DCA-EWR-DUS-EWR-DCA on CO
 

Well, first ever trip report - and I've been up for close to 24 hours. We'll see how it goes.

Itinerary:

12/26 DCA-EWR-DUS on CO
01/02 DUS-EWR-DUS on CO

Purpose, if this matters: spend New Year’s with my girlfriend (which we did in Cologne, again if this makes any difference to anyone).

I should note that this was my first trip on CO after earlier extremely disappointing (or worse) experiences to Europe this year with NW (coach) and KLM (coach and business).

Anyway - DCA is pretty quiet the first day after Christmas, and checking in is pretty painless. The short flight to EWR is uneventful, although we do leave 30 minutes as we wait for other planes to take off. I arrive at EWR for a 2 hour wait and head for the NW lounge in Terminal B. Not a very impressive place - there are many dirty tables and 2 employees allegedly in charge of cleaning chatting away at the bar. A husband/wife team, each armed with a cell phone, is shouting all over the place, which gives everyone the chance to find out that the husband thinks that so and so is "a mean f***." Thanks for that, we all enjoy the entertainment provided by these conversations.

I board CO 36 to DUS. Although I have to look around to make sure I'm on the right plane - there is hardly anyone on this thing, I am alright. Around 80 people in a 200 or so DC-10 coach configuration. Although I'm sure this helps with better service, I'm quite impressed with the attentive and friendly service provided by the FA's. I've been on other empty planes where this was not the case. They show movies and TV shows galore, I get 2 “meals” for dinner and plenty to drink.

Had a chance to chat with one of the FA, who said that since the alliance the CO and NW operations people have been meeting to try and raise NW to CO's standards, because of concerns that the opposite would happen. I'm sure this has been covered elsewhere, but after a November trip with NW I say they have a lot of work left to do. Flight had left on time and arrives at 6:10am rather than 6:50am - fine by me but then again this means I have to wait for my girlfriend to arrive. (For once, as she usually waits for me and my delayed luggage, but I digress).

For the return trip (or as I like to call it, the trip that would have made me silver Elite had I taken it 2 days earlier), checking in is again easy, and I manage to move from 31K to 18D, with a couple of empty seats next to me. Flight is busier but still not very crowded. The FA's are nice enough although they tend to disappear for extended periods of time. Oh well, with 4 movies shown, I guess one should not complain. (Although these particular movies, well, anyway). I arrive in Newark for a 4 hour layover. Needless to say, past customs and immigration I head back to the NW lounge. Things have improved there - in fact as I arrive it is only myself and the staff - pretty low key to say the least. I keep myself busy with complimentary beverages, NFL action, and some reading. After what seemed like forever, I head for my 5:30 flight to DCA around 5. They’re boarding final rows as I get there, so I have to wait a few minutes before getting on. Although we board on time we depart only after 6 as we wait for other planes to take off. I am sitting in 18D, no one is in 18E and a (off duty!) CO FA is in 18F. She turns out to be quite friendly and we talk during the second half of the flight. We arrive in DC around 7pm. Takes a while for our luggage to appear, but things are busy that evening. So, first trip on CO is over.

Overall, the best transatlantic coach experience I’ve had this year (comparison is with UA, LH, KLM and NW). Very friendly people everywhere and a lot of little things that matter. For people like me who cannot sleep on planes, they pretty much showed movies/sitcoms during the entire length of both flights. Much better than staring at that plane information for 3+ hours as I have had to do on NWA and KLM.

Pausing the movies while making announcements, a small thing if there ever was one, is still a nice touch, especially on flights that require that these be done in more than one language.

Well, that was long but this is it.


[This message has been edited by SMessier (edited 01-03-2000).]

That was a fine, FOUR PAWS Up report!

I will say it again: there are no real rules about trip reports except write them clearly and keep them G rated! You did that purrfectly!

Smessier, that was a great trip report! Welcome.

Thanks Richard - and praise from the Catman for my first trip report, what a way to start the year! Now I'm the one purring... The next couple of months should see me on the road again, so I'll be sure to detail my experiences once I have been up far too long once more.

SMessier - Still Junior after all these posts.