FlyerTalk Forums - PHX-DTW-PHX

Tuesday:

Boarded America West #2352, it looked like there were 3 open F/C seats until just before departure, the seats were occupied by a pilot and two other passengers, one said he was a NW Gold who was able to sweet talk the gate agent into giving him the upgrade. Flight departed and arrived on time, uneventful flight.

Thursday:
Arrived a couple hours before my 7:00PM flight, my plan was to go to the NW club, make a couple of telephone calls and read a little before the flight. I had verified that the outbound flight from Phoenix had departed on time so expected to be on schedule.

The Continental ticket counter (wich also handles HP fights) was complete chaos due to the cancellation of flights to Newark due to Floyd. It looked like there were maybe 50 people in the elite-F/C line, and a much greater number in the other line. They were appearently not making any effort to handle the passengers who were not on cancelled flights.

I went to the World Club to see if they could handle a HP check-in. No luck, even though the NW club has just started a reciprocal agreement agreement with America West they didn't have the computer connections.

Left my bag at the club and went to the gate to try my luck checking in there. After about 3/4 hour was checked in to seat 1D. When the agent asked the usual question about my luggage I lied, like I usually do. Went back to the World Club to drink some needed fluids and try to relax for a few minutes before going back to the gate for my flight. Arrived at the gate just as they were beginning the pre-board.

I took my seat and the FA said that they couldn't do the pre-flight beverage service yet because the service carts had not arrived yet. The service carts finally arrived and the doors were closed about 15 minutes late. Some of the passengers had met on the inbound flight, everybody in the F/C cabin seemed to be in good humor, including the FA's. Everyone was chatting and joking until the flight got underway and the inflight service began.

After a decent cold meal (the 737 was not equiped to serve heated meals) one of the passengers, who had eaten before the flight, and declined the meal, suggested to our FA take his seat an have his meal while he got up and streched his legs. Our FA said that she wasnt allowed to do something like that. Our friend wouldn't take no for an answer, and suggested that the F/C passengers take a vote, it was unanimous, so she sat down and ate the cold chicken plate.

While she was eating our friendly passenger decided to put the FA's apron on, and went into the back and started to help the other FA's collect the trash from the coach passengers. This was certainly one of the most entertaining flights that I have taken in a long time!

As the flight was getting closer to the end of our flight into Phoenix our friend suggested that as a gesture of appreciation to our hard working and cheerful FA's that the F/C passengers all take trash bags and assist with the final clean up pass through the aircraft. 7 of the 8 F/C passengers participated (one was sleeping) I was reluctant at first, but in retrospect I'm glad I did it. The coach passengers seemed to be a little puzzled about what was going on, but the FA's loved it!

I should note that there did not appear to be any excessive alcohol consumption in F/C (at least not during the flight) that led to this unusal flight.

Just befor our arrival our FA gave each of us little plastic AW wings, and told us to wear them proudly in Phoenix or our final destination.

On arrival it was announced "Your Phoenix based flight crew and first class passengers want to thank you for flying America West Airlines"