Erk's 2014 Pacamerican Circle

[serfty]

...
As I mentioned earlier in the report, DL shows me as VA silver because that's what I was when I booked the flight....

This is easily fixed online:

The DL status recognition is weird, recently booked economy travel SYD-CLT (too difficult to book through VA) and my gold VA status was matched to silver medallion. Have since moved up to platinum VA after EY Christmas trip and DL won't up the Elite status match on the ticket. I've spoken to VA and DL, neither is wanting to change the status on the ticket. DL wants me to update at the check in, though platinum elites are eligible for upgrades 5 days before departure and silver is only 1 day before. Any idea on who to contact and have this sorted?

OK, I have recently changed status from VA SG to VA WP and had some DL bookings in the system showing me in the "Passengers" section as:[TABLE="class: Grid"]
[TR]
[TD]SERFTY FULL NAME

V Australia # 0123456789
Velocity
Gold Medallion / Elite Plus[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
I was going to call to get the Velocity number reapplied, but on looking the booking up I saw a link to:

►Passenger Information

Clicking that opened a section at a heading: "FREQUENT FLYER NUMBER" as herein:

View attachment 14992

I just clicked save (nothing else) and there it was: [TABLE="class: Grid"]
[TR]
[TD]SERFTY FULL NAME

V Australia # 0123456789
Velocity
Platinum Medallion / Elite Plus[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[erkpod]

Summary of trips PDX - ATL - MIA
22 January


Crew: Professional. The CSM on the first leg & I had a brief chat about getting up at OMG o'clock at PDX to make the fight. When I deplaned at ATL, he asked me if I managed any sleep. A common theme on US domestic flights is for no one to introduce themselves.

Priority baggage: Bags waiting on the conveyor on my arrival at MIA & were priority tagged, unlike my boarding pass.

On time running: Pretty good on both sectors.

 

[blackcat20]

Like if you should by chance inadvertently find yourself in the Tenderloin area of SFO "thats not a knife, this is a knife" LOL

I did that once; it won't happen again, thats for sure.

 

[erkpod]

Pics from the ATL DL Skyclub



Tarmac view



Seating



Window seats



Bar (I didn't sample)

 

[erkpod]

Info on IFE screen ATL - MIA about gate to gate PEDs on DL.



Funny Coke Zero ad on the IFE screen



What happens when one forgets to put any info in the search box on the Agoda app but search anyway.



An American sign at MIA - note that the sign features 2 languages

 

[serfty]

Pics from the ATL DL Skyclub
...

The?

There's actually [-]6[/-] 9 Skyclubs at ATL ... which Pier?

Delta Sky Club Location - ATL

 

[erkpod]

The?

There's actually 6 Skyclubs at ATL ... which Pier?

From memory, I came in onto Concourse T.

 

[serfty]

From memory, I came in onto Concourse T.

It's actually 9! - I've edited my post - which concourse are you departing from?

 

[erkpod]

It's actually 9! - I've edited my post - which concourse are you departing from?

I arrived at T & the Sky Club I went into was right there. Then I departed from B but went right to the gate.

 

[serfty]

I arrived at T & the Sky Club I went into was right there. Then I departed from B but went right to the gate.

I would not be surprised if you took the train to E and back...

 

[erkpod]

I would not be surprised if you took the train to E and back...

I would not have been surprised either

 

[erkpod]

Overnight in Miami
Day 22, Wednesday 22 January

I had no accommodation booked for Miami & found the MIA Hotel. Couldn't find any last minute deals so I rocked up to the desk. Booked in & found my nice but small room. Had a great sleep & woke up at the airport, minutes from check-in. Best shower of the trip so far.

Considering booking this hotel again while transiting Miami Sunday night before my 70000 Tons of Metal cruise on Monday.

 

[erkpod]

Flight Report, DL782 MIA - JFK
Thursday 23 January

Plane: MD88 (rego TBC)

Captain Mumble & CSM Loud Annoying PA Whine
(not a reflection on them but the PA system)

Seat: 20C (have shadow. Plane about 50% full). Edit: There has been seat rearranging mid flight. The fun sized lady next to me has found 21ABC vacant so she's moved there to lie flat. I'm now in 20A.

Check-in: About 10 minutes in total. No status appeared on system & agent wanted to charge accordingly despite handing her my VFF card at start of transaction. Same happened to couple next to me on Aeromexico status & other people this morning according to agent. VFF SG added to BP & priority tags/status added.

Security/TSA: About 10 minutes. Used the priority (not TSA Pre) skipping a lot of people. There were 3 children in front of me at the scanner so the agent was asking their ages & UM status to determine if they needed shoes on or off. Then she asked me for my age & saw that I had my shoes off & I said I'm old. A chuckle from the agent. Have you made a TSA officer laugh lately? LOL

Random extra security check (not selected) & ID check (selected) on jetway.

Boarding: Took advantage of priority boarding after it was added to BP. Plane 50% loaded which helped with cabin baggage.

IFE: No IFE on an DL MD88. Am using the inflight wifi. The 2 hours & get one free was a little cheaper than the whole flight duration with a flying time of 2 hrs 11 minutes.

 

[gwilli1]

Great trip report Erk...just spent the last 45 mins catching up . Love travelling around the US , feels like me 2nd home.

 

[erkpod]

NYC, Day 23
Thursday 23 January

Needless to say, it's cold! Screens at MIA said it was 8°F & -13°C. Having walked from JFK T4 to the shuttle bus, I'd believe it!


Coming into JFK

 

[erkpod]

Great trip report Erk...just spent the last 45 mins catching up . Love travelling around the US , feels like me 2nd home.

Thanks, mate!

This is why I'm writing the report as I go when I can. I love the feeling that people have some idea what I'm up to in close to real time.

 

[erkpod]

This is why I take my own selfies - a woman volunteered so I can take her photo.





Freezing luggage trolleys



BBBBBRRRRR!



In the shuttle. Where's my steering wheel?



Frozen Coke?

 

[gwilli1]

I want to be there ... NOW !!

NYC, Day 23
Thursday 23 January

Needless to say, it's cold! Screens at MIA said it was 8°F & -13°C. Having walked from JFK T4 to the shuttle bus, I'd believe it!

View attachment 23530
Coming into JFK

View attachment 23531

View attachment 23532

View attachment 23533

View attachment 23534

 

[erkpod]

For some reason, the shuttle driver has left the Expressway, seemingly to avoid a toll.



What's a School Bump?



First FDNY Fire Engine spotted. coughpy shot, I know.



I could hear a subway train but not see it as it was above me. Snow falls as the trains move on the elevated viaduct.



Train on a viaduct in Queens

 

[erkpod]

What a tour of NYC oops I mean shuttle van drive from the airport!

Dep JFK 1101.
Arr Manhattan 1154.
Change vans about 1205

Van 2 dep 1214.
Van arr 1340.

Arrive hotel 1350.

There was a lady who arrived into the US into JFK at 0745. An hour for customs/immigration (not bad!) & the rest of the time waiting for or being in a shuttle. The driver got lost on the way to her accommodation at the YMCA & was still on the shuttle when I got out. By the time she gets there (I hope it is soon!), she may very well be Young, Male & Christian. I was going to play YMCA when she left the van to cheer her up but I got out first.

Now to find a little ray of sunshine amongst the snow! Edit: Just found her!