18 August US PIT 1600 GSO 1707 737-300 N521 AU Seat 2C

Go to the US lounge at the end of the B concourse to make calls (showing my flight from FRA). Board 25 mins prior to takeoff. Flight is full in F. Some empty seats in the back. Plane pushes back on time and goes airborne at 1611. Drinks and assorted snacks of cashews, pretzels (not the German stuff), Pepperidge Farm (a.k.a. Campbell Soup) Milanos and Quaker Oat breakfast bars are offered.

Just after descent starts, the flight deck announces that a sudden thunder storm had appeared over GSO with a resulting ATC hold so the a/c goes into orbit above Roanoke. The hold is only 5 mins as the storm quickly dissipates. Some 15-20 mins to GSO from here but that F class F/A finds time to supply refreshments some other pax and myself. Flight lands at 1713 and docks at 1716. The storm had cooled temps from 90F to 72F. Go rent a car from Thrifty (4th day in operation at GSO) and go back to wait for my friend on his flight in from LGA.

19 August US 409 GSO 0655 PHL 0815 737-300 N367US Seat 2A

Since I am running on Central European daylight savings time, my body clock tells me it's 03:20 when I wake up. Get into the rental car at 0525and head to GSO, parking outside the checkin (it's still small enough to do that). Check-in agent does the upgrade for this flight and am still on standby for the PHL-SEA leg. Park the car (Thrifty is new to this airport and drop the keys behind the counter as it doesn't open until 0700) in a Budget spot.

Get to gate at 6:15 to find no a/c there. Gate agent(s) keeps us informed that the flight is being ferried from CLT A/c arrives at gate at 0652 and boarding commences immediately. Only 3 of 12 F seats assigned. 2 deadheading FAs and one pax are brought forward. Doors close at 0707 and pushback is at 0710 with the flight taking off soon after.

Flight lands pretty much on time at 0817 but congestion at PHL delays docking until 0854. Trouble is too many a/c pushing back from the alley between concourses B & C. We were supposed to go into B6 inbetween A&B but there was a switch. See 2 other 737s follow the plane in and dock. One of the 2 FAs deadheading rushes off as she has 7 minutes to get on her flight.

19 August US107 PHL 1000 SEA 1252 757-200 was 8C, is 4C

Knowing the flight is oversold by 12 seats, I go to the gate and volunteer and also have the gate agent protect me on a connecting flight via PIT. Either poor connections or something else result in everyone getting onboard. Lots of disappointed volunteers. I get called for the only F upgrade as the F cabin is full. 2 large families on the flight and I find an old boss and his wife in 6A&C. Due to unknown reasons (was on the phone), boarding is delayed and pushback is further delayed by freight loading. Pushback isn't until 1033 and takeoff at around 1044.

Didn't notice I had a blanket (it was on the floor) and a pillow. Headphones were in the seatback pocket and audio actually worked on this flight.

Once airborne, service is routine with drinks and nuts served. The menus are distributed and the FA, taking orders starting from the front, took mine away after ordering. I guess US recycles them.

Appetizer

Smoked Salmon

This came with capers and tomatoes. Most people passed on the salmon including the many teenagers. Good food is wasted on American youth. I have the Villa Mt. Eden chardonnay 1997 to go with the salmon. Have the Louis M. Martinin California Merlot 1997 inbetween.

Salad

Seasonal salad garnished with tomato and carrots offered with your choice of Sesame Oriental or Grilled Caesar

Choose the sesame dressing which is rather sweet. Salad is good.

Sourdough rolls, Kalamata Olive rolls and sliced Ciabatta. Served with butter.

Bread was offered just once

Entrée Selection

Filet of Beef
Herb pepper crusted filet served with Bordelaise sauce accompanied by grilled tomato and vegetable medley and red wine shallot mashed potatoes

Chicken Roma
Chicken breast filet served with a tomato basil and red pepper sauce enhanced by potatoes o'brien and ****ake mushroom and roasted pepper medley.

Shrimp and Fettucini Cold Plate
Jumbo shrimp and marinated fettucini

Something possessed me to have the last. Got 5 shrimp with a plate of rather tasteless pasta garnished with some veg buts and tomato slices. Should have gone for a hot course.

The plates are cleared and coffee/tea served.

Although a dessert of ice cream sundae is offered on the menu, this isn't offered until some 3 hrs into the 5 ½ hr flight. The ice cream is served rather frozen solid. 2 scoops of vanilla with a choice of strawberry, chocolate, fudge and peanut toppings and cream.

Flight lands in SEA from the north getting to A4 at around 1320. Get my bags (didn't see it come off the conveyor so waited a few minutes needlessly) but am too late to get the 1330 Quick Shuttle to Vancouver but there was one at 1430 so no great inconvenience.