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Introduction
Seattle to San Francisco
Aloft San Francisco Airport
San Francisco to Atlanta
Atlanta to Newark
Fairfield Inn & Suites Newark
Newark to Minneapolis
Minneapolis to San Francisco
San Francisco to Seattle
Conclusion

After disembarking quite a bit earlier than expected in MSP and knowing that I was headed to the G gates for my onward connection I headed towards the SkyClub in the F gates for a quick refresh and laptop recharge.  Just as I took a photo of the concourse (more than what I did last time I was at MSP) and started walking there, the battery in my camera died.  Thankfully I have 2 spares at any time (although this was #2 that I had just drained for the weekend).  But with plenty of time ahead of me still on the go today, I would be ok.

I headed over to the SkyClub, was checked in without a hassle at all (other than my phone screen lock happening just as I moved to scan the boarding pass) and confirmed this was the smartest place to be, as I knew there was a Club at C17 but wasn’t sure if it was easier to access G17 from that gate area.  They confirmed the smartest way was to stay put but give myself 10 minutes to walk on down to my gate.

The lounge was fairly busy for a Sunday morning but its MSP, on a morning.  The international flights have probably all touched down from Asia/Europe and all the pax are heading to their onward connections.  Ah the joys of a hub city!  The usual breakfast items were out including oatmeal and maybe it is just me but the MSP oatmeal does not fail.  It is never watery, never to thick either and at one point when i walked past I SWEAR I saw the lid bubble up and down.  I don’t know what dark magic they do in there but they are good at it.

I gave the laptop a bit of a charge and cleared out some emails prior to packing up and heading off towards the gate.  I didn’t get all that long in the club but it flew past.  Without needing to use my brain all that much I just headed out towards the gate, all the way down to the far end of the G concourse.  I picked up the pace to work off some of the snackage that had been consumed that day.

I walked past one of the new outlets that had been done up with Delta’s new concept with Ipads at every seat in the restaurant and it looked good.  I grabbed a couple of quick pictures as I was pretty impressed and I know a friend in New York had been given the full low down on the concept and he seemed pretty impressed by it as well.  Delta might be onto a winner there.  The G gates look to be under a bit of refurbishment and they must be slowly reworking the airport away from the Old Northwest days where MSP was the main Northwest hub along with Detroit.

I arrived to my gate after a quick photo of the aircraft to a teeming mass of people.  There was people everywhere.  Just crammed into every little nook and cranny.  Quite suprisingly really.  By this stage there was only a matter of minutes till boarding and they gave the pre boarding warning a few minutes later.

Delta Airlines – DL2105
Minneapolis St Paul to San Francisco
1135-1349
Boeing 757-200 (N615DL)
First Class – Seat 2D

Boarding: 1057 (Gate G17)
Push Back: 1133
Take off Roll: 1150 (Runway 17)
Top of Descent: 1325
Touch Down: 1349 (Runway 28L)
Shut Down: 1354 (Gate 42)

Pre boards had been called but no one moved forward.  All it did was cause an almost surge towards the front with so many people crammed into one tiny little space.  I don’t think this was a mass case of Gate Lice but more the fact that space at this gate was majorly at a premium and people were sitting on the floor everywhere or just trying to find places to fit their bodies.  When they called first class every man and his dog (yes there was another dog at the gate) seemend to move forward but with 24 seats up front today it was sure going to be full.

I arrived onboard about mid pack and even though they had only called First Class pax, one or two fromu up the back managed to sneak on.  I had to wait a bit at the door due to the line as people stored their bags etc but the thing that I love about the 757 is that they pretty much utilize door 2L, which means First Class gets the good old left turn.  Left turn into the oasis of calm.

The crew were pretty good to, helping get people settled in offering PDB once peope had set down.  A lovely, older generation, were the onboard crew today with lots of “Can I get something for you Sweetie” etc.  I think the term is “Matronly?”  They definately weren the United Granny Crews that exist but they were a little bit older.

The flight boarded  as I got myself settled into my seat with my diet coke PDB.  I probably should of gone coffee in hindsight as I was heading towards a 5 hour stop at the  end of the day, but I was already past cup #10 I think by that point (I had lost count).  I ordered my diet coke with lemon and when I heard someone elese get lime without a problem I was very dissapointed in myself for not asking for lime instead.

The boarding process was long and slow, as you would expect with this size aircraft.  I could see the lump on the rear of the aircraft so that meant GoGo enabed and also full Seat back tvs.  This was a good thing as I was determined watch Top Gun once in the air.  As the doors shut and we slowly headed off to the runway the Captain came on the horn and damn did he have the thickest Texas accent I have ever heard.

We taxiied to the active runway all the way own the far end of the runway at the 17/34 junction watching as lots of other aircraft were landing around us.  The captain came on and advised us we were #1 for take off and should be ready to go shortly.  One moemnt your in the queue behind a Delta A320, the next your airborne with a high rate of clim as the 757 went nose high and rocketed out, just as they usually do.

As we were already heading south we turned right slightly after passing over the “Mall of America” below (which is funnily enough right next to the airport and apparently one of the largest shopping malls in the world (probably behind Dubai Mall.  Once we got up through 10,000 people were firing up all sorts of electronic devices and getting settled into their seat.

Lunch orders were taken back to front so my seat mate and I were served last meaning rather than the choice of Chicken & Goats Cheese pizza or the beef salad, my choices were Salad or… Salad.  It was my choice anyway so didn’t worry me in the least at all. I wound my clock back and started looking through the movies.  Now either they scaled back the amount of movies since yesterday or the 757 has an extremely cut down selection.  Damn!  I wanted Top Gun which was not one of the choices, so I shoved on some music from their selection (actually a fairly good electronic/dance selection) and just read my book as the service commenced.

Hot towels & placemats were handed out and then followed the ordered drinks.  My diet coke was even left with the Can!!! What a difference.  The lunch was handed out soon after and it seemed they were trying to feed rush everyone.  I was happy to take my time and requested some peanuts to go with my diet coke and “Beef Salad”.  The salad was more of a cold cut plate and actually pretty good.  I haven’t had potato salad in a while and this one was pretty tasty actually.

I slowly consumed my lunch (and the brownie was good and I took my time enjoying that) while reading several chapters on my book.  Once lunch was cleared away I was offered another drink and switched over to club soda while I watched a movie on the laptop and did some work as we cruised over the rockies by this stage (love the inflight map at times).  After the movie I started doing a bit of work and my eyes were having trouble staying open so I asked for a coffee to try and help.  I had a feeling I would be pounding a bit of that in a while.

The snack basket came out around the time we passed over Utah and had about an hour left in the air.  The Delta snack basket is pretty good.  Bananas were the big hit, along with the biscoffs in my holdover stash and grabbed a funsize snickers and twix for a bit of a sugar smash to keep me awake, which by this stage was making it difficult.  I was at 12 hours awake at this stage with another 8 or 9 before I would even make it back to Seattle, let alone home and into bed!

I was slowly starting to plan my afternoon as I knew I probaby wouldn’t have anyway of avoiding the 5 hour layover so just sucked it up and planned a number of things including writing a few letters, looking for a new GPS watch as my current one was finally giving it up and contemplating if i should try and take a nap.  More coffee won out.

Some coffee, a couple of Biscoff (did i mention how awesome they are?) and i was set.  As we slowly flew towards California we passed over the Tonopah Test range.  This is the place where all the aircraft were tested in the 80s and probably still tested today.  Top secret stuff happened down there and sadly it was covered in cloud.  Out of the corner of my eye at one point i saw a flash as quick as it appeared it was gone.  A United 737 passed us by nice and close but to fast for me to get a photo.  Damn.

Just before we started final descent the captain came on again turning on the seat belt sign for turbulence.  Even though it kinda went on and off during the flight they were pretty good at only having it on as long as needed.  Which is refreshing as some just keep it on for hours.  It was off maybe 5 or 10 minutes and then 20 minutes out right on time, we started final descent.  We headed on down towards the ground coming in from the South East over San Jose and Palo Alto (I think i saw the Apple HQ, not sure) and as we came over the bay area we were lining up for a dual approach (but sadly no one to race in).

As we were touching down on 28L right next to us a was a United 747 starting its take off roll.  Still in Tulip livery to.  Then I saw another Tulip livery, and another.  Still suprised to see them floating around.  By now we were on the ground, reverse thrusters deployed and coming to a stop just off one of the high speed exits.  My weekend of flying Delta was coming to an end.  I didn’t want it to end, but I was getting dead tired.  I didn’t really want to do anything but sleeep!  But i still had a 5 hour layover and a change of terminals to get through before my next flight, then 2 more hours to Seattle, then a solid hour before I would be getting home at least.  God Damn!

We pulled up at our gate pretty quick but then we sat there as the Ground crew couldn’t figure out how to get the jetway attached.  Two different attempts as we waited while they tried Door 2L.  Nope.  So they tried again at 1L.  Success.  Right next to my row almost.  Pretty soon I was walking off the aircraft and as I passed a Delta Red Coat (one of their supervisors/troubleshooters) I asked if there was an airside connection to the United Gates in T1.  Sadly no.  That meant no matter what I was clearing security again so my little ploy to get through the day on just one TSA screening was a fail.  It gave me an excuse to walk a bit all the way down to T3 rather than use the Air Train.

I wandered through T2 for a bit of a sticky beak before finally making it to the United Check in desks at T3.  Where i promptly enquiered about getting home earlier to which I was told.  “Sorry, your stuck here.”  Damn.

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Introduction
Seattle to San Francisco
Aloft San Francisco Airport
San Francisco to Atlanta
Atlanta to Newark
Fairfield Inn & Suites Newark
Newark to Minneapolis
Minneapolis to San Francisco
San Francisco to Seattle
Conclusion

Sunday 3rd March 2013

After being dropped off directly in front of the Delta check in Desks I was suprised that the B terminal was absolutely deserted at this hour.  Delta check in was a sea of emptiness which made things so much easier for me.  I was served straight away and the check in agent double taked when she saw my Velocity card.  I would assume that being Newark they rarely if ever get VA elites out here.  LAX and SFO and other west coast would get them more often, the bigger airports like MSP, DTW, JFK & ATL would definately get them.  I figured I was going to finally have to whip out the benefits list I had been carrying, just in case.  But I didn’t need to.  My boarding passes were printed quickly (again, no real card stock here) and off I went.

I trundled up to the security area and before going through into TSA land I made sure that I had packed my jacket and everything else back into my bag.  Now that I was indoors I didn’t need the scarf, jacket and gloves.  So that all came off, got packed away and I consolidated my laptop and liquids to the same area to make things easier on the other people in line with me later.

I walked up to the TSA and there was 2 lanes, no markings at all to either one and I have no idea if I was even walking up to the right queue at all, but they never said anything nor was it marked.  Next thing I know I am standing at a checkpoint with not a single other person in line with me, but less than 5m away was a line with 10 or so people being funneled to the 1 TSA agent and 1 nudeoscope.  Wierd.  After about the 3rd person to get checked by the TSA I was summoned so i approached, scanned my boarding pass (they had to turn the machine on first so I assume I was first person this morning with a mobile boarding pass, then promptly watched as my phone glided out of my hand and bounced off the floor.  Thanks Tmobile for suggesting the case I have on my phone as it never damages, the phone bounces and I am all good.

I handed over my license, picked up my phone and then my license was handed back to me.  Maybe I should do that more often because it was the most pain free TSA I have had it the 8 months I have lived here in the USA.  Things were looking up!  Since there was not many people only one Nudeoscope & 1 bag xray were being operated so I got in the very slow moving line and about 10 minutes, a nudeoscope, a pat down thanks to my jeans always setting off the dectector and my backpack being double scanned I was off into the concourse.

The B gates where Delta are operating are a mess to put it simply.  It is a major construction zone pretty much and it looks really run down and crap.  I am not quite sure what they are doing but it can’t come soon enough.  I walked up to the gate first to see if my aircraft was there (which it was), grabbed a quick photo in the dark and the rego as it was actually viewable for once and with that done for the morning, I headed off to the Skyclub for a coffee.

Though still the old fit out for the Skyclub in Newark, it does look slightly dodgy but not all that horrible really.  The two things that this lounge has over some of the others I have been through that morning was a fantastic view (the sun was just rising and it was pretty awesome) as off in the Distance you could just see New York City (the Chrysler building was standing out) and a view smack dab of the rotate point for any aircraft departing Newark that morning.  I had wished I had the SLR with the travel lens with me as it would of been some good shots with the sunrise right behind it.  Some may have been backlit but the silohuette shots would of been perfect.  O well!

Coffee in hand, Free WiFi, a quiet lounge (when I entered there was 3 people in the lounge total) and i was quite happy.  As expected I almost had to fight my way in, till eventually the lounge attendant worked out I had access (this is a fun game isn’t it!).  I sat down with a coffee and whiled away the hour or more I had in the lounge working on the internet.  Getting through all the trip report from yesterday and overnight.  Productive morning.

Again that damn trail mix got the better of me and the Oatmeal actually looked pretty decent this morning (though lumpy not watery) so Newark was looking pretty good.  One thing I noticed on the coffee machine was “Whipped Coffee”  I am not sure what that is, or if I should even attempt hitting that button at all in case it comes out with whipped cream on top.  What can I say about the Newark Skyclub.  It may look dodgy but it was pretty solid.

A few interesting conversations were overheard but eventually I looked at my watch, checked my boarding pass, saw the time we were meant to board and I hussled as I did not want to miss my flight.  Silly move though.

Delta Airlines – DL5819 (Operated by Compass Airlines)
Newark to Minneapolis St Paul
0805-1018
Embraer – E175 (N637CZ)
First Class – Seat: 1A

Boarding: 0742 (Gate 40)
Push Back: 0806
Take Off Roll: 0819 (Runway 4L)
Top of Descent: 0920
Touch Down: 0941 (Runway 12L)
Shut Down: 0946 (Gate F7)

As I approached the gate area there was not all that many people around so I knew it was going to be an empty flight, but boarding time came and went.  I was now starting to worry a little as I had about an hour on the ground in MSP and figured that this could be another day of running the concourses if things went to shit (though I had already run 5k that morning).  We did eventually board about 20 minutes prior to departure and first class was half empty by the looks of it.  A handful of people hit the jetbridge straight away and they probably also figured it might be full as we were all scurrying for overheard space, which on an ERJ or CRJ is PRIME!

Onboard it was good to be back in familiar territory of the Delta E75.  The first domestic flight I ever had with Delta was back on a Compass Embrarer when they were operating for Northwest just after the merge.  I do like the Embraer with a 1-2 set up onboard in first and 2-2 up the back.  The windows are up nice and high and the legroom isnt bad (though for some reason I couldn’t move my seat allocation last night so was again in the bulkhead).  There are only 2 crew onboard the small regionals of this size and it does feel like a more normal larger aircraft than the smaller CRJ or ERJ aircraft so it is a bit deceptive really.

I settled in and when PDB time rolled around, coffee was not yet quite ready so I took a diet coke instead.  The crew member up front was good.  No pen or paper at all for the PDB and he asked the entire cabin and got all the orders right.  This was looking like a good flight.  He was friendly and looked quite experienced.  What I found interesting was the old Compass Airlines bad which had the Northwest widget on it.  Talk about flash back.

From Comfy Run

As the flight boarded it was totally evident this was going to be an empty flight.  Pretty sure that every single Delta Elite on the flight would of been comp upgraded as it was First class was half empty with all the double seats only having one person and the single seats all occupied.  This is good (and it was reassured by the pilot mere moments after I thought it) because it will mean we can push on time and get out of here so I don’t have to go sprinting through MSP again.

We pushed back pretty much on time (30s off to be exact) and after a wierd sounding safety brief, a full brief from the cockpit including route info, it was time to taxi towards the active behind all the United aircraft.  The sites were pretty good at Newark actually.  I got a few good shots of aircraft I had not really gotten before like El Al, Air India.  The New American ERJ had already left so that was a bummer but can’t do much about that really.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

We taxiied out fairly quickly and the good thing with the E series jets is that they are quite spritely so it didn’t take much of a take off roll before we were airborne and climbing out over New Jersey towards MSP.  Unfortunately no views of New York on my side so that was a bummer but meh!  As we climbed out there was no ding to advise electronics were ok and I could hear “G” the flight attendant (name redacted for privacy) check with the crew member in the back in case he missed it and when she confirmed it, they just went ahead with it anyway.  Breakfast “orders” were taken and I use “” because to be honest the only thing we ordered was a drink as everyone was getting the same cereal breakfast.  G addressed every customer by name which was impressive.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

I read away while getting the ipod set up and a cup of  coffee was delivered after the laughable hot towell and shortly thereafter my breakfast tray was delivered.  One slight issue though.  This was a cold breakfast tray with cereal (which I preferred mind you) except, there was no spoon.  So I had to ask for one which caused a good laugh from G and he handed over a fresh napkin roll and yes there was a spoon in there thankfully.  Breakfast today was Corn Chex, a muffin, a croissant, yoghurt and fruit.  The croissant was cold and looked slightly stale so I ignored that, the muffin was still in its plastic wrapper from the factory, pass.  Cereal and fresh fruit it is.  My yoghurt looked like it was alive as I swear i saw the foil over the top move a few times ( probably due to the pressure) but other than that the breakfast was good enough for me.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

We cruised along and I just read my book while enjoying my ceral and fruit.  Isn’t that what a sunday morning should be about?  Relaxation.  Once breakfast had been consumed and my coffee topped up countless times without merely a prompt I was content.  I grabbed my laptop down and started working on the trip report some more to get it all ready to go.  The seat belt sign went on and off a few times and it was due to the occasional bump but nothing huge.

Not much more can really be said about the flight as we cruised over the midwest.  Snow covered land below, the occasional frozen lake and city down below.  Something I hardly ever got to see.  As we approached initial descent something I had not seen any crew ever do was G went through the cabin to all guests with his smart phone and obviously the Delta app, offering to look up connecting gates for them.  I had done this when I first turned on my laptop but still, that is something you do not see happen all that often.  This flight had turned around my weekend from a “meh” to a “yay”.  I was happy to be back in the air, happy to have a coffee in one hand, book in the other and just enjoying it.  We started on down and I packed up my stuff ready for when it would all happen.  It looked like we were making good time, at least enough for a more relaxing connection in MSP at least.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

We started descent a solid 30 mins early and with that we descended quietly and quickly towards MSP.  More snow, but the sun was out, slight smattering of clouds about and we were doing a nice long circuit around the city.  I had never really seen Minneapolis from the sky before so it was an interesting site.  I got to see the infamous Dome where the vikings play and its inflatable roof.  That was a site.  It doesn’t look inflatable from the sky at least.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

As we turned onto finals we descended further and it looked so quiet below.  So very very quiet and sleepy this early sunday morning.  With that we were on the ground.  No mess, no fuss and heading for our gate.  We taxiied past the Air National Guard ramp and a gleaming C47 Commando so more desires and wishes I had an SLR with me.  The taxi was quick and effortless and as we docked at F7 I was looking forward to a nice leisurely layover, but not wanting to leave what had been a fantastic crew.  With that the doors opened, I thanked George for his service and I headed into the terminal… right as the battery in my camera died.  Plenty of time to charge that though!

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

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I woke up this morning to an email I had been hoping to see for a number of weeks now. The dates for the Paine Field Aviation Day have been set and that means the Fly Day 5K is on again! Last year I did this and I ended up smashing my expected time, and it was only a few weeks after I got here. I did blog about the run last year as it was one of the highlights of my year in 2012. So lets just hope that this year it is going to be just as much fun. But here is a problem. It is the day before the Seattle Beat the Bridge. Which I was also going to do… but now I don’t know. Beat the Bridge is an 8k run and I really don’t want to do an 8k race (cause you have to beat the bridge so it is a race) right after a 5k race. I could probably skip the Fly Day 5k, but why?

Why would I want to skip seeing this up close and personal again?

From Expat Life

That is a GE90 attached to a 777-200LR. I remember running up to that point during the run and then seeing that plane sitting there and it gave me a giant burst of energy to finish. If you check out the Course map you will see that you don’t get onto the runway, but that is ok, because your running along the perimeter road and in some cases on taxi ways. The awesome thing at the moment is that there are so many 787s out there, that they are parked everywhere, it is going to be awesome.

The race does go to support Muscular Dystrophy and there is a pancake breakfast there afterwards (mmmmm pancakes) and then after the race and the pancakes. Well its Paine Field Aviation Day. A day hopefully filled with sunshine, planes and lots of shots like this:

From Seattle Spotting 2012
From Seattle Spotting 2012
From Seattle Spotting 2012

So if you feel up to running with me, well why don’t you sign up to!

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Introduction
Seattle to San Francisco
Aloft San Francisco Airport
San Francisco to Atlanta
Atlanta to Newark
Fairfield Inn & Suites Newark
Newark to Minneapolis
Minneapolis to San Francisco
San Francisco to Seattle
Conclusion

Normally the procedure with getting from Newark Liberty Airport to any of the hotels involves getting the Airtrain from your terminal to P4 which is the main parking terminal and also where all of the hotel shuttles go into.  However this was not going to happen this weekend.  The train between all terminals was shut down and not operating at all  Not good!  They were bussing people from the terminals to P4.  It was a MESS!

The buses had no space for luggage at all.  So there was people with giant suitcases blocking the aisles, people standing on seats because that was the only space.  The bus was crap, people were yelling “close the doors close the damn doors”.  O did I mention.. it was snowing.  Add the cold to all of that and I knew that if I had to go through this in the morning as well.  Jesus!

By the time we got to P4 I was freezing cold and hiding inside while the people all queued up trying to wait for their shuttle without braving the  windy cold outside.  The lighting wasn’t that great so any time a shuttle came close everyone rushed the door, then all of a sudden, rushed straight back when it wasn’t theres.

Thankfully I knew ahead of time that my shuttle showed up at 15 minutes and 45 past the hour.  What I had forgotten to check was what the shuttle looked like and if it was shared with another hotel.  Thankfully it was not.  The shuttle eventually showed up and there was a family onboard talking about the food they had missed in mexico (maccas being towards the top of the list apparently) but they shared with me my first ever Twizzler.  It’s just red licorice though.

Thank god I did not have to drive to the hotel as all I remember is turn after turn after turn almost going around in circles.  It was confusing as all hell.  I never thought I would ever say it but driving in Melbourne can not be as bad as that!  The hotel looked ok and it was pretty quiet when I arrived.  Checked in pretty easily and there was literally nothing around.  Finding food was not going to be easy.  I was informed the Courtyard Marriott next door had a “bistro” aka a Cafe or their was about 30 or so restaurants that would deliver if I liked and they had all the menus.

I figured I would check out the Courtyard first so went up to my room on the 6th floor, dropped my gear and took the laptop with me.  The room itself was small, but not to bad.  Although basic looking for $44 for the night, what do you expect.  It had the necessities though.  Bed, seat, tv, clean bathroom, free wifi.  Their was breakfast FOC in the morning but I wouldn’t be around to utilize it.  No biggie.

The hotel was what you would expect for a freeway hotel.  Plenty of space, indoor pool, small gym and guest laundry.  Lots of car park space and a check in staff who really were ok, but nothing over the top.  Pretty fine with me!  I grabbed some coffee from the Lobby (free 24/7) to keep me warm during the walk over to the Courtyard Marriott next door but got lost getting over there.  I came back, got better directions and set off again.  Made it without any hassle this time.

The menu was pretty meh so figured I would give the delivery thing a try.  The lobby had a little market area with some drinks, ice creams etc for purchase so dessert was covered.  The check in staff gave me a pile of menus and left me to make a decision.  Eventually after ordering and retreating to my room for a bit my order was delivered direct to my door.  Pretty awesome work there.  Could not complain about that.  With dinner promptly finished I hit the sack.

Next morning 2 things were on my mind.  Gym and effortless process at Newark.  I hadn’t slept well as the bed (though comfy) was not made properly at all and the fact that I couldn’t get the room anything lower than “furnace” on the aircon meant I barely slept and that is literally the only complaint I have about the hotel.  Had those two things not been an issue, I would have no issue staying there again.

As I was checking out the breakfast was being set up and the spread looked pretty extensive.  Next time I stay at a Fairfield (it will be later this year actually) I should hopefully get to enjoy the breakfast.  The shuttle left dead on the bottom or top of the hour and I planned to get the 530am shuttle to have to then retrace the long stupid process that would be all the more longer than normal.  However things didn’t happen that way.  I was dropped off direct at the terminal door thanks to the great driver being convinced by the older couple going to a different terminal.  This deserved a tip so I slipped him a couple of bucks for it.

Would I stay at this particular hotel again?  Probably not.  It is in the middle of nowhere with nothing around at all.  Would I stay at a Fairfield again?  sure!  I am setting new rules for my airport stays.

1. Restaurant or Food options around the hotel.
2. If no restaurants around, must have restaurant on site!

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Introduction
Seattle to San Francisco
Aloft San Francisco Airport
San Francisco to Atlanta
Atlanta to Newark
Fairfield Inn & Suites Newark
Newark to Minneapolis
Minneapolis to San Francisco
San Francisco to Seattle
Conclusion

After touching down in Atlanta there was one thing that hit home about Atlanta airport.  This place is HUGE!  The taxi over took at least 10 minutes and then once I got out into the terminal itself I was dumbstruck at just how big it was.  When I got down to what they refer to as the “Center” point of the terminal… just wow.  I was in the E gates at this point, there was like 7 terminals and the departures monitor was MASSIVE!  It seemed to go on forever!  I knew Atlanta was big, but I didn’t think it was THIS big.

Atlanta is dominated by two Airlines.  Airtran (aka Southwest) and the biggest airline out there, Delta.  It is a see of Delta everywhere.  I was leaving from the A gates and not really sure where to go or what to do, I figured I would head to the nearest Skyclub to my gate and just camp out.  WRONG!  Dumbest idea everywhere.  The club was a Zoo!  Absolute mess.  I couldn’t even get someone to serve me a drink at the bar even if I had wanted to offer them a tip they wouldnt even recognise that I existed.  The club was in the new layout and design which was nice and it was good to see it in it’s full glory.  But DAMN!

I tweeted and facebooked out to see if someone would give me a better tip and a friend of mine who is East coast based suggested I either check out the secondary club on the A concourse (closed weekends) or flick over to the T gates which was one terminal over and a smaller non refurbished club.  So that’s what I did.  Smart move!  It was super quiet.  Though by this stage I only had about 20-30 minutes in the club before having to move head on back.  I figured if I walked back to the A terminal I could justify snacking on some of the goodies, like the Chocolate covered popcorn *drool*

Atlanta airport is still pretty sweet though, it is well staffed, well signposted and the trains between the terminals run every 60 seconds like clock work.  They have a timer at each station telling you when the next train will arrive, and it is not wrong.  Down to the very second that train will pull in and disgorge the masses of people.  I know I want to come back and do some work with Delta here now, there are an endless opportunities of things to write about here.

As I headed back towards the gate past the throngs of people I got a snap of my A319 that was going to wing me to the end of my 2nd day of this run and then I saw the snow start to fall.  I didn’t think it was that cold and it didn’t seem that bad at the time but it must of been just getting enough for a light sprinkling to start.  It was still pretty cool though.

Delta Airlines – DL2142
Atlanta to Newark
1635-1900
Airbus A319 (N361NB)
First Class – Seat 1A

Boarding: 1600 (Gate A1)
Push Back: 1636
Take off Roll: 1659 (Runway 27R)
Top of Descent: 1804
Touch Down: 1834 (Runway 4R)
Shut Down: 1843 (Gate 42)

Boarding was called and there was a little throng of people clammering to get onboard quickly.  Thankfully taking Row 1 i was guaranteed overhead bin space.  Which was fine with me.  The legroom though, no way!  Next time I am going Row 2.  This crew were super chirpy and friendly which started off good and I had barely been in my seat 2 minutes before I was offered a PDB.  Diet coke for me and I was set to start this flight.  I got myself settled and waited for everyone else to board and watch as bags got gate checked etc.  Ahhh the joys of people watching onboard.

We boarded pretty quickly and the door was shut a good 10 minutes prior to push back, but we still had to wait for our slot.  This was fine with me as it was my last leg for the day and all that awaited me at newark was a bed, some dinner and some sleep before getting up and doing it all over again, but a LOT longer day ahead, plan for this flight.  No technology.   Book, Ipod, Lunch, Window.  That is it.

The one thing you have to remember with Atlanta when you leave, is those schedules HAVE to be padded.  We were taxiing for a good 20 minutes before we were #1 for the runway.  There was plenty to see though. Delta MD88, Delta MD88, Delta MD88, Airtran 717, Airtran 717, Delta MD88 (you get the picture here).  But there was a good couple of shots obtained including a Southwest special livery and an Air France A330.

By the time it was our turn for takeover it was a spritely run down the strip, wheels off the deck, up and climbout.  The wierdest thing with the A320 family of aircraft is just the sounds it makes.  Unlike the CFM engines on the 737 it kind of makes a whiney noise.  This is where noise cancelling headphones come into their own and once I had mine going, I was set.  As we got into the air lunch orders were taken and it was a choice of a Pastrami and Swiss on Rye or a Cold Fried Chicken plate.  I figured i’m heading almost to New York, I gotta have a Pastrami sandwhich.  Diet coke ordered along with it and I was set for happiness.

Service started quite a while after that, almost 25 minutes into the flight.  I was kind of happy for this but not.  Sure it was good that I was in a leisurely mood but to be honest, I was thirsty.  But first up came the tiny little hot towels that Delta offers on their domestic service.  Tiny tiny tiny little flimsy towels.  But it was better than nothing!  Now the service started getting wierd.  Stuff was kind of just thrown at me and it felt as though the crew leader serving the first class cabin did not want to be there.  Well meh to you to!  The lunch looked good.  I was super impressed to see the Giant pickle and after realising all the vegies I had scoffed in the lounge would make the vegie portion of my lunch the sandwhich had a good serving of what looked like half decent pastrami and some nice cheese.  I figured I would avoid the cheesecake thingy and just stick to the fruit.

By the time I had finished lunch the tray was collected before I coud eat the cheesecake (which is good cause therefore I wouldnt have the temptation), my drink was offered as a refil and back to my book I went.  It was about this point as we were about to start descent mere moments later and my seat mate still hadn’t been served the meal he ordered.  The crew member had given his sandwich away and just never served it to him at all.  So he was stuck with nothing.  If that was me I would of been making a nice little complaint to Delta right there and then via the web app.  As we were descending before GoGo was switched off I checked in for the next days flights (thanks for free Delta app access in flight) and I had my boarding passes ready.

As we were into full descent I ended up chatting away with my seat mate as he was trying to work out if he had to go airside at Newark to go from Terminal B to C to be able to make his flight to India.    Sadly yes he did and this started to worry him a little but w were WAY ahead of schedule (almost 30 minutes at this point) and we just had a good chat on the way in. Talked about the usual things you do with a seat mate, I slipped him a business card and hopefully I will have a new client 😉

The flight dropped below the clouds and it was by now dark out so all you could see was lights everywhere.  Industrial facilities mainly and Jersey isn’t exactly known for it’s amazing scenery or anything  like that.  It is known as being i guess a nice term the “arm pit” of New York 😉

As we touched down and taxiied to the gate I was happy to be early as it meant that I had time to try and find myself some dinner.  What I did not expect was the shoddy looking nature of Newark Airport.  This place looked like a dump.  What did not help the fact was that just about everything was closed and the fact that the train connecting the terminals was shut down for the weekend.  Joy o Joy.

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Introduction
Seattle to San Francisco
Aloft San Francisco Airport
San Francisco to Atlanta
Atlanta to Newark
Fairfield Inn & Suites Newark
Newark to Minneapolis
Minneapolis to San Francisco
San Francisco to Seattle
Conclusion

Saturday 2nd March 2013

I was dropped off pretty much exactly where I had gotten onto the shuttle a mere 5 hours prior.  Not much time really for any form of relaxation but I was freshly washed, watered (though not caffinated yet) and looking forward to a bit of WiFi to resync back into the world.  There was no one in the Sky priority lane at this hour but the Frontier/US Airways check in at the other end of T1 with their own security point was an absolute mess.  After waiting in the line for a few seconds as though the lady standing right in front of me couldn’t see me I was beckoned over to a different desk and handled quickly and efficiantly.  My Velocity card was accepted without a question and I was soon checked into Newark.  Back up boarding passes in hand (was going to try and use the mobile boarding passes again as Delta only seems to issue flimsy paper receipt style boarding passes) and I was going to head through security.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

Thankfully i stopped to clear up my stuff as the signs to the Skyclub seemed to point outside of security.  Odd.. I headed to a sign pointing the direction towards the Skyclub and it stated “The Delta Sky Club is outside security”.  Well that kind of sucked, as I was hoping to clear security now when the line was quiet and not closer to the flight boarding time when it would probably be a zoo.  That and the fact it was about 20 minutes till the club opened would of been perfect had I been clearing secuirty now.  O well.  I went up to scope out where it was and came back to use the free WiFi in the terminal for a bit.  I caught up on my blogs that had downloaded over night in my RSS feeds and headed up to the club once it opened for a coffee.

The Skyclub has a bare entranceway to it, and felt ok but it was the fact that it had coffee, some breakfast (not that I wanted any, other than a bit of dried fruit/trail mix to get me through to the time breakfast would be served onboard) and some comfortable quiet seating, it was fine.  There was a small view of the ramp and I could see my A330 dominating the ramp.  It must of come in from somewhere in Asia overnight.  The lounge wasn’t the new look of the MSP or Seattle club but still good and nice none the less.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

Usual breakfast offerings and the oatmeal looked half decent with not much water present today (not as bad as Seattle’s water with some oats mixed in).  I grabbed a coffee, some trail mix (oo0o0 yoghurt coated pretzels are awesome) and grabbed a seat to get the first part of the trip report online.

With about 30 minutes to boarding I packed up and headed out to the security checkpoint, knowing it was going to more than likely be a zoo.  Which it was.  An absolute zoo of people waiting in both the Sky Priority lane and the general security queue.  Got to love it.  One thing that suprised me though was they had Clear access.  A service kind of like a paid priority line, in the 10-20 minutes I was in line at the check point, no one used it.  Although it wasn’t a TSA checkpoint but private security they were as ruthless about carryons and pat downs as the TSA are.  No big difference really.  Just no screaming.

From Comfy Run

With 5 minutes to boarding I made it through the check point and made a brief bathroom pit stop before scooting straight to the gate and after tying my shoe in what I thought was going to be an empty part of the boarding area as I stood up I was in the queue for the Skypriority line.  I had inevitably become gate lice without even trying.

From Comfy Run

Delta Airlines – DL1580
San Francisco to Atlanta
0630-1402
Airbus A330-200 (N859NW)
First Class – Seat 5A

Boarding: 0545 (Gate 46)
Push Back: 0630
Take Off Roll: 0639 (Runway 01R)
Top of Descent: 1315
Touch Down: 1345 (Runway 28)
Shut Down: 1356 (Gate E26)

Pre boarding was done and this included a guide dog.  What a site was to see all these people part ways for a lady and her seeing eye guide dog.  As they got priority boarding way before a lot of people, and there was even a few disgusted looks.  I didn’t mind.  As long as the guide dog wasn’t my seat neighbour and if it was, it didn’t pee on my legs 😉

When First Class was called the queue started to move forward and off I went down to the aircraft.  Everyone was boarded by one door into 2L which was lucky for those in the Front F cabin as they wouldn’t have everyone trudging past them but I chose the mini cabin for a reason row 5 had more space than any other row from what I remembered of these seats from years ago.  A good start when you are greeted onboard by a fun sounding flight attendant, especially at this hour.  I settled into 5A pretty quickly and asked while he had a few moments for the Tail number.  This puzzled him as he had apparently never heard this question before and asked me why I wanted to know as I could track it online with the flight number.  I told him that I kept a record of the actual aircraft I flew on.  This got a wierd look.. hah!

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

As everyone boarded we eventually got a PDB (being on the door side they were trying to let the cabin fill up so as not to get in the way) of my choice.  A lot of people were choosing Bloody Marys at this hour but I stuck with some coffee as there was already a mini bottle of water at my seat (though no where to put it).  The seats were the old Northwest BusinessFirst seats from a number of years ago but they had been recovered into Delta colours/feel.  Though angled lie flat it is way better than a standard domestic class seat on any of the other airlines, and not bad for a 4 hour flight to be honest.  The only thing is the lack of storage,  there is just none at all!  Not good for an international flight.  It wasn’t all bad though I could cope.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

By the time the door was shut I had a quick chat with my seat mate at times and as we were taxiing towards the runways i was asked to “turn off that device” to which he pointed at my camera.  Wierd.  First time thats ever happened (didn’t last long as I had it back on taking photos of the amazing run rise once he was out of sight).  The taxi was quick as we were heading for the 1’s for dual take offs.  Though with our size, we probably wouldn’t be racing anyone.  They were staggering the take offs rather than racing them (which would of been more fun to race a CRJ down the strip).

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

I barely thought we were airborne and we kind of gracefully headed north a few wierd turns before turning right and east towards Georgia.  As we climbed out breakfast orders were taken and I settled in to wait for the seat belt sign to come off so I could get up and grab my laptop as the bulkhead row doesn’t allow any bags to be kept down.  Once off I jumped up and grabbed my bag but by this time they were laying out tablecloths for breakfast way before they normally would have as we didn’t even have a drink order yet and had barely had a hot towell handed to us.  I was just going to chill out, watch a movie on the TV (first movie I saw I went with… Lincoln) and wait until I had finished breakfast before whipping out the laptop and working on the trip report and some letters that needed to be written.  I was going to enjoy these next 2 days.  Stuff it!  I have worked hard the last month and I was going to relax for once, in preparation for what was sure to be a busy couple of weeks prior to heading home.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

I was offered a beverage of which I already had water so, the coffee was consumed in earnest, sadly it was a bit cold so would probably have to wait for a fresh pot.  No complaigning though.  By the time I had finished my coffee my breakfast tray showed up along with a choice of bagel or crossaint.  I went with bagel but declined the cream cheese in favour of some butter (just a little) as I had some yoghurt on the tray for a bit of extra calcium today.  Raisin bran with low fat milk, fruit, yoghurt and a bagel with jam.  Not a bad breakfast really.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

By the time I had finished I was well into my movie and got stuck into the trip report and just wrote away for the next few hours.  The flight just zoomed on by really.  A few coffee refils (be it extremely slowly offered… VERY slow).  The crew must of been new as there were numerous times I heard “wow I like this” or “do you know where this is” or at times when they were obviously trying to communicate with others and a PA announcement was made hearing “Hello? Hello?”

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

About an hour and a half out of Atlanta the snack basket was handed around offering Banana’s, chips, muffins, chocolates, biscoffs and some other things I could’t quite see.  I grabbed a banana (as they seem to be a rarity whenever I fly) and a blueberry muffin.  With some more water that was offered (though my glass of ice was forgotten about until i had to ask again, and no refils of water offered either) I had a good snack.  As we neared the 1 hour out mark, a bit of bumpiness as the seat belt sign was turned on and then 5 minutes later an annoucement advising us we should be following the seat belt sign and NOT getting up (didn’t stop people though).

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

With about 45 minutes to go I started to pack up my trash and get myself sorted as I knew I would have to put my bag away earlier than most people would.  The flight had been good but the service spotty.  I eventually found out what the aircraft was and we were done and dusted.  Started initial descent into Atlanta and all I could see below was clouds.  Nothing all that bad really.  A pretty quick descent and soon enough we were on the ground at Atlanta.  Way off in the middle of now where.  I knew Atlanta was big.  I didn’t know it was THIS big.  The taxi from the runway we landed on over to the Terminals was almost 10-12 minutes.  Crazy!!!  It was a sea of Delta and Airtran jets everywhere.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

I saw 2 US Airways, 1 american and a lone United but other than that, it was Delta everywhere.  MD’s and 737s as far as the eye could see!  We pulled into the E gates (which seems to be the international terminal as the gate information said the flight was heading to Rome after Atlanta and once pulled up and parked, people were already scrambling for the door.  Meer moments after that door opened i was being pushed towards the door and the massive airport that is Atlanta.

From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run
From Comfy Run

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Introduction
Seattle to San Francisco
Aloft San Francisco Airport
San Francisco to Atlanta
Atlanta to Newark
Fairfield Inn & Suites Newark
Newark to Minneapolis
Minneapolis to San Francisco
San Francisco to Seattle
Conclusion

After making my way out of T1 and out onto the departures deck I remembered from the last time that all the hotel shuttles were on a middle island and they had phones around little shelters.  The signage confirmed this and that is where I was headed.  I was heading to the Aloft San Francisco Airport or the Aloft Millbrae, depending upon which sign you were reading.  It only opened in October and is a small underling brand of the W Hotel Chain.  Kinda like the little brother to full W Hotels, these were the lower service hotel chain but with W beds, W feel, W amenities but just not the full service.

The shuttle ran every 20 minutes and I had been told one was due to into the hotel any minute now so either I just missed it or would be along in about 5-10 more minutes.  The later was the case but I barely waited 5 minutes before it showed up.  The shuttle was shared with the adjacent Westin and once onboard we picked up at all the other terminals and headed off to the hotel a quick 5 minute drive away (though we dropped off at the Westin first).

I checked in and although again more language barriers (Is my accent that bad?) I had a room within minutes and was checked in.  I checked the shuttle time for the next morning and then headed up to the room, barely realising i was going to get about 4 hours sleep.  But something is better than nothing right?

First impressions of the hotel and lobby is it is definately a hipster hangout.  Bright, colourful, my kind of music going and I would normally have enjoyed this if I wasn’t utterly shattered.  Even the lifts were mood lit in blue with better than usual music and the corridors had nice bright colors every now and then.  The rooms were layed out pretty well and I was on the 2nd floor so no real view, not that it would matter.

From Comfy Run

Unlocked my room using the RFID key card and I checked out the room quickly and got myself settled.  As you enter the room the bathroom was seperated nicely off to the left with a seperate shower and toilet with the basin and closet area in like a “dressing room” area.  Small bar fridge (empty) and 2 free bottles of water with the coffee machine and safe.

As you continue down the “hall” you come to the bed area where there is a small desk and “window” seat looking thing that would double as a luggage rack.  My view looked out to the air conditioning ducts, thrilling view.  The bed was a queen and looked nice and contemporary, even the clock was funky though the lighting was annoying since it wasn’t much light around at all.  The bed was nice, comfy yet not soft, firm yet not hard.  I kinda wish I didn’t have a Fairmont bed at home as now I am torn.

I got stuff ready for the morning, put the phone and laptop on to charge and settled in for the night.  In the morning after a good few hours of sleep on the W bed and I made good use of the bathroom.  The shower though was a bit dissapointing.  The pressure though good was not hard enough for my liking and the body wash/shampoo etc was the full size wall dispensers.  Now this is good as it doesn’t restrict how much you use and is better for the evironment.  But bad in the fact that if it was good (and it is the same ones that W use, Bliss) I couldn’t take what was left with me for use later.  I guess that isn’t the worse thing right?  I snapped up the body lotion though as it was nice and small and wished I could of taken the soap with me as it was great and the little bars were the right size for around the house for secondary usage.

From Comfy Run

I checked out with ease and snapped a few pics of the lobby area which at that time of the morning was absolutely deserted and within 5 minutes of being in the shuttle I was standing at the entrance to Terminal 1.

I like the Aloft Brand.  I haven’t stayed at a W before but if that is the kind of atmosphere I can expect, well I don’t really mind.  The rooms though, although nice and funky.  I like the Element design and it’s a tough choice with the Heavenly bed over the W bed.  The Fairmont bed is still my winner but I think the W is a close 2nd.  I do like the styling of the Element hotels (what Aloft is to W, Element is to Westin) as it feels a little bit more beneficial as the rooms usually are a bit more spacious.  So take the Aloft feel, add in the Element room size, a Fairmont bed and you would have a hotel I would be totally happy with.

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Less than a week after starting reading a new book, I finish off this one, that’s what travelling does for ya!

Stasiland

This book is Stasiland by Anna Funder. This book was recommended to me by a tour guide while touring in Berlin visiting the sites of the cold war. Since then I had been meaning to read it, as I had it sitting on the shelf. So I decided to give it a shot. I am extremely thankful I did. Anna lived in East Berlin and this book follows her journey wanting to hear about what/how people’s lives were affected by the East German Secret Police…. the Stasi.

During the 60s the East German government constructed the Berlin wall to protect itself from the West Germans. They essentially sealed off their own citizens from the rest of the world overnight. This was absolutely crazy and since I visited Berlin and have seen the wall first hand I wanted to read more about how it affected the average person. This book is the one to read for that perspective. Anna takes a journey seeking out not only the men of the Stasi (it was mostly men) but also those people whose lives were affected by them. The Stasi were notorious for monitoring their own citizens. Anything and everything they had to know about you. What you ate, what you did, how you slept, even what you smelt like. That is Insane!

This book was just intriguing and thrilling and brought a whole new side to light for me on Berlin. I could not imagine being someone in East Germany during the time of the wall and the stasi. They sound ruthless and stupid at the same time. How the hell do they get away with getting your own family to inform on you, or convincing co workers to inform on each other. Where a 16 year old girl who just decided to jump the wall was imprisoned and interrogated for a week with torture and sleep deprivation to find out who she was working with, when she did it all on her own on a whim. Insane!

You really need to read this book, it is well written and even if your not into that kind of thing, it should be a read as it is something you NEED to read for histories sake.

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Introduction
Seattle to San Francisco
Aloft San Francisco Airport
San Francisco to Atlanta
Atlanta to Newark
Fairfield Inn & Suites Newark
Newark to Minneapolis
Minneapolis to San Francisco
San Francisco to Seattle
Conclusion

Friday 1st March 2013

After starting work early so I could get out of the airport at a half decent time as I knew that what should only take 10-15 minutes on a good day would easily take an hour in peak hour Friday traffic.  I left work and low and behold, traffic was actually as bad as expected, If not a bit worse.  With the time I left work, if I didnt take more than an hour I had been thinking to myself, I could get an earlier flight down to San Fran and afford me an extra hours sleep.  So I was hoping and praying I could get there in good time.

I dropped the car off at Wallypark (yes that is the real name) and spent most of my time having to spell my name out to the attendant who was taking my ticket (apparently spelling my name needs to be clearer, R as in Roger didn’t work, R as in rabbit didn’t either, funnily enough he understands the word Robot) and then spend another 5 minutes waiting in a van on my own while he sat there doing nothing.  Not looking good at coming back here now!

We made the terminal pretty good and the United check in desks were empty and I mean it.  There was more staff available than people checking in and it meant that even though I was using a machine at the Star Gold check in desks that I could do it first and get out of there.  But I went up to someone anyway and enquired about Stand By.  She told me that I would have to pay to stand by for the earlier flight.  Well that sucked, and then i said the magic words “Even though I am Star Gold” and showed her my card.  To which her whole demeanour changed.  Within seconds I was holding a Standby card (little did I know this could of bit me in the ass later).  Free stand by with 3 other Star Golds ahead of me and things were looking up!

Security wasn’t to bad and the priority queue had not a single person in it, so I was through within minutes.  Get to the machines and dignity dance my way ready when all I jump into the line ahead of a few dawdling people taking their time I get a dirty look from someone who I was actually ahead of in the queue.  But didn’t phase me.  As it was my turn I stepped up and then rather than left into the WTMD it was right into the Nudeoscope.  SeaTac never fails me.  But this is where my brain must of been left at check in.  I was still wearing my belt.  Right before the scanner starts the TSA agent says “Are you wearing a belt?”  “O SHIT!”  I pulled it off and he actually held it for me rather than send me back out into the queue again.  NICE! I guess there are some nice TSA agents out there afterall.

With Security dealt with and slowly redressing myself I jumped on the train to the N Gates and figured I would make a pit stop by the United Club for a drink and a bit of a snack prior to camping out in the Standby line.  So that is what I did.  SeaTac has 2 United Clubs.  In the B gates you have the lovely old Continental Presidents Club with a bit of a view of the ramp.  In the N Gates you get “The Dungeon”.  The legacy United Club located in the depths of the N Satelitte right next to the train station.  No windows, no view, just wall after wall.  But it could be worse, it could be the crammed gate area.  Not much in the way of snacking (it is a United Club after all) and there was way less than usual as well, which was very dissapointing.  A coffee, some water, a shortbread and some carrots (I checked the expiry date first after a previous incident of an Avgeek friend) and before I knew it the previously flight was due to begin boarding any time.  So I headed on up to the gate.  Presented myself to the desk and was informed to take a seat, if they needed me they would let me know, but that it would be doubtful as they were 100% full.

I stuck around reading my book in a seat within site of the gate as the flight arrived a bit late, and took  its time boarding.  Slowly slowly the gate area emptied.  Things were not looking good.  Volunteers were not required, people were being called up for seat assignments and it was still not looking good.  But I wasn’t worried.  I had a seat assignment on my flight (and exit row as well) if I didn’t make the flight the plan was to go and find some food for my next flight to waste away the half hour before we boarded.

The gate area was pretty much empty.  There was 6 of us left.  I was #4 on the list.  I headed up to the gate again as the 6 of us were mingling about.  Then I heard it, “Ok who is #3 on the list?”  A guy presented himself up front, and then it was said “you just made it, you get the last seat”  Damn.  I stuck around a bit longer, hoping and praying someone wouldnt show or that something else would change, I don’t know why though.  Another girl who was last on the list had been waiting around all day and hadn’t made any of the flights to SFO.  She was devestated and figured if she didn’t make the next flight, she was stuck as it was the last flight to SFO that night.

I finally gave in, hoping someone else would give in or just miraculously get booted off.  I headed off to find some food.  I went to check out the C gates as I figured that there was a Wolfgang Puck that might have some good food.  I was wrong, they had good food on the menu but none of it left for takeaway.  So back over to the N gates to the bagel place that would have double points thanks to a promo and off I went.  A Garden salad, bagel and a drink in a bag, a scone for something sweet (although not to sweet) and I was set for the flight.  Boarding by this time was due to begin so I headed over to my gate.

When I got up to the gate, something wierd on the screens,  My seat (8A) was showing as free.  So I asked how accurate that seat map was, and was told it was 100% correct.  I said to the staff member that then we have a problem because I have 8A and it’s showing as free.  I gave him my boarding pass (after fishing it out) and he fixed it up.  Somehow my seat was given up when I went on Standby on the other flight.  Something stupid obviously.  I was told boarding should be about another 5 minutes as the flight had just pulled in and I hopped out of the way and watched as he cleared the boarding list (the girl I had been chatting to before got her seat, the last one for the day!)

United Airlines – UA6426 (Operated by Skywest)
Seattle Tacoma to San Francisco
2013-2225
Canadair CRJ-200 (N935SW)
Economy Class – Seat 8A (Exit Row)

Boarding: 2000 (Gate N11)
Push Back: 2017
Take Off Roll: 2027 (Runway 16C)
Top of Descent: 2150
Touch Down: 2215 (Ruwnay 28L)
Shut Down: 2221 (Gate 35)

They called for Preboards but there weren’t any, or any first class on this aircraft, so Groups 1 & 2 were combined into one and i was about 4th or 5th in line.  I had a fight in the jetbridge with the baggage handlers about “weight and balance” claims.  Even though my bag will fit in the overheads they wanted to take it off me because it would be required for “weight reasons.”  Pfft! I pretty much ignored the guy and walked on with my bag,  I never heard a complaint or got removed or accosted by security so I figure they were just trying to get everyone to give up their bags.

The boarding process was pretty quick to but then it is a CRJ so it is not as if there are many people to board.  During the boarding process the loan flight attendant made a bit of a goof.  She welcomed us aboard our flight to “Los Angeles”.  This caused so many people to freak out.  But she ended up correcting herself and we all calmed down.  The good thing was that even though it was a full flight, the CRJ is tight but never feels all that packed to me.  It feels more comfortable than a crammed 737.  Maybe it was the leg room, maybe it was the small windows (though they are annoying), I don’t know the real reason.  The biggest thing for me on these flights is some peace and quiet, enough to sit back, maybe do some work or read a book.

We pushed back 4 minutes late (being mindful the flight arrived 4 mins late, so that is not to bad really) and headed quickly for the 16 take off points.  About half way along we were informed we were #1 for takeoff and would soon be airborne.  Good quick taxi tonight.  Flight time announced as well and the pilot gave their quick walk through while we held at 16L for an arriving jet to touch down.  If they are landing 16L it means that it is 16C for departures.

We pulled up to 16C, the pilot gunned the engines and off we went into the night sky, through a cloud bank about 5000ft and that was it.  Effortless and uneventful.   Isn’t that the way all flights should be?  I was extremly happy to be cruising along, reading and chilling in some peace while my ipod was waiting a few inches away for the 10000ft mark.  Once reached, ipod out, headphones on, into my own world I go.  I pulled out my dinner which would be almost a 3 course affair on this “First Class flight” as it had been described to me, cause everyone was in first class tonight ;).

On tonights menu was a Garden Salad to start:

A Roast Beef Bagel for the main course:

One slight problem though.  I may have forgotten to get napkins… and a fork.. Smart move!  I couldn’t believe how dumb I was.  Luckily i was intending on eating the Salad without dressing or I would of been up the creek.  I ended up eating the salad bit by bit as a I read and had my bagel.  The trash was collected after a drinks run (which I had a club soda in the hopes I would get the whole can… nope).  The flight by this time was just cruising along, no big hassles.  I had my scone while finishing a chapter and then once that was all done I did a little bit of work.

I managed to knock out the introduction to the trip report on the flight and get started on this leg as well by the time we hit descent I had barely realised how close we were to SFO.  I could see plenty of lights out the window as we descended and I packed all my stuff back up.  I had been waiting till then to try and get the tail number of the aircraft as it was to dark to see it on the way onboard (though I knew it was ship #935).  I was told it was N935SW but wasn’t quite sure if that was right, but it was I found out much later.
The flight descended from the north for a big loop around the city, past Oakland, a detour a fair distance south then a right turn onto the final approach.  When the gear was deployed, dear god was it loud and forcefull.  I had never felt or heard any gear deployment that bad and I had flown CRJs before.  Maybe cause I was right above the main gear?  We touched down smooth and taxiied quickly to Terminal 1 which was handy as I could scope out a path for what was only a few hours away.

Once at the gate everyone slowly made their way off and I headed towards the door, glad to be up and walking, though the weather was indeed slightly chilly (about the same as when I had left Seattle though).  As people lined the jetway to await their bag, I slowly strolled out and off I went, towards the hotel shuttles and a very quick nights sleep.

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I am sitting here in the Delta SkyClub at Newark watching the sun rise and it looks pretty awesome as the Aircraft Rotate right in front of me and thinking to the wierdest experience I have had lately.  This morning while on the treadmill at the gym of the Hotel it was the usual mix of middle of the night/way to early sunday morning tv mix.  TV sales, informercials and drug commericals.

The funny thing with Drug commercials in the USA is that they have to list all drug side effects in the ad so that people are informed I guess.  Why they have to do it, I don’t know but either way it is hilarious.  You have this ad where they talk about how good the product is and how amazing everything should be once you start taking it. Then all of a sudden right before the end.  “Side effects include” and then they start rattling off everything that could go wrong.

This is a bit wierd and I am sure there is some law that requires it but when the first side effect they listed (at least for the one I was watching) is “May cause Suicidal Tendencies” I don’t know about you but there is no way I am going to take that drug!  No matter what or how good it is, if the drug is gonna cause me to want to kill myself, I can do that without the drug thanks (not that I want to, life over here is to good).  There is always the usual ones you hear like “accidental death etc” but still, that is weird and creepy.

Something to ponder on this Sunday morning!