Apologies Again!

So sorry about the lack of posts between September and today (December 20, 2012)

I just got buried in work and other issues.

During the last three months I did a lot of nonstops out of TPA via Southwest and (a first for me) JetBlue.

The bottom line again, is to get there and get back with the least amount of hassle possible.  So I've really cut back on the DL trips this year.

However, I would be remiss if I did not report the following:

On Monday afternoon, December 17, I was in BWI scheduled to fly back to TPA on a nonstop Southwest flight.  Piece of cake, right?

Not when BWI is completely closed down due to fog and stayed that way for roughly 36 hours!

FAA put BWI on a groundstop and you simply can't depart an airport if they aren't accepting arrivals.

After 2 Southwest cancellations, I drove to PHL since Southwest/BWI was out of seats.  I got the last seat on an afternoon nonstop back to TPA.  I really wonder how many families were stranded in BWI with this mess.  Happy Holidays!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA1670/history/20121218/1945Z/KPHL/KTPA

Tampa to Philly - Delta, It worked again!

10 minutes early into ATL from TPA and then 5 mins early into PHL.  I think I'll have to change the name of this blog and remove the word "delayed", because right now, it's not happening much if it all.  But that's due in part to giving half my travel to Southwest, who still, despite all their inner demons, seems to run ontime.  I mention their demons because I see where their ontime stats have dropped considerably recently.  And their fares aren't cheap anymore.

Working in downtown PHL then on to Newark later.  6 straight days this week, only one day off.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2372/history/20120923/2000Z/KTPA/KATL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2094/history/20120923/2336Z/KATL/KPHL

Baton Rouge Back to Tampa - Sweating It

My training customer in BTR decided that I had to end our work by 10 AM.  This meant that my DL ticket to depart at 540 PM had to be changed, and I did, scheduled to depart BTR at 1240.  The reason I'm sweating it, is that as soon as the inbound pulled into BTR, the gate announces a maintenance delay. After scaring me to death, without any notice, suddenly we board 25 minutes late.

Which of course puts pressure on my 55 minute connection in ATL.  We arrived at D 36 and the connection is at B 36 (of course both ends of both buildings).

I get to B 36, a huge line boarding.  Arrogantly I whip around to the Sky Priority line and out pops the upgrade!

Wow, I am a happy guy, because if you make these last minute flight changes, you can kiss first goodbye.

Settle in to seat 7B, 2 Woodfords in route, and then I'm back on my island eating seafood just six hours after leaving BTR.  Thank you Boeing and yes, thank you Delta!

Philadelphia and Newark next week!

I kind of trashed the BTR airport in the previous post, and I'd like to be more objective.  It's not all that bad, really.  They have a nice, but very dark, business center (reminds me of a funeral parlor).

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ASQ5070/history/20120921/1734Z/KBTR/KATL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2208/history/20120921/2008Z/KATL/KTPA

Tampa to Baton Rouge - DL through ATL

I didn't fly out of TPA til 5:15 today so I had a full day of work first.  And I'm still getting used to the "island life" as it poured the rain on and off all day.  At one point I noticed that TPA was not allowing departures due to weather.

So I was not surprised that the DL 752 left TPA 40 minutes late.  But I had 90 in ATL and easily made the ASA CRJ7 to BTR.  The upgrades cleared, and as always, that's nice.

I'm surprised at how shabby the airport is here in BTR.  I come here every couple of years and they surely need a new terminal.  It's old and dated.

The worst thing today was that upon our arrival in BTR, even though it was 9 pm local, both DL gates were occupied by RJs trying to get back to ATL.  Apparently the weather messed it all up, but not us thank goodness.  So we had to wait about 15 minutes, but the ASA captain kept us informed.

Hanging out here for 3 days, and only have to work until 12 noon each day.  Guess I'll get a couple of good naps this week!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2172/history/20120918/2115Z/KTPA/KATL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ASQ5081/history/20120919/0031Z/KATL/KBTR

Baltimore back to Tampa - Even Easier on a Wednesday

One thing about working at airports: when the job is done, I just get somebody to run me over to the passenger terminal and it's time to go.

And in this case,  a perfectly timed 5:20 departure to TPA, nonstop on Southwest.

And we got here 15 minutes early!  In fact, the sun was still up!  Gosh, I love it!

The worst problem this week was that I was quite disappointed in the Hilton Garden Inn I stayed in.  I've never been in a breakfast buffet where you weren't given full size plates, but rather, what I think is a dessert plate.  Then one day the housekeeping folks didn't show up until 5 pm.  That's kinda late for a place that markets itself as a hotel for business professionals.  Also, ESPN did not work on the cable for a while, LOL!

Stay on my island for 6 days!  Next stop, Baton Rouge next week.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA271/history/20120912/2120Z/KBWI/KTPA

Tampa - Baltimore - Easy

It is easy on Southwest when weather is good.  Well, I should say, I am learning that TPA can get hit with all kinds of tropical downpours, and we had them most of the day.

The most aggravating thing was leaving the case to my Bose headphones on a seat at the gate in TPA.  Dumb.  Not sure what the procedure for that is, since the airlines don't own the gates, but I'll probably end up ordering another.  At least it wasn't the headphones AND the mp3 player (done that twice already, see older posts!)

Back to TPA in 3 days.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA261/history/20120909/1945Z/KTPA/KBWI

San Francisco - Tampa - Weekend!

Flew two days ago from SFO to TPA via ATL.  Delta. It all worked beautifully.  Very nice.  Upgrades cleared and arrived at TPA 3 minutes early.  That's on a Friday which means over to Treasure Island, get on the shorts, drinks at Willy's.  Dinner at Sea Hag's.  This island life suits me fine.

I'm at the TPA airport now, about to head out to Baltimore.  Southwest to BWI, the inbound is already 15 minutes early which means we'll get out of here ontime.  Into BWI at 6, plenty of time to catch the later NFL games.

Life is good.

And I just love the TPA airport.  I remember the shenanigans at ORD when I lived there.  Nothing free.  Internet here is free, fast and it works all the time!

Plus, and I hate to rub it in, the Gulf of Mexico is a helluva lot better body of water than Lake Michigan.  OK, guess I still have to trash Chicago every now and then.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1580/history/20120907/1315Z/KSFO/KATL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2208/history/20120907/2008Z/KATL/KTPA

On the flight out of ATL we took some big deviations due to the big cells you see on the track.

102,337 miles year to date.  Adding more today.

3 days in BWI then back to the island!