This is the continuation of Part I, which you can read here:

Delta. We Love To Fly. ATW-DTW-PHX (Part I) (by KGRB Nov 19 2012 in Trip Reports)

My trip to Phoenix was a short two days, but I did get to spend some time with Ruby's family, eat at Jack In The Box, and visit the Bass Pro Shops in Mesa. Ruby's mom, Jennifer, bought me some very nice winter boots there that I'll need once the ATW ramp is covered in snow -- a day that's rapidly approaching, I might add.

Ruby's brother-in-law, Jeff, dropped me off at Sky Harbor Airport on his way into work at 2:30 a.m., so I had a great deal of time to kill before my 7:00 a.m. departure to Atlanta. So, why not do some looking around!?!


Welcome to Terminal 3! This is an example of what the new signage looks like that was installed over the Summer throughout the airport. The old stuff was faded and hard to read from a distance, so this is a great improvement.


A view out onto the Delta ramp. These aircraft were going to ATL (second departure), ATL (first departure), and MSP, respectively.


You don't see this logo around very much anymore! Taken in Terminal 3 Baggage Claim.


Anyone else notice something wrong on this FIDS?


It's hard to see because of the glare in this photo, but this painting features (from left to right) a Western DC-3, United 767, Northwest Orient DC-10, American 707, America West 737, Frontier MD-80, and Delta 727. It's located behind the Starbucks on level 2 of Terminal 3. I've been on two of those -- the NW DC-10 and the HP 737.


When I got up here, I noticed the registration on my ride to ATL, N127DL. In Part I, I talked about working on an EV CRJ-900, but I bet you wouldn't have guessed I've worked on this plane in ATW too! A few weeks ago it flew the Jacksonville Jaguars to Appleton to play the Green Bay Packers -- and I got the pleasure (a.k.a. back ache) of working in the forward bin. It was all worth it for the 767, trust me!


The Control Tower at PHX. It is one of the tallest structures in Arizona.


Terminal 3 South -- the AA side.


The other side of Terminal 3 South and the only other passenger 767 at PHX, HA's daily flight to HNL.


Terminal 2 -- featuring many overnighting UA 737s.


Another view of the amazing plane I was about to ride on.


Gates 16, 18, and 20. Delta really has a lot of RON aircraft at PHX!

Finally 5:00 came around and the Delta ticket counter was open for business. I checked myself in using the kiosk and waited in the bag drop line. The agent who checked my bags told be I'd have no problem making my flight to ATL today. Yes!


The Delta ticket counter at PHX. This space was once occupied by Western Airlines.

There was a short line at the TSA checkpoint, and since I was carrying nothing with me, except my phone, charger, and wallet, it didn't take long to pass through. I know the TSA is often ridiculed on this website (often times for good reason), but the folks at PHX are very professional and friendly in my experience.

I was wearing my retro Delta Air Lines L-1011 shirt (which you can find
here) so it's no surprise that I got identified as an employee. A customer walked up to me and asked, "Do you have a SkyClub here?"

I was happy to answer his question, but unfortunately I had to tell him that Delta closed down their lounge in Terminal 3 (then a Crown Room Club) several years ago. With the number of elites in the Phoenix area, I'm surprised it hasn't reopened.


The entrance to the former Delta Crown Room Club.


I walked over to Gate 17 to ogle at my 767 some more.




This MD-90 was operating the morning flight to MSP.


Delta is in the process of installing charging stations at many of its bigger airports nationwide, including PHX, but these are not operational yet. I thought this was a cute way of showing it.




Former Frontier and Northwest gate podiums at PHX. If Delta ever decides to revive the NW brand, all they'll have to do is put the letters back up there and they'll be ready to go!  

Tuesday, 06 November 2012
Delta Air Lines
Flight: DL846
From: Phoenix, AZ - Sky Harbor Int'l. (PHX), Gate 17
To: Atlanta, GA - Hartsfield-Jackson Int'l. (ATL), Gate A16
Equipment: Boeing 767-300
Departure: 6:55 a.m. (7:00 a.m. scheduled)
Arrival: 12:41 p.m. (12:44 p.m. scheduled)
Duration: 3 hours, 46 minutes

I sat down at Gate 17, so I could hear them call my name when I was cleared onto the flight. There were a group passengers siting nearby raving about how good Wisconsin cheese is. Take that California!  

After the disappointment on the 737 flight, I was hoping to get a window seat this time. I was cleared into 13G, which is an Economy Comfort window right next to the number two engine! My seatmate was a Phoenix woman that commutes to Atlanta every so often for work. During boarding I overhead many passengers comment on how surprised they were to be flying on such a big plane out of Phoenix. Even she was surprised; probably more used to the 757s that are common on this route.


The MD-90 to MSP framed by Piestewa (formerly Squaw) Peak and the Camelback Mountains.







We began to push back and the old safety video with "Deltalina" was played. The passengers across from me were talking about the new video, so it seems to be generating a lot of buzz.


This 737-800 to DTW was pushing back at the same time as us.


One of Delta's many RON aircraft, parked on a remote stand.

We taxied to the south side of the airfield, which meant we got a great view of Terminal 3 South, including AA's ops.








The UA lineup at Terminal 2.

We turned onto Runway 7L, the engines spooled up, and soon we were off the ground. No aircraft can match the 757's legendary takeoff performance, but this one was pretty good. We climbed out over the East Valley and banked a little bit to the left, since Atlanta is more-or-less a straight shot from this runway.







In-flight service featured breakfast items from the EATS menu, complimentary pretzels, peanuts, or Biscoff cookies and Coca-Cola products. I ordered a Canada Dry ginger ale and cookies. On the second pass, I had a cup of Seattle's Best coffee. My seatmate had the Boar's Head breakfast sandwich, which I really wanted, but decided it wasn't worth the money.







This 767 featured in-seat entertainment, with pay-per-view movies, free satellite TV, music, games, and a moving map. I spent the $6.00 to watch "Rock of Ages," a comedy/musical featuring Julianne Hough, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, and some great songs from the hair band era.







We began our descent into overcast Atlanta and the fasten seat belt sign was turned on. We encountered a bit of turbulence inside the thick cloud layer.





The sun actually made an appearance again, briefly,



I passed the remainder of the flight listening to some tracks off of Norah Jones' new album "Little Broken Hearts" and watching election coverage on New York's NBC 4. All I'll say is... my guy won.  




I think this may be I-285. Some Atlantans will have to correct me if I'm wrong.


A Marriott hotel near ATL.



The PIC made a textbook landing in ATL.








Can you guess which airline is dominant here?


Current and future Delta aircraft.

Our aircraft arrived at gate A16 and the ground around us was still wet, so it was clear that it had been raining shortly before we got there.



I wished my seatmate farewell and walked over to the underground train to take me to Concourse D for my Appleton flight. When I went up the escalator into the concourse I noticed that all of the ceiling tiles had been removed and dry wall had been put up around some of the interior walls. Does anyone know what kind of construction is going on there?

Concourse D is one of the few places at ATL where you can actually see other airlines, including Star Alliance partners US Airways and United.



I watched this UA 737-700 push back for its flight to IAH, IIRC. Note the 'Continental' titles still on the ground service equipment.






An increasingly rare sight -- a Delta DC-9-50. These will be leaving the fleet next year.

(Continued in next post)