US 4543 IAD-CLT CRJ-700 0916-1036

Sure, I could have flown IAD-CLT-RDU or DCA-RDU today but is that American A-319 going to fly itself? Will these meal pictures magically appear in my hard drive? NO! So it’s time for another exhausting day!





One final insult from the hotel, the driver (now in an HGI van, of course) forgot to stop at US Airways like I’d asked, twice. When I mentioned this, he said “oh, well it’s just a short walk”. And there goes your tip, buddy.





Security took awhile today as they didn’t have a First Class line, I mean why bother? It’s just a major airport on a weekday. I had left a lot of extra time just in case which meant I got to use the United Club! Hoo-ray!











The best thing about the IAD Clubs. Actually, I was glad to have the access as my flight ended up delayed a few minutes so I got a little extra wifi and comfy chair time. Isn’t it sad that this is probably the best of the three IAD Clubs? I can never decide if I prefer C17 or D7 more.





Time to ride the monorail back. All these airlines and I’m flying on probably the worst one.





I guess they’d unloaded the previous plane faster than I expected them to as when I got back they were on Zone 3. Note the cool South African livery I spotted through the open jetway service door.



Now this is a step down from the previous flight!



I’ve found that CRJs have the most scratched and dirty windows and today was no exception. Service was good today, even with my late boarding I still got a pre-departure drink as did the whole F cabin. Proof that the “delayed flight, full flight, boarding through the front door” excuse is crap.





Service today, the snack mix is actually quite good. I was lost in my book and was pleased that at one point I looked up and the f/a had brought me another drink without me even asking. No complaints on this flight either. Thankfully, it was a short flight today so we got in early even with the delay. Good thing too as I had a 58 minute connection and a delightful walk of E7 to A9 to look forward to.





Thanks, N708PS!

AA 1343 CLT-DFW A-319 1145-1335







Spotting at CLT isn’t the best, but that logo jet is still my favorite, notice how it even says “VistaJet” on the front? That’s some A+ Nostalgia!





This is the first time I’d flown a “bold aircraft” (what I call an aircraft I’m flying for the first time with that airline) with American since 2005.



Now THAT’S an out of the way connection!



Very impressive gate staff this morning, our flight was going to be full and there were numerous standbys including one who was a US Non-Rev with a screwed up ticket. I gave one of the agents an AAplause cert for how hard she worked with him.



You know, if you’re not even going to try to have separate boarding lines, don’t even bother.







This ain’t your granddad’s American! After decades of MD-80s and ratty 757s, it was such a relief to be on a new, modern, forward thinking plane. Though the 8 seat F cabin is an insult.



Plethora of power ports



So hip! So modern!



Good crew today, once again a full flight with a single aisle and boarding through the front and a drink. I waited until after 11 for my first drink so I’m not an alcoholic, right?



PTVs on an AA domestic narrowbody? Never thought I’d see the day! The AVOD was good, really good in fact. Lots of movies and they kept them on gate to gate. Plus, a good moving map.



Old paint!





SHARKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK[let]!



Not sure you want to watch the movie? They have a trailer! Right after it starts, a disclaimer comes on saying it contains graphic content, sure beats having to watch a heavily edited film.



Dual electronic devices? It’s like being at home!



I always make my own moving map.





Lunch time! I’ll just put my laptop away. The IFE is either touch screen or remote controlled, that’s actually the same remote they have on BA.



Options today were the pictured beef teriyaki or chicken salad with quinoa (which I might add is pronounced really strangely). The chicken was cold so I went with the beef. I had pre-selected my entrée on AA.com but they didn’t seem to tell the f/a this. What really amazed me was there were three choices of rolls (pretzel pictured, wheat and cheese). Not bad for a 2hr22 mid-con lunch.



Sadly, after choice of chocolate chip or macadamia nut cookies, the crew made like Houdini and did a magical disappearing act to the galley. Shame too, I was going to hand out a worthless AAplause cert because they’d been great up til then. Thankfully, there was only an hour or so to go and I had all my electronic gadgets to keep me happy.





During my movie a little popup box showed up saying “Connecting Gate Info now available under “My Flight”. This was a nice touch, even though for some reason RDU didn’t show up!







Never thought I’d see the day where the old DL Connection gates were put back in use.





AA 1049 DFW-RDU MD-80 1735-2110

Another day, another long connection. I thought about going over to Terminal D and using the United Club (via Amtrak Select Plus status) but I figured I’d at least try the nearby Admirals Club first.





Continuing Terminal A construction. When I got to the Admirals Club, I tried showing my BA F BP from the day before and explaining how I was on a OW F ticket. The BP didn’t scan. However, when the agent tried my AA BP it said I was granted access as my qualifying flight had been within 24 hours. I’d heard that access was only given if you were on the first flight of the next day after an Intl Premium Flight so I was glad to get in. The agent gave me a drink coupon, and when I said I’d be there four hours she said “better take another coupon”. She knows me so well!





I’ve never been a big fan of this lounge. I find the layout strange and confusing but at least they have great showers and if you like cigarettes, you can smoke them here. A nice 20th Century touch.









First premium drink, a 10 Cane and Soda.



Killing time and happy to have Netflix Instant back. I got a turkey and spinach Panini that wasn’t terrible, though probably not worth $10. And the only free beers I could partner it with were Bud or Bud Light. Blech. After finishing that, I got a Ketel One martini, downed it like a champ, then headed to the gate.







We had a late crew so I settled down to wait for them to come in, others, however, did not.



IF I STAND HERE THEY’LL FIND AND BOARD THE CREW FASTER!





See, this is an AA cabin I recognize! Oh and I don’t know if you care about these things, but I track my tail numbers and this one, which I’d flown in 2006, ruined my streak of first time registrations on the trip.





No pre-departure drink today which after the previous two flights was what we’d call in Contracts class an non-excused breach. In fact, this crew clearly was told customer service jobs didn’t mean customers and now they were bitter about being lied to.







Beautiful views today. I was glad I’d waited around for the dinner flight as between the sunset and FT on my laptop (awful Gogo speed though) I was a very happy flyer.



Meal choices today were either lentil chili (blurrrrrrrrrgh) or this beef bolognaise. The F/A did stop her cart (carts in First? Treason!) at 5EF and say to my seatmate and I “you two pre-ordered the beef, do you still want it?” When I said “beef? Isn’t it pasta?” she gave me the eyeroll of the decade and said “beef bolognaise” like I was the stupidest passenger on the plane. I also noted mine seemed upside down (my seatmate’s had the sauce on top) which only irritated her further. Speaking of my seatmate, he gets an assist award, when he saw I was taking meal pictures he asked me if I wanted to get a shot of his normal looking one. At least he was cool and the wine was good, that redeemed the flight.



Oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Frankly, this dinner flight was almost indistinguishable from the lunch flight preceding it except we only got two roll choices and we had a second hot entrée. I wish they still had a slice of cake or something for dessert.





After that I just watched the sunset until the tiredness caught up with me and I fell asleep. I woke up and found the f/a had left me a mint on the center armrest which was nice and then I dozed off again until we bounced into NC.





At this point I’d taken out my laptop to charge my phone with it and check Facebook and had about a minute before my bag came out. Guess the Star Priority tag US had put on it at IAD had worked. That’s always a nice way to end the trip. And the offsite parking shuttle van was waiting! Shoulda bought me a lottery ticket.



Hello, my bed. What say you and I get reacquainted?

Conclusion

In short, what a trip. If the worst thing you can say is that you had a few 30 minute delays, the RDU US Club coffee was terrible and you somehow managed to lose your 24 hour fare card and had to buy a new one, I think you had a great trip. I really liked Budapest and would love to come back, I want to bike around Margaret Island and check out Monument Park out in the suburbs and BA impressed me. I’d had a fairly sour trip with them in 2006 on a OW Business Redemption and I’m glad they redeemed (pun intended) themselves in my eyes.

So in short:
- Miles well spent
- Money well spent
- Time well spent

Anyway, if you made it this far, thank you. I always appreciate comments and questions unless they’re of the “I CAN SEE YOUR NAME AND FREQUENT FLYER NUMBER!” ones. Those I don’t need.