Art at ISP
2007-11-30, 11:01 AM
Well at long last the yawn fest known as RSNA came to an end--about 3 days too late if you ask me. We did have some good eats in Chicago though, and the hotel was actually quite nice--Westin Michigan Avenue.
As today was the last day of the show, and a short day, I took my bags with me to the convention center. The original plan was to share a cab with the boss to the airport, but he left his bags back at the hotel. As we walked down to the bus stop, I noticed that the coach to ORD was loading, and realized I had paid for a round trip. So I jumped the shuttle, which was a full sized bus, and bade farewell to the boss man.
It took an hour to get to ORD, I don't think I have EVER seen I90 without traffic. About halfway through the drive, I get an email from AA telling me I am upgraded to F on my flight! Good news. Arriving at AA terminal, I go to the F class line, which had about 3 people waiting, as opposed to the regular line with about 100. Waiting my turn, I get to a nice agent who smiles hello, and proceeds to check me in. She tells me that she is giving me my original boarding pass, but I can check at the gate because F is full on the flight ahead of mine..I thank her, tell her I don't mind waiting in the club, and she reminded me that dinner would be served--and joked with me not to have too much junk food during the wait.
At the last minute as she as printing the boarding pass I asked if I could check my bag--it was very full and I realized that the MD-80 overheads would fight with me. She quickly checked the bag, wished me a happy holdiay, said "thank you for flying AA and for being a loyal Plat", and off I went to the "short" line at term L.
Short was the length, but the TSA guy checking ID's was S L O W. In a way it was good that I didn't take an earlier flight. While in line, though I had a terrible thought. I had checked my bag on the spur of the moment, and realized to my horror that my keys were in the outer zipper compartment...I began to fret about my bag not arriving, or me getting the bag minus the keys, but then realized I wasn't going through Philly.
The Admirals Club was humming--really busy, but plenty of room, I found a chair with an outlet, and checked in--I have been having trouble with AT&T air card since last night--I will check it tomorrow, but if still bad I will call...
I leave for the gate, and note that the 5:20 departure is pushed to 5:45 due to flow control. They actually make an announcement that they will board at about 5:10, the reason is flow control, we have a wheels up time of 6:20, etc etc. Finally they begin to board...Nice, orderly, pleasant agent, says thank you again (see the pattern?), warm greeting from FA's.... now since it was a late dep, they didn't grab coats or do a pre dep bev until coach was mostly done boarding, but they did come around with water for F, and did take the coats...the MD-80 has BOTH a closet and hanging space on the rear bulkhead in F.
We taxi out, FA takes drink and dinner orders--choice is pasta or short rib. I choose pasta (too much steak in Chicago this week). We hit the penalty box, shut down, the captain announces the delay, the reason, and the estimated departure in detail (see the pattern?), and we then wind up only spending about 10 min in the box before we are cleared to light 'em up and head out.
Due to an amazing tail wind, our en route time was planned at 1 hour 27 min. The meal service was done in full, with the hot nuts, full tray with silver and glassware, wine and drink, (everything except hot towel). I think these ladies did an amazing job doing a full meal in an hour and a half.
We begin to descend (rather steeply I might add), and before you know it, I can see eastern NJ and NYC in the window. We join the MIP arrival, shortcutting a little, falling into the arrival lineup at LGA. On the ground within 10 minutes of scheduled arrival!!! On to the gate, a thank you from the FA's, and I thanked THEM for doing an outstanding job in such a short time...down to baggage claim.
Now this being LGA, I expected to wait for the bags, and that I did....panic set in as bags started coming and mine wasn't in the first batch, but no worries, they didn't put a priority tag on. Finally I see my bag and hurry to check, and there are my keys !!! (Again, not Philly).
Into the car, $174 for parking on EZ Pass and I play my new audio DVD of Love, the remixed Beatles soundtrack for Cirque de Soleil's show...Heck I love the Dolby 5.1 surround in the Infiniti.....
45 minutes on the road, and I am home safe and sound........
CLT next week--can't decide between Jet Blue, AA or DL........tough one.
Have a great weekend, all.
As today was the last day of the show, and a short day, I took my bags with me to the convention center. The original plan was to share a cab with the boss to the airport, but he left his bags back at the hotel. As we walked down to the bus stop, I noticed that the coach to ORD was loading, and realized I had paid for a round trip. So I jumped the shuttle, which was a full sized bus, and bade farewell to the boss man.
It took an hour to get to ORD, I don't think I have EVER seen I90 without traffic. About halfway through the drive, I get an email from AA telling me I am upgraded to F on my flight! Good news. Arriving at AA terminal, I go to the F class line, which had about 3 people waiting, as opposed to the regular line with about 100. Waiting my turn, I get to a nice agent who smiles hello, and proceeds to check me in. She tells me that she is giving me my original boarding pass, but I can check at the gate because F is full on the flight ahead of mine..I thank her, tell her I don't mind waiting in the club, and she reminded me that dinner would be served--and joked with me not to have too much junk food during the wait.
At the last minute as she as printing the boarding pass I asked if I could check my bag--it was very full and I realized that the MD-80 overheads would fight with me. She quickly checked the bag, wished me a happy holdiay, said "thank you for flying AA and for being a loyal Plat", and off I went to the "short" line at term L.
Short was the length, but the TSA guy checking ID's was S L O W. In a way it was good that I didn't take an earlier flight. While in line, though I had a terrible thought. I had checked my bag on the spur of the moment, and realized to my horror that my keys were in the outer zipper compartment...I began to fret about my bag not arriving, or me getting the bag minus the keys, but then realized I wasn't going through Philly.
The Admirals Club was humming--really busy, but plenty of room, I found a chair with an outlet, and checked in--I have been having trouble with AT&T air card since last night--I will check it tomorrow, but if still bad I will call...
I leave for the gate, and note that the 5:20 departure is pushed to 5:45 due to flow control. They actually make an announcement that they will board at about 5:10, the reason is flow control, we have a wheels up time of 6:20, etc etc. Finally they begin to board...Nice, orderly, pleasant agent, says thank you again (see the pattern?), warm greeting from FA's.... now since it was a late dep, they didn't grab coats or do a pre dep bev until coach was mostly done boarding, but they did come around with water for F, and did take the coats...the MD-80 has BOTH a closet and hanging space on the rear bulkhead in F.
We taxi out, FA takes drink and dinner orders--choice is pasta or short rib. I choose pasta (too much steak in Chicago this week). We hit the penalty box, shut down, the captain announces the delay, the reason, and the estimated departure in detail (see the pattern?), and we then wind up only spending about 10 min in the box before we are cleared to light 'em up and head out.
Due to an amazing tail wind, our en route time was planned at 1 hour 27 min. The meal service was done in full, with the hot nuts, full tray with silver and glassware, wine and drink, (everything except hot towel). I think these ladies did an amazing job doing a full meal in an hour and a half.
We begin to descend (rather steeply I might add), and before you know it, I can see eastern NJ and NYC in the window. We join the MIP arrival, shortcutting a little, falling into the arrival lineup at LGA. On the ground within 10 minutes of scheduled arrival!!! On to the gate, a thank you from the FA's, and I thanked THEM for doing an outstanding job in such a short time...down to baggage claim.
Now this being LGA, I expected to wait for the bags, and that I did....panic set in as bags started coming and mine wasn't in the first batch, but no worries, they didn't put a priority tag on. Finally I see my bag and hurry to check, and there are my keys !!! (Again, not Philly).
Into the car, $174 for parking on EZ Pass and I play my new audio DVD of Love, the remixed Beatles soundtrack for Cirque de Soleil's show...Heck I love the Dolby 5.1 surround in the Infiniti.....
45 minutes on the road, and I am home safe and sound........
CLT next week--can't decide between Jet Blue, AA or DL........tough one.
Have a great weekend, all.