DFW-IAH-MSY
Sep 13, 1999 | 6:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,709
DFW-IAH-MSY
Flights were OK. In FC. DFW-IAH was fun, sat next to a salesman. His company makes the Troy-Bilt equipment. Good guy.
I made the mistake of renting through National at MSY. After trekking through the terminals (quite a haul), I get to where the National booth SHOULD be (at least I assume so, judging by the colors and NO signage). You have to pick up a phone to talk with them. So apparently when National says they are "IN TERMINAL", apparently they are referring to their courtesy phone.
National was a disaster. I spent more time trying to get the car (which I had reserved) and waiting to be checked out of the lot than I did in the air between IAH and MSY. MOST DEFINITELY NOT IMPRESSED!
Staying at Holiday Inn off I-10 in Metairie. A bit spartan, but within 3 miles of customer site, so I'll deal with it.
More later.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
I made the mistake of renting through National at MSY. After trekking through the terminals (quite a haul), I get to where the National booth SHOULD be (at least I assume so, judging by the colors and NO signage). You have to pick up a phone to talk with them. So apparently when National says they are "IN TERMINAL", apparently they are referring to their courtesy phone.
National was a disaster. I spent more time trying to get the car (which I had reserved) and waiting to be checked out of the lot than I did in the air between IAH and MSY. MOST DEFINITELY NOT IMPRESSED!
Staying at Holiday Inn off I-10 in Metairie. A bit spartan, but within 3 miles of customer site, so I'll deal with it.
More later.
------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Sep 15, 1999 | 11:19 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,709
Just a word of advice if you are driving I-10 through New Orleans. PACK A LUNCH.
All week, I've left my hotel around 7:00, and haven't arrived at the customer site (5 miles down the interstate) until after 7:30.
There is some construction going on, but nothing that would explain the traffic delays.
But MUCH more annoying was when I picked up a CD at K-Mart. It was Don McLean and had his classic song, American Pie. However they put on the 4:37 version. You know, the one where they just cut the ending about 1/4 of the way into the song. By the way, the engineering was about as subtle as a 2 year old. There oughta be a law against this.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
All week, I've left my hotel around 7:00, and haven't arrived at the customer site (5 miles down the interstate) until after 7:30.
There is some construction going on, but nothing that would explain the traffic delays.
But MUCH more annoying was when I picked up a CD at K-Mart. It was Don McLean and had his classic song, American Pie. However they put on the 4:37 version. You know, the one where they just cut the ending about 1/4 of the way into the song. By the way, the engineering was about as subtle as a 2 year old. There oughta be a law against this.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Sep 16, 1999 | 4:58 pm
#3
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York City
Programs: UA MM-1P, Hilton Life Diamond, Marriot Life Gold, ICH Spire
Posts: 4,080
Based on my recollection from my days >25 years ago as a college radio d.j., the album version ran 8:27. BTW, Don McLean lives in Dutchess County, New York, where he too infrequently entertains people at local civic events.
OTOH, considering where you are, if you had rented a Chevy, you could have taken it to the levee.
[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 09-16-1999).]
OTOH, considering where you are, if you had rented a Chevy, you could have taken it to the levee.
[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 09-16-1999).]
Sep 16, 1999 | 11:05 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,709
Oops! Your right, RichG, it isn't that long...
Return flight was terrific. Getting back to MSY was a nightmare (see I-10, above). Airport not laid out terribly well. I can't imagine what a zoo that place must turn into on a Superbowl weekend!
When going through security, my laptop bag was stopped for search (happens a lot - I carry a lot of tools and wires in there). What happened next was illuminating.
I am always cooperative and sympathetic to the security folks. They catch a lot of hell unfairly. I respect someone doing their job even if it is an unpopular one.
So my bag is pulled and they start the search. Simulatanously, another person with a laptop (and much smaller bag with nowhere near as much stuff!) gets pulled. He does a lot of squawking. They start searching both our bags at the same time.
I ended up being finished several minutes further despite having lots more stuff. With him, they were stopping just short of a body cavity search. They even made him disassemble the unit (battery pack and hard drive). Definitely trying to teach him a lesson (which I suspect went unnoticed).
At IAH, for the IAH-DFW leg, I mentioned I had an upgrade coupon and asked if there was space available (I know, a 60 minute flight is a waste of one, but it had been a long day). Gate agent said he'd put me on the list. I laughed and said if there was a list, I suspected it wouldn't happen, but thanked him for his efforts.
I take my seat, and several minutes later, someone comes to the back and hands me a pass for 4F. Terrific!
In flight, woman in first row of coach has 1 year old daughter who starts crying. Cereal Bar to the rescue! Baby stops crying, rest of flight goes by with hardly a sound from the little one.
Landing was flawless. Could barely tell when wheels touched the tarmac.
Crashing at a buddy's house in Plano. Tomorow begins DFW-IAH-COS!
------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Return flight was terrific. Getting back to MSY was a nightmare (see I-10, above). Airport not laid out terribly well. I can't imagine what a zoo that place must turn into on a Superbowl weekend!
When going through security, my laptop bag was stopped for search (happens a lot - I carry a lot of tools and wires in there). What happened next was illuminating.
I am always cooperative and sympathetic to the security folks. They catch a lot of hell unfairly. I respect someone doing their job even if it is an unpopular one.
So my bag is pulled and they start the search. Simulatanously, another person with a laptop (and much smaller bag with nowhere near as much stuff!) gets pulled. He does a lot of squawking. They start searching both our bags at the same time.
I ended up being finished several minutes further despite having lots more stuff. With him, they were stopping just short of a body cavity search. They even made him disassemble the unit (battery pack and hard drive). Definitely trying to teach him a lesson (which I suspect went unnoticed).
At IAH, for the IAH-DFW leg, I mentioned I had an upgrade coupon and asked if there was space available (I know, a 60 minute flight is a waste of one, but it had been a long day). Gate agent said he'd put me on the list. I laughed and said if there was a list, I suspected it wouldn't happen, but thanked him for his efforts.
I take my seat, and several minutes later, someone comes to the back and hands me a pass for 4F. Terrific!
In flight, woman in first row of coach has 1 year old daughter who starts crying. Cereal Bar to the rescue! Baby stops crying, rest of flight goes by with hardly a sound from the little one.
Landing was flawless. Could barely tell when wheels touched the tarmac.
Crashing at a buddy's house in Plano. Tomorow begins DFW-IAH-COS!
------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Sep 17, 1999 | 11:46 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: No status anymore. Former CO PLT, NW PLT, AS MVP
Posts: 502
MSY has to be one of my least favorite airports. It's dirty, hard to get in and out of, and has some of the worst rental cars I've ever had the displeasure to drive. Doesn't matter what rental company, either, they're all awful at MSY.
On top of that, I10 is a perpetual traffic nightmare, especially around Causeway.
But I do love the food in Nawlins.
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Michael
OnePass Platinum
On top of that, I10 is a perpetual traffic nightmare, especially around Causeway.
But I do love the food in Nawlins.
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Michael
OnePass Platinum
Sep 17, 1999 | 2:04 pm
#6
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,619
Dirty? Geez, have you been to BOS lately?
I don't think MSY is dirty (it is my home airport), and I think it's definitely improved over the past two years with many renovations and the opening of the new C and D concourses.
I have never seen the airport "zoo" like, even during Sugar Bowl, Super Bowl, or Mardi Gras weekends, probably partly because it is way too big (only about half of the 40 or so gates are in use at this time).
I don't think MSY is dirty (it is my home airport), and I think it's definitely improved over the past two years with many renovations and the opening of the new C and D concourses.
I have never seen the airport "zoo" like, even during Sugar Bowl, Super Bowl, or Mardi Gras weekends, probably partly because it is way too big (only about half of the 40 or so gates are in use at this time).