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Preface
I am taking a trip to the DECA ICDC (International Career Development Conference) which took place in Anaheim, California! DECA is an organization of high school marketing students, and I personally feel it is the best organization in the world! I have learned so much from it, and it has had a pretty large impact on my life!
Anyways, I was attending this conference because I placed at the DECA State Competition. My group and I placed 1st place in the state, in an event titled "International Business Plan". It required us to put together a 30 page business plan over a business of our choosing. We decided to make a unique insurance company, and we spent a ton of time working on this plan. We were extremely happy to make it to the DECA International Competition.
Information About the Flight
Airline: Southwest (WN)
Flight: 655
Route: MCI-LAX
Route:CHIEF3 CATTS HLC J64 PGS RIIVR2
Reg: N659SW
Depart: 8:13
Arrive: 9:25
Going to the Airport
I woke up at 3:30 am for a flight that left at 8:30. I was super excited to finally be going to Anaheim, CA! I was at the airport at 6:45, where I met up with all of the other people from my school.
Arriving at the Airport
I was super excited to be at the airport!!!
Checking in for the flight only took about 30 seconds, and security was a breeze! (for the first time!) This was actually the first time I have had an MCI TSA agent treat me like a person, instead like an animal. So good job MCI TSA!
Here are some pictures from when I was arriving at the airport
The control tower and terminal B sign
Great Lakes and US Airways aircraft
Southwest Airlines!
MCI Control Tower looking nice in the morning!
A picture from the parking lot, with the morning sun shining on Terminal B.
When I got into the gate area I saw this bird sitting at gate 39, and pretty soon the aviation-geek inside of me started to appear, and I started to snap tons of pictures!
WN 737 at gate 39
My plane (N659SW) sitting at gate 38
A flight being pushed, with an FL 717 taxiing for takeoff on 1L
A closer picture
A NW (or should I say DL?) Airbus 319 beginning it's takeoff roll on 1L
I finally got a picture of a YX EMB-170!!! I think they look pretty sharp in the YX livery, but I hope that Midwest is able to get all of their issues sorted out, as they used to be one of my favorite airlines to fly.
WN aircraft sitting at a gate, with the MCI fire house in the background.
Taxiing to 1L via taxiway Alpha
The pilots hard at work, going through checklists. One of the engines is on. I love the reflection of the engines on the fuselage.
Boarding
We checked in at around 23 hours before the flight, and I got number A50, which I was somewhat disappointed with. But I was happy to know that the flight was around 60% full! Boarding went smoothly, they boarded business select, 15-30, and then 30-60. After about a minute of waiting in the jetway, I was able to sit in my favorite seat! (seat 21A) I don't know why I love that seat, but I sit in row 21 on every WN flight I take! I really need to try a different seat! lol, I read in Alex's report that row 17 was his favorite, I might need to try sitting there some time!
While I was getting on the flight, I talked with the flight attendant to try to arrange something special for my best-friend, who is also in DECA and was one of my partners for the business plan event. It was his birthday a couple days before we left, and I wanted to arrange a "toilet paper birthday cake" for him. You will read about that a little later in the report!
After getting situated, to my surprise I saw ship N484WN! I was surprised because I flew with this bird a couple months ago from Oakland!, This trip was full of me seeing aircraft again, because on the return segment, I saw N382SW which I flew in December to OAK.
N484WN being pushed.
here is a photo of an AA 757 with winglets that I saw! I was completely shocked to see one at MCI! :O
Taxi and Takeoff
The taxi time was short, as takeoff was from Runway 1L, which isn't to far from Terminal B. This was my first time taking off from 1L, which was pretty cool. But I like 19R better, because after takeoff there is usually a turn that provides a good overview of the airport.
Here is a video of the safety announcements, and engine start up. Sorry for having it skip in some areas. I stopped the video to get a couple pictures of the 757!
Also sorry for the quality. I had to compress the video, so it wouldn't take forever to upload!
Here is a view of A WN and YX jet, with an AA 757 takeoff, and a UA A319 peaking behind a jetway.
We stopped in front of Runway 1L, and I was surprised. I thought that we were having a mechanical problem and we would return to the gate. To my surprise we were holding short for an incoming WN jet!
lol, it was surprising, because I have never had to hold for an arriving aircraft at MCI, because it usually isn't busy!
About to get ready for takeoff
The takeoff was extremely fun! The CFM-56 engines were very powerful! (btw, I usually don't fly on a/c larger than 737s, lol) It was extremely fun, and we were shortly completing our takeoff roll and getting into the sky!
Here is a video of the takeoff. Sorry about the quality!
Just after takeoff
In-Flight
As always, whenever I fly on Southwest Airlines, I always seem to get a better experience! I don't know how they can always top themselves each time I fly with them!
The flight crew was amazing! They demonstrated the 3 qualities of Southwest with great integrity! (Servant's heart, Warrior Spirit, Fun LUV-ing Attitude) Every flight crew I have had on Southwest has been consistent in the extremely high level of service they have provided, and that is one of the reasons I keep returning back to Southwest!
There were 3 drink services during this flight, which shocked me! All of the flights I have had on WN over 3 hours have had at least 3 drink services too, but it still shocks me! This is amazing, because I have been on a 4 hour flight from SJC-ORD that only had 1 drink service, and no actual food.
Southwest Airlines was offering Nabisco snack products. Ritz Cheese Crackers, Oreo Cookies, and Animal Crackers...as well as the famous honey roasted peanuts! I am in love with them, because they are awesome!
yay Kansas!
some nice looking clouds.
I would have gotten more pictures, but it was extremely cloudy for most of the flight. We didn't break away from the clouds until we got around the Arizona area.
the snack service on WN! They did 2 of these, which was awesome!
I got a couple bags of oreos, animal crackers and peanuts!
here is a macro shot of the peanuts.
A view once the clouds were gone.
The Rockies
and again.
Over Arizona. This somewhat reminds me of Kansas, seeing all the circles on the ground! (you should know what I'm talking about if you have ever flown over MO, KS, NE or eastern CO)
I went over to the other side of the aircraft to talk to my teacher, who was sitting about 2 rows in front of me, on the other side of the aircraft.
I got this picture from her row.
Now I am back at my seat, and I got this picture over AZ.
another picture
It was my best friend's birthday a couple days before the trip, and before the flight I talked with the flight attendant to try to arrange a toilet paper b-day cake.
It was awesome, they made an announcement, and he was really surprised when he got this!
The "cake" included toilet paper, luggage tags, peanuts, those heart shaped sticks, and wings!
Cabin shot.
Beginning our descent into the LA Area
A view of a lake
Approach and Landing
The flight was unfortunately coming to an end, but I was excited to finally get to see LAX and get to Anaheim for the DECA competition, and Disneyland!
The speed brakes being used.
Some mountains near LAX, with the wingtip of our bird.
Clouds as we are getting closer to the final to 25L
The light came down.
Flaps starting to be deployed
On final to LAX 25L
A view of a highway on landing
Here are two pictures taken by my friend "G", on approach, and they were really good, so I am including them in my report.
We came in on Runway 25 Left, which was surprising, because I thought we would land on 24 Right! But I wasn't complaining, as I was able to see more of LAX than I would have if we were on 24R.
The landing was pretty smooth, and usual. Here is a video of the landing! Sorry again for the quality, and that some parts are missing. They are missing, because I took some pictures.
Some UA jets, including a P.S. 757 with winglets!
DL jets with the tower in the background
DL with AeroMexico
A Qantas 747! I felt pretty small taxiing next to this in a small 737!
LAN, Qantas's 'Wanula Dreaming', and according to one of the comments I heard somebody say, "the Pepsi corporate jet"....aka Korean Air
Some AS jets at LAX
75th Anniversary logo jet
Some Northwest/Delta Airbus aircraft hanging out at the gates.
A Virgin America A319 looking cool!
HP A319s in Terminal 1
This was another awesome WN flight!
Southwest Airlines is truly the best, and continues to provide amazing flights! I was really excited to go and WIN the DECA competition! I was extremely happy to be flying on Southwest for this trip, because flying WN made me extremely happy! and you can't spell "win" without WN, so I was really happy to be flying them!
We stopped in front of gate 2, which is really small, so we had to wait a couple of minutes to be towed into the gate. After the flight I stopped by the flight deck and got some pictures in the flight deck!
A view from gate 2
The Qantas jet taking off
A Southwest Airlines seat
Some pictures from the flight deck
Throttle Pedestal
Some Gauges
Disembarking the aircraft
N761RR as seen through the jetway window
Seen through the terminal window
HP flight to PHX, with an A321 in the background
We waited in the baggage claim area for around 30 minutes where we collected our luggage, and then it was off to the Hotel. We stayed at the Anaheim, Hilton...I guess it was cool.
I will post my return trip report whenever I get the time, and here are some more pictures from LA.
Leaving the airport.
LAX Tower
The CO terminal
A UA 757
The UA 747 Star Alliance colors!
The iconic restaurant at LAX
An angled view of the hotel! It was surprisingly really huge! I got lost a couple of times while I was there! lol
The Anaheim convention center where the conference took place
DISNEYLAND!
Tomorrowland with the Matterhorn!
I am taking a trip to the DECA ICDC (International Career Development Conference) which took place in Anaheim, California! DECA is an organization of high school marketing students, and I personally feel it is the best organization in the world! I have learned so much from it, and it has had a pretty large impact on my life!
Anyways, I was attending this conference because I placed at the DECA State Competition. My group and I placed 1st place in the state, in an event titled "International Business Plan". It required us to put together a 30 page business plan over a business of our choosing. We decided to make a unique insurance company, and we spent a ton of time working on this plan. We were extremely happy to make it to the DECA International Competition.
Information About the Flight
Airline: Southwest (WN)
Flight: 655
Route: MCI-LAX
Route:CHIEF3 CATTS HLC J64 PGS RIIVR2
Reg: N659SW
Depart: 8:13
Arrive: 9:25
Going to the Airport
I woke up at 3:30 am for a flight that left at 8:30. I was super excited to finally be going to Anaheim, CA! I was at the airport at 6:45, where I met up with all of the other people from my school.
Arriving at the Airport
I was super excited to be at the airport!!!
Checking in for the flight only took about 30 seconds, and security was a breeze! (for the first time!) This was actually the first time I have had an MCI TSA agent treat me like a person, instead like an animal. So good job MCI TSA!
Here are some pictures from when I was arriving at the airport
The control tower and terminal B sign
Great Lakes and US Airways aircraft
Southwest Airlines!
MCI Control Tower looking nice in the morning!
A picture from the parking lot, with the morning sun shining on Terminal B.
When I got into the gate area I saw this bird sitting at gate 39, and pretty soon the aviation-geek inside of me started to appear, and I started to snap tons of pictures!
WN 737 at gate 39
My plane (N659SW) sitting at gate 38
A flight being pushed, with an FL 717 taxiing for takeoff on 1L
A closer picture
A NW (or should I say DL?) Airbus 319 beginning it's takeoff roll on 1L
I finally got a picture of a YX EMB-170!!! I think they look pretty sharp in the YX livery, but I hope that Midwest is able to get all of their issues sorted out, as they used to be one of my favorite airlines to fly.
WN aircraft sitting at a gate, with the MCI fire house in the background.
Taxiing to 1L via taxiway Alpha
The pilots hard at work, going through checklists. One of the engines is on. I love the reflection of the engines on the fuselage.
Boarding
We checked in at around 23 hours before the flight, and I got number A50, which I was somewhat disappointed with. But I was happy to know that the flight was around 60% full! Boarding went smoothly, they boarded business select, 15-30, and then 30-60. After about a minute of waiting in the jetway, I was able to sit in my favorite seat! (seat 21A) I don't know why I love that seat, but I sit in row 21 on every WN flight I take! I really need to try a different seat! lol, I read in Alex's report that row 17 was his favorite, I might need to try sitting there some time!
While I was getting on the flight, I talked with the flight attendant to try to arrange something special for my best-friend, who is also in DECA and was one of my partners for the business plan event. It was his birthday a couple days before we left, and I wanted to arrange a "toilet paper birthday cake" for him. You will read about that a little later in the report!
After getting situated, to my surprise I saw ship N484WN! I was surprised because I flew with this bird a couple months ago from Oakland!
, This trip was full of me seeing aircraft again, because on the return segment, I saw N382SW which I flew in December to OAK. N484WN being pushed.
here is a photo of an AA 757 with winglets that I saw! I was completely shocked to see one at MCI! :O
Taxi and Takeoff
The taxi time was short, as takeoff was from Runway 1L, which isn't to far from Terminal B. This was my first time taking off from 1L, which was pretty cool. But I like 19R better, because after takeoff there is usually a turn that provides a good overview of the airport.
Here is a video of the safety announcements, and engine start up. Sorry for having it skip in some areas. I stopped the video to get a couple pictures of the 757!
Also sorry for the quality. I had to compress the video, so it wouldn't take forever to upload!
Here is a view of A WN and YX jet, with an AA 757 takeoff, and a UA A319 peaking behind a jetway.
We stopped in front of Runway 1L, and I was surprised. I thought that we were having a mechanical problem and we would return to the gate. To my surprise we were holding short for an incoming WN jet!
lol, it was surprising, because I have never had to hold for an arriving aircraft at MCI, because it usually isn't busy!
About to get ready for takeoff
The takeoff was extremely fun! The CFM-56 engines were very powerful! (btw, I usually don't fly on a/c larger than 737s, lol) It was extremely fun, and we were shortly completing our takeoff roll and getting into the sky!
Here is a video of the takeoff. Sorry about the quality!
Just after takeoff
In-Flight
As always, whenever I fly on Southwest Airlines, I always seem to get a better experience! I don't know how they can always top themselves each time I fly with them!
The flight crew was amazing!
They demonstrated the 3 qualities of Southwest with great integrity! (Servant's heart, Warrior Spirit, Fun LUV-ing Attitude) Every flight crew I have had on Southwest has been consistent in the extremely high level of service they have provided, and that is one of the reasons I keep returning back to Southwest! There were 3 drink services during this flight, which shocked me! All of the flights I have had on WN over 3 hours have had at least 3 drink services too, but it still shocks me! This is amazing, because I have been on a 4 hour flight from SJC-ORD that only had 1 drink service, and no actual food.
Southwest Airlines was offering Nabisco snack products. Ritz Cheese Crackers, Oreo Cookies, and Animal Crackers...as well as the famous honey roasted peanuts! I am in love with them, because they are awesome!
yay Kansas!
some nice looking clouds.
I would have gotten more pictures, but it was extremely cloudy for most of the flight. We didn't break away from the clouds until we got around the Arizona area.
the snack service on WN! They did 2 of these, which was awesome!
I got a couple bags of oreos, animal crackers and peanuts!
here is a macro shot of the peanuts.
A view once the clouds were gone.
The Rockies
and again.
Over Arizona. This somewhat reminds me of Kansas, seeing all the circles on the ground! (you should know what I'm talking about if you have ever flown over MO, KS, NE or eastern CO)
I went over to the other side of the aircraft to talk to my teacher, who was sitting about 2 rows in front of me, on the other side of the aircraft.
I got this picture from her row.
Now I am back at my seat, and I got this picture over AZ.
another picture
It was my best friend's birthday a couple days before the trip, and before the flight I talked with the flight attendant to try to arrange a toilet paper b-day cake.
It was awesome, they made an announcement, and he was really surprised when he got this!
The "cake" included toilet paper, luggage tags, peanuts, those heart shaped sticks, and wings!
Cabin shot.
Beginning our descent into the LA Area
A view of a lake
Approach and Landing
The flight was unfortunately coming to an end, but I was excited to finally get to see LAX and get to Anaheim for the DECA competition, and Disneyland!
The speed brakes being used.
Some mountains near LAX, with the wingtip of our bird.
Clouds as we are getting closer to the final to 25L
The light came down.
Flaps starting to be deployed
On final to LAX 25L
A view of a highway on landing
Here are two pictures taken by my friend "G", on approach, and they were really good, so I am including them in my report.
We came in on Runway 25 Left, which was surprising, because I thought we would land on 24 Right! But I wasn't complaining, as I was able to see more of LAX than I would have if we were on 24R.
The landing was pretty smooth, and usual. Here is a video of the landing! Sorry again for the quality, and that some parts are missing. They are missing, because I took some pictures.
Some UA jets, including a P.S. 757 with winglets!
DL jets with the tower in the background
DL with AeroMexico
A Qantas 747! I felt pretty small taxiing next to this in a small 737!
LAN, Qantas's 'Wanula Dreaming', and according to one of the comments I heard somebody say, "the Pepsi corporate jet"....aka Korean Air
Some AS jets at LAX
75th Anniversary logo jet
Some Northwest/Delta Airbus aircraft hanging out at the gates.
A Virgin America A319 looking cool!
HP A319s in Terminal 1
This was another awesome WN flight!
Southwest Airlines is truly the best, and continues to provide amazing flights! I was really excited to go and WIN the DECA competition! I was extremely happy to be flying on Southwest for this trip, because flying WN made me extremely happy! and you can't spell "win" without WN, so I was really happy to be flying them!
We stopped in front of gate 2, which is really small, so we had to wait a couple of minutes to be towed into the gate. After the flight I stopped by the flight deck and got some pictures in the flight deck!
A view from gate 2
The Qantas jet taking off
A Southwest Airlines seat
Some pictures from the flight deck
Throttle Pedestal
Some Gauges
Disembarking the aircraft
N761RR as seen through the jetway window
Seen through the terminal window
HP flight to PHX, with an A321 in the background
We waited in the baggage claim area for around 30 minutes where we collected our luggage, and then it was off to the Hotel. We stayed at the Anaheim, Hilton...I guess it was cool.
I will post my return trip report whenever I get the time, and here are some more pictures from LA.
Leaving the airport.
LAX Tower
The CO terminal
A UA 757
The UA 747 Star Alliance colors!
The iconic restaurant at LAX
An angled view of the hotel! It was surprisingly really huge! I got lost a couple of times while I was there! lol
The Anaheim convention center where the conference took place
DISNEYLAND!
Tomorrowland with the Matterhorn!
Stop Searching. Start Traveling. southwest.com 
Did Southwest give you the whole can of Coke or did you just get a cup? Southwest seems like an incredible airline, their service appears to be way superior to that of legacy carriers. Keep up the good work, Jaspreet! 
It was nice to read about your experiences and I'm glad that Southwest Airlines treated you well. They look like they are miles ahead of US carriers. Great pictures and videos, I truly hope that you will try and upload some of them to the JP.net db when you chance. The toilet-paper birthday cake was an interesting idea, I have never seen one of those before. As for my above comments, I too, love Southwest's peanuts even though are a little bit salty and like how they give you so much free food and do multiple beverage runs even on short domestic sectors. Wish all airlines could be like them. I look forward to seeing the return trip. 
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