mwp2paris
Nov 6, 03, 11:41 pm
The Beginning 10/28/03 AA MCI-ORD-PVD
I have had a really light travel schedule the last 3 weeks so the next 9 days are quite a change and make me think of the good old days when I was rack’n up the miles and segments in quick order. Year before last I had requalified for EXP on segments {when it took 100 to get EXP} in MAY...yup, 100 AA segments in 5 months. Those were the good ole’ days when I was CP on US and EXP on AA and comped Silver on Continental. My, the times have changed; plus, I’m getting older and the thought of just laying over in a hotel at LAX beats taking a flight out, red-eye back, flight out, red-eye back just to rack up the miles!
My classes the next week and 2 days will take me to Providence, RI, Harrington, DE, Auburn, CA, Bentonville, AR, and Rockville, MD. I decided to hook them all together in one trip so I ended up with AA MCI-ORD-PVD; WN PVD-BWI; AA BWI-DFW-SMF-DFW-XNA-DFW-DCA-LGA-MCI. This amounts to one credit on Southwest and nearly 10,000 miles on AA. Since I’m hurting for miles this year to requalify for EXP (my travel department had a love-fest with the STL hub which dearly cut into my mileage accrual) I think this trip combined with a NRT run in November will secure me EXP until 02.05…hopefully, I am gainfully employed by then and no longer need to rack up miles…and since I just crossed 3M on AA…I have Platinum status for life and 4 VIP03s to use at will!
MCI-ORD AA B737
The new “enhanced” FC cabin with 16 seats seems so small but I hope that those extra seats in Y bring back the shrimp appetizer in FC!
Got to MCI AC a little early so I could gossip with the AAngels there. Jayme and Mary are just DEVINE and anyone who encounters them will just love them…they beat the snobby, up-nostrilled hags at LAX AC hands down any day…and I haven’t even seen their new digs yet.
Well, I had chosen exit row aisles on both flights because I’m too cheap to fork over the outrageous upgrades these days on short flights but I was op-upped to FC on MCI-ORD and, upon further reflection, decided to go ahead and fork over 2 segments for the ORD-PVD.
Boarding at MCI was the usual hectic rush…we did get pre-departure drinks but I was surprised we did…the people just coming and coming…I finally said to my seat-opponent we must be loading a 747-400…where do all those people go back there?
Service was nice and we were a bit early into ORD so I ran to the AC and checked E-mail on the free PCs then got ignored for a while at the bar before someone decide to deliver me a gin and soda with lime. I do miss the old crew there who knew you, your drink and just acted happy to see you.
ORD-PVD AA MD-80
Before long I wandered over to H5 and found my seat on the delightful MD-80. 3E ain’t bad, -especially since they were taking orders for dinner from the front tonight.
The selects were salmon with something, or fettuccine with mushroom and spinach sauce. I selected the salmon. Dressings were sesame or herb. Everything came on one tray which I guess, since it was a less than 2 hour flight is OK but questionable. I’ve been on those ab-fab DCA-ORD flights when they serve a dinner in FC and you get drinks, then salad, they pick up those plates and deliver the entrée’ and then actually deliver the cheesecake as a course unto its own, which BEGS THE QUESTION…
Why can some FAs make it seem so easy and an art to create a truly FC setting and everyone just relaxes and enjoys, while other FAs seem to just drop down to their knees in the aisles if they have to do anything even close to a FC service. Even pre-departure drinks…MCI-ORD was a full 16 FC and we got them…ORD-PVC was a full MD-80 with 14 and we didn’t and no difference in boarding time, problems or any of those other excuses
Well, somethings just won’t be understood this side of the great celestial veil.
To this crew’s credit, they did earn their place in FA heaven by serving a meal on a rather bumpy flight (my, what steady wrists you have pouring my mediocre merlot.
The Sheraton, Providence Airport
Have stayed here before and had an interesting experience involving walking into my room to find the TV in the middle of the floor surrounded by a lot of wires. Went back down and got a different room and 2500 Sheraton Promise points my troubles (?)…didn’t even expect or ask for them. Later, partied in the bar with a very fun and thirsty(!) group of WN FAs.
This time went a little smoother and the bar was much quieter. Got to bed earlier.
10/29/03 PVD-BWI WN B737
Got up to rain, did meeting, got back to the airport, flew through the Scrutiny Point and made it onto an earlier flight to BWI.
The Sheraton, Annapolis
OK, so I wing my way down to Annapolis and check into the Sheraton. They have no record of my SPG Platinum status so after much clicking and the manager coming out (just a part of that conversation…”do you have your Platinum card?” “Yes, but my number is *******.” “Well, that can’t be right; I need to see your card. SPG numbers are always longer.” “Well, mine is not. It is *******.” “You don’t have your card?” “No, I’ve committed the number to memory.” Much clicking on MOD’s part…”Oh, it wasn’t in the record. You must not have put it in.”
Yeah, right. I made my reservation at www.spg.com, (http://www.spg.com,) got my confirmation showing my status…sounds like the breakdown is here somewhere….that is what I thought…what I said was…”thank you for putting my number in.”
Go up to room (not Club Level) only to discover 2 double beds.
Go back down to FD.
FD Clerk...“Is something wrong?”
“I requested a King Bed.”
“Well, we don’t have any left.”
“So, what does my Platinum number count for then?”
“I’ll get the manager.”
Manager reappears “Is there a problem?”
“I requested a King and received 2 doubles.”
Much clicking on manager’s part. “Well, I’ll just KICK that guest out of their room and give it to you.”
Thanks for the guilt trip…NOT.
New key; now on Club Floor.
Go up, enter room…NAKED MAN>>>NAKED MAN>>>>NAKED MAN!!!!!
“Danger Will Rogers, DANGER.”
Go back down…panic-stricken FD clerk is beating a path across the lobby. “I’m getting the manager” she whispers as she flies by me. Obviously, NAKED MAN has called down prior to my arrival back to FD.
Much waiting.
Manager reappears. “Is there a problem?”
I announce in a bit too loud of a voice…”THERE WAS A NAKED PERSON IN THIS ROOM.”
Funny-boy guest in line to arranging wake-up call says…”Can I get a room with a naked person?” to which his wife punches him in ribs and drags him away from FD.
MUCH MORE CLICKING IN COMPUTER…finally figure out wrong room key was given to me and now all is corrected and I go back up to third room to find a king bed and no naked person.
Phone rings and Manager is apologetic and offers me dinner. Hit bar and enjoy soup and salad and vodkas on the house.
Get up next morning, drive 50 miles to somewhere in DE, do meeting, drive back to BWI, check in and find that my fare on this cross country leg, unbeknownst to me, allows a complimentary upgrade to FC for my BWI-DFW-SMF flights…YIPPEE.
10/30/03 BWI-DFW-SMF AA B757 and MD80
Well, DFW-BWI was a dinner flight and once again everything came on the same tray…I don’t really think this is the end of the earth but please, let’s maintain some decorum in FC. The menu was chicken or beef…had the beef. This flight used to have ice cream sundaes but no more…the ubiquitous cheesecake with red goop.
I know lots of FTers don't like the FC seats on AAs 75s but I like the old grey mares and the spaciousness of the cabin. Settled back and read Al Franken's "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" which features many laugh-out-loud portions which I'm sure my seat opponent wondered about.
Arrived into DFW, hit AC to check e-mail then headed over to DFW-SMF flight on an MD80.
Light load on this late flight and only 7 souls in FC. Wonderful FA (shout out to ya’ S***)who brought lots of warm mixed nuts and a gin and soda with lime until I dozed off for about 2 hours of the 3 hour flight(it is late, late according to my body clock which has much too quickly adjusted to East Coast time).
Woke up on landing and found my way to the National Car Rental desk to grab a nearly new Buick Rendezvous and headed to my friend’s house near the American River in Sacramento.
3 Days of FUN in Sacramento and I Even Worked!
Well, I won’t bore you with the details of my social life. Had Friday off and slept in, did some e-mail stuff for work, went to Rudy’s Hideaway for lunch then did some shopping before heading to a fairly new restaurant on Fair Oaks Blvd called “L’Image” owned by the wife of some Kings basketball player.
Wonderful food, excellent bartender, fabulous conversation.
Did meeting the next day (Folks just LOVE being in a training class on a Saturday, especially when it is the only rain-free day in a while!).
That night we headed down to the Sacramento Hyatt where I had checked in to get a credit towards the Night-after-Night promotion, enjoyed the Diamond amenity in my room (wine and cheese) discovered the piano player who used to be at the Hyatt is now at Mace's Restaurant on Fair Oaks so headed back out there to grab some late dinner and a drink and listen to some great music.
11/02/03 SMF-DFW-XNA AA MD80 and RJ
Well, up and out to the airport early to catch the 10:07 to DFW then on to XNA. FC lunch was a cold chicken breast or cold Turkey sandwich….PLEASE, you got ovens on this MD80…let's at least heat up some soup for us.
Finally got to XNA, headed to the Hampton Inn, Rogers/Bentonville. I like this place and stay here all the time…free High-Speed internet. Did check out new Japanese restaurant (Shogun) and Colton’s Steakhouse while I was here…not bad if you like chain food delivered with an Arkansas twist.
11/04/03 XNA-DFW-DCA F100 and MD80
Two days of meetings at you know where then back to airport…relieved to see they finally moved the bar into the secure zone and it is right across from the AA gates!
This is not a fun night….2 hour layover in DFW, arrive into DCA at 12:30am, drive out to Frederick, MD…2:00am tucking into my VIP room at the Hampton Inn…no high-speed internet only snail slow dial-up that keeps freezing.
2 days of meetings; after first day, check out downtown Frederick, MD…cute. Find a really good happy hour at someplace called “Hops and Barley” then back to Hampton, room is on first floor between front office and meeting room just off lobby.
Group in meeting room keeps breaking into applause which comes right through the connecting door into my room until about 10:00pm…at 5:00am, awaken to much banging, door slamming coming from office on other side of room.
Mention to FD clerk upon check out that room was noisy. She says she has never had complaints about that room but she will take care of it. Now, Hampton Inn has their 100% Guarantee printed on nearly everything but the sheets so I’m not sure what “I’ll take care of it” means but I’ll check my CC statement carefully. Didn’t really want or expect a comped room but just wanted to remind the FD that there are folks trying to sleep on the other side of the tissue paper thin wall and not be slamming doors early in the morning.
11/6/03 DCA-LGA-MCI AA RJ and MD80
Sweated bullets trying to get from Frederick back into DCA to catch 5:00pm to LGA. Made it. Got to LGA and of course, Eagle flight comes into C Concourse, MCI flight leaves out at D10, which means you have to reclear scrutiny. Well, we had sat for a while on the tarmac waiting for our gate, the lines at scrutiny were moving very slowly…I relax and remind myself the worse that can happen is I will spend the night at the LGA Sheraton.
But I zoom up to the gate at 6:50 for the 6:57 departure and of course, find no one boarding. No announcements, just no boarding. 7:00…7:20…finally we board…taxi out…waiting our turn…
Pilot…”well, they have closed departures on our route…no time given when we can expect to be released.”
Thank God I’m in 5B. We got no predeparts but at least I have my steak and baked potato to look forward to!
We’re waiting…we’re waiting…we’re moving…we’re moving…we’re taking off and we will now be over 1 hour late getting home.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS…
So…9 days, 7 clients, 5 hotels, 2 airlines, 1 weekend with a dear friend...and the only delayed flight was the one taking me home.
Tickets $1300, Hotels…couple of $100, dinners out…who’s counting…arriving home to wife and daughters…PRICELESS!
I love to travel, and it shows!
[This message has been edited by mwp2paris (edited 11-07-2003).]
I have had a really light travel schedule the last 3 weeks so the next 9 days are quite a change and make me think of the good old days when I was rack’n up the miles and segments in quick order. Year before last I had requalified for EXP on segments {when it took 100 to get EXP} in MAY...yup, 100 AA segments in 5 months. Those were the good ole’ days when I was CP on US and EXP on AA and comped Silver on Continental. My, the times have changed; plus, I’m getting older and the thought of just laying over in a hotel at LAX beats taking a flight out, red-eye back, flight out, red-eye back just to rack up the miles!
My classes the next week and 2 days will take me to Providence, RI, Harrington, DE, Auburn, CA, Bentonville, AR, and Rockville, MD. I decided to hook them all together in one trip so I ended up with AA MCI-ORD-PVD; WN PVD-BWI; AA BWI-DFW-SMF-DFW-XNA-DFW-DCA-LGA-MCI. This amounts to one credit on Southwest and nearly 10,000 miles on AA. Since I’m hurting for miles this year to requalify for EXP (my travel department had a love-fest with the STL hub which dearly cut into my mileage accrual) I think this trip combined with a NRT run in November will secure me EXP until 02.05…hopefully, I am gainfully employed by then and no longer need to rack up miles…and since I just crossed 3M on AA…I have Platinum status for life and 4 VIP03s to use at will!
MCI-ORD AA B737
The new “enhanced” FC cabin with 16 seats seems so small but I hope that those extra seats in Y bring back the shrimp appetizer in FC!
Got to MCI AC a little early so I could gossip with the AAngels there. Jayme and Mary are just DEVINE and anyone who encounters them will just love them…they beat the snobby, up-nostrilled hags at LAX AC hands down any day…and I haven’t even seen their new digs yet.
Well, I had chosen exit row aisles on both flights because I’m too cheap to fork over the outrageous upgrades these days on short flights but I was op-upped to FC on MCI-ORD and, upon further reflection, decided to go ahead and fork over 2 segments for the ORD-PVD.
Boarding at MCI was the usual hectic rush…we did get pre-departure drinks but I was surprised we did…the people just coming and coming…I finally said to my seat-opponent we must be loading a 747-400…where do all those people go back there?
Service was nice and we were a bit early into ORD so I ran to the AC and checked E-mail on the free PCs then got ignored for a while at the bar before someone decide to deliver me a gin and soda with lime. I do miss the old crew there who knew you, your drink and just acted happy to see you.
ORD-PVD AA MD-80
Before long I wandered over to H5 and found my seat on the delightful MD-80. 3E ain’t bad, -especially since they were taking orders for dinner from the front tonight.
The selects were salmon with something, or fettuccine with mushroom and spinach sauce. I selected the salmon. Dressings were sesame or herb. Everything came on one tray which I guess, since it was a less than 2 hour flight is OK but questionable. I’ve been on those ab-fab DCA-ORD flights when they serve a dinner in FC and you get drinks, then salad, they pick up those plates and deliver the entrée’ and then actually deliver the cheesecake as a course unto its own, which BEGS THE QUESTION…
Why can some FAs make it seem so easy and an art to create a truly FC setting and everyone just relaxes and enjoys, while other FAs seem to just drop down to their knees in the aisles if they have to do anything even close to a FC service. Even pre-departure drinks…MCI-ORD was a full 16 FC and we got them…ORD-PVC was a full MD-80 with 14 and we didn’t and no difference in boarding time, problems or any of those other excuses
Well, somethings just won’t be understood this side of the great celestial veil.
To this crew’s credit, they did earn their place in FA heaven by serving a meal on a rather bumpy flight (my, what steady wrists you have pouring my mediocre merlot.
The Sheraton, Providence Airport
Have stayed here before and had an interesting experience involving walking into my room to find the TV in the middle of the floor surrounded by a lot of wires. Went back down and got a different room and 2500 Sheraton Promise points my troubles (?)…didn’t even expect or ask for them. Later, partied in the bar with a very fun and thirsty(!) group of WN FAs.
This time went a little smoother and the bar was much quieter. Got to bed earlier.
10/29/03 PVD-BWI WN B737
Got up to rain, did meeting, got back to the airport, flew through the Scrutiny Point and made it onto an earlier flight to BWI.
The Sheraton, Annapolis
OK, so I wing my way down to Annapolis and check into the Sheraton. They have no record of my SPG Platinum status so after much clicking and the manager coming out (just a part of that conversation…”do you have your Platinum card?” “Yes, but my number is *******.” “Well, that can’t be right; I need to see your card. SPG numbers are always longer.” “Well, mine is not. It is *******.” “You don’t have your card?” “No, I’ve committed the number to memory.” Much clicking on MOD’s part…”Oh, it wasn’t in the record. You must not have put it in.”
Yeah, right. I made my reservation at www.spg.com, (http://www.spg.com,) got my confirmation showing my status…sounds like the breakdown is here somewhere….that is what I thought…what I said was…”thank you for putting my number in.”
Go up to room (not Club Level) only to discover 2 double beds.
Go back down to FD.
FD Clerk...“Is something wrong?”
“I requested a King Bed.”
“Well, we don’t have any left.”
“So, what does my Platinum number count for then?”
“I’ll get the manager.”
Manager reappears “Is there a problem?”
“I requested a King and received 2 doubles.”
Much clicking on manager’s part. “Well, I’ll just KICK that guest out of their room and give it to you.”
Thanks for the guilt trip…NOT.
New key; now on Club Floor.
Go up, enter room…NAKED MAN>>>NAKED MAN>>>>NAKED MAN!!!!!
“Danger Will Rogers, DANGER.”
Go back down…panic-stricken FD clerk is beating a path across the lobby. “I’m getting the manager” she whispers as she flies by me. Obviously, NAKED MAN has called down prior to my arrival back to FD.
Much waiting.
Manager reappears. “Is there a problem?”
I announce in a bit too loud of a voice…”THERE WAS A NAKED PERSON IN THIS ROOM.”
Funny-boy guest in line to arranging wake-up call says…”Can I get a room with a naked person?” to which his wife punches him in ribs and drags him away from FD.
MUCH MORE CLICKING IN COMPUTER…finally figure out wrong room key was given to me and now all is corrected and I go back up to third room to find a king bed and no naked person.
Phone rings and Manager is apologetic and offers me dinner. Hit bar and enjoy soup and salad and vodkas on the house.
Get up next morning, drive 50 miles to somewhere in DE, do meeting, drive back to BWI, check in and find that my fare on this cross country leg, unbeknownst to me, allows a complimentary upgrade to FC for my BWI-DFW-SMF flights…YIPPEE.
10/30/03 BWI-DFW-SMF AA B757 and MD80
Well, DFW-BWI was a dinner flight and once again everything came on the same tray…I don’t really think this is the end of the earth but please, let’s maintain some decorum in FC. The menu was chicken or beef…had the beef. This flight used to have ice cream sundaes but no more…the ubiquitous cheesecake with red goop.
I know lots of FTers don't like the FC seats on AAs 75s but I like the old grey mares and the spaciousness of the cabin. Settled back and read Al Franken's "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" which features many laugh-out-loud portions which I'm sure my seat opponent wondered about.
Arrived into DFW, hit AC to check e-mail then headed over to DFW-SMF flight on an MD80.
Light load on this late flight and only 7 souls in FC. Wonderful FA (shout out to ya’ S***)who brought lots of warm mixed nuts and a gin and soda with lime until I dozed off for about 2 hours of the 3 hour flight(it is late, late according to my body clock which has much too quickly adjusted to East Coast time).
Woke up on landing and found my way to the National Car Rental desk to grab a nearly new Buick Rendezvous and headed to my friend’s house near the American River in Sacramento.
3 Days of FUN in Sacramento and I Even Worked!
Well, I won’t bore you with the details of my social life. Had Friday off and slept in, did some e-mail stuff for work, went to Rudy’s Hideaway for lunch then did some shopping before heading to a fairly new restaurant on Fair Oaks Blvd called “L’Image” owned by the wife of some Kings basketball player.
Wonderful food, excellent bartender, fabulous conversation.
Did meeting the next day (Folks just LOVE being in a training class on a Saturday, especially when it is the only rain-free day in a while!).
That night we headed down to the Sacramento Hyatt where I had checked in to get a credit towards the Night-after-Night promotion, enjoyed the Diamond amenity in my room (wine and cheese) discovered the piano player who used to be at the Hyatt is now at Mace's Restaurant on Fair Oaks so headed back out there to grab some late dinner and a drink and listen to some great music.
11/02/03 SMF-DFW-XNA AA MD80 and RJ
Well, up and out to the airport early to catch the 10:07 to DFW then on to XNA. FC lunch was a cold chicken breast or cold Turkey sandwich….PLEASE, you got ovens on this MD80…let's at least heat up some soup for us.
Finally got to XNA, headed to the Hampton Inn, Rogers/Bentonville. I like this place and stay here all the time…free High-Speed internet. Did check out new Japanese restaurant (Shogun) and Colton’s Steakhouse while I was here…not bad if you like chain food delivered with an Arkansas twist.
11/04/03 XNA-DFW-DCA F100 and MD80
Two days of meetings at you know where then back to airport…relieved to see they finally moved the bar into the secure zone and it is right across from the AA gates!
This is not a fun night….2 hour layover in DFW, arrive into DCA at 12:30am, drive out to Frederick, MD…2:00am tucking into my VIP room at the Hampton Inn…no high-speed internet only snail slow dial-up that keeps freezing.
2 days of meetings; after first day, check out downtown Frederick, MD…cute. Find a really good happy hour at someplace called “Hops and Barley” then back to Hampton, room is on first floor between front office and meeting room just off lobby.
Group in meeting room keeps breaking into applause which comes right through the connecting door into my room until about 10:00pm…at 5:00am, awaken to much banging, door slamming coming from office on other side of room.
Mention to FD clerk upon check out that room was noisy. She says she has never had complaints about that room but she will take care of it. Now, Hampton Inn has their 100% Guarantee printed on nearly everything but the sheets so I’m not sure what “I’ll take care of it” means but I’ll check my CC statement carefully. Didn’t really want or expect a comped room but just wanted to remind the FD that there are folks trying to sleep on the other side of the tissue paper thin wall and not be slamming doors early in the morning.
11/6/03 DCA-LGA-MCI AA RJ and MD80
Sweated bullets trying to get from Frederick back into DCA to catch 5:00pm to LGA. Made it. Got to LGA and of course, Eagle flight comes into C Concourse, MCI flight leaves out at D10, which means you have to reclear scrutiny. Well, we had sat for a while on the tarmac waiting for our gate, the lines at scrutiny were moving very slowly…I relax and remind myself the worse that can happen is I will spend the night at the LGA Sheraton.
But I zoom up to the gate at 6:50 for the 6:57 departure and of course, find no one boarding. No announcements, just no boarding. 7:00…7:20…finally we board…taxi out…waiting our turn…
Pilot…”well, they have closed departures on our route…no time given when we can expect to be released.”
Thank God I’m in 5B. We got no predeparts but at least I have my steak and baked potato to look forward to!
We’re waiting…we’re waiting…we’re moving…we’re moving…we’re taking off and we will now be over 1 hour late getting home.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS…
So…9 days, 7 clients, 5 hotels, 2 airlines, 1 weekend with a dear friend...and the only delayed flight was the one taking me home.
Tickets $1300, Hotels…couple of $100, dinners out…who’s counting…arriving home to wife and daughters…PRICELESS!
I love to travel, and it shows!
[This message has been edited by mwp2paris (edited 11-07-2003).]