Seiple
Apr 9, 01, 9:03 pm
A trip report from my recent trip on TWA down to JAX. I returned on April 8, TWA's final day as an independant airline. As of Monday April 9, TWA is known as TWA LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines.
6 April 2001
TW 188
OMA-STL
N924TW
MD-80
Seat: 20F
We arrived at Eppley Airfield at 9:50am for the 11:05am departure to STL. At check-in, our bags were checked through to JAX however boarding passes could only be issued to STL. An upgrade was not available as First was full. The agent did not put in my Aviators number, so I asked the gate agent to input it. Gate 4 was used for the flight like all TWA departures except the first flight of the morning (5:50am flight leaves from gate 5). The gate agent informed us the reason we could not get boarding passes to JAX was because that flight was seriously overbooked due to a previous flight's cancellation. My father told the agent that it was important we make that flight as my grandparent's 50th anniversary dinner and reception was that evening in Jacksonville, which was not entirely false, it was just moved up one day in that rendition for the gate agent's benefit. She said that it did not look good for our getting seats on that flight, but promised she would see what she could do. Boarding commenced from the back to the front starting at 10:30am. I took my seat of 20F, window overlooking the leading edge of the wing (missed the exit row by one). Boarding was completed by 10:55am. A child started screaming about three rows in front of us. It was quickly hushed by the flight attendant who told the child that unless it behaved it would have to come sit with him. It was quiet until landing in STL. Flight time was announced as 50 minute at FL290. We pushed at 11:04am and took off at 11:10am from runway 14R, entering the cloud base at around 500 feet after a very long take-off roll. Drink service started immediately. Cups of soda were offered with no peanuts or even Biscoffs. Descent was long with the MD-80 flying past STL and way into Illinois before turning back for a long final for 30R, where the aircraft touched down at 12:09p. We arrived into gate D20 by 12:13p. There was a five minute delay while the jetway was moved forward and the front door was opened. The next flight went out of D30, which we ran to in order to get in line for boarding passes.
---------------------------------------------
6 April 2001
TW 658
STL-JAX
B717-200
N412TW
Seat: 3A (TW First)
Following the short run from the previous gate, our name was called to the podium at D30. We were handed our new First Class boarding passes. Thank you upgrade gods! We boarded as soon as a whiney woman finished pestering the flustered gate agent. The cabin of N412TW, an infant Boeing 717-200, was extremely warm. Several passengers deplaned due to the heat. The pilots were not yet at the aircraft, so nobody was around to activate the APU, or so we were told. Finally the copilot arrived about the time the flight attendants got around to serving First Class our pre-takeoff bev erages, or I should say beverage as water was the only option. I will note that my water came in a plastic cup imprinted with the American Airlines hideous logo (I'm not an AA fan). I had seat 3A, a window on the port side. Boarding finished a 1:05pm with one standby making it on board. The aircraft pushed back at 1:09pm for the taxi to 30L. Inflight time was estimated as 1:38 at an altitude of 33000 feet. As the aircraft taxied by the end of C concourse, I noticed fire trucks around C35 or so. As a TWA DC-9 taxied by them, they opened up with water and showered the aircraft as it passed. We had a short hold at the end of the runway behind two TWA B767-300's before taking off at 1:38pm and climbing back into the clouds. After the seatbelt sign disengaged, a flight attendant asked us to unfold our tray tables. She then placed a cheesecloth-like white table cloth down on each tray in the full forward cabin. Drinks were served from the cart on its way back to coach in plastic cups. No real glasses were seen on this flight, not even for the wine. Box lunches were passed out... same as my last time on this flight in TW First: turkey sandwich on a large bun (which was not stale at least) with tomato and lettuce accompanied by a bag of Ruffles potato chips and a small cup of bitter coleslaw. The sandwich was edible but the presentation was not up to the level of many other airlines. After the meal, trash was collected and warm chocolate browies were given out, along with an offer of coffee or water. The rest of the flight was smooth and clear, affording me a great view straight down at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport and aircraft on its runways and taxiways. The descent into JAX was short with a very defined square pattern. We touched down on runway 7 at 3:59pm and with heavy braking made an early turnoff to pull into gate A6 by 4:04pm. Coats were not distributed as the flight attendants made no offer to pick them up prior to our departure.
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8 April 2001
TW 495
JAX-STL
B717-200
N411TW
Seat: 11E
We arrived at the airport at 1:00pm for our 2:45pm flight to STL. There was no line at check-in so bags were checked quickly. No chance of an upgrade and the flight was overbooked. My family of four was split throughout the aircraft as we were unable to receive seat assignments at time of reservations for the JAX flights (made in October). After some plane spotting I went to our gate of A6 to wait. At 2:15pm preboarding happened followed by row numbers at 2:25pm. I had seat 11E, a middle seat. How unpleasant. The seats were blue in coach unlike on the MD-80's. The aircraft pushed back at 2:47pm after several PA requests by the gate agent for volunteers. The offer was a free roundtrip ticket to any domestic destination. Flying time was estimated as 1:50 at 35000 feet. After a long taxi to runway 25, we took off at 2:57pm after a MetroJet B737-200. After the double chime, the flight attendants did their customary "throw some peanuts at them then chat in the galley until landing." Actually it was pretzels and a 7-up (full can actually) with ice in a styrofoam coffee cup (they ran out of plastic cups). The seatbelt sign stayed off for all of the flight however there were some bumpy spells. The flight crew as a whole was not real big on making announcements. No frequent flyer welcome or even notice that it was safe to use electronic devices. I could see into TW First from my seat the whole flight, as the curtain was never closed. That allowed many people to violate the sacred barrier and use the forward lavatory. First only received drinks in plastic cups, except their drink order was taken prior to take-off. They were served pretzels instead of the usual almonds as well. The approach was unusually fast for St. Louis. We touched down on runway 30L at 3:40p and were at gate D-32 by 3:47p.
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8 April 2001
TW 577
STL-OMA
MD-80
N958U
Seat: 9E
I stepped out of the jetway just in time to catch the end of a gate change announcement for our OMA flight. We went to gate D-24 to await boarding. The aircraft, N958U, had just arrived. I checked about an upgrade, and was told that First was full on the flight to OMA. Boarding started at 4:40pm for the 5:08pm departure. After preboarding, there was a call for rows 20 and higher, then one for all rows. It was very disorganized, especially with just one agent working the flight. Our seats were spread out again. My brother and I had seats 9E/F. I took the middle as he wanted to use the wall to sleep. We pushed back at 5:12pm with about a dozen empty seats in coach and two empty in First. Flying time was announced as 51 minutes with a cruising altitude of 31000 feet. We taxied to runway 12L, holding with two other MD-80's in between 12L and R before we took off at 5:25pm. Climbing through 12000 feet, the seatbelt sign went off and the drink/pretzel service started. First was served from the cart then it came back to coach. The four flight attendants finished the drink service quickly. We had a long approach leading to a touch-down on runway 32L at 6:18p followed by a gate time of 6:23p. Baggage took 25 minutes to come out on the carousels.
---------------------------------------------Overall comments:
Well, my final flight with TWA as its own airline. It wasn't as great as some in the past, and not as bad as others. Now it's all going to be American, an airline I have yet to have a good experience with (five trips in the last year all awful due to American Airlines... diversions, terrible employees, flight cancellations they didn't tell passengers about, bumped involuntarily from flights I checked in two hours early for, plus was lied to about DFW airport supposedly being closed due to weather when CNN Airport in the gate showed 80 degrees and sunny at DFW). TWFirst was certainly more comfortable than riding in the back, but now I can say I've at least sat back of the cabin divider once on a B717. It's a great airplane, very quiet and nice interiors (especially the larger overhead bins that hold the rollaboards side by side).
I've flown TWA loyally since my first flight at three weeks of age (redeye L-1011 flight PHL-LAX) and have been generally pleased be it transatlantic segments (in Royal Ambassador Class) to domestic First to even domestic and international Coach (anybody remember "Comfort Class" ??). They are the first airline I have been able to attain more than base tier frequent flyer with. I for one will miss TWA.
Jason Seiple
OMA
seiple@email.msn.com
Loyal TWA Passenger (December 1982-April 8, 2001)
6 April 2001
TW 188
OMA-STL
N924TW
MD-80
Seat: 20F
We arrived at Eppley Airfield at 9:50am for the 11:05am departure to STL. At check-in, our bags were checked through to JAX however boarding passes could only be issued to STL. An upgrade was not available as First was full. The agent did not put in my Aviators number, so I asked the gate agent to input it. Gate 4 was used for the flight like all TWA departures except the first flight of the morning (5:50am flight leaves from gate 5). The gate agent informed us the reason we could not get boarding passes to JAX was because that flight was seriously overbooked due to a previous flight's cancellation. My father told the agent that it was important we make that flight as my grandparent's 50th anniversary dinner and reception was that evening in Jacksonville, which was not entirely false, it was just moved up one day in that rendition for the gate agent's benefit. She said that it did not look good for our getting seats on that flight, but promised she would see what she could do. Boarding commenced from the back to the front starting at 10:30am. I took my seat of 20F, window overlooking the leading edge of the wing (missed the exit row by one). Boarding was completed by 10:55am. A child started screaming about three rows in front of us. It was quickly hushed by the flight attendant who told the child that unless it behaved it would have to come sit with him. It was quiet until landing in STL. Flight time was announced as 50 minute at FL290. We pushed at 11:04am and took off at 11:10am from runway 14R, entering the cloud base at around 500 feet after a very long take-off roll. Drink service started immediately. Cups of soda were offered with no peanuts or even Biscoffs. Descent was long with the MD-80 flying past STL and way into Illinois before turning back for a long final for 30R, where the aircraft touched down at 12:09p. We arrived into gate D20 by 12:13p. There was a five minute delay while the jetway was moved forward and the front door was opened. The next flight went out of D30, which we ran to in order to get in line for boarding passes.
---------------------------------------------
6 April 2001
TW 658
STL-JAX
B717-200
N412TW
Seat: 3A (TW First)
Following the short run from the previous gate, our name was called to the podium at D30. We were handed our new First Class boarding passes. Thank you upgrade gods! We boarded as soon as a whiney woman finished pestering the flustered gate agent. The cabin of N412TW, an infant Boeing 717-200, was extremely warm. Several passengers deplaned due to the heat. The pilots were not yet at the aircraft, so nobody was around to activate the APU, or so we were told. Finally the copilot arrived about the time the flight attendants got around to serving First Class our pre-takeoff bev erages, or I should say beverage as water was the only option. I will note that my water came in a plastic cup imprinted with the American Airlines hideous logo (I'm not an AA fan). I had seat 3A, a window on the port side. Boarding finished a 1:05pm with one standby making it on board. The aircraft pushed back at 1:09pm for the taxi to 30L. Inflight time was estimated as 1:38 at an altitude of 33000 feet. As the aircraft taxied by the end of C concourse, I noticed fire trucks around C35 or so. As a TWA DC-9 taxied by them, they opened up with water and showered the aircraft as it passed. We had a short hold at the end of the runway behind two TWA B767-300's before taking off at 1:38pm and climbing back into the clouds. After the seatbelt sign disengaged, a flight attendant asked us to unfold our tray tables. She then placed a cheesecloth-like white table cloth down on each tray in the full forward cabin. Drinks were served from the cart on its way back to coach in plastic cups. No real glasses were seen on this flight, not even for the wine. Box lunches were passed out... same as my last time on this flight in TW First: turkey sandwich on a large bun (which was not stale at least) with tomato and lettuce accompanied by a bag of Ruffles potato chips and a small cup of bitter coleslaw. The sandwich was edible but the presentation was not up to the level of many other airlines. After the meal, trash was collected and warm chocolate browies were given out, along with an offer of coffee or water. The rest of the flight was smooth and clear, affording me a great view straight down at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport and aircraft on its runways and taxiways. The descent into JAX was short with a very defined square pattern. We touched down on runway 7 at 3:59pm and with heavy braking made an early turnoff to pull into gate A6 by 4:04pm. Coats were not distributed as the flight attendants made no offer to pick them up prior to our departure.
--------------------------------------------
8 April 2001
TW 495
JAX-STL
B717-200
N411TW
Seat: 11E
We arrived at the airport at 1:00pm for our 2:45pm flight to STL. There was no line at check-in so bags were checked quickly. No chance of an upgrade and the flight was overbooked. My family of four was split throughout the aircraft as we were unable to receive seat assignments at time of reservations for the JAX flights (made in October). After some plane spotting I went to our gate of A6 to wait. At 2:15pm preboarding happened followed by row numbers at 2:25pm. I had seat 11E, a middle seat. How unpleasant. The seats were blue in coach unlike on the MD-80's. The aircraft pushed back at 2:47pm after several PA requests by the gate agent for volunteers. The offer was a free roundtrip ticket to any domestic destination. Flying time was estimated as 1:50 at 35000 feet. After a long taxi to runway 25, we took off at 2:57pm after a MetroJet B737-200. After the double chime, the flight attendants did their customary "throw some peanuts at them then chat in the galley until landing." Actually it was pretzels and a 7-up (full can actually) with ice in a styrofoam coffee cup (they ran out of plastic cups). The seatbelt sign stayed off for all of the flight however there were some bumpy spells. The flight crew as a whole was not real big on making announcements. No frequent flyer welcome or even notice that it was safe to use electronic devices. I could see into TW First from my seat the whole flight, as the curtain was never closed. That allowed many people to violate the sacred barrier and use the forward lavatory. First only received drinks in plastic cups, except their drink order was taken prior to take-off. They were served pretzels instead of the usual almonds as well. The approach was unusually fast for St. Louis. We touched down on runway 30L at 3:40p and were at gate D-32 by 3:47p.
--------------------------------------------
8 April 2001
TW 577
STL-OMA
MD-80
N958U
Seat: 9E
I stepped out of the jetway just in time to catch the end of a gate change announcement for our OMA flight. We went to gate D-24 to await boarding. The aircraft, N958U, had just arrived. I checked about an upgrade, and was told that First was full on the flight to OMA. Boarding started at 4:40pm for the 5:08pm departure. After preboarding, there was a call for rows 20 and higher, then one for all rows. It was very disorganized, especially with just one agent working the flight. Our seats were spread out again. My brother and I had seats 9E/F. I took the middle as he wanted to use the wall to sleep. We pushed back at 5:12pm with about a dozen empty seats in coach and two empty in First. Flying time was announced as 51 minutes with a cruising altitude of 31000 feet. We taxied to runway 12L, holding with two other MD-80's in between 12L and R before we took off at 5:25pm. Climbing through 12000 feet, the seatbelt sign went off and the drink/pretzel service started. First was served from the cart then it came back to coach. The four flight attendants finished the drink service quickly. We had a long approach leading to a touch-down on runway 32L at 6:18p followed by a gate time of 6:23p. Baggage took 25 minutes to come out on the carousels.
---------------------------------------------Overall comments:
Well, my final flight with TWA as its own airline. It wasn't as great as some in the past, and not as bad as others. Now it's all going to be American, an airline I have yet to have a good experience with (five trips in the last year all awful due to American Airlines... diversions, terrible employees, flight cancellations they didn't tell passengers about, bumped involuntarily from flights I checked in two hours early for, plus was lied to about DFW airport supposedly being closed due to weather when CNN Airport in the gate showed 80 degrees and sunny at DFW). TWFirst was certainly more comfortable than riding in the back, but now I can say I've at least sat back of the cabin divider once on a B717. It's a great airplane, very quiet and nice interiors (especially the larger overhead bins that hold the rollaboards side by side).
I've flown TWA loyally since my first flight at three weeks of age (redeye L-1011 flight PHL-LAX) and have been generally pleased be it transatlantic segments (in Royal Ambassador Class) to domestic First to even domestic and international Coach (anybody remember "Comfort Class" ??). They are the first airline I have been able to attain more than base tier frequent flyer with. I for one will miss TWA.
Jason Seiple
OMA
seiple@email.msn.com
Loyal TWA Passenger (December 1982-April 8, 2001)