Text 4309, 64 rader
Skriven 2013-09-04 02:17:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: trip 107
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First shuttle to the airport at 5 am, which would get me to the
airport about 45 min before the flight. PreCheck, don't fail me
now! It didn't, as it shouldn't as I currently qualify two ways,
airline-sponsored and government-licensed, and I was at the gate
15 min before boarding, which was slightly chaotic, as they were
going to bump people, and then they were not going to bump
people. They ended up not bumping.

UA4724 DCA CLE 0600 0720 ER4 3A

This aircraft is I believe the only jungle jet (it's called this
because it's made in Brazil; it's also called the barbie jet
because of its diminutiveness) that comes close to as uncomfortable
as the Canadian equivalents. I had the best seat of a bad lot, the
closest to the front single seat not by the galley. The flight was
very sleepable despite the cramped nature of the whole aircraft;
nonetheless I decided to have them put my United number in for the
next flight, and my seat miraculously morphed from 22A to 1A.
Unfortunately I don't like 1A, but 4F was available, so I snapped
it up.

UA1264 CLE TPA 0847 1115 738 4F

The portlyish gent next to me had a B&C, so I figured I'd live
dangerously and try a Courvoisier, which was good. We chatted
until he went to sleep, whereupon I followed his good example and
as is my wont woke within three seconds before the landing gear
hit pavement (the secret: the engine noise changes). During our
brief conversation I deliberately steered away from how long I
was going to be staying in this fair city (45 minutes) and why
(it didn't cost any extra, and I got two more segments).

United comes in in the "A Airside," from which you take a train
to the terminal, then US Air leaves from the "F Airside," which
is a diagonal hike across the terminal and another train ride
and another security session. The F Airside doesn't have the
PreCheck, so I steeled myself for missing the flight. Security
was pretty quick, and I didn't have any problem.

US1884 TPA PHL 1200 1433 734 4C

Unfortunately, when my United number went in for that other
flight, it wiped out my US Air number not only for that flight
but also for the rest of the itinerary, so I no longer qualified
for first class on this flight. I went to the desk to change it
back, but by the time this took, all the upgrade seats were gone,
despite a lengthy attempt by an agent who looked uncannily like
Lilli, which I took for a good sign. 4C is actually a terrific
seat, but it doesn't come with free booze or a snack. I had a
Coke instead (in coach you get half a can and a lot of ice, so
this represented only a modest dose of caffeine).

My seatmate was a rather attractive little brunette about my age
who was flying to Greece to see her boyfriend, who having retired
from the Swedish merchant marine is now the captain of a tall
ship that serves as a training vessel for high-school kids aiming
for a maritime career. Our conversation, despite my total lack of
sailing knowledge, lasted the whole flight and was not interrupted
even by some audacious flying around and occasionally through an
agglomeration of nimbus clouds.

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