BUF-DTW-LAX in NW First (Dinner flight)
Aug 31, 2003 | 5:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: SQ, LH, AMEX, Citi, Cap1
Posts: 4,113
BUF-DTW-LAX in NW First (Dinner flight)
Fare: $192 RT, gold elite upgrade
I typically fly out of SYR; however, I hesitated on buying a ticket from SYR for $220. So, when I decided to buy, fares to LAX from SYR were around $350-$400! The next best choice? BUF! (BTW, this was still cheaper than JetBlue.)
Because there were no reasonable-priced rental cars for ITH-BUF and I couldn't bum a ride, I took my normal mode of transportation to SYR (shuttle between Ithaca and SYR) and rented a car one-way to BUF. BTW, I woke up at 6a. Quite a nice rental car though and fun to drive at 80-85 mph.
8/8 BUF-DTW Departed 1p?
Quite pissed that checked baggage screening was 100% behind-the-scenes with the "we'll break into your bag behind your bag if we wish because we're a government agency attitude and refuse to page you". The NW agent was quite cool. He gave me some advice on where to go to lunch (other than BUF).
I was quite an idiot wrt returning the rental car. I called for directions to Hertz, which was right across from the airport. Then, the agent there asked me how I'm leaving the office. I told him that I'm flying out from BUF and will use the Hertz shuttle. The only problem: There is no shuttle to the airport! He said that I should have dropped the car off at the airport location -- inside the BUF parking deck! The agent drove me there. Quite nice of him!
Flight: Routine, boring, but a short flight. No more spinzels! Snack basket consisted of sweet, roasted almonds (yum) and some snack mix (yum too).
8/8 DTW-LAX Departed 7p?
It's nice connecting in DTW now with the new terminal! Didn't have a chance to stop off at the club because this flight was potentially overbooked. Turned not to be. No vouchers for me.
The F/A was awesome! I couldn't believe how great service in F when there was just 1 FA for this cabin! She combed the aisles in a calm, professional manner regularly during meal service and never looked rushed at all! (Bet it was a madhouse preparing stuff in the galley though!)
After a few domestic trans-cons, I realized that NW's F food is quite good, although there's no linens, no hot towel service, and everything is on one tray.
There's a salad, a cheesecake for dessert, and an appetizer consisting of greens and roast beef? with some great sauce. Good quality stuff! Main entrees were chicken with rice and ham? pasta with alfredo sauce.
The F/A gave you the entree directly from the cart after you told her your preference.
The pasta was okay. The problem with this arrangement is that the sauce dried up on the top of the pasta. So, you really can't mix the sauce around. I overheard the F/A saying that they stopped serving the lasagnas because F/As kept burning them or underwarming them.
Service: A+
Food quality: A-
I spent the rest of the flight reading a bunch of magazines and annoying the F/A for water repeatedly. I ran the Huntington Beach 10 mile race the next day. Needed to stay hydrated! My handcarry was full of junk, so I couldn't fit my water bottles. (Yes, with an "s".) The F/A was also quite helpful with things about LA. She warned me about the 405 freeway and how bad traffic in LA was in general.
A wonderful flight!
I typically fly out of SYR; however, I hesitated on buying a ticket from SYR for $220. So, when I decided to buy, fares to LAX from SYR were around $350-$400! The next best choice? BUF! (BTW, this was still cheaper than JetBlue.)
Because there were no reasonable-priced rental cars for ITH-BUF and I couldn't bum a ride, I took my normal mode of transportation to SYR (shuttle between Ithaca and SYR) and rented a car one-way to BUF. BTW, I woke up at 6a. Quite a nice rental car though and fun to drive at 80-85 mph.
8/8 BUF-DTW Departed 1p?
Quite pissed that checked baggage screening was 100% behind-the-scenes with the "we'll break into your bag behind your bag if we wish because we're a government agency attitude and refuse to page you". The NW agent was quite cool. He gave me some advice on where to go to lunch (other than BUF).
I was quite an idiot wrt returning the rental car. I called for directions to Hertz, which was right across from the airport. Then, the agent there asked me how I'm leaving the office. I told him that I'm flying out from BUF and will use the Hertz shuttle. The only problem: There is no shuttle to the airport! He said that I should have dropped the car off at the airport location -- inside the BUF parking deck! The agent drove me there. Quite nice of him!
Flight: Routine, boring, but a short flight. No more spinzels! Snack basket consisted of sweet, roasted almonds (yum) and some snack mix (yum too).
8/8 DTW-LAX Departed 7p?
It's nice connecting in DTW now with the new terminal! Didn't have a chance to stop off at the club because this flight was potentially overbooked. Turned not to be. No vouchers for me.
The F/A was awesome! I couldn't believe how great service in F when there was just 1 FA for this cabin! She combed the aisles in a calm, professional manner regularly during meal service and never looked rushed at all! (Bet it was a madhouse preparing stuff in the galley though!)
After a few domestic trans-cons, I realized that NW's F food is quite good, although there's no linens, no hot towel service, and everything is on one tray.
There's a salad, a cheesecake for dessert, and an appetizer consisting of greens and roast beef? with some great sauce. Good quality stuff! Main entrees were chicken with rice and ham? pasta with alfredo sauce.
The F/A gave you the entree directly from the cart after you told her your preference.
The pasta was okay. The problem with this arrangement is that the sauce dried up on the top of the pasta. So, you really can't mix the sauce around. I overheard the F/A saying that they stopped serving the lasagnas because F/As kept burning them or underwarming them.
Service: A+
Food quality: A-
I spent the rest of the flight reading a bunch of magazines and annoying the F/A for water repeatedly. I ran the Huntington Beach 10 mile race the next day. Needed to stay hydrated! My handcarry was full of junk, so I couldn't fit my water bottles. (Yes, with an "s".) The F/A was also quite helpful with things about LA. She warned me about the 405 freeway and how bad traffic in LA was in general.
A wonderful flight!
