Red Tail predictability
Sep 21, 2002 | 1:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,613
Red Tail predictability
I managed 6 days off in a row and after working my butt off the previous 6 days in a row this was a much needed stretch of days off. I decided to pop into HNL to see mom and dad having not seen them since July for my grandfathers funeral and having not been to Hawaii since my Widgets, Bowling Shoes and Southern Hospitality (I think that's what I called it) trip report in April.
Good lord, you get a little rain in Memphis and the already notoriously dangerous and traffic ridden roads become an even larger war zone. Of course, leaving my place 40 min late after not wanting out of my comfy bed (which I hadn't slept in since 6 nights before) wouldn't have had anything to do with it would it? =) So I get to the security checkpoint at 825am for the 910am departure only to see the crew/elite line closed...URGH! I wish I could bypass ecurity - but I can't do that this morning as I am not working - but I am in uniform. Anyway here's the meat and potatoes of the journey...
Sept 19. NW551 MEM-LAX A320 seat 25F. Ship #3271 - 910am - 1113am ontime. Arrived at gate B42 and presented myself for the jumpseat. Went down to say hi to the crew and to store my things. The captain and I met in the jetway as he was on his way up to the gate for some reason... he took my paperwork to the agent. Upon his arrival back at the plan he told me I was a lucky selectee... fun. So, I go an be the first person searched and it was relatively painless. I had lots of strange and sympathetic looks from passengers as they probably thought it was odd they were giving a uniformed pilot the friendly search. Funny, the Fedex jumpseater didn't have the privlege of the extra security... and he isn't even in our dysfunctional red tailed family!! Maybe that's why... Anyhow, boarded this new 320 and went to my seat. There was an older man on the aisle and the seat bewtween us was empty. Pushed ontime and joined the lineup for 18C. 18R/36L os scheduled to reopen on Monday and for the last week there has been 1 arrival and 1 departure rwy in MEM which really screws things up!! Airborne at 945am and made our way west. Flying time was 3:18 and for the first hour it was what I would classify as light to moderate turbluence. However the crew managed to pull off an efficient and friendly breakfast service. The consistancy and predictability of NW proved itself again when I was handed a plastic basket of a very tasty warm bagel and philly cream cheese, a banana and a bowl of Raisin Wheaties. I washed it down with real minute maid oj. I entertained myself with the always negative and biased USA Today and the latest issue of Mens Health. Water was served periodically as well as coffee. Flew just to the south of the famous Meteor crater near Winslow, AZ where I have actually indeed stood on a corner, and let me tell you it was not a fine site to see. But the crater was from cruise altitude!! We got a little history lesson from the flight deck as we cruised by. Sedona, Flagstaff and then my old stomping ground of Prescott, AZ passed by. Shortly after Lake Havasu and its out of control growth slipped by and then Palm Springs and finally the LA area came into view. We touched down nicely on 24R and made our way to gate 24A for deplaning. We were 5 min early. Terminal 2 was in its typical state of madehouseness with throngs of people waiting for NW, AC, HA and Aviateca flights. There is usually a line for the womens room, but this time there was one for the mens room - both urinals and stalls were in high demand this late morning... Made my way to the gate for the HNL flight after the movie theatre/sporting even bathroom experience.
NW935 LAX-HNL DC10-30 ship 1238. 1245pm-320pm - ontime. Seat 37C. Introduced myself to who I thought was the captain, but turned out to be the Director of Flying... uh, er, uh, that's like meeting the casting director for the movie you really really want to star in!!!!! He signed my jumpseat form and just hungout in the gate area. Got my boarding pass and boarded the a/c without extra cavity searches. Said hello to the crew and thanked them for the ride. Made my way to the back of the bus and sat in 37C. The scond to the last row of the plane. There was a Chinese tour group onboard - and they decided to sit where they pleased - so after a bit of musical chairs - everyone was where they were supposed to be and I lucked out with having 37D empty. it turned out there was a Hawaiian Airlines jumpseater who got 37G and 37F was also empty. So, we both lucked out with the only 2 empty seats on the entire plane right between us. Pushed ontime and were soon lumbering down 24L. 5:18 was the enroute time. Shortly after t/o the Purser announced that the Crockidile Hunter tape was damaged and theat they would be screening My Big Fat Greek Wedding instead. Personally, I think the crew was embarassed by the fact that that awful attempt at a movie was scheduled to be screened and decided to show a real movie instead. Drink service with peanuts started as well as "Currents." This time it was a Jazz special, behind the scenes with Uncle Cracker and other Detroit musicians and then the West Wing. Lunch today was as I expected. Chicken or Pasta. I think it was teriaki chicken - but wasn't too sure as they ran out by the time they got me. I had the grilled veggie pasta - which I've had before and it isn't all that bad. The problem is that I was hungry 10 min after I ate! The pasta was joined on the tray with a roll, salad and almond rocca. More drinks and then they stopped in the middle of the west wing and started the Greek Wedding. That movie (still in theatres actually) is a great flick! No wonder it was this summers suprise hit! Once that finished coffe, water and tea were served and they resumed the West Wing. They even rewound it a bit so we could have a quick review. We touched down twice on 8L (you gotta love the thermals and gusts from the channel) and made our way to gate 13 for an arrival on the hour at 3pm - 20 min early.
I'm in Hawaii and am doing nothing but eating and enjoying my time off. I ate my way around my HNL yesterday having no less than 4 meals between 6am when I got up at 4pm when I got home. I and everyone who know me don't know where I manage to put the food I consume!! I wonder if I have a tape worm?
A typical Nw journey - ontime, clean, with my bags and friendly. Very predictable and consistant... just the way it should be. Although some menu variation might be nice!! Although I guess there aren't a huge amount of very regular HNL fliers - except for those crazy commuters!!
For the return on Monday it could be a UA/DL/CO mix with NW. We'll see who is the most empty. Though I just learned from the DL website that there is no more HNL-SFO service... is this true?
AZJ
Good lord, you get a little rain in Memphis and the already notoriously dangerous and traffic ridden roads become an even larger war zone. Of course, leaving my place 40 min late after not wanting out of my comfy bed (which I hadn't slept in since 6 nights before) wouldn't have had anything to do with it would it? =) So I get to the security checkpoint at 825am for the 910am departure only to see the crew/elite line closed...URGH! I wish I could bypass ecurity - but I can't do that this morning as I am not working - but I am in uniform. Anyway here's the meat and potatoes of the journey...
Sept 19. NW551 MEM-LAX A320 seat 25F. Ship #3271 - 910am - 1113am ontime. Arrived at gate B42 and presented myself for the jumpseat. Went down to say hi to the crew and to store my things. The captain and I met in the jetway as he was on his way up to the gate for some reason... he took my paperwork to the agent. Upon his arrival back at the plan he told me I was a lucky selectee... fun. So, I go an be the first person searched and it was relatively painless. I had lots of strange and sympathetic looks from passengers as they probably thought it was odd they were giving a uniformed pilot the friendly search. Funny, the Fedex jumpseater didn't have the privlege of the extra security... and he isn't even in our dysfunctional red tailed family!! Maybe that's why... Anyhow, boarded this new 320 and went to my seat. There was an older man on the aisle and the seat bewtween us was empty. Pushed ontime and joined the lineup for 18C. 18R/36L os scheduled to reopen on Monday and for the last week there has been 1 arrival and 1 departure rwy in MEM which really screws things up!! Airborne at 945am and made our way west. Flying time was 3:18 and for the first hour it was what I would classify as light to moderate turbluence. However the crew managed to pull off an efficient and friendly breakfast service. The consistancy and predictability of NW proved itself again when I was handed a plastic basket of a very tasty warm bagel and philly cream cheese, a banana and a bowl of Raisin Wheaties. I washed it down with real minute maid oj. I entertained myself with the always negative and biased USA Today and the latest issue of Mens Health. Water was served periodically as well as coffee. Flew just to the south of the famous Meteor crater near Winslow, AZ where I have actually indeed stood on a corner, and let me tell you it was not a fine site to see. But the crater was from cruise altitude!! We got a little history lesson from the flight deck as we cruised by. Sedona, Flagstaff and then my old stomping ground of Prescott, AZ passed by. Shortly after Lake Havasu and its out of control growth slipped by and then Palm Springs and finally the LA area came into view. We touched down nicely on 24R and made our way to gate 24A for deplaning. We were 5 min early. Terminal 2 was in its typical state of madehouseness with throngs of people waiting for NW, AC, HA and Aviateca flights. There is usually a line for the womens room, but this time there was one for the mens room - both urinals and stalls were in high demand this late morning... Made my way to the gate for the HNL flight after the movie theatre/sporting even bathroom experience.
NW935 LAX-HNL DC10-30 ship 1238. 1245pm-320pm - ontime. Seat 37C. Introduced myself to who I thought was the captain, but turned out to be the Director of Flying... uh, er, uh, that's like meeting the casting director for the movie you really really want to star in!!!!! He signed my jumpseat form and just hungout in the gate area. Got my boarding pass and boarded the a/c without extra cavity searches. Said hello to the crew and thanked them for the ride. Made my way to the back of the bus and sat in 37C. The scond to the last row of the plane. There was a Chinese tour group onboard - and they decided to sit where they pleased - so after a bit of musical chairs - everyone was where they were supposed to be and I lucked out with having 37D empty. it turned out there was a Hawaiian Airlines jumpseater who got 37G and 37F was also empty. So, we both lucked out with the only 2 empty seats on the entire plane right between us. Pushed ontime and were soon lumbering down 24L. 5:18 was the enroute time. Shortly after t/o the Purser announced that the Crockidile Hunter tape was damaged and theat they would be screening My Big Fat Greek Wedding instead. Personally, I think the crew was embarassed by the fact that that awful attempt at a movie was scheduled to be screened and decided to show a real movie instead. Drink service with peanuts started as well as "Currents." This time it was a Jazz special, behind the scenes with Uncle Cracker and other Detroit musicians and then the West Wing. Lunch today was as I expected. Chicken or Pasta. I think it was teriaki chicken - but wasn't too sure as they ran out by the time they got me. I had the grilled veggie pasta - which I've had before and it isn't all that bad. The problem is that I was hungry 10 min after I ate! The pasta was joined on the tray with a roll, salad and almond rocca. More drinks and then they stopped in the middle of the west wing and started the Greek Wedding. That movie (still in theatres actually) is a great flick! No wonder it was this summers suprise hit! Once that finished coffe, water and tea were served and they resumed the West Wing. They even rewound it a bit so we could have a quick review. We touched down twice on 8L (you gotta love the thermals and gusts from the channel) and made our way to gate 13 for an arrival on the hour at 3pm - 20 min early.
I'm in Hawaii and am doing nothing but eating and enjoying my time off. I ate my way around my HNL yesterday having no less than 4 meals between 6am when I got up at 4pm when I got home. I and everyone who know me don't know where I manage to put the food I consume!! I wonder if I have a tape worm?
A typical Nw journey - ontime, clean, with my bags and friendly. Very predictable and consistant... just the way it should be. Although some menu variation might be nice!! Although I guess there aren't a huge amount of very regular HNL fliers - except for those crazy commuters!!
For the return on Monday it could be a UA/DL/CO mix with NW. We'll see who is the most empty. Though I just learned from the DL website that there is no more HNL-SFO service... is this true?
AZJ
Sep 21, 2002 | 6:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 466
Excellent Report!! A few things. Are you entitled to an F seat on NW when you are traveling and in uniform? Were the seats up front filled and thats why you were in the back? Secondly, I am going back to Hawaii in March, can't wait. The Delta HNL-SFO service was not cancelled as of last week. I was looking into flying HNL-SFO on DL for my trip to Hawaii and it seemed like it was not cancelled as of last week. Have a safe trip back.
[This message has been edited by I LOVE EWR (edited 09-21-2002).]
[This message has been edited by I LOVE EWR (edited 09-21-2002).]
Sep 22, 2002 | 11:45 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,613
Nope, I am not entitled to a F seat. I'm not really entitled to much actually... I travel in uniform for the headaches that it cures while traveling. Jumpseating is a privledge that I have as an airline pilot. It is free travel and we get the very last priority. I have sat in FC as a jumpseater many times but that is only after I was accommodated onboard after every passenger had a seat. Then, it is at the descretion of the crew - usually the lead FA. While I would have enjoyed the front cabin, beggars can't be choosers eh?
About the DL flight to SFO - the reason I ask is because on their website - it keeps saying there is no such flight. Hmmm...
AZJ
About the DL flight to SFO - the reason I ask is because on their website - it keeps saying there is no such flight. Hmmm...
AZJ
Sep 22, 2002 | 7:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 466
You are right beggars can't be chosers. You are very lucky that you can can travel on such a great airline for free. I wish I can do that. By the way how is Mesaba doing and the furloughs you were talking about? Are you going to the Saab?
PS-About the Delta flights I looked today and could not find them as well. Interesting, glad I did not book SFO-HNL.
PS-About the Delta flights I looked today and could not find them as well. Interesting, glad I did not book SFO-HNL.
Sep 22, 2002 | 8:20 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,613
936 has over 100 seats available so I might just try that one and just leave a little earlier. It is a great benefit that I have, but it isn't just on NW either... it's on virtually every US carrier!! Only I can only sit on the flightdeck of a Mesaba, Pinnacle and NW a/c.
As for the furloughs... I'm being spared, thankfully. They announced 45 furloughs in 3 batches starting Oct 1, Jan 1 and Feb 1. As NW continues to replace our saabs with CRJs Mesaba is returning the saabs faster than originally planned. Friday came more layoff announcements for the mechanics and the cancelation of all open positions in the maint. dept.
What's funny is that we'll post a profit again for this quarter.... go figure.
AZJ
As for the furloughs... I'm being spared, thankfully. They announced 45 furloughs in 3 batches starting Oct 1, Jan 1 and Feb 1. As NW continues to replace our saabs with CRJs Mesaba is returning the saabs faster than originally planned. Friday came more layoff announcements for the mechanics and the cancelation of all open positions in the maint. dept.
What's funny is that we'll post a profit again for this quarter.... go figure.
AZJ