Trip Reports - Tour of Duty 19-23 November




View Full Version : Tour of Duty 19-23 November


Loose Cannon
Nov 24, 04, 2:42 am
I got a call from dispatch Friday morning 19th November offering me a run from Phoenix, AZ to Portland, OR. I accepted and off I went on a quick tour of duty.

America West Express #6122 LGB-PHX CRJ900 Seat 14A Cruising altitude not announced, estimated flying time not announced, actual flying time 1:01

I was selected for secondary screening as usual. The plane was late arriving into LGB and pushback was 14 minutes late. Taxi was 8 minutes. I was sitting in the worst row; there was no recline because I was in front of an exit row and there was no window at my row. Because of short flight and full load only bottled water was offered. Arrived 12 min late to PHX. It took over 30 minutes for my baggage to appear at baggage claim; this is second slowest I've experienced (ATL was slowest). TSA at LGB inspected my bags and failed to reseal them and the bags arrived partially open but fortunately there was no loss in property.

Trip: Phoenix, AZ to Portland, OR 1,336 miles Route: Interstate 10 to CA 30 to Interstate 215 to Interstate 15 to US395 to CA 58 to CA 99 to CA 120 to Interstate 5.

I picked up a vacuum truck just in time to hit the outbound slow traffic getting out of Phoenix. I got to Tulare on Saturday and after I checked into my motel it started raining. Southern California had some rain and snow in some areas. I attended Shiloh Baptist Church in Atwater, CA Sunday morning, drove and attended Gateway Baptist in Red Bluff, CA. My allergy gave me trouble Monday evening starting around Eugene, OR yet I made delivery late Monday evening. I got a room in Portland and got much needed rest.

Horizon Air #2132 PDX - SEA DH-8 Assigned seat 5E (window); actual 5D (aisle) Cruising altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated flying time not listed; actual 0:49

I got selected for secondary screening as usual. There was no line for the secondary lane but long lines that moved quickly for all open lanes. Flight was full. Pushback was on time. Pax were offered a Rosemary cracker and a drink; I got the whole can of coke. I was very favourably impressed and I think perhaps America West Express could learn a lesson or two from Horizon. Pushback was on time; arrival into SEA was 5-6 minutes late.

Alaska #342 SEA-LGB B-737-400 Seat 2F Window, first class. Cruising altitude 33,000; Estimated flying time 2:07, actual: 2:05.
Plane was late arriving into SEA and was 26 minutes late with pushback. Takeoff was smooth but there were some bumps during latter period of climb. The F/A's served the passengers in F some breadsticks with a cheese dip or spread. The flight was almost full. Arrival in LGB was about 13min late. It took over 20 minutes for my claimed bags to appear at the baggage claim.


dhammer53
Nov 24, 04, 7:03 am
More questions?

- Why do you always get selected for secondary screening (as usual?)
- Do you Mapquest your route?
- Do you just pull in to a motel, or do you know where you'll be stopping?
- How do you research your church stop? You always seem to know where the church is. :cool:
- How expensive are your 'last minute tickets'?

House
Nov 24, 04, 11:06 am
More questions?

- Why do you always get selected for secondary screening (as usual?)


If you buy a one way ticket, at the last minute, then you will usually get flagged for secondary screening (SSSS or similar appears on the boarding pass).


Loose Cannon
Nov 24, 04, 8:05 pm
More questions?

- Why do you always get selected for secondary screening (as usual?)
Almost certainly because of one way itinerary and in many cases last minute travel.
- Do you Mapquest your route?
No, I ring the customer for directions. I am usually receive a suggested route with my trip paperwork.
- Do you just pull in to a motel, or do you know where you'll be stopping?
I have directories of motels from several national chains and ask which have truck parking and (usually) make a reservation in the afternoon for later in the evening.
- How do you research your church stop? You always seem to know where the church is. :cool:
Sometimes I use the yellow pages; I have compiled a list/directory of churches and have used databases such as biblebelievers.com or wayoflife.org
- How expensive are your 'last minute tickets'?
Here are some examples
$213.20 for Alaska from PDX to LGB with a connection in SEA.
$314.10 or Alaska from SEA to LGB nonstop
$110.10 for Jet Blue from OAK to LGB
$249.10 for Delta from CVG to MKE
$401.10 for Frontier from SEA to RKS with connection in DEN
$388.20 for Frontier from SEA to MCI with connection in DEN
$253.10 for America West IAH to SNA with connection in PHX
$118.10 for America West PHX to LGB



SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0