Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

I walked to concourse A of Phoenix airport, where my flight to Denver was departing. Boarding was scheduled to start in 25 minutes, thus leaving me enough time for a visit in one of the US Airways Club at Phoenix. The US Airways club was upstairs and easy to find. I was granted access without further problems.

The lounge was busy, but not overcrowded and I had no difficulties to find a free armchair. The club looked quite nice and the offerings were not that bad. Cold beverages were available at the bar and a member of staff was walking through the club collecting dirty plates and cups and also asked if one liked a cold beverage. I got a muffin, yoghurt and a coffee for breakfast.

As boarding time was just a few minutes away, I left the lounge and proceeded to gate A 09 where our flight was already ready for boarding. The first boarding announcement was already made as I arrived at the gate area and one minute later first class passengers and those traveling with small children under the age of five were asked to board the plane.

23 June 2011
PHX – DEN
[Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport – Denver International]
US 486 (US Airways); Boeing 737-300 (N305AW)
Gate A 09 (Terminal 4)
08:45 – 11:32 [effective 08:40 – 11:21]
First Class
Seat 02 D

I was greeted as I entered the plane. This 737-300 was an old plane of America West Airlines and showed its age. The overhead compartments were quite small and there was no wall between door and first row. The cabin was painted and many parts were duck taped. Our plane was delivered to America West on November 11, 1988. It made its first flight a few months earlier on September 12, 1988. On September 27, 2005 it was transferred to US Airways. After it was returned to the lessor in 2006 it re-joined the fleet in 2007. It was equipped with the CFM56-3B1 engines with 20,000 lbf or 89 kn. It was taken out of service and stored end of 2011.

This plane was equipped with eight seats in First Class in a 2-2 configuration and 3-3 in Economy Class.

All First Class seats were taken on this flight and my seat mate was already there. I stored my carry on in the overhead compartment and the laptop bag under the seat in front of me.

One of the flight attendants took care of my jacket. Later I was asked for my choice of pre-departure drink. I opted for a glass of orange juice which was brought later. Like their colleagues on the flight to Phoenix, one flight attendant asked the passengers boarding the plane to wait while First Class passengers were served.

The flight was full in both classes. The captain welcomed us on board and gave us an update about the flight and the weather in Denver. Unfortunately, I did not understand that much of what he said, since the other passengers were chatting and it was quite noisy in the cabin.

The safety demonstration was done while we were still at the gate and after it was finished we were pushed back at 08:40 five minutes ahead of schedule. We taxied to the runway, where we had to wait a couple of minutes before it finally was our and took off at 08:52.

Given the age of the plane, it was no surprise that the cabin showed its age and heavy use. The cabin walls had several scratches and the seats a few stains and broken parts. Also the cabin was compared to modern aircrafts in many parts out of style. In the other hand it was a plane which had seen the better times of airlines in the United States. Fuel prices were lower and the airlines made more money and it was not yet the time of the no-frills.

After ten minutes in flight, the seat belt signs were turned off and the crew jumped into action. One flight attendant was serving first class passengers and offered a choice of beverage. However not that attentive as her colleagues on the flight, she did a good job, was attentive. As she served also the first row of Economy Class, she asked twice if we like a refill. But given, that this was a short flight, it was perfectly okay to me.

We were also offered the basket with cookies, chips and cereal bars, but this time I declined the offer.

During the flight I read in the magazine I picked up in the lounge, made a few notes about the flight for my trip report and relaxed. The captain came over the microphone and gave us an update about the weather in Denver.

Unlike the quiet flight to Phoenix, this was a really noisy flight with a lot of passengers chatting. I tried to get some sleep but this was not really possible due to the noise in the plane from my fellow passengers.

We touched down a bit ahead of schedule at 11:11 and taxied to our gate, but had to wait a couple of minutes, as the gate was not yet prepared for our arrival as the previous flight was about to be pushed back as we arrived.

We finally reached our gate at 11:23 and I was among the first passengers to leave the plane.

It was a short flight, but the crew was good, not as great as their colleagues on the flight from SFO to PHX, but still good.

I took the train to the main terminal and headed for the pick-up for the shuttle to the rental cars.

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