This was to be another typical trip on Delta. Just another of the ten or so I purchased for pocket change when it was on sale. I flew from DCA to ATL to SFO
and returned the next day the same way. All flights were on B757's except the first segment on an MD88. My upgrade for my first segment cleared five
days out. Right after pushback our pilot announced a 28 minute ATC delay for our takeoff. At the appointed time we took off to the north for a smooth flight
to ATL. Preflight beverages were offered and the standard snack and beverage service was available. We landed in ATL to the east on runway 10 which added to
our already late arrival. Then we waited ten minutes for a gate agent to became available to operate the jetway.
I hurried from my arrival concourse "E", the aircraft was headed to San Salvador, to my departure out of A24 where boarding was nearly complete and they were calling my name. No upgrade but I had pleasant and congenial seatmates. Odd. I had seen no hotties on either of my planes today. If I can't ride in first class I should at least have some good looking scenery.
We had the snack and beverage twice on the way to California. About forty minutes from our destination our pilot announced that we would be landing soon in San Jose. I told my seatmates that he must have just slipped up. "He flies so much he gets the names of airports mixed up". Twenty minutes later he announced that we were in final approach to San Jose. I looked out the window and it was true. He also told us we were stopping at SJC due to weather problems at SFO.
We landed to the north and taxied to a stand near one of the terminals. We had no jetway. Just stairs and an open door to let in fresh air and some sunshine. Then a fuel truck arrived and did its work. The door closed and once all pax were seated again we taxied out and took off to the north and flew up the Bay to SFO where we landed on runway 28R. This is the shortest mainline jet flight I have ever been on.
I rode my hotel's shuttle to the Hampton Inn, Burlingame. Once registered I went into the biz center and checked in for my return flight and printed my boarding passes. The Delta screen announced that my flight the next day was oversold.
I had a good meal at Herbivore on Valencia an old standby. I also purchased some take away food for the flight the next day. I went to bed relatively early.
I got up too, too early for my 0600 flight. I shuttled to the terminal. I sailed through security screening thanks to the Delta elite line; otherwise, I would have had a substantial wait. I took a front row seat at my gate and waited for the call for volunteers. Instead our friendly gate agent announced a full flight, no seat changes and no need for volunteers. I received a last minute upgrade and took my seat in biz class (this flight number continues to Moscow). We were offered preflight beverages and our pilot told us to expect a rough flight. We took off to the north on 1R where we flew quickly into overcast. Our flight was smooth. I fell asleep after breakfast. We landed at ATL to the east.
We parked at a "B" gate and I rode the train over to the "A" concourse and the official DCA gates, A03 and A05. Our gate agent arrived soon and I heard him tell several standbys that they had no chance of flying to DCA on the next two flights. He told them that both flights were oversold. I sprang from my seat and offered my services as a volunteer. He told me that he would be able to seat everyone without using volunteers. I was number twelve of thirty pax on the upgrade list competing for one first class seat. It went to a congressman. They walked him up after boarding. We took off to the east for a smooth flight to DCA. I was lucky. I had an excellent seatmate. We landed at DCA to the north on runway 1.
I have wondered why upgrades were so easy to get last weekend and were difficult just a week later for the same itinerary. Last weekend was a holiday with a greater proportion of leisure travelers. Most hotties (plentiful last week) have little or no airline status, although they stand tall with me.
I hurried from my arrival concourse "E", the aircraft was headed to San Salvador, to my departure out of A24 where boarding was nearly complete and they were calling my name. No upgrade but I had pleasant and congenial seatmates. Odd. I had seen no hotties on either of my planes today. If I can't ride in first class I should at least have some good looking scenery.
We had the snack and beverage twice on the way to California. About forty minutes from our destination our pilot announced that we would be landing soon in San Jose. I told my seatmates that he must have just slipped up. "He flies so much he gets the names of airports mixed up". Twenty minutes later he announced that we were in final approach to San Jose. I looked out the window and it was true. He also told us we were stopping at SJC due to weather problems at SFO.
We landed to the north and taxied to a stand near one of the terminals. We had no jetway. Just stairs and an open door to let in fresh air and some sunshine. Then a fuel truck arrived and did its work. The door closed and once all pax were seated again we taxied out and took off to the north and flew up the Bay to SFO where we landed on runway 28R. This is the shortest mainline jet flight I have ever been on.
I rode my hotel's shuttle to the Hampton Inn, Burlingame. Once registered I went into the biz center and checked in for my return flight and printed my boarding passes. The Delta screen announced that my flight the next day was oversold.
I had a good meal at Herbivore on Valencia an old standby. I also purchased some take away food for the flight the next day. I went to bed relatively early.
I got up too, too early for my 0600 flight. I shuttled to the terminal. I sailed through security screening thanks to the Delta elite line; otherwise, I would have had a substantial wait. I took a front row seat at my gate and waited for the call for volunteers. Instead our friendly gate agent announced a full flight, no seat changes and no need for volunteers. I received a last minute upgrade and took my seat in biz class (this flight number continues to Moscow). We were offered preflight beverages and our pilot told us to expect a rough flight. We took off to the north on 1R where we flew quickly into overcast. Our flight was smooth. I fell asleep after breakfast. We landed at ATL to the east.
We parked at a "B" gate and I rode the train over to the "A" concourse and the official DCA gates, A03 and A05. Our gate agent arrived soon and I heard him tell several standbys that they had no chance of flying to DCA on the next two flights. He told them that both flights were oversold. I sprang from my seat and offered my services as a volunteer. He told me that he would be able to seat everyone without using volunteers. I was number twelve of thirty pax on the upgrade list competing for one first class seat. It went to a congressman. They walked him up after boarding. We took off to the east for a smooth flight to DCA. I was lucky. I had an excellent seatmate. We landed at DCA to the north on runway 1.
I have wondered why upgrades were so easy to get last weekend and were difficult just a week later for the same itinerary. Last weekend was a holiday with a greater proportion of leisure travelers. Most hotties (plentiful last week) have little or no airline status, although they stand tall with me.
