Sun Country (SY) 397
MSP-SFO
June 17, 2010
737-800
First Class
Seat 1A
Three grueling days and 1,100+ highway miles wrapped up late Thursday in MSP. As much as I like going home on AA and want the EQMs, I just want the fastest way home and tonight. Cheaptix shows Sun Country (who?) with a 9:10PM nonstop and a First Class fare of only $475. Sun Country? First Class? I'm game and a no brainer as DL wants $1,100 for the one remaining First seat on their 9:20PM, and as a lowly Plat, I'm not taking my chances getting the last UG and enduring four hours of DL coach on an old NW no wifi 757 at $675.
Still 100 miles from MSP and in the middle of T-storms and a tornado warning at 6:30PM, a pleasant MN based agent confirms the poor man's sleeper seat bulkhead window 1A on SY397. Now if I can only find the right terminal. To my surprise, shocking progress in the Twin Cities as the stupid Humphrey and Lindbergh terminal signs are gone, replaced by signs showing airline names and terminals. @:-)@:-) Especially nice, considering the terminals are on opposite ends of the airport and indeed have their own highway exits (possibly even different area codes).
A deserted T2 home to Southwest, Icelandair, AirTran and "The Hometown Airline"
First Class check-in... no line and no agent. Oh well, at least there were separate banks of kiosks.
However, primitive kiosk system can't find my reservation when I swiped my CC, but needed me to input my first and last names before it located my PNR. BP shows 1A but no other indication that it is F.
No wait security with a dozen people on line. But a priority line for AirTran and SY First pax gets me to the head of the line. Two stations open and I am the only person at my line. A deserted terminal, with basic small terminal amenities including a pleasant looking bar/restaurant
Our gate with $119 Buy Up to First sign.
Boarding First Class, exit row, FF members and those that need extra time.
But pleasant GAs and FAs.
Somewhat tired 738 but some of the most plush and comfortable domestic seats you will find on any airline.
Three rows with 39" pitch. In full recline, 1A was very comfy with just enough room to use the bulkhead as a footrest although 6'+ might find it just a tad tight.
Ancient IFE system. Didn't try it or see if it worked, but questionable considering that most of the channel lights were burned out.
PDB G&T, none of this AA water-only BS, and then only if we have time and aren't talking to other FAs.
738 next to us, just arrived from ANC
And the Winter 2010 edition of the inflight magazine. Perhaps it's true what they say about Minnesota... there are two seasons, winter and July. Although 87 degrees sure didn't feel like winter to me. Get me back to SF and naturally frigid summers.
Flogging of First Class upgrades continued during and after boarding. Much to my chagrin, one guy ponied up the extra $119 and naturally picked 1B beside me.
Pushback 10 minutes early, a short taxi to the top of runway 17 where we were #1 for departure directly towards a pitch black thunder and lightning show maybe 5 miles south of the airport. OK, perhaps there is a reason that no other plane is departing tonight. Sharp right turn to avoid and bypass (most of) the activity with only 30 seconds of major "what the F*** have I done" rock, roll, drop turbulence before we escaped the weather.