Boarding commenced early and was strictly by boarding group. It was a short walk across the apron in the morning sun to the aircraft. We were ready to leave 15 minutes early and we taxied off for out flight nice and early. It is odd that on a US aircraft you can have bags under seats at the exit row.
Unfortunately today it was rather cloudy, so the view as we flew up the Keys wasn't great. Also, we were in the single seats on the left hand side, and in fact the better view between the breaks in the cloud was on the duo seats on the right. There was a great view of Key West as we left and then some good views of the Everglades as we came into towards Miami. During the flight there was a soft drinks round, with alcoholic beverages to buy.....one diet coke for me as it was very early!
Arrived in a raining and wet Miami early and taxied around the airfield past all the "bigger" aircraft to the American Eagle area at the end of the D Terminal. And then we stopped off stand. Two problems then ensued:
1. No-one to guide us onto the stand as we were "early" - 10 minute delay.
2. Guided onto a stand were the airbridge unit wasn't working, and we had been parked too close to the gate to bring in some steps. What then followed was a farce of numerous people wandering around outside to try and figure out what to do. After 30 minutes, there was a final decision to try and push us back and bring in some steps. After we were all seated, by some miracle the airbridge unit started working and so we could get off. Finally off, nearly 45 minutes after landing.
Impression
- Nice short flight with the occasional views of the Keys and the Everglades
- What a farce in Miami - longer trying to get off the plane than the flight itself.
