jshort
Oct 14, 02, 7:39 pm
Hi all... this being my first trip report - be gentle with the constructive criticism. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
I plan to write this in parts. At this time, I am not sure if I'll keep each part in a different message or in this first one. It will probably depend on whether I can get access to a computer during the trip. In addition, there will be a part that describes the vacation aspect of this trip.. at least, I hope so.
Why am I going?
This will be a "family" vacation of sorts - My dad, sister, and a family friend will be on this vacation with me. However, they flew out of PHL to LAX this afternoon (probably deplaning as I write this) and will fly onto HNL tomorrow. I'll meet up with them there and then we all fly onto KOA.
My dad was born in Kohala (North end of the Big Island) and lived there through his HS graduation. My grandparents moved there in 1929 with the hopes of teaching around the world; however, world events prevented them from accomplishing this.
I have been to Hawaii once - about 20 years ago, as part of my dad's 25 HS reunion. He has returned to the islands about 5 or 6 times since then... and has kept up contact with several of his classmates.
This trip will be a little bit therapy for my family... since my mom died about 2 months ago. It was a sudden death and has affected my family very strongly. At one point, we had considered cancelling this trip - however, this was a short-lived thought... and as the time approaches, I am ready.
That's it for now - I'll update when I get a chance (and probably change this message to reflect past tense).
Oh - before I forget... my flights.
15OCT AA 1913 ATL-DFW
15OCT AA 123 DFW-HNL
15OCT HA 208 HNL-KOA
20OCT HA 239 KOA-HNL
24OCT AA 8 HNL-DFW (Arrives on 25OCT)
25OCT AA 1064 DFW-ATL
Thanks to all for their help in making this trip possible...
-----
October 15th Pre-Flight
Got up at 4am - well, "got up" may not be the correct term as I didn't sleep up that evening and was already awake by the time the alarm went off.
While my friends were a bit shocked that I was packing the night before, I really didn't have any problems... since I knew that I would have access to a washer/dryer where we were staying.
Took MARTA to ATL getting in around 6:25am. While MARTA is great getting to the airport (especially from the north suburbs), it stinks in that the station is at one end of the terminals and the check-in desks are at the other. In this case, being that I was flying AA, they were all the way at the other end.
Check in was a bit confusing, as I had my old schedule listed (which was changed by AA due to their schedule restructuring). Once I got that done, the security checkpoint was right next to the desk (T Gates).
This checkpoint was being run by the TSA - I think that ATL should be 100% TSA by the end of the year... I understand that they are planning to redesign their main security area around the same time. Overall, the security personnel were very friendly (considering how early it was) and I had no problems - except for the fact that the 1st class line went about the same speed as the regular line. No worries, since I had plenty of time.
AA 1913 ATL-DFW Boeing 757
Scheduled Departure 8:26a EST
Actual Departure (Push Back) 8:25am
Scheduled Arrival 9:54a CST
Actual Arrival 9:25a + taxi to gate (didn't get exact time)
Sat in Seat 4A next to a Ruby (noticed it on her boarding card). Didn't talk to her as she seemed to be busy with work.
First Class was about 2/3 full - I didn't get a chance to see how Coach looked.
Two things that I noticed on takeoff (which was on runway 10R).
a) It seemed like a short run until we were up...
b) The engines "grrred" upon takeoff and the initial accent.
Not sure if either of them are normal... but I figured they were since it didn't seem like no one else paid much attention.
Breakfast was a choice of Egg Quisadea <sp>, Total, and a Fruit Basket. Went with the Total.
Flight level was at 39K which we hit less than 20 minutes after takeoff.
Landing was fairly smooth - Not sure what runway we were on... I think 35R. For the record, there was a small control tower to our left from the runway.
Whereever we were, it was a long taxi to the gate. This was made longer with the fact that we had to do a 270 in the holding pen and wait since we were too early and our gate wasn't ready. After a couple of minutes, we parked at a new gate (A18).
For the record, N622AA was at A20 and N283AA was at A19. I didn't write down what flights they were... nor did I catch any information about our plane. (Where can you find that anyway ?)
{More Later}
[This message has been edited by jshort (edited 10-28-2002).]
I plan to write this in parts. At this time, I am not sure if I'll keep each part in a different message or in this first one. It will probably depend on whether I can get access to a computer during the trip. In addition, there will be a part that describes the vacation aspect of this trip.. at least, I hope so.
Why am I going?
This will be a "family" vacation of sorts - My dad, sister, and a family friend will be on this vacation with me. However, they flew out of PHL to LAX this afternoon (probably deplaning as I write this) and will fly onto HNL tomorrow. I'll meet up with them there and then we all fly onto KOA.
My dad was born in Kohala (North end of the Big Island) and lived there through his HS graduation. My grandparents moved there in 1929 with the hopes of teaching around the world; however, world events prevented them from accomplishing this.
I have been to Hawaii once - about 20 years ago, as part of my dad's 25 HS reunion. He has returned to the islands about 5 or 6 times since then... and has kept up contact with several of his classmates.
This trip will be a little bit therapy for my family... since my mom died about 2 months ago. It was a sudden death and has affected my family very strongly. At one point, we had considered cancelling this trip - however, this was a short-lived thought... and as the time approaches, I am ready.
That's it for now - I'll update when I get a chance (and probably change this message to reflect past tense).
Oh - before I forget... my flights.
15OCT AA 1913 ATL-DFW
15OCT AA 123 DFW-HNL
15OCT HA 208 HNL-KOA
20OCT HA 239 KOA-HNL
24OCT AA 8 HNL-DFW (Arrives on 25OCT)
25OCT AA 1064 DFW-ATL
Thanks to all for their help in making this trip possible...
-----
October 15th Pre-Flight
Got up at 4am - well, "got up" may not be the correct term as I didn't sleep up that evening and was already awake by the time the alarm went off.
While my friends were a bit shocked that I was packing the night before, I really didn't have any problems... since I knew that I would have access to a washer/dryer where we were staying.
Took MARTA to ATL getting in around 6:25am. While MARTA is great getting to the airport (especially from the north suburbs), it stinks in that the station is at one end of the terminals and the check-in desks are at the other. In this case, being that I was flying AA, they were all the way at the other end.
Check in was a bit confusing, as I had my old schedule listed (which was changed by AA due to their schedule restructuring). Once I got that done, the security checkpoint was right next to the desk (T Gates).
This checkpoint was being run by the TSA - I think that ATL should be 100% TSA by the end of the year... I understand that they are planning to redesign their main security area around the same time. Overall, the security personnel were very friendly (considering how early it was) and I had no problems - except for the fact that the 1st class line went about the same speed as the regular line. No worries, since I had plenty of time.
AA 1913 ATL-DFW Boeing 757
Scheduled Departure 8:26a EST
Actual Departure (Push Back) 8:25am
Scheduled Arrival 9:54a CST
Actual Arrival 9:25a + taxi to gate (didn't get exact time)
Sat in Seat 4A next to a Ruby (noticed it on her boarding card). Didn't talk to her as she seemed to be busy with work.
First Class was about 2/3 full - I didn't get a chance to see how Coach looked.
Two things that I noticed on takeoff (which was on runway 10R).
a) It seemed like a short run until we were up...
b) The engines "grrred" upon takeoff and the initial accent.
Not sure if either of them are normal... but I figured they were since it didn't seem like no one else paid much attention.
Breakfast was a choice of Egg Quisadea <sp>, Total, and a Fruit Basket. Went with the Total.
Flight level was at 39K which we hit less than 20 minutes after takeoff.
Landing was fairly smooth - Not sure what runway we were on... I think 35R. For the record, there was a small control tower to our left from the runway.
Whereever we were, it was a long taxi to the gate. This was made longer with the fact that we had to do a 270 in the holding pen and wait since we were too early and our gate wasn't ready. After a couple of minutes, we parked at a new gate (A18).
For the record, N622AA was at A20 and N283AA was at A19. I didn't write down what flights they were... nor did I catch any information about our plane. (Where can you find that anyway ?)
{More Later}
[This message has been edited by jshort (edited 10-28-2002).]