adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 774 posts, RR: 2 Posted (8 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8374 times:
Introduction
The U S of A, a great country IMHO. A country where everything is big, a country I have lived in for a year, a country I have visited many times (mostly in the summer) for vacation or other purposes. This year would be no exception. Visiting friends in Maine, Pennsylvania and Canada while enjoying my 4 week vacation from work.
Hello everyone and welcome to my 13th trip report featuring part 2 of my vacation to the USA/Canada!
It wasn’t until the 27th of May when my dad and I started looking for tickets. Booking was done, the same day, on delta.com (as my dad is a SkyMiles member). 6 flights for about 1200EUR p.p, not a very bad deal for the time of year and the date that we booked IMO.
There were a lot of different options for that price, so we eventually chose:
July 21: AMS-BOS // 11:10-13:00 // DL231 // A330-300
August 1: BOS-JFK // 12:00-13:17 // DL901 // A319
August 1: JFK-PHL // 16:10-17:28 // DL3544 // CRJ900 Pinnacle Airlines/DL Connection
August 8: PHL-LGA // 14:10-15:10 // DL4050 // CRJ100 Pinnacle Airlines/DL Connection
August 8: LGA-YYZ // 16:45-18:25 // DL7145 // B736 operated by WestJet
August 16: YYZ-AMS // 23:05-12:10 // DL9399 // B744 operated by KLM
A nice itinerary with all different types, and for me it will be the first time flying Delta longhaul and WestJet. This would also be a chance to catch the fairly “rare” B737-600 type.
This series will be split into 5 parts (due to the many pictures made):
Part 1: AMS-BOS
Part 2: BOS-JFK
Part 3: JFK-PHL
Part 4: PHL-LGA-YYZ
Part 5: YYZ-AMS
Every part will not only contain a report of the flight(s), but it will also be accompanied by many pictures of places I visited/things I did during my stay.
So sit back, relax and I hope you enjoy this report!
Map
The map for this part, thanks to the Great Circle Mapper:
And the map of this whole trip, also thanks to the Great Circle Mapper:
Part 1 left me off staying with friends in South Portland. As already mentioned before in part 1 we stayed there from Saturday (21st of July) until Wednesday (25th of July). On Thursday (25th of July) I spent the whole day with a good friend exploring the beautiful east coast of Maine.
First we visited the…
Rockland Breakwater
The word breakwater practically speaks for itself. It is situated just outside the city of Rockland close to the Samoset resort. They first started building it in 1881 and finished in 1902, it was obviously built to protect the Rockland harbor. At the end of the 4,300 foot (1,3km) breakwater there is a lighthouse which was first lit in 1902. This lighthouse is one of a total of more than 60 lighthouses at the Maine coastline!
Still on the “landside”:
Rockland harbor:
Almost there:
View from the lighthouse side:
After that we visited the town of..
Camden
Camden is a touristy (in the summer) town also situated on the coastline north of Rockland. It is a nice little town to pass through with various shops and restaurants. Here we had lunch and visited the harbor:
The last stop of the day will be the town of…
Belfast
Belfast is a small little town further up north from Rockland and Camden. We paid a visit and walked around the seaport:
After that we headed back inland towards the city of Winterport, Maine where we (my dad and I) will be staying with friends until Wednesday (August 1st). Winterport is a town just to the south of the city of Bangor, Maine.
During our stay we went…
Sailing
Our friends own a sailboat and during a beautiful Monday we decided to go sailing. Their sailboat is situated at Stockton Springs harbor. From there we sailed to the town of Castine and on to Holbrook Island:
Castine
Castine Harbor:
There we docked, had a bite to eat and walked around the town. The sailboat:
Castine is also home to the Maine Maritime Academy:
After that we headed back to the boat and went sailing again:
Our last stop, before sailing back to Stockton Springs, will be…
Holbrook Island
Holbrook Island is 115 acres big (or small). It is known as a: “wildlife and natural area…devoted wholly to the preservation of nature”:
adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 774 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (8 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8361 times:
While sailing back to Stockton Springs we got treated with this beautiful sunset, which was a perfect ending to a great day:
On our last day in Maine we visited the…
Penebscot Narrows Observatory
The Penebscot Narrows bridge is a 2,120 feet (646m) long bridge. On top of the bridge is the Penebscot Narrows Observatory. It’s the first bridge observation tower in the USA and the tallest public bridge observatory in the world. It is 420 feet (128m) tall and offers some nice views.
The ticket:
The bridge is to the right, it replaced the bridge to the left:
All the way at the top is the observatory:
The view from the top:
To the front left is Fort Knox, the town in the background is the town of Bucksport:
After the observatory we headed to the town of…
Bucksport
Where we had some nice ice cream, enjoyed the weather and the view of Fort Knox and the Penebscot Narrows Bridge + Observatory:
Our stay in Maine had now come to an end. After a great time with friends it was time to head to Pennsylvania the next day.
Getting to BOS
It was Wednesday, August 1st at 04:15, bright and early in the morning, when my alarm clock went off. I headed straight to the shower and got ready to head to BOS. Transportation to BOS will be the same way we got to Maine, by bus. Not from Bangor (the closest city from where the bus leaves), as the earliest bus would arrive at BOS just 1 hour before our departure time.
The only bus that we could take, that would arrive at BOS on time, will be leaving from Augusta, Maine at 06:15. Our friend was kind enough to take us there that early in the morning. Augusta is about an hour drive from Winterport so at 05:00 we raced towards Augusta. Just before 06:00 we arrived at the Augusta Concord Coach Lines bus station.
When arriving, the station was just opening up. We had booked our tickets, a few days earlier, online and printed our “BPs” too. Once entering the station we handed over our BPs and passports to the desk agent. While checking us in into the computer he asked which airline we will be flying. After answering Delta he gave us both blue baggage tags with an A on them (standing for terminal A) and we were ready to go.
My BPs (there were 2 of them because we had to change bus at Portland):
All ready to go:
The bus which will be going to Boston bus station. We will be getting out at Portland to take the bus to BOS:
The bus drove away, bang on time, at 06:15. There were 4 other passengers besides my dad and I. We got a complimentary bottle of water and some pretzels:
My own breakfast:
Mandatory legroom shot:
Around 07:15 we arrived at the busy Portland bus station. From there we exchanged buses, our bus which will be taking us to BOS was right next to us. We immediately boarded the other bus and got settled in. Eventually both buses got filled all the way. Just past 07:30 our bus left Portland station and off we went .
One nice thing Concord Coach Lines offers is free WIFI on every bus. So I sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the free WIFI on our way to BOS. Legroom:
We had quite a speedy bus driver, so at 09:00 we arrived at BOS Terminal A (the first stop). We were one of the few that deboarded so we grabbed our baggage and headed inside.
Check-in
As always I had checked in online the night before, so all I needed to do now was print my BPs. I headed to one of the SSKs and printed them out without a problem. Now it was off to the baggage drop. It was my turn right away and 2 minutes later my bag was checked in until PHL. A nice, quick and smooth check-in process!
Security
Now it was off to security, where it once again was my turn right away. After putting all my belongings on the belt and taking my shoes off I walked through the x-ray machine. I was waved through by a friendly TSA agent without a problem. At 09:30 I was now post security.
BOS Terminal A
Boston Terminal A is home to 3 different airlines: Alaska Airlines, Delta and the United flights to CLE, IAH and EWR. Once clearing security you end up at the “United side”:
After looking around in some shops we decided to head over to the “Delta side”, that means going down the escalator and through the tunnel walkway to the other side:
Spotting @ BOS
I decided to head to our gate area: gate A15 and do some spotting while enjoying the free WIFI Logan airport offers. Once arriving (1 hour prior to boarding time) our plane was already sitting at the gate, N362NB will be doing the honors on this short BOS-JFK hop:
Not many spotting pictures turned out that well as I had the sun and dirty window against me most of the time. On the other side of where we were is the B terminal that is home to US Airways:
adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 774 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (8 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8354 times:
Jazz Air // Dash 8 // C-GONO:
Comair/DL Connection // CRJ700 // N625CA:
Another look at of Terminal B:
Shuttle America // EMB175 // N216JQ:
Pinnacle Airlines // CRJ400 // N8943A:
Comair/DL Connection // CRJ700 // N658CA:
US Airways // EMB190 // N956UW:
Comair/DL Connection // CRJ700 // N690CA:
Shuttle America // EMB175 // N204JQ:
Jazz Air // Dash 8-400 // C-FSRJ:
The gate area was starting to get quite busy as it was nearing boarding time (11:20). One last look at our plane:
Boarding
My BP for this sector:
5 minutes past boarding time, at 11:25 boarding began. First the passengers travelling with small children and passengers needing special assistance, then the business class passengers followed by the “status” passengers and the passengers seated in Zone 1 were allowed to board. As I had zone 1 on my BP I headed towards the gate, got my BP scanned and was let through into the jetway.
Once entering the plane there was no greeting from the FAs as they were busy serving the business class passengers their welcome drinks. I walked past the 3 rows of business class seats and got into my seat: 4F which was right behind the business class cabin. I had now realized that I was seated in economy comfort without paying the extra money for it which was a nice surprise (even though this was a short flight).
As more passengers were boarding I took a quick look outside:
The flight load on this flight will be, as I predicted, 100% full. The flight crew consisted of 1 female purser and 2 female FAs. Can’t say much about them as this was a very short flight and there was no service (only the business class passengers got a little snack) so I didn’t speak to them at all.
At 11:55 the doors were closed and the friendly captain came onto the PA welcoming us onboard with the usual announcements and a flying time of only 29min. He would also come on again just before landing.
At 12:00, right on time, we started..
Pushback + Taxi
To runway 22R:
The gate we just pushed back from: A15:
While we turned onto runway 22R it gave a nice view of the terminal area, note the JAL 787 sitting at the gate in the distance:
Take-off + Climb
At 12:20 we lined up on the runway and started take-off roll immediately:
And airborne with a nice view of Terminal A:
Taking a little left turn towards the Atlantic Ocean:
Seatback Contents
Now let’s take a look at the seatback and its contents. But first the legroom shot, of course there was some very nice legroom:
adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 774 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (8 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 8332 times:
We stayed at our fairly low flight level (no flight level given) for a couple of minutes before starting…
Descent
Making a right turn:
For…
Final Approach + Landing
To runway 22L:
Not the best weather today in the NY area:
And touchdown on 22L at 13:00, 17min ahead of schedule:
A look at the International Terminal 4:
Taxi to the gate
When vacating the runway, instead of taking a left for a short taxi to our assigned gate at Terminal 3, we took a right meaning we had to practically taxi all the way around JFK almost in a circle. This was due to all the traffic and an aircraft still at our assigned gate:16. It should be fun taxiing around JFK passing by all the terminals. The only problem was that I was seated on the wrong side (ughh that always happens to me!). So I barely got any nice views:
All lining up for take-off on runway 22R:
ANA 77W waiting to take-off for its long flight back to Japan:
JetBlue hangar:
Passing over the I-678 highway:
And into our final parking position at gate 16 Terminal 3 at 13:20, 3min behind schedule:
The seatbelt sign got turned off and within 5 minutes the front left door opened and I was quickly off the plane. Walked through the jetway and had now arrived at Terminal 3.
Conclusion
Well first of all Maine, such a beautiful state! It was the second time I have visited Maine and I loved it. Had a great time with friends.
Concord Coach Lines is once again a great way to reach Boston/BOS from Maine if you don’t want to go by car, I enjoyed all 3 trips with them.
Boston Terminal A is a nice terminal to stay at. Some nice shops and some nice places to get a bite to eat. Security at Boston was also very nice, swift and with friendly staff.
Then Delta, can’t say too much about them as it was such a short flight. The check-in process was very smooth. Can’t say much about the crew as there was no service on this short flight. Can’t really blame them as the flight time was 29min, although in Europe you might have gotten something during boarding or quickly during flight. But hey I guess that is the difference between flying domestic in Europe and the U S of A.
So this will end part 2 of this series. If you’re still reading, thank you very much for taking the time to read this report, it is much appreciated.
Please feel free to leave a comment or ask a question, I would really appreciate that!
Part 3 showing a big delay, the huge dump called JFK terminal 2 and a short hop from JFK-PHL on Delta Connection should be up at the end of the week.
Quoting adamspotter (Thread starter): Now let’s take a look at the seatback and its contents. But first the legroom shot, of course there was some very nice legroom:
Interesting that there wasn't any divider to First Class. Suppose the tray tables, etc on the first row were in the armrests?
"Wheels Up!"
//Jonas
I won't stop complaining until SAS reintroduces free service in Economy Class!
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 713 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 7052 times:
Another good instalment Brendan. Liked the destination pics - reminds me of the kind of places i went to in the USA when i was much younger. Outside of the big cities, theres just as many small towns that are just as good - and not ruined by tourism either!
Quoting adamspotter (Thread starter): Part 3 showing a big delay, the huge dump called JFK terminal 2 and a short hop from JFK-PHL on Delta Connection should be up at the end of the week.
Sounds exciting, looking forward to read about it!
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Reply 8, posted (8 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 6722 times:
Hello Brendan,
Nice little report again. Apparently you had a good time in Maine, the pics show it very well!
DL provided you with a good short flight as well. Any idea how the price of the flight was in comparison to the trainfor example. It's such a short sector.
Quoting adamspotter (Thread starter): I had now realized that I was seated in economy comfort without paying the extra money for it which was a nice surprise (even though this was a short flight).
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6079 posts, RR: 56 Reply 9, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 6656 times:
Hi Brendan !
Thanks for another report with amazing pictures !
Maine looks fantastic! Would love to go and visit there sometime.
Flight looks okay and 29 mins is really short so no surprise that there was no service. I flew BOS-JFK on a TW M82 and then connected to a L-1011 to LAX in October 1993. That was the last time I visited BOS so I guess it's time for another visit.....
Too bad you were on the wrong side of the aircraft at JFK otherwise that would have been a great spotting trip around the airport.
Where did you spend your year in the US ?
Very much looking forward to the next part of this series !
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 4): nice follow up on your US summer trip
Thank you very much
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 4): Maine looks quite stunning! I must really make a visit to New England sometime.
It is! yes you should, its great
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 4): Good service for a bus company, not something you would expect to receive on a bus!
A nice touch indeed
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 4): Interesting that there wasn't any divider to First Class. Suppose the tray tables, etc on the first row were in the armrests?
Thats what I thought too, yes the the tray tables were in the armrests
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): Lovely report . I have to say the photos of the destination were great. Places you never really see so well done for bringing us there
Thank you very much. Thats why I added them, some places you barely see here
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): DL look pretty decent and love the wifi onboard
Yes the WIFI is nice, you do have to pay for it though
Quoting OA260 (Reply 5): Looking forward to the next part
Quoting sultanils (Reply 8): Apparently you had a good time in Maine, the pics show it very well!
Thanks, yes I sure did
Quoting sultanils (Reply 8): DL provided you with a good short flight as well. Any idea how the price of the flight was in comparison to the trainfor example. It's such a short sector.
No idea to be honest..Booked all 6 flights together so no idea how much this leg costs
Quoting sultanils (Reply 8): Good to have yourself upgraded at no cost.
Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): Thanks for another report with amazing pictures
You're welcome
Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): Maine looks fantastic! Would love to go and visit there sometime
It is, I definetely would recommend a visit
Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): I flew BOS-JFK on a TW M82 and then connected to a L-1011 to LAX in October 1993. That was the last time I visited BOS so I guess it's time for another visit.....
wow, thats a while back hehe.. It sure is time for another visit
Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): Too bad you were on the wrong side of the aircraft at JFK otherwise that would have been a great spotting trip around the airport.
Yes and it happened on the next leg too again grrr
Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): Where did you spend your year in the US
I lived in the very small town of Sibley, Iowa for a year
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 10): very nice report with lovely pictures! That boat trip must have been cool
Thank you, yes the boat ride was great with perfect weather!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 10): I still need to get used to A319s and A320s in DL colors...I really miss the good old combination of silver fuselage and red tail.
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2202 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 6276 times:
Hello Brendan
Nice report, thanks for sharing it with us.
Maine looks good indeed, BOS as well. The A terminal looks to be the nicest one.
Delta seemed to provide an ok product on the BOS-JFK flight. Nice you got the upgrade to Economy+
roberts87 From Netherlands, joined Dec 2011, 654 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (8 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 6109 times:
Nice report again! The pictures from Maine look amazing, thanks for sharing.
BOS-JFK is a nice little hop, flew it myself with DL too. If you're lucky you do get some great views over Long Island and the coastline.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 42 Reply 18, posted (8 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 5492 times:
Hi Brendan,
Nice second part. Some beautiful shots from Maine there, some of the scenery reminds me of Finland a lot!
That Delta flight sure brought back some memories from June.
Quoting adamspotter (Thread starter): To the front left is Fort Knox, the town in the background is the town of Bucksport:
This had me confused for a while until I looked it up - turns out there indeed are two (well actually more) Fort Knoxes, this one in Maine and then the famous one in Kentucky, famous from the Donald Duck comics I read as a kid. That one of course used to hold the Federal Gold Reserve back in the days when things were better and nations actually had the gold standard to back up their currencies. These days as well all unfortunately far too well know this is no longer the case, thus money can be created with disastrous results like the current sorry state of most of the world's economies shows!
Weird, I flew this very same noon flight back in June but my flight number was different, DL2075. Probably due to the fact that it was originally scheduled on a Comair CRJ-700, only later changed to a mainline A319. Ended up flying on N335NB.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 18): Weird, I flew this very same noon flight back in June but my flight number was different, DL2075. Probably due to the fact that it was originally scheduled on a Comair CRJ-700, only later changed to a mainline A319. Ended up flying on N335NB.
is an awesome picture if you look to the far left where that soccer field is our planespotting spot for 22L here in New York! I'm there once or twice a week shooting away!
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 21, posted (8 months 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 4945 times:
Hi Brendan,
good report, lovely pics from the area. Especially the island of Holbrook, really nice!
If everythings goes according schedule I visit BOS and fly DL next month, so it was good to get this teaser. I'm already pre-seated in the preferred 'Comfort' seats on all my DL flights, looking forward to it. It's just a shame that not even a drink is offered on this airline... maybe they should really re-consider the handout of something small, just to let them make a difference from the other USA main airlines.
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 774 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (8 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 4841 times:
Quoting B7474 (Reply 20): Very nice trip report great pictures of the approach to JFK as well as your trip of the New England area.
thank you very much, I'm glad you liked it
Quoting B7474 (Reply 20): is an awesome picture if you look to the far left where that soccer field is our planespotting spot for 22L here in New York! I'm there once or twice a week shooting away!
Thats nice to know! Looks like a great spotting place...
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 21): good report, lovely pics from the area. Especially the island of Holbrook, really nice!
thank you! holbrook island was a great, beautiful and peaceful place
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 21): If everythings goes according schedule I visit BOS and fly DL next month, so it was good to get this teaser
Enjoy the trip!
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 21): I'm already pre-seated in the preferred 'Comfort' seats on all my DL flights, looking forward to it.
that should be nice..
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 21): t's just a shame that not even a drink is offered on this airline... maybe they should really re-consider the handout of something small, just to let them make a difference from the other USA main airlines.
That sure would be great, but dont see it happening unfortunately
win1290 From Thailand, joined Jan 2012, 249 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (8 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 4297 times:
Hi Brendan,
Great report as usual. Maine looks absolutely beautiful! As for the flight, very nice indeed that you get the Economy Comfort seats, the leg room looks good. Were there any inflight services in the premium cabin?
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 1): While sailing back to Stockton Springs we got treated with this beautiful sunset, which was a perfect ending to a great day:
Fantastic pictures!
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 1): All the way at the top is the observatory:
Very nice, I always wanted to do something like this, love the height!
Quoting win1290 (Reply 23): Maine looks absolutely beautiful!
It sure is!
Quoting win1290 (Reply 23): As for the flight, very nice indeed that you get the Economy Comfort seats, the leg room looks good. Were there any inflight services in the premium cabin?
Yes the "upgrade" was very nice, yes just some snacks for the premium cabin
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