03/06 ewr-sdq co 1950 boeing 757-200 b/f cabin seat 2e dep 0855 gt c122 arr 1345 gt a6

got to the airport around 0700 to check in for the flight waited 5 min for a first class counter to open up. check in was prompt but had to wait to get a tourist card for the dominican republic. hung around outside the terminal until time to leave. security checks took approx 5 min due to the fact they sent all the first class passengers to the airport employee line otherwise it was looking about 25 min to clear
boarding was supposed to commence at 0810 but due to late arriving equipment it started at 0835 doors closed at 0920 and then the bad news: we are now delayed due to the snow. the capt came on the pa and asked if anyone wanted to fly another day and sure enough someone wanted to get off and fly the next day. at 0940 the doors closed again and pushback was finally at 0955. note no drinks were served. taxied over to the deicing station and was finally deiced at 1045 followed by takeoff at 1110. after take off the capt came on the pa and announced that he expected a pretty bumpy ride for most of the flight. breakfast (yeah at 1130) was a fruit plate with yogurt and a choice of eggs
(which looked terrible) or french toast (which according to the guy next to me looked and tasted terrible) at least the eggs were edible.flight was indeed bumpy until about an hour away from sdq but got bumpy once again as we crossed over the island. finally arrived 1545. for those of you not familiar with sdq it used to have a lot of aircraft that were just rusting away in the sun. dominicana de aviacion has a 707 and a 727 there and a couple of dc7's from now defunct cargo operators also. for the most part now they cleaned up the derelict parking apron. but the best part of sdq is that before you even get to immigration there is a guy in the arrivals hall with a cart giving out welcome drinks of rum to all the passengers. btw no limit either. cleared immigration and customs and now off to enjoy 3 days in the hot caribbean sun.

03/09 sdq-ewr co 1951 boeing 767-400 seat 2d
dep 1510 gt a4 arr 1815 gt c134

arrived at sdq around 1300 for the flight home there is only one first class counter there but its never crowded however the coach line is a different story. only one place there if anyone is interested for plane spotting and that is up on the third level food court. what makes sdq nice for those who spot is that even though aa dominates the airport a lot of central and south american carriers fly there. on sun and thu one can even see either a tu154 or il62 op by cubana.
well off to the flight. passed thru security in about 5 min as the airport wasnt all that crowded and immigratin in another 5 min. (have to pass immigration both ways) got to the gate and waited for the plane to show of course it was late arriving. co usual gate is a6 but they use a4 when a 767 is in operation.departed 1603 and dinner was served.
choice of steak or chicken. started with a cup of nuts, then a salad with italian dressing. the steak was ok but kind of too well done. but dessert was the old standby
ice cream sundae!
capt stated though he wasnt turning off the seat belt sign as he expected a choppy ride all the way up.
arrived ewr 1838 and proceeded down the hallway for the marathon walk to immigration and customs

btw these two flights are usually 99% elite upgrades as the only other persons are employees