Greetings from Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, SkyClub.

In between flights from Richmond to Memphis.

Hard to believe the last update I made was back on 11-Sep-2012. My resolution for the year was to Reduce The Noise, which unfortunately this blog took part in it. I will give some updates soon about my accomplishments and progress towards my goal but I thought I’d reflect back on the last 2 weeks.

Many years ago, I used to travel out of the country for my Birthday / Thanksgiving week. It always seemed like an opportune time to enjoy emptier planes and lower fares. This tradition ended a year or two ago, but this year became one of a new tradition, which I have embraced.

The typical year end countdown to use up my vacation began early on in December. My last day of work was Monday, the 17th of December. I took off the week before the holiday which I found allowed me to enjoy the magic of the season more, reduce stress and tie up lose ends for the holidays. With Christmas shopping done, chores around the home complete, the season was in high gear and I felt ahead of it finally.

Asheville, NC is a 3.5 hour drive from Atlanta but a place I enjoy to escape to. This year, I was fortunate enough to enjoy the Biltmore with Sean. The estate was setup decadently for the holidays, and it was a beautiful. The weather had a chill in the air and the Crowne Plaza Asheville remains a wonderful location close to the city but off the beaten path. Dinner at the Red Stag was fantastic, and summing up the night with the CandeLight tour commenced the weekend. The following day we explored with the Butler’s Tour and Architecture Tour. Unfortunately our guides this time around were lack luster to put it very kindly. They shared very little information, on some of the most simple things. Our last tour guide took us to the stairway and vanished, I guess the tour was over.

Biltmore exterior during the Achitectural Tour

Unfortunately one tradition could not continue, Irish Coffee at the GrovePark Inn. According to the valet attendant, new management took over and non hotel guests are only allowed to visit Monday through Thursday. The Inn also charges for parking now, which we were fine to pay for however we were given no option but to be asked to leave. This is unfortunate, and coming from hospitality, a bit airing of dirty laundry of the New Management.

The time is drawing close to board my next flight to Memphis, where I will share a bit more of my 2012 New Tradition.

Greetings from the LAX Sky Club where the local time is 9:20 PDT, but feels like the 12:20EDT it should be. Today we embarked on our journey to Australia. One flight of 4.5 hours down, with a 3 hour layover, and 15 more hours of flying.

We enjoyed plane spotting at the Sky Club at Concourse A (above Chilis).

Our captain on the 763 had impressive flying skills, we arrived 40 minutes early into LAX. That doesn’t happen often. Our flight (including Susie) was beyond impressive. Great smile, professional and playful. It’s enjoyable when the flight crew is not cookie cutter robots.

The food was by far one of the best meals I have ever had on a plane. Hot Gnocchi with a meat sauce, lemon pie and a salad. It was cooked to perfection, and very tasty. We managed to devour it all, and then some. Here are some pictures from Day 1 of our adventures.

The Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQM) sweep has happened for Delta, a bit quicker then last year. I concluded 2010 with about 19k MQM rollover. With the additional work trips this year to launch our new application, a bit more then last year! I am not complaining! I have mixed thoughts on the Roll over program in general – I can understand the marketing behind it, after you hit the tier, why keep flying an airline, but it aims to continue to build business after thresholds have been met.

After being a 1K with United for a few years, I am still learning Delta benefits, UA maintained a 1K website, 1K email address, and a 1K phone line where the person stayed on the line until full resolution. It’s the small things I remember, though even UA pushed Global Services a bit more before I departed Chicago.

Last year was an incredible year of flying – with less then 4 flight cancellations for the year, and most flights on time, if not early. Congrats to Delta on being the number one mainline carrier (just behind AirTran) for on time performance in December. Article - http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2012/01/05/slideshow-airlines-with-the-best.html

On 31 December 2011 – Compared to 130 flights a year while in Chicago, happy for the long hauls! 

Delta MQM status year end 2011 – No complaints in 2011!

January, reset down to zero, within a day or two, just shy of 10k MQM to make Platinum for 2013! 

Rollover hit, 10K short for Platinum for 2013 already!

Greetings again from JFK airport in New York City! Safely back from London, with a day that I have found to be one of the best travel experiences. I’d like to think that it all was by chance but I do believe in Pay It Forward . The past 24 hours have been a day where things aligned in a way that have made me feel even more appreciative for the life I have been able to live.

Departing my London Family at the Indigo Paddington  for the Heathrow Express out of Paddington. I left slightly later then I anticipated which I was confident, knowing LHR, this would result in additional frustration towards myself for being 15 minutes behind.

The Heathrow Express departed at 08:25, which is remains still the best way to get to London Heathrow. The manager covering rotations today was assisting in ticket scanning. After a short introduction, we spent the remainder of the trip talking about trains, London etc. Philip escorted me from the train to the connector, and waited till I was on my way. I have his card to keep in touch.

Arriving in London, I had done the e-boarding pass but was afraid that it was not going to be recognized. After a failed attempt to reprint my boarding pass, I was down to an hour before departure. I was delighted to hear that they do accept the mobile and no challenges with it. Quickly went through the premium security lane, and was at the gate just as they began boarding. My connecting flight to ATL from JFK was already delayed from an update, unfortunately the non stops to ATL were both oversold in both classes in the cabin.

Simone and Florette on DL004 were friendly and efficient. They seemed to genuinely care about people and also provided for some great laughs. I slept most of the flight, still was not acquaninted with the shorter flight time to JFK. After 4 of sleep, enjoyed the lunch just before our early arrival into JFK. I shared Damn You Auto Correct with Florette who was laughing at many of them, and Simone made me laugh as she passed through the cabin looking for a person who ordered water, but could not remember who.

Delta Airlines Keep Climbing

Arriving into JFK, I expected similar to ATL, customs, security a few times…. lather rinse repeat. To my surprise, Delta implemented a greeter program for Diamond Medallion members arriving internationally. I am not sure if it is just Business Elite, but I would hope that it is across all aspects. I was met by Jacqueline before customs, just as I departed the jetway. She had a sign with my name on it, and a Delta Logo. Now that I think about it, I wish I had kept it for my office. She took me and one other passenger over to Customs, used GOES (which is excellent), and then directed me to my connecting flight. While we walked, she interacted, explained our flight was delayed to ATL, and she was very apologetic. She knew if we had luggage or not, connecting flight info, arrival, departure. Not sure how to navigate through JFK, this was a very welcomed surprise. Unfortunately she did not have a card on her, but I must commend Delta on a job well done. How about we bring this to the airport where you are the Home Town Airline?

TSA – same old, same old— Amusing was the 35 year old in A&F shorts having to do the full body scanner. His selection of sizes should have been reconsidered, as he had to stand bow legged to keep the shorts from falling down below his hips.

Sky Club at JFK at Terminal 3 by gate 2 is much better then the other one I was at when I flew out on Tuesday. The colors are bright and it feels like I am in a Delta commercial/ad campaign. The windows looking out over the active departing runway, a 767 (N171DN) parked just outside. Watching the 744 depart, to either Tel Aviv for Tokyo was an added bonus. Craig who was working the Sky Club exemplified what interaction should be. Welcoming and genuinely humble, available to ask random questions about the flights from JFK. He apologized for my flight delay and any inconvenience it may have caused and appreciated my loyalty as a Diamond Medallion. Best part is… he, like many others today, cared.

Today’s plane was N844MH, the 767-400 painted in the Sky Team color scheme.

Greetings from JFK, Sky Club by Gate 12. Upon arrival I realized something about JFK, it has not changed since I flew through here on the way to Munich in 1996. I flew on a 767 and L1011 that trip, 767-400 tonight.

Wanting to sleep tonight on the flight over, slightly shorter from JFK. I am typing and listening to the “Dueling Banjos”, two people traveling together to Brazil, both on their cellulars, both growing louder over the other. Focus Douglas, Focus!

Focus back, I crashed around 04:30 and was up at 07:00. I accomplished everything I had on my list today and made it out to the airport 30 minutes late. Luckily a car pool, combined with Henry (and his aggressive driver) we made it at the time I had hoped, 16:40. My flight departed ATL at 17:45.

Delta Flight 122, ATL-JFK (MD-88) had meal service. I have to ponder where Delta is getting their food selections. The increased amount of sandwiches continues to bewilder me. On a flight to LA I had an option of a hamburger. Surprisingly it was not bad. Today’s option was a cold pasta with chicken on it, or a roast beef sandwich. Row 4 had the option of roast beef OR roast beef. After a long and serious debate, I selected…. ROAST BEEF. The sandwich was ice cold, covered in onions and bell peppers, found it to be disgusting. TIP: Scrape off the top, fold the bottom over, and it’s a mini sandwich without the two giant pieces of bread. Can someone help me understand, why does Delta serve Twix this time of year? It is pointless, they are melted every time. Maybe season is better? How I miss the Garden Salsa Sunchips. Minus the screaming child the entire flight directly behind my seat, somewhat quiet.

I had high hopes for JFK, knowing they have some serious renovations going on from the old TWA days. Luckily, arriving in Terminal 3, departing here, nothing has been done here. Exit the plane, look up for your connecting flight info, don’t worry, it’s across the gate area, makes complete sense? It was nostalgic to see the old airplane chairs with the blue leather and Delta logo. I believe I sat in the same one in 1996, thanks for bringing back the memories of a great trip! The Sky Club has been renovated for the most part, I can see N832MH (767-400) awaiting to depart. (The Dueling Banjos are packing up and leaving!)

In saying ADIOS to my friends now, I look around, what an empty terminal, maybe this is the OLD terminal and I am missing out on a beautiful, new one hiding. SkyClub – When I entered, the person in front of me was complaining about passport control… I heard my favorite statement that I hear often -

I wish more people could be like you….

I am pretty mellow when I travel, go with the flow, and not much is within my control. (Looking out window and an old 757 with TW in the tail number is passing by, Nostalgic indeed). I headed to the restroom, only to notice the signs were reversed, luckily the woman’s restroom looks NOTHING like the men’s. Both are somewhat shabby, but men’s toilet did not flush, reminded me of Karen and the trough in China. Awakening my senses with an aroma this time around.

After the small mishap, I ordered a Bailey’s in coffee. A woman comes out and asks “why do you get drunk” . This left me baffled, I thought “Who are you? Are you the ATC? “, then I realized she was a Delta employee with a different opinion on drinking. I ordered a decaf coffee and a Bailey’s, far from pounding back shots, or double fisting a few beers.

Thanks Brie for teaching me southern terminology, which is applicable in NYC. Strangely, I felt compelled to answer her, that I was not drinking to get drunk, she then asked if I was doing shots. I thought, can she be serious? She was, I took my Bailey’s and Decaf, with my head held high and walked away.

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray I have a flat bed to sleep”

Atlanta to Shanghai on Delta, 777-200LR, my seat did not recline. Not to worry, not reclining or having a lie flat on a 15.5 hour flight, electrical outlet on the 14 hour flight on the 744 Shanghai to Detroit, lost bag for 24 hours, has a value to Delta of 19,000 miles. Though you should not equate that to “Pay with Miles” according to Delta — It’s worth $190.00 on a several thousand dollar ticket. The offer is to “make amends” for the many failures I experienced. While I roll with the hiccups, I have to ponder, where is the disconnect. No lie flat, no electricity, lost bag…I look at the ad, this is what lie flat should have looked like on the plane -

Anywho, is what it is - Time to order another Bailey’s and get dirty looks for doing it, I will do it with pride and a smile on my face. Departing in 1 hour at 23:00 – glad to get some humor out of my system before my slumber. Here is tonight’s plane to London.

I just googled JFK Delta – Congrats, they are building a new terminal, I better enjoy the moment.