das
Mar 17, 05, 10:23 pm
Figured my trip on AA 1779, DFW-SEA, on March 16 is worthy of a trip report.
I normally fly UA on this route (via DEN), but AA had some good A fares (free F upgrades at time of booking) on the route - $440 one way for a booking made a week ahead. I felt quite smug as a Gold being able to upgrade at time of booking, while the Plats who didn't buy an A fare would be stuck in the back, while paying a fare that's a fraction of the Y fare that was traditionally charged on the route (I think it was $1100 one way last time).
Anyway, I decided to 'treat' myself to the 8:07pm flight instead of the 9:50pm flight so I could get to bed at a reasonable hour....but it didn't exactly work out that way.
I arrived at DFW around 7:15pm, but the kiosk rejected my check in for an unknown reason, so I checked in with a live human. I refrained from eating because I knew a snack awaited me on board. We boarded a bit late, but pushed back only about 10 minutes late. The flight was 100% full, so pre departure beverages were offered just before the doors were closed.
We took off and the snack service started with beverages and a ramekin of nuts (much larger than UA), which included soy nuts - I liked the variety, but I don't really like the taste of soy nuts that much. Then there is an announcement that one of the F/As is slipping in and out of being conscious, we are returning to DFW, and need medical assistance.
The plane does a sharp turn and a few minutes later it is clear we are descending rapidly - and it sure doesn't look like DFW because there aren't too many lights below - the pilot announces that we are landing at Wichita Falls because the F/As condition is worsening. We land around 9:15pm - and it's a fairly smooth landing - and are greeted by paramedics and fire engines on the runway. They evacuate the F/A through the aft stairs into a waiting ambulance.
We then begin a long taxi to the terminal area, being guided by a car, and park. (mind you, Wichita Falls, TX is an Eagle station and normally has no mainline jets) We get an update that we have two issues limiting us from departing - we're below minimum crew, and we did an overweight landing which requires an inspection.
Around 10pm, we get an update that a replacement F/A and inspector will be flown in, and that the Wichita Falls terminal is closed, so we must stay on the plane. By this time I am STARVING and keep trying to flag down our F/A to offer the snack, but before I get a chance to ask, she asks us if we're ready to eat. I feel really bad for the Y pax as we get our F snack trays.
The choices are mushroom pizza or terriyaki salmon - I had the salmon which was a hot plate, with some beans, spaghetti cake, mushroom salad, and bag of cookies. Overall quite an impressive snack - seems much better than the cold lunches AA serves on west coast -> DFW flights, but the service was rushed and drinks served in plastic due to us being on the ground.
At 11:30pm, a new plane (another Super 80) arrives with a replacement F/A, and a mechanic to inspect our airplane. I guess they bring in a Super 80 just in case our plane doesn't pass the inspection. They aren't eager to move us to the other plane, because there is no one to move the bags. We are told that the inspection will take 30 minutes, but we don't leave til 1:15am, because they need to replace our medical kits, do paperwork, etc.
After takeoff from Wichita Falls (where there seems to be a bunch of abandoned prop planes), I was so zonked out that I slept the whole way to Seattle. Thank goodness for being in F! We landed at 2:57am, which made for a really long day.
BTW, we got an update that the F/A (a 57 year old, with 35 years of seniority) was recovering and resting in the hospital, and apologized to us for the inconvenience. He was helping with pre departure coat hanging and seemed really friendly and in good condition. (this flight operates as a turnaround, with the same crew flying back on the SEA-DFW redeye, so it's a senior bidline)
Overall, the passengers were very understanding, and everyone seemed to keep their cool. The F/As thanked us at the end of the flight for our understanding and patience.
While I lost a few hours of sleep, I'm glad we got the sick F/A on the ground quickly, and kudos to the AA pilots for keeping us safe and well informed, and kudos to AA dispatch for sending the replacement plane so quickly.
Unfortunatlely, pax booked on the redeye SEA-DFW didn't fare as well, it ended up being delayed til 9am, probably because of crew legality.
I normally fly UA on this route (via DEN), but AA had some good A fares (free F upgrades at time of booking) on the route - $440 one way for a booking made a week ahead. I felt quite smug as a Gold being able to upgrade at time of booking, while the Plats who didn't buy an A fare would be stuck in the back, while paying a fare that's a fraction of the Y fare that was traditionally charged on the route (I think it was $1100 one way last time).
Anyway, I decided to 'treat' myself to the 8:07pm flight instead of the 9:50pm flight so I could get to bed at a reasonable hour....but it didn't exactly work out that way.
I arrived at DFW around 7:15pm, but the kiosk rejected my check in for an unknown reason, so I checked in with a live human. I refrained from eating because I knew a snack awaited me on board. We boarded a bit late, but pushed back only about 10 minutes late. The flight was 100% full, so pre departure beverages were offered just before the doors were closed.
We took off and the snack service started with beverages and a ramekin of nuts (much larger than UA), which included soy nuts - I liked the variety, but I don't really like the taste of soy nuts that much. Then there is an announcement that one of the F/As is slipping in and out of being conscious, we are returning to DFW, and need medical assistance.
The plane does a sharp turn and a few minutes later it is clear we are descending rapidly - and it sure doesn't look like DFW because there aren't too many lights below - the pilot announces that we are landing at Wichita Falls because the F/As condition is worsening. We land around 9:15pm - and it's a fairly smooth landing - and are greeted by paramedics and fire engines on the runway. They evacuate the F/A through the aft stairs into a waiting ambulance.
We then begin a long taxi to the terminal area, being guided by a car, and park. (mind you, Wichita Falls, TX is an Eagle station and normally has no mainline jets) We get an update that we have two issues limiting us from departing - we're below minimum crew, and we did an overweight landing which requires an inspection.
Around 10pm, we get an update that a replacement F/A and inspector will be flown in, and that the Wichita Falls terminal is closed, so we must stay on the plane. By this time I am STARVING and keep trying to flag down our F/A to offer the snack, but before I get a chance to ask, she asks us if we're ready to eat. I feel really bad for the Y pax as we get our F snack trays.
The choices are mushroom pizza or terriyaki salmon - I had the salmon which was a hot plate, with some beans, spaghetti cake, mushroom salad, and bag of cookies. Overall quite an impressive snack - seems much better than the cold lunches AA serves on west coast -> DFW flights, but the service was rushed and drinks served in plastic due to us being on the ground.
At 11:30pm, a new plane (another Super 80) arrives with a replacement F/A, and a mechanic to inspect our airplane. I guess they bring in a Super 80 just in case our plane doesn't pass the inspection. They aren't eager to move us to the other plane, because there is no one to move the bags. We are told that the inspection will take 30 minutes, but we don't leave til 1:15am, because they need to replace our medical kits, do paperwork, etc.
After takeoff from Wichita Falls (where there seems to be a bunch of abandoned prop planes), I was so zonked out that I slept the whole way to Seattle. Thank goodness for being in F! We landed at 2:57am, which made for a really long day.
BTW, we got an update that the F/A (a 57 year old, with 35 years of seniority) was recovering and resting in the hospital, and apologized to us for the inconvenience. He was helping with pre departure coat hanging and seemed really friendly and in good condition. (this flight operates as a turnaround, with the same crew flying back on the SEA-DFW redeye, so it's a senior bidline)
Overall, the passengers were very understanding, and everyone seemed to keep their cool. The F/As thanked us at the end of the flight for our understanding and patience.
While I lost a few hours of sleep, I'm glad we got the sick F/A on the ground quickly, and kudos to the AA pilots for keeping us safe and well informed, and kudos to AA dispatch for sending the replacement plane so quickly.
Unfortunatlely, pax booked on the redeye SEA-DFW didn't fare as well, it ended up being delayed til 9am, probably because of crew legality.