TPA to EWR, No Time to Rest

I got to stay in TPA exactly 24 hours, as I had a JetBlue departure to EWR tonight.

But I made the best of the 24 hours.  I sat on the beach for a couple of them and the weather was just perfect.  Of course here in EWR, it's currently 25.

I flew JetBlue and the A320 was full.  But so many folks from this area visit the TPA area on vacation, so I wasn't surprised.

But we were about 20 minutes early!  Thanks JetBlue!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU534/history/20130128/0049Z/KTPA/KEWR

LGA to TPA - All the Luck Possible!

I finished the week by working in CT Saturday with a departure out of LGA to Tampa at 4 pm.

This kind of thing is always nerve wracking because you have to finish the work and then hope like hell that you can get down I-95 and into/thru LGA with time to spare.

It went very well, and once the Avis bus put me out at the Delta terminal, I was lucky enough to get through TSA pre with no issues.

I went to the Sky Club, and got a beverage when I looked at the departure board and saw a nonstop leaving for TPA in just 15 minutes.  (I had a connection through ATL).

The agent at the Sky Club switched me over and put me on the standby list for first.  By the time I got to the gate, the upgrade had cleared, and in the space of no more than 5 minutes, I was sitting in 1A with a beverage.

I landed at TPA at 7 pm, and ended up getting a Saturday night that I did not think I was going to get.  Most of the folks up front were going to Gasparilla - I stopped doing that a couple of years ago. 

But I just could not believe this good luck!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1695/history/20130126/2100Z/KLGA/KTPA

Amarillo/Dallas/Tampa/Atlanta/JFK

Where to start:

AMA to DFW was fine, the Eagle RJ, ontime in fact.  Again, always sit on the "A" side lest you have a seatmate.

The Super 80 out of DFW to TPA on a Friday night was absolutely packed, and since I have no status with AA, well, I sat way back, at least on an aisle.

Took my AMEX Platinum card and was admitted to the Admirals Club in DFW.  I gotta tell you DELTA, AA's club there is top rank, at least this one in C concourse was.  They even have sushi.  And even though DL is pouring money into their clubs now, the AA club was more dignified and elegant.

I got to sleep in my bed for one night.

Then did DL out of TPA to ATL to visit friends.  Left on a Saturday afternoon, and right on time but you outta be on a Saturday.

Did ATL to JFK tonight.  Due to a last minute ticket purchase I did not get the upgrade and finished, AGAIN, at number one on the upgrade list.  Happens every time I don't clear, one seat off.

Landed on time at JFK in the light snow and DL here has the same sickness they got in DTW; can't get the jetway on.  It took 10 minutes. 

Sooo, hanging out working at JFK most of the week, but have to do a job in CT later which will force me to fly to TPA out of LGA later this week.

All to get one night in my bed.

Then off to EWR next week. 

DL has added more strings to their elite status, now tying it to money spent on fares.  I have a spreadsheet from last year and the $12,500.00 threshold for Diamond won't be a challenge.  They could take it all higher for all I care.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/EGF3418/history/20130118/2250Z/KAMA/KDFW

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL1072/history/20130119/0250Z/KDFW/KTPA

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2372/history/20130119/1840Z/KATL/KTPA

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL268/history/20130121/2235Z/KATL/KJFK

My Yearly January Trip to Amarillo

It's 24 degrees here, and I should be used to that having lived in Chicago.  But since I've lived in Florida for two years, and we've been having record high temps in St. Pete lately, I'm about to die from cold here!

Amarillo is always a tough place to get here, and I've been coming out here for 15 years.  During that time, Delta has come and gone.  3 separate times.  The only people who fly it now are UA out of DEN and IAH I believe, and AA out of DFW and Southwest out of DAL.

And I've done them all, and they all have their issues here.

But today I did SWA out of Nashville, through STL with a connection in DAL.

Only 30 mins late actually.  That's about the norm here.  It seems like airlines aren't committed to the smaller markets.  AMA and Knoxville (TYS) where I used to live have a lot in common in that area.

Here til Friday, then back to TPA for a couple of days.  JFK is next.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA451/history/20130113/1930Z/KBNA/KSTL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA451/history/20130113/2105Z/KSTL/KDAL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA1527/history/20130113/2345Z/KDAL/KAMA

Tampa to Nashville - Southwest

The first trip of 2013 went off without a hitch.  The SWA flight landed in BNA 15 minutes early.  Let's hope that sets the trend for 2013.  Later this week, off to Amarillo, a place that is never easy to get to.

I see where the Boeing Dreamliner (788) seems to be having a lot of issues.  It's probably par for the course for new metal.  I've yet to see one of these anywhere yet.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA56/history/20130109/2105Z/KTPA/KBNA

St. Lucia - Vacation

For the last few years, I've tried to ring in the new year on some Caribbean island.  And when you live on an island in Florida, and on the beach, well, it takes a lot to get my attention. But St. Lucia is beautiful and so are it's people.  Special thanks to Peter, the bartender at the swim up bar at Sandals Grand St. Lucian for introducing me to so many ways of mixing dark rum!

Since this blog is particularly about flying, I'll not bore you with details about the resorts and all, but I'm posting a couple of pics in addition to the flight stuff.

I did a free ticket out of TPA to ATL then down to UVF, the international airport in St. Lucia.

The flights were all on time, and I'm going to give DL credit.  They seem to have turned it around in ATL in terms of hustle and service.

As we prepared to push out of the gate at UVF, the pilot gave us the route of flight and told us that he was going to rock the wings right after rotation in order to say goodbye to all the folks on the beach we would overfly.

And I forgot about this until, sure enough, about 3 seconds after rotation he rocked the wings!  And it was pretty vigorous rocking.  That's the first time I've ever had that experience in 30 years of air travel!  Very cool!

This ended my 2012 flight year.  The total mileage was down slightly from 2011.  I ended the year at 144,123 miles.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL421/history/20121229/1500Z/KATL/TLPL

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL426/history/20130102/2016Z/TLPL/KATL

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