Text 25433, 94 rader
Skriven 2015-03-27 05:15:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: bbq trip flights 431
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UA1662 DCA SFO 0825 1147 738 2A

I am leery of smaller aircraft doing transcons and also of
larger aircraft using this airport with its short runways.
The 737-800 has aspects of both and as a result gives me both
sets of willies out of DCA. Turns out that when I wasn't
looking the original specs of this model, which gave a 130-odd
passengers and a 2000-odd-mile range, have been, I don't
know, improved to 160-odd passengers and a 3500-odd-mile
range. I still think in the original terms. Back in the olden
days, there was also a size limit on flights into and out of
DCA, but that too has been adjusted way upward, despite the
loss of one runway over the years. Credit your congresscritters
of both stripes, who countermanded a rule that was set in for
the sake of safety in favor of the advantage of their airline
constituents and the convenience of themselves. The first
stretch was the exemption for Phoenix, but now there's a leap
of faith so that aircraft that were considered barely adequate
for that route are now allowed (granted, under certain somewhat
restricted conditions) to fly all the way across the country
from here.

There is supposed to be an enhanced breakfast on the transcon
premium classes, to go with a shrinkage of the front cabin -
down from 24 seats to 8 to 16. Given the fares I buy, there
would be no chance for an upgrade on an 8, but the odds are
better than even, given my status, with a 16. On this trip
I cleverly chose mostly 16s.

I didn't eat breakfast anyway - it consisted of a hot option
of cheese omelet or a cold one of cereal, milk, and yogurt.
The seat was only relatively comfortable, as the formerly
Continental planes have wretched seats. All in all, not
worth planning and fighting for.

As usual, the cabin crew were pretty decent, mostly ignoring
me as I wanted to be ignored.

I was disappointed by cloud cover over almost all of the US.

UA1679 SFO SEA 1255 1504 738 2F

This was the same plane under a different number, convenient
for me, as normally a 1-hour connection doesn't give me time
to visit the club for a drink; this trip I had enough time
to chug down a couple glasses of orange juice, the need for
alcohol being less than the need for sustenance. I hustled
back and discovered to my mild surprise that the crew had
swapped out. The flight was fine; I had a Courvoisier. On
deplaning I discovered there was time for a cup of mocha made
with decaf and Ghirardelli hot chocolate mix, followed by a
glass of whiskey. And back to the gate.

UA1212 SEA SFO 1612 1820 738 4A

Again, it was the same plane. Again, a different crew, to
my somewhat greater surprise and considerable relief (no
having to explain why I took two 678-mile flights where I
could have stayed put to similar effect. Just as well I'd
had that cheap booze at the club - turns out I'd drunk the
airplane out of Courvoisier on the last leg (i.e. there
was only one).

Yes, I did this turnaround for the miles: United has as of
this month gone to a revenue-based rewards system, so this
kind of behavior is not rewarded any more, but as of when I
began this trip, I got lots of extra credit for flying these
two legs instead of just hanging around the airport or going
out to lunch the way a normal person would.

This time an hour connection didn't allow me to dally, as
I had to change not only planes and gates, but terminals.

UA5238 SFO SAT 1925 0049 E75 2A

This is a much smaller aircraft, but there is also less
competition for first class - after all, what proper business
person flies to San Antonio arriving at 1 am?

Arriving at 1 am I did. Lilli, being a good sport, and
knowing the current state of United's catering, met me at
the gate with a quarter pound - half her dinner from Dallas
that evening - of Cousins BBQ brisket, which was too lean, too
dry, and too scanty, though welcome given the circumstances.

The Doubletree San Antonio Airport provided an adequate
overnight accommodation and was nice enough that we stayed
a second night (we'd originally planned to stay in Lockhart,
the barbecue capital, if the Texans are to be believed, of
the known world).

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