Please note that this will be several posts long as A.net will only allow me to post in chunks for some unknown reason.


1.1.07
Chicago O’Hare -> Memphis
NW 933 (Northwest 933)
DC9-50

STD: 0645
STA: 0828
ATD: 0816
ATA: 0933


Good Morning everyone. I fell asleep around 1am and woke up at 3.30. I got ready to go; made sure I had everything and eagerly awaited my cab to come at 4.15am. The night before, my parents told me that in the event the cab is not there at 4.15am, wake us up. I called around 4am to confirm that it is coming and they said they are having some trouble finding a cab and that it should be there soon. 4.15 rolls around and I’m standing outside in the cold waiting for it to come. I call again and they said that they are still having trouble finding a cab and that it should be there in 10 minutes.

I did not have 10 minutes so I woke up my parents and told them, they are having some trouble getting a cab and that it would be here in 10 minutes. At 4.30 my dad took me and I apologised. He said it was ok and that the taxi company was ‘assholes’. The cab company called just as I was to be getting on the highway. I quickly hit number 1 to cancel the cab.

I ended up getting to Terminal 2 at 4.45 only to be greeted with a big line. I was surprised as to who would be awake this early on New Year’s Day. I tried to check in using Northwest’s kiosks since I had 2 bags to check but it wouldn’t let me so I had to wait in line. I gave Eric a call stating that I was at the airport and waiting in line to check in.

At 5.15, I was checked in to New Orleans via Memphis. I actually got a paper ticket as I was directed to the first class check-in although I was flying economy. I don’t have Elite status! Rather than those thin pieces of paper that comes out of the machines. I put both of my bags on the scale and totally it weighed approximately 72 pounds. One suitcase was 37.5 and the other was 34.5. I was thrilled. I seriously thought I went over 50. Then I had to find my way through security.

Security was a different story. Since Terminal 2 is under construction, there is scaffolding everywhere. I was behind 2 girls and I was almost at the metal detector when one of the security staff asks to one of the girls “Where is your boarding pass?” “It’s in my bag.” She had to go get it so I was able to just go through while she fetched her boarding pass.


By then it was nearly 5.45 and I needed a Starbucks. I decided to get a Caramel Frap and walk to gate E11. But I didn’t finish it all. It was too early. I did not have a boarding time on my boarding pass so I did wonder what time we would board. As I drank my drink and sat next to a cold window, I did notice many Notre Dame Fans. They all sat down and talked about the game and how they were going down to New Orleans. I saw a few heavies land past me but it was too dark to see anything. I did see the 5.50am Houston flight depart and then some United flights arrive from the west coast.



We soon boarded at 6.30, 15 minutes late and I sat down in 17F right next to a small kid and I originally thought “OK I’m going to be watching this kid for an hour and ½.” I was asked if I was traveling alone and I said no I’m not and then I was asked who am I traveling with. I quickly said I’m traveling alone. I apologised it’s too early in the morning. I moved to an open row. I was quickly awaiting pushback.

The pilot came on the loudspeaker and said “well folks if you’re wondering when we’ll pushback, that is the million dollar question. We had a set of spark plugs go bad and we have 1 set but yet awaiting on the other.” I called Patrick and let him know we have a technical issue with the aircraft and that I don’t know anything further but I would keep him updated. About 15-20 minutes later, the pilot came on again and said that everyone needs to get off the aircraft as we are getting a new aircraft. I called Patrick again and told him that we’re vacating the aircraft and that I don’t have any departure information.

I got off the aircraft and I noticed that our new departure time is 8am which had me worried because I wondered if they would hold my connection to New Orleans. I then sent a text message at the wonderful time of 7.15am to Justin and Patrick and Eric letting them know that I might not make my connection to New Orleans. After all of us de-boarded, people wondered about their connections to other places. Many people were able to get on flights to Detroit and Minneapolis. As for us, we had to go on the Memphis flight.

We had an aircraft substitution. From a DC9-50 to a DC9-30. Our flight attendant responsible for economy today was Lorcan. The flight time today would be 1 hour, 17 minutes. We pushed back from E13 and taxied to runway 32R, T10 intersection. After takeoff we turned to the South for our flight to Memphis. We had some light chop shortly after takeoff and it was cloudy the whole way down. I sat there and listened to my iPod and read the magazine and took pictures.










Soon we started our descent, it went from loud to totally silent in just a few short seconds. I thought that the engines were just shut off but soon, the engines grew louder. The weather in Memphis was 38F / 3C and overcast. The temperature when I left for O’Hare was 30F / -1C. We landed on runway 36R at 9.33. I called my mom and let her know what happened. I then called Eric and asked if they held the flight and let other people who were traveling to New Orleans with me that they held the flight. He told me that they did and I was thrilled. I then called my mom back and let her know that I made my connection. The only thing I was concerned about is if my bags would make it.





I got off the aircraft and stood behind someone trying to find out gate information but then I realised Eric said that you’re departing out of B29.