Miscellaneous Observations
Sep 1, 2018, 8:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
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Miscellaneous Observations
I know most of the cognoscenti here are way ahead of me, but here are a few random observations I’ve made. Some recent, some not so much...
1) On the ATL “Plane Train” — the concourse announcements follow the phonetic alphabet, except for “D”... ;-)
2) For my last dozen or so domestic legs, WiFi does NOT turn off on approach below 10,000 feet, but has remained active until touchdown.
3) Tips at the Asanda Spa are converted to cash for the therapist and applied to their paycheck. I’d imagine a good therapist could rack-up 10K SkyMiles per day. Would be awesome to give them the option of taking the miles if they like to travel. Could be up to 200K per month for them.
4) Anecdotal, but seems like I always get the UG on “rich” routes when flying with an award miles companion. Could just be an anomaly, but...
1) On the ATL “Plane Train” — the concourse announcements follow the phonetic alphabet, except for “D”... ;-)
2) For my last dozen or so domestic legs, WiFi does NOT turn off on approach below 10,000 feet, but has remained active until touchdown.
3) Tips at the Asanda Spa are converted to cash for the therapist and applied to their paycheck. I’d imagine a good therapist could rack-up 10K SkyMiles per day. Would be awesome to give them the option of taking the miles if they like to travel. Could be up to 200K per month for them.
4) Anecdotal, but seems like I always get the UG on “rich” routes when flying with an award miles companion. Could just be an anomaly, but...
Sep 1, 2018, 10:02 pm
#2
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
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Yep - because they don’t want people just hearing “Delta” and thinking that’s the concourse for Delta (even though DL does use D now - there was a time when D was the one concourse they didn’t have much or any presence in D). At ATL, taxiway D is “Dixie” instead of “Delta” as well.
Sep 1, 2018, 10:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,907
Obviously naming one of the concourses with the name of a major airline would be nothing but confusing.
Sep 1, 2018, 11:14 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,075
I always thought this was some terrorism-related FAA requirement but I take it now that it was just a limitation of the older ground station-based networking technology?
Sep 2, 2018, 7:10 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,306
Sep 2, 2018, 8:39 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,989
I’ve found that, on about 50% of my flights, the WiFi light (that’s replaced the no smoking light) is usually accurate (e.g. when it’s on WiFi’s on). Most 2kU flights allow you to sign on as soon as the safety video is over and stay connected until landing.
Sep 2, 2018, 9:24 am
#7
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I know most of the cognoscenti here are way ahead of me, but here are a few random observations I’ve made. Some recent, some not so much...
1) On the ATL “Plane Train” — the concourse announcements follow the phonetic alphabet, except for “D”... ;-)
2) For my last dozen or so domestic legs, WiFi does NOT turn off on approach below 10,000 feet, but has remained active until touchdown.
3) Tips at the Asanda Spa are converted to cash for the therapist and applied to their paycheck. I’d imagine a good therapist could rack-up 10K SkyMiles per day. Would be awesome to give them the option of taking the miles if they like to travel. Could be up to 200K per month for them.
4) Anecdotal, but seems like I always get the UG on “rich” routes when flying with an award miles companion. Could just be an anomaly, but...
1) On the ATL “Plane Train” — the concourse announcements follow the phonetic alphabet, except for “D”... ;-)
2) For my last dozen or so domestic legs, WiFi does NOT turn off on approach below 10,000 feet, but has remained active until touchdown.
3) Tips at the Asanda Spa are converted to cash for the therapist and applied to their paycheck. I’d imagine a good therapist could rack-up 10K SkyMiles per day. Would be awesome to give them the option of taking the miles if they like to travel. Could be up to 200K per month for them.
4) Anecdotal, but seems like I always get the UG on “rich” routes when flying with an award miles companion. Could just be an anomaly, but...
Sep 2, 2018, 9:29 am
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
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Yeah, I would think so too. It’s too bad, as that would be an awesome benefit if they permitted free mileage transfers between accounts.
Sep 2, 2018, 9:56 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,989
DL has a lot of outstanding miles and execs/Wall Street keep focusing on the liability so many unredeemed miles has on the airline
So the whole point of letting you buy the treatment or booze with miles is to get rid of the miles balance- not bear the cost of the treatment/booze and then transfer a bunch of the miles as a tip to an attendant
Sep 2, 2018, 11:20 am
#10
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Yep - because they don’t want people just hearing “Delta” and thinking that’s the concourse for Delta (even though DL does use D now - there was a time when D was the one concourse they didn’t have much or any presence in D). At ATL, taxiway D is “Dixie” instead of “Delta” as well.
Sep 2, 2018, 11:56 am
#12
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I remember in the late 90s/early 2000s DL had little to no presence in D. D was for most other airlines at ATL (except UA and AA which used the north side of T and ValueJet/AirTran in C though AirTran did use D at some point as well, and the international airlines operating out of E). D was where NW/CO/HP/YX went out of. I don’t remember which concourse TW used at ATL prior to their merger with AA. But I do remember a time when DL had little to no presence in Concourse D.
Sep 2, 2018, 12:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
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I recently flew on the A350 and one thing I noticed in the bathroom was the little ashtray on the door. Is there a reason this was added on? Smoking in planes has been banned for years. Maybe some of the experts here can shed light on this.
Sep 2, 2018, 12:58 pm
#14
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It’s still an FAA requirement (not sure about EASA req’s). Reason is the FAA knows people will still go into the bathroom to smoke (even if it is illegal) and it’s better to have an ashtray for them to put cigarettes and the ash in rather than them putting the ash and butt in the garbage bin filled with flammable material.
Sep 3, 2018, 6:56 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 210
Other new aircraft still have these as well, it's not just the A350.