violist
May 24, 06, 8:24 am
0518 US 369 BOS PHL 1630 1730 319 2A
was 1530 1701
1033 PHL BWI 1922 2024 734 2A
was 1750 1853 733
We push off from the gate maybe 5 minutes early, and I
figure this is a good sign; but it's a bad sign when we
stall in the middle of nowhere. The pilot comes on the PA
and announces flow control issues in Philly, bad thunder
or something, and not to get too excited if we hear the
engines coming back on, we'll be moved around so other
traffic can get past us. Eventually we get the go-ahead
to get in line at 4:15 and take off only about 15 minutes
later. I spend most of the time en route fretting not about
how to make my connection (I either will or I won't), but
rather what to tell my sweetie when I show up at 9:30
instead of 7, and she yells at me for not taking the Valujet
nonstop.
Well, we make up a few minutes en route but stop at the
opposite end of the B terminal to where 1033 is supposed
to load up, so I stagger into the plane at the last moment,
and there's no overhead space. I'm visibly dismayed, so
this young gent in 1D gets up and very kindly rearranges
his own stuff, opening a bin for me, which I accept, and I
hope my relief and gratitude show.
We pull out right on time only to find that what was
formerly characterized as "a minor issue that maintenance
just has to sign off on" has been upgraded to "the previous
flight crew's report indicates a situation that requires an
engine run-up, which has to be performed off the gate with
an empty plane." So off we get, and I call and get protected
on the next flight, no biggie; eventually it turns out that
they do find another aircraft for us (a -400), and we load
up a way down the hall (much grousing both from us, as we
are forced to walk a couple hundred feet, as well as the
original denizens of the gate, who see their plane to PIT
taken away). Young 1D tumbles to the fact that he's going
to miss his BWI-CLT connection scheduled at 7:40, as it
is now past 7:00. They offer him a seat on the 8-something
nonstop, which he initially refuses, then eventually decides
to take. So off he goes.
The flight, formerly completely full, takes off with 38
empties including 3 in F (well, the equipment change gives
18 more seats, so that accounts for something), and we end
up in Baltimore a mere hour and half late. The BWI-CLT is
still sitting there at the next gate when we arrive ... .
Question. Was 1D
1. apprehensive about his upgrade (notwithstanding that the
PHL-CLT nonstop is a 321 and shouldn't be bad for upgrades);
2. an "if it ain't Boeing, I ain't going" type; or
3. one of us?
0523 US2036 DCA BOS 1345 1508 319 2F
Okay, the New US Airways thinks that I have zero miles in
my bank and zero towards Preferred status. So what's with
that? I discover that the computer has given me 11C instead
of a window (my preference) in first (my preference). And no
apparent way to change it. The kind folk at the CP desk
offer no joy (for some reason, the number still works, and I
think they can see my exalted status on their computer). I'm
not sure whether there's a notation in my record that I'm
some kind of cockroach or their hands are really tied.
They suggest an early visit to the gate may yield results.
It's easy to get to DCA on the Metro at midday. There's
quite a crowd at security, but as a Preferred I get to go
into the left lane, which uses a puffer instead of the
magnetometer (or in addition? not sure - there is a metal
detector after the ion sampling machine, but it doesn't
appear to be on). Three! boarding pass checks.
The puffer is amusing. First a voice says, "Gun firing"
(if you or I said that, what would be the outcome?), and
then there are about 7 quick bursts of air, followed by a
pause of 15 seconds or so. Then the TSA guy holds open the
gate and "have a nice flight." Pretty inconsequential.
At the Club I explain my situation to the agent, who types
away for a while and tells me to come back in 5 minutes.
After which I hear the magic words: "aisle or window?"
was 1530 1701
1033 PHL BWI 1922 2024 734 2A
was 1750 1853 733
We push off from the gate maybe 5 minutes early, and I
figure this is a good sign; but it's a bad sign when we
stall in the middle of nowhere. The pilot comes on the PA
and announces flow control issues in Philly, bad thunder
or something, and not to get too excited if we hear the
engines coming back on, we'll be moved around so other
traffic can get past us. Eventually we get the go-ahead
to get in line at 4:15 and take off only about 15 minutes
later. I spend most of the time en route fretting not about
how to make my connection (I either will or I won't), but
rather what to tell my sweetie when I show up at 9:30
instead of 7, and she yells at me for not taking the Valujet
nonstop.
Well, we make up a few minutes en route but stop at the
opposite end of the B terminal to where 1033 is supposed
to load up, so I stagger into the plane at the last moment,
and there's no overhead space. I'm visibly dismayed, so
this young gent in 1D gets up and very kindly rearranges
his own stuff, opening a bin for me, which I accept, and I
hope my relief and gratitude show.
We pull out right on time only to find that what was
formerly characterized as "a minor issue that maintenance
just has to sign off on" has been upgraded to "the previous
flight crew's report indicates a situation that requires an
engine run-up, which has to be performed off the gate with
an empty plane." So off we get, and I call and get protected
on the next flight, no biggie; eventually it turns out that
they do find another aircraft for us (a -400), and we load
up a way down the hall (much grousing both from us, as we
are forced to walk a couple hundred feet, as well as the
original denizens of the gate, who see their plane to PIT
taken away). Young 1D tumbles to the fact that he's going
to miss his BWI-CLT connection scheduled at 7:40, as it
is now past 7:00. They offer him a seat on the 8-something
nonstop, which he initially refuses, then eventually decides
to take. So off he goes.
The flight, formerly completely full, takes off with 38
empties including 3 in F (well, the equipment change gives
18 more seats, so that accounts for something), and we end
up in Baltimore a mere hour and half late. The BWI-CLT is
still sitting there at the next gate when we arrive ... .
Question. Was 1D
1. apprehensive about his upgrade (notwithstanding that the
PHL-CLT nonstop is a 321 and shouldn't be bad for upgrades);
2. an "if it ain't Boeing, I ain't going" type; or
3. one of us?
0523 US2036 DCA BOS 1345 1508 319 2F
Okay, the New US Airways thinks that I have zero miles in
my bank and zero towards Preferred status. So what's with
that? I discover that the computer has given me 11C instead
of a window (my preference) in first (my preference). And no
apparent way to change it. The kind folk at the CP desk
offer no joy (for some reason, the number still works, and I
think they can see my exalted status on their computer). I'm
not sure whether there's a notation in my record that I'm
some kind of cockroach or their hands are really tied.
They suggest an early visit to the gate may yield results.
It's easy to get to DCA on the Metro at midday. There's
quite a crowd at security, but as a Preferred I get to go
into the left lane, which uses a puffer instead of the
magnetometer (or in addition? not sure - there is a metal
detector after the ion sampling machine, but it doesn't
appear to be on). Three! boarding pass checks.
The puffer is amusing. First a voice says, "Gun firing"
(if you or I said that, what would be the outcome?), and
then there are about 7 quick bursts of air, followed by a
pause of 15 seconds or so. Then the TSA guy holds open the
gate and "have a nice flight." Pretty inconsequential.
At the Club I explain my situation to the agent, who types
away for a while and tells me to come back in 5 minutes.
After which I hear the magic words: "aisle or window?"