Flight: Frontier MKE to DCA

The day had all the makings of a disaster. I had to attend a meeting in Milwaukee late in the day, and there aren’t a lot of direct flights between DC and Milwaukee. But, the timing of things seemed like a noon flight up and the last flight back of the day would work thanks to the meeting schedule and the time difference. This would get me back in the office on Tuesday for a pretty full day.

Of course, panic starts to build the day before as we watch the weather report predict very nasty winter storms for Milwaukee. I decided not to panic - weather happens - and if its too bad to travel then its too bad to travel.

The sun comes up the next day and while the news is reporting bad weather, all the flights seem to be on time. So, off to the airport and wait for the plan. A minor delay (15 minutes) is easily attributed to flight issues somewhere across the country.

The plane lands in Milwaukee and it is not snowing badly, but it is cold, mildly windy, and snow is blowing everywhere. The airport seems normal except for all the slushy junk you have to walk through. But, now they are talking about winter weather back in DC. And, I find out the meeting might go long. I was prepared to spend the night if I had to, but I wanted to get back home.

As the meeting was running long I received the page that the flight back was delayed an hour. Well, probably the only time I was glad to have a flight delayed! No problems getting back to the airport, but the snow had kept going all day long.

Thanks to the delay, enough time to get a hot meal for the first time today. And, airport food is soooo delicious! (Actually, not too bad but maybe that’s just because i was so hungry).

On the plane we had to wait for the runway - it was blown over from the wind. Then, two coats of deicer.

As we took off I could watch the snow blow by the aircraft well past 10K feet. Didn't think it would be this high in the air. How do you burn fuel with water pumping into the front of the turbine? Kind of amazing when you think about it.

Now its after midnight. Still, in the air two hours later than expected and wondering what the weather will be like when I land. My advanced scouting team reports sleet, and it sounds very scary against the windows.

IND Round 2

Back out to Indianapolis, meeting different people in the same city. I’ve been there enough that its all familiar except for the new football stadium that sits downtown like an aircraft carrier. The town is filled with excitement about the upcoming NFC championship game, evident in both the signs displayed as well as conversation with the locals.

The flight out had the same cloud cover as last Friday which struck me as odd. Did that weather last all week or is this new weather exactly like the old weather?

The flight home was on another little EMB 135. Maybe the same one, it was the same 4:10 flight on a different day. I had an exit row seat with no one next to me, which is a good as first class, frankly. The only down side is the seats on those little planes don’t have much padding, which gets a little hard after 60 minutes.

I don’t mind the small planes, their seats are usually as spacious as larger planes, which is not exactly an endorsement I realize. They fly smooth enough as well. The only part I hate is getting on and off them because of how far I have to stoop over to walk down the isle.

IND in One Day

A quick little trip to Indianapolis yesterday. I've been there a number of times, last time commenting on the new airport (which I like a lot). I used to do more one-day trips, but with how much of a hassle air travel has become and the cost of missing a meeting its more overnights now. So, yesterday's one day trip was more unusual than in the past. It makes for a long day, catching am 8:30 flight now means getting to the airport by 7 which means leaving the house by 6.

The January weather yesterday was quite nice, it was in the 40s when I was walking into the airport and the sun was hitting the Washington buildings from the low morning angle which brings out all the texture. I had a window seat on the small Embraer 175 on takeoff on the side of the plane looking over the river, and we stayed straight off the runway long enough to watch the sliding show from low over the water and monuments to high above Wisconsin avenue over Bethesda. Just as Rockville was coming into view the plane banked to the west and we were up through the clouds and the ground then becomes that far away picture with no detail.

Indianapolis was cloudy and rainy the whole day, but it was a nice day and we discovered a new place to eat. A good meeting, then back to the airport.

The flight back was on the tiny Embraer 135, and there was solid cloud cover the whole time. The closing sunlight of the day created fantastic light against the cloud layer, and the whole flight back was a very sureal view of another planet. As we landed my seat was now on the wrong side of the plane facing Virginia, but we headed south of the airport to turn around a head up the river. The fading sunlight and the time of day when all the artificial lighting is turning on below created another beautiful visual experience as all the cars clogged the roads for rush hour and the cities were lighting up with their own nightlife. As the plane backed to the left to head up the river I could see where the Potomac dumps into the Cheasapeake Bay and could see much of the bay off in the horizon stretching up to the north.

As we came up to the runway the pilot had to make a last minute dip to the left to stay aligned which created that unnerving experience of watching the wing lean down to touch the water. This is more typical of the smaller planes, the larger ones have too much inertia for a manuvure like that. We touched down and the airport terminal whizzed by as it only can at DCA where the airport is so small.

The small plane stopped and we had to climb down the stairs to the little bus to take us into the terminal. The little plane was too small to be given a jetway, so there's a parking lot for them away from the terminal. I like getting off the planes like this as you get to stretch your legs on the tarmac and enjoy the smells and sounds of the airport in operation.

Not a bad day, with a good meeting with nice people and two nice little plane rides.

Flight: AirTran 801 DFW-BWI

Departing From: Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW)
Traveling To: Baltimore, MD (BWI)
ETD: 4:08PM August 12, 2008 CST (Actual 4:20 PM)
ETA: 8:38PM August 12, 2008 EST (Actual 8:08 PM)
Est. Duration: 3 h 30 m (Actual 3 h)
Departure Gate: E17
Arrival Gate: 27
Seat: 22D
Equipment: Boeing 717
Miles:
Other:

Exit row seat, so not too bad. Long flight - seat wouldn't stay up. No one in the middle seat, which is especially nice on a long flight. Was able to open the laptop and get work done for a change.

Left a few minutes late, arrived about a half hour early which is especially sweet. A little turbulence, but nothing bad.

Flight: US Air 3088 DCA-IND

Flight: US Air 2043 BOS-DCA

Departing From: Indianapolis, IN (IND)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (DCA
ETD: 4:10PM February 18, 2008
ETA: 6:15PM February 18, 2008
Est. Duration: 1 h 30 m
Departure Gate: D1
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 9D
Equipment: Embraer 135
Miles:
Other:

We had made a pack to avoid US Air, and this reminded us why. Switched to an earlier flight because we got to the airport way earlier, and the flight was delayed back to the time of the original flight. US Air's ability to hit schedules is getting very bad.

Flight: US Air #3088 IND-DCA

US Air flight 3088 from Indianapolis to Washington Reagan, sat seat 11A, we got airport early and we were able to catch a flight should've missed or delayed two hours early. Tiny little Embraer 175, about 5 feet of headroom in this little guy.

Flight: American #1442 ORD-DCA

Departing From: Chicago, IL (ORD)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (DCA)
ETD: 4:10PM September 26, 2007 CST (Actual 5:30 PM)
ETA: 6:15PM September 26, 2007 EST
Est. Duration: 2 h 30 m
Departure Gate: H4
Arrival Gate: 28
Seat: 31D
Equipment: MD-80
Miles:
Other:

Full flight, way in the back next to the engines. Thank God for Etoymonic Isolator earphones. Two days of endless stress traveling due to delays, wait listed flights, and no hotels available in the Ohare area. This one left reasonably on-time and was just glad when it was over.

Do yourself a favor and avoid Chicago Ohare whenever possible. Its a chaotic place without customer service and few options if there is a problem. Gates change frequently and you'll never hear the announcements. Gate agents are overloaded, customer service counters are non-existent or unstaffed, food choices are bad or too busy to use.

Had to grab a sandwich from Starbucks - the only portable things available outside McDonald's as our gate was changed three times. Back of an MD-80 has good things - the left side is a galley area so less passengers (meaning less crowded, less noise, less luggage, etc.), but the engines mounted on the side are noisy so plan accordingly.

Flight: Southwest #2997 JAN-BWI

Departing From: Jackson, MS (JAN)
Traveling To: Baltimore, MD (BWI)
ETD: 2:55PM September 14, 2007
ETA: 6:15PM September 14, 2007
Est. Duration: 2 h 30 m
Departure Gate: 4
Arrival Gate: B something
Seat:
Equipment: Boeing 737
Miles:
Other:

Flight was not very crowded, a little turbulent with the remainder of a hurricane we were flying through.

Flight: Southwest #1161 BWI-JAN

Departing From: Baltimore, MD (BWI)
Traveling To: Jackson, MS (JAN)
ETD: 5:30PM September 13, 2007
ETA: 6:30PM September 13, 2007
Est. Duration: 2 h 30 m
Departure Gate: A-4
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: Boeing 737
Miles:
Other:

Full flight, typical Southwest experience...

Flight: Southwest #133 MCI-BWI

Departing From: Kansas City, MS (MCI)
Traveling To: Baltimore, MD (BWI)
ETD: 7:20PM (CST) August 29, 2007
ETA: 10:40PM (EST) August 29, 2007
Est. Duration: 2 h 30 m
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: Boeing 737
Miles:
Other:

Flight: US Air 2043 BOS-DCA

Departing From: Boston, MA (BOS)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (DCA)
ETD: 4:45PM August 27, 2007
ETA: 6:15PM August 27, 2007
Est. Duration: 1 h 30 m
Departure Gate: B-18
Arrival Gate: 43
Seat: 18C
Equipment: Airbus 319
Miles:
Other:

Switched to an earlier flight - got back to the airport sooner than expected. Nice an empty, no one in the aisle with me. US Air tried the $25 stand by fee again then waived it. Silly.

Ear pain from air pressure in cabin again. Only happens on Airbus 319... Ear didn't clear until tomorrow morning.

Flight: US Air 2028 DCA-BOS

Departing From: Washington, DC (DCA)
Traveling To: Boston, MA (BOS)
ETD: 9:45PM August 27, 2007
ETA: 11:15AM August 27, 2007
Est. Duration: 1 h 30 m
Departure Gate: 45
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 10C
Equipment: Airbus 319
Miles:
Other:

Supposed to go 8:45 on 2026 - messed up tickets, changed to 9:45. US Air is trying to charge $25 for a "stand by fee", waiving it for now. Probably to let us get used to the idea. Note to self, avoid US Air. This was a full fare charge on the Shuttle, for cryin' out loud.

Flight: American #1879 DCA-MIA

Departing From: Washington, DC (DCA)
Traveling To: Miami, FL (MIA)
ETD: 7:15AM August 6, 2007
ETA: 9:40AM August 6, 2007
Est. Duration: 2 h
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment:
Miles:
Other:

Flight: American #1290 MIA-DCA

Departing From: Miami, FL (MIA)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (DCA)
ETD: 7:15PM August 6, 2007
ETA: 9:40AM August 6, 2007
Est. Duration: 2 h
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment:
Miles:
Other:

Flight: United #5351 SAT-IAD

Departing From: San Antonio, TX (SAT)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (IAD)
ETD: 12:02PM February 14, 2007 (actual: 3:00 PM)
ETA: 3:20PM February 14, 2007 (actual: 7:00 PM)
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate: 16
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment:
Miles:
Other:

I was supposed to be on a 1-stop through O'hare. But there was winter weather all up the northeast portion of the country which killed schedules everywhere. This was a flight that was supposed to leave before I got to the airport, but it was delayed because Dulles was closed. So, I was able to get on, which was a double bonus:

My connection through O'hare was cancelled later.
The equipment and crew were here, so I knew this flight would get there once Dulles was open.

So, ended up home a little later than original, but I did much better than I would have with the original tickets!

Flight: US Air #2043 BOS-DCA

Departing From: Boston, MA (BOS)
Traveling To: Washington, DC (DCA)
ETD: 04:45PM January 23, 2007
ETA: 06:20PM January 23, 2007
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: Airbus A319
Miles:
Other:

Flight: US Air #978 CLT-BOS

Departing From: Charlotte, NC (CLT)
Traveling To: Boston, MA (BOS)
ETD: 09:30PM January 22, 2007
ETA: 11:24PM January 22, 2007
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: Boeing 757-200
Miles:
Other:

Flight: US Air #2362 Gainsville, FL-CLT

Departing From: Gainesville, FL
Traveling To: Charlotte, NC (CLT)
ETD: 07:10PM January 22, 2007
ETA: 08:30PM January 22, 2007
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: CRJ50
Miles:
Other:

Flight: US Air #2401 CLT-Gainesville, FL

Departing From: Charlotte, NC (CLT)
Traveling To: Gainesville, FL
ETD: 09:19AM January 22, 2007
ETA: 10:36AM January 22, 2007
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: CRJ50
Miles:
Other:

Flight: US Air #1680 DCA-CLT

Departing From: Washington, DC (DCA)
Traveling To: Charlotte, NC (CLT)
ETD: 06:59AM January 22, 2007
ETA: 09:19AM January 22, 2007
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment: Airbus A320
Miles:
Other: