My first trip report! Here goes the first segment...

Background: this was a free flight booked on Northwest. I only had about 3,000 miles from flying on Northwest. The rest were from Sprint, credit card deals, insurance quotes, and dining for miles. Northwest had no free flights out of PHX in August, so I booked it out of Detroit and used a free Southwest ticket between PHX and DTW. Had coach DTW-AMS-BCN, and business class on the way home.

8-6 As I should be packing, my brother arrives at PHX changing planes, from Vancouver to Washington, DC. America West changes his flight, so we do supper at my favorite Greek-Mexican place (gyro chimis). Flight finally left at 9:00 PM, I finished packing at midnight.

8-7, 3:59 AM Alarm goes off to NPR news. Shower, two cups of Peet's coffee, check the e-mail, and I'm ready to go.

4:50 AM Super Shuttle arrives--apparently my directions were good. Board with 2 ladies, who also apparently had taken leave of their senses flying out this early.

5:05 AM Arrive at Sky Harbor. Sit and wait until 5:27 AM to check in, to ensure "A" boarding pass on Southwest.

5:28 AM Saunter to line, no one else there, so I walk slowly...

5:30 AM Approach counter. I ask "is it 5:30?" She says "yes", I say "great", and check in for my 7:00 AM flight. I get the 5th "A" boarding pass.

5:38 AM Approach Paradise Bakery in the T4 concourse, seeking ham & cheese croissant. No go, so I head for Burger King and a sausage/egg something.

6:37 AM Having passed security, I see the 1st pax in the "A" line, so I fall in behind him. Only a few pre-board. The plane is an older one with the "lounge" seating. I score the first row across from the door, window seat, with no seat facing. 1st class for Southwest!

7:40 AM Flight in air, I reset watch to 10:40, Detroit time. Stewardesses pass out shortbread cookies--nice touch, but save them for later.

12:30 PM (ET) Land in Tulsa to take on/deplane pax. I grovel sufficiently, and they let me deplane to use real restrooms in the terminal. Life is good.

12:42 PM Door closes, next stop St. Louis. Get to hear safety speech 2nd time. Humor still fresh.

1:55 PM Land in St. Louis, crew changes. Watch new stewardess help 97 year old lady board (she stated her age proudly)--impressively handled! Only 11 more board, so easy flight on to DTW.

2:25 PM Door closes and we're off. New crew is professional but humorless.

3:10 PM Screaming baby across aisle gets cranked up. High pitch resonates within aircraft.

3:50 PM Plane reaches gate at DTW 20 minutes early, screaming baby seeming to propel it forward. We're at the old terminal. Notice that DTW has "luggage claim" rather than "baggage claim". While waiting for luggage, I espy a small sign that says "elevator to ticket level". Will this take me to the NW desk?

4:05 PM No action at luggage claim, so I peer around corner, find SW and my bag. Where's NW? Up the escalator, and outside to seek shuttle to new terminal.

4:10 PM Discover shuttle serves hotels, etc., and has homemade "terminal to terminal" sign taped on side. Nice. Another screaming baby is on the van. I whip out my secret weapon: the bandanna bunny puppet. Baby is transfixed.

4:25 PM Make it to NW terminal. Follow people, lemming-like, up to ticket area. Few signs are in place. See sign for international ticketing, but counter says "business class". No one else is in line, so attendant grudgingly offers to take me.

I ask if flight is overbooked, and she responds "they all are, theoretically. If you want an upgrade, I can't give it to you". Surly wench. "No", I say kindly, "just looking for a bump". I'll have to check that at the gate. This women needs some training from SW on customer relations. She sends me off to gate 30.

4:40 PM Make it thorugh security, after bozo in suit sends laptop through in valice. Full body search, dude! His buddy needs his bag hand checked, and protests he only has 10 minutes to his flight. I roll my eyes...

4:45 PM Look at the monitor en-route to gate 30, and see that my flight is really at gate 46. Surly wench! I find the gate, seek out pizza, and settle for chicken falafel. Comes with tasteless fries--yuk! Now, waiting for gate to open to seek out bump.

5:25 PM Visit with other pax. He was sent to gate 50. Evil wench. Watch cool shuttle go past overhead, but see no one riding. Looks like too much work to get up and down too & from. Why doesn't it go to the SW terminal? Who planned this place?

6:23 PM No bump opportunity, though desk announced flight was full. See change of attitude as I shift from NW zone to KLM zone. Wedge myself into seat 29B of MD-11 (with thanks to FTer for seat recommendation!) So far, second seat is empty.

7:10 PM Leave the ground with on time departure. Seat mate arrived: young lady from Sweden. Could do much worse...

more manana...

JP