YVR Cockroach
May 17, 00, 4:49 pm
I didn't want to spend the weekend in Boston so I decided to go for a mileage run and visit the Big Easy. $187 for a 7-day advance purchase fare was good given that I'd earn about 11,500 miles on US and 500 on AA.
12 May
US 763 BOS 1230 PHL 1353 737-300 5D
Took the T to the airport and shuttled over to the B terminal to get there just after 0900. Asked the check-in agent if I could standby. She asked around and said no. Long wait so I walked to the US lounge and asked how much a day membership is. $50!?! No way though I could have used it at PHL and DCA.
Go to the gate to ask about a standby on the 1030. I could have done this if I hadn't shown them the ticket jacket which showed I had checked-in luggage. So wait for the 1230. Uneventful flight which was pretty much ontime with an approach from the south past my old workplace of Scott Plaza.
Was: US 86 PHL 1735 DCA 1833
Is: US 1633 PHL 1530 DCA 163? 737-300 6C
Go to the nearly-deserted gate at PHL for US 1633 and ask the agent to standby for this flight. It has quite a few seats available so I am accommodated. Another uneventful. Took off toward the north. Fell asleep, but did wake up for the drink service. Landing into DC was from the north with the usual no-DC-overflight-Follow-the-Potomac descent. A tad hairy as this was my first flight into DCA from the north in at least 7 years.
US 1519 DCA 1633 MSY 2139 737-300 N560AU 3C
Got the the DCA gate and asked the agent if upgrades were available. Yes, they said, but as Special Services. Get there to ask an agent who tells me only one(!) coupon is needed so I buy 3, get one free and use that. Boarding starts just before 1925 and I get on. Back of the aircraft seems full or nearly so but 1st has at least 5 seats open.
I don't think I've ever had an evidently gay attendant (in mannerisms which were strictly professional) on any flight I've been on but I must say that David is the very best FA or any sex or orientation that I've ever come across on too many airlines.
Without being prompted or asked, he was there to refill beverages, take away trays, serve cookies opened and on a plate with coffee. He even took out blankets and offered to put them over passengers. Attentive without being intrusive, he seemed to sense your needs. I don't think J service in CX or other airlines was ever that good. All airlines need FAs as good, professional and dedicated as he is. The IRS (scary!) inspector next to me who apparently flies home to MSY every week) asked for a comment card and I did the same. We both agreed he is marvellous.
The cold plate dinner was some sandwich and other stuff which I forget. A dinner roll is served separately instead of in a sealed bag a la AA. David offered a choice of 2 red wines (I am sure I picked the one I would have liked less) and constantly comes around to refill this, and the glass of Tropicana OJ I switch to after.
Landing at MSY is just before schedule. Luggage takes some time to get out at this place.
Sheraton New Orleans
Split a cab (van as it turns out) with the couple in 2D&F on the DCA-MSY leg who were going to the adjacent Le Meridien. I should have gone there in retrospect as the cabbie charged me $24 for a separate hotel instead of splitting the $30 fare 3 ways. Check-in was fast at this hour (2230) and I got a room on the 29th floor. Supposedly it was a Starwood preferred Guest room but it was only o.k. Nothing that great though it did have a narrow but full-length window providing a view of the river and the US-90 bridge.
I got a great rate thanks to travelweb.com. It must have been a slow weekend in the Big Easy as 5 hotels had weekend rates. Mine was a mere $85+tax. A pity I couldn't stay any longer to savour the local fare.
US 535 MSY 1235 LGA 1630 737-300 N533AU 3D
Took the shuttle to MSY and get there just past 1115. There is along line for the coach check-in but my preferred status lets me bypass this. Ask for an upgrade and get it in exchange for 2 coupons. At the end of boarding, a young couple dump their stuff in 3D&F. After a few minutes the gate agent comes down asking them to check their boarding pass. The man (frat boy and his girl friend?) claims he was told it was o.k. They eventually show their boarding passes and are directed to 21E&F. Flight is unexceptional except for the landing (see later).
Service is good but the young FA, attractive in her Latin way, is a letdown after David. You could see the enthusiasm and dedication isn't all there. Lunch is a Cajun chicken (very mildly spiced, it at all) with couscous, and other things (cheese and crackers?) I forget.
The a/c starts its descent from the cruise altitude of 27,000' just before overflying the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Landing for this flight was very interesting, with an apology even offered by the flight crew on landing. The N-S runway at LGA was closed that weekend leaving only the WNW-ESE runway in service. As a result, landing a/c had to approach over water from the NW and make a turn at very low altitude before landing at LGA (I estimate the time between wings level and touchdown to be 15 seconds). It was a bit hairy to be in a turn that low at least in a jet. I think it was closer than the low altitude landing manoeuvres that some NH 747-400D I was on made in February approaching HND.
Exited the plane and headed over to the shuttle gates to get my BP for the flight to BOS.
US 6322 LGA 1700 BOS 1815 A-320 N113US(UW?) 13D
The flight was very quick with a true ½ hr flight time. very empty so i move to 11F from 13D. Despite the low load (less than 35-40%), the FAs barely had time to complete the service and tidy up. Takeoff was toward the SE, with the flight going straight to Providence and descending straight into BOS from there. Luggage is priority tagged again and comes out on the right belt this time.
[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 05-17-2000).]
12 May
US 763 BOS 1230 PHL 1353 737-300 5D
Took the T to the airport and shuttled over to the B terminal to get there just after 0900. Asked the check-in agent if I could standby. She asked around and said no. Long wait so I walked to the US lounge and asked how much a day membership is. $50!?! No way though I could have used it at PHL and DCA.
Go to the gate to ask about a standby on the 1030. I could have done this if I hadn't shown them the ticket jacket which showed I had checked-in luggage. So wait for the 1230. Uneventful flight which was pretty much ontime with an approach from the south past my old workplace of Scott Plaza.
Was: US 86 PHL 1735 DCA 1833
Is: US 1633 PHL 1530 DCA 163? 737-300 6C
Go to the nearly-deserted gate at PHL for US 1633 and ask the agent to standby for this flight. It has quite a few seats available so I am accommodated. Another uneventful. Took off toward the north. Fell asleep, but did wake up for the drink service. Landing into DC was from the north with the usual no-DC-overflight-Follow-the-Potomac descent. A tad hairy as this was my first flight into DCA from the north in at least 7 years.
US 1519 DCA 1633 MSY 2139 737-300 N560AU 3C
Got the the DCA gate and asked the agent if upgrades were available. Yes, they said, but as Special Services. Get there to ask an agent who tells me only one(!) coupon is needed so I buy 3, get one free and use that. Boarding starts just before 1925 and I get on. Back of the aircraft seems full or nearly so but 1st has at least 5 seats open.
I don't think I've ever had an evidently gay attendant (in mannerisms which were strictly professional) on any flight I've been on but I must say that David is the very best FA or any sex or orientation that I've ever come across on too many airlines.
Without being prompted or asked, he was there to refill beverages, take away trays, serve cookies opened and on a plate with coffee. He even took out blankets and offered to put them over passengers. Attentive without being intrusive, he seemed to sense your needs. I don't think J service in CX or other airlines was ever that good. All airlines need FAs as good, professional and dedicated as he is. The IRS (scary!) inspector next to me who apparently flies home to MSY every week) asked for a comment card and I did the same. We both agreed he is marvellous.
The cold plate dinner was some sandwich and other stuff which I forget. A dinner roll is served separately instead of in a sealed bag a la AA. David offered a choice of 2 red wines (I am sure I picked the one I would have liked less) and constantly comes around to refill this, and the glass of Tropicana OJ I switch to after.
Landing at MSY is just before schedule. Luggage takes some time to get out at this place.
Sheraton New Orleans
Split a cab (van as it turns out) with the couple in 2D&F on the DCA-MSY leg who were going to the adjacent Le Meridien. I should have gone there in retrospect as the cabbie charged me $24 for a separate hotel instead of splitting the $30 fare 3 ways. Check-in was fast at this hour (2230) and I got a room on the 29th floor. Supposedly it was a Starwood preferred Guest room but it was only o.k. Nothing that great though it did have a narrow but full-length window providing a view of the river and the US-90 bridge.
I got a great rate thanks to travelweb.com. It must have been a slow weekend in the Big Easy as 5 hotels had weekend rates. Mine was a mere $85+tax. A pity I couldn't stay any longer to savour the local fare.
US 535 MSY 1235 LGA 1630 737-300 N533AU 3D
Took the shuttle to MSY and get there just past 1115. There is along line for the coach check-in but my preferred status lets me bypass this. Ask for an upgrade and get it in exchange for 2 coupons. At the end of boarding, a young couple dump their stuff in 3D&F. After a few minutes the gate agent comes down asking them to check their boarding pass. The man (frat boy and his girl friend?) claims he was told it was o.k. They eventually show their boarding passes and are directed to 21E&F. Flight is unexceptional except for the landing (see later).
Service is good but the young FA, attractive in her Latin way, is a letdown after David. You could see the enthusiasm and dedication isn't all there. Lunch is a Cajun chicken (very mildly spiced, it at all) with couscous, and other things (cheese and crackers?) I forget.
The a/c starts its descent from the cruise altitude of 27,000' just before overflying the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Landing for this flight was very interesting, with an apology even offered by the flight crew on landing. The N-S runway at LGA was closed that weekend leaving only the WNW-ESE runway in service. As a result, landing a/c had to approach over water from the NW and make a turn at very low altitude before landing at LGA (I estimate the time between wings level and touchdown to be 15 seconds). It was a bit hairy to be in a turn that low at least in a jet. I think it was closer than the low altitude landing manoeuvres that some NH 747-400D I was on made in February approaching HND.
Exited the plane and headed over to the shuttle gates to get my BP for the flight to BOS.
US 6322 LGA 1700 BOS 1815 A-320 N113US(UW?) 13D
The flight was very quick with a true ½ hr flight time. very empty so i move to 11F from 13D. Despite the low load (less than 35-40%), the FAs barely had time to complete the service and tidy up. Takeoff was toward the SE, with the flight going straight to Providence and descending straight into BOS from there. Luggage is priority tagged again and comes out on the right belt this time.
[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 05-17-2000).]