Well it’s Friday and time to head home. Unfortunately for me, I’ll be heading back next week. I like to travel, I also like to travel to work, I just don’t enjoy these last minute trips on back to back(to back to back) weeks. Let’s also say I just don’t like Orlando. Have I mentioned that yet?
Anyway this is my trip home. MCO has again turned into a 757 outpost. For a while this was the norm, then it seemed to take a shift to the A320 series, then to the 737-900, and now it’s come back full circle to the 757.
In this trip
1:Back to boring: GSP-ATL-MCO Delta 717 and 757 Economy Review
2:Back To Boring: Hilton Garden Inn Orlando International Drive North Review.
3 :Back to boring: MCO-ATL-GSP Delta 757 and 717 Economy Review
3.1: MCO Airport
3.2: Delta 757 Exit Row Review
3.3: Atlanta Airport Transfer
3.4: Delta 717 Exit Row Review
3.5: Final Thoughts
MCO Airport
Welcome back to MCO. Because the B side rental car facility is closed, I have a little bit of a walk over to the Delta gates.
Almost zero line at Precheck and the 4 people in front of me all got turned away. I really don’t like this airport for reasons like that. They should have someone directing people to the correct line. It slows the Precheck line down and it makes people who get into the wrong line have to backtrack and wait longer too.
Through security and to the train. The train on the right isn’t available for outbound passengers. Due to the unique(and inconvenient) design of the MCO airport, that train isn’t a sterile area. International baggage claim is in the outpost terminal, so because of that, the train isn’t usable for outbound passengers.
Out in the 70-99 terminal area. Due to COVID the only restaurant available here is a Starbucks so if you’re hungry, grab something in the main terminal before security. I had time for a quick Skyclub visit, but I’ll cover that in a different post.
Mostly empty airport here in Orlando.
At the gate they boarded back to front. It works great, but I think that’s mostly an artifact of the low loads due to seat blocking. I’m just really enjoying the extra space between everyone.
Delta 757 Exit Row Review
This 757 is one without winglets. There are a few of these floating around and for various reasons they don’t have winglets. I enjoy riding on the 757, it’s also a great looking plane.
Down the jetbridge and onto the plane.
Tons of leg room in these exit seats. Power in every seat too.
These 757s have nice modern IFE.
Soon we are off the gate and heading to the runway. Nice weather on this Friday afternoon.
Goodbye Florida. I’m glad to be heading home, unfortunately it’s just for the weekend.
Florida has tons of lakes. The lakes are relatively shallow but are great fun.
Nice quite trip up to Atlanta.
Above the clouds it was beautiful.
Just over an hour later we started our approach into Atlanta.
And into the gate.
Atlanta Airport Transfer
My next flight was leaving from the B terminal so I walked to the train.
Back up from the plane train.
Delta 717 Exit Row Review
As always, lots of space in these seats.
No IFE on the 717, no big deal. These planes only fly relativity short trips so I don’t really miss it.
I really like the 717 in normal times, during COVID they have one of the seats on the 2 seat side blocked so those are my seat of choice.
Off the gate and on the way home.
Nice Delta A350 taking off.
Couple wide bodies hanging out.
It was a little overcast here in Atlanta. The 717 really climbs when it’s lightly loaded.
Between the cloud layer shortly after takeoff. These views make my day.
After the quick 28 minute flight, Greenville is back in sight after dropping back below the clouds.
Back on the ground here at GSP.
Final Thoughts
This was the end of a work heavy week. I’m glad to be back home, but I unfortunately know I’ll be making the trek back to Orlando again on Monday. The 757 continues to be a favorite of mine, the 717 is a nice little plane, it’s as close to the MD88/90 as we’ll get ever again.