EIPremier
Jan 5, 03, 8:06 am
Southwest 197 SJC-BUR 12/27/02 N505SW (737-500)
I flew this exact flight on the same date in 2001, and overall, this trip was a marked improvement. The curbside, ticket counter, and security checkpoint lines were shorter and better organized. My curb-to-gate processing time was twenty-five minutes. This included time spent in line, the CTX scan and subsequent hand search of my checked bag, and a fairly exhaustive search of my personal effects at the security checkpoint (the kind folks at the TSA even relieved me of blunt-tipped plastic scissors and a tape measure).
For those of you who haven't flown Southwest during the past six or so months, the check-in procedures have been streamlined. The new "automated boarding passes" have a big letter on them designating the boarding group (A, B or C), thus eliminating the separate plastic boarding passes. Customers can check-in and receive boarding passes at the ticket counter, skycap counter or automated kiosk between twenty minutes and four hours in advance of departure.
The boarding process was the most efficient of any post-9/11 flight I've taken, as there was no secondary screening. There were, however, a ridiculous number of pre-boards, some with questionable limps (to pre-board, one must obtain a blue pass at the gate).
The actual flight was uneventful and on time. The only excitement was our taxi-out at SJC: just four minutes from blocks off to takeoff from 10L (we definitely did not observe 20 kts in taxiing out). Stepping off the plane in warm and sunny BUR, it became clear that some serious renovations are underway. Hopefully the "small airport feel" will be preserved.
Amtrak #14 "The Coast Starlight" Los Angeles-San Jose 1/03/02
Union Station in LA was built in 1939 to the tune of $11,000,000 as the shared terminus for the Southern Pacific, Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Union Pacific. The station fell into disrepair during the 70s, but has been enjoying a renaissance in recent years as a Metrolink/Metrorail hub. The main building and adjacent courtyard are worth a visit even if you aren't taking the train.
www.360360.com/stations/lax.html (http://www.360360.com/stations/lax.html)
I picked up my tickets at the Amtrak window, and I checked one bag (Amtrak has a two carry-on allowance, and the dimensions are bigger than those allowed by the airlines). Not only does Amtrak now require photo ID, but they also ask you to sign your tickets. One hour prior to departure, boarding passes were issued from a podium near the platform walkway. Coach boarding passes are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sleeping car compartments are pre-reserved, but for some reason, passengers must still queue up for boarding passes and a second ID check.
Our Superliner II consist awaited us at platform ten with twin Genesis locomotives at the helm. Upon boarding, the cheerful cabin attendant stowed our luggage and directed us to our compartment (I specifically requested one upstairs, and on the left, or "coast side"). The "standard bedrooms" on Amtrak are located on either side of the car, and feature two facing seats, a fold-down table, and very little storage space. For two tall people, there is no legroom to spare. The seats fold into a wide lower-bunk, while a narrower upper-bunk swings down from the ceiling. The coach seats offer no privacy, but are more comfortable for daytime trips such as ours, featuring ample legroom, leg rests and 45 degrees of recline. However, a compartment can be a good value for two people, even on a daytime trip. Fares vary from day-to-day and season-to-season, but for our trip, the base fare for two AAA adults was $106 (better than a 14-day advanced fare on the airlines) and the compartment added another $100 (not per person). As the train wasn't full leaving LA (it seldom is), we could spread-out and look out both sides of the train easily. Furthermore, sleeping car passengers have meals included, and are afforded access to complimentary drinks and snacks in the First Class-only lounge car (only found on the Coast Starlight). For longer trips, I would suggest the "Deluxe" bedroom if you would like a private toilet and slightly more "wiggle room." Each sleeping car features a station with drinks, coffee, juice and bottled water.
We pulled out of Union Station exactly on-time at 10:15 AM. The route to San Jose follows approximately that of the El Camino Real, or route of the Spanish missionaries. Unfortunately, much of the track is single right-of-way, so delays in route are to be expected. The only bits of scenery heading out of LA were the historic Glendale Spanish-Mediterranean depot, and the Burbank and Van Nuys airports. The scenery improved a bit passing through the Santa Susana Pass, with rock formations reminiscent of the desert Southwest (many Westerns were shot here). Past Ventura, we journeyed along the coast for 104 miles. There is no better time to take this trip than a clear day in the winter, as the hills are green and the visibility spectacular. I would definitely recommend the northbound trip if you want to see the coastline, as the southbound train often passes most of it in the dark (at sunset during the summer). Past San Luis Obispo, we climbed through the Santa Lucia Mountains to the 3,616-foot summit, rounding the famed Horseshoe curve along the way. By Paso Robles, it was nearing dark, and the scenery had become more predictable.
The Pacific Parlour Car is a restored Santa Fe Vista Dome from the late 50s that saw service on the El Capitan (in case any of you who know trains). Three types of seating are featured, along with a bar, magazine/newspaper rack, buffet table, a small library of books and games, and lots of stained oak paneling. Downstairs, a retro-styled theatre shows B-movies (thankfully, they have the sense to only show films after dark). Additional perks include complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, complimentary AM continental breakfast, and a wine and cheese tasting in the afternoon. My only complaint is that the bartender takes frequent (and long) breaks, leaving the car unattended. One would think they could keep at least one staff member in the car at all times. Also, the ride in the lounge car is noticeably rougher than in the other cars.
www.360360.com/trains/slparlc.html (http://www.360360.com/trains/slparlc.html)
We had two meals in the dining car, both of which were very good. Meals are complimentary for sleeping car passengers, while three meals a day could easily run $50 per person in coach. The Coast Starlight used to have a reputation for offering the best food of Amtrak's trains. These days, all long-distance trains feature the same menu, with room for one or two regional specialties. The food is served upon "almost-china" plates, with linen napkins, tablecloths and silverware. The food quality is similar to that found in a chain restaurant, although the filet mignon and salmon we had for dinner were a notch above (save for the veggies, which were passable but obviously frozen). I imagine it would get tiring eating the same food over and over on a cross-country trip, but it was fine for one day.
www.360360.com/trains/sldinec.html (http://www.360360.com/trains/sldinec.html)
We arrived in San Jose 30 minutes late (as far as long-distance trains go, this is on-time). This was my fifth Coast Starlight trip, and I've enjoyed every one. Calling it a "luxury land-cruise" is a bit of an exaggeration, but the experience is one people with a little time to spare will almost certainly enjoy.
[This message has been edited by EIPremier (edited 01-05-2003).]
I flew this exact flight on the same date in 2001, and overall, this trip was a marked improvement. The curbside, ticket counter, and security checkpoint lines were shorter and better organized. My curb-to-gate processing time was twenty-five minutes. This included time spent in line, the CTX scan and subsequent hand search of my checked bag, and a fairly exhaustive search of my personal effects at the security checkpoint (the kind folks at the TSA even relieved me of blunt-tipped plastic scissors and a tape measure).
For those of you who haven't flown Southwest during the past six or so months, the check-in procedures have been streamlined. The new "automated boarding passes" have a big letter on them designating the boarding group (A, B or C), thus eliminating the separate plastic boarding passes. Customers can check-in and receive boarding passes at the ticket counter, skycap counter or automated kiosk between twenty minutes and four hours in advance of departure.
The boarding process was the most efficient of any post-9/11 flight I've taken, as there was no secondary screening. There were, however, a ridiculous number of pre-boards, some with questionable limps (to pre-board, one must obtain a blue pass at the gate).
The actual flight was uneventful and on time. The only excitement was our taxi-out at SJC: just four minutes from blocks off to takeoff from 10L (we definitely did not observe 20 kts in taxiing out). Stepping off the plane in warm and sunny BUR, it became clear that some serious renovations are underway. Hopefully the "small airport feel" will be preserved.
Amtrak #14 "The Coast Starlight" Los Angeles-San Jose 1/03/02
Union Station in LA was built in 1939 to the tune of $11,000,000 as the shared terminus for the Southern Pacific, Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Union Pacific. The station fell into disrepair during the 70s, but has been enjoying a renaissance in recent years as a Metrolink/Metrorail hub. The main building and adjacent courtyard are worth a visit even if you aren't taking the train.
www.360360.com/stations/lax.html (http://www.360360.com/stations/lax.html)
I picked up my tickets at the Amtrak window, and I checked one bag (Amtrak has a two carry-on allowance, and the dimensions are bigger than those allowed by the airlines). Not only does Amtrak now require photo ID, but they also ask you to sign your tickets. One hour prior to departure, boarding passes were issued from a podium near the platform walkway. Coach boarding passes are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sleeping car compartments are pre-reserved, but for some reason, passengers must still queue up for boarding passes and a second ID check.
Our Superliner II consist awaited us at platform ten with twin Genesis locomotives at the helm. Upon boarding, the cheerful cabin attendant stowed our luggage and directed us to our compartment (I specifically requested one upstairs, and on the left, or "coast side"). The "standard bedrooms" on Amtrak are located on either side of the car, and feature two facing seats, a fold-down table, and very little storage space. For two tall people, there is no legroom to spare. The seats fold into a wide lower-bunk, while a narrower upper-bunk swings down from the ceiling. The coach seats offer no privacy, but are more comfortable for daytime trips such as ours, featuring ample legroom, leg rests and 45 degrees of recline. However, a compartment can be a good value for two people, even on a daytime trip. Fares vary from day-to-day and season-to-season, but for our trip, the base fare for two AAA adults was $106 (better than a 14-day advanced fare on the airlines) and the compartment added another $100 (not per person). As the train wasn't full leaving LA (it seldom is), we could spread-out and look out both sides of the train easily. Furthermore, sleeping car passengers have meals included, and are afforded access to complimentary drinks and snacks in the First Class-only lounge car (only found on the Coast Starlight). For longer trips, I would suggest the "Deluxe" bedroom if you would like a private toilet and slightly more "wiggle room." Each sleeping car features a station with drinks, coffee, juice and bottled water.
We pulled out of Union Station exactly on-time at 10:15 AM. The route to San Jose follows approximately that of the El Camino Real, or route of the Spanish missionaries. Unfortunately, much of the track is single right-of-way, so delays in route are to be expected. The only bits of scenery heading out of LA were the historic Glendale Spanish-Mediterranean depot, and the Burbank and Van Nuys airports. The scenery improved a bit passing through the Santa Susana Pass, with rock formations reminiscent of the desert Southwest (many Westerns were shot here). Past Ventura, we journeyed along the coast for 104 miles. There is no better time to take this trip than a clear day in the winter, as the hills are green and the visibility spectacular. I would definitely recommend the northbound trip if you want to see the coastline, as the southbound train often passes most of it in the dark (at sunset during the summer). Past San Luis Obispo, we climbed through the Santa Lucia Mountains to the 3,616-foot summit, rounding the famed Horseshoe curve along the way. By Paso Robles, it was nearing dark, and the scenery had become more predictable.
The Pacific Parlour Car is a restored Santa Fe Vista Dome from the late 50s that saw service on the El Capitan (in case any of you who know trains). Three types of seating are featured, along with a bar, magazine/newspaper rack, buffet table, a small library of books and games, and lots of stained oak paneling. Downstairs, a retro-styled theatre shows B-movies (thankfully, they have the sense to only show films after dark). Additional perks include complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, complimentary AM continental breakfast, and a wine and cheese tasting in the afternoon. My only complaint is that the bartender takes frequent (and long) breaks, leaving the car unattended. One would think they could keep at least one staff member in the car at all times. Also, the ride in the lounge car is noticeably rougher than in the other cars.
www.360360.com/trains/slparlc.html (http://www.360360.com/trains/slparlc.html)
We had two meals in the dining car, both of which were very good. Meals are complimentary for sleeping car passengers, while three meals a day could easily run $50 per person in coach. The Coast Starlight used to have a reputation for offering the best food of Amtrak's trains. These days, all long-distance trains feature the same menu, with room for one or two regional specialties. The food is served upon "almost-china" plates, with linen napkins, tablecloths and silverware. The food quality is similar to that found in a chain restaurant, although the filet mignon and salmon we had for dinner were a notch above (save for the veggies, which were passable but obviously frozen). I imagine it would get tiring eating the same food over and over on a cross-country trip, but it was fine for one day.
www.360360.com/trains/sldinec.html (http://www.360360.com/trains/sldinec.html)
We arrived in San Jose 30 minutes late (as far as long-distance trains go, this is on-time). This was my fifth Coast Starlight trip, and I've enjoyed every one. Calling it a "luxury land-cruise" is a bit of an exaggeration, but the experience is one people with a little time to spare will almost certainly enjoy.
[This message has been edited by EIPremier (edited 01-05-2003).]