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Hi all-
Finally have time to write up my trip to Seattle this past April for a school yearbook trip. Was my first time in Seattle (that I could remember) & had an absolute blast- love that city!
America West #73
PHX-SEA
4/6/05
ETD: 1611 local
ETA: 1907 local
Airbus A320-232
Every year our school yearbook takes two trips to the Journalism Education Assoc. (JEA) Conferences to meet up with hundreds of other schools and get more ideas for our publications. The earlier one this year was somewhere in California I think, and the spring trip was to Seattle, WA. Of course I can never pass up an opportunity to get out of town and fly, so I booked my spot as soon as I heard about it.
I went to school that day and left during lunch, stopped home, and then caught the loop 101 down to Sky Harbor, arriving around 1:30. We all had claimed some floorspace next to the electronic checkin kiosks, and had to later go off and search the terminal for our chapperones. We went through security in Terminal 4 & caught a glimpse of Southwest's new concourse there. Terminal 4 is still under heavy construction & they're putting new eateries in. There was a long chatoic line for security, and they were only using two stations for screening. They were also installing GE's new bomb detectors, where you walk into this huge x-ray like maching & get sprayed with air, which is then analyzed for any particles relating to explosives. We didn't have to go through these yet sine they weren't fully operational, but shortly after we returned home they started randomly testing passengers.
We all had dinner at the airport, and didn't have to wait very long until boarding started at 3:41pm. Our aircraft today was an A320 configured in the "sardine" seating stlye, with newer seats than you typically see on HP's a/c. Seating was six abreast, and the overhead bins seemed pretty roomy for such a light aircraft. Our flight crew today was quiet and withdrawn, and one even looked like a porn star (oh my gosh I am not kidding you- makeup, fake tan, died blonde hair, etc.).
[photoid=452892]
We pushed back on time, and I was still amazed at how quiet the A320's engines were (I flew my first A320 earlier this year with B6). We began the long taxi to rwy 7L, and passed the west cargo ramps as we queued-up for takeoff. We had a visitor today- Martinair brought their MD-11 into town.
After we inched up to the threshold, we turned right, instead of left onto the runway.
So now I'm freaking out because I know something's wrong. After sitting for a minute or so the pilot comes on and tells us we have a fuel filter clog, and that we were going to head back to the gate and let maintenance fix it. This is when the little voice comes into my head and reminds me how my friend who used to work for HP Maintenance told me the department was almost non-existant. 
But we make it back to the gate alright, and we're kept seated, as it's only supposed to take 30 mins to fix. They kept the APU running, which means only one A/C pack is running if I'm correct, so it started to get hot. 
Fifteen minutes, then thirty minutes, then 45, an hour.... It was apparent we'd be on the plane for a while. So far we hadn't received any water and I had almost burned through my huge 1.5 liter one that I always drink when I fly. Even better was that the plane was full of us high school kids on our way to Seattle- fun for us, Asprin for the other passengers. 
So being the social person I am, I get up in the aisle and start walking up and down talking with people to try and pass time. We had a group from England onboard, heading back to MAN, some guys on businses, and the whole back-end was us high schoolers. The flight attendants had all retreated into the rear galley.
After about an hour and a half and running the engine to make sure it wouldn't get clogged while we're flying over mountains (lol), we were finally ready to depart. Darkness was falling as we taxied back to 7L, and quietly rumbled into the sky.
[photoid=462124]
The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful. They played Spanglish on the TVs, which reminds me- one of the TVs was possessed & it would randomly retract & deploy every quarter of an hour or so. If this is supposed to happen, someone please clue me in.
No meal was served, but we were still full from all the junk food we ate at the airport. I didn't catch any sleep (never do), but watched the movie the entire way.
We began our descent & bounced down over the water. The turbulence made pics more difficult in the already pitch-black, cloudy sky, but I tried.
I seem to be making a very bad habit of forgetting things on airplanes. I lost my cell phone on my B6 flight to New York, and now I forgot my jacket in the overhead bin (didn't realize it until it was too late). Baggage claim was a zoo, but SEATAC seemed much more modern and new compared to PHX, so that eased the pain of us weary travellers. We finally made it curbside, where we were met with another surprise.
Our yearbook advisor, being the totally awesome lady she is, had gotten us limos!
After a very comfortable ride to our very comfortable hotel, we all went out to Subway for dinner (seeing as how we'd gotten in two hours late without any food) ten minutes before they closed, and then came back and crashed, excited for tomorrow.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
During my time in Seattle, I made it a point to get out to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. After a $30 cab ride (which we later found out would have been only $0.50 by bus lol) we made it to the museum and explored for the better part of two hours.
The F-22 757 was also viewable from the observation deck (pardon the pole)
During that time we walked across the street to the aircraft park & went through the VC-137 & Concorde.
[photoid=463733]
[photoid=463732]
[photoid=463698]
THE Baby Boeing.
I finally lived my dream of seeing the first 747 in person. Wish they would take better care of it though...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
OK wow this is getting long- I'd better finish it up! After four days of fun & games in Seattle, and seeing the Boeing 777-200LR at BFI (didn't manage to get a picture though), it was time to head home.
America West #191
4/10/05
SEA-PHX
ETD: 1400 local
ETA: oops!
Airbus A320-232
After getting limos back to the airport (yes, both ways) and drawing looks from the lines of curbside checkin passengers, we proceeded to check out bags to PHX at the counter & head through security. Security was much more friendly than at PHX, and my friend wasn't violated like he was during his pat-down for the outbound flight (his jeans set off the metal detector & the guy patted his groin "searching for bombs" ).
We had some time to kill & got chineese for a late lunch. The huge floor-ceiling windows proved real nice for spotting & testing out my new 70-200 f/4 L.
Wish we were flying WN....
Yes, the mustard rockets still live!
Our plane pulled up, a few minutes late, which brought more bad news for us.
Betchya can't guess what that is under the engine.
Yeah, the engines on our flights seem to be cursed.
The oil leak delayed us for another hour, & they brought mechanics out to try & fix it while we boarded. Again we ran through the routine of running the engine, sweating on the plane, and finally getting in the air.
[photoid=457961]
Aios Seattle.
The flight was pretty uneventful. Our crew was a little more friendly & outgoing, & I think drinks came around twice. I got the full can, which surprised me, being HP doesn't do that too often.
[photoid=457962]
We had intermittent turbulence throughout the flight, which became very heavy when we descended into PHX. The pilot was banking left and right with a nose-down attitude and airbrakes deployed, trying to dodge storm cells. I was having fun. My friend who hates flying was not.
We flew a very tight approach, high and hot with full airbrakes until we turned final.
[photoid=462127]
The pilot was battling some winds, and flared a little too long. We were landing on 26, and as I looked out the window I could see HP's maintenance facility go by, then the terminals, then the executive terminal come into view (which is a good ways down the runway). The wheels hit shortly after, and full everything was engaged to keep us from running off the end of the runway. This concluded an....interesting...chapter of an America West flying experience. When we got off the jetway all of us dropped our bags and kissed the ground. Just kidding.
Thanks for reading!
Finally have time to write up my trip to Seattle this past April for a school yearbook trip. Was my first time in Seattle (that I could remember) & had an absolute blast- love that city!
America West #73
PHX-SEA
4/6/05
ETD: 1611 local
ETA: 1907 local
Airbus A320-232
Every year our school yearbook takes two trips to the Journalism Education Assoc. (JEA) Conferences to meet up with hundreds of other schools and get more ideas for our publications. The earlier one this year was somewhere in California I think, and the spring trip was to Seattle, WA. Of course I can never pass up an opportunity to get out of town and fly, so I booked my spot as soon as I heard about it.
I went to school that day and left during lunch, stopped home, and then caught the loop 101 down to Sky Harbor, arriving around 1:30. We all had claimed some floorspace next to the electronic checkin kiosks, and had to later go off and search the terminal for our chapperones. We went through security in Terminal 4 & caught a glimpse of Southwest's new concourse there. Terminal 4 is still under heavy construction & they're putting new eateries in. There was a long chatoic line for security, and they were only using two stations for screening. They were also installing GE's new bomb detectors, where you walk into this huge x-ray like maching & get sprayed with air, which is then analyzed for any particles relating to explosives. We didn't have to go through these yet sine they weren't fully operational, but shortly after we returned home they started randomly testing passengers.
We all had dinner at the airport, and didn't have to wait very long until boarding started at 3:41pm. Our aircraft today was an A320 configured in the "sardine" seating stlye, with newer seats than you typically see on HP's a/c. Seating was six abreast, and the overhead bins seemed pretty roomy for such a light aircraft. Our flight crew today was quiet and withdrawn, and one even looked like a porn star (oh my gosh I am not kidding you- makeup, fake tan, died blonde hair, etc.).
[photoid=452892]
We pushed back on time, and I was still amazed at how quiet the A320's engines were (I flew my first A320 earlier this year with B6). We began the long taxi to rwy 7L, and passed the west cargo ramps as we queued-up for takeoff. We had a visitor today- Martinair brought their MD-11 into town.
After we inched up to the threshold, we turned right, instead of left onto the runway.
So now I'm freaking out because I know something's wrong. After sitting for a minute or so the pilot comes on and tells us we have a fuel filter clog, and that we were going to head back to the gate and let maintenance fix it. This is when the little voice comes into my head and reminds me how my friend who used to work for HP Maintenance told me the department was almost non-existant. But we make it back to the gate alright, and we're kept seated, as it's only supposed to take 30 mins to fix. They kept the APU running, which means only one A/C pack is running if I'm correct, so it started to get hot. Fifteen minutes, then thirty minutes, then 45, an hour.... It was apparent we'd be on the plane for a while. So far we hadn't received any water and I had almost burned through my huge 1.5 liter one that I always drink when I fly. Even better was that the plane was full of us high school kids on our way to Seattle- fun for us, Asprin for the other passengers. So being the social person I am, I get up in the aisle and start walking up and down talking with people to try and pass time. We had a group from England onboard, heading back to MAN, some guys on businses, and the whole back-end was us high schoolers. The flight attendants had all retreated into the rear galley.After about an hour and a half and running the engine to make sure it wouldn't get clogged while we're flying over mountains (lol), we were finally ready to depart. Darkness was falling as we taxied back to 7L, and quietly rumbled into the sky.
[photoid=462124]
The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful. They played Spanglish on the TVs, which reminds me- one of the TVs was possessed & it would randomly retract & deploy every quarter of an hour or so. If this is supposed to happen, someone please clue me in.
No meal was served, but we were still full from all the junk food we ate at the airport. I didn't catch any sleep (never do), but watched the movie the entire way.
We began our descent & bounced down over the water. The turbulence made pics more difficult in the already pitch-black, cloudy sky, but I tried.
I seem to be making a very bad habit of forgetting things on airplanes. I lost my cell phone on my B6 flight to New York, and now I forgot my jacket in the overhead bin (didn't realize it until it was too late). Baggage claim was a zoo, but SEATAC seemed much more modern and new compared to PHX, so that eased the pain of us weary travellers. We finally made it curbside, where we were met with another surprise.
Our yearbook advisor, being the totally awesome lady she is, had gotten us limos!
After a very comfortable ride to our very comfortable hotel, we all went out to Subway for dinner (seeing as how we'd gotten in two hours late without any food) ten minutes before they closed, and then came back and crashed, excited for tomorrow.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
During my time in Seattle, I made it a point to get out to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. After a $30 cab ride (which we later found out would have been only $0.50 by bus lol) we made it to the museum and explored for the better part of two hours.
The F-22 757 was also viewable from the observation deck (pardon the pole)
During that time we walked across the street to the aircraft park & went through the VC-137 & Concorde.
[photoid=463733]
[photoid=463732]
[photoid=463698]
THE Baby Boeing.
I finally lived my dream of seeing the first 747 in person. Wish they would take better care of it though...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
OK wow this is getting long- I'd better finish it up! After four days of fun & games in Seattle, and seeing the Boeing 777-200LR at BFI (didn't manage to get a picture though), it was time to head home.
America West #191
4/10/05
SEA-PHX
ETD: 1400 local
ETA: oops!
Airbus A320-232
After getting limos back to the airport (yes, both ways) and drawing looks from the lines of curbside checkin passengers, we proceeded to check out bags to PHX at the counter & head through security. Security was much more friendly than at PHX, and my friend wasn't violated like he was during his pat-down for the outbound flight (his jeans set off the metal detector & the guy patted his groin "searching for bombs"
). We had some time to kill & got chineese for a late lunch. The huge floor-ceiling windows proved real nice for spotting & testing out my new 70-200 f/4 L.
Wish we were flying WN....
Yes, the mustard rockets still live!
Our plane pulled up, a few minutes late, which brought more bad news for us.
Betchya can't guess what that is under the engine.
Yeah, the engines on our flights seem to be cursed. The oil leak delayed us for another hour, & they brought mechanics out to try & fix it while we boarded. Again we ran through the routine of running the engine, sweating on the plane, and finally getting in the air.
[photoid=457961]
Aios Seattle.
The flight was pretty uneventful. Our crew was a little more friendly & outgoing, & I think drinks came around twice. I got the full can, which surprised me, being HP doesn't do that too often.
[photoid=457962]
We had intermittent turbulence throughout the flight, which became very heavy when we descended into PHX. The pilot was banking left and right with a nose-down attitude and airbrakes deployed, trying to dodge storm cells. I was having fun. My friend who hates flying was not.
We flew a very tight approach, high and hot with full airbrakes until we turned final.
[photoid=462127]
The pilot was battling some winds, and flared a little too long. We were landing on 26, and as I looked out the window I could see HP's maintenance facility go by, then the terminals, then the executive terminal come into view (which is a good ways down the runway). The wheels hit shortly after, and full everything was engaged to keep us from running off the end of the runway. This concluded an....interesting...chapter of an America West flying experience. When we got off the jetway all of us dropped our bags and kissed the ground.
Just kidding.Thanks for reading!
![[http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=3669]](http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/JP banner 12.7.05.jpg)
Stop Searching. Start Traveling. southwest.com 
I really want to try an Airbus. I am glas you liked SEA, it is my favorite city in the nation
Both ours had 'em. The flight over didn't have a movie though.
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