Jamman
Jun 1, 07, 3:24 pm
Hello there,
This will be my first post on Flyertalk but I'm a long time lurker on the forums reading all the helpful do's and don'ts of air travel. Until recently I've become more of a frequent flyer to the States from the UK and hopefully I can start building up some mileage, nothing to the amounts some guys fly on here but something to make my life easier.
I figure a good introduction to myself would be a travel report, forgive me if you've read this before I had recently posted it on another travel type forum but I doubt everyone reads that particular sight all the time :D
So HELLO! and comments welcome! :)
12/04/07
American Airlines AA55 767-300
Manchester to Chicago O'Hare
An early start for me as is the case with most transatlantic flights out of Manchester, still this cuts out the traffic on the M60 which usually starts building up past 6am.
Terminal 3 was the past of departure this morning, Manchester Airports Group are thankfully still letting people use the drop off areas out side the terminal although you can't pick up anymore you have to park and pay a fee.
Arriving at the terminal I note that it still say's 'British Airways' over the top of the building although BA is now probably one of the lower ranking airlines (as far as flights go) from the terminal, I expect this will change soon to be just known as 'T3'.
Entering the check-in area I note that most of the BA desks have now changed to FlyBE branded desks and very nice they look too, good to see the transition at least looks smart to the customer, the American desks also look very smart which are all Branded with logo's and red white and blue wall panelling, you'd think that you were in a US airport with the bold branding on the desks.
The check-in opened on time and were handling check-in for both Chicago and Boston there where about 5 officers doing the security checks so check-in was very swift, I had already chosen my seats online so I was safe in the knowledge I had a window seat with a good view of the wing.
After check-in I proceeded through security where there where 3 metal detectors and 3 x-ray machines but only 2 of the metal detectors where working so there was a little bit of a bottle neck and a queue especially at that busy time in the morning, clearing security I enter what I consider the most disappointing part of T3 which is the departure lounge.
You get the impression this place is now too small for what it handles, small shops, small food areas it all seems a bit cramped to me, I think this place would be fine to handle LCC/Regional departures but when there are up to 4 or 5 wide body aircraft departing on transatlantic flights the place feels cramped.
Being early I took a tour of the shops trying my best not to bump into people, the dixon's electronics shop is a perfect example of this which is particularly small. I decided to have breakfast and joined a fairly long line for hot food, the food was actually quite good and fresh but the price's where a bit steep!
Time was skipping on and I proceeded to the relatively quiet area around the gate, one of the AA flight crew sat near by and proceeded to do The Times crossword, nice to see AA pilots keep their gray matter exercised!
Come boarding time the usual rugby scrum of people who go to the gate regardless of what zone they are boarding, of course I'm a good boy and wait until my zone is called walking down the gangway I'm marshalled off to a side room for a random security check, I don't have a problem with this and it makes my feel safer even though it probably doesn't stop much.
The cabin of this AA 767-300 series has the new 777 type curvy cabins, which is a nice surprise as the last AA flight I took from Manchester it was the older type cabin. The seats are the usual AA economy seats with the adjustable head rest and the pillow, blanket and headset all wrapped up, I note that the seat controls are different from my previous flight and are now like AVOD controls that also have a phone function, sadly AA have yet to kit out this type with a personal LCD let alone AVOD, perhaps the placement of these is a sign of the future?? Anyway no point in crying over lack lustre entertainment on board I already knew that this was the case and had bought a new Archos504 media player stacked with movies and tv shows ready for the 8hr trip!
I was hoping for a empty seat next to me (as I'd checked online) but this flight was full and had a middle aged teacher nurse sat next to me, sounded like she'd only brought her ticket recently and was probably allocated on check-in, ahh well as it turned out she was a very nice lady going to see her son in Miami and with this being her first transatlantic flight she had lots of questions about procedures and making connections which I happily answered, its good to pass on the knowledge!
The takeoff was uneventful apart from the AA captain saying "yes folks, its going to be an amazing day to fly" it got a laugh from a few people in the cabin not used to a man enjoying his job, I'm left thinking "yes its an amazing day to fly but your in the cockpit with the best view and the kick ... job!!"
After the 10k feet cabin 'bong' the cabin crew sprung to life to start the first drinks service and I must say that this crew where 1st class in the amount of drinks runs they did, I actually lost count and had to go to the toilet twice during the flight due to the amount of liquids! The food today was chicken or beef, I opted for chicken and so did my neighbour but wasn't very impressed, the chicken was a bit rubbery and the pasta with it had a strange chemical taste to it, perhaps I'll take the beef next time! Around this time there was some turbulence and it actually got quite bumpy to the point where the cabin crew where holding on to their carts to stabilize them selves, still nothing out of the ordinary for me.
After the many drink runs towards the end of the flight there was a small snack given out and because I'd passed on most of the chicken from before I was ready for anything, I was hoping for one of those small AA cheese and tomato pizzas I had last time but sadly this time it was a hot vegetable panini, disappointed but still eaten with gusto! We also got a pot of grapes and a packet of biscuits which was a nice touch for coach class.
The landing was a gusty one in to Chicago (I know why they call it the windy city now) lots of wing dipping and speed break deployment on the decent into ORD, the approach was to runway 32R that runs behind the back of all the terminals and you could tell that the wind was playing its part into a bumpy landing today, a nice challenge for today’s flight crew I thought, something I always like to do when flying FlightSim2004 is put the winds on and make them gusty!
On final approach a few nervous faces on my row as the wings dipped up and down but I was loving it safe in the knowledge that if the PIC didn't like the look of it we would 'go around' which would have been an experience but I hoped against it as I had a connection to make! Still things where still rockin from side to side but you could tell the pilot had it tamed and for the want of a better word 'plonked' the bird on the runway, a fun landing which I would have loved to have seen from the jumpseat who knows maybe one day!
We vacated the runway at P2 and taxied down Papa towards T5 and yes today we were to use the bridge over the airport approach road fun to see all the cars below as our 76 taxied over head!
I said good bye to the lady passenger and wished her luck on her connection, she thanked me and said it had been great to have someone nice to talk to! I probably blushed at that point
Pulling into T5 I could see two Mexicana A320's (I think) parked along side which had an effect on the queues in the immigration hall because for some reason they where taking a lot longer than usual for the passengers to be processed, the staff began marshalling us over to the US citizens only areas to relieve the queues somewhat.
By this time I was getting a little nervous about my connection, last time I was in ORD I had a 5 hr layover but this time it was only 3hrs, plenty of time I though but still it took me about 1.5hrs to get out of T5 to the airport terminal train.
Making my way off the mini train thingy I entered T3 the American terminal which (still) seems to be under al sorts of re-construction, last time I was here the security areas where having work done but now seem to be finished but still a lot of cosmetic work to be done. The queues at the TSA check points where fairly long as we where queuing towards the entrance to the terminal, this being the point at which any connecting flight travellers plans could be ruined I hoped for a swift process and yes the line did move pretty quickly much to my surprise it looks like their getting the hang of it.
Now safely in T3 I would proceed to the screens to find my gate to Cedar Rapids!
12/03/07
American Eagle EMB-14X
Chicago O'Hare to Cedar Rapids
I had planned on doing a tour around the terminals at Chicago having only found out recently that they where all connected airside (except T5) but I figured with only having an hour or so left I would just walk around T3 after I'd found my departure gate for CID. I've been here once before and I'm always stuck by how busy this place is, I'd like to think that MAN is fairly busy but ORD makes MAN look like a ghost town. Lots of people coming and going and faces of every colour and creed walking by at speed, I could image to a new traveller this could be a very intimidating place! Thinking back to the woman making the connection flight to Miami and in the US for the first time I really hoped she made it in one piece!
Time ticked on and I sat down outside the gate area for my flight to CID and everyone was transfixed watching CNN on the overhead screen, there was some news story about G.W. was about to put a power charger cable into the fuel tank of a nitrogen car or something and someone did a Photoshop to show him blowing it up, pretty funny I thought but you probably wouldn't see that on FOX!
Boarding time rolled around and I was in the first zone sitting near the back of the jungle jet, still I had a good view of the wing and I love the fact you can get a seat next to the window and the aisle with the 1-2 configuration the EMB jets have. Sitting in my seat with my book (the Archos batteries where dead by now) I was ready to go but 10mins past, 15mins past and then 20mins past and the Captain came on the PA "sorry folks we are waiting to take a crew to Cedar Rapids today and we don't know where they are" 2 rows back from me a man shouts loudly "F*&K them! lets go go!" the captain pauses at this point as the cockpit door was still open and carried on "we'll get back to you in a few mins".
After a delay of 30mins they decide to go and leave the crew behind and our little jungle jet roars off on RW 32L towards Iowa. The flight is only 40mins and we are told there will be no drinks service with the flight being so short but we are offered water from the galley if we need it, I proceed to read my book and before long we are making our decent into CID.
The landing is uneventful but always fun in a jet this size especially when you seem to ride so low on the ground after the wheels touch down, we vacate the runway and seem to taxi for a while passing a few notable features on this airfield such as the Rockwell hanger for testing avionics I presume and also I see two 727's parked at the cargo areas, one a FedEx and one a UPS, I believe that Cedar Rapids has a lot of distribution centres for companies based here because of its central location so the 727's must be a regular site.
The Cedar Rapids terminal is only what I would describe as being very cute and functional it would appear to be the perfect size for the area and also very well looked after quite a little airport to be proud of with its 1 Pier with jetways and central departures and arrivals area you will never get lost!
Once leaving my flight it’s a short walk then a trip down some escalators to ground level and then walk to the right for the baggage retrieval area.
It was here I was to meet my girlfriend and I was to have a short but very enjoyable stay in Cedar Rapids!
American did fine again with me, just the rubber chicken and the short delay on American Eagle which would bare a note, in June I am again to take the same trip so fingers crossed I have a similar experience, without the rubber chicken!
Thanks for reading!
Jamman.
This will be my first post on Flyertalk but I'm a long time lurker on the forums reading all the helpful do's and don'ts of air travel. Until recently I've become more of a frequent flyer to the States from the UK and hopefully I can start building up some mileage, nothing to the amounts some guys fly on here but something to make my life easier.
I figure a good introduction to myself would be a travel report, forgive me if you've read this before I had recently posted it on another travel type forum but I doubt everyone reads that particular sight all the time :D
So HELLO! and comments welcome! :)
12/04/07
American Airlines AA55 767-300
Manchester to Chicago O'Hare
An early start for me as is the case with most transatlantic flights out of Manchester, still this cuts out the traffic on the M60 which usually starts building up past 6am.
Terminal 3 was the past of departure this morning, Manchester Airports Group are thankfully still letting people use the drop off areas out side the terminal although you can't pick up anymore you have to park and pay a fee.
Arriving at the terminal I note that it still say's 'British Airways' over the top of the building although BA is now probably one of the lower ranking airlines (as far as flights go) from the terminal, I expect this will change soon to be just known as 'T3'.
Entering the check-in area I note that most of the BA desks have now changed to FlyBE branded desks and very nice they look too, good to see the transition at least looks smart to the customer, the American desks also look very smart which are all Branded with logo's and red white and blue wall panelling, you'd think that you were in a US airport with the bold branding on the desks.
The check-in opened on time and were handling check-in for both Chicago and Boston there where about 5 officers doing the security checks so check-in was very swift, I had already chosen my seats online so I was safe in the knowledge I had a window seat with a good view of the wing.
After check-in I proceeded through security where there where 3 metal detectors and 3 x-ray machines but only 2 of the metal detectors where working so there was a little bit of a bottle neck and a queue especially at that busy time in the morning, clearing security I enter what I consider the most disappointing part of T3 which is the departure lounge.
You get the impression this place is now too small for what it handles, small shops, small food areas it all seems a bit cramped to me, I think this place would be fine to handle LCC/Regional departures but when there are up to 4 or 5 wide body aircraft departing on transatlantic flights the place feels cramped.
Being early I took a tour of the shops trying my best not to bump into people, the dixon's electronics shop is a perfect example of this which is particularly small. I decided to have breakfast and joined a fairly long line for hot food, the food was actually quite good and fresh but the price's where a bit steep!
Time was skipping on and I proceeded to the relatively quiet area around the gate, one of the AA flight crew sat near by and proceeded to do The Times crossword, nice to see AA pilots keep their gray matter exercised!
Come boarding time the usual rugby scrum of people who go to the gate regardless of what zone they are boarding, of course I'm a good boy and wait until my zone is called walking down the gangway I'm marshalled off to a side room for a random security check, I don't have a problem with this and it makes my feel safer even though it probably doesn't stop much.
The cabin of this AA 767-300 series has the new 777 type curvy cabins, which is a nice surprise as the last AA flight I took from Manchester it was the older type cabin. The seats are the usual AA economy seats with the adjustable head rest and the pillow, blanket and headset all wrapped up, I note that the seat controls are different from my previous flight and are now like AVOD controls that also have a phone function, sadly AA have yet to kit out this type with a personal LCD let alone AVOD, perhaps the placement of these is a sign of the future?? Anyway no point in crying over lack lustre entertainment on board I already knew that this was the case and had bought a new Archos504 media player stacked with movies and tv shows ready for the 8hr trip!
I was hoping for a empty seat next to me (as I'd checked online) but this flight was full and had a middle aged teacher nurse sat next to me, sounded like she'd only brought her ticket recently and was probably allocated on check-in, ahh well as it turned out she was a very nice lady going to see her son in Miami and with this being her first transatlantic flight she had lots of questions about procedures and making connections which I happily answered, its good to pass on the knowledge!
The takeoff was uneventful apart from the AA captain saying "yes folks, its going to be an amazing day to fly" it got a laugh from a few people in the cabin not used to a man enjoying his job, I'm left thinking "yes its an amazing day to fly but your in the cockpit with the best view and the kick ... job!!"
After the 10k feet cabin 'bong' the cabin crew sprung to life to start the first drinks service and I must say that this crew where 1st class in the amount of drinks runs they did, I actually lost count and had to go to the toilet twice during the flight due to the amount of liquids! The food today was chicken or beef, I opted for chicken and so did my neighbour but wasn't very impressed, the chicken was a bit rubbery and the pasta with it had a strange chemical taste to it, perhaps I'll take the beef next time! Around this time there was some turbulence and it actually got quite bumpy to the point where the cabin crew where holding on to their carts to stabilize them selves, still nothing out of the ordinary for me.
After the many drink runs towards the end of the flight there was a small snack given out and because I'd passed on most of the chicken from before I was ready for anything, I was hoping for one of those small AA cheese and tomato pizzas I had last time but sadly this time it was a hot vegetable panini, disappointed but still eaten with gusto! We also got a pot of grapes and a packet of biscuits which was a nice touch for coach class.
The landing was a gusty one in to Chicago (I know why they call it the windy city now) lots of wing dipping and speed break deployment on the decent into ORD, the approach was to runway 32R that runs behind the back of all the terminals and you could tell that the wind was playing its part into a bumpy landing today, a nice challenge for today’s flight crew I thought, something I always like to do when flying FlightSim2004 is put the winds on and make them gusty!
On final approach a few nervous faces on my row as the wings dipped up and down but I was loving it safe in the knowledge that if the PIC didn't like the look of it we would 'go around' which would have been an experience but I hoped against it as I had a connection to make! Still things where still rockin from side to side but you could tell the pilot had it tamed and for the want of a better word 'plonked' the bird on the runway, a fun landing which I would have loved to have seen from the jumpseat who knows maybe one day!
We vacated the runway at P2 and taxied down Papa towards T5 and yes today we were to use the bridge over the airport approach road fun to see all the cars below as our 76 taxied over head!
I said good bye to the lady passenger and wished her luck on her connection, she thanked me and said it had been great to have someone nice to talk to! I probably blushed at that point
Pulling into T5 I could see two Mexicana A320's (I think) parked along side which had an effect on the queues in the immigration hall because for some reason they where taking a lot longer than usual for the passengers to be processed, the staff began marshalling us over to the US citizens only areas to relieve the queues somewhat.
By this time I was getting a little nervous about my connection, last time I was in ORD I had a 5 hr layover but this time it was only 3hrs, plenty of time I though but still it took me about 1.5hrs to get out of T5 to the airport terminal train.
Making my way off the mini train thingy I entered T3 the American terminal which (still) seems to be under al sorts of re-construction, last time I was here the security areas where having work done but now seem to be finished but still a lot of cosmetic work to be done. The queues at the TSA check points where fairly long as we where queuing towards the entrance to the terminal, this being the point at which any connecting flight travellers plans could be ruined I hoped for a swift process and yes the line did move pretty quickly much to my surprise it looks like their getting the hang of it.
Now safely in T3 I would proceed to the screens to find my gate to Cedar Rapids!
12/03/07
American Eagle EMB-14X
Chicago O'Hare to Cedar Rapids
I had planned on doing a tour around the terminals at Chicago having only found out recently that they where all connected airside (except T5) but I figured with only having an hour or so left I would just walk around T3 after I'd found my departure gate for CID. I've been here once before and I'm always stuck by how busy this place is, I'd like to think that MAN is fairly busy but ORD makes MAN look like a ghost town. Lots of people coming and going and faces of every colour and creed walking by at speed, I could image to a new traveller this could be a very intimidating place! Thinking back to the woman making the connection flight to Miami and in the US for the first time I really hoped she made it in one piece!
Time ticked on and I sat down outside the gate area for my flight to CID and everyone was transfixed watching CNN on the overhead screen, there was some news story about G.W. was about to put a power charger cable into the fuel tank of a nitrogen car or something and someone did a Photoshop to show him blowing it up, pretty funny I thought but you probably wouldn't see that on FOX!
Boarding time rolled around and I was in the first zone sitting near the back of the jungle jet, still I had a good view of the wing and I love the fact you can get a seat next to the window and the aisle with the 1-2 configuration the EMB jets have. Sitting in my seat with my book (the Archos batteries where dead by now) I was ready to go but 10mins past, 15mins past and then 20mins past and the Captain came on the PA "sorry folks we are waiting to take a crew to Cedar Rapids today and we don't know where they are" 2 rows back from me a man shouts loudly "F*&K them! lets go go!" the captain pauses at this point as the cockpit door was still open and carried on "we'll get back to you in a few mins".
After a delay of 30mins they decide to go and leave the crew behind and our little jungle jet roars off on RW 32L towards Iowa. The flight is only 40mins and we are told there will be no drinks service with the flight being so short but we are offered water from the galley if we need it, I proceed to read my book and before long we are making our decent into CID.
The landing is uneventful but always fun in a jet this size especially when you seem to ride so low on the ground after the wheels touch down, we vacate the runway and seem to taxi for a while passing a few notable features on this airfield such as the Rockwell hanger for testing avionics I presume and also I see two 727's parked at the cargo areas, one a FedEx and one a UPS, I believe that Cedar Rapids has a lot of distribution centres for companies based here because of its central location so the 727's must be a regular site.
The Cedar Rapids terminal is only what I would describe as being very cute and functional it would appear to be the perfect size for the area and also very well looked after quite a little airport to be proud of with its 1 Pier with jetways and central departures and arrivals area you will never get lost!
Once leaving my flight it’s a short walk then a trip down some escalators to ground level and then walk to the right for the baggage retrieval area.
It was here I was to meet my girlfriend and I was to have a short but very enjoyable stay in Cedar Rapids!
American did fine again with me, just the rubber chicken and the short delay on American Eagle which would bare a note, in June I am again to take the same trip so fingers crossed I have a similar experience, without the rubber chicken!
Thanks for reading!
Jamman.