Fun Spotting

I enjoy airport hotels with a view of the field, so the Sheraton Providence Airport was enjoyable.  Here's an extra view from the room photo.

I Can't Quite Tell The State

Southwest 1027 - Nice Paint

I had some fun spotting at my hotel yesterday. I also had my scanner going and enjoyed the ATC comment "Southwest 1027 - nice paint."

Southwest 737-300 Leaving PVD

American Airlines' New 737-800 First Class

The shortest flight of my 30,993 mile RTW trip was the first leg from Denver to Dallas.  Originally scheduled as a flat bed 757-200, the aircraft type was changed to a 737-800 a few weeks before departure.  This was a step down, but not as far as thought. I lucked out and got an almost brand new 737.  

New 737 < Old 757

I couldn’t tell from the outside, but once I stepped in, I noticed the Boeing Sky Interior bins and impressive looking new style seats. These were the best part of the flight. The TV screen was large and sharp.  The aircraft was loaded with movie selections and I was able to fit in The Godfather on my way to Dallas. The seats were a little closer together than I'd like, but the person in front didn't recline.

Great TV and Video Options

Nice New Option

The flight was blocked at 2:05 and flew during dinner hours, so I ate light in the Admirals Club (not difficult). I was anticipating a hot meal service with two entree options.  I was wrong. Cheese plate or a fruit plate were the options. Not bad as a starter, but that was it. Dejected, I enjoyed an amazing film and beer.  The flight landed soon after my movie and I was off to the QANTAS lounge for the most anticipated flight of the trip.

That's it?

American’s new first class seats put United’s new offering to shame. United has better meal service and a less chaotic boarding experience.  It’s hard to choose a better option, because no one is being upgraded anyway.

Big Bonus Miles on AA Credit Card

Note: I am NOT compensated for this post.

The Citi AA Executive card is offering a 75,000 mile sign up bonus.  The card also comes with an Admirals Club membership, Global Entry fee waiver, and a slew of other perks.  The card costs $450 a year. Also $7,500 in net spending is required in the first three months for the bonus miles.  Not a bad deal for frequent American Airlines flyers who can put $2,500 a month on the card, but I'll pass.

I'll Let This One Go By, View From 747-8 Top Deck

Intentional Retro Jet

Here's an intentionally retro paint scheme on a United 737.

Continental 737 at O'Hare

United 737-700 Exit Row

Row 20 on United's 737-700 is missing window seats.  That means the window seats in row 21 have unlimited legroom, it's like first class class on Southwest.  Don't bother paying for TV, it's about 5 feet away, but unlike Lufthansa First, it isn't very large.

View from 21F

Pick A Seat- Difficult Task

I love window seats.  Which seat to pick on an upcoming flight is a difficult call.  20A does not recline, but has plenty of leg room.  34A does recline, but is a tight squeeze in economy minus.  The flight is 4 hours from gate to gate.  I picked recline over leg room, but I'm hoping someone in economy plus upgrades so I can grab a better window seat.

Recline or Leg Room?

Lufthansa European Business Class Meals

I ordered the fish and loved it. Yes, on a two hour from from Madrid to Frankfurt I ordered the white fish option.  Risky, except I was flying Lufthansa and they have the best food on airplanes.  It was all really good.  They even serve a full meal on the 189 mile flight from Frankfurt to Brussels.  I wish American carriers fed passengers as well.  There's real food in the lounges too, so be careful not to fill up on the ground.

White Fish Meal from Madrid to FRA

Pork Option on Two Hour Flight

Quick Bite to Eat on BRU-FRA Route

Quick Snack on 737 to Brussels

Hot Coach Meal FRA-MAD on an A321

747 Business Class Dinner Chicago to FRA

747 Business Class Breakfast Chicago to FRA

Lufthansa 737 Business Class Seats

Lufthansa has the same seats from nose to tail on their 737's.  Business class gets better catering and an open middle seat on every flight.  It's not the large recliner seat like in United Airlines' first class, but on short hops, it is still comfortable.

Blocked Middle Seat Every Trip

Thin Seat, But Still Relaxing

Plane Crash Movie On My Flight

I watched a movie about airplane crashes on a recent flight.  A Yank in the R.A.F. was on TCM (free DirecTV in United first) and it was full of plane crashes and fires. In the old days when airlines picked their movies, they avoided ones with sensitive topics. It was a good propaganda film from 1941 (filmed in the UK with the Luftwaffe in the area), so I didn't notice it was about airplane failures until the end. 

United 737 with DirecTV

The funniest part of the movie was in the opening credits:
The Producers wish to express their appreciation to the officers and personnel of the Royal Air Force whose cooperation, under difficult conditions, made possible the filming of the aerial scenes in this production.

UPDATE: I also enjoyed North By Northwest and Von Ryan's Express on flights, so I guess prop plane crash movies are OK to watch on flights.

Southwest Airlines First Class 737-800

Southwest has two first class seats on every 737-800.  The service isn't any different and they are the same narrow width as all the other seats, but these two seats do offer unlimited leg room.  I was able to claim one with boarding position A43 and B2 last week.  They are considered part of the exit row, so they can't be occupied by pre-boards, children, or the elderly.   

Seat 16A

Exit Rows 15 and 16

Seat 16A Leg Room

More 737 Split Scimitar Winglets

I spotted another 737 with new split scimitar winglets, this time on a Southwest plane in Austin, Texas.

Southwest 737 With New Winglets

Head on View of the New Winglets

Last Flight of a Lufthansa 737-300

Lufthansa Cargo today posted a link to their flight radar map showing all the Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo flights in air.  I clicked on a few flights and then found LH9924 from Bangor to Tulsa.  This is the final flight for the aircraft D-ABXY because Lufthansa sends their old 737's there to be scrapped.  It's sad to see an aircraft's final flight after years of faithful service.  I flew a Lufthansa 737-300 last year from FRA to GVA and the aircraft felt up to the task.  Sorry to see this one go.

Last Flight For This Lufthansa 737-300

FAA Aircraft Registration Look Up

Ever wonder how old an aircraft is?  The FAA will let you look it up on line; I saved the link to my iPhone favorites. http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/nnum_inquiry.aspx

Boeing 737-3TO, Manufactured in 1985

Lufthansa 747 & 737 Economy Class Review - Denver - Frankfurt - Geneva

I had a good feeling about this one until I got on board.  I was able to change my MileagePlus award ticket to get the idea timing for my flights from Denver to Geneva.  This was my first time flying long haul with Lufthansa in coach and I was expecting their entire long haul fleet to have seat back TV’s in coach (they have all the other times I’ve flown with them).  Once I boarded, I noticed the old business class (not uncommon, they are still updating aircraft) and then I entered the economy cabin and was stunned to find there were no seat back TV’s.  This was going to be a very long 9 hour flight (unlike my short 10 hour flight with Lufthansa in First).

Lufthansa 747 in Denver

The plane was packed with maybe 5 or 6 empty seats in all of coach, so there was no hope of spreading out with an open middle seat.  The seat on this flight was very well padded and comfortable.  It seemed to recline pretty far too.  Boarding went very quickly and we were soon on our way.  The drink and meal service started right after we hit cruising altitude.  The meal I picked was a very flavorful pasta dish that I enjoyed thoroughly.  Really, good airline food is served to the people in the back.

Lufthansa 747 Coach Seat & Leg Room

After the meal service was cleared, I popped a melatonin and tried to fall asleep.  Thanks to my eye mask and ear plugs (bring your own, they are not provided to coach customers) I was out until my neighbor woke me for breakfast, a quick and enjoyable egg dish.  Less than 30 minutes after finishing, we landed.  A surprisingly good flight, that would have been interminable had I not been able to sleep.

Very Good Coach Meal DEN-FRA

After quickly clearing customs in Frankfurt, I went to the closest Lufthansa lounge for lunch and internet.  The closest lounge was closed for remodeling, so it wound up being a very far walk.  The business lounge was packed and I grabbed one of the last available seats (Star Gold members can also use the Senator lounge, but that was a hike).  After a quick snack and some wandering the internet, I went to my gate for Geneva.  

Lufthansa 737 Tail

The Geneva flight was staffed with a very senior looking crew, odd I thought for a one hour trip (they are paid by the hour).  It turns out that for some reason the crew on this afternoon flight overnighted in Geneva, explaining why it is a popular route for the crew members.  The flight was fast and bumpy with impeccable cabin service.  They even fed coach passengers a potato salad and salmon snack, very tasty.

Lufthansa's Intra-Europe Coach Seat

After landing in Geneva, I grabbed the 75 minute free public transport ticket in baggage claim and went to catch my bus to the Intercontinental Hotel.  My trip had some good surprises and I was anticipating more.

Another Fun Picture

Here's another fun picture.

United 737-800

Time to Start Planning 2013 Adventures

Now that I made 1K for 2012, I am able to relax about status (SPG stays #24 and #25 are booked, so I’m safe).  It feels great not to worry.  The problem is 2013 is just around the corner and my business travel won’t get me close to 1K in 2013.  I’m looking for cheap United flights early in 2013 to get a status head start and maybe find some cheap deals to new places.

Sunset at Denver Airport on United 737

Denver isn’t the cheapest airport and there isn’t a close alternative (COS is 2 hours drive, but the fares aren’t great there either).  There are a few flights to Oslo or Stockholm for about 6.5c per mile flown.  Not bad, but not great.  I haven’t been to either city, so I’m tempted to book.  The price is a little high for just the miles and the fare has a two night stay required.  I wouldn’t mind a short vacation, but I’d rather go when it’s warm and there is sunlight.

US Airways Jet in New York

Domestic flights aren’t any cheaper from Denver; I’m looking at 8c a mile.  There are some cheap transcon flights (BOS-SNA for 4.5c / mi), but I’d need to reposition to a coast and that’s not cost effective unless I fly a few round trips.  There aren’t any cheap day trips out there, so very frustrating.  I guess I’ll go back to ITA Matrix and search some more.

United Airlines First Class 737 Review

The United and Continental merger is complete and the fleets have been nicely scattered around, so you have a good chance of flying on a former Continental 737 (United was an Airbus fan, the merged airline is going 737 for new planes).  These planes will also be staffed by Continental crews, some of the friendliest and most professional in the US.  Here is an overview of what to expect (bold text is from united.com followed by some color commentary).

Onboard amenities

United 737 First Class Seat

Extra-wide leather seats with expanded legroom – The seat is the one thing you can count on.  It’s not as comfortable as the United seats, but still nice and easy to relax in. 

Complimentary blankets available onboard for use during your flight – You have to ask and they might not be available.  Pretty scratchy too, the old united ones were better.  No pillows any more, I bring my own for overnight flights.

United 737 First Class Seat Reclined

Meals and beverages

Pre-departure beverage service – Time permitting and if the flight attendants want to.  Most times they do and take a drink order.

Complimentary beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks and freshly brewed coffee – The new United coffee is miserable, it is undrinkable unless you drop a bottle of Bailey’s in it.  Luckily, they have Bailey’s and are more than happy to mix it in your coffee.  Good selection, same items as in coach, of free drinks.  The mixer/specialty drinks, like the Mojito, are not free though.

Hot towel service – Nice way to freshen up once in the air.

Meal service on flights longer than two hours – The 737 breakfast is great, usually a tasty omelet or egg mcmuffin.  They also have warm cinnamon buns too.  Lunch and dinner is usually a wrap or salad choice.  Both come with tasty soup and a fresh baked cookie.  The food quality is improving, but consistency is not.  Here is breakfast lunch and dinner review, less than flattering meal review and here is a flattering review.

View additional meal and beverages information

Leg Room in United 737 First Class

Entertainment

Audio entertainment with complimentary headsets provided on aircraft equipped with in-flight entertainment – Not every 737 has inflight entertainment.  A few new airplanes were ordered without any entertainment at all.  I flew one 737 with the new Boeing Sky Interior, but no tv or audio to keep me busy. 

Complimentary DIRECTV® on equipped aircraft – Free if they have it, but it’s not a sure thing.

Complimentary movies on all flights three hours or longer – If there is no DirectTV, but a monitor in the aisle, then you get a free movie.  If there is DirectTV, then you have free access to the system anyway.

A complimentary copy of Hemispheres magazine – Good magazine to flip though, but don’t feel too special, every seat has a copy.

United 737

Airport arrival and departure

Premier AccessSM check-in, baggage handling, boarding and security lines (where available) – Short lines abound for first class flyers.  Two free checked bags too.  No free United Club access for North American first class flyers though.