Saturday 08th June 2013
I awoke nice and early and snuck out of the apartment to head to the gym, trying not to wake my friend on the couch. Since we were heading down to LAX for some spotting on the first Virgin flight of the day it meant that I was up way way early, but it had to be done. I got in a good gym session while my friend woke up and got himself ready for the day ahead. By the time I was back and showered, he was good to go so we hit the empty roads heading for SeaTac.
Since this was only a day trip for me and a one way for my friend, no need to pay for parking just a cheap $2.50 one way Orca fare for my friend and free for me! So we pulled up at the Tukwila Park & Ride for the Link Train and headed up to the platform. While waiting for the Train (light rail really) a couple came up asking us if this train will take them to the Airport so they can rent a car. This made no sense as the rental car facility is offsite and pretty much across the street from the station. We tried explaining this to them but it just did not get through to them. When the train arrived we walked away!
On the brief ride in, saw a few Alaska specials at the North gates including the new Spirit of Hawaii livery that was only released earlier in the week. Sadly as Virgin Depart from the B Gates and we were cutting the time came relatively close, there was no time to get over to the B gates for a look and photo. Once off the train, you then start the trek to the opposite side of the airport to get to the Virgin America check in. It’s a long way to dodge what felt like every single person in Seattle leaving that morning.
During Check in we were proudly told we had been put on the Standby Upgrade list (not first class just Main Cabin Select) and I again had to remind them to put my priority information on the boarding pass. Sadly the booking again was not picking up my Gold Status to the boarding pass without any information as to why. *sigh* Once we had gotten the much needed priority stickers we headed towards security in the south, figuring it would be quieter…. WRONG
Security was a mess. The South checkpoint was rammed full of people, the centre was just as bad. It was a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils and trying to get through. Thank god for the priority stickers as it was definitely needed. Even with priority it still took almost 20-25 minutes to get through security and that pretty much canned any time we had spare in the terminal. Hell once we got through we were pretty much right on boarding time!
Once through security (yes I got nude o scoped), hot footed it over to the boarding area where I had to at least get a proper boarding pass as we were on the standby upgrade list and they hadn’t issued us any seat assignments (I have a feeling flight was oversold). We were offered either standard service seats in Row 4 together, or two separate middle seats in MCS. Since I hadn’t had any breakfast and figured the free food onboard would help and my friend didn’t care either way. We took the upgrade.
Virgin America – VX1780
Seattle Tacoma to Los Angeles
0700-0940
Airbus A320 (N639VA)
Main Cabin Select – Seat 3B
Boarding: 0635 (Gate B11)
Push Back: 0700
Take off Roll: 0710 (Runway 34R)
Top of Descent: 0858
Touch Down: 0923 (Runway 24R)
Shut Down: 0930 (Gate 35)
Boarding was well and truly underway by the time our seats were all solved and thankfully they had not called full general boarding just as we walked up so we were able to avoid the full throng of people when we boarded. There was a bit of a line up as we walked down the airbridge but nothing horrible. What greeted me on board was not the sight I wanted to see.
Already in place were the people in 3A & 3C. I will say at this point that I am not angry about this or anything but when your brain sees what I did, it instantly reacts the same way with utter regret. There was a lady of size in 3A. She wasn’t spilling over into my seat or anything like that but she blocked the window she was that big. I wasn’t even sure if there was a window! My friend on the opposite side didn’t have it that bad, but part of me at that very instant was extremely regretful. Should of taken Row 4!
I settled in as best as I could and shoved my book into the space infront for storage (take note of this). As we waited for boarding to complete I apoligised to my friend (via Twitter since he couldn’t hear me from the other side of the cabin) and tried to settle in. I was getting myself sorted since I didn’t have time before boarding (obviously). By the time we started to push back I was reaching for my book in the front storage when it wouldn’t come out. I had put it in upside down to the way it should of gone in, and now it wouldn’t budge. I tried for a few minutes before we started to actually move and as the crew came around to do last minute checks I took one big yank on my book.
With that my book came free and so did the entire front panel of the storage area. Uh oh! There was headphones & safety cards going everywhere and the panel fell straight to the floor with a thunk. Great… just what I needed. I ended up holding it up till a crew member finished her safety demo, then as we were taxiing out she was in the row trying to fix it. Mind you neither myself or the person next to me could move as the seat belt sign was on and the lady on the left didn’t allow for ease of movement at times.
It was fixed and all without a hassle from the crew and we ended up taxing to the runway at the South and as we taxied out I got a brief glimpse out of the window from the row behind. I saw the Alaska Retro jet at one of the C Gates… dammit! Along with that we also passed the Delta Skyteam 737 and the Habitat for Humanity 767. Dammit again! One day I don’t go for the window and I utterly regret it!
We climbed out of Seattle and turned right using the usual departure. During the climb out the crew asked everyone to “Close the window shades, so as not to blind everyone else”. Bit of a bad call if you ask me, who said they get to make that decision. Not that it affected me all that much. Pretty much this flight was going to be me settling back reading my book as much as possible without causing too many problems (since I hadn’t gotten off to the best start).
I was trying my best to not fidget or move but it had to be done at times. I browsed through the menu and saw that the yoghurt and granola was missing and so was the peanut butter & jelly sandwhich (my back up plan if the granola wasn’t available). None of it was there.. just the chicken protein plate (which so was not a breakfast food) and the cheese plate. I figured either the menu was wrong or they catered the flight wrong. When I asked the crew, they told me that it was right and that is what was offered on the morning flights. Pass on that! Considering I was trying to eat as healthy as possible this morning I had no chance of that happening. So not only had I given up a window seat to get food, the food I wanted I couldn’t get. should of stayed in the window seat. Rookie move! In the end I just choose the least worst option and went with it (I took the Kuko bites which were close to a granola bar as possible).
The flight other than that was pretty boring. I tried to keep myself caffeinated as much as possible and my plan to order double coffees failed, but when the flight attendant came out she asked me if i meant to order 2 and i said yes. So I didn’t have to keep bugging her for more coffee. So she bought me 2 coffees the next time around with the comment that i should be happy she brewed it strong that morning (I was). On my last delivery of coffee (was up to my 5th by that stage) she told me to just flag her down so she could refil my cups so that it doesn’t waste the cups.
Descent was quick and effortless as we came in to the airport from the North and touched down passing in and out (as expected). We were at the gate pretty quickly and once we could actually get off the flight and into the terminal (there was a hold up for some reason) we both got out of the squish as quickly as possible. I can’t really complain about a flight where I get a free upgrade can I? We both only had carry on so once we were out of the main gate area we were free to head straight to the rental shuttle, where the one National Shuttle was already past us. The next one was only a few minutes away but the douche bag driver just drove straight on past us. Even with me flagging him down! What a jerk!
The next shuttle took what felt like forever (at least a good 10 or so minutes) so we were in jeopardy of missing some good arrivals). We eventually made it to National’s rental lot and after walking up to the Executive Aisle it was all Dodge Challengers today.
Even though there was plenty to choose from today there was nothing that just instantly took my fancy (or my friends). There was a few trucks, couple of decent SUVs, even a KIA hybrid which is what I was leaning towards. I asked the lot attendant what the newest was and he said he had no idea and just check the mileage on the windscreen ticket. We started doing this and then he came over and pointed out a Hyundai Genesis with 13 miles on it.
We both ran for it. What better than a brand new vehicle! The car was so new the plastic protection sticker for the stereo was still there. We got ourselves sorted and headed out of the lot to go spotting. The car wasn’t bad my only complaint is you can’t charge a usb or power plug while the engine is off (at least it wasn’t working for this vehicle). We spent day spotting with another friend crisscrossing the area to different spotting locations. I won’t bore you with the specifics but the haul was ok.
Around 4ish I started to pack up my gear and bid farewell to my friends, it was time to head home, on my lonesome. I returned the car (only adding 20 miles to the clock) and jumped on the shuttle back to the airport, getting dropped off at Terminal 3. The Virgin Check in desks were deserted, just no one around but it seemed all the staff working where fixing problems as the wait was long. I contemplated using a kiosk but I knew I wouldn’t get the priority status that way. When it was my turn I had to push the issue again same as in Seattle and this time the staff member said I was a red member and not entitled. Which was weird since she was holding my Gold Card and I was in the priority check in area. I pointed out this fact and she fixed the priority stickers.
I headed up to security and the line was maybe 10 people long. BUT the TSA don’t like the term priority it seems as today you’re not entitled to it, you go to the end of the queue, no using those hard earned privileges. So I did and grumbled to myself about what’s the point, to which the person behind me in line agreed. I still got nude o scoped (i can never avoid that machine) and got the usual secondary pat down. After that it was off to the lounge.
The staff at the Virgin Loft were as great as always, joking around saying I should just move in if I am around so much) they even double checked I knew about the secret door. I was up in there to grab a snack before my two flights home and to get a few spotting photos thanks to the awesome views. I thought I ran into someone i knew but wasn’t sure. Pretty much just got the photos, loaded up on a few snacks (for now and later) and got some power to my phone.
I headed out just before boarding stopping to see if there was anything further forward seat wise, which there wasn’t.
Virgin America – VX941
Los Angeles to San Francisco
1810-1925
Airbus A320 (N641VA)
Main Cabin – Seat 20F
Boarding: 1745 (Gate 35)
Push Back: 1818
Take Off Roll: 1826 (Runway 24L)
Top of Descent: 1854
Touch Down: 1916 (Runway 28L)
Shut Down: 1920 (Gate 54A)
I boarded from a crowded gate area, into the relative calm and I headed way towards the back, not that I minded as I had a window seat on this short flight. I got myself settled quickly and plugged into the power just in case, as my phone was running pretty low.
The flight filled up pretty quickly and my seat mates eventually arrived. Seems they had ridden down from San Francisco as they had bike helmets in their carry on bags.
The sun was slowly diminishing in the area as we pushed back but managed to miss a good shot of Air Berlin One World taxiing past us. We headed out to the North Runways which is always a quick taxi. Take off was quick and effortless as we climbed out of LAX over the beach and eventually turned back towards the north.
The cloud layer was fairly low so after we got up through the layer, it could be a flight to anywhere. All you could see was cloud below and blue sky above. I settled into my book and let California pass me by outside. Drink service was super slow on this extremely short flight. We were well into descent before I got my drink. Which had to be consumed quickly (along with a banana from the lounge).
As we descended over the “South Bay” area (as I heard my seat mates referring to it) i spotted San Jose just outside my window. Passing SJC where the week before I had flown out to Japan from was a bit surreal. It was a nice clear descent, not much in the way of clouds around, meant I could enjoy the view of a United 737 joining up off our right side.
As the United 737 got closer and closer it meant I would get my first real tandem touch down. It looked to be good for photos to as the light was great and the two aircraft were battling it out as if in a race. As we both levelled out and drew in side by side the United 737 touched down just half a second ahead of us on the Right side. As full spoilers and reverse thrust was engaged on both aircraft I was still trying to take photos as we took the first available high speed exit. What I would’ve given for Channel 9 during a landing like that.
An extremely short taxi to Terminal 2 at SFO and we pulled up at the gate. I had about 20 minutes by now to make my connection, plenty of time! More than I needed actually, as it took a while to extricate myself from the back of the aircraft, however when I did and checked the monitors for the next flight it was the same aircraft I had just flown in on. Awesome.
Just enough time in T2 to get a few photos of the refurbished terminal (it looks super slick), grab a sandwich for the flight and head back to thd gate. I checked if there was any better seats free and was offered an exit row without recline. I’ll take it!
Virgin America – VX748
San Francisco to Seattle Tacoma
2015-2207
Airbus A320 (N641VA)
Main Cabin – Seat 9F
Boarding: 1940 (Gate 54A)
Push Back: 2007
Take Off Roll: 2015 (Runway 1R)
Top Of Descent: 2123
Touch Down: 2145 (Runway 34C)
Shut Down: 2150 (Gate B14)
As I was handed my new boarding pass the flight was called and I headed back on board the same aircraft I had just gotten off. There had been a crew change as there was not a single familiar face.
I headed back to my seat and got myself set up, figuring I would be joined by a seat mate, so I stored my stuff in the overhead. I was to busy reading my book (trying to finish it off) to notice no one sat next to me. I looked around just before we closed the doors and it was a pretty light flight. Not only did I have a row of 3 seats to myself, i had 2 full emergency exit rows. 12 seats to myself… Score!
I moved my stuff down to the empty space in front of the seat next to me and we pushed back. The sun was fully setting by now and as we taxied out it didn’t allow for the best photos which was a pity as we passed the Shamu 737 from Southwest and also the Delta Skyteam 737 and 757. I don’t know what it is with those two aircraft but I have seen them more than any other special livery aircraft.
We climbed out from a powerful takeoff roll and turned right to clear the runway path, then it was a nice gentle climb to altitude. Again much more of the same on this flight. Once above the layer it was just fading light as the sun set on the other side of the aircraft.
I had myself some dinner and a few drinks as we cruised north and thankfully by the time we reached descent over Portland, i had finished my book and was enjoying the last little hints of light as it faded away. Passing Mt Rainier was great and we descended for a southern approach.
After coming on a little fast in my opinion, we touched down and taxied back over to the B gates. It was good to be home. After disembarking I started the long long trek over to the Link Station, retracing the same path I had walked that morning. I watched as a Link Train pulled away in front of me. If I could of run I would’ve made it, but it didn’t matter there was another in 10 minutes. 15 minutes later i was at the truck, 40 minutes later I was at my apartment, safe & sound. 20 hours since I had woken up, What a long day!
