ART on Tues, Thurs & Fri starting 5/23
 

Gearing up for the triple, SBA-SFO-PIT-ART-PIT-SFO-SBA times 3. Leaving SBA on Monday 6pm, to ART on the 9am on Tuesday returning to SBA 11:30pm, out again Wed at 6pm, in ART Thurs and return to SBA by 11:30pm, then Fri am flight out of SBA and arrive ART 10pm, leave the next morning and back to SBA on Sat at 2pm.

At PIT now (5/21), in front of USAir Club in the "core"
 

Managed to get on an earlier flight out of CLT to PIT, so I can spend more time in a place with free Wi-Fi :p Just a little more than an hour from getting on the PIT-ART flight. F service on US is alright. Pre-departure drink is a bottle of water :eek: :D Breakfast was a fruit plate with a smushed croissant and jam. I miss the eggs and sausages that I usually get in F on the CO ;)

Shopped a bit, pleasantly surprised about the 0% sales tax on clothing, except swimsuits :D

If anyone is at PIT, feel free to drop by the mezzanine area above the core, near the entrance of the US Air club. My backpack has the yellow FT tag on it.

Back at the "core" mezzanine at PIT. The return flight was quite choppy just before landing. Made me feel a little nauseous for a while after landing.

Another traveler on my PIT-ART flight asked if I was on one of the cheap tickets, I said yes. She and her friends and family bought 13 tickets! She knew about it via Travelocity's fare watcher alert. She has family in the area, so thats why she had the fare watcher for ART ;) Anyway, had a nice chat, and she recommended the Tin Pan Galley for dinner.

Stayed at Ontario Place, and Murray was there to pick me up. Nice car! :) Gave me a quick history and tour of the area. After dropping down my stuff, I headed out and explored W. Main St. Saw a few other restaurants, Good Fellos, pizza/Italian place. Karen's is a nice and cheap place for breakfast (and lunch/dinner as well). They have a "make your own breakfast" deal where each item was a dollar (like 2 eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, etc). They also have Philly cheesesteaks and home-made ice cream as well. Speaking of ice cream, there is a little shack near the hotel called Loving Spoonful, a small scoop that is not so small at all is only $1.60.

After breakfast, I walked around the Sackets Historic Battlefield. It took about 40 minutes to go all the way around. I walked along the perimeter which had signs along the way that had various details about the battle. Then headed into Karen's for breakfast, and the off to the airport. Had the wand and pat down after the metal detector, no problems here ;)

Got three more of these to go on!

sitting in PIT gate A19 as a type this message, connection to ART departs at 9am.

Sorry to have missed you. I ended up skipping ART and returned to SFO/SBA on the morning flight. Of course, this time it was not so smooth, as the agent in the Club was bent out of shape about the $20 FC fare. She called the rate desk, after I asked her to wait list me for the SFO morning flight. They apparently put a note in my PNR saying no changes allowed. It required the intervention of a Supervisor at the gate, who understood the F fare rules and that I was merely requesting a same day stand by on an earlier/later flight, as allowed by the F fare rules. He was very pleasant, helpful and provided great customer service, even getting me the last FC seat, at the very last minute. A refreshing experience compared to the Club agent.

I think we may be on the same flights :)

I'm on the last PIT-ART flight this Friday as well, heading back out first thing Saturday morning on my way to IAH.

My return is on Monday May 30th, the 2pm into ART, and 5:50pm out on my way back to EWR.

Perhaps a "nice letter" about this employee's "diligence" is in order.

After all, the impending merger may result in a smaller workforce and it would be good to separate the wheat from the chaff... ;)

Trip report - Memorial Day Weekend
 

A short ART trip report

Flew out of DEN on Sunday and almost missed all the flights since I was checking in 40 mins before the flight. Too many cops on the highways and hence missed the 45 min cut off for check-in. The price of a speeding ticket could have been more than the cost of flying to ART 3 times. :D

At PIT went up to the core section for good wireless access as recommeded by fellow 'FTers. The flight to ART needed volunteers due to weight restrictions. I volunteered to stay at PIT on US Air expense and save on ART hotel cost but they ended up boarding everyone. The co-pilot was very nice and was wondering what I was doing in ART all the way from DEN? Military??? $2 tickets... :o

Had a pickup from Ontario Place Hotel and Mr. Murray knew right away that I was on a Mileage Run. Very kind and friendly. The hotel is excellent for the price and location. Felt good to be surrounded by non-branded quality stuff (not a single chain in town). The restaurants in town are good and not too pricey. Remember to bring a light wind cheater or sweater as it gets a bit nippy in the shade.

Watched the Memorial Day parade in a place filled with history. EXCELLENT!!! ^ ^ ^

From Watertown to Ottawa?
 

I have three days between my flights and am thinking about visiting Sacketts Harbor for an afternoon and then driving to Ottawa (which I hear is nice) for a couple of days? Any FT input on that plan and the area would be appreciated - I will have my wife and 9 year old daughter with me.
Thanks.

tofromord ,

You should consider the Lake Placid area of New York. That area is good for 2-3 days easy.

Watertown (ART) is a small airport.....only one terminal if you wish to call it that....ha ha ha...is more like you walk into the back door and you are in the only main room of the airport...Baggage claim is the lobby floor.....all employees...TSA Airlines etc. wear many hats...they all work together doing it all. Some of there employees work for both TSA and Airlines....or Airport Employees and Airlines...
If you are staying over...look up Ontario Hotel in Sackets Harbor ( a small village by Watertown.....beautiful place full of history, with all you need in walking distance to include a historical walk. Only thing you won't have in Sackets that you would have if you stay in the city of Watertown (if you wish to call it a city) is the mall.
Sackets is small village run by locals.....NO CHAINS.

Hope you all enjoy your trip......I live up here if you need more info...just ask.

I would not recommend arriving 20 minutes before flight......yes 2 hours is exessive but 1 hour would be best.....the airlines as well as TSA stop baggage screening to move to the checkpoint to screen...if you arrive 20 minutes out you may not get on the flight. I know the airport well TRUST ME!!!!!

I start my first ART run tomorrow at noon SFO-PIT-ART, returning 6:30am monday morning ART-PIT-SFO.

I'm right behind you for MY first ART trip! SEA-PIT-ART leaving Sunday at 11PM, returning to SEA Monday at 8:13PM. Then repeat 48 hours later. Then repeat. Then repeat. Then repeat ad naseum. But I'll reach CP in 2005!

Am I reading this thread right? You people found $2 RT fares to Watertown?? I assume this was because of an error. How often does this happen, sounds like we should be checking very often. How is the best way to find these mistakes.

For those that haven't taken their trip yet, Alexandria Bay, Clatyon and the 1000 Islands is a good place to visit a little over a half hour away. Tours of Boldt Castle on heart island are interesting. Clayton also has the Antique Boat Museum if you would be interested in that.