FlyByNight
Jul 9, 03, 12:15 am
BUF/IAD 03 JUL
UA 7831 (Atlantic Coast) – 6A
British Aerospace Jetstream 41
06:10a – 07:32a
Such an early departure from BUF proved to be surprisingly painless. Ticket counter didn’t open until 4:45am, so there was quite a crowd waiting when the agents arrived. Fortunately, nobody else was in the priority line, so, although last to arrive, I was the first to be served!
No delays at security, and I was pleased to find a US Air Club in reasonable proximity to my departure gate. Years ago, I had purchased a lifetime membership back when there were only 5-6 clubs systemwide, at a price considerably less than a single year’s membership costs today. Nice to be able to use it again!
They have a very unusual hot beverage machine, where you select from a rack either cappuccino, espresso, coffee, tea or hot chocolate in foil packets with a strange plastic, well, protuberance on the end. This packet is then inserted into a slot in the machine and, after the requisite gurgling and hissing, your beverage of choice is produced.
Very strange machine, but very good cup of coffee! Also available were yogurt, chocolate chip biscotti, apples and a variety of juices. The space itself was intimate, without seeming crowded.
Having never seen (never mind flown) a J41 before, I was a bit curious as to what to expect! To say that I was surprised would be an understatement. It is an unmistakably strange aircraft, more improbable than grotesque.
Seating configuration is 1-2, and seats are mounted on a raised platform about 6 inches higher than the aisle floor. None of the aisle seats have armrests, which was more visually disconcerting than functionally deficient.
But the piece de resistance was without question the bizarre arrangement at the back of the plane, where one found combined in the same limited space the flight attendant jump seat, the toilet and an emergency exit. Whatever else one might say about this particular aircraft, it is certainly not boring! Not the most comfortable flight, but an interesting experience.
Got to love those UA on-time departures. Quick taxi, followed by a routine take-off. Arrived a few minutes early at Dulles, and took the mobile lounge to get from the A to the C terminal. Another interesting experience!
IAD/MCO 03 JUL
UA 1281 – 2B
Airbus 320
09:35a – 11:36a
The good news was that there was a UA RCC right next to my departure gate! The bad news was that it didn’t open until several hours after my flight’s departure. Still, there was another one open, up the concourse a ways. Having just read that RCC rules had recently changed, no longer allowing an AC *A Gold member to gain entry with a same-day UA domestic flight, I decided to see if this was, in fact, true.
The receptionist scrutinized my boarding pass intently, then glanced at my AC Elite card, saying “Ah, yes….Air Canada Gold. Enjoy the Club.” Decided that I would seek clarification at a later time, from a safer distance!
Compared to the ORD RCC, the one at IAD was quite impressive. Food items consisted of bagels or croissants (with butter, jam and cream cheese), plus packets of Walker’s Shortbread and Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies! And both golden and red delicious apples. Plus a good assortment of juices, etc. There were several large plasma TVs located throughout the premises, each tuned to a different channel (sports on one, financial news on another, and the ubiquitous CNN on yet another).
Having been told that the flight was oversold by 2 in coach, but that half of the first class seats were empty, I decided not to upgrade this segment with 500-milers, largely because of the short duration of the flight, coupled with the fact that there was no food service. Not much else to do on this leg but nap, but figured that I could do that just as well in my coach bulkhead seat.
Things at the gate were somewhat hectic, since, although there were enough seats to accommodate passengers, many families with children seated apart were trying to get seats together. To my amazement, I heard my name announced over the p/a, summoning me to the podium, where I was offered a better seat (2B). The agent did mention that this was due to my status (I believe here exact words were “This is a good day to be Premier Executive”), and thanked me for my continued support and business. A very nice gesture, and certainly well-appreciated!
Again, an on-time pushback, followed by a meandering taxi, then a bit of a wait in the “#1 for takeoff” position before we were on our way. There is evidently a cardinal rule of commercial aviation which stipulates that the more full one’s bladder, the longer it takes for the pilot to extinguish the fasten seatbelt sign. Even after reaching cruising altitude, with a remarkably smooth ride, the sign remained illuminated. Visions of our aircraft hurtling in space towards thunderheads and sheet lightening and other atmospheric anomalies that would further delay that moment of relief tormented me. Whatever could I have been thinking, guzzling all those cups of coffee! Worse, I began to notice other passengers looking at the forward lavatory with more than casual interest…..so, crouched like a predator ready to spring, I leapt from my seat immediately upon hearing that characteristic ‘ping’ and bolted for the front of the plane before anybody else could undo their seatbelts.
I’m still not sure which was more fortunate: my reaching the lavatory before any other passengers, or the fact that there wasn’t an air marshal on board!
Before sleeping, I asked the flight attendant to please wake me right before our descent, with a cup of coffee (!) The first class seat’s recline on the A320 is pretty decent, and I slept quite soundly. Next thing, a light tap on my shoulder, and a steaming cup of coffee and a raspberry crumble confection were offered. Ah, the rigors of travel….
MCO/PIT 07 JUL
UA 2434 (US 340) – 2F
737-400
12:20p – 02:35p
I was looking forward to my first experience with a UA/US codeshare, flying on US metal from MCO to BUF via PHL. In the absence of E+ seating, I was pleased to have secured perhaps the best coach seat on the A321 (9C), so I wasn’t worried about legroom. Knowing that my flight was heavily overbooked, I was curious if my UA status would have any bearing on possible operational upgrades.
Arrived 2 hours before flight time, and went to the First Class/CP check-in line, even though there was nothing on the sign about UA. The agent was cheerful and efficient, noting that my departure would be delayed due to the late incoming aircraft, and based on the most optimistic revised departure time, I would only have 5 minutes for my connection in PHL. I ruefully mentioned that this only happened when I had magnificent seats in the exit row, and she offered to re-route me through PIT, leaving 20 minutes later than my original departure, but arriving at BUF within 10 minutes of my original schedule. She said she would try to get me good seats, and I left her to her furious typing. Boarding passes were printed and offered with a practiced snap of her hand, and she winked and said “First Class, all the way!” If it’s true that first impressions are lasting impressions, then the timing of all this couldn’t be better!
Noticed on my US boarding pass that ‘Premier Exec’ was printed directly underneath my name, and the notation MP/UA was entered in the Dividend Miles Number column, along with my #.
The MCO US Air club consisted of 2 levels, with a bar downstairs, and hot beverages upstairs. The stairs themselves resembled the spiral staircase found in the earlier 747 models, although considerably wider. Lots of windows allowed one to follow aircraft movement on the ramp and taxiways.
Decided to go to the gate a bit earlier than usual, to see if there were any bump opportunities for my flight. Lo and behold, they were still looking for volunteers. They could put me back on my original (delayed) flight, and after a 4 hour layover in PHL, get me to BUF about 5 hours later than my scheduled arrival. And, they could offer me a first class seat on the PHL/BUF leg.
On the downside, compensation was offered in the form of a US free ticket voucher for Canada and the 48 contiguous US states, which would share the same inventory as coach award seats in terms of capacity controls. After some hemming and hawing, decided to keep my seat, and get home at a decent hour. Of course, 5 minutes into the flight, I was already regretting walking away from the free ticket, however restrictive!
Due to last minute luggage loading/unloading, pushback was about 15 minutes late. After a seemingly interminable taxi, we took off to the south, and were on our way.
Another first for me was the In-Flight Café meal service for this flight. Which meant that meals in coach would be offered for sale, consisting of a choice (for $10) between:
Chicken Caesar Sandwich meal, comprised of roasted rosemary chicken
breast, shredded Asiago cheese, and romaine lettuce on a rustica hoagie
roll with a side of Caesar sun-dried tomato dressing, fresh seasonal
fruit, Kettle chips, a chocolate chunk cookie and spring water.
The Bistro Chicken Salad, comprised of roasted chicken strips on
fresh romaine and spring lettuces, feta cheese, dried cherries and
butter-toffee glazed walnuts with raspberry vinaigrette dressing on the
side, Asiago herb flat bread, a chocolate chunk cookie and spring water.
Coincidentally, the First Class meal consisted of the above choices, minus the $10 charge. Unable to decide on my preferred selection, I deferred to the flight attendant’s judgment (she recommended the salad), and was glad that my seatmate chose the sandwich, so that I would have a basis for comparison. The salad was wicked-good, particularly the combination of feta cheese and dried cherries (nice and tart). The quality was very impressive, although I thought that the $10 price was a bit steep (in all fairness, I also think that the airport food outlet pricing is pretty outrageous as well). The Sandwich meal, according to my seatmate, was OK, but nothing real special, which pretty well matched my own visual observations.
Missing were the china and trays of a typical F meal, but I was so impressed with the quality and tastiness of my meal that this was no great loss!
Despite our late departure, we arrived at PIT on time, and I found my way to yet another US Air Club to wait out my connection. The PIT US Air Club is quite large, occupying a single level. There are many small nooks and crannies, however, so that it is possible to find a quiet place despite the crowds. Also, the windows are more like those found on solarium-type additions to homes, where the top is curved, allowing one to look upwards as well as outwards. Nice for plane spotting! Although the layouts of each of the 3 clubs I visited on this trip are quite distinct from one another, the snack and beverage choices were identical in each.
PIT/BUF 07 JUL
UA 2310 (US 407) – 1D
737-300
04:15p – 05:08p
Pre-departure beverages were offered in F, followed by a routine, 38 minute hop from PIT to BUF, with seatbelt sign on for the duration, and no further cabin service.
I was impressed by the relative ‘seamlessness’ of the UA/US codeshare flights, and the reasonably good fit between the 2 companies’ cultures. UA status is fairly visible to US staff, and the US Air Clubs are a nice change from the RCCs, and are a welcome addition in airports such as BUF, which has no RCC.
The biggest downside might be the lack of E+ seating on US flights. But my UA status did give me access to US preferred and exit row seating.
Of course, if I had to do it all over again, I’d only change one thing: I’d take the bump!
UA 7831 (Atlantic Coast) – 6A
British Aerospace Jetstream 41
06:10a – 07:32a
Such an early departure from BUF proved to be surprisingly painless. Ticket counter didn’t open until 4:45am, so there was quite a crowd waiting when the agents arrived. Fortunately, nobody else was in the priority line, so, although last to arrive, I was the first to be served!
No delays at security, and I was pleased to find a US Air Club in reasonable proximity to my departure gate. Years ago, I had purchased a lifetime membership back when there were only 5-6 clubs systemwide, at a price considerably less than a single year’s membership costs today. Nice to be able to use it again!
They have a very unusual hot beverage machine, where you select from a rack either cappuccino, espresso, coffee, tea or hot chocolate in foil packets with a strange plastic, well, protuberance on the end. This packet is then inserted into a slot in the machine and, after the requisite gurgling and hissing, your beverage of choice is produced.
Very strange machine, but very good cup of coffee! Also available were yogurt, chocolate chip biscotti, apples and a variety of juices. The space itself was intimate, without seeming crowded.
Having never seen (never mind flown) a J41 before, I was a bit curious as to what to expect! To say that I was surprised would be an understatement. It is an unmistakably strange aircraft, more improbable than grotesque.
Seating configuration is 1-2, and seats are mounted on a raised platform about 6 inches higher than the aisle floor. None of the aisle seats have armrests, which was more visually disconcerting than functionally deficient.
But the piece de resistance was without question the bizarre arrangement at the back of the plane, where one found combined in the same limited space the flight attendant jump seat, the toilet and an emergency exit. Whatever else one might say about this particular aircraft, it is certainly not boring! Not the most comfortable flight, but an interesting experience.
Got to love those UA on-time departures. Quick taxi, followed by a routine take-off. Arrived a few minutes early at Dulles, and took the mobile lounge to get from the A to the C terminal. Another interesting experience!
IAD/MCO 03 JUL
UA 1281 – 2B
Airbus 320
09:35a – 11:36a
The good news was that there was a UA RCC right next to my departure gate! The bad news was that it didn’t open until several hours after my flight’s departure. Still, there was another one open, up the concourse a ways. Having just read that RCC rules had recently changed, no longer allowing an AC *A Gold member to gain entry with a same-day UA domestic flight, I decided to see if this was, in fact, true.
The receptionist scrutinized my boarding pass intently, then glanced at my AC Elite card, saying “Ah, yes….Air Canada Gold. Enjoy the Club.” Decided that I would seek clarification at a later time, from a safer distance!
Compared to the ORD RCC, the one at IAD was quite impressive. Food items consisted of bagels or croissants (with butter, jam and cream cheese), plus packets of Walker’s Shortbread and Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies! And both golden and red delicious apples. Plus a good assortment of juices, etc. There were several large plasma TVs located throughout the premises, each tuned to a different channel (sports on one, financial news on another, and the ubiquitous CNN on yet another).
Having been told that the flight was oversold by 2 in coach, but that half of the first class seats were empty, I decided not to upgrade this segment with 500-milers, largely because of the short duration of the flight, coupled with the fact that there was no food service. Not much else to do on this leg but nap, but figured that I could do that just as well in my coach bulkhead seat.
Things at the gate were somewhat hectic, since, although there were enough seats to accommodate passengers, many families with children seated apart were trying to get seats together. To my amazement, I heard my name announced over the p/a, summoning me to the podium, where I was offered a better seat (2B). The agent did mention that this was due to my status (I believe here exact words were “This is a good day to be Premier Executive”), and thanked me for my continued support and business. A very nice gesture, and certainly well-appreciated!
Again, an on-time pushback, followed by a meandering taxi, then a bit of a wait in the “#1 for takeoff” position before we were on our way. There is evidently a cardinal rule of commercial aviation which stipulates that the more full one’s bladder, the longer it takes for the pilot to extinguish the fasten seatbelt sign. Even after reaching cruising altitude, with a remarkably smooth ride, the sign remained illuminated. Visions of our aircraft hurtling in space towards thunderheads and sheet lightening and other atmospheric anomalies that would further delay that moment of relief tormented me. Whatever could I have been thinking, guzzling all those cups of coffee! Worse, I began to notice other passengers looking at the forward lavatory with more than casual interest…..so, crouched like a predator ready to spring, I leapt from my seat immediately upon hearing that characteristic ‘ping’ and bolted for the front of the plane before anybody else could undo their seatbelts.
I’m still not sure which was more fortunate: my reaching the lavatory before any other passengers, or the fact that there wasn’t an air marshal on board!
Before sleeping, I asked the flight attendant to please wake me right before our descent, with a cup of coffee (!) The first class seat’s recline on the A320 is pretty decent, and I slept quite soundly. Next thing, a light tap on my shoulder, and a steaming cup of coffee and a raspberry crumble confection were offered. Ah, the rigors of travel….
MCO/PIT 07 JUL
UA 2434 (US 340) – 2F
737-400
12:20p – 02:35p
I was looking forward to my first experience with a UA/US codeshare, flying on US metal from MCO to BUF via PHL. In the absence of E+ seating, I was pleased to have secured perhaps the best coach seat on the A321 (9C), so I wasn’t worried about legroom. Knowing that my flight was heavily overbooked, I was curious if my UA status would have any bearing on possible operational upgrades.
Arrived 2 hours before flight time, and went to the First Class/CP check-in line, even though there was nothing on the sign about UA. The agent was cheerful and efficient, noting that my departure would be delayed due to the late incoming aircraft, and based on the most optimistic revised departure time, I would only have 5 minutes for my connection in PHL. I ruefully mentioned that this only happened when I had magnificent seats in the exit row, and she offered to re-route me through PIT, leaving 20 minutes later than my original departure, but arriving at BUF within 10 minutes of my original schedule. She said she would try to get me good seats, and I left her to her furious typing. Boarding passes were printed and offered with a practiced snap of her hand, and she winked and said “First Class, all the way!” If it’s true that first impressions are lasting impressions, then the timing of all this couldn’t be better!
Noticed on my US boarding pass that ‘Premier Exec’ was printed directly underneath my name, and the notation MP/UA was entered in the Dividend Miles Number column, along with my #.
The MCO US Air club consisted of 2 levels, with a bar downstairs, and hot beverages upstairs. The stairs themselves resembled the spiral staircase found in the earlier 747 models, although considerably wider. Lots of windows allowed one to follow aircraft movement on the ramp and taxiways.
Decided to go to the gate a bit earlier than usual, to see if there were any bump opportunities for my flight. Lo and behold, they were still looking for volunteers. They could put me back on my original (delayed) flight, and after a 4 hour layover in PHL, get me to BUF about 5 hours later than my scheduled arrival. And, they could offer me a first class seat on the PHL/BUF leg.
On the downside, compensation was offered in the form of a US free ticket voucher for Canada and the 48 contiguous US states, which would share the same inventory as coach award seats in terms of capacity controls. After some hemming and hawing, decided to keep my seat, and get home at a decent hour. Of course, 5 minutes into the flight, I was already regretting walking away from the free ticket, however restrictive!
Due to last minute luggage loading/unloading, pushback was about 15 minutes late. After a seemingly interminable taxi, we took off to the south, and were on our way.
Another first for me was the In-Flight Café meal service for this flight. Which meant that meals in coach would be offered for sale, consisting of a choice (for $10) between:
Chicken Caesar Sandwich meal, comprised of roasted rosemary chicken
breast, shredded Asiago cheese, and romaine lettuce on a rustica hoagie
roll with a side of Caesar sun-dried tomato dressing, fresh seasonal
fruit, Kettle chips, a chocolate chunk cookie and spring water.
The Bistro Chicken Salad, comprised of roasted chicken strips on
fresh romaine and spring lettuces, feta cheese, dried cherries and
butter-toffee glazed walnuts with raspberry vinaigrette dressing on the
side, Asiago herb flat bread, a chocolate chunk cookie and spring water.
Coincidentally, the First Class meal consisted of the above choices, minus the $10 charge. Unable to decide on my preferred selection, I deferred to the flight attendant’s judgment (she recommended the salad), and was glad that my seatmate chose the sandwich, so that I would have a basis for comparison. The salad was wicked-good, particularly the combination of feta cheese and dried cherries (nice and tart). The quality was very impressive, although I thought that the $10 price was a bit steep (in all fairness, I also think that the airport food outlet pricing is pretty outrageous as well). The Sandwich meal, according to my seatmate, was OK, but nothing real special, which pretty well matched my own visual observations.
Missing were the china and trays of a typical F meal, but I was so impressed with the quality and tastiness of my meal that this was no great loss!
Despite our late departure, we arrived at PIT on time, and I found my way to yet another US Air Club to wait out my connection. The PIT US Air Club is quite large, occupying a single level. There are many small nooks and crannies, however, so that it is possible to find a quiet place despite the crowds. Also, the windows are more like those found on solarium-type additions to homes, where the top is curved, allowing one to look upwards as well as outwards. Nice for plane spotting! Although the layouts of each of the 3 clubs I visited on this trip are quite distinct from one another, the snack and beverage choices were identical in each.
PIT/BUF 07 JUL
UA 2310 (US 407) – 1D
737-300
04:15p – 05:08p
Pre-departure beverages were offered in F, followed by a routine, 38 minute hop from PIT to BUF, with seatbelt sign on for the duration, and no further cabin service.
I was impressed by the relative ‘seamlessness’ of the UA/US codeshare flights, and the reasonably good fit between the 2 companies’ cultures. UA status is fairly visible to US staff, and the US Air Clubs are a nice change from the RCCs, and are a welcome addition in airports such as BUF, which has no RCC.
The biggest downside might be the lack of E+ seating on US flights. But my UA status did give me access to US preferred and exit row seating.
Of course, if I had to do it all over again, I’d only change one thing: I’d take the bump!