jimcfsus
Mar 10, 05, 8:11 pm
Here's my TR that took me over to the dark side of IAD and of UA and back... and I survived to tell the tale. Let me tell ya folks, I'll take PHL and its quirks over some of the things I saw on UA EX and at IAD anyday.
Itin outbound CAK-PHL-BOS on US then BOS-IAD-PHL on UA... reverse on Tuesday. Why? CAK-PHL n/s was over $700. CAK-BOS was $78+ on US, BOS-PHL was $78 on US and UA. I had a $76 voucher to use on US and a $75 voucher to use on UA. So this netted out to taxes and PFC's, a total of about $80 for 8000 actual miles and 4000 preferred miles.
So, here's my story.
Mon March 7 - Good Good Weird Blah
Left CAK on the 6:45A PSA CRJ to PHL. Gave the crew FFOCUS Hershey Love and got a thank you on the announcement of departure by the guys up front.
Smooth early morning flight... got in on time to Terminal F'ed, took shuttle over to B. My connect to BOS was beginning to board Zone 1, walked right on the plane. Gave the crew on this 321 Hershey Love and they went bonkers. Captain came out and shook my hand. For an 8:30A Monday flight, FC in the 321 had 2 empties, Y maybe 40% full. Smooth flight... decent service... no XOXO's, but the Biscoff's went well with coffee and Bailey's. Got to BOS 15 min early.
I hadn't flown into Logan since the early 90's. After some bad experiences (such as the last time in from DCA, we had to wait for the drunk senior Democratic Senator from MA to board 30 min late), whenever I needed to see my business associate who lives east of BOS, I'd fly into MHT as it's about the same distance from him and much less hassle than Logan. Massport has done a wonderful job with Logan... I don't ever remember it that nice. Went over and checked out the shuttle terminal... it was a ghost town at 10AM Monday. I checked email at one of the workstations, ate lunch, then went back over to the other side and got my shuttle bus to UA... and the dark side. <cue spooky music>
Flight to IAD was on a Mesa CRJ. First thing I noticed was the Mesa CRJ was in crappy condition compared to PSA's CRJs. Seats felt like they were from a B1900. FA was a middle aged gal named Jane... "Crazy Jane" as I started referring to her. She wore a US sweater and a UA red scarf (bandanna?) around her neck. Metal was in UA colors, but I guess Crazy Jane couldn't decide which affiliate she was working for today. ;) When she did the preflight, she read it from a card, which isn't all that bad if they are new... but she read it so darn fast that it all slurred together so bad it sounded like she was talking in some bad Eastern European language. The lady seated next to me and I just looked at each other and started laughing and shaking our heads. She kept this up the entire flight anytime she needed to use the PA. Fast talk that no one could figure out what she was saying. We weren't too sure how safe we would be with her should something go wrong. Her drink service didn't give anyone a real choice... she did it SW/express beverage style, a tray of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and water along with some UA snack mix (which GoFares Boy ended up getting in his prize bag) for a 2 hour scheduled flight. I lucked out being in the right spot in 6C getting the last Diet on her way out, and she had an extra on the way back which she looked at me and asked (in words I could understand) if I wanted another. We landed at IAD early and couldn't wait to get off the plane.
I lucked out getting to leave IAD at the same gate and same CRJ to get back to PHL. I was waiting to see Crazy Jane. Nope. Got a nice young pregnant gal named Michelle. She was very normal compared to her predecessor. Only quirk Michelle did was she did the real express beverage service. She served water... let me clarify, tap water out of some container, not a bottle, as the only choice, no ice. Watching her do this, I decided I could wait until I got to PHL to get something to drink. We got into PHL on-time, perhaps a couple of minutes early. Upon getting off, was able to track down the rest of our party (FFOCUSers will find out the details of this soon) and headed off to B/C Club for our tete-a-tete.
Tues March 8. The blah, the bad, the good, Terminal F'ed.
A 4:30 wakeup call came too early. Now to do it all again, in reverse order. First thing I heard when I hit my room on Monday night was the approaching storm for Tuesday. Fun wow. I don't have to be back so we'll see how this plays out.
My 6:15 Mesa CRJ from Terminal D in PHL left on time, got into IAD on time. The interior had not been cleaned. The row I was in still had papers in the seat pockets along with a half empty bottle of milk. When the FA made her final sweep to pick up stuff (even with no service on the short flight), she asked if I was done with the bottle... I then explained it was still there when we got on. She shook her head in disgust. I guess it wasn't her job to clean the plane when she got on in the morning. Other than that, an uneventful flight. Landed early. Still no weather problems.
Then the poopie hit the fan. We got on the BOS flight (UA mainline A320) at 8:20 (8:50 depart) and first we had a mechanical. It was resolved in 20 min, then we had wet snow, thus de-iceing. That took... are you sitting... 2 and a half hours! They showed us an entire movie and passed around water while we waited to be de-iced. Thank goodness I had an E+ seat with the middle still empty. I spread out, brought out the laptop, and got some work done that I was going to do on my layover at Logan... and then some. We finally got clearance to go about 11:30. Captain made it a point to tell us Channel 9 would be on (again, this was wonderful... wish US would do it). Got in about 12:50.
I had to make a 1:30 on US that... you guessed it, was delayed coming in from PHL. So, I grabbed a piece of pizza and sat next to some shuttle FA's. I handed them some Hershey Love for dessert and we struck up a good conversation. They're not happy with their higher up's... and weren't afraid to mince words about it. We talked about the report last week... they had some kind words to say about FFOCUS. One of them had been given a cockroach pin by one of our members.
My delayed 1:30 departure got in about 2, but we couldn't get clearance to get back. We finally left a little before 4 and got into PHL about 5. Gave this crew Hershey Love... they loved it. All the FAs stopped at my seat to thank me personally and I got a handshake from the captain before we left. The flight had enough turbulence that the captain kept the gals in their seats once in the air... meaning no drinks or XOXO's for me... even though I did get some XOXO's... . I did sit across the aisle from a fellow FTer named Britt or Brett... didn't get his screenname though as he said he was more of a lurker. I told him he had to post about sitting next to a FTer, about not getting any FC service or any XOXO's. The FC FA overheard us and came out with some XOXO's for the two of us and the guy sitting on my side with me. He hadn't been introduced to the joy of XOXO's before.
As I got off, I noticed on the monitors that my 4:20 connection back to CAK hadn't left yet (and wasn't cancelled like a lot of other flights Tuesday afternoon) and was rescheduled for 6:07. There was a flight cancelled to CLE, so we got some of those passengers. It ended up being about 80% full. We boarded on time, but I should have known something was up when the GA says we can't board via the jetway... we walked down the jetway to the door, go outside, then use the CRJ stairs to board. I gave this crew plus some deadheads Hershey Love. FO shook my hand and main FA was very pleasantly shocked (we ended up having 2 male FAs on this CRJ... very nice). Then we sat... and we sat... and we sat some more. Captain comes on and says due to a screw up in the bag room, we don't have the checked bags. I'm thinking to myself, "Welcome to PHL and to Terminal F'ed". Finally after 45 minutes, captain walks off the plane and a few minutes later walks back on. I found out later that the Captain was 2 minutes from leaving when the rampers show up with the bags. According to the FA during the flight that the problem is that they were PSA, but the rampers were Piedmont. There's no coordination or communication between the two. The captain and the FA both made cell phone calls to operations to get things moving. As I said earlier... Welcome to Terminal F'ed.
So, about 50 minutes late, we push back and get going. The captain comes on and says, we're cutting in line to be number 1 for departure... and a special welcome to all the FFOCUS members aboard tonight. A very nice smooth flight with a few bumps on the way out. Beer and wine were comped on this flight (captain's order according to the FA). We finally arrive in CAK about 8:25. I get to the TSA area and who is waiting for daddy but GoFares Boy. He was so excited he ran right past the TSA guard on the exit... she looked at us, said it was ok, and gave him a big hug.
So, folks, after witnessing IAD the last two days, I think I'll take PHL with its known quirks any day over IAD. The layout of the terminal sucks. Mesa sucks bad, real bad. I'll take PSA's CRJ layout any day over Mesa's. UA's ops on deicing had no rhyme or reason (let's just go down the line by gate).
BTW, had to laugh at Independence. They had 18 CRJs lined up to go get de-iced 2 at a time. Yes 18.. I counted them as we taxied to leave for BOS Isn't that about half their remaining fleet? The guy sitting with me and I were cracking up over the long line.
Itin outbound CAK-PHL-BOS on US then BOS-IAD-PHL on UA... reverse on Tuesday. Why? CAK-PHL n/s was over $700. CAK-BOS was $78+ on US, BOS-PHL was $78 on US and UA. I had a $76 voucher to use on US and a $75 voucher to use on UA. So this netted out to taxes and PFC's, a total of about $80 for 8000 actual miles and 4000 preferred miles.
So, here's my story.
Mon March 7 - Good Good Weird Blah
Left CAK on the 6:45A PSA CRJ to PHL. Gave the crew FFOCUS Hershey Love and got a thank you on the announcement of departure by the guys up front.
Smooth early morning flight... got in on time to Terminal F'ed, took shuttle over to B. My connect to BOS was beginning to board Zone 1, walked right on the plane. Gave the crew on this 321 Hershey Love and they went bonkers. Captain came out and shook my hand. For an 8:30A Monday flight, FC in the 321 had 2 empties, Y maybe 40% full. Smooth flight... decent service... no XOXO's, but the Biscoff's went well with coffee and Bailey's. Got to BOS 15 min early.
I hadn't flown into Logan since the early 90's. After some bad experiences (such as the last time in from DCA, we had to wait for the drunk senior Democratic Senator from MA to board 30 min late), whenever I needed to see my business associate who lives east of BOS, I'd fly into MHT as it's about the same distance from him and much less hassle than Logan. Massport has done a wonderful job with Logan... I don't ever remember it that nice. Went over and checked out the shuttle terminal... it was a ghost town at 10AM Monday. I checked email at one of the workstations, ate lunch, then went back over to the other side and got my shuttle bus to UA... and the dark side. <cue spooky music>
Flight to IAD was on a Mesa CRJ. First thing I noticed was the Mesa CRJ was in crappy condition compared to PSA's CRJs. Seats felt like they were from a B1900. FA was a middle aged gal named Jane... "Crazy Jane" as I started referring to her. She wore a US sweater and a UA red scarf (bandanna?) around her neck. Metal was in UA colors, but I guess Crazy Jane couldn't decide which affiliate she was working for today. ;) When she did the preflight, she read it from a card, which isn't all that bad if they are new... but she read it so darn fast that it all slurred together so bad it sounded like she was talking in some bad Eastern European language. The lady seated next to me and I just looked at each other and started laughing and shaking our heads. She kept this up the entire flight anytime she needed to use the PA. Fast talk that no one could figure out what she was saying. We weren't too sure how safe we would be with her should something go wrong. Her drink service didn't give anyone a real choice... she did it SW/express beverage style, a tray of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and water along with some UA snack mix (which GoFares Boy ended up getting in his prize bag) for a 2 hour scheduled flight. I lucked out being in the right spot in 6C getting the last Diet on her way out, and she had an extra on the way back which she looked at me and asked (in words I could understand) if I wanted another. We landed at IAD early and couldn't wait to get off the plane.
I lucked out getting to leave IAD at the same gate and same CRJ to get back to PHL. I was waiting to see Crazy Jane. Nope. Got a nice young pregnant gal named Michelle. She was very normal compared to her predecessor. Only quirk Michelle did was she did the real express beverage service. She served water... let me clarify, tap water out of some container, not a bottle, as the only choice, no ice. Watching her do this, I decided I could wait until I got to PHL to get something to drink. We got into PHL on-time, perhaps a couple of minutes early. Upon getting off, was able to track down the rest of our party (FFOCUSers will find out the details of this soon) and headed off to B/C Club for our tete-a-tete.
Tues March 8. The blah, the bad, the good, Terminal F'ed.
A 4:30 wakeup call came too early. Now to do it all again, in reverse order. First thing I heard when I hit my room on Monday night was the approaching storm for Tuesday. Fun wow. I don't have to be back so we'll see how this plays out.
My 6:15 Mesa CRJ from Terminal D in PHL left on time, got into IAD on time. The interior had not been cleaned. The row I was in still had papers in the seat pockets along with a half empty bottle of milk. When the FA made her final sweep to pick up stuff (even with no service on the short flight), she asked if I was done with the bottle... I then explained it was still there when we got on. She shook her head in disgust. I guess it wasn't her job to clean the plane when she got on in the morning. Other than that, an uneventful flight. Landed early. Still no weather problems.
Then the poopie hit the fan. We got on the BOS flight (UA mainline A320) at 8:20 (8:50 depart) and first we had a mechanical. It was resolved in 20 min, then we had wet snow, thus de-iceing. That took... are you sitting... 2 and a half hours! They showed us an entire movie and passed around water while we waited to be de-iced. Thank goodness I had an E+ seat with the middle still empty. I spread out, brought out the laptop, and got some work done that I was going to do on my layover at Logan... and then some. We finally got clearance to go about 11:30. Captain made it a point to tell us Channel 9 would be on (again, this was wonderful... wish US would do it). Got in about 12:50.
I had to make a 1:30 on US that... you guessed it, was delayed coming in from PHL. So, I grabbed a piece of pizza and sat next to some shuttle FA's. I handed them some Hershey Love for dessert and we struck up a good conversation. They're not happy with their higher up's... and weren't afraid to mince words about it. We talked about the report last week... they had some kind words to say about FFOCUS. One of them had been given a cockroach pin by one of our members.
My delayed 1:30 departure got in about 2, but we couldn't get clearance to get back. We finally left a little before 4 and got into PHL about 5. Gave this crew Hershey Love... they loved it. All the FAs stopped at my seat to thank me personally and I got a handshake from the captain before we left. The flight had enough turbulence that the captain kept the gals in their seats once in the air... meaning no drinks or XOXO's for me... even though I did get some XOXO's... . I did sit across the aisle from a fellow FTer named Britt or Brett... didn't get his screenname though as he said he was more of a lurker. I told him he had to post about sitting next to a FTer, about not getting any FC service or any XOXO's. The FC FA overheard us and came out with some XOXO's for the two of us and the guy sitting on my side with me. He hadn't been introduced to the joy of XOXO's before.
As I got off, I noticed on the monitors that my 4:20 connection back to CAK hadn't left yet (and wasn't cancelled like a lot of other flights Tuesday afternoon) and was rescheduled for 6:07. There was a flight cancelled to CLE, so we got some of those passengers. It ended up being about 80% full. We boarded on time, but I should have known something was up when the GA says we can't board via the jetway... we walked down the jetway to the door, go outside, then use the CRJ stairs to board. I gave this crew plus some deadheads Hershey Love. FO shook my hand and main FA was very pleasantly shocked (we ended up having 2 male FAs on this CRJ... very nice). Then we sat... and we sat... and we sat some more. Captain comes on and says due to a screw up in the bag room, we don't have the checked bags. I'm thinking to myself, "Welcome to PHL and to Terminal F'ed". Finally after 45 minutes, captain walks off the plane and a few minutes later walks back on. I found out later that the Captain was 2 minutes from leaving when the rampers show up with the bags. According to the FA during the flight that the problem is that they were PSA, but the rampers were Piedmont. There's no coordination or communication between the two. The captain and the FA both made cell phone calls to operations to get things moving. As I said earlier... Welcome to Terminal F'ed.
So, about 50 minutes late, we push back and get going. The captain comes on and says, we're cutting in line to be number 1 for departure... and a special welcome to all the FFOCUS members aboard tonight. A very nice smooth flight with a few bumps on the way out. Beer and wine were comped on this flight (captain's order according to the FA). We finally arrive in CAK about 8:25. I get to the TSA area and who is waiting for daddy but GoFares Boy. He was so excited he ran right past the TSA guard on the exit... she looked at us, said it was ok, and gave him a big hug.
So, folks, after witnessing IAD the last two days, I think I'll take PHL with its known quirks any day over IAD. The layout of the terminal sucks. Mesa sucks bad, real bad. I'll take PSA's CRJ layout any day over Mesa's. UA's ops on deicing had no rhyme or reason (let's just go down the line by gate).
BTW, had to laugh at Independence. They had 18 CRJs lined up to go get de-iced 2 at a time. Yes 18.. I counted them as we taxied to leave for BOS Isn't that about half their remaining fleet? The guy sitting with me and I were cracking up over the long line.