Seiple
Dec 19, 00, 1:58 pm
MCI-STL
11 November 2000
TW412
MD-80 N926TW
Seat 32A
I arrived at the deserted Kansas City terminal B at 4:40am to check in for my 6:00am flight to STL, connecting to BOS. I was fifth in the check-in line, with no agents in sight. The line grew to over sixty people by 5:00am when three agents appeared to open the counter. I soon was next up in line, having my Aviators number entered and receiving my boarding passes. I then walked all of about fifty feet to gate 34B, clearing security before entering the glass-enclosed waiting lounge. Boarding began at 5:32am. I was one of the first to go down the jetway to N926TW, an MD-80, and found my seat of 32A, window on the two-seat side, second row from the back. It was the bulkhead seat behind the rear galley. Additionally, the port engine impaired much of the view. The aircraft pushed on time and taxied to runway 1R for take-off. We climbed to 27,000 feet for the 37 minute flight. The F/A's performed a quick drink service, those of us in the last few rows served by tray. The descent began during the service, F/A's barely finishing and collecting trash from the 90% full main cabin as flaps began coming out. The aricraft touched down 15 minutes early. It taxied to gate C2, arriving nine minutes ahead of schedule.
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STL-BOS
11 November 2000
TW192
MD-80 N957U
Seat 28A
My connection was eaten up by my breakfast stop in the terminal, on my way to gate C38. By the time I arrived, boarding had begun for the 7L48am departure. I boarded the MD-80 and found my seat of 28A, a window seat on the two-seat side, last row before the aft galley. Consequently, my seat did not recline, but I didn't have anybody in the seat next to me for the 2.5 hour flight, so I didn't mind. After the four male F/A's delivered the safety demo, the aircraft pushed and followed out Southwest B737 N80SW to the northern parallel runway. After a Chautauqua ERJ-145 and TWA B717 landed, we made an expedited take-off, climbing to the east. The pilot announced we would climb to 33,000 feet and a speed of mach 0.8. She was very good about updating us on all stages of the flight. The F/A's came around with a drink service and distributed breakfast bags (orange juice, strawberry yogurt, an apple muffin, and a small apple). After the trash cart came around, turbulence began and lasted for the remaining 1:20 of the flight. The aircraft descended through clouds and turbulence with the ground (or rather water) becoming visible on short finals. The MD-80 landed from the south in the rain and had a quick taxi to gate 40 in the C terminal, arriving two minutes early at 11:26am.
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BOS-STL-OMA
12 November 2000
TW455
MD-80 N902TW
Seat 27C
I arrived at Logan via the T and took a shuttle bus from the station to terminal C, getting to the check-in counters at about 6:00pm for the 7:28pm departure. The lines were negligible, so I was promptly helped by an agent. My e-ticket check-in took less than three minutes, as I was not checking any luggage. The agent was very helpful and reminded me that the flight did not have a meal service, and suggested visiting the nearby food court prior to the flight. I found this a nice touch. Rarely does an airline agent remind passengers to eat before a flight in my experience. I ate dinner at that food court, having a large slice of sorry looking pizza and a soda. It appeared to be the best the terminal offered outside of a sit-down restaurant. I grabbed a cup of coffee from Starbucks and walked the 200 feet to gate 40, catching sight of my aircraft: MD-80 N902TW in the new colour scheme. At 6:45pm, pre-boarding began and I flashed my Aviators Elite card to get on and secure and overhead bin on the full flight for one of my two carry-ons. My seat was 27C, an aisle seat on the two-person side, two rows forward of the rear galley. The plane filled up quickly, with many passengers being forced to gate check their bags at the aircraft door. The MD-80 pushed five minutes late, taxying out behind a Sabena A340 and Continental MD-80. We took off to the north, quickly reaching 31,000 feet. The seatbelt sign went off an a F/A served drinks by tray to the rows around the galley, the cart starting in the front of coach. Mini-pretzels accompanied my 7-up. The pilot announced we would make up the lost time in the air and should be able to chock-in at STL on time at 9:40pm Central Time. The F/A's followed the drink service with a second, offering coffee and more pretzels (an interesting combination). There was turbulence occasionally during the remainder of the flight, with the seatbelt sign periodically turning on and off. Following a quick final descent, the MD-80 landed from the east and taxied to gate C38, arriving four minutes ahead of schedule, but having to hold away from the gate for another MD-80 to push back, placing us into the gate 6 minutes late. I grabbed my boarding stub and left the aircraft during the stop. I took a walk down to about C4 to stretch my legs before buying a sandwich and reboarding with other passengers at 10:20pm. The flight was very full, but pushed on time at 10:35pm with one empty seat in the main cabin. We taxied out behind the MD-80 that was parked at an adjacent gate (it was going to Tulsa). The aircraft's wheels were retracted at 10:43pm, with an expeditious climb to cruising altitude. The seatbelt sign stayed illuminated due to continuous turbulence, but the four F/A's managed to complete a quick drink service, this time everybody served by cart. The approach was quick and fast with many turns to line up for the ILS approach to runway 32L. Touchdown was smooth, but was followed by full reverse thrust and heavy braking, enough to force people to lean forward in their seats. We made a turn-off near our gate. We taxied to the south terminal, pulling in between another TWA MD-80 and an American Eagle ERJ-145 at 11:51pm.
Overall impressions:
TWA was as good as I remembered them from my last trip on them (last October). The delays if any were negligible and acceptable. Service was great with cheerful crews who seemed to enjoy their jobs. Ground staff were polite and helpful. Legroom was ample and I found the seats very comfortable. I always love flying on the MD-80. Even at a seat where I saw mostly engine out my window, cabin noise was relatively low. It was lower than sitting aft of the wing on an America West B737-200.
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Jason Seiple
OMA
11 November 2000
TW412
MD-80 N926TW
Seat 32A
I arrived at the deserted Kansas City terminal B at 4:40am to check in for my 6:00am flight to STL, connecting to BOS. I was fifth in the check-in line, with no agents in sight. The line grew to over sixty people by 5:00am when three agents appeared to open the counter. I soon was next up in line, having my Aviators number entered and receiving my boarding passes. I then walked all of about fifty feet to gate 34B, clearing security before entering the glass-enclosed waiting lounge. Boarding began at 5:32am. I was one of the first to go down the jetway to N926TW, an MD-80, and found my seat of 32A, window on the two-seat side, second row from the back. It was the bulkhead seat behind the rear galley. Additionally, the port engine impaired much of the view. The aircraft pushed on time and taxied to runway 1R for take-off. We climbed to 27,000 feet for the 37 minute flight. The F/A's performed a quick drink service, those of us in the last few rows served by tray. The descent began during the service, F/A's barely finishing and collecting trash from the 90% full main cabin as flaps began coming out. The aricraft touched down 15 minutes early. It taxied to gate C2, arriving nine minutes ahead of schedule.
------------------------------------------------------
STL-BOS
11 November 2000
TW192
MD-80 N957U
Seat 28A
My connection was eaten up by my breakfast stop in the terminal, on my way to gate C38. By the time I arrived, boarding had begun for the 7L48am departure. I boarded the MD-80 and found my seat of 28A, a window seat on the two-seat side, last row before the aft galley. Consequently, my seat did not recline, but I didn't have anybody in the seat next to me for the 2.5 hour flight, so I didn't mind. After the four male F/A's delivered the safety demo, the aircraft pushed and followed out Southwest B737 N80SW to the northern parallel runway. After a Chautauqua ERJ-145 and TWA B717 landed, we made an expedited take-off, climbing to the east. The pilot announced we would climb to 33,000 feet and a speed of mach 0.8. She was very good about updating us on all stages of the flight. The F/A's came around with a drink service and distributed breakfast bags (orange juice, strawberry yogurt, an apple muffin, and a small apple). After the trash cart came around, turbulence began and lasted for the remaining 1:20 of the flight. The aircraft descended through clouds and turbulence with the ground (or rather water) becoming visible on short finals. The MD-80 landed from the south in the rain and had a quick taxi to gate 40 in the C terminal, arriving two minutes early at 11:26am.
------------------------------------------------------
BOS-STL-OMA
12 November 2000
TW455
MD-80 N902TW
Seat 27C
I arrived at Logan via the T and took a shuttle bus from the station to terminal C, getting to the check-in counters at about 6:00pm for the 7:28pm departure. The lines were negligible, so I was promptly helped by an agent. My e-ticket check-in took less than three minutes, as I was not checking any luggage. The agent was very helpful and reminded me that the flight did not have a meal service, and suggested visiting the nearby food court prior to the flight. I found this a nice touch. Rarely does an airline agent remind passengers to eat before a flight in my experience. I ate dinner at that food court, having a large slice of sorry looking pizza and a soda. It appeared to be the best the terminal offered outside of a sit-down restaurant. I grabbed a cup of coffee from Starbucks and walked the 200 feet to gate 40, catching sight of my aircraft: MD-80 N902TW in the new colour scheme. At 6:45pm, pre-boarding began and I flashed my Aviators Elite card to get on and secure and overhead bin on the full flight for one of my two carry-ons. My seat was 27C, an aisle seat on the two-person side, two rows forward of the rear galley. The plane filled up quickly, with many passengers being forced to gate check their bags at the aircraft door. The MD-80 pushed five minutes late, taxying out behind a Sabena A340 and Continental MD-80. We took off to the north, quickly reaching 31,000 feet. The seatbelt sign went off an a F/A served drinks by tray to the rows around the galley, the cart starting in the front of coach. Mini-pretzels accompanied my 7-up. The pilot announced we would make up the lost time in the air and should be able to chock-in at STL on time at 9:40pm Central Time. The F/A's followed the drink service with a second, offering coffee and more pretzels (an interesting combination). There was turbulence occasionally during the remainder of the flight, with the seatbelt sign periodically turning on and off. Following a quick final descent, the MD-80 landed from the east and taxied to gate C38, arriving four minutes ahead of schedule, but having to hold away from the gate for another MD-80 to push back, placing us into the gate 6 minutes late. I grabbed my boarding stub and left the aircraft during the stop. I took a walk down to about C4 to stretch my legs before buying a sandwich and reboarding with other passengers at 10:20pm. The flight was very full, but pushed on time at 10:35pm with one empty seat in the main cabin. We taxied out behind the MD-80 that was parked at an adjacent gate (it was going to Tulsa). The aircraft's wheels were retracted at 10:43pm, with an expeditious climb to cruising altitude. The seatbelt sign stayed illuminated due to continuous turbulence, but the four F/A's managed to complete a quick drink service, this time everybody served by cart. The approach was quick and fast with many turns to line up for the ILS approach to runway 32L. Touchdown was smooth, but was followed by full reverse thrust and heavy braking, enough to force people to lean forward in their seats. We made a turn-off near our gate. We taxied to the south terminal, pulling in between another TWA MD-80 and an American Eagle ERJ-145 at 11:51pm.
Overall impressions:
TWA was as good as I remembered them from my last trip on them (last October). The delays if any were negligible and acceptable. Service was great with cheerful crews who seemed to enjoy their jobs. Ground staff were polite and helpful. Legroom was ample and I found the seats very comfortable. I always love flying on the MD-80. Even at a seat where I saw mostly engine out my window, cabin noise was relatively low. It was lower than sitting aft of the wing on an America West B737-200.
------------------
Jason Seiple
OMA