Point Me to the Miles

A Decent Flight (Salt Lake City to Los Angeles)

Introduction
Pasco to Salt Lake City (SLC)
SLC to Los Angeles (LAX)
LAX, “The Bump,” and Torrance Marriott
LAX to Atlanta
Atlanta to Tampa
Hotel Review: DoubleTree Suites Tampa Bay
Exploring Tampa Part 1: Honeymoon Island
Hotel Review: Tampa Marriott Waterside
Bern’s Steak House Tampa
Exploring Tampa Part 2: Cigar City Brewery and Clearwater Beach
Hotel Review: Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel
Exploring Tampa Part 3: Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center and Ybor City
Tampa to New York (LGA)
New York to Minneapolis (MSP) to Pasco, WA (PSC)

Delta 635
Salt Lake City (SLC) – Los Angeles International (LAX)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Depart: 9:30 PM
Arrive: 10:37 PM
Duration: 2 hr 17 min
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Seat: 4A (Business Elite)

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I am now off on my way to (hopefully) sunny Florida for a break for a few days (can I say spring break if I am no longer in school?), and thankful to all of your suggestions.  I am honestly quite eager to try them out.

At the moment I am cruising at 30,000 feet between Salt Lake and Los Angeles.  My night has certainly been intriguing (in a good way) starting when checked the upgrade list for my current flight after checking in:

I held the number two spot—even as a “lowly” Gold Medallion (mid-week flights, what canya say?).  Judging from my status when I got to the gate in Salt Lake, I decided to boarded with First Class.

Before I go any further I should correct myself and mention that with some aspects, I’ve lucked out.  The aircraft is an internationally configured Boeing 737-800, making it’s way to Haneda with a brief stop at LAX.  Thus, as opposed to their usual domestic “First Class” product, it is instead their international “Business Elite” product.  On a flight of less than 2 hours, not much of a big deal, but I am glad to be upgraded on something that is considered “international.”

I handed my boarding pass over and told the agent, “I think I’ve cleared,” to which she exclaimed “We have a winner!” after scanning it.  I was quite elated and shared it, as this was my very first complimentary upgrade as a Medallion member!  To temper my enthusiasm, I am in the very last row of the cabin, and in a window seat win I usually prefer an aisle seat.  Oh well, #BusinessClassProblems.  There isn’t much of a problem in getting the seat to recline a bit, as some would suggest.

I had to go as soon as I boarded, and rather than my plopping my stuff down on my seat and fight like a fish upstream to get to the First Class lav.  So I hurried to the back of the plane, and was somewhat to manage getting my way back up to the front.  After I politely asked to excuse myself to get into Business, one passenger was appalled that she had allowed herself to get in the way of such an important Business Class passenger as myself, and profusely apologized.  I just chuckled a little and told her it was no problem.  Some people seem to equate sitting in the front of the plane for wealth, despite the fact that in most cases it is just people that travel a lot.  Ehhh.

Then when the Flight Attendant came around with the snack basket and ask if I wanted anything to drink, I barely had time to snatch a small bag of peanuts (with no dinner, mind you) before she headed off to get my drink.  When she came back with it, I asked for some Sun chips as well, and she snarkily replied “I just brought the basket around.”  Not sure if she was joking, but if she wasn’t a little rude.  I apologized for being slow on the draw, and she didn’t seem bothered in the end.

Both her and one of the Flight attendants working coach did a fantastic job checking on drinks and such, and seemed to be on the scene immediately if anything needed to be taken care of.

A pretty good flight, in my book, despite a minor “bump” along the way.

Delta 4778
Pasco, WA (PSC) – Salt Lake City (SLC)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Depart: 6:20 PM
Arrive: 8:56 PM
Duration: 1 hr 26 min
Aircraft: CRJ-200
Seat: 1B (Economy)