the_traveler
Engineer
On 7/25/09, I departed from Providence (area) to go to Portland, OR for a month. Due to time constraints, I had to fly out, but I will take Amtrak back. Normally a flight does not belong in an AU trip report, but because of the situation (which I will explain later), it does qualify to be included!
In keeping with my reputation (and the title of this trip report), the trip included on 7/25 segments A-B-C by air. I flew Continental Airlines, and due to being able to transfer to AGR at 1:1 – and I plan on doing so (along with some of my other miles), I actually earned 2,533 AGR points by flying!
(I can actually earn more AGR points by flying than if I took the train! :lol: And I got a great one way flight fare - $112!)
I departed PVD (the airport) at 5 PM. I should say we (there were 2 of us) departed at 5 – but the plane pulled back from the gate 10 minutes early. We then got a ground hold prior to leaving the airport for ……… 10 minutes! So why leave the gate 10 minutes early? Something’s not right here! :huh:
Arrival into EWR (the airport) was on time or a few minutes early. However, the landing was very hard! (Even though this was my first time flying since early 2005, I could tell the landing was very hard!)
At EWR, we had dinner – as it was after 6 PM – at one of the restaurants at the airport. The place we chose was Ruby’s Diner – and we had cheeseburgers! (The irony of this choice will be later! )
When we returned to the gate, we attempted to ask if we could volunteer to be bumped! (I knew that the flight was full!) They did not need volunteers, as they did have enough seats. However, when we checked in, we were given 2 seats in 2 different rows. (I could not pre-block seats when I purchased the tickets!)
They did have 2 together! Those 2 were in ……. The exit row! (Can you say more legroom! ) And as it turned out, the other person in the row got upgraded to First Class – so the middle seat was open! (I didn’t complain!)
We did not depart from the gate for 30 minutes (late)! (It was beginning to feel like I was on Amtrak! :lol: )
They advertised 1 movie would be shown on westbound flights. So I was debating about getting headphones for the movie. But the offer won out! Continental sells the headphones for $1, and you can keep then to be used after the flight. They are small earbud type earphones – and the jack fits my scanner perfectly!
Continental is the only domestic airline that offers a free meal on their domestic flights! Because out flight departed (or at least was scheduled to depart) at 8:35 PM, we received a snack meal. The main portion – a cheeseburger!
It turned out that they did not show just a movie! Instead, they showed 2 movies – and 3 TV episodes!
Arrival into PDX (the airport) was 1 hour early! (That didn’t feel like Amtrak! :lol: )
………………..
My impressions for my first flight in 4 years – not to good!
Although my flights were good, I’m glad that I got the row with the extra legroom for the longest flight. However, the other flight had thee “regular” (tight) pitch found on planes. And I’ll take Amtrak’s "security” any day instead of the airport security checkpoints!
……………….
During my stay, I plan on riding Portland’s Tri-Met system, and if the Amtrak gods are with me, the new PDX-VAC run! If not, just the LONG train trip home on 8/21!
To be continued – next season ……. !
In keeping with my reputation (and the title of this trip report), the trip included on 7/25 segments A-B-C by air. I flew Continental Airlines, and due to being able to transfer to AGR at 1:1 – and I plan on doing so (along with some of my other miles), I actually earned 2,533 AGR points by flying!
(I can actually earn more AGR points by flying than if I took the train! :lol: And I got a great one way flight fare - $112!)I departed PVD (the airport) at 5 PM. I should say we (there were 2 of us) departed at 5 – but the plane pulled back from the gate 10 minutes early. We then got a ground hold prior to leaving the airport for ……… 10 minutes!
So why leave the gate 10 minutes early? Something’s not right here! :huh:Arrival into EWR (the airport) was on time or a few minutes early. However, the landing was very hard! (Even though this was my first time flying since early 2005, I could tell the landing was very hard!)
At EWR, we had dinner – as it was after 6 PM – at one of the restaurants at the airport. The place we chose was Ruby’s Diner – and we had cheeseburgers! (The irony of this choice will be later!
)When we returned to the gate, we attempted to ask if we could volunteer to be bumped! (I knew that the flight was full!) They did not need volunteers, as they did have enough seats. However, when we checked in, we were given 2 seats in 2 different rows. (I could not pre-block seats when I purchased the tickets!)
They did have 2 together! Those 2 were in ……. The exit row!
(Can you say more legroom! ) And as it turned out, the other person in the row got upgraded to First Class – so the middle seat was open! (I didn’t complain!)We did not depart from the gate for 30 minutes (late)! (It was beginning to feel like I was on Amtrak! :lol: )
They advertised 1 movie would be shown on westbound flights. So I was debating about getting headphones for the movie. But the offer won out! Continental sells the headphones for $1, and you can keep then to be used after the flight. They are small earbud type earphones – and the jack fits my scanner perfectly!
Continental is the only domestic airline that offers a free meal on their domestic flights! Because out flight departed (or at least was scheduled to depart) at 8:35 PM, we received a snack meal. The main portion – a cheeseburger!
It turned out that they did not show just a movie! Instead, they showed 2 movies – and 3 TV episodes!
Arrival into PDX (the airport) was 1 hour early! (That didn’t feel like Amtrak! :lol: )
………………..
My impressions for my first flight in 4 years – not to good!
Although my flights were good, I’m glad that I got the row with the extra legroom for the longest flight. However, the other flight had thee “regular” (tight) pitch found on planes. And I’ll take Amtrak’s "security” any day instead of the airport security checkpoints!
……………….
During my stay, I plan on riding Portland’s Tri-Met system, and if the Amtrak gods are with me, the new PDX-VAC run! If not, just the LONG
train trip home on 8/21!To be continued – next season ……. !
