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I got to La Guardia at 1:30 on a damp, cloudy Sunday morning in May not ready to leave. Most southerners can't take New York for over a day, but I enjoy visiting, even though I would hate to live there for an extended period of time.
We (my family) checked in using the e-ticket kiosks, since we weren't checking any bags. We went to the security line, which was outragiously long. Then, I had an idea. We walked over to the shuttle security line (I shouldn't use the word line--there wasn't one), which was completely deserted. Security was average, but very professionally done.
We walked down and sat at gate 5 and waited for the boarding announcement.
5-2-04
US Airways Express (Chautauqua)
#2947
LGA-CHS
scheduled: 2:35
actual: 3:05
ERJ-145
The flight was overbooked.
Typical for a flight between Charleston and New York.
I was travelling with 4 others, and two of them volunteered their seat for 1 free roundtrip ticket in the US or Canada. I wanted to, but my parents wouldn't let me because they thought I had school the next day. When they found out that I didn't have school, they let me. After about 6 people got off, they were still asking for more. So, my parents decided that they wanted some free tickets, too.
All in all, 12 people were bumped off the flight. 6 for overbooking and 6 for bad weather.
In the end, we were all routed through Charlotte, but we were sitting in different sections of the plane because we were bumped off at different times.
__________________________________________________________
We made our way to the food court to eat lunch. My family sat there for a little while more while I went exploring. I saw the really nice shuttle terminal and I tried aviation photography a little.
These pictures are dedicated to Greg Dewey, who didn't shut up until I told him I would take some pictures.
(the glass was a little dirty--sorry)
N230PS going to Indianapolis
A Beech (didn't catch the registration) going to Albany (I think)
Pittsburgh-bound N524AU
Smile, you're on candid camera--boarding to Indianapolis
An ERJ-145: N298SK
You have no idea how hard it was to time this shot! It needs to be cropped, though
I had a few more, but I don't feel like uploading.
Anywhoo, we made our way to gate 12, where our A321 was waiting to take us to Charlotte. Boarding was delayed about 10 minutes due to software problems they said.
5-2-04
US Airways
# 145
LGA-CLT
scheduled: 5:05
actual: 5:15
A321
I was excited to fly on an A321, something I had wanted to do for a while. If US Airways had signature service, this would be it. We walked on to the (relatively) new aircraft and were greeted by 3 friendly flight attendents who shook hands with everyone (AND I MEAN EVERYONE!). It was a really nice touch. The aircraft was dimly-lit, and music was playing. It felt like everything was going just right on this flight, even though we were delayed.
The music faded, we pulled back, the screens dropped down, and the safety video started playing.
We had a long takeoff roll and a steep takeoff. It felt like a 757.
I found the seats very roomy for coach class! I was in an aisle seat, though. I pulled out my laptop and finished the movie Groundhog Day, which I had started on the trip up.
The flight attendents started drink service, but announced that there was no ice on board due to a catering service error. It was really nice that the flight attendents were personable and made conversation with the passengers.
We landed on time in CLT and parked at the end of concourse C.
My family proceeded to our next gate, at the other end of C, where the CHS flight was almost ready to board.
5-2-04
CLT-CHS
US Airways
#1119
scheduled and actual: 7:55 PM
737-300
We walked on to a full 737 on its way to CHS. I was seated next to a rather large man who moved from rural SC to Montanna "be-kawz thuh huntin' 's gewd."
The flight was overbooked, and a family of 4 came on to the plane, only to find that their assigned seats were already assigned to others. The flight attendents heard the comotion and came out of their perch in the galley. (it was the only time I saw themduring the whole flight) They screamed at the family (really really screamed--even at the 4 year old child when he tried to ask mommy why they couldn't fly home) and told them to get the hell off their plane--what a nice touch.
Once they had won the battle, the flight attendents retreated to their camp in the galley. They didn't come through coach class again. (security announcements were done on the monitors--something not all 733s have) There were overhead bins open during takeoff with luggage falling out. Really irresonsible f/as. not tipical for US Airways.
There used to be beverage service on the CHS-CLT legs, but due to budget cutbacks, there no longer is.
We landed a few minutes early at about 8:40.
I saw my first NW CRJ in the new colors.
Then I went home to go to sleep--long day.
First flight 9/10 (great service, great aircraft, etc.)
Second flight 2/10 (horrible service--US Airways should be ashamed)
Comments?
We (my family) checked in using the e-ticket kiosks, since we weren't checking any bags. We went to the security line, which was outragiously long. Then, I had an idea. We walked over to the shuttle security line (I shouldn't use the word line--there wasn't one), which was completely deserted. Security was average, but very professionally done.
We walked down and sat at gate 5 and waited for the boarding announcement.
5-2-04
US Airways Express (Chautauqua)
#2947
LGA-CHS
scheduled: 2:35
actual: 3:05
ERJ-145
The flight was overbooked.
Typical for a flight between Charleston and New York.
I was travelling with 4 others, and two of them volunteered their seat for 1 free roundtrip ticket in the US or Canada. I wanted to, but my parents wouldn't let me because they thought I had school the next day. When they found out that I didn't have school, they let me. After about 6 people got off, they were still asking for more. So, my parents decided that they wanted some free tickets, too.
All in all, 12 people were bumped off the flight. 6 for overbooking and 6 for bad weather.
In the end, we were all routed through Charlotte, but we were sitting in different sections of the plane because we were bumped off at different times.
__________________________________________________________
We made our way to the food court to eat lunch. My family sat there for a little while more while I went exploring. I saw the really nice shuttle terminal and I tried aviation photography a little.
These pictures are dedicated to Greg Dewey, who didn't shut up until I told him I would take some pictures.
(the glass was a little dirty--sorry)
N230PS going to Indianapolis
A Beech (didn't catch the registration) going to Albany (I think)
Pittsburgh-bound N524AU
Smile, you're on candid camera--boarding to Indianapolis
An ERJ-145: N298SK
You have no idea how hard it was to time this shot! It needs to be cropped, though
I had a few more, but I don't feel like uploading.
Anywhoo, we made our way to gate 12, where our A321 was waiting to take us to Charlotte. Boarding was delayed about 10 minutes due to software problems they said.
5-2-04
US Airways
# 145
LGA-CLT
scheduled: 5:05
actual: 5:15
A321
I was excited to fly on an A321, something I had wanted to do for a while. If US Airways had signature service, this would be it. We walked on to the (relatively) new aircraft and were greeted by 3 friendly flight attendents who shook hands with everyone (AND I MEAN EVERYONE!). It was a really nice touch. The aircraft was dimly-lit, and music was playing. It felt like everything was going just right on this flight, even though we were delayed.
The music faded, we pulled back, the screens dropped down, and the safety video started playing.
We had a long takeoff roll and a steep takeoff. It felt like a 757.
I found the seats very roomy for coach class! I was in an aisle seat, though. I pulled out my laptop and finished the movie Groundhog Day, which I had started on the trip up.
The flight attendents started drink service, but announced that there was no ice on board due to a catering service error. It was really nice that the flight attendents were personable and made conversation with the passengers.
We landed on time in CLT and parked at the end of concourse C.
My family proceeded to our next gate, at the other end of C, where the CHS flight was almost ready to board.
5-2-04
CLT-CHS
US Airways
#1119
scheduled and actual: 7:55 PM
737-300
We walked on to a full 737 on its way to CHS. I was seated next to a rather large man who moved from rural SC to Montanna "be-kawz thuh huntin' 's gewd."
The flight was overbooked, and a family of 4 came on to the plane, only to find that their assigned seats were already assigned to others. The flight attendents heard the comotion and came out of their perch in the galley. (it was the only time I saw themduring the whole flight) They screamed at the family (really really screamed--even at the 4 year old child when he tried to ask mommy why they couldn't fly home) and told them to get the hell off their plane--what a nice touch.
Once they had won the battle, the flight attendents retreated to their camp in the galley. They didn't come through coach class again. (security announcements were done on the monitors--something not all 733s have) There were overhead bins open during takeoff with luggage falling out. Really irresonsible f/as. not tipical for US Airways.
There used to be beverage service on the CHS-CLT legs, but due to budget cutbacks, there no longer is.
We landed a few minutes early at about 8:40.
I saw my first NW CRJ in the new colors.
Then I went home to go to sleep--long day.
First flight 9/10 (great service, great aircraft, etc.)
Second flight 2/10 (horrible service--US Airways should be ashamed)
Comments?
Sorry to hear about the crappy service on the way back... When we were going to the Bahamas in April, we boarded our DL 757 dead last, and to my dads suprise, somebody already had his seat. The veteran flight attendant saw that, and eventually found and empty seat for my dad.... very last row window seat, too. We were the lucky, I guess.
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