Introduction
Seattle to San Jose
San Jose
San Jose to Narita
Narita to Hong Kong
Hong Kong Part 1
Hong Kong Part 2
Hong Kong Part 3
Hong Kong to Narita
Narita to Seattle
Conclusion
Friday 31st May 2013
I made sure that I was finishing work early today as the last available flight down to San Jose they could get me on was only an hour after I normally finish work. So considering the traffic that is normally on route between Bellevue and the Airport on a friday afternoon, there was no possible way to even remotely make that flight on a normal shift. So I had to start early and finish early, and my friends know just how much I detest early starts (even though I am a runner and always up to run at 530 in the morning).
After finishing a full day at work, I strolled through the afternoon sunshine up to the truck and headed off south through the back streets (the alternative route worked last time) and made a quick pit stop at Target on the way to pick up a few last minute items. I made it to the airport even with the stop in REALLY good time and managed to park the truck at Wallypark within an hour of leaving. Pretty good timing considering. Then I got the delayed flight warning. Damn
It always seems to be the way that I get these AFTER I leave work, I could of easily spent an extra half an hour at work finalising a few things, or getting an extra 30 minutes of sleep in the morning, as I would not of had to start so early. First world problems for sure! So after heading over to the airport on the shuttle (and while on the shuttle I had to school the driver in just where the airlines actually depart from since United had moved in the last week or so).
As I strolled into the Airport lugging my camera bag and backpack with suitcase in tow, I had no qualms about my flight today. Today I was flying a new airline, one that I had been wanting to try for quite some time. I was flying Southwest. The flights were organised by the promotions company that were handling the ANA Ambassador program and since I chose to fly down the night before the ANA flight (just so that there was no possible way I could miss the flight). It was either fly Southwest on them, or pay a difference to fly Alaska. Considering the cost to fly Alaska was so expensive I passed and decided it would be a good way to experience the airline for the first time, and hell, it would mean more content for AirlineReporter.
Check in was pleasant but no mention of the delay, even the boarding pass didn’t mention anything. Not a good start! I did get a boarding pass wallet which was nice, considering even the full service airlines don’t give these out. I had checked in via the app spot on 24 hours prior to departure to make sure that I could get an A series boarding pass. Why did I need an A series? Well there is no seating allocation with Southwest so you get to choose where you want to sit. Awesome… if you can get on first.
Then there was the next dreaded part of any airport experience. Security. Normally I wouldn’t care as i can usually sneak on through the premium lane as I am usually flying Virgin or Delta or United and thanks to my elite status I can get away with it. But sadly not this time. What confronted me was absolute death. So many people, swarms and swarms at every check point. So I did something I did not think would work. I found what looked like the dumbest looking TSA agent at the ID check, and pulled out my Aegean Gold Card. I talked my way through the premium lane! It worked to as even though it still took 20 minutes to get through security, it was better than what was a solid 30-45 minutes in the normal lanes. PASS!
Eventually I made it through security (without a nude o scope to) and was spat out at the food court (having cleared security at the central checkpoint). This made things all the more confusing for me. What was I to do during the next several hours since I had so much time to wait as the delay just kept growing (was at almost 45 minutes by the time I got through security). I figured I would find something resembling a desk top and get some work done. So I walked my way out to the B gates, tried to find a spot and in the end chose a bench inside the starbucks.
After a solid hour of work, catching up on life and tweeting/conversing with friends on the net, I figured if I didn’t work out some food options soon I may not be eating tonight. I figured I should eat on the flight as by the time I got to the hotel it would be approaching 930 to 10pm and that would just be way to late really. So I went to my usual haunts in the terminal and picked up some supplies. Detouring back via starbucks to pick up an iced coffee and some water and then plonked myself down in some comfy seats by the gate.
The inbound aircraft arrived and people started to mill about. You could see the seasoned Southwest fliers getting themselves ready for the flights by getting close to the lines that you had to form. This was one airline that actually REQUIRED you to line up, cause if you didn’t you weren’t really getting onboard. You had to line up in your line number. So I was right at the end of the A Group but hey, an A pass is better than nothing right?
Southwest Airlines – WN2513
Seattle Tacoma to San Jose
1825-2025
Boeing 737-300 (N394SW)
Economy Class – Seat 4A
Boarding: 1845 (Gate B14)
Push Back: 1908
Take Off Roll: 1917 (Runway 34R)
Top of Descent: 2037
Touch Down: 2101 (Runway 30R)
Shut Down: 2105 (Gate 17)
Boarding was called for the first part of the A Group (1-15) then as the A Listers (the first 15 people are essentially the elite fliers for southwest) finished boarding they loaded the next 15 and then the rest of the A Group after that. It meant a bit of a wait as people scurried about onboard getting themselves situated.
I had one real thought process in mind for this flight. Get on, find the first open window seat as close as I can to the front and sit the hell down before anyone else did. I saw 4A untouched but there was someone in the aisle seat. Most people were just continuing on towards the back. Hell No, I was not giving up that seat. So I stopped, threw my bag in the overhead (more like jammed actually since these were the old “Classic” bins) and took the seat.
As the aircraft filled I was tweeting away (as part of the ANA ambassador program, along with some AirlineReporter stuff) and before I knew it, the door was shut. The aircraft had filled up and it was a shock to me as I hadn’t really noticed the person in the middle seat till he started playing king of the armrest and just kept sticking me in the ribs… bastard.
We pushed back and as we turned to start to taxi the Southwest pilots decided they would try and make up some time on the ground alone as they sped their way to the active runway. We were taking off to the North and it was a clear day, since I was sitting on my usual A side, there was going to be some spectacular shots of Mt Ranier as we headed south. We didn’t even stop at the runway threshold, so it was obvious these pilots were definately lead foots, we had barely completed the turn to 32R before we were throttling up for a full power climb out.
The old classic sure are noisy and rattly as we climbed out over west seattle and turned left, which was wierd considering that would of put us across all the other runways as normally the R series would get you a right turn and then south from there. But we turned left, crossing West Seattle and the Islands around there as we had a long slow left turn, before tracking south over Oregon. The most amazing light was shining on my side and I snapped away during most of the climb out.
Eventually the drink service started as they took drink orders, then handed out the famous Southwest Peanuts before distributing the drinks using tray service. I know that tray service is pretty rare these days so it was very wierd to see as I had been expecting a trolly for speed, but I guess that is not how Southwest does things. I had my one and only cup of soda with my salad and bagel that I had picked up in the Airport and just sat back to eat, look out the window or read my book.
As we began a slow subtle descent towards San Jose the sun was setting, and the most amazing light was shining on my side, setting off the Southwest winglets so well. I couldn’t believe how good it was, I was just absolutely amazed by it. The light was so beautiful and stunning that I was just glued to the window through the actual descent. As the sun went down the lights went on in the cities below. I had been told the A side was a good way to see the arrivals into San Jose as that would give a beautiful view of San Francisco at night.
That tip was spot on as the city was lit up below, we tracked straight over the city, past the Golden Gate, past the Bay Bridge, past California Street and its cable car (I had ridden that cable car a few times during my first visit to the city). It was a good way to begin this trip as I was just mesmerised by every little bit and other than the delay (which I had not really worried about all that much since leaving Seattle) I couldn’t fault the flight.
Sure the aircraft was old, the seats fairly uncomfortable but for a cheap flight getting from Point A to Point B, how could I complain? The legroom was better than most airlines as well! We left the SFO area and headed more towards Silicon Valley, beginning our final descent into San Jose. The winds were coming in from the North so it meant we tracked all the way South, before turning a tight left onto Base before a turn onto final approach.
As we came in over the shops around San Jose, there wasn’t much to see as it was now well and truly dark out and hard to see much around but it sure was a bumpy landing and I swear those pilots slammed it down to make sure it stayed on the ground. Good work boys… are you trying to make sure we stay on the ground. We taxiied to the gate past a whole heap of other Southwest Aircraft, a smattering of CRJs and one lone Hawaiian 767. We docked at Gate 17 in the New B Terminal and the aircraft was shut down.
As this was one of Southwest’s many connecting flights, people travelling onwards to Burbank were advised they must stay put in their seats until instructed. Once everyone else was off, they could be counted, then they could move about as much as they wanted. Definately a wierd concept for someone like me. But hey.. just cause it’s different doesn’t mean it won’t work. I bailed out as quickly as possible and just tried to get out of the mess that was the aircraft as people pushed as much to get off as they had to get on… WTF!
Stepping foot into San Jose Airport for the first time was a shock. The B Terminal was amazingly brilliant. It was just stunning and looked amazing. Wide, long open walkways, all shiny and new. If only the rest of the airport could look like this. I took my time getting to the baggage claim (which is saying something as it was already at the opposite end of the terminal. As I made it to baggage claim my bag was already circling so I grabbed it and headed for the hotel shuttle stand outside. A bed was awaiting me.
