February 19, 2019
Alaska Airlines First Class ~ 737-900 ~ Fairbanks, AK to Seattle, WA ~ 1050a – 325p ~ Lunch
Alaska Airlines First Class ~ 737-900 ~ Seattle, WA to Denver, CO ~ 725p – 1105p ~ Dinner

For many years, the only nonstop flight departing Fairbanks for Seattle at a civilized hour was Alaska 124, the 5:30pm departure. The other Seattle nonstops were redeyes, departing Fairbanks at either 5:30am or after midnight. The late night departures arrived in Seattle at the crack of dawn, well timed to connect to the bank of early morning departures from Seattle to Alaska’s Midwestern and eastern destinations. I know a 5:30am departure does not technically qualify as a redeye, but when I have to get up at 3:30am, my eyes are no less red than they are on flights that arrive Seattle at 5:30am.

I never liked those late night redeyes. Flights from Fairbanks to Seattle typically time out at about 3 hours – not nearly enough time to get a decent rest enroute – especially while sat upright in an airplane seat. Upon arrival in Seattle, I’d stumble off the airplane in a zombie-like state, often faced with a 2 hour layover before my connecting flight. On the other hand, if Seattle were my destination my day would be off to a lousy start with so little quality sleep.

My response to this has always been to take the 5:30pm nonstop, which arrives in Seattle at about 10:15pm. This way I can get a good night’s rest in one of Seattle’s many affordable airport area hotels before continuing on to my destination the next morning. Fares are typically priced the same as the redeyes to take the overnight option in Seattle, and the $65-75.00 I’d spend on the hotel was money well spent considering how much better I felt throughout the next day.

In September of 2018, Alaska inaugurated a mid-morning nonstop to Seattle, well timed for same day connections to Midwestern and west coast destinations. I utilized it often this past autumn, and am thankful that it seems to be well received here in Fairbanks with passenger loads exceeding 80% most days.

Today’s load was closer to 95%. I hung back and savored hot coffee and a copy of the morning’s Fairbanks News Miner until most of my fellow passengers had boarded. It was nice for once to travel without my usual 22” roll-a-bord. Because I was hauling along four boxes of postcards in addition to my usual clothing and other travel accoutrements, I had to borrow my neighbor’s considerably larger suitcase. It weighed 49 pounds when I checked it in.

The captain came on over the PA to inform us that the flight up to Fairbanks from Seattle had taken 4 hours. He projected a return flight time of just over three hours. Only once have I ever had a four hour flight inbound to Fairbanks, but I have made the return to Seattle in under three hours on a couple of occasions. Given the strength of the winds today, I was surprised that this morning’s flight wasn’t projected to be faster.

The flight attendant working the forward cabin this morning was a 30+ year veteran of Alaska Airlines. She was pleasant enough but overly wordy on the PA. This was particularly grating given that the volume appeared to have been set at its highest level. The result was that that what might otherwise have been presented as helpful information about today’s flight instead came across as a seemingly endless monologue that was considerably more obnoxious and irritating than informative.

We were about thirty minutes into the flight when drink and meal orders were taken. Alaska revamped its inflight product last year and now rotates its meals quarterly based upon the season. This winter’s mid-con choices are Chicken with Clementines or the Korean Rice and Veggie bowl. I believe this is the third time this year I’ve been offered this meal combination. No menu cards have been seen on this route since last spring, so our flight attendant read the choices off a sheet of paper, describing the Korean dish as “Thai Rice”.

Pffft! Thai rice. Yeah, right. Her gaffe was especially egregious on a flight originating out of Fairbanks where we have about a dozen Thai restaurants – more if you include those housed in mobile food trucks.

In any event, I’ve had the Korean Bibimbap before. It’s served with a fried egg and a small ramekin of spicy sauce. There is no meat included. It’s an okay dish but I do like the chicken better, so that’s what I ordered. As an added bonus, seatmate was kind enough to explain what clementines are. I had thought they might be some kind of spice but no! They’re like miniature tangerines. Here’s the presentation:




Chicken Breast with Clementines


With the benefit of the tailwind, we did manage an early arrival in Seattle. There was a flight to Denver departing 35 minutes after we’d chocked at the gate. I was unable to book it as part of my original reservation because per the scheduled arrival time of my inbound flight from Fairbanks there wasn’t enough connecting time. Had I been able to travel with my smaller 22” roll-a-bord, I could have headed right over to the departure gate and stood by. My 75K status would have put me at or near the top of the list. Unfortunately, with a checked bag, that couldn’t happen and so I was faced with a four hour layover. On a positive note, I got to visit with all three of my favorite Alaska Lounge receptionists (Deb, Leslie and Dawn) and put in some quality time on this report.

My Denver flight departed from the C gates. Once upon a time this would have been preferable as I could have easily hopped on the inter-concourse train and been delivered within 100 feet from my gate. Unfortunately the subterranean train stop serving the C Concourse is closed for an entire year while improvements are made to the narrow two-tiered escalator that delivers passengers up to the concourse. During this time the only way to access the far C gates as well as the C Concourse Alaska Lounge is to walk there. Where once I could hang out in the North Satellite lounge and be a two minute train wide away, I now have to ride to the main terminal stop which puts you out on the D Concourse by gate D3 – quite a fair distance from the far C gates.

Meanwhile, why does it have to take almost an entire year to install a new and improved escalator? I mean, back in the forties during WWII, we built a 1500 mile road through Canada up to Alaska in just 8 months. When the main building of the Princess Lodge serving Denali National Park burnt to the ground in March of 1996, they had a new one up and open for business just two months later. This better be one heck of an escalator! I assume there will also be some improvements to the tiny area that’s served as the train “station” for the C Concourse.

In the meantime, I reckon I’d better get walking… (For a little music to accompany the walk, just click right and enjoy!) Readers of past reports will recognize the melody. It's a good one to walk through airports with...

Boarding was well underway by the time I finally arrived at C-20. In fact, they were paging my name as I made my way up the incline past Waji’s restaurant and into the rotunda at the end of the C concourse. Alright, alright! I’m coming!

Once onboard, I settled into 2D and savored a mini-bottle of purified water. Alaska stopped offering pre-departure drinks a few years ago, though some of the ex-Virgin crews will still break out the booze on the ground now and then. For the time being you’ve got to fly aboard ex-Virgin aircraft (A319, 320 or 321) to enjoy that benefit. This flight’s 737-900 was all-Alaska.

Flight time to Denver was projected at two hours and nine minutes. Tonight’s meal choices were a Turkey Burger with Avocado or The Dreaded Protein Plate. Actually, Alaska just bills it as a Protein Plate, so it’s me who appends “The Dreaded”. Its combination of a turkey meat slice, boiled egg, hummus, small carrot, nuts, grapes and an apple wedge is to my way of thinking better suited to something gym rats might order from the café in their local health club. I think it’s a poor choice for an airline meal in First Class. But that’s me. Apparently it’s a popular addition with those who like to watch what they eat.

Within reason, I do try to eat well but if I’m flying – and especially if I’m in First Class - let’s celebrate! I’ll start with a double Woodford Reserve on the rocks and the Turkey Burger please.

I really miss the beef burger that Alaska used to sell in Economy Class a few years ago. This turkey burger is smaller and less flavorful and the first time I had it – last month between Portland and Los Angeles – it was served without chips. This time it came with chips. I provided the Grey Poupon and switched to Club Soda and Lime to wash it all down.



Turkey Burger with Chips


Arrival in Denver was right on time. It was a cold night – about 12°F – and I had a 60 mile drive up to Greeley ahead of me. There was a long line of people over at Advantage Rent-A-Car, and only two agents to process us all. By the time I’d selected my Nissan Rogue and turned onto Peña Blvd. to exit the airport, it was 1:15am.


February 21, 2019
American Airlines First Class ~ A321-200 ~ Denver, CO to Charlotte, NC ~ 413p – 920p ~ Dinner

I’ve been a Priority Pass holder for many years now. Aside from having access to over 1,200 lounges in airports all over the world, Priority Pass also has a relatively new program that allows cardholders access to a select few airport restaurants where you can order up to $28.00 in food and alcohol. Anything above that as well as the tip is the responsibility of the cardholder.

At Denver International Airport, the only Priority Pass sponsored lounge is at Timberline Steaks & Grill, located off the central commons in the C Concourse. I’ve been hoping to visit this facility for some time now. Unfortunately, in my dozen or so trips through Denver over the past year I just haven’t found it feasible to make a visit. Given the late afternoon departure of today’s flight to Charlotte combined with an easy early morning schedule of appointments in Greeley and Fort Collins, I had plenty of time to arrive at DIA early enough to fully explore and enjoy the Timberline’s expansive menu.

By the time I cleared security and exited the inter-terminal train at the C Concourse, it was approaching 1:30pm. Heading upstairs to the commons, I found quite a crowd gathered at the Timberline. Almost everybody in line ahead of me made mention of their Priority Pass to pay for their meal. Apparently the Timberline is benefitting nicely from its relationship with Priority Pass, especially since it is the only Priority Pass affiliated facility at DIA. There was about a ten minute wait for a table to become available, during which time I headed next door to the news agency for a copy of that day’s Denver Post.

I should note that in order to take advantage of Priority Pass’ restaurants, you must be holding a boarding pass for a flight departing that day. People who have just arrived are not eligible to eat.

Not having eaten since earlier that morning, I came hungry. At the same time, I was booked in First Class on a dinner hour departure to Charlotte. As such, I opted for the Pulled Pork sandwich. Hold the fries – just the coleslaw, thanks. Oh, and let’s go with a pint of that Pale Ale from Odell’s.

The meal was delicious and although the restaurant was packed, the service was friendly and efficient. By the time I gathered my gear and headed back down to the inter-terminal train, it was approaching 3:00pm. I had just enough time for a quick visit to American’s Admirals Club, located on the mezzanine level of Concourse A.

Despite not flying American through Denver very often, I am quite familiar with this lounge. For many years it was the Continental Presidents Club – a much nicer facility as run by Continental than American’s Admirals Club. When United and Continental merged, this facility was deemed redundant and transferred to American while the much larger United Clubs located over on the B Concourse were deemed sufficient to meet United’s needs. My lifetime membership in the Presidents Club was transferred to the United Club and so it is that I generally have access to three lounges at DIA – the two United Clubs on concourse B and the Admirals Club over on A which I have access to by virtue of my membership in the Alaska Club.

Even so, I still miss the “Good ‘Ol Days” at Denver’s Stapleton where I not only had membership with United and Continental but also in Braniff’s Council Club as well as Western’s Horizon Club.

Continuing on to the departure gate at A48, I found a large crowd gathered. Boarding was proceeding at a sluggish pace. Indeed, it wasn’t proceeding at all. No way were we going to depart on time. Something appeared to have caused a hold up on board the aircraft – probably multiple handicapped passengers getting situated - so by the time I arrived at my seat it was already 4:15pm. Departure was scheduled for 4:13.

This was the first time I’d flown First Class aboard an American A321. I was not impressed. It should be noted however that this was an ex-US Airways bird and the seat pitch was reflective of the poor quality for which that carrier was so well known. We’re talking maybe 38” pitch. There were no electrical outlets, nor any IFE screens as found in the A321s purpose built for American.

The cabin was anything but bright and cheerful. The sidewalls were off-white, the bulkheads were two-tone grey and all of the seats were upholstered in dark grey leather. To be fair, this bleak look is pretty standard for all the major U.S. airlines these days. It all adds up to a rather dreary ambiance, sadly reflective of the sorry state of American’s once fine domestic premium class product.

It wasn’t always so. Some of you may be old enough to remember when airline cabins were bright and cheerful, especially here in the U.S.



American’s DC-10 Luxury Liner


Eastern’s L-1011 Economy Class cabin


Continental’s DC-10


No pre-departure drinks were offered, perhaps due to the laggardly procession of humanity through the cabin. By the time the doors were closed and we’d begun our pushback, it was nearly 4:40. The captain was upbeat and cheerful - complete with a pleasant southern accent – advising us that our late departure notwithstanding, we could expect to arrive into Charlotte fairly close to on time. Well alrighty then. Let’s take to the air!


* * * _  _ * * *


American allows you to book your meal in advance via its website. This is great for those of us who don’t have smart phones that enable us to download the appropriate aps. It’s also great for those of us who don’t have status in the airline’s frequent flyer program should the flight attendants take meal requests by order of status.

The choices for tonight’s meal were Beef Tenderloin with mashed potatoes and broccoli or Southwest Lasagna with black beans. I decided to try out the Southwest Lasagna based up pictures I had seen of it here on Flyertalk.

Alas, when the meals were served, I was presented with a vegetarian meal consisting of curried chickpeas, turmeric something or other and a pile of white rice. Also included were a side salad (but no dressing), a fruit plate, a dinner roll (thus depriving me of the variety offered via the basket) and a pre-wrapped Baklava Bites dessert.

Fortunately, the gentleman in front of me had declined to eat resulting in a leftover beef entrée. The FA was happy to offer it to me in addition to my vegetarian plate.



AA DEN-CLT Vegetarian Meal


AA DEN-CLT Vegetarian Meal with Beef


Those of you who’ve read my past trip reports may recall that when it comes to airline food, I’m a pretty forgiving guy. Still, the beef entrée I was presented wasn’t particularly inspired in either appearance or taste. I thought that next to the vegetarian entree it looked positively bedraggled. The meat was an unappealing 3oz morsel similar in size and appearance to a scrap that you might toss to the family dog. The potatoes looked as if they had been poured on the side and topped with flaccid broccolini. If I had paid full fare or even used a few of AA’s infamous 500 mile upgrade certs I would have been supremely disappointed.

Dessert was a couple of large scoops of Peppermint Chocolate Chip ice cream accompanied by a Pirouline cream wafer. It was simple but tasty – far and away the best part of this meal. I saved the Baklava Bites pastry to enjoy at a later date with coffee.



AA DEN-CLT Ice Cream Sunday


Flight time to Charlotte was an expeditious 2:38. Even so, although we landed pretty close to our scheduled 9:30pm arrival time, we took an extended taxi tour of the airport grounds and then waited an additional ten minutes for the gate agent to figure out how to get the jet bridge properly attached to the aircraft. Some crass guy from somewhere back in Economy actually hollered “What the F—k is going on up there?” People were definitely getting anxious. And annoyed. By the time they managed to get the door open and let us off it was almost 10:00pm.

My stay in Charlotte was short – essentially a long overnight connection until my flights to Philadelphia and Amsterdam tomorrow afternoon. I spent the night with a fellow Denali driver and his wife who live just 30 minutes from the airport. He had recently retired from 29 years of teaching high school physics and, like me, was an aficionado of fine bourbon. We drank to excess that night, including a glass of my favorite – Bookers – and didn’t get to bed until after 4:00am.