I’ll be sincere: this in all probability received’t be essentially the most thrilling flight report ever. It was primarily US Airways worldwide coach service on their A330. There have been no suites, no sliding doorways, no showers, no caviar. It’s a marvel how I survived, huh? I do know I do know, I’m a bit spoiled, however on the finish of the day whether or not I’m within the entrance of the airplane or the again of it I’m nonetheless touring! I’ve all the time mentioned I’d by no means let Coach stand in the way in which of a very good journey, and plus I’d get to take a look at a brand new airline’s worldwide service. All of that is what I instructed myself to get me psyched up for what I used to be certain to be an enormous ol’ bucket of meh.
US Airways availability
I used to be utilizing AAdvantage miles for this journey, which guide for a similar fee on US Airways flights as they do on American ones. That is nice, as a result of US Airways has a reasonably fascinating routing community to Europe and hit fairly just a few locations American doesn’t. My buddies who I might be assembly in Venice took a routing that led them from DFW to MIA to DUS to VCE on American and airberlin. Having US Airways out there for a nonstop into Venice was very nice schedule-wise, so I couldn’t move it up. You’ll be able to search US Airways award house alongside American award house on AA.com.
We decide up our report in PHL
There was fairly an effort getting again to Dallas in time to catch my flight to Philly (I left San Antonio at 4am to drive to Dallas), however I drove quick…er…safely, and even made it with sufficient time to cease by the Centurion Lounge earlier than my flight. I received to PHL and made my approach in direction of my gate. I ended alongside the way in which for some good planespotting.
Planespotting at PHL
I discovered the gate with our airplane at it. I usually just like the A330 and have ridden it forwards and backwards throughout the Atlantic quite a few occasions on airberlin, so it was a nice familiarity that stared at me by means of the window on the gate.
sup
There was nonetheless a little bit of time earlier than boarding was to begin, so I made my approach all the way down to the Admiral’s Membership (which I consider is new, and features a US Airways desk) and tried to calm down a bit. It was downstairs from the terminal, so no nice views of the tarmac.
Snackies
Out of focus snackies
These of you who know me know I observe CrossFit, and there was an enormous competitors occurring, so I obliterated the wifi bandwidth and watched the streaming finale of one of many occasions.
I put my passport in to make it travel-related
Ultimately it was time to board a fairly empty flight to Venice. I had a window seat, and the individual subsequent to me ultimately moved seats, which gave me an open seat subsequent to me, which I LOVE.
Financial system Cabin
The flight attendants had been good sufficient, a very good mixture of American and Italian crew. We set off to the East and, throughout dinner, I noticed one other airplane pretty near ours heading in the identical common path.
You’ll be able to see the opposite airplane’s contrails
About the identical time the flight attendants got here by and served us some…matter. I’m certain someplace somebody determined that it ought to be referred to as “dinner” however it was just about inedible. Even the salad tasted humorous.
Dinner?
The meal made me glad that the New American goes to imitate the outdated American’s service and meals requirements as a substitute of US Airways. As I sat again to calm down (and by “sat again” I imply “popped some melatonin”), I observed one thing actually peculiar on the in-flight leisure display.
Wait, what?
If you wish to see the place everybody’s favourite shipwreck occurred and 1500 individuals died, now you realize. Related shipwrecks had been famous as we received nearer to Europe. It was simply offputting, virtually inviting the passengers to consider mass casualty occasions. Being that this was simply over a month after the MH370 catastrophe, I simply thought it was unusual. However then I had breakfast.
“Women and gents, for breakfast we’ll serve you espresso and a muffin prime.”
Okay, full disclosure: I didn’t know muffin tops had been a factor. Apparently they’re large within the northeast. I’ve spent fairly a little bit of time within the northeast and had by no means heard of it, however I learn it on the web so it have to be true. Anyway, I believed I had misheard the attendant, however certain sufficient…
Yep…a muffin prime
It was precisely what it feels like. Simply the highest a part of the muffin. I don’t know who got here up with the concept, however I assume bravo them. I ate about half of it earlier than giving up the battle occurring in my cognition and simply main-lined espresso as we made our ultimate descent into Venice.
Last Evaluation of US Airways
I assume the simplest approach I’ve of describing the service on the flight is: at. I felt like all the pieces was executed at the passengers. “We served dinner at the passengers.” “We served muffin tops at the passengers.” It wasn’t dangerous service by any means, and in the end we landed safely so I shouldn’t complain an excessive amount of. It’s simply that I didn’t see very most of the flight attendants smiling. Hopefully they’ve discovered one thing to smile about since.
All in all, it was a fairly nondescript flight. Nothing nice occurred, and nothing horrible occurred. It was only a flight. These are the toughest to write down these posts about, as a result of I really feel like I all the time want a narrative to inform all of you. I’ll by no means let Coach stand in the way in which of a very good journey, and tried to do not forget that I ought to be amazed that I sat for 8 hours in a metallic tube and ended up in Venice.
Developing subsequent: Venice!