phllax
Jun 24, 01, 4:33 pm
Scheduled US 22 LAX-PHL 10:50-6:49
Then US 22 LAX-PIT 10:40-6:00 US 107 PIT-PHL 7:45-9:00
Finally NW 300 LAX-MSP 12:35-6:00 US 680 MSP-PHL 7:25-11:09
I had a feeling earlier in the week that weather was going to play a problem, so I decided to go to the Van Nuys CTO and get my e-ticket converted to a paper ticket just in case. Good thinking on my part. I called US around 3:30 PST on Friday to see if I was still on. Yes, the plane for 22, was 39 inbound from CLT, and although it was delayed a bit due to weather, it was going. I called about an hour later, and they tell me that 22 has been cancelled because 15 from PHL was cancelled. Don't know why they switched planes, probably a crew issue. So I get protected on the PIT red-eye getting into PHL at 9, I also ask if there is anything up front, and they confirm me in first class on both legs. Perfect, I might actually get some sleep on the red-eye. All I have to do is get seats at the airport.
Get to LAX a little before 10 and get in line. Problem, they have no record of me going through PIT on the red-eye. I have to go in a special line for those on the cancelled Philly red-eye. Luckily my cousin is with me, so I send him to stand in the line about 10-15 deep while I go to the pay phone and call the preferred line. Finally get through, and the lady looks up my record. Yes, they had rebooked me, but apparently US had tried to call me, but when they couldn't reach me, even though my record had me on the PIT flight, they cancelled that and put me on US 18 at 12:30 pm the next day. Now here's where things get weird. Even though I was not home, there was no message from US, and no record of them calling in my caller ID. So we try to get me back on the PIT and CLT flights, but they're sold out. Try to get to PHX or LAS for their red-eyes, but they're all sold out. OAL's also sold out. So I get up to my turn at the counter, and I get an option of the non-stop on 18 on Saturday, or a morning flight via BWI getting in around 4:30-5pm, both of which were in FC, or a NW red-eye via MSP into PHL at 11:00. I dediced to get out while I could, not knowing if the weather was going to be a problem on Saturday afternoon. So they reissue my ticket, and I walk next door to Terminal 2. I also filled out a form so I could get mileage for my cancelled flight.
Get the the NW ticket counter, and they have wing-tip red-eye flights to MSP for the summer. One at 12:35am and another at 12:55. They 12:35 is the new one started June 15 according to the timetable. Although FC is sold out, I manage to get the aisle in the 2nd exit row on both flights. This flight is a 320 they got in 98. Interestingly, NW does not have audio or video on their airbus aircraft. So I got to see a live demo for the first time in a while. Flight time was 3 hours wheels up to touchdown. Flight was pretty smooth, a little CAT during our Rockies crossing. Seat belt sign off except for that. Service was drinks and pretzels. During drink service they turned the runner lights back on dim, after being off for the 1st 30 minutes of the flight. It was only dark for 2 hours, then the sun came up. They again turned on the runners before landing. I think they had them on for the service up in FC, and unlike US, doesn't have zone controls on their Airbus fleet. Also, on both planes there was no real bulkhead between FC and Coach, only a curtain to block the view, but no wall, so the people in the first row of coach could stretch their legs out and under the last row of FC. Seats were comfortable and were thinner than what I am used to on US, but comfortable none-the less. Landed in MSP on time in G concourse, had to go over to C.
NW 680 was a DC9-50. Flight came from Omaha then changed flight numbers to the leg to PHL. One would think they would have a through flight, but who knows. We boarded around 7:00, and again took my seat in the 2nd exit row isle on the 3 seat side. Boearding was quick. Noticed they had redone the interior. Newer overheads with a hand-rail, and an enlarged galley. We had a wait to take-off but then once airborns it was 2h11min to PHL. Breakfast was served. It was actually very nice. Warmed bagel with cream cheese, banana, and Wheaties Raisin Bran with milk. They warmed the bagels on the plane in some foil pouches. Flight was smooth until our descent, and seat belt sign was off until then. Landed in PHL about 2 mins late, and then taxied to the gate. Interestingly, the crew kept the door to the cockpit open while on the ground, so while waiting in line in MSP, we had a nice view out the front into the tail engine of a 727.
Overall service on my first trip on NW was all right on the red-eye and more than expected on the morning flight. The warm bagels were a nice touch, and the crews seemed nice as well. Just a lack of entertainment on the airbus would keep me from flying them cross country in the future. My flight from LAX was turning around to go to PHX. Can't imagine 4hrs without a movie or music! The hub in MSP is very nice and clean, but getting between G and C concourses was a good 15 minute trek.
Then US 22 LAX-PIT 10:40-6:00 US 107 PIT-PHL 7:45-9:00
Finally NW 300 LAX-MSP 12:35-6:00 US 680 MSP-PHL 7:25-11:09
I had a feeling earlier in the week that weather was going to play a problem, so I decided to go to the Van Nuys CTO and get my e-ticket converted to a paper ticket just in case. Good thinking on my part. I called US around 3:30 PST on Friday to see if I was still on. Yes, the plane for 22, was 39 inbound from CLT, and although it was delayed a bit due to weather, it was going. I called about an hour later, and they tell me that 22 has been cancelled because 15 from PHL was cancelled. Don't know why they switched planes, probably a crew issue. So I get protected on the PIT red-eye getting into PHL at 9, I also ask if there is anything up front, and they confirm me in first class on both legs. Perfect, I might actually get some sleep on the red-eye. All I have to do is get seats at the airport.
Get to LAX a little before 10 and get in line. Problem, they have no record of me going through PIT on the red-eye. I have to go in a special line for those on the cancelled Philly red-eye. Luckily my cousin is with me, so I send him to stand in the line about 10-15 deep while I go to the pay phone and call the preferred line. Finally get through, and the lady looks up my record. Yes, they had rebooked me, but apparently US had tried to call me, but when they couldn't reach me, even though my record had me on the PIT flight, they cancelled that and put me on US 18 at 12:30 pm the next day. Now here's where things get weird. Even though I was not home, there was no message from US, and no record of them calling in my caller ID. So we try to get me back on the PIT and CLT flights, but they're sold out. Try to get to PHX or LAS for their red-eyes, but they're all sold out. OAL's also sold out. So I get up to my turn at the counter, and I get an option of the non-stop on 18 on Saturday, or a morning flight via BWI getting in around 4:30-5pm, both of which were in FC, or a NW red-eye via MSP into PHL at 11:00. I dediced to get out while I could, not knowing if the weather was going to be a problem on Saturday afternoon. So they reissue my ticket, and I walk next door to Terminal 2. I also filled out a form so I could get mileage for my cancelled flight.
Get the the NW ticket counter, and they have wing-tip red-eye flights to MSP for the summer. One at 12:35am and another at 12:55. They 12:35 is the new one started June 15 according to the timetable. Although FC is sold out, I manage to get the aisle in the 2nd exit row on both flights. This flight is a 320 they got in 98. Interestingly, NW does not have audio or video on their airbus aircraft. So I got to see a live demo for the first time in a while. Flight time was 3 hours wheels up to touchdown. Flight was pretty smooth, a little CAT during our Rockies crossing. Seat belt sign off except for that. Service was drinks and pretzels. During drink service they turned the runner lights back on dim, after being off for the 1st 30 minutes of the flight. It was only dark for 2 hours, then the sun came up. They again turned on the runners before landing. I think they had them on for the service up in FC, and unlike US, doesn't have zone controls on their Airbus fleet. Also, on both planes there was no real bulkhead between FC and Coach, only a curtain to block the view, but no wall, so the people in the first row of coach could stretch their legs out and under the last row of FC. Seats were comfortable and were thinner than what I am used to on US, but comfortable none-the less. Landed in MSP on time in G concourse, had to go over to C.
NW 680 was a DC9-50. Flight came from Omaha then changed flight numbers to the leg to PHL. One would think they would have a through flight, but who knows. We boarded around 7:00, and again took my seat in the 2nd exit row isle on the 3 seat side. Boearding was quick. Noticed they had redone the interior. Newer overheads with a hand-rail, and an enlarged galley. We had a wait to take-off but then once airborns it was 2h11min to PHL. Breakfast was served. It was actually very nice. Warmed bagel with cream cheese, banana, and Wheaties Raisin Bran with milk. They warmed the bagels on the plane in some foil pouches. Flight was smooth until our descent, and seat belt sign was off until then. Landed in PHL about 2 mins late, and then taxied to the gate. Interestingly, the crew kept the door to the cockpit open while on the ground, so while waiting in line in MSP, we had a nice view out the front into the tail engine of a 727.
Overall service on my first trip on NW was all right on the red-eye and more than expected on the morning flight. The warm bagels were a nice touch, and the crews seemed nice as well. Just a lack of entertainment on the airbus would keep me from flying them cross country in the future. My flight from LAX was turning around to go to PHX. Can't imagine 4hrs without a movie or music! The hub in MSP is very nice and clean, but getting between G and C concourses was a good 15 minute trek.