Returning on same plane
 

After reading about a lot of the MR deals and looking at some of the itineraries I noticed that many of them have the same plane in and out (presumably). For example, I just saw a MR discussion that was on CO from LGA-IAH-SMF and back same day. The same plane and crew will most likely be doing the IAH-SMF and SMF-IAH flights so I got to thinking, what do the FAs say to you when they see you back on the plane? Do you ever feel awkward or get questioned?

I have been kind of amused reading about all the MRs because half the destinations I would at least like to stay a night or two but maybe that defeats the purpose of a MR. The international ones are the ones that I get a kick out of the most. If I was going 10,000 miles away, I would surely like to at least experience Sydney or Singapore or Europe for a weekend or a few days. Just curious what peoples experiences have been returning on the same plane with the same crew.

i expect the ones who chat are aware of mrer's & probably the others....i have been recognized & greeted a few times....on intl runs across the pond, you wont get the same crew, but often the same plane....i have been recognized by the gate cwer when getting back on a time or 2....i also have stayed a few days when going to a city i hadn't been to before...

I've done MRs where I had the same crew down and back. It's always fun to have it happen, especially when the crew is very nice. Don't see why you would get questioned.

I just figured that the crew may just smile and know what is up because it seems like from FT quite a few people do it and I'm sure many have had conversations with the FAs and GAs about it. On the international trips they usually switch the crew so it wouldn't happen. I guess as a traveler if I was to do a MR I would want to at least spend a couple days to make the money I spent on airfare worthwhile. If it was not a desirable destination I guess I wouldn't have much a problem just turning around and going right back to where I came from.

was on the same plane yesterday JFK-LAX-JFK; different crew, though. Gate agents are actually the ones that remember me the most--I recall a mileage run a few years back (in May, like $350 ai JFK-SFO-DEN-ANC-DEN-SFO-JFK) where the gate agent took one look at my itinerary and started to laugh, saying it was way too early to be worried about my miles.

I'm sure this is pretty common. I just get a kick out of it when you have a ticket booked that is an odd routing like MSP-BMI-ATL-CMH and the GA looks and is like what the heck? It's not my fault Delta Pricing experts decided to price that itinerary $800 cheaper than MSP-CMH or MSP-DTW-CMH. I remember going through BMI a few months ago thinking I must be one of the first transit passengers at that airport. The way back I had an equally bizarre routing but thankfully the GA let me SDC to the direct CMH-MSP flight...I lost a couple thousand miles but got home 5 hours earlier and was able to spend a few extra hours with the wife.

Was recognized by the crew on a MR EWR-YYZ-YVR-SYD on AC. They simply smiled and said it was a quick through. :p

This year, I was doing an MR through RDU, and I walked off a plane, hung out at the airport for half an hour, then walked back on. The FA did a double take and said, "You're back?" I just sighed and said "Long story." It was also felt like a "walk of shame" - I was in 1st on the way in, but had to sit in coach on the way out. :D

I actually don't like seeing the same crew in and out. It just seems weird to me - I feel like I owe the crew an explanation. On the same MR, (RDU-SEA) I actually could have gone standby for a flight in SEA that was same metal as my inbound, but I chose to wait an hour and go on the next flight, just so I wouldn't have to do that. :shrug:

I like to spend a few days in a new place (especially international). I spent one night in FRA and ended up with the same crew both ways. One of the FAs asked me something like, "You're headed back already?" That one I was able to skirt with, "Yes, just a quick trip."

Happened to me yesterday -- LAS/SFO/ORD/SJU/ORD/LAS.

Same crew ORD/SJU/ORD, and one of the FAs recognized me and said "why are you back?" Same orange shirt and had only moved 3A to 3D, so kinda hard to miss given that she was the FA for the F cabin.

Did JFK-SFO-JFK. Like others, had the same plane different crew. Walk of shame?? I don't think so. The crew, and you, know that those even interested in doing MR's and the ones that pay the bills. They like us. You should get a free drink. Now if there was just a way to get qualifying miles without having to actually spend the day on the plane...that would be interesting.

Good to see you again!
You stayed here a long time too!
Didn't you just get off thiis plane?
Returning from recent trip to Hong Kong I got the same crew on HKG-NRT as I had on NRT-HKG. I had stayed there two nights. They said Wwelcome back. It's good to see you again".

I once (2003 or so) had booked a MR DTW-LAS-MSP-DTW where one of the female FAs was with me for the whole routing (IIRC on the last leg as a pax). She approached me in MSP and asked me if I'm following her. She sounded like she thought of reporting me to the authorities as what I did certainly was not explainable to her... I told her about the concept of a MR and she never heard about that before. I'm not sure she believed me...

The exit row quizes are fun when it's given by the same flight attendent for the second (or more) time in a row...

I've been asked by the FA at RDU why are you coming back with us when you only just got here, and I didn't find it comfortable answering either. But the moment passed quickly, and the flight boarding process and MR continued. I always try to avoid the same plane returning for that reason, but can't always avoid it. Also once had trouble getting a BP printed at the kiosk, and had to ask the check-in desk to print it; they pulled up the PNR and looked very concerned, and wanted to know in a not very friendly tone why I was flying cross country only to come right back. But they went ahead and printed my BP anyhow, and did not look very happy about the situation. Again, the moment passed relatively quickly, and I moved on with a very pleasant and successful MR. Like other have said, we have paid for the ticket, and all we're doing is giving the airline our business.

I book imediate returns all the time, often it is the same crew. I could care less what they say or think. Most have been very nice and fun. One time there was a grouch in F on the way down and she was a grouch in F on the way back. THe FA's/Ga's Attitude has NOTHING to do with you getting on the same plane twice. It's really much more common than you think and not just Mileage Runners. I have never considered it a walk of shame. I have more difficulty with questions from friends and family than I do from Airline Industry employees.

I once did 3 segments with the same Delta crew/aircraft. They were joking on my final exit that I wasn't continuing to their overnight in Florida.

done that
 

same plane, same crew, same seat,12c yyz tpa yyz.MR. no weirdness^no upgrades:td:

It happened to me yesterday at RSW, and it's happened to me before as well. The FAs are always amused by it, and nobody is ever the least bit suspicious. I tell them, "I needed the miles so I can keep my status", and if I've been UDUed I add, "I like having you bring me free drinks."

Half of first class RSW->IAD was running miles from SFO yesterday.

happened to me in september, doing the RDU-JFK-SFO. Same crew, same plane, same seat on my RDU-JFK flight as was on my Positioning flight JFK-RDU.

Since its a small plane, only one crew, but she smiled, and said "that was a quick turn around", i replied "it was cheaper for me to fly to RDU to take a dump and shower, than it was for me to have a plumber come fix my bathroom at New York rates." it was hilarious. But then i told her what the real reason was, and i was surprised that i was the first Milage runner she had seen or met. anyways, its cool.

It's happened to me occasionally. Once on a LAS-LAX-LAS turn, once on a JFK-LHR-ORD one.

Back when US had their LAS hub, I used to try to route through there when possible. Once I was flying PHX-LAS-SNA and was not upgraded PHX-LAS but was LAS-SNA. When deplaning in LAS, I asked the FA if I could just sit in 2D instead of getting off only to get back on again. She seemed confused about my question and said no. When I got back on 10 minutes later and sat down, she apologized and said she now knew what I meant, but was confused as to why I wasn't in F on the first leg.

Last year a did a CLE-CUN same day turn, $200.00 fare plus tax. I had 4 hours, I went running and took in the warm day but I was asked alot of questions, at CLE, at CUN, at IAH. I think they thought I was a drug runner picking upa shipment.

<giggle> Yup-or when the f/a's either see you boarding or in your seat and simply say, "mileage run, huh?" ;)

AA FAs... a bit jaded...
 

I've been doing lots of "turnaround" segment runs the past few weekends, same plane/crew on the return, and pretty much every time the crew acts as if they are seeing me for the first time... Only one FA recognized me ("hey! you're back!"). Alright, alright, I kinda lay low and am not Brad Pitt ;), but I just think that those AA FAs are just so jaded and busy during those flights that they just don't seem to absorb the faces of their passengers enough to recognize them!

Last weekend, returning home STL-ORD, sat in the same exact seat (4F) as the outbound flight, and the FA's face simply did not register... :rolleyes:

I actually did this not too long ago as part of a same-day-turn for US' h/s/j promo. I went PHL-CLT-BTR-CLT-PHL

The CLT-BTR arrived, and sat at the gate no more than 30 min before the BTR-CLT segment left. As expected, same bird, same crew. I had just enough time to grab some fries by the gate and when I got back on board the FA looked at me like I was half mad. I said, besides gold status, I really like the fries in Louisiana. She laughed.

Turns out a bunch of people had done it a week earlier so she kind of knew what was up.

That's my funny story/two cents.

Hmm... I wonder why :rolleyes:

FA meets too many people for MR. they wont be strange to see you again...

$350 ai JFK-SFO-DEN-ANC-DEN-SFO-JFK
the price is amazing...

drug dealer?
this is funny. :)

how did you know that?
i always want to talk to fellow FTers.

Not a MR, but onward connecting flight with same crew, same plane. I even had the same seat and the same drink.

I did this run back to back on Dec. 11 - 12. I will admit it was a little awkward because it was the first time i was doing it but as I sat down to do the work I had brought wiht me, it dawned on me that the FA had their work to do as well. I'm sure they do what most polite busy people do: Acknowledge it and conclude correctly that as long as I am properly ticketed they should leave me alone and hope I do not cause any problems. (smile)

I had an weird experience once...did a PVD-IAD-RIC-ORD-RIC-IAD-PVD. Left PVD 6am...stayed in at ORD overnight, left ORD at 6am.....didn't have to worry about missing the transfers because they were all on the same CRJ-700. I had one crew from PVD-IAD-RIC-ORD, and the next morning...had the same crew....was asked if I wanted a job!

Poor man's Mimosa
 

I am very distinctive, old, l(ong straggly beard. In F when asked for drink choice it is always a"poor man's mimosa please." (orange juice and sprite).

For two of my talt flights to Man during the Volcano activity the outbound crew talked with the return crew at the hotel and described me. Then on each return trip had my pm mimosa ready when I sat down.

ralph

I will never forget the face a FA made when she approached me after realizing I was scheduled to be on her next flight. The flights in question was PDX-ANC-SEA on the same plane. She figured it out by looking at the paperwork.

I almost always fly the same route BOS/PDX and run into the same FA's all the time. They arent shocked anymore, except when I tell them i plan on staying for a few days

The potential issue that can arise with any short turnaround MR is that if the outbound flights are delayed, the cutoff for checking in for the return may occur. The fact that the return flight will also be delayed is actually not a factor since the computers will base the check-in cutoff based on the scheduled departure time.

Good topic. On the few MRs I have done, they always have an immediate turn and it's usually on the same plane. I agree that it feels a bit awkward, but often I will have chatted with the FA in F on the outbound and will have found out whether they are returning. If so, I usually mention what I'm doing, although I have occasionally concocted reasons besides MRs. I have NEVER encountered an FA who seems clued into the concept of mileage running.

I have always been recognized when getting back on, and if an FA looks surprised I just say "your service was so good on the way out, I just had to do it again."


Not necessarily a problem on all airlines. It IS a problem on DL, which I'm guessing is who you fly. Just check in via your PDA immediately after the door closes on your outbound flight, or via delta.com during the flight.

Last week I did IAH-SMF-IAH 2 days in a row on the same plane.

The first day FAs were surprised to see me boarding for the return flight. One actually approached me and asked: "are you doing this for miles?"

The 2nd day when I was on the outbound flight, one of the FA recognized me immediately and said: "you are baaaaaaack!!" I was sitting in 1B, and overheard her telling other FA (who weren't on the flights the previous day) in the gallery about my itinerary.

For the returning leg I didn't get upgraded. I was sitting in my seat while others were still boarding, and one curious FA walked to me and started asking me question about MR. During the flight another FA came and chatted me up, and actually offered me a blanket and free wine though I was sitting in economy class.

I would like to know how you can tell if on your return it is the same ship as you were on for your outbound? The MR's I have done so far have all been different ships on the return. Knowing you are on the same ship would be a huge relief trying to get back home. Obviously I cant answer the OP question.

GA and FA faces are priceless when they see something strange :)

Few years ago I went from IAD to GSP via Kentucky, Utah and Georgia. My routing was IAD-CVG-SLC-ATL-GSP. When GA saw my routing he declared that he can put me on IAD-ATL-GSP flight which will get me to GSP about 11 hours earlier. I didn't take his offer :)

When I did DCA-LAS-DCA runs for the past couple of weeks I started laughing when FA got "that" look after announcing gate for connecting flights.
I was on a flight DCA-LAS and she read over PA system "Washington Reagan????? gate A7". Look on her face was priceless :)

I've done a lot of same aircraft returns, but sometimes with diferent crew.

I've skipped offers from GA to do RDU-DCA non-stop when I had RDU-CLT-PHL-DCA itinerary :)

Flying is fun :)

Did my 12 hours in Vegas, courtesy of Expedia.ca, and had the same cabin crew both ways. We both asked the other if they got enough sleep.