Minneapolis - Tampa

I finished the work in Osage, Iowa, and drove the 2 plus hours up to MSP.  And didn't get pulled over this time - I stayed on I 35 most of the way.

I don't think I've mentioned the new TSA Pre service.  All I remember is that months ago Delta asked me if I wanted to opt into this and I said yes.  And for a long time nothing happened.

But lately, I'm getting through the PRE line.  Did it out of TPA on Sunday and out of MSP yesterday.  I don't think I need to tell the high mileage community how wonderful the PRE concept is.  But I'm running about 80% there, meaning, I don't always get through, and sometimes have to go through general security.

When I do get accepted at a PRE point, it's so weird not taking off the shoes, taking out the laptop, etc.  We've gotten so accustomed to the full check that it's like second nature now.

The Sky Club in MSP is nice.  I'm sure there's more than one there, but if you are familiar with the place you know it all comes together in one big central concourse, and that's where I spent a couple of hours last night.

The A319 left the gate 10 minutes early and landed here in TPA 20 minutes early.  Thanks guys!

Nice long holiday weekend here on the island and I intend to enjoy it all.

Next week?  One day in Indy and one day all the way out to San Francisco and back.  That's kinda hard.

96,862 miles so far through August.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2229/history/20120831/0045Z/KMSP/KTPA

Tampa - Minneapolis (actually Osage, IA)

I had the usual two days to unwind before hitting the road again.  Saturday was fabulous.  One thing I'm learning about living at the beach, when the weather threatens the locals say "what the hell".  I'd love to know how much alcohol gets consumed in the TI/Mad Beach/Reddington/St Pete Beach area.  I had my fair share.

My flight to MSP didn't leave until 6:10 pm, but I woke up to a lot of wind and it just got worse all day.  This is the front end of Isaac.  Then the rain bands hit, but we departed TPA before things got bad.  And as of right now, slightly after midnight, it doesn't look like Tampa Bay is gonna get hit badly.  The Weather Channel is now talking strictly about evacuating parts of the Gulf coast and New Orleans.

I've been here to Osage a few times and tonight I took some backroads once I got off I 35.  So I set the cruise to 75 and the GPS getting me here, and sure enough, the blue lights appear .  To the officer's credit he was very professional, and let me off with a warning.  I've learned when you're an old guy like me, you are treated with a little more respect.  But he had me dead to rights.  Thank you officer, I was going too fast.

Delta is flying a lot of MD 90s out of TPA now (not sure I like the reduction in first class availability), but these things are very comfortable in first.  Sure better than MD 88s.

Here through Thursday.  Hope my little island is safe in St. Pete.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1712/history/20120826/2210Z/KTPA/KMSP

Chicago Midway - Tampa

Back home, by 9 pm on Thursday night from Chicago.  No complaints about Southwest here, EXCEPT, I was not aware of gate "24B" (I could be wrong) but it's down a very long hallway and very narrow.

It's chaos when the inbound offloads while we line up to board.  I know Southwest doesn't own the airport, but this was one of the worst gate arrangements I've ever seen.

Beyond that, and a couple of typical dumbass passenger issues (bag stuck in overhead bin, can't get it in or out, multiple dumbasses lined up for front lav when the announcement about lining up had been made at 3 three times, I'm home.

But

Tropical storm (hurricane) Isaac is down south over Haiti now.  Up here in the TPA area, no one seems real sure as to where this thing will land.  All I know, is that I've never seen one of these things and of course, I"ll be out on the road when it hits here or nearby.

Couple that with the political convention that's going to be here next week, and I'm kinda glad I'll be up in Osage, Iowa!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA295/history/20120823/2240Z/KMDW/KTPA

Louisville - Chicago Midway

Left SDF at 7:10 pm for MDW with Southwest.  When I travel during the middle of the week, I don't want to mess with connections and hubs, and even though AA and UA fly to ORD right out of Louisville, well, I'll let their on time stats speak for themselves.  This one was a no brainer.

Here in Chicago for just one day, then back to MDW for a Southwest nonstop home to Tampa.  The big word there is that we're gonna get hit by a hurricane (Isaac) next week.  I've never seen one of those.  And I won't see this one either as I'll leave for Osage, Iowa on Sunday and won't get back until late Thursday night.

But the projected track has it passing right over Treasure Island, FL where I live now.  I won't get nervous until everybody else I know there does.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA3922/history/20120822/2310Z/KSDF/KMDW

Tampa to Lousiville - The Grind Continues

After less than 48 hours on my little Gulf island near St. Pete, it's on to Louisville.

Delta, through Atlanta, with a 40 minute delay out of TPA due to wx, but I had 90 minutes in ATL.  I made the connection nicely, and since all my upgrades had cleared I was quite happy.

Let's see if the luck continues as I have to fly to Midway on Wednesday night.  My old stomping ground, Chicago.  Thank God I live in St. Pete now.  I know that criticizing Chicago brings a lot of flaming, but seriously, I've only turned my heat on once since I moved to Florida.

Tonight at Fridays, while having refreshments, the bartender asked me about my job and I told him of the travel.  He says he would love to do that.  I just say, not so fast, lol!

OK, it's a nice night here in SDF, very little humidity, think I'll sit back and keep reading on my Kindle.

By the way, when you look at these tracks, the TPA-ATL segment meant penetrating that line of thunderstorms.  And for about 3 minutes, the chop was terrible.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2172/history/20120819/2115Z/KTPA/KATL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2172/history/20120819/2115Z/KTPA/KATL

93,380 miles so far this year

Newark to Tampa - Leave Early if Possible

I got finished in New Brunswick, NJ quickly on Friday and hustled to get to EWR.  I will give Delta credit for having one agent at the SMS number who really knows the procedure for same day confirmed work.

She got me out of EWR at 2:15 pm (I was holding 6:15) and got the segment to TPA changed earlier and got first on both segments!

I told her she was the best and now I'm kicking myself for not getting her name so I could sing her praises to DL in an email.

But the most important rule of flying carried this day - get out of town as early as you can during the day before the meltdowns start.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL935/history/20120817/1815Z/KEWR/KATL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2208/history/20120817/2004Z/KATL/KTPA

Tampa to Newark - All the Luck Used on One Trip?

Off to EWR and I can't believe that we got up here 20 minutes early!  How often will that happen?  Rarely.  You have to have a lot of things happening, no MTC issues, great WX, crew shows up healthy, no running out of crew time, etc.

At the risk of really irritating anybody from New Jersey who might ever read this post, let me introduce Jim Morris, and his Big Bamboo Band.

Take a look at:

http://jim-morrismusic.com

The music is great and I had never heard of this until I moved to St. Pete.  I love it.  Of particular interest are his lyrics.  As in:

"A flight to Jersey, full of sunburned tourists
How much of my seat, does the lady need?
I lean in the aisle
I try not to crowd her
She talks like Jersey
Just a little bit louder"
 
Going to see him in Key West in November.

So the week is starting off well, but Friday will be interesting, back to TPA and on the last flights of the night out of EWR and ATL.  What are the chances I'll be on time then?

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2372/history/20120812/2000Z/KTPA/KATL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL504/history/20120812/2318Z/KATL/KEWR