Art at ISP
2008-01-17, 09:18 AM
As some of you know, I am entering a period of extended travel which will bring me to China for the first time next week. However prior to that trip, I was scheduled to travel with some of my colleagues to visit my two largest photo customers to introduce a new 8 x 10/8 x 12 photo printer which will be coming out at the end of this month.
After our first meeting here in New York, we drove to LGA, and found out that my preferred parking level (4) in the main garage was closed...so I found an end spot on level 1, and we proceeded to the bag check area (we were carrying equipment). I had checked in on line, and my crew had gotten their boarding passes the night before in DFW when they checked in for their flight to LGA.
The bag check system at LGA is a little confusing, but we were able to check bags using the kiosks which then direct you to an agent--who then sends you to a DIFFERENT area to drop bags. At LGA for some reason Florida bags go to a different area than all others--and since all of my colleagues were checking bags I decided to do so as well, which is not my norm. Unfortunately I forgot to take the bag clip off the top of my bag, which made me worry quite a bit (unfounded as it turned out).
The line for security at the D gates reached all the way around to the bar..which was a little strange for 3PM on a Wednesday. It moved quickly though, and we proceeded up to the Admirals Club to relax and have a quick "meeting". The inbound was running a little late, and the agent was kind enough to monitor for us--finally 5 minutes after the time we were supposed to board, the inbound 757 showed up and pulled into the gate.
The gate area was a little disorganized, and as they called boarding of course all the non business travelers crowded the gate. It seems that AA has changed the boarding priority a little (as I recall), because the boarding group on my pass said PLATINUM rather than Group 1. I had declined the upgrade on this flight because I didn't want to be in F as my boss's boss was in the back along with our engineering manager and a visitor from the factory in Japan. I did, however get the exit row, which while the seat was narrow, the legroom was ample. For those on the AA 757, however, it seems that exit row 18 is more desirable than 17 (18 reclines, and has 2 windows).
This flight was F U L L and the boarding after I got on was a bit of a zoo, but finally everyone was on and we pushed back. 20 minutes in the conga line and we were off. The crew did one beverage service and until clean up that was the last we saw of them. I was content with a good book and the ole IPOD, but at some point I tried to nod off but kept getting jabbed by my seat mate, who was somewhat rude and more than somewhat odiforous if you will...not a desirable situation on a 3 hr flight.
Finally descending through the clouds onto RY 12 at MIA, and we had to be towed into the gate (E5), off we go to bag claim. I was surprised that by the time we got off the plane (my colleagues were in the back), the bags were already coming out and ours were out within 10 min of our arrival at the bag claim area. Off to Avis to pick up the car (another story entirely as the bus was full of people traveling with all of their lifetime possessions), and here we are at the MIA Airport Hilton ready to start our day.
I am flying out on the last flight of the day at 9PM tonight, but the good news is my upgrade has already cleared, so I will be able to have a cocktail and space on my way back--in time to leave on Saturday for a FFOCUS event in GSO (the wife IS coming this time).
I will post the return experience tomorrow.....
After our first meeting here in New York, we drove to LGA, and found out that my preferred parking level (4) in the main garage was closed...so I found an end spot on level 1, and we proceeded to the bag check area (we were carrying equipment). I had checked in on line, and my crew had gotten their boarding passes the night before in DFW when they checked in for their flight to LGA.
The bag check system at LGA is a little confusing, but we were able to check bags using the kiosks which then direct you to an agent--who then sends you to a DIFFERENT area to drop bags. At LGA for some reason Florida bags go to a different area than all others--and since all of my colleagues were checking bags I decided to do so as well, which is not my norm. Unfortunately I forgot to take the bag clip off the top of my bag, which made me worry quite a bit (unfounded as it turned out).
The line for security at the D gates reached all the way around to the bar..which was a little strange for 3PM on a Wednesday. It moved quickly though, and we proceeded up to the Admirals Club to relax and have a quick "meeting". The inbound was running a little late, and the agent was kind enough to monitor for us--finally 5 minutes after the time we were supposed to board, the inbound 757 showed up and pulled into the gate.
The gate area was a little disorganized, and as they called boarding of course all the non business travelers crowded the gate. It seems that AA has changed the boarding priority a little (as I recall), because the boarding group on my pass said PLATINUM rather than Group 1. I had declined the upgrade on this flight because I didn't want to be in F as my boss's boss was in the back along with our engineering manager and a visitor from the factory in Japan. I did, however get the exit row, which while the seat was narrow, the legroom was ample. For those on the AA 757, however, it seems that exit row 18 is more desirable than 17 (18 reclines, and has 2 windows).
This flight was F U L L and the boarding after I got on was a bit of a zoo, but finally everyone was on and we pushed back. 20 minutes in the conga line and we were off. The crew did one beverage service and until clean up that was the last we saw of them. I was content with a good book and the ole IPOD, but at some point I tried to nod off but kept getting jabbed by my seat mate, who was somewhat rude and more than somewhat odiforous if you will...not a desirable situation on a 3 hr flight.
Finally descending through the clouds onto RY 12 at MIA, and we had to be towed into the gate (E5), off we go to bag claim. I was surprised that by the time we got off the plane (my colleagues were in the back), the bags were already coming out and ours were out within 10 min of our arrival at the bag claim area. Off to Avis to pick up the car (another story entirely as the bus was full of people traveling with all of their lifetime possessions), and here we are at the MIA Airport Hilton ready to start our day.
I am flying out on the last flight of the day at 9PM tonight, but the good news is my upgrade has already cleared, so I will be able to have a cocktail and space on my way back--in time to leave on Saturday for a FFOCUS event in GSO (the wife IS coming this time).
I will post the return experience tomorrow.....