http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL295

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL9971

I thought I had it bad sitting reserve 4,000 miles away from where I'd like to be on Christmas..



The Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage had only 14 guests checked in this Christmas evening, until a Delta 744 enroute ATL-NRT dropped in., adding 328 additional guests on short notice.

Knowing a hotel restaurant would be open on a holiday, that's where I went for a bite and drink - only to witness and be amazed at the restaurant staff which took on this challenge... short staffed on their holiday, to work nonstop 4+ hours past their closing time to provide for 300+ Japanese passengers (who don't tip by custom).

There must have been at least 100 people in line at the door to Fletchers Restaurant, and 40 open room service slips on the bar counter at any given time. There was no other restaurant open in downtown Anchorage because of the holiday. They moved nonstop, called in staff that was originally off, took stock of orders and inventory on bar napkins after their receipt paper ran out, sweated and worked their ass off when they where expecting to be home.

So here's a Merry Christmas to the under appreciated hotel staff which puts up with our crazy industry.

And for ANC spotters, there should be 2 DL 744s on the ramp in the early AM.

[Edited 2012-12-26 04:52:44]