-traffic, 65mph and most importantly NO TOLL drive as opposed to driving the shorter two hours to Cleveland. Apparently I was speeding a bit since I made it in a bit early at 11:00pm to the Marriott.
Checked in to receive a room on the Concierge Level floor; of course at this hotel like most others the lounge is not open on weekends. For the first time in a long time I checked in to find my platinum box not there. However, a quick call downstairs and they sent it up immediately. It was a good box; it had honey roasted fruit/nuts type thing, sourdough pretzels and chocolate. All the stuff I like in the box.
Got up at 6:30am on a Saturday, express checked out, got to the airport in 15 minutes, parked in the red long term lot right next to a shuttle bus stop. A shuttle bus pulled up right next to the car and waited patiently, just like last time I was in Columbus. I really like that. Got on the bus, got to the airport and checked in at the first class line at 7:00am for my 7:45am flight. Walked over to the gate and boarded in a few minutes at 7:10am.
US CMH-PIT USAirways 7:45am flight CMH-PIT (30 minutes flying time)
Flied right back home; the irony of low fares. First class was half full; economy was less than half full. Plane was an old DC-9; glad to only spend 30 minutes on it. Left on time and arrived ten minutes early into Pittsburgh. Got to eat a couple of bags of the Cape Cod potato chips I so like; weird for breakfast, but don't get too many opportunities.
US PIT-SFO USAirways 9:15am flight PIT-SFO (5 hours 40 minutes)
Walked the short while from gate A-11 to gate A-17 and waited about fifteen minutes before I boarded. First class was full; I did not see coach but I think it was pretty full too. Take-off on time and they showed Double Jeopardy on the flight. Interesting movie. I was in 2A and 2C and going west bound USAirways goes from the front back so I got my first choice of meal which was the omelette. It was a very good breakfast; ate it all. For Carfield and anyone else interested here is the contents of the menu card given us:
To Start: Seasonal fresh fruit
Bread Basket: Warm croissants and banana nut muffins
Entree Selection: Swiss and mushroom omelet topped with wild mushroom ragout accompanied by scallion potato cake and peppered chicken sausage
French Toast served with grilled Canadian bacon and maple syrup
Kellogg's low fat granola, reduced fat milk, banana and blended yogurt
Prior To Arrival: Scampi chicken with mediterranean pasta salad, fresh fruit, ghiradelli chocolate
The flight arrived nearly an hour early at 11am in San Francisco. From there I took the courtesy hotel shuttle from the airport.
MT SFO AP: Marriott San Francisco Airport, 2 nights
I really liked this hotel, from start to finish. When I arrived, the complimentary shuttle driver was extremely friendly and helpful. Check-in was fast; I was upgraded to the Concierge level. And most importantly, the concierge lounge was actually open 9am-noon and 3pm-10pm on weekends so I got a selection of donuts and the like which helped me skip lunch since I was eating dinner early that night. After the Superbowl I spent some time in the hot tub; a nice touch is to have a TV in the same area. Later on during my stay I arrived about five minutes late for the buffet, but the waitress got me all the stuff I would normally get from the buffett manually from the back but still only charged me the buffet price. Needless to say a great tip (40%) was given.
HZ SFO: Hertz SFO Airport
While I could have picked up at the Marriott I decided to pick up at the airport anyway-- so I took the courtesy shuttle back and then took the rental car shuttle that all the rental car companies use. When I arrived my name wasn't on the Gold board; apparently a lot of other people were having problems. I told the lady I would take any car better than class D. She gave me a convertible for my $35 buck rate. Sweet. It was too cold and rainy to keep the top down on the first day but as I returned the next day was able to zip up 101 at 85 mph with the top down.
US SFO-PIT USAirways 1:15pm SFO-PIT (4 hours 20 minutes)
Another nice flight. Got to the airport early and ate at the Bay View restaurant in the South Terminal. I had the fried rice. Pretty good. My wife had the chicken salad. She liked that too. By the time we were done and walked over to our gate, the plane just started boarding. First class was full again; I doubt coach was full but probably still a profitable flight for USAirways. Boarded and left on time. Movie shown was Anywhere but here with Susan Sarandon. First thing I told my wife on seeing that: oh no, a chick flick. And I was right. I watched it but way too boring for me. The lunch menu is included below.
To Start: Shrimp Lovers Cocktail
Salad: Seasonal salad garnished with cucumber tomato salad offered with your choice of Italian herb vinaigrette or creamy ceaser
Sunflower boule, rye sourdough rolls and pumpernickle rolls, served with butter
Entreee Selection: Filet of Beef: Herb encrusted filet served with Santa Fe black bean sauce accompanied by roasted garlic mashed potates and vegetable medley
Mediterranean Chicken: Complemented by Borelaise sauce enhanced by sauteed spinach and carrots and red bliss potatoes
Grilled Chicken cold plate: Hickory grilled chicken and pineapple accompanied by vegetable slaw
Desert: Lemon pineapple mousse garnished with fresh fruit
What was interesting was as the flight attendant gave me the money she told me 'You fly USAirways a lot don't you?' I answered 'Yes, over 150 times last year'. She then whispered into my ear 'I'll come back later to you first and ask you for your meal choice. I'll take your wife's meal choice too even though she's only US 3.' (I know from past times US 3== Preferred). After she handed out all the menus but before she started service from the back of first class, she came over to my seat and took my tray of mixed nuts and asked me to point to the menu .. she explicitly said 'Don't speak, just point'. It was good she came to me first since my meal choice DID run out around my row (I wanted the beef).
This is the first time this has happened to me -- and since I didn't see her take anyone else's mixed nuts in advance I assume I was the only Chairman's Preferred in first, and probably on the plance. It's good to be the king http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I also attempted to use the club with one of those comp passes and was told I didn't need it.
US PIT-CMH USAirways 10:20pm PIT-CMH (45 minutes)
Got there about 15 minutes in advance. Flight was already delayed due to mechanical problems. An hour later I got sick of waiting. Since I was actually flying to CMH for the three hour drive back to PIT (I live near that airport) and the delay would bring me back near 5am, I called the Chairman's Preferred desk and asked to be put on a flight after work the next day even though the flight wasn't cancelled. The lady there said she'd stretch Rule 240 for me and booked me on the 6pm flight the next day. I left the airport, took a short taxi ride home and got a full night's sleep and won't have to drive down I-70 at 2am! I'm glad I left at around 11pm since the flight didn't leave till midnight, nearly two hours late. Hopefully today's flight is not as eventful.