V-Flyer

Another new airline for me on this trip.

After our road trip to Vancouver we arrived back in Seattle in the early afternoon at my friend's home. As my flight wasn't until 8:15pm we had a (very) late brunch and I availed myself of what he calls the Kenmore twins - his washing machine and dryer. I also tried to do OLCI but was told I needed to check in at the airport. Uh-oh! My friend opined it was because I had a one way ticket. He was probably right.

I arrived at SEA-TAC with plenty of time to spare ready for the fray. I checked in at a kiosk with nary a problem, opted to pay cash for my bag and headed for the bag drop. There was a small queue but on the other side of the check-in island there seemed to be an empty desk. There was. My bag was quickly tagged and I was directed to the D gates where my flight would depart. Security was quick and easy and soon I was in the gate area. I was a bit hungry at this stage but there were plenty of places to eat and soon I was in possession of a delicious salad.

SEA-TAC has free wi-fi so I spent the rest of the time catching up on what was happening in the rest of the world when I realised my flight was beginning to board. I was in seat 23F towards the back of the 737 and so was among the first to be allowed to board. I settled in with my book to hand, not realising Alaska Air has Go-Go, a free wi-fi service Not to worry, I love reading on aircraft.

I was no sooner settled than the cabin was invaded by a shrieking, squawking gaggle of young women! They settled in beside me and in the rows behind and in front of me. Omigod! I was surrounded! Eventually they settled prior to take-off but as the doors closed they started up again and chattered excitedly! It didn't matter that the security demonstration was happening, they had things to talk about and nothing was going to stop them. Eventually we took off, heading over Boeing Field and Concorde and heading south to Las Vegas. The captain came on with details about the route and the cabin crew made announcements about the in-flight service but not one word did I hear and that was true for the whole flight.

As well as seeing Concorde and the views of Puget Sound, we also passed over a snow-capped peak poking up through the clouds. I don't know if it was Mount Rainier or whether we were too far south for that. Later there was a wonderful sunset and later as we were coming in to land, terrific views over the Strip.

The in-flight service, similar to the Horizon flight, was sodas and snack mix, although alcohol was available for purchase.

Towards the end of the flight the girls sitting beside me started chatting to me. In fairness, they were pleasant, intelligent girls and they confirmed what I had long suspected, that they were a hen party - or as they called it, a bachelorette party. I was given details of the wedding which was to take place in a couple of week's time and heard about all their plans for the week ahead. And the bride? She was in evidence on landing with a little scrap of a white veil on her head and more facial piercings than I had ever seen on anyone God knows how she got through security!

Transfer from the satellite area where we had landed to the terminal was straightforward and as I approached the carousel there was my case trundling around so within minutes I was in a taxi heading for my hotel.

HL,

Thanks for the TR. When we flew into Sea Tac a few years ago, we flew over Mount St Helens...And then when I flew out to IAD on the same trip we flew over it again.

Where did you stay in Vegas?

Great TR and pleased you enjoyed the flight despite being in the middle of a hen party - loved the comment about the piercings!

Thanks for the great TR, HL!

I have always wondered if there is a limit of the size of piercings you can have before you have to take them out and put them through the x-ray machine. It always reminds me of the film Bodyguard (I think) when he gets the bullets through security in a key chain.