A prelude to this report - and another edition of the Primer - can be found at:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/001041.html


About my flights:

UA 1124 Y B-737 ABQ-DEN was non-descript in that it departed and arrived on time. No peanuts or pretzel type snacks were offered with the beverage service. In fact, none were offered on any of my outbound flights. Naturally, I was absolutely compelled to check out the "grape fruit juice thing" reported on the UA boards... Once again, FTers were right on target...the juice is GONE. Unfortunately, when I booked this flight the seating was listed as "Airport Check in ONLY" - and we all know what that CAN mean - and so I wound up in the last row of coach with no relcine. Fortunately, the flight was brief.

UA 450 Y B-727 DEN-DFW was scheduled to depart at 3:45PM. When I arrived at the gate, a 4:00PM departure time was posted. In short order, that was modified to 4:15PM. All psgrs were then boarded and about 15 minutes later, we were informed that a "gyro" problem had been discovered - and maintenence had been called. Thirty minutes later, when no further onboard info had been provided, I grabbed my wheely and deplained, since there was NO WAY that I would make my Dallas cxn to ORD anyway! And I didn't want to be stuck in DFW since my ORD hotel stay for the evening was prepaid. I inquired of the agent, if this looked like it was going to be a "creeping delay", and he responded honestly, "looks like it, for sure". He helpfully re-booked me on a nonstop DEN-ORD flight departing at 6:00PM. He handed me an E+ boarding pass and so I was pleased at the new experience this would present and trotted off to the next boarding gate...whistling as I moved.

UA 270 E+ B-757 DEN-ORD was scheduled as a dinner flight and I was looking forward to seeing what UA had to offer in this regard in coach in light of recent cut-backs. If I recall correctly, I was assigned to row 12C in E+ and I was well pleased with the comfort of the seat, the little winglets, and the leg room. I didn't even have to recline the seat to be comfortable. However, this row had only "half a window" and it was covered up by the shoulder of my window mate. This would later lead to my becomming slightly disoriented on landing. In fact, we would later hit the ground hard in ORD and for a brief momentary fraction of a second, I actually thought that we had had a mid-air "incident", simply because there was no useable window for me to get my bearings straight and as a result, I was "off balance" and touchdown was a total surprize.

I must admit, I was impressed with the meal service offered onboard this flight - not so much by what was actually served - but rather bacause of the potential it offered United to put on a really great show. And, tvl4free likes a show; tvl4free especially likes an onboard show. There was, however, no selection choices of entrees offered. It was either "take it or leave it" type of deal. Years ago, I actually received some training from W. Clement Stone, one of the greatest salesman ever, who in addtion to United, is also a well known figure in Chicago . We were always taught, we have A or B, "which would you prefer?" rather than, we have A or nothing, "which would you prefer?" When the tray was handed to me I immediately noticed the salad first. For once, I thought it to be a reasonably sized portion for coach. The lettuce was accompanied by red cabbage slices, which I have not seen offered recently. In fact, I thought this item had been completely removed due to budgetary constraints; it added bulk and color to the presentation. I was impressed in this regard. Minute sliver-shavings of carrots were also featured in the salad. No other veggies were found therein, which in my experience is prety much routine now for domestic coach. However, I was handed the dinner tray with lettuce scattered "to the winds" which did create sloppy after thoughts. Had the FA taken a moment to "clean up the tray" of lettuce, I would have been even more impressed. It's called sales presentation...its cost to UA would have been virtually nothing. The entree consisted of a piece of boneless Italian Lemon Chicken breast acccompanied by a bed of lemon-herbed rice and green beans. Well, I'm a big fan of tart Lemon Chicken with rice (as its about the only thing that I know how to do RIGHT with a crock pot, at home); I was pleased with these two items. Perhaps airlines should pass on the green beans served onboard, as they're always stringy and never taste quite right. They consistently taste like they're freshly forzen, but lovingly re-heated - and we all know what that tastes like. As a side bar, I noticed that my seat mates did not share my gusto for the tart rice as much as I did. Go figure! A plastic "pop top" of butter and a small - SOFT "bread-stick-type" of garlic roll was offered. The salad dressing was an Italian French, which was almost a Catalina, and was completely appropriate for the meal. Dessert consisted of a small gourmet, singly wrapped cookie. But as far as presentation goes, there was way too much "empty space" on the tray. Portion sizes of what WAS served were OK - but just a few more items were needed. No matter how flavorful the meal might be, it made the entire affair look cheap. Had I been in charge of catering design, perhaps I would have added a handy wipe for after dinner clean up, and perhaps a couple of gourmet crackers with cheeze, a larger sized roll (or perhaps two of the galic sticks, instead of one) to more appropriately "fill up" the tray. Perhaps, a cookie is well placed as a dessert type item for a snack box; I'm not so sure it's appropriate for a "full dinner service". I noted that there was no plastic coffee cup - or space assigned for it on the tray. Starbucks was offered following the meal... in small styrofoam cups. Sorry, say what you will, but Starbucks - in small styrofoam cups - no less - for dinner, is very, very tacky! So overall, I give UA's meal service a 2+ "you go girl rating..." With just a little more work, UAL's meal service will be headed down the right track... or rather off the right dinner runway!

In Chicago I was booked into the DoubleTree ORD Rosemont. Twenty-two dollars plus $ 20 from AMEX snagged the deal thru Priceline on my very first attempt. However despite a call to the hotel while waiting for the van, it was at least an hour, perhaps and hour and a half, B/4 the shuttle appeared. Check in was smooth...but the front desk guy had no clue about the "bennies" to be offered to Hilton Gold. There was no Concierge/Executive level and no place to grab a midnite snack that was still open - not even room service. This was to be my first DoubleTree experience. The room itself was quite nice with large oversize pillows (yummy!)... but none of those cookies (which I was looking forward to) or comped breakfast was offered either. Therefore, thumbs up on the price and the room itself, but thumbs down in terms of service..

UA 160 Y B-737 ORD-IAD nondescript: ontime 6:00AM departure with a slightly early arrival..

At Dulles I was facing a four hour layover. I had originally planned to fly into PVD and then drive down to White Plains and prk4free courtesy of an offer by none other than dhammer53 himself!

However, there was a flight departing IAD for PVD at 9:10AM - which I could not book because it was an illegal connection - with not enough minimum connecting time. Because the weather was becomming nasty, I thought maybe a kind hearted "real" UA person might just put me on a LGA flight and pull the PVD coupon. This would be perfect for me, as I would avoid
the hassle of driving down from PVD and the associated rental car expense, etc. So I stopped by the CS desk - and immediately fell into a dizzy daze when I started hearing words like, "Complete change of city pairs" and "recalculation of the fare". While still kind of sea sick from the daze I had just experienced, I meandered down to the UA Express gate in hopes on getting on the 9:10AM departure. NO luck... it left the gate with 50 "jungle jet" type tickets pulled. I know, cause I counted every last one of them as they were pulled at boarding. However, the UA Express people are SO NICE... Having recovered from the daze, I repeated my story - the same one that had just a few minutes before had been mentioned to the "real" UA CS folks - only this time I was "experienced" at it and I "doctored it up" a little... and with nothing more than a few touch of the buttons by the gods (and please don't forget that), I was on my way to LGA! Yahooey! I can attest to the fact the angels do exist at IAD!

Even with LGA flow control my IAD-LGA flight arrived 3 minutes early - even though we were relegated to "the penalty box" prior to take-off from IAD - for quite some time. I proceeded to downtown NYC via the bus and train. Fare $3.00. Travel time - about an hour and 15 minutes - which is apparently only slightly longer than the $ 15.00 van ride..

I had planned to do The DO trip with a friend of mine, but a next to the last minute change in plans, sent me one my way alone. Previously I had snagged a deal at the Hilton Millenium on Priceline for $ 67.00 plus $ 20.00 AMEX - which was pretty good I thought. I shot off a quick e-mail to MrKey since I was now alone, to see if he was interested in sharing accommodations, since the deal I had received was better than he could find.

When I arrived at the Millenium, Mr. Key had already checked into our room. We spoke by phone and I was informed that we had been assigned a single bed with a cot. Oh no, no, no, tvl4free thought! MrKey won't like a cot. Ha! A sudden flash of Hilton Gold occurred and I was on my way up to our newly assigned suite. It was a corner room on the 12th floor with a nice view, although our view was not quite as good as that of RDURES1, who had the same type of room, only much, much higher up.

I was slightly concerned about sharing a room with someone I'd never met. But within moments of opening the door for MrKey, I knew that we would be long time friends.

Isn't it strange what a Bulletin Board and e-mail can actually do?

I've ALWAYS been aberrant, you know! You see, I like to travel. I love to fly (even when I don't - like to fly, that is). It has expanded my horizons... and I like the depth of the people that I have met all along the way. Something that I don't understand is - why does this air travel thing reach down to the very core of my soul?

I truly must be sick, I know, but for me, Frequent Flyer programs are even better than mom's apple pie! (uh,oh!)

Thru the years, I have attempted to share this fascination and meet other people who might display this same enthusiam for FF programs. But alas, normal people, just don't understand. I mean, I can actually see it in their faces...it's that look of total bewilderment, I'm specifically talking about here...

After all, how does one adequately explain this addiction to someone who's not been similarly afflicted?

Well, MrKey and I talked travel. Then more travel. Words like AA, TG, and things like a "Baht Run", and a "Betsy Bed" came up. And about FF Programs too! We even had lengthy chats about Cigarman's "NO MORE, NO MORE" topic: UPGRADES!

"Yes", I exclaimed to MrKey, "GO FOR IT! DO WHAT YOU KNOW YOU MUST DO!" "Ok,Ok, he shouted, "I'll call RDURES1"!

You see, I was getting my first large, soothing dose of Frequent Flyer mania!

I think that I was actually mainlining the FF stuff - as it was being infused slowly - drop by drop! It was sooo sweet!

I had a pretty good idea that I was going to be right at home at The DO...

And, it felt sooo deliciously good...!



Next edition:

Personalities at The DO
Frequent Flyers Anonymous




[This message has been edited by tvl4free (edited 03-31-2001).]

Wow. What a great report. Is everything this interesting around here?



[This message has been edited by dAAn (edited 03-31-2001).]

[This message has been edited by dAAn (edited 03-31-2001).]

But tvl4free and I along with Jill and Efrem concluded there were no coffee pots in Hilton's rooms..even our Jr. Suite. Even the smallest of motels and hotels have a coffee machine!

------------------
MRKEY

Of course, you're right MrKey!

But we did get e-i-g-h-t (8) free breakfast coupons...

BTW, do I still have some of those or do you?




[This message has been edited by tvl4free (edited 03-31-2001).]

You bet, dAAn. Welcome to Flyertalk. I see you are from NY, watch the FT Community boards, we have events on the east coast all the time.

Great Report, tvl4free!

Great stuff tvl4free! And I agree, MrKey in the flesh is infectious with his enthusiasm. Priceline is 100% hit or miss thats the sadness - I got the Chicago ORD Marriott on similar bid, and it was wonderful.

This bit below interests me, and we have all heard it before, and you were somehow squeezing 10 segments out of a cheapie short trip to NYC, so how on earth were you able to simply walk away and not have the reloc flashing with red warning lights by time next guy saw it?

------------------
~ Glen ~

Great report
It was a pleasure meeting you and talking with you @ the DO after having read many of your fascinating primers. (I alwasy thought of them as primers even befor you began calling them that.)
Have to thank you again that because of your posting I also got the room at Millenium for $67 when it had seem that I would be paying than double that per night in NYC.

Um, basically ... yeah. <w>

Well OZ, since you did ask...

I knew that the pearly LGA gates were opening up for me when my Express Angel made the following comment:

"When you (tvl4free) first looked up and smiled at me, I could hardly see."



[This message has been edited by tvl4free (edited 04-01-2001).]

Tvl4free..I think I have a few of those free breakfast coupons and that drink coupon we never used. I would have loved to be a 'fly on the wall' when you smiled at your Angel! Oz..the red light was flashing, but the agent was color blind, so am I. Tvl4free will vouch for that one when we went shopping for a shirt for me!

------------------
MRKEY

Now my screen is going crazy..it must the work of the person I mispelled their name on the badge I had made up in NYC!

------------------
MRKEY

I'm curious, how hard is it to get off the plane in this situation? I've been there before, and honestly it never occurred to me to just grab my stuff and walk off, and they certainly don't make the offer over the loudspeaker. I'd love to try this next time if I knew how to get off without making them think I'm a terrorist...