ATrude777
09-26-2005, 07:54 PM
Hello Folks, YES! ANOTHER trip from Alex Trude. This time, I flew on northwest Airlines. Shocked? So was I. Surprised? I was extremely. Before I flew NWA, I didn’t really like them. I didn’t have a reason to hate them, I just didn’t like them. They are not huge at STL (not in my eyes, although reports and statistics say otherwise). But, I had a 2nd cousin who was getting married in BWI. I wanted to attend, and miles were not important to me. I just wanted cheap and get there at a certain time. I checked Southwest, wowza 256 dollars, jeebus!! Hmmh, AA is 164, not bad! But the schedule is horrible. Finally Burnsie said..”Why not Northwest?” Well..why NOT?! I had made a bet with Burnsie that if he booked, paid, and flew a Southwest Flight, I would do the same with Northwest Airlines. We agreed, we did not have to like it, but just fly it, and be brunt and honest with it. Well he up held his promise he booked, paid and flew a SWA flight. Damn it, so now I gotta do it. I checked the prices for STL-BWI on NWA, oh wow 179 r/t! Not bad. AND, Id get an Avro (never flown it) A319 (never flown it), 757 (you can’t beat a 757, period) and a legendary DC-9!!! (bet you wondered when that aircraft was gonna come into the itinerary haha.) Never flew a DC-9 either so this trip would be a lot of first for me. First time in A concourse at STL, first time in DTW, First time on the Airbus A319 (or ANY Airbus for that matter), as well as the Avro, and first into BWI as well. Timings were perfect, what else did I have to lose? Ya, the 179 I had to fork over!! So all I had to do was wait until September 22nd!
Once that date rolled around, I woke up, showered, got ready packed the rest of my bag, and drove off to STL Airport. Took the Metro again, etc etc. Arrived into the Main Terminal. I headed to the checkin-line for NWA. I used to the kiosk machine, and it asked me if I wanted to change my seats. I already had my A320 changed to an A319, and had the seat moved twice on me ugh. I definetly didn’t want to change that seat again. I got my boarding passes headed down to Security. The line was long, but it flowed through quickly. I walked down the Concourse. Holy shit, it is nothing. Nothing was open except a bar. What the hell am I gonna do at a bar? So I walked around, and snapped pictures, watched planes come and go. It got pretty boring. I couldn’t see the AA or WN action and I missed that.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/DC8.JPG>
A White DC-8 taking off. It was rather quiet.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/DLMD80.JPG>
DL MD-88 taxing away. Looks like a SAA MD80 doesn’t it?
Finally, I saw the Avro I was going to ride on to DTW Land. I watched it taxi in (N523XJ) to the gate, unloaded the passengers. In no time, we started boarding. I got onboard, and headed to 13-A. (YIKES!) I sat down, and looked out the window. A Japanese man sat next to me. He hardly spoke any English. Everyone else boarded and we set the way for R 30L.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/southwestterminal.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/runway30L.JPG>
After we rumbled down the runway we took off and headed right for DTW.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/nwatakingoff.JPG>
The take off on the Avro is extremely noticeable. I could really feel the thrust from the 4 engines. We used about 75% of the runway to take off. The Avro is extremely comfortable, has the same pitch as Southwest 737’s (33 inches). While it was loud, it did not seem as vibrant as the under engine planes are in my experience. It got a bit cloudy as we continued on our flight to DTW. The service was very nice. They got out and served, gave us the choices of Soda (Pepsi products), Water, Coffee, and or Juice. I liked the option of getting soda in the morning, because most flights I am on usually MAKE us order only water, juice or coffee. However I had bought a coke at the airport, so I simply asked for a cup of ice to pour the coke in, she said absolutely. She gave me the cup, it was a big cup, just a bit bigger then AA or WN’s cups. She told me to let her know if I needed more ice. I said thanks and sit back and enjoyed the rest of the ride. I listened to my cd walkman, and just enjoyed the flight. It got extremely turbulent , to the point I had to cover my cup so the soda would not spill out of the cup. Being in a smaller plane, it seems more prone to bounce around to turbulence, and this plane indeed bounced around. I liked the turbulence so it did not bother me once.
In no time we started the approach for DTW. The flaps were lowered, and were lowered quite earlier then I am used to. We turned, slowed, turned, slowed, etc etc. Finally I saw a NWA cargo building in the distance with a NWA 747 sitting there. In no time the runway appeared and we had landed.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/NWAlanding.JPG>
We taxied to the A concourse. I got off and walked around a bit. DTW Airport is really nice. Extremely clean, and busy. I would not mind connecting through DTW and might make it my choice of connecting other then DFW if I cannot get a N/S on AA out of STL or WN.
I got some pictures of DTW, but I won’t post them here, if you would like to see them IM me through my profile and I will send you a file of the DTW pics.
After an hour came around, It was time to head to the gate to board my flight to BWI. I saw it was an A319 at the gate in new colors. Excellent I thought. I called my mother to let her know I was about to board and texted my friends to let them know of my status. They boarded, I boarded, and I walked in. Immediately I was impressed by the Airbus. FIRST time I have ever been on an Airbus. I liked the interior, it was very clean, and smooth. The walls were sparkly almost to me. There was no one sitting by me, but a business man in the aisle seat. We backed out and headed to the runway. Waited for 2 Airbus and a DC-9 to take off, then it was our turn. We went down the runway, it seemed slow to me, maybe heavy load? Only had 2 or 3 open seats I think, not to sure. We used up quite a bit of the runway, and then finally take off, right as a CRJ landed next to us.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/nwaatDTW.JPG>
We turned right and then left, and in no time we hit one of the lakes, Erie I think it was. Service started soon, and I had a full can of mountain dew. Again, not much else to report, NWA did not do anything special or over the top on this flight, just conducted business in a normal way. Very smooth flight. Weather was nice. In No time it started the approach for BWI.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/LakeErie.JPG>
We would turn, slow down, turn, you know how the approaches go! I saw a WN 73G fly by, and finally the runway came into sight. We landed and slowed down and turned off the runway to head to the gates.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/BWIlanding.JPG>
Got off the plane, and headed through security to go find my aunt. We met up, headed to the shuttle bus and went to get our rental car for some FUN, FUN, FUN!! Altho we got lost, and wound up on a road heading to New York City. LMAO. But we found the house we were looking for 3 HRS LATER..even though she lives 20 minutes from BWI..hahaha..Hope you all enjoyed the trip, return trip coming up soon.
Alex
Once that date rolled around, I woke up, showered, got ready packed the rest of my bag, and drove off to STL Airport. Took the Metro again, etc etc. Arrived into the Main Terminal. I headed to the checkin-line for NWA. I used to the kiosk machine, and it asked me if I wanted to change my seats. I already had my A320 changed to an A319, and had the seat moved twice on me ugh. I definetly didn’t want to change that seat again. I got my boarding passes headed down to Security. The line was long, but it flowed through quickly. I walked down the Concourse. Holy shit, it is nothing. Nothing was open except a bar. What the hell am I gonna do at a bar? So I walked around, and snapped pictures, watched planes come and go. It got pretty boring. I couldn’t see the AA or WN action and I missed that.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/DC8.JPG>
A White DC-8 taking off. It was rather quiet.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/DLMD80.JPG>
DL MD-88 taxing away. Looks like a SAA MD80 doesn’t it?
Finally, I saw the Avro I was going to ride on to DTW Land. I watched it taxi in (N523XJ) to the gate, unloaded the passengers. In no time, we started boarding. I got onboard, and headed to 13-A. (YIKES!) I sat down, and looked out the window. A Japanese man sat next to me. He hardly spoke any English. Everyone else boarded and we set the way for R 30L.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/southwestterminal.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/runway30L.JPG>
After we rumbled down the runway we took off and headed right for DTW.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/nwatakingoff.JPG>
The take off on the Avro is extremely noticeable. I could really feel the thrust from the 4 engines. We used about 75% of the runway to take off. The Avro is extremely comfortable, has the same pitch as Southwest 737’s (33 inches). While it was loud, it did not seem as vibrant as the under engine planes are in my experience. It got a bit cloudy as we continued on our flight to DTW. The service was very nice. They got out and served, gave us the choices of Soda (Pepsi products), Water, Coffee, and or Juice. I liked the option of getting soda in the morning, because most flights I am on usually MAKE us order only water, juice or coffee. However I had bought a coke at the airport, so I simply asked for a cup of ice to pour the coke in, she said absolutely. She gave me the cup, it was a big cup, just a bit bigger then AA or WN’s cups. She told me to let her know if I needed more ice. I said thanks and sit back and enjoyed the rest of the ride. I listened to my cd walkman, and just enjoyed the flight. It got extremely turbulent , to the point I had to cover my cup so the soda would not spill out of the cup. Being in a smaller plane, it seems more prone to bounce around to turbulence, and this plane indeed bounced around. I liked the turbulence so it did not bother me once.
In no time we started the approach for DTW. The flaps were lowered, and were lowered quite earlier then I am used to. We turned, slowed, turned, slowed, etc etc. Finally I saw a NWA cargo building in the distance with a NWA 747 sitting there. In no time the runway appeared and we had landed.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/NWAlanding.JPG>
We taxied to the A concourse. I got off and walked around a bit. DTW Airport is really nice. Extremely clean, and busy. I would not mind connecting through DTW and might make it my choice of connecting other then DFW if I cannot get a N/S on AA out of STL or WN.
I got some pictures of DTW, but I won’t post them here, if you would like to see them IM me through my profile and I will send you a file of the DTW pics.
After an hour came around, It was time to head to the gate to board my flight to BWI. I saw it was an A319 at the gate in new colors. Excellent I thought. I called my mother to let her know I was about to board and texted my friends to let them know of my status. They boarded, I boarded, and I walked in. Immediately I was impressed by the Airbus. FIRST time I have ever been on an Airbus. I liked the interior, it was very clean, and smooth. The walls were sparkly almost to me. There was no one sitting by me, but a business man in the aisle seat. We backed out and headed to the runway. Waited for 2 Airbus and a DC-9 to take off, then it was our turn. We went down the runway, it seemed slow to me, maybe heavy load? Only had 2 or 3 open seats I think, not to sure. We used up quite a bit of the runway, and then finally take off, right as a CRJ landed next to us.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/nwaatDTW.JPG>
We turned right and then left, and in no time we hit one of the lakes, Erie I think it was. Service started soon, and I had a full can of mountain dew. Again, not much else to report, NWA did not do anything special or over the top on this flight, just conducted business in a normal way. Very smooth flight. Weather was nice. In No time it started the approach for BWI.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/LakeErie.JPG>
We would turn, slow down, turn, you know how the approaches go! I saw a WN 73G fly by, and finally the runway came into sight. We landed and slowed down and turned off the runway to head to the gates.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/BWIlanding.JPG>
Got off the plane, and headed through security to go find my aunt. We met up, headed to the shuttle bus and went to get our rental car for some FUN, FUN, FUN!! Altho we got lost, and wound up on a road heading to New York City. LMAO. But we found the house we were looking for 3 HRS LATER..even though she lives 20 minutes from BWI..hahaha..Hope you all enjoyed the trip, return trip coming up soon.
Alex