Yes, that's right--Pan Am!

Driven by the threat of the US strike, the inconvenience of a Saturday stayover due to schedule conflicts, and late planning on my part, I booked a ticket on Pan Am for their new 'Clipper Class' service from PSM (Portsmouth, NH)-PIT. Fare was what I would reasonably expect from US, but no advance purchase or Saturday stayover (albeit no FF miles). Service to PIT started 3/20, with flights also to Gary, IN and Sanford, FL; Bangor, ME from Gary, Sanford, and PIT is reportedly coming soon.

Outbound was on PN 45, departing 6:15 AM (!). The drive up from Boston was terrific--no traffic, gorgeous spring sunrise, 70 min door-to-door from my home in Cambridge. Pease International Tradeport is a former US Air Force Base, now being converted into an industrial park. It's very easy to reach, exit 3 on I-95 in NH, and only 500 yards from the exit ramp. Once on the 'base' grounds, one has to drive around for a while past cargo & general aviation to reach the passenger terminal.

The 'terminal' is a single-story plain white building. Parking is out front, and free; my spot was closer than I get 90% of the time at a supermarket or mall. No line at check-in; free coffee, WSJ, and USA Today. That was it for amenities in the terminal, besides restrooms, pay phone, National & Budget rental car counters--and a large Customs/Immigration center (for charter flights?). The airfield is a big concrete slab--about what I would expect from a military installation. There were several KC-135s (707-type tankers) parked on the tarmac, apparently Air National Guard. Private aircraft were parked under what were apparently former blast shelters for interceptors. The only other commercial jet was an Ameriflyer (?) 727.

Most other passengers appeared to be pure leisure, non-FF types. Security was unsure what to do with my Palm organizer--it seems that they're not real familiar with these.

Pan Am is flying refurbished 727-200s, with winglets and some reshaping of the dorsal engine air intake. Boarding is nominally by check-in number for open seating, but with only 24 of us (for 25 rows) they boarded en masse. Seat pitch appears to be 36", though by force of habit I headed for an exit row. Blankets and pillows pre-positioned in each row.

On-board service included hot towel, beverage, and a 'Cross Country Cookie.' The presence of 4 FAs made for quite attentive service--I was asked 4 times about beverages. It beats peanuts on US at that hour! Departure (6:15 AM) and arrival (7:50 AM) were exactly on time, amazing for any travel in the northeast.

Net:
- Extra leg room makes a BIG difference.
- Easy airport access, uncongested airport at PSM is an attractive opportunity to the hassle of BOS, especially for anyone with easy access to I-95.
- Attentive FAs is a direct contrast to US (though maybe more money on US will help?)
- Ticket with no advance purchase, no Saturday stayover is very appealing
- Question survivalbility of PN given the # of pax on board and non-market airports (can PSM compete with MHT? Gary with MDW?)

Two notes from PIT:
- A UPS 727 was parked at a passenger gate, and listed on the monitors as departing for the Dominican Republic. Any ideas why this strayed from the cargo area, and made it to the monitors?
- Monitors also indicated a WN flight departing for LAS. Since WN doesn't generally fly to PIT, was this a charter?