Philadelphia International

I took the hotel shuttle to the airport. Since I woke up already at 4:30 I got up earlier than planned and earlier as necessary, I was able to take the 5:40 shuttle instead of the one at 6:20, which I had intended to take.

As mentioned I had already checked in the evening before and therefore proceeded straight to the escalator to the security checkpoint upstairs.

Security had a fast lane for passengers traveling in Envoy or First Class as well as premium passengers. Like on the other airports, nobody was at the beginning of the line to check if one qualifies for this line. A few passengers were in the line, but unlike at the other airports, this one had its own security officer checking ID and boarding passes. Lines were short as expected on this early Sunday morning. I guess nobody is flying on an early Sunday morning if he or she has not to.

I passed security without further problem in less than five minutes headed for the US Club at the B/C concourse. I was given access to the lounge, which was deserted. Less than 10 passengers were in the lounge. I picked up a yoghurt and a coffee from the buffet, plugged my laptop in one of the power outlets to charge the battery. I checked e-mails and surfed the world wide web, because I had decided to save on the internet in the Renaissance Hotel for the few hours I have been there. One of the disadvantages if you have no high elite status with Marriott – you have to pay for the internet as Silver Member of Marriott Rewards.

I spent the time until five minutes prior to boarding time in the US Airways Club and went down to the gate, where boarding had not started yet. But in the same moment as I arrived at the gate area, the gate agent was about to start the preboarding announcement.

Time to have a quick look at the plane which still had the old black US Airways livery.

I was flying on N180US, an Airbus A 321. The plane was delivered to US Airways on June 27, 2001. By the way, the majority of the fleet of US Airways is leased and this A 321 was as far as I know no exception. Currently US Airways is in the process to retire its 737 fleet and substitute them with Airbus planes. US Airways operates the largest fleet of Airbus planes in the world. Given the fact, that usually US airlines tend to buy Boeing planes this is a bit of a surprise. All new acquired Airbus planes will use IAE Engines, but this plane was an older one and had the CFM56-5B3/P engines of CFMI.

Equipped with 16 seats in First Class with the usual 36 inch seat pitch in a 2-2 configuration and 167 seats in Economy Class in a 3-3 configuration with a seat pitch of 32 inch it offered more space than the Lufthansa planes. The cabin was okay, the seat looked a bit worn out but I have seen planes in worse conditions. I have the impression the Airbus planes are better maintained than the older Boeing 737 planes of US Airways, which will be taken out of service soon.

After the preboarding announcement was made, Passengers in First Class and the passengers holding elite status in one the frequent flier programs of the Star Alliance were invited to board the plane.

26 June 2011
PHL – LAS
[Philadelphia International – Las Vegas McCarran International]
US 1747 (US Airways); Airbus A 321 (N180US)
Gate B 15
07:50 – 10:12 [effective 07:56 – 10:14]
First Class
Seat 02 C

I was greeted by the flight attendants as I stepped into the plane. I stored my carry on in the overhead bin and took my aisle seat. Pillow and blanket were already placed on the seat like on the many previous flights.

The plane filled with passengers and the flight looked pretty full.

There was a pre departure beverage service done on this flight and the choice was either orange juice or water. The flight attendant walked between the Economy passengers to serve us. Boarding early is nice, but it always created some distraction if the passengers from Economy Class board through the First Class Cabin. You hear funny and silly comments about those in First Class, sums of money we have spent for the seats which has no advantage over a seat in Economy Class and of course we fly First Class for the need to pamper our egoism or we are simply arrogant and egocentrics.

On this flight, there was no announcement made enforcing passengers to place smaller items under the seat and only the heavier one in the overhead bins. It seems there was no need for such an announcement. And watching the passengers heading for the seats in the back, I tend to say, they have less carry ons than on the other flights. Quite a surprise, as one has to pay if bags are checked.

We pushed back at 07:56 and already had begun to taxi to the runway, as the crew preformed the safety demonstration, which was done a bit in a rush. I had the impression, they were a bit surprised, but push back was in time, so I am not sure why they expect a delay in push back. We had to queue for take-off as there were a few flights in front of us.
At 08:20 the captain pulled the thrust level and we accelerated and climbed into the morning sky over Philadelphia.

As we were 15 minutes in flight, the crew began the service. In Economy it was food for purchase. There was no announcement made what we in First Class get. Maybe the crew thought Economy Class Passengers were jealous about First Class Passengers?

A few minutes later the order for our preferred choice of beverage and the breakfast was taken. Like on the flight to SJU it was again either French Toast or quesadilla. There was not much of a choice, since I dislike French Toast.

Beverages were brought first, while the meal was heated and the trays prepared, soon later a hot towel service followed. I could watch from my seat in the second row of the flight attendant preparing the meal, which was again interesting to see. She worked differently than her colleague on the flight the day before. She heated the food in the oven and in the meantime prepared a number of trays, which she put back in the cart. As the food was ready she took the tray out of the cart, put the heated dish on it and served it.

The meal tasted not bad at all and though it was the same offering as on CLT – SJU the day before it tasted better, not much, but the quesadilla was fluffier. The flight attendant was good. She worked routinely and smiled and most important she looked at you and made eye contact when serving us passengers.

I asked for a refill of my ginger ale as she passed my seat and she asked if it would be okay if she just gave me a new can or if I needed a new glass as well. Just the can was okay for me, I am not a huge fan to get a new glass if there is no need. Trays were collected individually if passengers had finished his meal.

After she collected the trays, the flight became a bit bumpier and the pilot had turned on the seat belt signs. He did so quite a few times, but also turned them off as we passed the area with turbulences.

I worked on my trip report among a few other things during the flight. After the meal a fellow passenger had requested a glass of white wine and I decided to have one as well. It was a Chardonnay, not that bad, but not what I would buy myself. The first glass tasted corky as the other passenger and I discovered after sipping on it. The flight attendant noticed it, because I was addressed by the other passengers asking about my impression of the wine, which the flight attendant noticed. She came and we told her the wine tasted corky. She apologized and opened another bottle which was okay.

The flight attendant passed the cabin several times and asked if we like a refill. As we passed Denver and Colorado Springs at the beginning of the Rocky Mountains, the captain mentioned Pike Peaks to our right and the Rockies ahead of us.

Like on the longer flights, the crew blocked the front galley once during the flight to let the flight deck visit the restrooms.

35 minutes before touch down in Las Vegas, the captain gave us an update of the weather situation in Las Vegas, which was sunny and hot in the mid 90ies.

During the flight I chatted a bit with the passenger on the window seat. She was an elderly lady traveling to Las Vegas, where one of her daughters was visiting a conference and invited her to join her. She had been to Europe before, but this was 26 years ago and we talked about how much had changed since then, falling of iron curtain, reunion with East Germany, a common currency and so on. She was quite up to date about the political and economic situation in Europe. She told me, she had subscribed to Time Magazine which kept her up to date and got British newspapers from a neighbor regularly.

We touched down in LAS at 10:13 and had a very short taxiing to our gate A 15, where we arrived soon later. I said good bye to the crew and entered the terminal.

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