August 11, 2006
Washingtons Dulles International Airport to General Logan International Airport
Seat: 12C (exit row aisle)
I booked this flight a while back on jetblue.com as both a nice weekend away in an extremely walkable city and to celebrate Massachusetts holiday, no sales taxes weekend. Many states fairly recently have added these sales tax free periods to encourage residents to purchase their back to school goods in state rather than in other states with lower sales tax rate or online. There is not a process to reclaim sales tax either as a non-US resident or a domestic state resident. That said, normally resellers and some child plus elderly care providers can reclaim or be exempt from all or a portion of sales taxes.
Back on topic.
Well I booked this trip on June 24, 2006. Got a great deal. Was looking forwarded to my first E190 flight and first paid jetBlue flight. Free XM radio and satellite TV. [:)] I booked the last departure as it was the cheapest and I am a cheap bastard. My idea was to change the ticket on the same day for the $25.00 fee instead of the $70 odd price difference in booking the original flight I wanted.
After my telemeetings I called jetBlue and spoke with a nice lady sitting in her PJs. jetBlues telephone helpers are at home and utilize a VoIP system to receive calls. Benefits for all and kicks butt if I may say so. Well my flight was changed and $25.00 charged to the AmEx. Simple.
Finish my 12 hour stunt at work then drove home. Got my thing together and my executive car service picked me up in the super luxury Toyota Camry to wisk me off to Dulles. No traffic at all. 17 minutes or so from Clifton, VA to Dulles. I must say Mom Limo service rocks! She even had a Diet Coke in the car and when I forgot my sunglass case, she returned and gave it to me.
I joined the queue of say 10 parties. After about 8 minutes as the crow flies I was helped. Since I did not have an assigned seat I asked for an aisle. Done. Then I asked for an exit row aisle. The helper kindly asked my age as I have yet to give her my ID card. She thought I was under 15. Well I got the exit row with 36 inches of legroom I think.
Off to security. Well earlier in the day I received a PM about this subject. Well I did know about the current ban on liquids so I checked them. Normally I would not check a bag (especially just on an over night) but I did. Dulles recently added a Premium Passenger line for TSA security. Well used the line. How you may and rightfully so ask. Well I showed my Hilton HHonors card and my jetBlue boarding pass. Worked. Total time was four minutes from entering to exiting. Funny how smoothly things can go if passengers look at the many wide screen TVs, signs, and audio messages.
Well off to the B gates. Inbound flight returned to gate for Mx. 4:20 PM departure of the scheduled 3:40 PM. Then aircraft swap with a 6:30 PM departure. Cool. Now here is the neat bit.
At gate B26 (the gate my flight was departing from) the fine folks set up a snack area with a multitude of snack and drinks within 10 minutes of the announcement of the delay. Nice touch. Later the supplies were cleaned and refreshed. New ice, drinks and snacks.
How to fill the three-hour delay? Well I made a fool out of myself in the Dulles CH to Kathy with my inability to drink alcohol. So I thought I would go apologize to Kathy and thank her for her help and extreme acts of kindness.
Walked to the KLM gate area and noticed a passport lying unattended. Brought it over to the agent at the other counter. It was sitting there for about 40 minutes. Hmmm. Noticed that the MAXjet flight to London was canceled. Interesting. Walked to the Virgin Atlantic gate area and noticed that the sign that they use to inform the travelers on VIR022 of in-flight service, flight time, meal service, and type of aircraft stated that VIR022 had a 23:45 departure and a 12:10 arrival into Heathrow.
Then I decided to write this trip report and now I can no longer type on my handy MacBook about a fairly common occurrence, as I have nothing to write about besides describing the various persons in the gate area.
When to the bridge between the B and A gates. Sad location for my personally as that was where the Indy Air operations tower was. Did a bit of plane spotted. Texted DLRoger to see if he was working. He was not. Call some people and made plans to watch the Redskins preseason game Sunday. Started to added to list of things I need to do at work. Does anyone know of a less expense short term GSM phone provider than Vodafones WorldRoam? They charge $2.99 a minute for called in Australia to the US. Simple solution would have been to by a Virgin Mobile prepay phone while there but I am currently planning a RTW for a staff member and that is not an option. Maybe we will set up a Cingular account.
The Flight
Well we did board as rescheduled at 6:55 PM. Neat cabin. New plane. Sat in my seat that seamed to have 38 inches of legroom. Super.
Pushbush and taxi out. Right after the safety briefing the in-flight video and audio was turn on. Satellite TV and XM radio coupled with a moving map. The IFE was left on during take off. Excellent. Just like I was at my house eating dinner.
Watched the end of Elton Browns Good Eats on the Food Network then That 70s Show on FX. jetBlue offers movies on flight with lengths greater than two hours for a charge but has the service for free on flights to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, as the satellite coverage does not extend to that area.
This flight featured an express service of Coke, Diet Coke, water, Sprite, Diet Sprite and maybe two other selections. Coffee or liquor/beer were not for offer from love nor money.
Watched CNBC about Apple Computers possible delisting and delay in filing their quarterly documents with the SEC. Turn to watch the lovely Conde Rice address the UN. She is a hottie. Seinfield was good.
Plane did not crash. Always a good thing. Got off feeling relaxed and like a got my moneys worth.
Bags came in about 12 minute from the time I got to the pick up spot.
