Blue20634

INTRODUCTION-
The basis for this trip was because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I needed get home to spend time with her and my family in Minnesota. I had found a really good deal on tickets and jumped on the opportunity, however that meant leaving a week later than planned. My wife had to work with very few vacation days so only me and my daughter were traveling on this trip.

The day of travel I checked online to change seats and found a good deal in F/J on the IAH-MSP segment and upgraded.

ARRIVAL-
We arrived at the Airport rather early since my wife dropped us off on the way to work.

CHECK-IN & SECURITY-
The Airport wasn’t busy nevertheless we made our way to the elite security line and were through in no time.

AFTER SECURITY-
We had plenty of time to grab Breakfast and get a shoeshine before finding our gate. The only thing I dislike is the lack of power outlets to charge my laptop so we used the one power station at the gate along with everyone else.

SAN-IAH Pics-
https://picasaweb.google.com/1159879...sFlightSANIAH#

There was a small backlog effect from the prior arriving Continental flight which delayed our boarding and takeoff time.

Date: Tuesday April 12, 2011
Segment: SAN-IAH
Flight: CO 374
Registration: N38443
Load Factor: 100%
Class: Economy
Equipment: Boeing 737-900ER
Cruising Altitude: 37,000 feet
Cruising Speed: 444 kts
Duration: 2 hours 21 minutes
Distance: Direct: 1,301 sm Planned: 1,401 sm Flown: 1,380 sm
Departure Gate SAN: Terminal 2 / Gate 35
Arrival Gate IAH: Terminal C / Gate 39
Scheduled Departure: 11:20AM PDT
Actual Departure: 11:40AM PDT
Route: POGGI2 IPL J18 GBN J50 ELP J2 FST J138 SAT SEEDS HAMMU1
Scheduled Arrival: 04:27PM CDT
Actual Arrival: 04:01PM CDT
Seat: 8A Extra Legroom Seats

Flight Routing-
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/C...820Z/KSAN/KIAH

Takeoff from SAN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=799eW4laMbU

INFLIGHT-
Service was normal as could be expected, however there weren’t any PTV’s or Overhead TV’s for this flight.

MEALS/SNACKS-
I ordered the Angus Burger from the Buy on Board Menu it was ok however tasted just like it came from the microwave as the bun was really dry.

BOB Menu-
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...nomy/menu.aspx

Landing in IAH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnzrkzz30Ys

We made our way over to Terminal C and had a 2 ½ hour layover.

Whilst at the Airport we walked around and grabbed a snack, I had plenty of time to do work on my laptop during our wait.

IAH-MSP pics-
https://picasaweb.google.com/1159879...sFlightIAHMSP#

BOARDING-
First Class boarding was called away and we made our way to our seats.

Date: Tuesday April 12, 2011
Segment: IAH-MSP
Flight: CO 616
Registration: N77520
Load Factor: 95%
Class: First/Business
Equipment: Boeing 737-800
Cruising Altitude: 36,000 feet
Cruising Speed: 454 kts
Duration: 2 hours 18 minutes
Distance: Direct: 1,036 sm Planned: 1,069 sm Flown: 1,092 sm
Departure Gate IAH: Terminal C / Gate 34
Arrival Gate MSP: Terminal 1 / Gate E3
Scheduled Departure: 07:10PM CDT
Actual Departure: 07:20PM CDT
Route: LOA7 BYP TUL MCI FOD TWOLF2
Scheduled Arrival: 09:59PM CDT
Actual Arrival: 09:38PM CDT
Seat: 1A

Flight Routing to MSP-
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/C...010Z/KIAH/KMSP

Takeoff Video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj3r6db9AFI

ONBOARD ANEMITIES-
We received hot towels and were given our choices of meal selections at this point. Pasta or Chicken. We had the overhead TV’s for this portion which was nice.

DINNER ENTRÉE-
Manicotti Pasta stuffed with Feta cheese covered with Marinara Sauce
Dinner Roll
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Garden Salad with toppings.
Glass of Chianti Wine

The meal was good and a safe choice, the wine paired rather well with the meal offering. The Mushroom Soup was really tasty. My daughter picked the Herbed Breasted Chicken sided with sautéed vegetables.

Plates were removed promptly and then we were served desert

DESSERT-Apple Pie with Coffee

Along the route we passed over the Oklahoma wildfires

LANDING-
Before we knew it preparations were made for landing was time and landed a little early in the Twin Cities. We grabbed our bags and made our way to train which takes you the Car Rental facilities.

SUMMARY-
The overall service on Continental was decent however I wish they had a TV on the SAN-IAH segment. They are still in the process of retrofitting the 737-900ER’s with TV’s. The attendants in F/J Class IAH-MSP were excellent and very attentive; however the drinking glasses had chips on the rim making it easy to cut someone’s lip

Any comments, questions, and feedback are welcome ^.

Regards, Mike

FlightNurse

Sorry to hear about your mother, like you my mother been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer too, so I have been making the weekly trips PHX-SAN to be with her for her Chem treatments.

BTW, great report, I didn't know CO flew the 737-900s into SAN...

Blue20634

Thanks, same here hope all is going well with your mother. Yes they fly regularly 739's into SAN they flop between 738's and 739's they also fly the 739's for SAN-EWR as well.

Regards, Mike

FlightNurse

I can see the PHX-EWR route, since it use to be 757...

So far Mom is doing well, responding to Chemo..

Blue20634

Same with my mom she says that her numbers are good so far. I'm going back to visit in September and we will find out the results of her scans on the 14th.

I generally see the 738 more out of SAN with a 739 or two from IAH a day however I'm not sure presently with combining of UA/CO schedules.

I believe the market demand for SAN-IAH or EWR justifies the use of a 739 at a certain time during the day or week & when the schedule dictates it.

The biggest difference between the 738 & 739 is that the 739 can carry more payload/cargo as I understand it.

The 738 has slightly better range than the 739. Someone may correct me if I'm wrong. It seems SAN Is popular route from what sources tell me. Every time I book a flight to IAH or EWR the cabin only has few seats in Y and has been full on all of my past flights.

FlightNurse

SAN has always been a money maker for the airlines, at one time, SAN was the second biggest money for AA. Summer time is usually the highest yield since the weather is awsome.

SO when is CO moving to Terminal 1?

Blue20634

I don't think they have room at terminal 1 to expand since Alaska shares that part of the terminal. Southwest has the largest chunk of gates at T1 and market share at SAN as you probably know.

The expansion at T2 "Green Build construction" is supposed to add 10 more gates doubling the capacity at T2.

Jinxy

Thanks for sharing and hope the chemotherapy is going well.

Blue20634

Thanks, everything seems to be going ok. My mom will have a couple scans done in the next week or so and we will get those results in a couple weeks when I fly to see the family again.

Mike