FlyerTalk Forums - ABE-DTW-SFO

For those of us in the Northeast who travel with Northwest, the final trip to heaven or hell will undoubtedly require a change in Detroit. Flying the first leg of a flight to San Francisco last week gave us an opportunity to change in this delightful hub, and in a sense to experience a preview of one of the ultimate destinations. DTW is not a preview of heaven.

The flight to from DTW to SFO(Feb. 16) was a DC10, and much more comfortable in first class than the return flight on an Airbus ( narrow, of course). The improvement in Northwest's meal service was immediately apparent. A platter of fruit was followed by choice of omlette or French toast, with yogurt and breakfast breads. The service was excellent- yes, this was Northwest- and the flight routine; that is, if sitting in an armchair with a drink six miles up in the air can ever be considered routine. Nevertheless, on any airline today a "routine" flight is a gift not to be taken lightly. Though we left a little late, we were on time at arrival. Where the lack of clouds permitted, it was once more astounding to see how sparsely settled this great land is, and how majestic are the mountains.

San Francisco was, well, San Francisco. It was sunny for three days straight, and we enjoyed walking around North Beach, eating in great Italian restaurants, riding the cable cars, exploring the city and walking through Muir Woods. Stayed at the Rennaisance Stanford Court, at a spectacular rate from the Marriott site. In fact, the front desk didn't quite believe the rate was valid. There are still some problems to work out in Marriott's Reward program as it applies to Rennaisance. The front desk numerous and contradictory views on even the extent to which Marriott Platinum applies to Rennaisance; whether, for instance, they are entitled to upgrades, to breakfasts when there is no concierge, etc., as is the case at Marriotts.

The return trip (Feb. 21) was on a full Airbus. The first class seats felt cramped, and when the person in front of you has the seat back while you are trying to eat from your tray "cramped" is not sufficiently descriptive. The attendants were harried, and the service poor. We were offered drinks with the meal, but not again throughout the four hour flight (unless we ourselves went to get them). Interestingly, the meal was the same as going out. But the abrupt and harried service made quite a (negative) difference. Comparing the trip out to the trip back, it is astonishing how much difference "attitude" of attendants makes, and how harried, abrupt service destroys any enjoyment of the flight.

This was my last trip as a platinum, after eleven years of 100,000+ miles per year. Now I am back to gold for a year, and then probably to silver as my travel days wind down. I have more than 3 million NW program miles- about 1.4 million actual air. I noted with interest the reports from other airline passengers about a note from the pilot, or a personal greeting from the attendant. I have never experienced that on a Northwest flight in all these miles, and note that in the past year or two they have also apparently stopped addressing passengers by name in first class. Nevertheless, it has been a good run and I look forward to travel for pleasure, and to having the time to spend some miles.