Airport: Portland Oregon (PDX)

Airport Name: Portland International Airport
FAA Sign: PDX
Location: Portland, Oregon USA
Airport Web Site: http://www.portlandairportpdx.com/

One of those "nice size" airports. United runs out of concourse E. There are 2 central security check points, with a food court between them and some stores.

Rental cars are very convenient, right across in the bottom of the parking garage. Nice aiport, easy to get in & out of, but with all the features.

Flight: United #1548 (Ted) Las Vegas-IAD

Departing From: Las Vegas, NV
Traveling To: Washington Dulles (IAD)
ETD: 8:43 AM MST
ETA: 3:59 PM EST
Est. Duration: 4 hr 25 min
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 11A
Equipment: Airbus 320
Miles:
Other:

Changed Seats at check-in to window seat exit row 11A. This is a huge amount of leg room on a Airbus 320 - bonus for a long flight!

Flight: United #1567 (Ted) ORD-Las Vegas

Departing From: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
Traveling To: Las Vegas, NV
ETD: 8:15 PM CST
ETA: 10:18 PM MST
Est. Duration: 4 hr 3 min
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 4C
Equipment: Airbus 320
Miles:
Other:

Still don't get the "Ted" concept. No first class, but everything else is the same. Frankly, it was a newer plane with a better flight crew than I'm used to with United flights.

Changed seats after take off to get some more elbow room. Prertty quiet flight. Everyone seems beat, I know that I am.

Little turbulence, less flight time than normal. Should get in a little early after leaving a little late.

Flight: United Express #5321 PWM-ORD

Departing From: Portland, Maine (PWM)
Traveling To: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
ETD: 5:08 PM EST
ETA: 7:02 PM CST
Est. Duration: 2 hr 54 min
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 3C
Equipment: CRJ 65
Miles:
Other:

Canadare Regional Jet, the CL-65 version. Plane was late taking off,about 30 minutes. I have more than an hour layover at Ohare, so I'm hoping that is enough of a buffer to catch the next flight. Seems like Ohare is busy today. It delayed this flight getting to Portland, and the pilot warned that there could be ATC delays getting into Ohare.

Pretty full flight,but not too bad.

Flight: United #7976 IAD-PWM

Departing From: Washington Dulles (IAD)
Traveling To: Portland, Maine (PWM)
ETD: 4:45 PM EST
ETA:
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate: C20R
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment:
Miles:
Other:

Operated by Trans States Airlines

Flight: United Express #7162 MSP-IAD

Departing From: Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)
Traveling To: Washington Dulles (IAD)
ETD: 5:05 PM CST
ETA: 8:34 PM EST
Est. Duration: 2 hr 54 min
Departure Gate: E10
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 6D
Equipment:
Miles:
Other:

Hotel: Holiday Inn Select MSP

City: Bloomington, Minnesota
Chain: Holiday Inn
Property: Holiday Inn Select - Minneapolis Int'l Airport/Mall of America
Address: Three Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN 55425
Phone Number: 952-854-9000

Check Out: November 10, 2004


I've stayed here many times. Super convenient to the airport (about a 10 minute drive - you can see it when you're landing), close to our clients, close to the highway, close to "Mall of America" which I've been to so many times I'm sick of it.

Sometimes its hard to get in here because Northwest crew seem to use it a bit and other airport related activity. But its an upgrade from a normal Holiday Inn (the "select" part, I guess), nice rooms, resturant and bar inside.


Rating:

• Safety: 1 - OK -- mostly a business area.
  
• Dining: 1 - OK, the breakfast buffet is the best deal. Half price coupon on check in.
  
• Bar: 1 - Happy hour pricing! Hangout for Business Travelers! 2 for 1 coupon on check in!
  
• Internet: 2 - Wired and wireless access, with bonus for free! Weak signal in my room, but I brought a cable. An improvement over previous stay!!!
  
• Wireless in Common Areas: 1 (another improvement)
  
• Work Space, Power: 1
• Shower: 1
• Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
• Common Areas: 1

Total: 10!

Restaurant: Twin Cities Grill, Bloomington MN

City: Bloomington, Minnesota
Location: Mall of America, 1st Floor North Side
Phone: 952-854-0200
Website:

There's nothing worse than being a regular (well, somewhat regular) to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and having to go to the Mall of America over and over. I'm frequently with a collegue that has never been there, and its an obvious thing to see if you're near the airport. However, when you get right down to it, the Mall of American is A SHOPPING MALL. Oh, its a big one, to be sure, but now that the rest of America has been well "malled" there's not a whole lot different other than the scale of the thing. Same Gap. Same "Bath & Body Works". Food court. Blah blah blah.

The amusement park in the middle is an interesting take, but business guys wandering around there don't exactly fit in.

So, the mall is endless levels of the same stores from your home town, with something occaisionally different. One visit is enough. Whenever someone suggests dinner there, my eyes instinctively roll back into my head.

The Twin Cities Grill however, is a plesant reason to have to go to the mall. It's real close to the door, provided you pick the right door, and its a place that's casual but nice. If you want casual, sit in a booth by the bar. If you want nice, sit at a table in the back. The place looks nice, with dark wood, a nice bar (for a mall), and is moderately crowded when I've been there (make a reservation if its for business).

The service was great -- not pushy, allowed us to talk -- drinks and wine were nice, and the menu is laced with some local things. I had the walleye, and there were a number of other fish choices. They have daily specials, and a good selection of different things, usually with a nice spin on them.

A good choice if you have to go to the mall.

(I couldn't find a home page for the Grill, but this link provides some information).

Flight: United #7162 IAD-MSP

Departing From: Washington Dulles (IAD)
Traveling To: Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)
ETD: 2:40 PM EST
ETA: 4:34 PM CST
Est. Duration: 2 hr 54 min
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 4A
Equipment:
Miles: 918
Other: