UAPremierExec
Jun 11, 06, 1:09 pm
With our new fare wars going on here in Hawai'i, I figured I'd try out go!, and you can't beat the fares!
After reading all the press and some of the threads, I was a bit nervous as people make Mesa out to be one of the worst carriers out there, but go! is anything but bad.
go! uses the Commuter Terminal in Honolulu, which is off to the far right side of everything and out of the way. The first plus is parking. I parked no more than 200 feet from the door to the terminal! The lot was getting quite full, but there are still spots to find.
Walking into the terminal, Pacific Wings, go!, and Island Air share the small counter positions. go! offers curbside check-in, and 2 kiosks inside, as well as 4 counter positions with stanchions (only airline with them). there was barely a line and check-in was painfully easy and took me all of 2 minutes, when I noticed I was cutting my trip short -- noticed it was 3 pm and my flight is at 330P!
Line at security: nonexistent. took me all of another 2 or 3 minutes to clear.
I get into the gate area and they're calling my flight and I see its quite a long line, with others sitting down at their end.
the line moves quickly as I walk outside towards the aircraft. cones line the walkway and there are a lot of people to help guide you to the right aircraft. We don't board using the stairs -- they have a large ramp that everyone walks up --- which I think is much easier than climbing the CRJ stairs. 2 agents are also at the steps to assist with gate-check bags.
As I approach the plane, I must say i LOVE this paint job... it looks really good on a CRJ!
Once near the cabin, I recognize the flight attendant from a few America West flights, and she greets me with a warm "welcome back" ---- she said she's recognized me on a few flights out west.
As I turn into the cabin i'm expecting to see the horrid CRJ seats and I'm quite surprised to find my old friends - Independence Air blue leather seats. I see that the flight is almost full -- and since its open seating I start to look around - and luckily I find refuge in row 9. There's room in the overhead for my bag and other carry on (something that's hard to find on the mainland) and take my seat --- boy do I miss these! These seats are the most comfortable I've ever been in - for a coach product -- and I'm hearing other people mention the same.
the "FLYI" logo has been replaced with a new sewn-in patch that says "go!" on the back of every seat, and they kept the tray tables that have a cut out curved inward for fat people like myself!
In the seat back, the safety cards are brand new, and they had an inflight service list with the beverage offerings.
Basicly, go! only offers free juice. Pepsi products & water are available for $1.50, beer (Heinekin & another brand) are $2.50 (wow!!), they have vodka, gin, and another mini for $3.50, and something that caught me -- margaritas, appletinis, and another vodka mixed drink is only $3.50.
these took me by surprise as I'm used to paying $5 for beer, not $2.50! Thank you Mesa for not ripping us off!
I didn't see an inflight magazine, but the flight attendant told me later there was a problem on the press and they'll be here next week.
the flight attendant was very conversant with the customers in row 8 about the exit row policies and procedures, and did the same on the PA when talking about the bags... most FA's tend to bark, she took more of a motherly approach and it was well received.
As I settled in my seat, I noticed we were a couple minutes from departure and the seat next to me was still open -- maybe there's hope!
Vicky, the flight attendant, walked down the aisle doing her counts, and told me I'm the luckiest guy on the flight -- i have the only open seat... so we've got 49 people on this flight today... not bad Mesa!
the door closed on time and the automated announcements started ... I couldn't figure out who they were, but it sounded like a band of some sorts. The only complaint is it was hard to hear and understand -- maybe they could slow it down a bit.
As we started to push back, the ground crew was waiving goodbye to us...
as soon as the ground crews detached us from the tug, we started our taxi out to the runway, which I figured would take 5 minutes.
As soon as we hit the end of the EWA concourse, the captain came on and told us we're #1 for departure, and I thought it was a bit premature.
We continued to taxi straight, so I figured we were going out to the runway in the middle of the bay, when we suddenly turned left and started our take-off roll.
We were soon off the ground and after a few small turns the flight attendant came on the PA announcing our inflight services -- again, not in the formal, scripted format, but very conversational with us. She even mentioned she has straws for the children & to just poke it thru the foil so it doesn't spill.
She then started passing out the free juice and taking orders for Buy On Board drinks. Very fast & efficient service!
captain came on and said we're cruising at 18,000 feet and should be on the ground in 15 minutes... the FA then took our remaining service items.
Landing was quick & easy, we pulled in between an Aloha 737-200 and an America West 757... deplaning was very quick & easy --- United seems to handle go! and they do it very efficiently.
I think I waited only 10 minutes for my checked bags and was off to catch the car rental shuttle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Mesa is on to something. Hawaiian and Aloha employees have been posting very negatively about go! on this site and others, and I don't blame them --- they have every right to be worried. While many flyers dispise Mesa, it looks like they have it right with go!
I will definitely shift all my business over to go!, even though I don't earn miles on other carriers --- they have their own program.. and since Mesa is still new at this and making changes, I figure its only a matter of time before they're working with other airline frequent flyer programs -- I mean, everything else they're doing is right so far....
Mahalo!
After reading all the press and some of the threads, I was a bit nervous as people make Mesa out to be one of the worst carriers out there, but go! is anything but bad.
go! uses the Commuter Terminal in Honolulu, which is off to the far right side of everything and out of the way. The first plus is parking. I parked no more than 200 feet from the door to the terminal! The lot was getting quite full, but there are still spots to find.
Walking into the terminal, Pacific Wings, go!, and Island Air share the small counter positions. go! offers curbside check-in, and 2 kiosks inside, as well as 4 counter positions with stanchions (only airline with them). there was barely a line and check-in was painfully easy and took me all of 2 minutes, when I noticed I was cutting my trip short -- noticed it was 3 pm and my flight is at 330P!
Line at security: nonexistent. took me all of another 2 or 3 minutes to clear.
I get into the gate area and they're calling my flight and I see its quite a long line, with others sitting down at their end.
the line moves quickly as I walk outside towards the aircraft. cones line the walkway and there are a lot of people to help guide you to the right aircraft. We don't board using the stairs -- they have a large ramp that everyone walks up --- which I think is much easier than climbing the CRJ stairs. 2 agents are also at the steps to assist with gate-check bags.
As I approach the plane, I must say i LOVE this paint job... it looks really good on a CRJ!
Once near the cabin, I recognize the flight attendant from a few America West flights, and she greets me with a warm "welcome back" ---- she said she's recognized me on a few flights out west.
As I turn into the cabin i'm expecting to see the horrid CRJ seats and I'm quite surprised to find my old friends - Independence Air blue leather seats. I see that the flight is almost full -- and since its open seating I start to look around - and luckily I find refuge in row 9. There's room in the overhead for my bag and other carry on (something that's hard to find on the mainland) and take my seat --- boy do I miss these! These seats are the most comfortable I've ever been in - for a coach product -- and I'm hearing other people mention the same.
the "FLYI" logo has been replaced with a new sewn-in patch that says "go!" on the back of every seat, and they kept the tray tables that have a cut out curved inward for fat people like myself!
In the seat back, the safety cards are brand new, and they had an inflight service list with the beverage offerings.
Basicly, go! only offers free juice. Pepsi products & water are available for $1.50, beer (Heinekin & another brand) are $2.50 (wow!!), they have vodka, gin, and another mini for $3.50, and something that caught me -- margaritas, appletinis, and another vodka mixed drink is only $3.50.
these took me by surprise as I'm used to paying $5 for beer, not $2.50! Thank you Mesa for not ripping us off!
I didn't see an inflight magazine, but the flight attendant told me later there was a problem on the press and they'll be here next week.
the flight attendant was very conversant with the customers in row 8 about the exit row policies and procedures, and did the same on the PA when talking about the bags... most FA's tend to bark, she took more of a motherly approach and it was well received.
As I settled in my seat, I noticed we were a couple minutes from departure and the seat next to me was still open -- maybe there's hope!
Vicky, the flight attendant, walked down the aisle doing her counts, and told me I'm the luckiest guy on the flight -- i have the only open seat... so we've got 49 people on this flight today... not bad Mesa!
the door closed on time and the automated announcements started ... I couldn't figure out who they were, but it sounded like a band of some sorts. The only complaint is it was hard to hear and understand -- maybe they could slow it down a bit.
As we started to push back, the ground crew was waiving goodbye to us...
as soon as the ground crews detached us from the tug, we started our taxi out to the runway, which I figured would take 5 minutes.
As soon as we hit the end of the EWA concourse, the captain came on and told us we're #1 for departure, and I thought it was a bit premature.
We continued to taxi straight, so I figured we were going out to the runway in the middle of the bay, when we suddenly turned left and started our take-off roll.
We were soon off the ground and after a few small turns the flight attendant came on the PA announcing our inflight services -- again, not in the formal, scripted format, but very conversational with us. She even mentioned she has straws for the children & to just poke it thru the foil so it doesn't spill.
She then started passing out the free juice and taking orders for Buy On Board drinks. Very fast & efficient service!
captain came on and said we're cruising at 18,000 feet and should be on the ground in 15 minutes... the FA then took our remaining service items.
Landing was quick & easy, we pulled in between an Aloha 737-200 and an America West 757... deplaning was very quick & easy --- United seems to handle go! and they do it very efficiently.
I think I waited only 10 minutes for my checked bags and was off to catch the car rental shuttle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Mesa is on to something. Hawaiian and Aloha employees have been posting very negatively about go! on this site and others, and I don't blame them --- they have every right to be worried. While many flyers dispise Mesa, it looks like they have it right with go!
I will definitely shift all my business over to go!, even though I don't earn miles on other carriers --- they have their own program.. and since Mesa is still new at this and making changes, I figure its only a matter of time before they're working with other airline frequent flyer programs -- I mean, everything else they're doing is right so far....
Mahalo!