This is part two of my trip report.

After my short stay in Orlando it was time to head back home to El Paso.

Wednesday 7-17-02
HP788 MCO-PHX
Scheduled Times- 0803-0922
Actual Times- 0820-0930

We arrived at the Orlando airport at 0645 and proceeded to the Continental Airlines ticket counter to check in for our flights (Continental does the ground handling for HP in Orlando). After having worked for Continental for many years I was already familiar with the rudeness of their agents at MCO. I Hope that HP sets up their own staff in the near future at MCO. We were checked -in quickly by an agent who seemed to be in a rush. There was practically no waiting at security and we arrived at the gate very quickly where we sat by the windows to look at the A319 that would take us to PHX. From our window we could see a CO 757-300 and a CO 737-900. Soon after, the Continental agents handling our flight showed up and began helping the passengers that had not checked in at the counter. These ladies were very pleasant but one of them did not seem very familiar with HP paperwork and procedures. We were assigned seats 1BCD in the First Class cabin and boarding began soon after. About five minutes before scheduled push back the captain informed the passengers that there was a problem with the system that controls the lights in the cabin and that maintenance personnel were taking a look at it. We would depart as soon as it was fixed. Meanwhile the flight attendants were serving pre-departure beverages to First Class customers (I had a cranberry juice). After a few minutes the captain explained that he needed to shut down all systems in the aircraft to reset the system so that we could depart. He did this so that passengers would not be alarmed. We departed about 17 minutes behind schedule. We had a quick take-off run and were soon airborne for PHX. The captain once again explained what had been the problem and apologized for the delay. He mentioned that if ATC allowed it, he would try to make up some of the time.

Soon after, breakfast was being served. The presentation was very nice.
The flight attendant first took drink orders and served the drinks (using glassware) along with a pack of dried fruit/raisins mix. Shortly after, she came around and placed fresh linens at everyones tray table, then she brought out each meal tray individually stopping after serving each row to offer more drinks (there are three rows in First Class on the HP A319 total 12 passengers). The meal tray had fresh linens and a linen napkin, real metal cutlery was also used (except for the knife) and the food was served on real china. There was no meal choice (a minus I think) but the food was very good.

The meal consisted of a very substantial fruit salad (cantaloupes, grapes and strawberries), a warm pastry filled with raspberries covered with a sweet glaze (very good) and another large pastry that was filled with eggs, sausage and cheese (it was some sort of breakfast sandwich like pastry, very good and very large too).

After the meal the entertaiment was started. It consisted of music videos followed by an episode of "Mork and Mindy" and finally the movie ("The Rookie" with Dennis Quaid - it put me to sleep very quickly). I took a nap after breakfast and was awakened by the flight attendant as she was asking if I desired anything else before landing in PHX.

Hot towels were presented to passengers before landing in PHX.

Landing was very smooth and PHX was hot as usual.


HP423 PHX-ELP
Scheduled Times- 1157-1411
Actual Times- 1155-1408

Unfortunately only two First Class seats were available on this flight so we decided to sit in the main cabin. We sat at rown 10. The emergency exit row.
This flight was booked very light so we had the entire rown to spread out.
Take off was quick for this 737-200 and soon we were at cruising altitude towards ELP. There was a beverage service with the usual trail mix/peanuts offered by the three smiling flight attendants and soon we where approaching El Paso airport. Landing was a bit bumpy and we had a long taxi to gate B-8.

We deplaned and were home within 45 minutes of landing.


I hope you liked my report, If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Thanks!