This is the third of three trips to Jax I was able to purchase for about $99 ++ each, thanks in part to Independence Air.
Sa DL 0408 dep Iad 0830 arr Atl 1027 MD88 seat 04B
Sa DL 0942 dep Atl 1205 arr Jax 1308 MD88 seat 02B
Su DL 0483 dep Jax 1600 arr Atl 1715 B757 seat 03D
Su DL 0373 dep Atl 1859 arr Iad 2054 MD88 seat 11E
I began my day with a stop at Einstein Bros for a bagel and coffee to enjoy on the longish drive out to Dulles Airport. Once outside the Beltway I noticed the light precipitation was increasing. I parked in parking structure number two - the closest to the terminal building and connected by a covered walkway. So nice not to have to shovel out the car on my return.
The line at security was the longest I have seen at this same time of day so far this year. After clearing this hurdle I walked through the tunnel to the "B" concourse. Boarding for zone one "which includes our first class cabin" had just begun. It had taken one hour from car to departure gate.
Preflight beverages were offered. We pushed back on time after accomodating the last few standbys and took off to the south. We took a few bumps on the way up to altitude and the rest of the trip was uneventful. We landed at Atl to the west.
I made my way via the transportation module from my arrival "B" gate to my departure "A" gate. I had plenty of time. This flight like most these days was full - not oversold. I did pass the gate of a departure for SJU that was oversold and the gate agent was recruiting volunteers.
We were offered preflight beverages. I accepted. We took off to the west for a very bumpy climbout. Due to the turbulence there was no cabin service. We landed at Jax to the west.
I went straight to Hertz and picked up my car, a Hyundia Sonata, not the small car I had reserved. I did not complain as I saw nothing smaller in the lot. The car drove well. I liked it. My original reservation, about a month ago, would cost nearly $60 for 24 hrs. I rebooked a car a couple of days ago and the total fell to $28 inclusive of tax and fees. It pays to check and recheck.
I headed straight to St. Augustine and an enjoyable lunch at the Manatee Cafe. I did quite a bit of sightseeing at the St. Augustine beaches as well as back on the mainland. So much has changed. Random sights: The Erotic Cafe; the Islamic Center; lots of tanning salons. This is Florida. It rained all day.
It was evening by the time I arrived back in the airport area and checked into my room at the Hilton Garden Inn. My fourth floor room overlooked the pool and jaccuzzi. Sad to see those attractive features go unused. It continued to rain.
Once settled into my room I went back downstairs to check in using the hotel's computer and internet access in the business center. I also checked the Weather Channel, The Washington Post site and the availability tool for flight prospects for the next day. I was not able to print my boarding passes. I received a message to enter a special password to release my printout. No one at the front desk knew anything about passwords for printing and had never used this computer. I noticed five other print jobs waiting from various airlines. Not a good place to print here.
I checked out of my hotel around 11 a.m. Sunday and was glad to see bright sunshine. But it had turned cold and windy. Can't have it all. I paid a visit to the Jacksonville Landing and walked about a bit. Only a few hardy souls walking the promonade along the river.
I then sought out 1616 Hendricks Avenue and the site of a new Panera Bakery. I was surprised to find the new building at La Salle Street and Hendricks. Now for some history. A scant forty years ago I once lived two blocks from here. And about fifteen years ago there was a Club Baths on this real estate. Now it is a very popular Panera Bakery, so popular I had to wait for someone to leave to park in their large lot. Once inside I enjoyed a bagle and cup of coffee. They had some interesting looking breads and nice looking buns on display (just like at the Club Baths).
I turned in my rental car about two hours before flight time. Once in the terminal I noticed that Delta's flights to NYC and Bos had been cancelled as well as the US departures to Phl.
Security was interesting. I saw no path to the other side that did not wind its way through one of two "puffer" machines. Something new all the time.
I received a battlefield upgrade at the gate once zone one began boarding. We had one unassigned seat and an ample supply of standbys. I enjoyed a glass of wine as my preflight beverage. After pushing back on time we paused for about fifteen minutes near the departure runway before taking off and this was done after running up the engines a bit before releasing the brakes. We took off to the west for a rocky ride up to cruise altitude. It was too rough for cabin service and the pilot only allowed the cabin crew to get out of their seats for a brief check of the cabin prior to landing.
We landed at Atl to the west and arrived at gate B23. It was nice being in my departure concourse. I walked down to gate B01 for my flight to Iad where my upgrade luck ran out. I had a nice window seat and an interesting seatmate: a retired Army officer currently working for DOD as a consultant. He had traveled and worked in some interesting places around the world and had some interesting insights to share. The choppy flight was over in no time it seemed. There was one beverage service.
We landed at Iad and parked at the "B" gates. Just across the hall was the departure lounge for the last AF flight of the evening to Paris which was scheduled to depart in little more than an our. The aircraft was present at the gate and about forty pax were already assembled in the boarding area which seemed a modle of serentiy and order. We SkyTeam veterans know this is just a show.
Once in the main terminal I walked back to my car in parking structure number 2 and hit the road for home. I was glad to see good driving conditions. No problems here.
Sa DL 0408 dep Iad 0830 arr Atl 1027 MD88 seat 04B
Sa DL 0942 dep Atl 1205 arr Jax 1308 MD88 seat 02B
Su DL 0483 dep Jax 1600 arr Atl 1715 B757 seat 03D
Su DL 0373 dep Atl 1859 arr Iad 2054 MD88 seat 11E
I began my day with a stop at Einstein Bros for a bagel and coffee to enjoy on the longish drive out to Dulles Airport. Once outside the Beltway I noticed the light precipitation was increasing. I parked in parking structure number two - the closest to the terminal building and connected by a covered walkway. So nice not to have to shovel out the car on my return.
The line at security was the longest I have seen at this same time of day so far this year. After clearing this hurdle I walked through the tunnel to the "B" concourse. Boarding for zone one "which includes our first class cabin" had just begun. It had taken one hour from car to departure gate.
Preflight beverages were offered. We pushed back on time after accomodating the last few standbys and took off to the south. We took a few bumps on the way up to altitude and the rest of the trip was uneventful. We landed at Atl to the west.
I made my way via the transportation module from my arrival "B" gate to my departure "A" gate. I had plenty of time. This flight like most these days was full - not oversold. I did pass the gate of a departure for SJU that was oversold and the gate agent was recruiting volunteers.
We were offered preflight beverages. I accepted. We took off to the west for a very bumpy climbout. Due to the turbulence there was no cabin service. We landed at Jax to the west.
I went straight to Hertz and picked up my car, a Hyundia Sonata, not the small car I had reserved. I did not complain as I saw nothing smaller in the lot. The car drove well. I liked it. My original reservation, about a month ago, would cost nearly $60 for 24 hrs. I rebooked a car a couple of days ago and the total fell to $28 inclusive of tax and fees. It pays to check and recheck.
I headed straight to St. Augustine and an enjoyable lunch at the Manatee Cafe. I did quite a bit of sightseeing at the St. Augustine beaches as well as back on the mainland. So much has changed. Random sights: The Erotic Cafe; the Islamic Center; lots of tanning salons. This is Florida. It rained all day.
It was evening by the time I arrived back in the airport area and checked into my room at the Hilton Garden Inn. My fourth floor room overlooked the pool and jaccuzzi. Sad to see those attractive features go unused. It continued to rain.
Once settled into my room I went back downstairs to check in using the hotel's computer and internet access in the business center. I also checked the Weather Channel, The Washington Post site and the availability tool for flight prospects for the next day. I was not able to print my boarding passes. I received a message to enter a special password to release my printout. No one at the front desk knew anything about passwords for printing and had never used this computer. I noticed five other print jobs waiting from various airlines. Not a good place to print here.
I checked out of my hotel around 11 a.m. Sunday and was glad to see bright sunshine. But it had turned cold and windy. Can't have it all. I paid a visit to the Jacksonville Landing and walked about a bit. Only a few hardy souls walking the promonade along the river.
I then sought out 1616 Hendricks Avenue and the site of a new Panera Bakery. I was surprised to find the new building at La Salle Street and Hendricks. Now for some history. A scant forty years ago I once lived two blocks from here. And about fifteen years ago there was a Club Baths on this real estate. Now it is a very popular Panera Bakery, so popular I had to wait for someone to leave to park in their large lot. Once inside I enjoyed a bagle and cup of coffee. They had some interesting looking breads and nice looking buns on display (just like at the Club Baths).
I turned in my rental car about two hours before flight time. Once in the terminal I noticed that Delta's flights to NYC and Bos had been cancelled as well as the US departures to Phl.
Security was interesting. I saw no path to the other side that did not wind its way through one of two "puffer" machines. Something new all the time.
I received a battlefield upgrade at the gate once zone one began boarding. We had one unassigned seat and an ample supply of standbys. I enjoyed a glass of wine as my preflight beverage. After pushing back on time we paused for about fifteen minutes near the departure runway before taking off and this was done after running up the engines a bit before releasing the brakes. We took off to the west for a rocky ride up to cruise altitude. It was too rough for cabin service and the pilot only allowed the cabin crew to get out of their seats for a brief check of the cabin prior to landing.
We landed at Atl to the west and arrived at gate B23. It was nice being in my departure concourse. I walked down to gate B01 for my flight to Iad where my upgrade luck ran out. I had a nice window seat and an interesting seatmate: a retired Army officer currently working for DOD as a consultant. He had traveled and worked in some interesting places around the world and had some interesting insights to share. The choppy flight was over in no time it seemed. There was one beverage service.
We landed at Iad and parked at the "B" gates. Just across the hall was the departure lounge for the last AF flight of the evening to Paris which was scheduled to depart in little more than an our. The aircraft was present at the gate and about forty pax were already assembled in the boarding area which seemed a modle of serentiy and order. We SkyTeam veterans know this is just a show.
Once in the main terminal I walked back to my car in parking structure number 2 and hit the road for home. I was glad to see good driving conditions. No problems here.
He loves only gold. He loves gold. And platinum, too.
