DeltaRules
11-30-2004, 06:54 PM
US Airways 1235 CMH-CLT
Airbus A319 N765US
November 24, 2004
[photoid=21185]
We got to the airport around 7am for our first leg of the day, another A319 to CLT. Boarding seemed to go very quickly...US Airways now has the dreaded & retarded Zone Boarding process, which I still hate. We taxied to runway 10R, where a US 737-300 headed to PHL (which had departed earlier & must have been sitting there for at least half an hour) & an ERJ were holding on the pad at the end of the runway. As they stayed there, we were able to depart before them. Takeoff was quick & we climbed to FL310. It was cloudy for most of the flight...a few bumps here & there. Not a lot happened on this flight, which is why the description's so short. After 1 hour 10 minutes, we landed & taxied to gate D3. My mom & I are fans of Nathan's Hot Dogs & wanted to get a couple from there before we headed to the SXM flight, but the stand was closed, so we continued to gate B11 for:
US Airways 877 CLT-SXM
Boeing 757-200 N601AU
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/124_2479.JPG>
(I uploaded a takeoff video & a landing video from this leg to Flightlevel350.com...if they're accepted, I'll post a link to both of them.)
We boarded & while my mom & brother went to Row 10, because I wasn't able to get 3 seats together, the closest thing to them was 4F, which I took. This would prove to be interesting for us at the end of the flight, as you'll see later on in the review. At this point I was starved & took out the ham sandwich I'd bought in the terminal. We were delayed a few minutes because of connecting passengers who had arrived late from their flights.
We pushed back about 20 minutes late. The safety video ran & we taxied to Runway 18L. Along the way there, I was able to see 3 of the Star Alliance planes in one area of the airport (A319, 757 & the CRJ-700). We were about 4th in line behind a 737-400, 2 757s & an ERJ.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/124_2480.JPG>
Finally, it was our turn- we lined up & then the engines came to life with the 757's trademark buzzsaw whine, something that brought about a small smile from me. After a 40-second takeoff roll, we were airborne & getting bounced around from the very start. It was a bit bumpy until we got to the higher altitudes, at which point it was smooth all the way to SXM.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/124_2484.JPG>
Shortly after takeoff, the trailer for our movie, "The Manchurian Candidate", was shown. The movie then started, but there was no picture. They tried a second time, to no avail. The third time was the charm...the movie finally showed up on the screens with the audio soundtrack. The F/As came through with the snack, which consisted of a ham & cheese sandwich, a bag of chips & a sugar cookie. After downing that, I took a nap for about an hour- the movie wasn't doing much for me. I woke up before the end of the movie & saw how it finished...kinda surprising.
Before our descent, customs forms were passed out through the cabin & instructions were given over the PA as to how to fill them out. The last thing they said pertaining to them was "This is US Airways flight 877." About 1 minute after that announcement, the woman in the row behind me asked:
"What airline are we on?" :shakehea:
We then started the final descent to the island, at which point I pulled out my digital camera (I use it to take flight videos because it's less obvious than a regular video camera) in the hopes of taping the landing. I was successful in doing so & after we rolled down the entire length of the runway, spun around for the 180 backtrack to the ramp.
As we taxied back, the F/A came to me and said "Your mom wanted me to tell you that your brother's having a nosebleed.", to which I replied that I'd be back there once we stopped. The plane parked next to an AA 757 & as soon as the Fasten Seat Belt sign was turned off, I jumped out of my seat & walked back to the boarding door area, where my brother was in the middle of a huge nosebleed. The lead F/A was notified of the situation & asked for a doctor over the PA. One then made his way up to us & while they rushed down the boarding ramp, I pointed out our carry-ons & people helped me get them out of the overheads & I joined my family at the bus to the terminal.
A security guard then helped us, got us through immigration & sought medical attention for my brother. I stayed with our baggage & after a half hour wait, my mom & brother came back. The nosebleed was stopped, so we were able to pick up our rental car as planned & headed to the Caravanserai Beach Resort for a week of fun in St. Maarten.
Return trip's report will be posted shortly.
DeltaRules
Airbus A319 N765US
November 24, 2004
[photoid=21185]
We got to the airport around 7am for our first leg of the day, another A319 to CLT. Boarding seemed to go very quickly...US Airways now has the dreaded & retarded Zone Boarding process, which I still hate. We taxied to runway 10R, where a US 737-300 headed to PHL (which had departed earlier & must have been sitting there for at least half an hour) & an ERJ were holding on the pad at the end of the runway. As they stayed there, we were able to depart before them. Takeoff was quick & we climbed to FL310. It was cloudy for most of the flight...a few bumps here & there. Not a lot happened on this flight, which is why the description's so short. After 1 hour 10 minutes, we landed & taxied to gate D3. My mom & I are fans of Nathan's Hot Dogs & wanted to get a couple from there before we headed to the SXM flight, but the stand was closed, so we continued to gate B11 for:
US Airways 877 CLT-SXM
Boeing 757-200 N601AU
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/124_2479.JPG>
(I uploaded a takeoff video & a landing video from this leg to Flightlevel350.com...if they're accepted, I'll post a link to both of them.)
We boarded & while my mom & brother went to Row 10, because I wasn't able to get 3 seats together, the closest thing to them was 4F, which I took. This would prove to be interesting for us at the end of the flight, as you'll see later on in the review. At this point I was starved & took out the ham sandwich I'd bought in the terminal. We were delayed a few minutes because of connecting passengers who had arrived late from their flights.
We pushed back about 20 minutes late. The safety video ran & we taxied to Runway 18L. Along the way there, I was able to see 3 of the Star Alliance planes in one area of the airport (A319, 757 & the CRJ-700). We were about 4th in line behind a 737-400, 2 757s & an ERJ.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/124_2480.JPG>
Finally, it was our turn- we lined up & then the engines came to life with the 757's trademark buzzsaw whine, something that brought about a small smile from me. After a 40-second takeoff roll, we were airborne & getting bounced around from the very start. It was a bit bumpy until we got to the higher altitudes, at which point it was smooth all the way to SXM.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/124_2484.JPG>
Shortly after takeoff, the trailer for our movie, "The Manchurian Candidate", was shown. The movie then started, but there was no picture. They tried a second time, to no avail. The third time was the charm...the movie finally showed up on the screens with the audio soundtrack. The F/As came through with the snack, which consisted of a ham & cheese sandwich, a bag of chips & a sugar cookie. After downing that, I took a nap for about an hour- the movie wasn't doing much for me. I woke up before the end of the movie & saw how it finished...kinda surprising.
Before our descent, customs forms were passed out through the cabin & instructions were given over the PA as to how to fill them out. The last thing they said pertaining to them was "This is US Airways flight 877." About 1 minute after that announcement, the woman in the row behind me asked:
"What airline are we on?" :shakehea:
We then started the final descent to the island, at which point I pulled out my digital camera (I use it to take flight videos because it's less obvious than a regular video camera) in the hopes of taping the landing. I was successful in doing so & after we rolled down the entire length of the runway, spun around for the 180 backtrack to the ramp.
As we taxied back, the F/A came to me and said "Your mom wanted me to tell you that your brother's having a nosebleed.", to which I replied that I'd be back there once we stopped. The plane parked next to an AA 757 & as soon as the Fasten Seat Belt sign was turned off, I jumped out of my seat & walked back to the boarding door area, where my brother was in the middle of a huge nosebleed. The lead F/A was notified of the situation & asked for a doctor over the PA. One then made his way up to us & while they rushed down the boarding ramp, I pointed out our carry-ons & people helped me get them out of the overheads & I joined my family at the bus to the terminal.
A security guard then helped us, got us through immigration & sought medical attention for my brother. I stayed with our baggage & after a half hour wait, my mom & brother came back. The nosebleed was stopped, so we were able to pick up our rental car as planned & headed to the Caravanserai Beach Resort for a week of fun in St. Maarten.
Return trip's report will be posted shortly.
DeltaRules