guy44134
Apr 3, 01, 9:19 pm
I didn’t take any notes on my flight out to ABQ via ORD and DEN, so I will concentrate mainly on my “interesting” return flights. However, after not flying UA in almost seven years, other than every segment being late (except ABQ-DEN), the service was not half bad, the crews pleasant, and the flights comfortable, especially in Economy Plus. I wonder why I was able to get an exit row on the outbound CLE-ORD-DEN flight and a regular Economy Plus seat on the DEN-CLE flight, although I had 0 miles on UA. Those extra few inches really do make a difference. At any rate, here’s my first attempt at a trip report:
1 April, UA1933 ABQ-DEN, B727-200, Seat 18D
I hadn’t been on a 727 in ages. It looked to be in great shape inside and out, but seemed to be a bit louder than some of the newer planes I’ve been on. I boarded at gate A1 and the plane pushed back promptly. I estimate that coach class was about 2/3 full and the flight attendants invited us to spread out to fill any available window or aisle seats. I stayed in my assigned aisle seat and plugged in my ancient-looking plastic headphones with the big two-pronged head to listen to channel 9 (ATC transmissions). However, I was a bit disappointed that there didn’t seem to be any audio on the flight although the captain said channel 9 would be available. As this was only a 50-minute flight, we had a quick drink service and a bag of snack mix. They actually give you the entire can! After experiencing a light chop on approach to DEN, we pulled up to gate B45 right about on time.
1 April, UA1794 DEN-(OMA)-CLE, B757-200, Seat 11C
The incoming aircraft was late in arriving from SAN. Therefore, our departure was delayed approximately 45 minutes. This gave me some time to explore the impressive DEN airport. I had been through there once shortly after it opened. Other than the United areas, it seems somewhat underutilized, but maybe I was just there at a slower period. I eventually boarded the 757 at gate B43 and the flight quickly filled up. The extra legroom of Economy Plus was quite welcome. After an uneventful takeoff and climb out, and a promise by the captain to make up the late departure by “speeding up” some, I was listening to Channel 9 when I heard our captain declare an emergency and request an immediate diversion to Omaha. There was a passenger apparently suffering a heart attack. I told my seatmates of the news a few minutes before the captain announced it over the PA. (Do you think they shut off Channel 9 if there is a more serious mechanical situation or other emergency?). We quickly descended and pulled up at gate B15 to be greeted by waiting airport fire engines, police cars and an ambulance. Several paramedics boarded the plane and wheeled the youngish-looking man, who was conscious, off the plane. After a quick addition of some fuel, we were off again after only a delay of about 20 minutes on the ground in OMA. The captain and flight attendants were very apologetic and appreciative of our calm reaction and I heard no complaints from the tired (and hungry) passengers.
The flight attendants quickly served our dinner at around 11:15 p.m. Cleveland time and our promised movie could not be shown due to the relatively brief 1 hour 23 minute flying time remaining. Dinner was actually quite tasty—an herbed chicken breast in a very flavorful lemon sauce, with wild rice, a salad, garlic bread stick, and shortbread cookie for desert. That they were able to serve a fully loaded 757 in such a short time, shows just what can be done if airlines in the U.S. made a commitment to better in-flight service (like their overseas counterparts).
We were shown some NBC Inflight short subjects, including a hilarious bit from Saturday Night Live featuring our new “president” and an episode of Will & Grace. The video quality was maddening, however, as every minute or so a squiggly line went up the screen and the sound was distorted, as if the tracking on the VCR need to be adjusted.
After an uneventful descent into a chilly CLE, we touched down on runway 23L and pulled up to gate B5 at approximately 12:46, only about an hour behind schedule—not bad considering our late start and unexpected excursion to OMA.
1 April, UA1933 ABQ-DEN, B727-200, Seat 18D
I hadn’t been on a 727 in ages. It looked to be in great shape inside and out, but seemed to be a bit louder than some of the newer planes I’ve been on. I boarded at gate A1 and the plane pushed back promptly. I estimate that coach class was about 2/3 full and the flight attendants invited us to spread out to fill any available window or aisle seats. I stayed in my assigned aisle seat and plugged in my ancient-looking plastic headphones with the big two-pronged head to listen to channel 9 (ATC transmissions). However, I was a bit disappointed that there didn’t seem to be any audio on the flight although the captain said channel 9 would be available. As this was only a 50-minute flight, we had a quick drink service and a bag of snack mix. They actually give you the entire can! After experiencing a light chop on approach to DEN, we pulled up to gate B45 right about on time.
1 April, UA1794 DEN-(OMA)-CLE, B757-200, Seat 11C
The incoming aircraft was late in arriving from SAN. Therefore, our departure was delayed approximately 45 minutes. This gave me some time to explore the impressive DEN airport. I had been through there once shortly after it opened. Other than the United areas, it seems somewhat underutilized, but maybe I was just there at a slower period. I eventually boarded the 757 at gate B43 and the flight quickly filled up. The extra legroom of Economy Plus was quite welcome. After an uneventful takeoff and climb out, and a promise by the captain to make up the late departure by “speeding up” some, I was listening to Channel 9 when I heard our captain declare an emergency and request an immediate diversion to Omaha. There was a passenger apparently suffering a heart attack. I told my seatmates of the news a few minutes before the captain announced it over the PA. (Do you think they shut off Channel 9 if there is a more serious mechanical situation or other emergency?). We quickly descended and pulled up at gate B15 to be greeted by waiting airport fire engines, police cars and an ambulance. Several paramedics boarded the plane and wheeled the youngish-looking man, who was conscious, off the plane. After a quick addition of some fuel, we were off again after only a delay of about 20 minutes on the ground in OMA. The captain and flight attendants were very apologetic and appreciative of our calm reaction and I heard no complaints from the tired (and hungry) passengers.
The flight attendants quickly served our dinner at around 11:15 p.m. Cleveland time and our promised movie could not be shown due to the relatively brief 1 hour 23 minute flying time remaining. Dinner was actually quite tasty—an herbed chicken breast in a very flavorful lemon sauce, with wild rice, a salad, garlic bread stick, and shortbread cookie for desert. That they were able to serve a fully loaded 757 in such a short time, shows just what can be done if airlines in the U.S. made a commitment to better in-flight service (like their overseas counterparts).
We were shown some NBC Inflight short subjects, including a hilarious bit from Saturday Night Live featuring our new “president” and an episode of Will & Grace. The video quality was maddening, however, as every minute or so a squiggly line went up the screen and the sound was distorted, as if the tracking on the VCR need to be adjusted.
After an uneventful descent into a chilly CLE, we touched down on runway 23L and pulled up to gate B5 at approximately 12:46, only about an hour behind schedule—not bad considering our late start and unexpected excursion to OMA.