FlyerTalk Forums - east coast run

This doesn't really certify as much of a mileage run nor can I entertain you with stories from a far away land. There was a sale on BOS-ATL RT for $99 that also allowed for a same day turn around. Maybe I did it because I haven't flown for a few weeks and was getting withdrawal symptoms, maybe it's the 3+ feet of snow with six foot piles framing our driveway, or maybe I actually figured that 2k miles and four segments might help. Or maybe my wife is right and I'm deranged...

The day started off with a fresh foot of heavy snow draping the world. This time of year we start rationalizing or ignoring the snow, since there's no way a snowstorm in late March can be taken as seriously as those in the heart of winter. Instead of clearing the driveway I just gunned the car, blasted out of the garage and proceeded to make it halfway down the driveway before getting stuck. Thirty minutes later the driveway was snowblown and passable and I was on my way to BOS grumbling about late season snow.

It's been a while since flying out of BOS on US and this is the first time I've used the club. Nice spot and it pretty much matches the decor of the other lounges I've been in. Picked up my FC boarding tickets in exchange for a couple of upgrade coupons, tanked up on juice and coffee before heading out to the first leg of my "run." Oddly enough our 757 had not weathered the recent storm well and had shrunk to an F100. I sat next to a US CP but didn't work up the nerve to ask if he was an FT'er (is there a FlyerTalk luggage tag that we can put on our briefcases/bags?). We talked about the late season snow, flooding, airports, and warmer climates.

PIT had broken cloud cover but otherwise a pleasant day and landing. The leg down to ATL was on a 737. This 737 was getting along in the years, one of the windows was heavily scratched, almost opaque and when I went to adjust the air I noticed the nozzles had some kind of scummy buildup around the edges. The meal was cold chicken breast and potato salad snack. The FA was very attentive and friendly. FC was full again. As we got closer to ATL and I realized that I'd soon be turning around I started wondering if my little jaunt wasn't deranged after all. But as we started vectoring into the airport and flying over the terrain I realized that I really was enjoying the flight and the day so far.

It's been a while since I've been to ATL and what a madhouse it is! Compared to the other airports it felt like I'd been transported into the height of tourist season. No US Club so I caught the train to the T terminal and visited the AA Admiral's club. This was my very first visit to an AA club and I didn't know what to expect. I showed my US club card and the desk jockey asked for a ticket. I didn't have anything to show him which seemed to distress him to no end. I told him all of the particulars of the flight number but you could see he wasn't very comfortable, but he let me in all the same. Nothing special about the club, not much to snack on and mostly occupied by families. After a few minutes I left, deciding that I should get some exercise and see more of ATL.

ATL was partly cloudy and a whole season warmer than where I'd woken up that morning. Walked outside for a while, then wandered through the little mall area in the terminal. Some fellow was playing a great jazz piano at the bar so I enjoyed that for a bit. I wanted proof of my journey so I bought a huge Sunday paper (it was Saturday...how do they DO that?) which I think eventually led to my back ache later in the day.

That was it, time to rewind the whole day via PHL. Hopped on another 737 with a full FC and another great FA. This meal was really excellent: small chicken breast on baguette with a herb leaf I can't readily remember (mint?), large slice of ham with two slices of good swiss on another baquette, a "mini brie" with crackers, a couple strawberries, and a great big slice of tasty cheese cake. Opted for the Geyser Peak Merlot since they didn't have a Cabernet. The clouds seemed to be thinner and fewer than on the trip down so I spent more time looking out the windows and enjoying the day. As we got closer to PHL the sun went down and we were treated to a beautiful orange sunset that seemed to last forever.

Another fine landing although I must be used to the Airbus now or something because 737's seem to have to work much harder to land and slow down. Could be my imagination. Although this was a continuation flight to BOS I opted to take my limited belongings with me and good thing that I did. They swiped the airplane for another flight and moved our departure to a gate in another terminal, this after the FA's told thru fliers they could leave their luggage in the overheads. Later I heard PA announcements as they tried to get the owners to come back to the gate and pick up their de-planed luggage.

By now the day's travel was starting to wear on my back, or at least that twenty pound Sunday paper in my backpack was. Boarded for the last time on yet another 737 and this time I'm the only one in FC. Spooky, all of those empty seats, I felt like I ought to move into the back or convince a few in coach to join me. The back was pretty full and here I am bouncing around in an empty, leather padded frontend like some demented, quarantined FF case. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Still, it was a short flight and I spent it gazing outside. Night flight is the one time when you can truly appreciate the enormity of mankind. Even above overcast clouds the great expanses of light illuminate the cloudscape like fresh, white magma oozing from below. Breaking through the cloud cover you can trace the mandlebrot patterns of humanity as it etches across the land, lighting its way to ward off the night. There are patterns within patterns in the lights, hues and shades and movement, waste and warmth and safety, stories and struggle and slumber, all behind meager stars dotting the country-side. As often as I look into the heavens and wonder what is happening up near some minute glimmer within a distant galaxy I just as often look down on our cities and wonder the same thing about the twinkle from a neighborhood below.

And with that I crawled out of the empty FC cabin, jumped into the car, and made my long trek to the snow and the cold of home. It was a full day, over sixteen hours door-to-door, but it was a good day and good flying.

Thanks US.