Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2579 times:
This is a continuation of my trip report posted earlier "SIN-NRT-SFO on NW". So here goes!
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SFO-MSP, NW592, 12A, Y Class, DC10
MSP-ORD, NW140, 6A, Y Class, DC9
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Waking up early, I savoured the cold biting winds of San Francisco outside my B&B while waiting for my airport shuttle van to arrive. It's in the middle of summer but there was no way you could walk outside with no winter clotes on!
My ride to the airport took no more that 30 mins even though there were several stops to pick up other people. Pulling up at the NW Terminal, I unloaded my bags and boy was the airport busy at this time! Thus, there was a long line at check in. American aiports are different as they have one common check in desk for the respective airline.
I presented my Malaysia Airlines Enrich card but the check in agent pushed it away and muttered "We don't take this... "
What? Never heard of Malaysia Airlines? I told her that MH was a partner of NW so she reluctantly took the card and continued keying into the computer. Suddenly she looked worried and told me that I had to run for my plane. I looked at my watch and it was 0730H.
"Run? Doesn't my flight leave at 0815H?"
"No Sir, your flight leaves at 0740H! I am not sure if you bags will make this flight... "
I grabbed my boarding pass and made a dash for the departure gate. Just not my day, I found a long line at security. My saving grace was a NW check in agent who ran behind me and told security to let me through (thank God this was pre-911!). She ran with me to the gate, all this while telling the gate personnel thru her walkie talkie to keep the doors open. I still didn't understand why was my flight leaving so early? Did they change the dep time? If so, why was I the only one running? My luck again that the gate was situated at the farthest end of the concourse... Phew! I could have won a gold medal for my 600yard dash that morning...
Running into the plane, I had no chance take a pic of the DC10. I collapse into window seat 12A (my seats were all pre-booked ) panting and perspiring because I still had my jacket on. I guess they were holding the plane to load my one piece of baggae because we were still on the ground at 0750H!
I wondered what went wrong?? I took out my itinerary and read it. My folly glared me right in the face, 0815H was the arrival time of my flight fm NRT-SFO two days before! It clearly read 0740H NW592!!! Sigh... was it jet lag creeping up on me?
While we were waiting for pushback, I cooled down and looked around the cabin. Y Class was configured 2 x 5 x 2 (urgh! dreaded middle seat!!!) and the fabric was the similar dark blue ones found on the 744s. But it was crammed as hell!My knees almost touched the seat in front of me. Cabin walls were old and some of the fittings were falling out, held in place with tape.
I heard a commotion among the middle seats across the narrow aisle. Apparently, a big built man put his seat back leaving little space for another big built man behind him. The both of them had the dreaded middle seat!
"hey buddy, put your damn seat up! Need some space here"
"I need some space myself"
"Why don't you fly First Class and save yourself the misery?"
"Why don't you fly First Class?"
"No, why don't you?"
"No, why don't YOU?"
"You wanna pay for my ticket?"
"Why should I? You're the one that needs to lose weight!"
Geez... it was turning into a Jerry Springer special slug fest. It took two flt attendants to pacify them but neither wanted to give in. Finally, one of the attendants threatened to throw them off the plane of they didn't "shut up". Bravo! That ace card worked and they shut up for the rest of the flight.
"Thank you... now I need you to put your seat upright for take off, ok?" said the blonde attendant sternly.
Looking at the average built of Americans, why do they squeeze so many seats into the plane?
Anyhow, we pushed back a little late and taxied for the runway. A United Shuttle 737-500 taxied next to us on a parallel taxiway and scuttled off into the skies before us. Lining up on the runway, I looked back at the terminal and saw a Delta 767-400! Wow... it was beautiful !!! It looked so sleek and long...
The three engines spooled up and a distinctive whine filled the cabin that could only be heard on a DC10. I heard a similar whine on a AA DC10 on a previous trip fm HNL-LAX. We powered down the runway and lifted off into the misty skies.
I looked forward to breakfast, as I had nothing to eat earlier due to my stupidity. As soon as the cart was pushed down the aisle, I eagerly looked forward to scrambled eggs and sausages - or so I thought!
I was seated in the second row of the Y cabin so I was one of the first to be served. The flt attendant came up to me and rattled off the choices for this morning...
"Would you like a banana, strawberry yoghurt or a bagel?"
Huh?
"Or would you like something hot?"
I don't beleve this, they handed me a paper plate! I was so looking forward to a proper breakfast that I opted for banana and "something hot" (still thinking about eggs and sausages...), which turned out to be a warm biscuit .I understand that this is standard fare for a morning US domestic flight, very different from what we are used to in Asia! Paper plate?! Hehehehe... I still find that very amusing...
The crew disappeared after the meal service and were not seen until before landing. Hence, there was almost nil service. The two earlier feuding pax were thankfully civilised and quiet throughout the whole 3.5hrs journey. The weather en route to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St Paul was wonderful! I looked out of my window and enjoyed the vast plains of Nebraska. The overcast out of SFO broke as we left California and it was a cloudless day for the rest of the country, allowing a fantastic view outside my window.
Approaching MSP, I had a splendid view of downtown Minneapolis. Thumping down onto terra firma, it was obvious we had entered NW territory. red tails filled the vicinity of Lindberg terminal. A lone KLM 747-400 stood out from all the NW a/c of various models.
Apparently, MSP was voted the best airport in North America recently. Is this true?
Our gate was still occupied so we had to taxi to a corner of the terminal and wait for 30mins. An announcement came over the PA later that there would be a further delay due to a halt in ground movements. US Vice-President Dick Cheney's Air Force 2, a 757, was taxiing for takeoff. Looking out of the window, there was a line of NW DC9s, A320s and DC10s queuing up on the taxiway waiting for their turn to takeoff. Air Force 2 roared down the runway and all ground movements resumed.
We continued to taxi to the terminal for disembarkation and I had a 2hr transit. Phew! What a journey I have had!
Lindberg terminal in MSP looks wonderful within. Well, at least that is what I can say for concourse G. Very modern looking with lots of natural lighting due to the large window panels. While walking to my departure gate G11, I thought I saw a colourful Sun Country 737-800 take off. The continuous roars of departing aircraft was a constant reminder of how busy MSP can be at that time of the day. Contributing to the roar was the KLM 747-400 I saw earier, no doubt departing for AMS.
An age old DC9 was my 1hr 10min ride to Chicago/ORD. A new coat of paint was evident, amking the aircraft seem factory fresh. The DC9s in MSP don't need tow trucks for pushback, they gently deploy their reverse thrust! This I have never seen before... interesting!
I settled down in seat 6A. Boarding was swift and I must say I am now a fan of the DC9/MD80/90 aircraft. Seating is configured 2 x 3 and it's SPACIOUS! A muffled roar filled the cabin because the reverse thrust was deployed for push back from the terminal. Almost immediately after we straightened out on the taxiway, we taxied for the runway. What a way to save time! A United 727-200 taxied ahead of us and we took off behind it... I have never seen a 727 before!!! Wow! Forgive me, coming from Singapore, I don't see many 727s, in fact none of them fly to Singapore! I was too young to remember when Singapore Airlines operated the 727-200 fm 1979-85.
I was amazed with the silent cabin of the DC9 when we were taking off. The distance fm MSP-ORD is roughly the same as SIN-PEN. For the latter sector, a meal is served but I only received a packet of pretzels on this flight. Peering into First Class thru the curtains, I saw that the pax had pretzels as well but they drank from glasses instead of plastic cups like me. And they pay twice as much !
The flight attendant serving me was a middle aged cheerful woman. This was strange... she actually smiled ! Wow, a smiling NW flight attendant on a domestic flight! How about that? She seemed to enjoy handing out the packets of pretzels and she pouted when my neighbour declined any.
"Oh why, sweetheart? You sure? I will be back with the drinks..." sigh, she was so motherly!
Approaching ORD, it is obvious you are entering the airspace of a crowded aerodrome. With the skyline of Chicago as a backdrop, I saw a UA 737 approaching a parallel runway, another UA A320 was climbing above us while another UA 737 was proceeding far away in another direction. I saw all these without the help of binoculars !
The DC9 buffet a little while we were approaching rwy 14R, we were after all in Windy City! But i had a more sinister thought in my mind, what if we were flying into wake turbulence? Knowing how crowded ORD can be! After all, an AA DC10 caused a Delta DC9 on approach to spin out of control in Greater Southwest Int'l Airport in May 72.
Of course we landed safely in Chicago O'Hare, then the busiest airport in the world. Atlanta Hartsfield (ATL) has since taken the coveted title. I do not even know where to begin to describe aircraft movements in ORD. Dominated by UA and AA, they are everywhere! Our NW DC9 was the only NW a/c on the tarmac. I saw a Delta 727 in Olympic colours, a Continental 737-300 and a gigantic AA 777-200 taxied next to us.
We disembarked at councourse E and I had a large terminal to navigate. My friends met me at the arrival gate, now you cannot do that in Singapore! I cherished my experience very much when I was travelling in US because it is just so different from Asia! Walking throught the massive airport, we caught a train to Addison, all this while avoiding the evening standstill rush hour traffic on I-90. No wonder my friends didn't drive to pick me up! Ah... welcome to Chicago ! It was so hot I was perspiring continuously ... still dressed in my San Francisco clothes! In fact, the summer weather in Chicago is similar to Singapore, hot and humid.
Oh by the way, my luggage made it to Chicago and it came in on an earlier flight from MSP. It was sitting on the carousel when I arrived.
Look out for my report on the return journey fm ORD-DTW-NRT-SIN.
Ciao for now!
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2250 times:
Another great report.
Just rather appalled by the fact that a 3.5hrs flight only renders one to a yoghurt and HOT biscuit? No wonder I hear many people actually pack their own food on domestic flights!
Have to admit that Asian carriers are far superior in terms of service. For eg, MH's domestic flight from KUL to KCH actually provides pax with a hot meal even though it is only a 2 hr plus flight.
DL Widget Head From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 2000 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 2227 times:
Thanks for the report. One correction though. Delta does not have a 727 painted in Olympic colors but rather a 757. Thanks again, well done.
ILUV767 From United States of America, joined May 2000, 3140 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2186 times:
Excellent Trip Report! NWA doesnt seem to have the right idea about meals. Yogurt, or bagles is not a meal. Before 9/11, United used to serve hot entrees on SFO-ORD. As a post 9/11 cut back, the flight is being catered with snack boxes which for breakfast would have something like a ham egg and cheese bagle (warmed in the ovens), yogurt, and an apple or a banana. Its not much, but it does fill you up.
BA747-436 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 1259 posts, RR: 21 Reply 5, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2177 times:
Might fill you up mate, but i'm used to my full english breakfast on a morning BA shuttle flight from LHR-MAN (about 40 minutes)
Not looking foreward to my AA domestic flights. Think i'll grab some stuff at the terminals. Hoping for more than a snack size bag of preztals on my 5 hour flight from LAX-BOS. Not expecting "jack" on my two LAX-SFO-LAX flights.
Nwa747-400 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1337 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2168 times:
NW must have changed breakfast on some flights. It is normally a basket containing cereal, banana, yogurt, and a warm bagel and cream cheese.
I wonder if breakfast service has changed post 9/11.
My thought is still that if the service has to take a cut for a while in oder to save the airline, its better to cut the service than to loose the airline all together.
You fly NW for the price, clean airplanes, reliable service, and luggage that arrives with you.
-----------------------------------------------
Now more than ever, FLY THE RED TAILS!!!
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 8, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2137 times:
Nwa747-400,
the food is probably similar to what you mentioned but in different varieties. Still, in Asia we are used to a full meal being served even on short flights eg. Singapore-Jakarta 1.5hr flight. Being served with a paper plate, banana yoghurt and the works was a new experience for me.
But it really didn't fill me and I was running for a McDonald's after I landed in MSP! What happened to American servings on American flights?
Cheers
Ryan
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Azjubilee From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 3432 posts, RR: 33 Reply 9, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2136 times:
Pre 9/11 breakfast service on long flights was as follows:
You can have any combo of the above or all of the above. Sounds filling to me... and I'm a big eater. I thought that as far as food went, NW did breakfast the best.
Post 9/11 flight to the coasts over 3 hours long get food and a few other flights.
Again, it boils down to cost. Paper plates can be recylced and are cheaper than plastic plates. What do you really expect?
Also, after meal and drink services, what do you actually want the FAs to do?
Just curious as to the reasoning behind many of your comments.
Azjubilee From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 3432 posts, RR: 33 Reply 10, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2135 times:
One other thing... I flew LGW-MAN rountrip last year and was quite impressed with the service on BA.
Within 5 minues after t/o the FAs were up and about passing out a box with a sandwich and candybar. British kitkat just isn't the same as the American stuff. Drinks too... all in 45 minutes.
Then the flight back to LGW with a full breakfast served. Let's clarify... all the food, with small portions slopped into a tin. Don't make it sound so glamorous dude! Although it was food on a 45 min flight... pretty impressive.
There were so many FAs 2 of them had to sit in the exit rows. It was really nice...
But look at he poor state of the airline.... aw shucks.
I guess some service cuts are due? Whatever will the Britons do?
Oh yea, remember that biscuits in America aren't cookies... they're, well... biscuits!
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2101 times:
Hi AZJ,
Paper plates that can be RECYCLED !!!! Gosh, this is indeed very new to me. I certainly hope you don't mean they recycle the paper plates on the next flight. But if what you meant is that they can be pulped and manufactured into paper plates again, then don't you think the whole recycling thingy would cost NW a bomb if they did not outsource the whole process? Even if they did, don't think they can save much $$$ unless those recycling plants pay NW big bucks for used paper plates...I seriously doubt so.
I gather you are an environmentalist on a crusafe to save what's left of the trees in the Amazon, I applaud you and NW if that were really the case.
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2102 times:
Hi AZJ,
Paper plates that can be RECYCLED !!!! Gosh, this is indeed very new to me. I certainly hope you don't mean they recycle the paper plates on the next flight. But if what you meant is that they can be pulped and manufactured into paper plates again, then don't you think the whole recycling thingy would cost NW a bomb if they did not outsource the whole process? Even if they did, don't think they can save much $$$ unless those recycling plants pay NW big bucks for used paper plates...I seriously doubt so.
I gather you are an environmentalist on a crusade to save what's left of the trees in the Amazon, I applaud you and NW if that were really the case.
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 14, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 5 days ago) and read 2093 times:
err... correct me if i am wrong. It's in the job description of a flight attendant to "provide service" as well as ensure safety?
So is disappearing throughout the whole duration of the flight providing service? Don't think so...
An occassional walk down the aisle, not necessarily to attend to any one but just an assurance to the passengers that "Hey I am here if you need me". It's also anticipation of the customer's needs - one of the rules of customer service, which I found lacking on this flight.
I normally remember how flight attendants look like but I hardly recall how they looked like on this flight of 3hrs 30mins! Felt like a no-frills airline... but wait, its Northwest!
cheers
Ryan
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Chepos From Puerto Rico, joined Dec 2000, 5826 posts, RR: 14 Reply 15, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2083 times:
Great trip report. You know I was surprised at how nice the f/a's were on my AA flight yesterday, they passed through the cabin to see if anyone needed anything. Hey but for the 2 and a half hour flight all we got was a can coke with a snack mix (but I expected that). I guess AA is a better airline than NW.
Chepos
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 16, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2082 times:
Cheapo,
I had a pretty good flight with them too several years ago on a DC10 (it was that long ago) fm HNL-LAX. Food was excellent, terriyaki chicken served on a plastic tray! No paper plates... hehehehe...
I also understand that UA and AA's cabin service have improved tremendously post 911 because there was some psychological effect that it had on the cabin crew as a whole. I read it somewhere so I don't know how true that is.
But I have no complaints about AA.
Cheers
Ryan
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Nwa747-400 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1337 posts, RR: 6 Reply 17, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 2064 times:
The majority if US flight attendants hide in the galley.
I have been on all US airlines and they ALL do this. Having said that it really depends onthe individual crew. On some flights the crew is walking around seeing if people need anything, others they disappear.
AA, CO, UA, DL etc are all just as good as hiding as NW flight attendants are.
Qantas744 From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 246 posts, RR: 6 Reply 18, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2050 times:
I was surprised not to get any food on my ORD-LAS flight a couple of weeks ago (4 hours).BA at least gave me a 'continental' breakfast on the LHR-AMS route (40 minutes) recently,even little Air Niugini gave me a full meal on a one hour flight from Cairns to Port Moresby last year.I thought a lack of in flight food was the domain of the low cost airlines-not big corporations like AA etc.
Matt
you can't buy time but you can sell your soul and the closest thing to heaven is to rock'n'roll
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 19, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2022 times:
QF744,
I think it has a lot to do with what route you are flying at what time. When I flew AA HNL-LAX, I had a full meal (dinner) served on plastic trays like any other international flight. However, that was many years ago, so things might have changed, I don't know.
Looking at the majority reports, looks like pretzels are the way to go now! But most of the North American carriers are suffering post-911 so cut backs could be the key word here. But my trip posted here was pre-911 so that made me think that cutbacks could have happened way before.
Cheers
Ryan
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Azjubilee From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 3432 posts, RR: 33 Reply 20, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 2004 times:
SQ772: no, they don't reuse the plates, they recycle them. There is a difference.
Ryanair... even NW used plastic dishes etc... on flights to HNL. That is domestic... not international by the way.
There are thousands of flight attendants at NW and therefore I don't think that you can assume that all NW flight attendants hide and don't smile. I flew MSP-MEM today and they were quite opposite. Stopping and talking to people even comparing knitting projects!!
They do need to eat, rest and go to the bathroom. They are at WORK and a break once in a while is necessary.
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 22, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1991 times:
AZJ,
yes I know there is a difference between reuse and recycle, I hope u do too and know what goes into recycling a paper plate before you assume everyone here is less intelligent than you.
Azjubilee From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 3432 posts, RR: 33 Reply 23, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 1987 times:
Chepos... are you sure it is 5 hours!!? I bet some of their shoter flights have meals? Even NW has meals on flights around 3 hours.
SQ772: dude I don't really care what goes into recycling paper plates. I'm also not questioning anyones intelliegence here. Just stating the facts.
Chepos From Puerto Rico, joined Dec 2000, 5826 posts, RR: 14 Reply 24, posted (10 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1978 times:
On AA at the gate before boarding starts the gate agent announces that on flights of 5 hours or less no meals will be served. At least that's what they did on my AA flight last January, but not on my AA flight this past Sat. Maybe they have changed and they are serving meals on flights lasting 3 hours or more.
Chepos
Fly the Flag!!!!
25 Zeus01: NW didn't always serve the what you claimed they served. I was on a MSP_SFO flight in August 01 and they had hot egg and cheese croisants in econ. In
26 GoldenMAS: Nice report Ryanair!!! Waiting for your BKK report...... I have nothing much to comment about NW 'coz I have not taken any flight from them. But it is
27 Ryanair!!!: Zeus, I think what I ate on that flight had a lot to do with the time of the day as well. It was a morning flight so... breakfast food! But I found th
28 AerLingus: You've never experienced paper plates in your life, or just in flight? Either way, I've never flown on Northwest, but I know a family member who is a
29 Omegous: Nice trip report..however since I am flying NWA in June, I shall remain objective and neutral on my opinion until I fly
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From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, 
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" 
Sigh... was it jet lag creeping up on me? 
.I understand that this is standard fare for a morning US domestic flight, very different from what we are used to in Asia! Paper plate?! Hehehehe... I still find that very amusing... 
She seemed to enjoy handing out the packets of pretzels and she pouted when my neighbour declined any. 
! 
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