Kinglobjaw's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘PIT’

While certain members on Airliners.net reported seeing United flights scheduled between Pittsbugh-Los Angeles and Pittsburgh- San Fransisco, I’ve been silently, yet decidedly calling it BS! Maybe I was scared? I thought, surely this will mean one thing- US Airways will drop both routes it so desperately promised to retain.

Turns out it might be true. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran the article today. Looking at USAirways.com (both the old and Beta sites) I don’t see any flights on August 18, 2009, but I do see some in Sepetember and December of 2009. Maybe they haven’t zero’ed them out yet!

Anyway, if US Airways goes through with the pull out, it will only mean one thing- now more non hub/focus city routes out of Pittsburgh on mainline. The only non hub/focus city flying from Pittsburgh will be done by US Airways Express partner Trans States Airlines to Hartford/Springfield, Raleigh/Durham and St. Louis. I’m willing to bet those three cities will be soon cut as well. The nonstop to Las Vegas is also questionable, as Las Vegas’s status as a hub as US Airways is heading in Pittsburgh’s direction- more flight cuts. Then again one of the FA’s on my KOA flight last week did say FA’s were told some LAS flying would be added back.

I’m flying to Los Angeles in July, so I’m thinking of creating a routing to somehow make it on the Pittsburgh to Los Angeles flight. This would be to honor the last direct Pittsburgh service.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

A few weeks ago, I posted about US Airways pulling the plug on the PIT-EWR route.

Turns out, that same day (March 7, 2009) US is starting a single PHL-EWR flight. It will be operated by US Airways Express- Piedmont Airlines. After that, starting on March 8, 2009 there will be 4 flights in each direction.

Schedule is as follows:

US4534 PHL (9:30AM) - EWR (10:29AM)
US4536 PHL (1:30PM) - EWR (2:29PM)
US4552 PHL (4:10PM) - EWR (5:15PM)
US4556 PHL (8:50PM) - EWR (10:00PM)

US4505 EWR (6:45AM) - PHL (8:00AM)
US4525 EWR (11:20AM)- PHL (12:35PM)
US4527 EWR (2:59PM) - PHL (4:19PM)
US4539 EWR (5:45PM) - PHL (7:05PM

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

According to US Airways schedules, US Airways Express carrier Air Wisconsin Airlines  will no longer operate the nonstop Pittsburgh- Newark route after March 7, 2009.

The route is currently operated by US Airways Express partner Air Wisconsin Airlines utilzing a CRJ-200 aircraft.

The following is the schedule for March 7, 2009;

Pittsburgh-Newark

US3992 PIT (8:32AM)  - EWR (10:01AM)
US3950 PIT (12:34PM) - EWR (1:34PM)
US3988 PIT (4:34PM)  - EWR (6:00PM)

Newark-Pittsburgh

US3933 EWR (10:30AM) - PIT (12:04PM)
US3973 EWR (2:33PM)  - PIT (4:01PM)
US4015 EWR (6:30PM)  - PIT (8:17PM)

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

What has Windows XP SP 3, an 8.9 inch LCD screen and a full QWERTY type keyboard?

Answer:  A Dell Inspiron Mini 9! A truly blogable device that will even fit in smallest book bag or purse. They’re coming out with a 12, but if you want to keep it small, go with the 9. And while in the aviation world bigger is better and more fun, when you mix blog writing, laptops and travel- smaller does turn out to be wiser.

So it has been a while since I’ve talked to all you fine folks and I wanted to assure you I have not turned my back on you. What has changed? The last time you thought about me, I was 18- now not so much. 19 here and every flight I take less people consider me the “brat” who stole their last available upgrade seat. I sure miss those days!

What’s new, you ask?

A lot has happened since my few hours in PIT. Aside from fuel going sky high and falling down low, one of the best TV series fast forwarding 5 long years into the future, world’s longest all-business class legacy airline flight making it’s way from EWR to SIN and a few other things, I’m still good!

What’s coming, you ask?

I think my tiny photography hobby might be growing in the upcoming months. I’ve upgraded my simple digital point and shoot camera to the Canon EOS 50D. Get ready for some nicer, higher quality travel photos.

Back in September five airlines allocated in two opposing teams fought for the honor of giving up 2 of their highly coveted “O” and “I” class award seats in First/Business Class for Kinglobjaw’s 150,000 (X2) US Airways Dividend Miles Award from USA to Africa.

Team Europe included Lufthansa (LH) and Swiss Intl Airlines (LX) and offered a tempting LAX-FRA-MUC-ZRH-JNB-FRA-LAX which consisted of upper deck 747 First Class on 3 flights, a First Class Terminal visit in FRA, a ride on the rare A300, and exquisite Swiss hospitality service generations have raved about.

Team Asia which included ANA (NH), Singapore Airlines (SQ) and Thai International Airways (TG) offered an exotic ORD-NRT-BKK-JNB-BKK-NRT-ORD involved the elegant Japanease service, the warm and friendly Singapore Girl and the Royal Orchid service by Thai was another excellent choice. NH is known for delicious food and Thai’s First Class lounge at BKK is a true rival for Lufthansa’s FRA First Class terminal due to it’s Royal Orchid Spa.

The winner? Before the decision, only one airline knew it would win regardless of which of the above choices would be selected. Team Africa! Since, JNB isn’t the final destination, there is only one Star Alliance carrier that could fly me from JNB-MRU and back. South African Airways, I’m ready to try your Business Class.

Alright! Alright! You want to know what option was selected between the United States and JNB? Both choices were available in First Class all the way through to JNB, so this decision was tougher than most would expect. In the end Lufthansa and Swiss were chosen. Lufthansa’s ultra private upper deck First Class experience on the B747, the FRA First Class terminal and the option of flying Swiss is what made me choose the two carriers for the July 2009 trip. Plus, I’m dying to fly an A300, especially since Lufthansa is one of the oldest operators of the type and is slowly, but surely beginning to retire them. Therefore, I hope my flight won’t be downgraded to a narrow body. I want to save airlines SQ, NH, TG, and OZ for my next trip to Asia. To my readers, which option would you pick?

A) LAX-FRA (Lufthansa 747) + 1 night in FRA for Zzzz’s…
FRA-MUC (Lufthansa A300), MUC-ZRH (SWISS AVRO RJ100), ZRH-JNB (SWISS A340)

Return: JNB-FRA-LAX (Both 747’s on Lufthansa)

B) ORD-NRT (ANA 777) + 1 night in NRT for Zzzzz’s
NRT-BKK (Singapore Airlines 777), BKK-JNB (Thai A346)

Return: JNB-BKK (Thai A346), BKK-NRT (Thai 777), NRT-ORD (ANA 777)

What else is new, your ask? I’m planning a fun mileage run since I think I can find lower deals than the US Airways’ Buy Up to Preferred program.

I really want to try to find a deal to Seattle, WA (SEA). I love the city and I want to check out the Boeing museum. Plus, if I can get a free night at the Seattle Airport Marriott that would be fantastic. It is my favorite property near the SEA airport. Their indoor pool is amazing. Few airport properties in the USA are this nice. Marriott sure did an excellent job here. Enough with the words, sometimes pictures do indeed speak more than words.

Pretty long post, but totally worth it since I messed up big time by not posting for a few months. I’m really sorry about that, but I won’t forget this blog or my readers- I promise.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark