Well, folks, better late than never! Here’s my trip report from last April on Frontier airlines from MKE to LAS. Since I am leaving on vacation in a couple of days for PHX, I figured I better get this posted before since I will have another Frontier report when I get back. I took a lot more pictures than what I posted here, but a lot didn’t turn out well to poor lighting from rainy weather conditions, dirty aircraft windows, etc. Hopefully, I will have more “presentable” photos that I can post on the next report.

April 3, 2004
Frontier Airlines #781
MKE – DEN departing 2:55 PM
Aircraft: A319
Registration: N917FR
Animal on Tail: White Owl

We arrived at the airport at 1:00 PM, found Remote Lot A completely full and got directed over to the daily parking garage directly across from the terminal. Being Saturday afternoon and spring break time, most of the counters had long lines but the F9 counter only had a few passengers and we got checked in quickly. We were also informed that instead of continuing on from DEN to LAS in the same aircraft that now we would have an aircraft change at Denver. Went through security, found our aircraft had not arrived yet, so went over to the D52 area which from which I got this shot of our aircraft shortly after its arrival at D35.



We boarded shortly after and took our assigned seats at 15 E and F. Departure was at 3:01 PM, only six minutes late, and we headed over to runway 1L. On climbing out, got this view of Cudahy, WI and Lake Michigan in the background.



As we turned west, got a view of downtown Milwaukee.



About 20 minutes into the flight, as the FAs were preparing for cabin service, the captain announced that service would be delayed for about 20 minutes and asked the FAs to be seated. The flight wasn’t that bumpy, but due to ATC reports, the captain wanted them seated as a precaution. Later, the seat belt lights went off, the FAs started coming around with drinks, snacks and assisting passengers with their DirectTV service.

After that, the flight was uneventful, and before long we were on approach to DEN which the captain reported as having scattered rain showers. After descending some time through lots of murky clouds, we suddenly popped out into a bit of sunshine on approach to runway 7.



After landing we taxied over to Gate A29 during which we received information on the continuing flight to LAS. Arrival time was 4:20 PM.

Frontier Airlines #781 (continuing)
DEN – LAS departing 5:20 PM
Aircraft: A319
Registration: N909FR
Animal on Tail: Canada Goose

We went over to Gate A36 where our aircraft had just arrived and passengers were disembarking. At 5:00 boarding began and we took the same seats as before, 15E and F. Departure was at 5:20 PM. Here’s a view of the gate area as we pushed back and started our taxi to runway 17R.



After a few minutes, we turned on to 17R for a rolling takeoff.



On climbing out, we quickly disappeared into the clouds as rain was closing in on DEN again. We made a turn to the southwest and eventually got above the clouds. As there was rain and scattered storms along the flight path, most of the ground was obscured but got this shot about 20 minutes after takeoff.



And later, as we passed over southern Utah.



The flight was uneventful and I spent most of the time watching the DirectTV, though we did encounter some bumps on approach to LAS due to scattered storms in the area. We landed on runway 25R and arrived at gate D3 on time.

April 10, 2004
Frontier Airlines #102
LAS – DEN departing 7:25 AM
Registration: N312FL
Aircraft: 737-300
Animal on Tail: Ram

There was already a long line at the F9 counter when we arrived at 5:00 AM. Five minutes later, agents opened the counter and we were checked in by 5:30. Went straight through security and got to our departure gate, D3, by 5:45. Since we had plenty of time, we grabbed some breakfast and got back to the gate in time for the initial boarding call. Our seats on this leg were 17E and F. Departure was on-time and we taxied out to the runway where we got behind two other aircraft. Minutes later we were heading down runway 25R.



As we climbed out, we passed over Interstate 15 with a hazy view of Las Vegas in the background.



After making a complete turn to the east, we climbed to 33 FL. We knew from weather reports that there was snow in DEN and rain showers along the flight path, but there was a break in the clouds where I got this shot of Lake Powell.



During the 1 hour, 25 minute flight we chatted with the man in the aisle seat who was a retired Crime Scene Investigator on his way home from a CSI Convention in Las Vegas. The flight was smooth and uneventful and as we began our descent the captain reported light snow and 30 degrees in DEN. The mountains that we could see were so covered with snow they were hardly discernible from the clouds.



We landed on runway 17R and taxied to Gate A29 amid increasing sleet and snow. We deplaned and headed over to Gate A51 for the connecting flight.

Frontier Airlines #371
PHX – DEN departing 10:50 AM (delayed to 3:00 PM)
Registration: N912FR
Aircraft: A319
Animal on Tail: Red Fox Pup

At Gate A51, we found our aircraft had not arrived yet. 20 minutes later, it had still not arrived and the gate agents announced that due to the worsening weather in DEN the aircraft had been diverted to Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The expected departure was now 12:30 PM, so we went to grab some lunch and then came back to the gate to find that the departure time was now 1:25 PM. Since A51 is adjacent the Frontier Express gates, I got this shot of some of the CRJs sitting there.



By 1:15 our aircraft arrives, the passengers deplane and shortly after we board and take seats 16A and B. We depart at 1:50 PM with the announcement that we would have to undergo deicing before takeoff. We head over to one of the deicing pads, and 30 minutes later we are hurtling down runway 25 with the green deicing fluid flying off the wings.



The 1 hour, 45 minute flight was uneventful. Due to the delay, the captain announced that DirectTV service would be free on the flight so definitely took advantage of that. I got the teleconverter on my camera and got a shot of the animal featured on the winglet, the red fox pup.



Our initial descent began over northern Illinois with an approach to runway 1L.



After after a landing so smooth that we weren't sure we were on the ground yet, we taxied over to gate D35, deplaned, and headed over to grab the luggage and head home.