GSP flyer
Mar 27, 05, 9:48 pm
A quick preface to my trip: I'm heading up to Washington for two months to take part in an internship in Congress, working for a Democrat :) . Thus, as my internship was to begin in the middle of the week, I had to fly up (Oh Darn!). When I booked my tickets, NW, US, and DL were comprably priced. I looked at flying DL GSP-ATL-DFW-(CVG)-DCA, but finally decided against it and booked on NW (although there was a small amount of debate as to whether to add another stop in MCI, IND, ORD, or MKE between MEM and DTW).
So, here's the trip.
I arrived at GSP at 605A for my 705A flight to MEM on NW Airlink. I had done OLCI the night before, and I already had my boarding passes. However, as I approached the front check-in I was directed immediately to the kiosks, but when I said that I had my BPs already, a nice woman checked my bags all the way through to DCA (with a strange little green TRANSFER MEM tag, I've never seen those used before) . Unfortunately, one of my Godzilla sized bags (there were three of them, two checked and one carryon) was overweight by 9 pounds so I had to pay a $25 fee for it :( .
With check-in completed, me and my Mom headed up to the WH Smiths for about ten minutes before I headed through security at approximitely 620A. Due to the fact that I had a coat, laptop bag and carry-on, it was a cumbersome process getting through security because shoes had to come off, my laptop had to come out of my bag, my coat off, cellphone out of coat, etc. I finally reassembled myself and headed down to B4, Northwest's gate. When I got there, I noticed that there was a long line at the gate, and I thought that they were the passengers for Northwest's relatively new GSP-MSP flight. However, they weren't boarding, and I thought something was up because they weren't saying anything about the MSP flight, which is supposed to push at 630A. Boarding was called at 650 for the MEM flight, and I quickly got in line, picking up a gate check tag for my massive carry-on.
Flight #1
March 15, 2004
NW5772-Operated by Northwest Airlink, Pinnacle Airlines
Greenville/Spartanburg to Memphis International
Canadair Regional Jet
Seat:6D
Scheduled Departure: 705A
Actual Departure: 735A
Scheduled Arrival: 744A
Actual Arrival: 803A
As I boarded the aircraft, I quickly noticed that it was much fuller than the seatmaps had shown the night before. It turns out that the MSP flight was cancelled, and most of their passengers had been put on our plane, making for a 100% load on this flight. We sat there for 20 minutes before the door was closed and then we sat there for another 30 without any explaination from the flight crew until it was announced thatit had taken 25 minutes to get a fuel truck over because they had loaded too much fuel onto our plane in the first place.
Finally we pushed back from the gate and took off. Our pilot apparently decided to go pedal to the metal in order to make up some time. I knew that I would be iffy making my connection onto DTW because my connection was scheduled as A1 to B43 (about as long as you can get in MEM) plus the fcat that I would have to wait for my gate checked bag. I pulled out my laptop to look at my options, which weren't great. If I missed the DTW flight, there was NW1864 straight to DCA, which left 30 minutes after my flight to DTW. But, by the time I rushed down to B43 and realized my flight was gone, it would be only about 10 minutes before they shut the door on 1864. Thus, my next option was a connection in CLT, ATL, DFW, or ORD.
There was no breakfast on the flight to Northwest's Deep South Hub, only Spinzels and Soda. The flight was very uncomfortable due to the full load on what I term the WFC-Wretched Flying Contraption. I quickly realized that my seat didn't recline, making it all the worse. Along the way to ease my pain, I read City of the Century, which is a fabulous book about the development of the City of Chicago from its beginnings to about 1900. It's a very interesting read, and I highly recommend it. Soon enough, the pilot announced we were on finals to MEM, and we touched down smoothly.
Connection: Memphis International Airport
To my somewhat pleasant surprise, we taxied to B26 instead of A1, which although still a hike from B43 (at opposite branches of MEM's Y shape), is a modestly shorter connection than A1 to B43. Also making it easier was the fact that the other passengers let those with tight connections (DTW and MSP flights) to get off the plane quickly. However, it took about 5 minutes to get my carry-on, and by the tim I got out of the jetway it was around 808A. Time to run, which was complicated by my absolutely huge roll-aboard and MEM's absurdly narrow corridors.
Now for some commentary. MEM became an NWA hub after their aquisition of Republic back in the 1980s. Republic had in turn inherited MEM from Southern Airways. I get the distinct impression that until the mid to late 1990s, NW neither fully remembered nor fully forgot MEM. Going through there is like a blast from the past; a time warp into the mid-80s if you will. It serves an eclectic mix of smaller mid-South destinations (some, such as VPS, BTR, and GPT with mainline equipment, even) as well as some smaller Midwest cities that you wouldn't expect (MSN and OMA). In addition, there is a once daily flight to AMS that operates out of Gate B43.....where I was going.
But that was a distinctly large distance that I had to cover with my wolly mammoth of a bag, and I had 7 or so minutes before they could shut the door on me. If you've ever seen that scene where the McAllister family is running through ORD like crazy, that was me in MEM, except I had to weave my roller around heaps of people. Along my way to B43 I passed NW1864 to DCA at B9 (making a mental note). There seemed to be some construction at the food court area, but I wouldn't have had time to eat anyways. Amazingly, I arrived at the gate at exactly 815A and I asked the nice grandfatherly gate agent if I had made it, and he smiled and said "welcome aboard, son" in a really jolly good ol' Southern voice. He mind as well have been Santa Claus. And so, on to.....
Flight #2
March 15, 2004
NW282
Memphis International to Detroit Metro/Wayne County
Boeing 757-200 (755 Variant)
Seat:24F
Scheduled Departure: 825A
Actual Departure: 830A
Scheduled Arrival: 1116A
Actual Arrival: 1114A
I hurried aboard, and was blocked by a family that couldn't read their boarding passes correctly (they were looking at their BPs from their BTR flight). I finally made my way to row 24 and found overhead space for my bag, although I had to take some shoes and a book out to make it all fit. As a quick aside, this flight (and NW289 DTW-MEM) is the largest scheduled aircraft into MEM on the day I was flying. However, on my way down I spotted a 757-200 operating as NW877 to SEA. I never thought that a coach seat on a 757 could seem luxurious, but after the CRJ sardine can I had been on, it felt like an F class seat. The load on this flight was about 60% in Y, 90% in F(kinda surprising for a hub-to-hub route). There was a slight delay for some bags to be loaded, but we were soon off on a rocket shot of a takeoff (something the 757 does better than any airliner, IMHO).
I passed the time on this flight by napping, and then reading the in-flight magazine. No meal service on this flight either, but I wasn't hungry (yet). The DTW based crew was excellent and attentive. We passed over Indianapolis on the way, which was a pretty sight, as was the sight of snow on the ground in the Midwest. It made me feel right at home again (I grew up outside of Pittsburgh). Soon we were on finals to DTW, and as we banked for approach, I got a good view of downtown Detroit. Touchdown was smooth and soon we were at A36.
Connection Time: Detroit Metro/Wayne County
As I walked into DTW, I was struck by the differences between MEM and DTW. Night and day. MEM is 1980 while DTW is more like 2080. MEM seems so dank and depressing (although the Interstate BBQ smells good) while DTW is bright, airy, and spacious. With about 30 minutes to play with (and my stomach screaming) I decided that even if I had to miss my connection, I was getting food. So I walked down to the central tram station and headed down to my favorite place to eat at DTW, Pizza Papils, where I ordered a pepperoni pizza and an order of breadsticks with cheddar sauce (which is a massive serving.). I then strolled down to the tram station (after MEM, no more running for me, thank you very much) and caught the tram to the A18 station, where my DCA flight was boarding. I made it down the escalator just as the gate agent was about to close the door. I told her to wait a second and that I'd be right down.
Flight #3
March 15, 2004
NW236
Detroit Metro/Wayne County to Washington DC/Reagan National
Airbus A320
Seat:13F
Scheduled Departure: 1200N
Actual Departure: 1253P
Scheduled Arrival: 118P
Actual Arrival: 202P
I quickly stowed my bag and settled into 9F. I do have to say that the Airbus Y seats are really comfortable (especially after a CRJ). I decided to wait until we were airborne to eat my lunch. Big Mistake. At around 1155A, we were told that we would be delayed due to crew issues. 25 minutes passed and we were informed that although the crew situation was solved, we had no crew to push us back (they were busy at both gates beside of us). Can't a pilot just use thrust reversers to push back? 15 minutes later, we had a crew to push us back, but there was a "plane" behind us. I say that because I looked back and saw nothing. The whole thing seemed fishy to me. Maybe a security issue and the pilot just didn't want to mention it. All the while my meal was getting cold. Just as I was about to eat anyways, we pushed back, taxied past the Third World dump known as the Smith Terminal and took off for our nation's capital.
After we reached cruising altitude, I pigged out. The breadsticks and still hot cheddar sauce rocked, and the Chicago style pizza was to die for. 15 minutes before it went into effect, the captain informed us of the "30 minute rule" into DCA. I personally thought he should have mentioned it at the beginning, or at least when we reached cruising altitude. It was really interesting to watch the transition from exurb to the suburbs to downtown and it (along with the food) were my entertainment for the flight. Touchdown was smooth and we soon began our taxi to the gate. Along the way, we passed the lavish facilities that DL, US, UA, AC, CO, and AA use. Then we arrived at the hole of a terminal that NW, FL, and Midwest use, which is somewhere below that which you'd expect from the old facilities in East Berlin. Small, cramped, and little food (that I could notice). They should at least renovate the place. I deplaned and walked down to baggage claim and amazingly, in a few minutes, my bags came out. I was sure they had seperated from me in MEM, but they made it.
So, here's the trip.
I arrived at GSP at 605A for my 705A flight to MEM on NW Airlink. I had done OLCI the night before, and I already had my boarding passes. However, as I approached the front check-in I was directed immediately to the kiosks, but when I said that I had my BPs already, a nice woman checked my bags all the way through to DCA (with a strange little green TRANSFER MEM tag, I've never seen those used before) . Unfortunately, one of my Godzilla sized bags (there were three of them, two checked and one carryon) was overweight by 9 pounds so I had to pay a $25 fee for it :( .
With check-in completed, me and my Mom headed up to the WH Smiths for about ten minutes before I headed through security at approximitely 620A. Due to the fact that I had a coat, laptop bag and carry-on, it was a cumbersome process getting through security because shoes had to come off, my laptop had to come out of my bag, my coat off, cellphone out of coat, etc. I finally reassembled myself and headed down to B4, Northwest's gate. When I got there, I noticed that there was a long line at the gate, and I thought that they were the passengers for Northwest's relatively new GSP-MSP flight. However, they weren't boarding, and I thought something was up because they weren't saying anything about the MSP flight, which is supposed to push at 630A. Boarding was called at 650 for the MEM flight, and I quickly got in line, picking up a gate check tag for my massive carry-on.
Flight #1
March 15, 2004
NW5772-Operated by Northwest Airlink, Pinnacle Airlines
Greenville/Spartanburg to Memphis International
Canadair Regional Jet
Seat:6D
Scheduled Departure: 705A
Actual Departure: 735A
Scheduled Arrival: 744A
Actual Arrival: 803A
As I boarded the aircraft, I quickly noticed that it was much fuller than the seatmaps had shown the night before. It turns out that the MSP flight was cancelled, and most of their passengers had been put on our plane, making for a 100% load on this flight. We sat there for 20 minutes before the door was closed and then we sat there for another 30 without any explaination from the flight crew until it was announced thatit had taken 25 minutes to get a fuel truck over because they had loaded too much fuel onto our plane in the first place.
Finally we pushed back from the gate and took off. Our pilot apparently decided to go pedal to the metal in order to make up some time. I knew that I would be iffy making my connection onto DTW because my connection was scheduled as A1 to B43 (about as long as you can get in MEM) plus the fcat that I would have to wait for my gate checked bag. I pulled out my laptop to look at my options, which weren't great. If I missed the DTW flight, there was NW1864 straight to DCA, which left 30 minutes after my flight to DTW. But, by the time I rushed down to B43 and realized my flight was gone, it would be only about 10 minutes before they shut the door on 1864. Thus, my next option was a connection in CLT, ATL, DFW, or ORD.
There was no breakfast on the flight to Northwest's Deep South Hub, only Spinzels and Soda. The flight was very uncomfortable due to the full load on what I term the WFC-Wretched Flying Contraption. I quickly realized that my seat didn't recline, making it all the worse. Along the way to ease my pain, I read City of the Century, which is a fabulous book about the development of the City of Chicago from its beginnings to about 1900. It's a very interesting read, and I highly recommend it. Soon enough, the pilot announced we were on finals to MEM, and we touched down smoothly.
Connection: Memphis International Airport
To my somewhat pleasant surprise, we taxied to B26 instead of A1, which although still a hike from B43 (at opposite branches of MEM's Y shape), is a modestly shorter connection than A1 to B43. Also making it easier was the fact that the other passengers let those with tight connections (DTW and MSP flights) to get off the plane quickly. However, it took about 5 minutes to get my carry-on, and by the tim I got out of the jetway it was around 808A. Time to run, which was complicated by my absolutely huge roll-aboard and MEM's absurdly narrow corridors.
Now for some commentary. MEM became an NWA hub after their aquisition of Republic back in the 1980s. Republic had in turn inherited MEM from Southern Airways. I get the distinct impression that until the mid to late 1990s, NW neither fully remembered nor fully forgot MEM. Going through there is like a blast from the past; a time warp into the mid-80s if you will. It serves an eclectic mix of smaller mid-South destinations (some, such as VPS, BTR, and GPT with mainline equipment, even) as well as some smaller Midwest cities that you wouldn't expect (MSN and OMA). In addition, there is a once daily flight to AMS that operates out of Gate B43.....where I was going.
But that was a distinctly large distance that I had to cover with my wolly mammoth of a bag, and I had 7 or so minutes before they could shut the door on me. If you've ever seen that scene where the McAllister family is running through ORD like crazy, that was me in MEM, except I had to weave my roller around heaps of people. Along my way to B43 I passed NW1864 to DCA at B9 (making a mental note). There seemed to be some construction at the food court area, but I wouldn't have had time to eat anyways. Amazingly, I arrived at the gate at exactly 815A and I asked the nice grandfatherly gate agent if I had made it, and he smiled and said "welcome aboard, son" in a really jolly good ol' Southern voice. He mind as well have been Santa Claus. And so, on to.....
Flight #2
March 15, 2004
NW282
Memphis International to Detroit Metro/Wayne County
Boeing 757-200 (755 Variant)
Seat:24F
Scheduled Departure: 825A
Actual Departure: 830A
Scheduled Arrival: 1116A
Actual Arrival: 1114A
I hurried aboard, and was blocked by a family that couldn't read their boarding passes correctly (they were looking at their BPs from their BTR flight). I finally made my way to row 24 and found overhead space for my bag, although I had to take some shoes and a book out to make it all fit. As a quick aside, this flight (and NW289 DTW-MEM) is the largest scheduled aircraft into MEM on the day I was flying. However, on my way down I spotted a 757-200 operating as NW877 to SEA. I never thought that a coach seat on a 757 could seem luxurious, but after the CRJ sardine can I had been on, it felt like an F class seat. The load on this flight was about 60% in Y, 90% in F(kinda surprising for a hub-to-hub route). There was a slight delay for some bags to be loaded, but we were soon off on a rocket shot of a takeoff (something the 757 does better than any airliner, IMHO).
I passed the time on this flight by napping, and then reading the in-flight magazine. No meal service on this flight either, but I wasn't hungry (yet). The DTW based crew was excellent and attentive. We passed over Indianapolis on the way, which was a pretty sight, as was the sight of snow on the ground in the Midwest. It made me feel right at home again (I grew up outside of Pittsburgh). Soon we were on finals to DTW, and as we banked for approach, I got a good view of downtown Detroit. Touchdown was smooth and soon we were at A36.
Connection Time: Detroit Metro/Wayne County
As I walked into DTW, I was struck by the differences between MEM and DTW. Night and day. MEM is 1980 while DTW is more like 2080. MEM seems so dank and depressing (although the Interstate BBQ smells good) while DTW is bright, airy, and spacious. With about 30 minutes to play with (and my stomach screaming) I decided that even if I had to miss my connection, I was getting food. So I walked down to the central tram station and headed down to my favorite place to eat at DTW, Pizza Papils, where I ordered a pepperoni pizza and an order of breadsticks with cheddar sauce (which is a massive serving.). I then strolled down to the tram station (after MEM, no more running for me, thank you very much) and caught the tram to the A18 station, where my DCA flight was boarding. I made it down the escalator just as the gate agent was about to close the door. I told her to wait a second and that I'd be right down.
Flight #3
March 15, 2004
NW236
Detroit Metro/Wayne County to Washington DC/Reagan National
Airbus A320
Seat:13F
Scheduled Departure: 1200N
Actual Departure: 1253P
Scheduled Arrival: 118P
Actual Arrival: 202P
I quickly stowed my bag and settled into 9F. I do have to say that the Airbus Y seats are really comfortable (especially after a CRJ). I decided to wait until we were airborne to eat my lunch. Big Mistake. At around 1155A, we were told that we would be delayed due to crew issues. 25 minutes passed and we were informed that although the crew situation was solved, we had no crew to push us back (they were busy at both gates beside of us). Can't a pilot just use thrust reversers to push back? 15 minutes later, we had a crew to push us back, but there was a "plane" behind us. I say that because I looked back and saw nothing. The whole thing seemed fishy to me. Maybe a security issue and the pilot just didn't want to mention it. All the while my meal was getting cold. Just as I was about to eat anyways, we pushed back, taxied past the Third World dump known as the Smith Terminal and took off for our nation's capital.
After we reached cruising altitude, I pigged out. The breadsticks and still hot cheddar sauce rocked, and the Chicago style pizza was to die for. 15 minutes before it went into effect, the captain informed us of the "30 minute rule" into DCA. I personally thought he should have mentioned it at the beginning, or at least when we reached cruising altitude. It was really interesting to watch the transition from exurb to the suburbs to downtown and it (along with the food) were my entertainment for the flight. Touchdown was smooth and we soon began our taxi to the gate. Along the way, we passed the lavish facilities that DL, US, UA, AC, CO, and AA use. Then we arrived at the hole of a terminal that NW, FL, and Midwest use, which is somewhere below that which you'd expect from the old facilities in East Berlin. Small, cramped, and little food (that I could notice). They should at least renovate the place. I deplaned and walked down to baggage claim and amazingly, in a few minutes, my bags came out. I was sure they had seperated from me in MEM, but they made it.