It is probably not worth a real trip report, but I have some time
waiting for our return flight to depart, so I thought I would
memorialize our experience here.
Four of us were traveling: me and Mrs. zow, along with our dear son
(DS) and dear friend (DF). We bought BDL-DCA-BDL for $70 to fulfill the JetBlue 75,000 point bonus.
DF met us at our Newton home at 1:30pm, and we left our home around
1:45. DF offered to pay me $20 to cover some of the gas costs. I told
him that was way, way too much...thanks to Stop & Shop, BDH.
We pulled into the parking lot at BDL around 3:30, parked easily --
tons of short-term parking available close to the terminal (contrast
this with BOS, for example), and got through security in no time. I
will note that we used the JetBlue EvenMoreSpeed priority line, which
totally bypassed the regular queue. However, it put us in the regular
screening line and we would have had to go back out and wait in the
queue to use TSA preCheck. You would think they would set it up so
that the priority line could feed to either regular or preCheck. Oh
well.
In any case, we still had about 30 minutes before boarding so we went
to the Admirals Club. It was near Gate 24, while our flight was
leaving from Gate 4 , about a 7-minute walk. The Admirals club is
small and very typical of all the other Admirals clubs, right down to
the snack towers (O-K-D). They also had snow peas and grape tomatoes available in the buffet.
(Note, these are not the kosher offerings. I had taken the pix for a friend who does not observe kashrut.)
We boarded our flight, about half full on an A320. DW and DF were
excited to take advantage of the complimentary alcoholic beverages
that accompany their Mosaic status. Unfortunately, the drink offerings
were very limited on this short flight, and they had no alcohol
whatsoever. (A little weird, as the shuttle flights on American from
DCA to BOS, and I'm pretty sure DCA to LGA) all offer beer and wine.
We arrived at DCA a bit ahead of schedule, with about 40 minutes to go
until our return flight was scheduled to board. We headed to the
Admirals Club, where I have been a number of times. It is a much
larger club, but the food offering is the same as everywhere. I
davened mincha in the business area of the lounge, though I later
realized that they have a "quiet" room (no cell zone) that would have
been even better. DW, DS, DF and I all enjoyed some snacks and
drinks, and then we headed back to the same gate and same plane where we had
disembarked not even an hour earlier. The boarding process was already
underway.
The return trip was a bit more crowded--maybe 85% full or more. DW and
I didn't even have the middle seat open between us! Unfortunately,
even though we were all in our seats and ready to close the door for
an on-time departure, JetBlue had other plans.
Here is the note I will be sending them once we land:
------------------------
Dear JetBlue,
My wife, son and I were on JetBlue 1098, DCA-BDL, on 9 August. We all
rushed to get to the gate during the appointed boarding period. Once
we and our fellow passengers were fully boarded, the crew announced
that we would be waiting on the Tarmac "for a few minutes" while we
waited for a Flight coming from FLL with five passengers.
Well, we waited and waited for at least 45 minutes, sitting on the
Tarmac, and we had already been instructed that our computers had to
be put away, so it was wasted time for those of us who needed to
accomplish such tasks.
This delay also resulted in our delayed return to BDL, requiring us to
pay for an extra hour of parking at BDL.
I respectfully request compensation for this fully avoidable delay
that was the result of what I believe was poor operations and decision
making on the part of your management.
Thank you for your consideration.
------------------
I will post a follow up once I hear back from B6. I know I'm not the
Chief Rabbi of New York, but hopefully I will have similar success!
We landed at 8:35, about 15 minutes late. We retrieved our car easily,
paid $24 for parking, drove back to Newton, and were home by 10:30pm.
Even with the delay on the return flight, this was a totally fun and,
of course, lucrative trip. I will write an addendum when our points
post.