Text 23035, 90 rader
Skriven 2012-03-29 12:10:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: feb trip report 436
===========================
Boston to Williamsport the long way.

BOS-IAD-SFO-ORD-PHL-IPT cost maybe a hundred more than
BOS-IPT alone, and by routing through Dulles I got a
bunch more miles and the chance to fly on the three-cabin
777. All I lost was a day of my life, but I got a fair
amount of enjoyment out of it.

UA 282 BOS IAD 0545 0728 752 2F

A line of thirty at security. Reasonably quick. I timed
things right - got to the gate 10 minutes ahead at which
time the new multistage boarding was being minutely
described to the assembled multitude. The procedure itself
was a cluster as expected, with Visa card holders and those
horrid lowly Premier Executives clogging up the still-red
carpet and having to give way to the 24 overentitled
first-class passengers and assorted superelites of various
kinds. A slightly threadbare but familiarly comfortable plane.

The captain enthusiastically recommended that we listen in
to air traffic control on Channel 9. As this is one of my
favorite things to do on the airplane, I gleefully complied.

I remembered the jolly but ditzy FA from another flight;
she had to come back to recheck after I requested orange
juice ... this sort of thing happened on the previous
encounter as well. Very agreeable; I mentioned to my bud KK
on that first trip that she reminded me of her but of course
nowhere near as on the ball. I don't know if there was any
onboard service, as I slept through the flight, with the
comforting sounds of Channel 9 in my ears.

UA 846 IAD SFO 0825 1121 777 9K

They had switched out to the new configuration 777,
generally a source of great rejoicement, as one gets a
(gasp) bed to snooze away one's day in; unfortunately I
prefer the old version seats. This aircraft does have
regular 110V outlets rather than the weird Empower ports,
which is many points in its favor.

Though this was a newly refurnished aircraft, my seat had
been worn into a deep bucket, or perhaps the business-class
buttocks that they were designed for are larger than mine by
a fair margin. Anyhow, the sitting was rather uncomfortable,
but the lying down was much better (but I had not intended
to do so).

Again, Channel 9 was announced from the cockpit.

After a bumpy start, a most overcooked breakfast, probably
the result of the flight attendants having to stay seated
longer then normal, came out.

The usual egg puck, not bad tasting, was more resilient than
usual; on the side was this utterly horrid sausage made out
of what seem to be mechanically separated meat, undersalted,
and nuked to an especially unappetizing shade of gray - I
wouldn't be surprised if it came out that it was woodchuck
or human or spotted owl flesh.

The au gratin potato, which I usually find the best part
of this meal, was ruined by being adulterated with ground-up
broccoli but redeemed (double ruined for me) by a nice layer
of deeply browned cheese on top.

On the side, a reasonably flaky croissant that had been made
with margarine, so the side packet of butter was necessary.

Some kind of pink yogurt in a nice china dish (as opposed to
the plastic carton of yore) - I ignored this of course.

The fruit appetizer, which I usually eat last, because of
its initial almost frozen coldness, was notable for superbly
sweet and tasty grapes.

One flight attendant with whom I have had issues (last time
I left him cringing in the corner) was working this flight,
and I noticed that he avoided my glare. Later on in the trip
he put on sunglasses (!) before approaching and asking me if
I would like something to drink. I said Courvoisier, and all
was well. I don't think I'm making this up.

We landed a few minutes early. It's generally the flights
that I wouldn't mind staying on that land early.

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