First trip report on FT -- Thought I would try it
May 12, 2003 | 11:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA GS, AA PLT, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,448
First trip report on FT -- Thought I would try it
Ok here is my first trip report for FlyerTalk. Of course please feel free to provide me pointers on what you like, don’t like or would like me to add.
Basically this trip was a surprise Mother’s Day trip home to visit my folks in NOVA. I booked the flight on NW out on 9 May, return on 11 May in the evening. Flights were NW 1542 MSP—IAD on an A319, return NW 1263 IAD—MSP on a DC9-30. This trip could be a description of how two flights on the same airline can have two totally different experiences.
8 May 2003, I go online and check in for my flight. Have to love nwa.com, for the ability to check in the night before, select your seat and get your boarding pass. (plus the bonus Milapolooza points don’t hurt either.) Anyway check in was a breeze, pulled up the itternary and saw that my E-upgrade had cleared, and I was assigned seat 1C. So I assumed the flight was full, since my profile says window seat not bulkhead. (however, without fail I end up with 1B or 1C) So I pull up the seat map, and see that seat 4A is open and 4B is not taken. Better yet there are only 5 people in FC for this flight. So I grab 4A and print my boarding pass, put in my bag and forget about it.
9 May 2003 – Leave work at about 4:30 and head to the airport. Get to the parking ramp and park on my usual level, 4 Blue. Find a spot, tough though. Maybe I should start using level 6. Grab my bags and head to the elevators. Head down to the skyway checkpoint. (Have to love this checkpoint because there is almost no lines here, except on Thursdays when I think the whole world finds out about this checkpoint and makes sure to use it. Anyway, start the routine, computer out, shoes off, bags on table, BP to the rent a cop, then to TSA agent #1. However, encountered something new, a second TSA agent wanted to see the BP and ID prior to releasing my bags to me. I thought this was odd, but as I had to meet some people in the WorldClub, I didn’t ask more. Kim the checkpoint supervisor came over as I was putting my bags back together and asked how I was, and where I was off to. Told her, and she said that was really a nice thing to do for my mom. The really nice thing is that Kim takes the time to know who uses the checkpoint regularly and makes a point to say Hi to us. Nice touch that I never saw when Globe ran the checkpoint. Now off to the worldclub.
There had been tons of weather delays on Friday, and they had the snake line to get into the club, even though the line was empty. Well found a seat, grabbed a beer, and met my friends who were traveling that day too. Around 5:45 headed to the gate, and boarded the plane. It was one of the newer 319’s, didn’t get the reg, but smelled new. Found my seat and stored my bag. The FA came through and took drink orders while the plane was boarding. Got my beer, James Page as usual, and worked on the TMS crossword puzzle. About 10 minutes after I boarded, this lady comes on board and sits in seat 4B. So I said Hi, and then went back to my puzzle. Anyway after a while she is asleep in her seat and drooling. It was at this point I wondered why NW would put two pax in the same row, same side when the other side was completely empty. About that time the FA came over and informed us that if we wanted to we could move to the other side. I took this offer and moved from my seat in 4A to 4D. This was probably the smartest thing I did. About that time the kids in 5A and 5B start asking all of these questions to their mom.
The kids asked all sorts of questions about why the first class people got more room, why did they only have two seats. Of course this was all at a level that the captain could here it in the cockpit with the door shut and engines at full throttle. I think the ramp agents could hear it too. It was that loud. Eventually, we pushed back from the gate and were on our way to DC.
Once airborne the FA came through and offered us drinks. I took my standard James Page, the almonds (no limit), and pulled out my laptop. I was going to do some work, but as it was Friday and the kids behind the curtain were still asking all sorts of questions, and being quite loud, I decided to pull out the BOSE headset and pop in a DVD. (turned on the noise canceling to high, and the kids disappeared into my Men with Brooms DVD) About 20 minutes later dinner was served, for once I had a choice of meals when sitting in the back. The choice was chicken or the pasta with sausage. I took the pasta. Along with the pasta was a fruit and lettuce salad with rosemary vinaigrette dressing, and the desert was the key lime pie with the little lime candy in the whipped cream. (probably my favourite NW desert). Once dinner was finished, the trays were picked up neatly and timely. And then it was back to the movie.
The landing was a little hard on 1L. I am not sure the captain had been to IAD before, he came in hot, and really had to put the breaks on to make the high speed turn off by the FedEx terminal. Taxied and pulled into B19. Off load and off to meet the parents. All in all a good flight.
Return flight was NW 1263 on 11 May 2003 at 605 pm. Arrived at the airport at around 4:30pm BP in hand from online checkin. Had to navigate through the crowds of people waiting to check-in at the various counters. Tried numerous times to cross the lines to get to the other side, and the people wouldn’t let you through. One person had the nerve to tell me to get to the end of the line and quit trying to cut. Yeah, I am really trying to cut the line when I have my rollaboard and a BP already. Give me a break. Eventually I found space near the ANA counter, that I could get over to the security areas. Took one look at the D gate line and said I wasn’t going use that one. So I went to the elite/employee area line, and found the two lines. One was as bad as the one at D and the other had next to no one in it, about 20 people all experienced with the procedures. So I went in that line. Waited about 4 minutes to clear the security. The TSA agents actually said they liked this line, as they almost never have anyone mess it up too bad. I even pulled out my two liter of beer that I was bringing back to MN. They said they might have to confiscate and test it personally. Once through onto the mobile lounge to the A concourse. (the lounge to A is always quicker than the one to B, or at least it seems that way.)
Once at the midfield I went straight to the WC. Forgot my card, but the AMEX worked as well. The club was crowded with the AMS flight and the Swiss flights both in there. No cookies, I was bummed, but they did have cheese and crackers. Found a place to sit and reviewed my work. Thought about taking the earlier flight the MSP, it was late, but still boarding when I got there, but thought better of it, as I had a F class, paid seat. The earlier flight left and then about 30 minutes later our flight arrived. Much to my surprise it was in the new livery, N927RC, old republic aircraft. Actually like the new colors, except for the logo, but I guess it will grow on me.
About 540 I go out to the gate area, and realize this flight is majorly packed. The gate agent gets on and announces that there will be no preboarding, except for first class, and that you get one carry on and that is it. He also gives a lecture about putting your personally item under the seat and not in the overhead bin. For once an agent tells the masses how to store their luggage. Boarding starts and the first class cabin boards. I take my seat, 3D, and stow my baggage. The rest of the flight boards, and despite having a school group, it is all orderly, no one is searching for places to put luggage, and no gate check of luggage. I am in shock. During the boarding the lead FA comes through and offers us water. Which is fine with me seeing that the flight is full with 102 passengers.
We push back from the gate, 5 minutes early. Safety announcement then taxi to the 19R. we give way to a UA 777 off to London, and get in the line to take off. Then we wait, and wait, 30 minutes later we are number 1 for take off and get ready to roll. Take off roll is longer than normal and we are airborne with about 5000 feet left on the runway. Slow and deliberate climb. Turn right and head towards leesburg. Look out the window and see the airport and the Austrian A330 start its takeoff roll. About that time an ACA J41 flies under us about 1500 feet below.
Soon drinks and snacks are offered. I get my James Page again and this time the spizzels. Almonds were unlimited, except I didn’t want them. Dinner was soon served. The choice this evening was the ubiquitous Chicken or Beef. I went with the chicken. It reminded me of the Holiday chicken menu, except without the sweet potato. Salad was a nice greens salad with a sun dried tomato and parmesan peppercorn dressing, desert was the chocolate cake. The meal was good. Now during the meal service, a pax from coach comes up and just hands the FA, his BK trash. She takes it and looks disgusted, and makes a crack like, can’t he see we are working here.
During the rest of the flight the FA is attentive and makes sure my beer doesn’t run dry. She gets major kudos from me for that one. Later in the flight the First class lav becomes the hot point for people in coach to come and use. After one person went in, and didn’t even shut the door the FA made an announcement reminding the pax that the forward lav is for our first class pax and the economy lav’s are in the rear, and please use the lav in your assigned cabin. (I almost wanted to clap as did several others) She came through an apologized for what had happened, which I thought was a nice touch.
Soon it was time to land. We landed on 30L and headed for C8. Saw 4 new livery aircraft on the ground. A 319, a 320, a 753 and a DC9 all looking quite sharp. Pulled into the gate, and off to home for the week of work. Next weekend off to MIA.
MSY-MSP
Basically this trip was a surprise Mother’s Day trip home to visit my folks in NOVA. I booked the flight on NW out on 9 May, return on 11 May in the evening. Flights were NW 1542 MSP—IAD on an A319, return NW 1263 IAD—MSP on a DC9-30. This trip could be a description of how two flights on the same airline can have two totally different experiences.
8 May 2003, I go online and check in for my flight. Have to love nwa.com, for the ability to check in the night before, select your seat and get your boarding pass. (plus the bonus Milapolooza points don’t hurt either.) Anyway check in was a breeze, pulled up the itternary and saw that my E-upgrade had cleared, and I was assigned seat 1C. So I assumed the flight was full, since my profile says window seat not bulkhead. (however, without fail I end up with 1B or 1C) So I pull up the seat map, and see that seat 4A is open and 4B is not taken. Better yet there are only 5 people in FC for this flight. So I grab 4A and print my boarding pass, put in my bag and forget about it.
9 May 2003 – Leave work at about 4:30 and head to the airport. Get to the parking ramp and park on my usual level, 4 Blue. Find a spot, tough though. Maybe I should start using level 6. Grab my bags and head to the elevators. Head down to the skyway checkpoint. (Have to love this checkpoint because there is almost no lines here, except on Thursdays when I think the whole world finds out about this checkpoint and makes sure to use it. Anyway, start the routine, computer out, shoes off, bags on table, BP to the rent a cop, then to TSA agent #1. However, encountered something new, a second TSA agent wanted to see the BP and ID prior to releasing my bags to me. I thought this was odd, but as I had to meet some people in the WorldClub, I didn’t ask more. Kim the checkpoint supervisor came over as I was putting my bags back together and asked how I was, and where I was off to. Told her, and she said that was really a nice thing to do for my mom. The really nice thing is that Kim takes the time to know who uses the checkpoint regularly and makes a point to say Hi to us. Nice touch that I never saw when Globe ran the checkpoint. Now off to the worldclub.
There had been tons of weather delays on Friday, and they had the snake line to get into the club, even though the line was empty. Well found a seat, grabbed a beer, and met my friends who were traveling that day too. Around 5:45 headed to the gate, and boarded the plane. It was one of the newer 319’s, didn’t get the reg, but smelled new. Found my seat and stored my bag. The FA came through and took drink orders while the plane was boarding. Got my beer, James Page as usual, and worked on the TMS crossword puzzle. About 10 minutes after I boarded, this lady comes on board and sits in seat 4B. So I said Hi, and then went back to my puzzle. Anyway after a while she is asleep in her seat and drooling. It was at this point I wondered why NW would put two pax in the same row, same side when the other side was completely empty. About that time the FA came over and informed us that if we wanted to we could move to the other side. I took this offer and moved from my seat in 4A to 4D. This was probably the smartest thing I did. About that time the kids in 5A and 5B start asking all of these questions to their mom.
The kids asked all sorts of questions about why the first class people got more room, why did they only have two seats. Of course this was all at a level that the captain could here it in the cockpit with the door shut and engines at full throttle. I think the ramp agents could hear it too. It was that loud. Eventually, we pushed back from the gate and were on our way to DC.
Once airborne the FA came through and offered us drinks. I took my standard James Page, the almonds (no limit), and pulled out my laptop. I was going to do some work, but as it was Friday and the kids behind the curtain were still asking all sorts of questions, and being quite loud, I decided to pull out the BOSE headset and pop in a DVD. (turned on the noise canceling to high, and the kids disappeared into my Men with Brooms DVD) About 20 minutes later dinner was served, for once I had a choice of meals when sitting in the back. The choice was chicken or the pasta with sausage. I took the pasta. Along with the pasta was a fruit and lettuce salad with rosemary vinaigrette dressing, and the desert was the key lime pie with the little lime candy in the whipped cream. (probably my favourite NW desert). Once dinner was finished, the trays were picked up neatly and timely. And then it was back to the movie.
The landing was a little hard on 1L. I am not sure the captain had been to IAD before, he came in hot, and really had to put the breaks on to make the high speed turn off by the FedEx terminal. Taxied and pulled into B19. Off load and off to meet the parents. All in all a good flight.
Return flight was NW 1263 on 11 May 2003 at 605 pm. Arrived at the airport at around 4:30pm BP in hand from online checkin. Had to navigate through the crowds of people waiting to check-in at the various counters. Tried numerous times to cross the lines to get to the other side, and the people wouldn’t let you through. One person had the nerve to tell me to get to the end of the line and quit trying to cut. Yeah, I am really trying to cut the line when I have my rollaboard and a BP already. Give me a break. Eventually I found space near the ANA counter, that I could get over to the security areas. Took one look at the D gate line and said I wasn’t going use that one. So I went to the elite/employee area line, and found the two lines. One was as bad as the one at D and the other had next to no one in it, about 20 people all experienced with the procedures. So I went in that line. Waited about 4 minutes to clear the security. The TSA agents actually said they liked this line, as they almost never have anyone mess it up too bad. I even pulled out my two liter of beer that I was bringing back to MN. They said they might have to confiscate and test it personally. Once through onto the mobile lounge to the A concourse. (the lounge to A is always quicker than the one to B, or at least it seems that way.)
Once at the midfield I went straight to the WC. Forgot my card, but the AMEX worked as well. The club was crowded with the AMS flight and the Swiss flights both in there. No cookies, I was bummed, but they did have cheese and crackers. Found a place to sit and reviewed my work. Thought about taking the earlier flight the MSP, it was late, but still boarding when I got there, but thought better of it, as I had a F class, paid seat. The earlier flight left and then about 30 minutes later our flight arrived. Much to my surprise it was in the new livery, N927RC, old republic aircraft. Actually like the new colors, except for the logo, but I guess it will grow on me.
About 540 I go out to the gate area, and realize this flight is majorly packed. The gate agent gets on and announces that there will be no preboarding, except for first class, and that you get one carry on and that is it. He also gives a lecture about putting your personally item under the seat and not in the overhead bin. For once an agent tells the masses how to store their luggage. Boarding starts and the first class cabin boards. I take my seat, 3D, and stow my baggage. The rest of the flight boards, and despite having a school group, it is all orderly, no one is searching for places to put luggage, and no gate check of luggage. I am in shock. During the boarding the lead FA comes through and offers us water. Which is fine with me seeing that the flight is full with 102 passengers.
We push back from the gate, 5 minutes early. Safety announcement then taxi to the 19R. we give way to a UA 777 off to London, and get in the line to take off. Then we wait, and wait, 30 minutes later we are number 1 for take off and get ready to roll. Take off roll is longer than normal and we are airborne with about 5000 feet left on the runway. Slow and deliberate climb. Turn right and head towards leesburg. Look out the window and see the airport and the Austrian A330 start its takeoff roll. About that time an ACA J41 flies under us about 1500 feet below.
Soon drinks and snacks are offered. I get my James Page again and this time the spizzels. Almonds were unlimited, except I didn’t want them. Dinner was soon served. The choice this evening was the ubiquitous Chicken or Beef. I went with the chicken. It reminded me of the Holiday chicken menu, except without the sweet potato. Salad was a nice greens salad with a sun dried tomato and parmesan peppercorn dressing, desert was the chocolate cake. The meal was good. Now during the meal service, a pax from coach comes up and just hands the FA, his BK trash. She takes it and looks disgusted, and makes a crack like, can’t he see we are working here.
During the rest of the flight the FA is attentive and makes sure my beer doesn’t run dry. She gets major kudos from me for that one. Later in the flight the First class lav becomes the hot point for people in coach to come and use. After one person went in, and didn’t even shut the door the FA made an announcement reminding the pax that the forward lav is for our first class pax and the economy lav’s are in the rear, and please use the lav in your assigned cabin. (I almost wanted to clap as did several others) She came through an apologized for what had happened, which I thought was a nice touch.
Soon it was time to land. We landed on 30L and headed for C8. Saw 4 new livery aircraft on the ground. A 319, a 320, a 753 and a DC9 all looking quite sharp. Pulled into the gate, and off to home for the week of work. Next weekend off to MIA.
MSY-MSP
May 13, 2003 | 12:18 pm
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Great first report!!!
I found the kids' questions about first class quite amusing.
I remember sitting in C on United and a father and son walked by. The father said "if you do your homework you can sit up here one day." To which the kid replied in a whiny voice "Okkkaaaaaaaay, I'll do it this afternoooooooon."
------------------
"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack
I found the kids' questions about first class quite amusing.
I remember sitting in C on United and a father and son walked by. The father said "if you do your homework you can sit up here one day." To which the kid replied in a whiny voice "Okkkaaaaaaaay, I'll do it this afternoooooooon."
------------------
"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack
May 13, 2003 | 2:51 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: DEN / OGG
Programs: Former UA GS, demoted to lowly 1K MM
Posts: 739
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MSY-MSP:
About that time the kids in 5A and 5B start asking all of these questions to their mom.
The kids asked all sorts of questions about why the first class people got more room</font>
About that time the kids in 5A and 5B start asking all of these questions to their mom.
The kids asked all sorts of questions about why the first class people got more room</font>
May 13, 2003 | 11:27 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA
Programs: Alaska MVP, Marriott Lifetime Titanium (United Silver), Hilton Gold
Posts: 787
Great report MSY-MSP, welcome to FlyerTalk. I don't have any complaints with such a fine piece of literature as the report you have submitted but in the future you may want to talk a bit more about interior schemes, overall service and food quality (read a report by Seat 2A for an example of this) as these qualities tend to vary the most from airline to airline (everyone goes to the airport, checks in, boards the plane, etc.) Keep the reports comming!