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Los Angeles International
Since there was no direct shuttle, I had to leave the sterile (or secure) area. I decided not to wait for the buses, which connect the terminals, but used the pedestrian way through the parking garages to walk over to Terminal 6, where the United desks are located. It took me less than five minutes before I reached the Escalator up to the departure level of Terminal 6
I could skip the not so long regular line at security since a priority line for elites was available and empty. Security was no wait and I was in the United Club a few minutes later.
The gate for my flight to Palm Springs was just opposite the Club, very convenient. A flight to PSP was just boarding, but with checked luggage it did not make much sense to get on the earlier flight.
A quick visit in the United Club, which was quite full, but I had not difficulties to find a seat and get something to drink from the bar and grabbed a few cookies as dinner. Waiting time would not be very long, since boarding was scheduled for 20:15.
I left the lounge at boarding time and headed for the gate, where boarding had not started yet. The agent made the announcement a couple of minutes later and there was no special announcement. The flight to PSP are like the ones to SAN done by Embraer 120 planes, which are turbo props with a 1-2 seating in one class configuration. Down the jetbridge and then one had to walk a ramp down to the ramp and to the plane. The flight was not very full and I would say the load was less than 30 percent. My seat was again in the second last row, but I decided not to move, as I had to wait for my luggage anyway and PSP is a very leisurely airport with short ways.
04 June 2012
LAX – PSP
[Los Angeles International – Palm Springs International]
UA 5643 (Skywest dba United Airlines Express); Embraer 120 (N580SW)
Gate 71A
20:45 – 21:41 [effective 20:38 – 21:27]
Economy Class
Seat 10 A
The only flight attendant made the safety demonstration after the pilot had welcomed us on board. We were pushed back by a small tractor like car at 20:38 – remind me somehow of a toy compared to the bigger ones – and taxied for our runway. We took off at 20:55 towards the Pacific Ocean before we made a 180 turn and climbed eastbound to PSP.
The Embraer 120 Brasilia is a small plane which came in service 1985 and has two 1800 SHP Pratt & Whitney PW118B Turboprop engines. Skywest is with over 40 Embraer 120 aircraft the largest operator of this aircraft type.
It was dark, so that I could not see much of the landscape below us other than the light of highways, cities and streets. To me, showing down the landscape is quite often the better inflight entertainment system – even if it is dark. You see the lights, streets, houses in the dark with illuminated windows and garden pools …
There was no service offered on this short flight and soon we began our approach into PSP offering views of Palm Springs. One could see the airport in the distance and the flight became quite bumpy for the last 5 minutes. We touched down at 21:31 and taxied for our parking position. The small planes did not use jetbridges in PSP. It is a very nice relaxed airport with an open walkway under palms to the main terminal and the luggage belt, which is just opposite the car rental counters. My trolley was already circling on it and second later I could approach the rental car desk.