The week is ending and it’s time for me to head back home. The Dallas area isn’t my favorite and I’m ready to leave. DFW is huge. The airport is absolutely massive and takes forever to get in and out of. The rental car facility is 4 miles away so make sure you leave lots of time. If you are planning on visiting the Dallas area, I’d really recommend DAL instead, much easer in and out. Unfortunately Arlington is much closer to DFW so here I am.
For the first time in years, I’m at the airport 2 hours before my flight. I also changed to an early flight as I’d finished my work for the week.
Anyway, let’s get into it.
In This Trip
1: Working again, Arlington Texas: Delta 717 Main Cabin and Delta A321 Comfort Plus Review.
2: Working again, Arlington Texas: Aloft Dallas Arlington Entertainment District Review
3 :Working again, Arlington Texas: Delta A321 Economy and Delta 737-800 Exit Row Review
3.1: DFW Airport and Skyclub
3.2: Delta A321 Economy Review
3.3: ATL Airport Transfer and Skyclub
3.4: Delta 737-800 Exit Row
3.5: Final Thoughts
DFW Airport and Skyclub
I rode the rental car shuttle to the D terminal, I’m going to swing by the centurion lounge as I have some time to kill. Delta doesn’t use the D terminal so this was deliberate. No line here at the Pre-check line. Although the ID scanner didn’t pull up my boarding pass so the Agent asked for my boarding pass.
Into the mostly empty terminal, it was quiet this Thursday afternoon. Still more people than last year.
Unfortunately the centurion was at capacity and was running a half hour wait. So I took the train to the E concourse. There’s a Skyclub there, and while it’s not nearly as nice, it’s good enough and I don’t have to wait.
Up the escalator to the train. Everything’s bigger in Texas isn’t just a joke.
On the way over it’s easy to see just how massive this airport is. Just really and truly a gargantuan piece of infrastructure. Texas does love to go big and DFW is no exception.
I know the 787 isn’t a rarity anymore, but I don’t see them very often as I’m mostly a Delta flyer. Good looking plane.
Two Delta A220(C-Series) hanging out. Delta is running lots of these to DFW these days. It’s basically a hub attack on AA to popular places like JFK/LGA. Provide a plush new plane on high dollar routes to poach flyers.
Back down into the terminal and on the way to the Skyclub.
These little outpost Skyclubs are kinda hit or miss. I’d say this one is meh, good enough to just sit around, but it’s nothing to go out of the way for.
I soon was at the Skyclub enjoying a meh sandwich and a kale salad. I just don’t know the world’s obsession with bitter lettuce. There are so much better leaves to eat. I’m a big fan of green and red leaf. But also romaine, bib, and oak leaf. Anyway, I had about an hour to kill so I just hung around.
I soon got a boarding notification on my phone so I hit the bathroom and then walked a few gates over to E15. The incoming flight was a bit delayed so we were showing a 10 minute delay in boarding and departure. Not a big deal for me, I have a painful 2 hour layover in Atlanta.
Delta A321 Economy Review
Boarding was a bit of a cluster. It started as always, pre-boarding, first class, etc, then from the rear of the plane as it has been during Covid. Unfortunately after calling the last 10 rows of the plane, the gate agent declared everyone should board. It was a mess and the jetbridge was completely full and backed up into the gate area.
Anyway, after boarding and waiting in the huge line, I found my seat. The good news is that I don’t have a middle seat neighbor.
The bad news is that there’s not really a window in this window seat. It’s pretty miss-adjusted but still viewable. I enjoy having a view so I usually try to avoid seats like this, happens sometimes though.
The standard announcements were made and we pushed back for a 9 minutes delayed departure. Not too bad.
These mid con flights aren’t bad in the regular seats, but I fit cause I’m not tall.
I put on a movie (The Hangover) and sat back for our long taxi past AA land.
Away we go on this 2 hours flight back east to Atlanta.
Once above the clouds the ride was nice a smooth for about the first half hour. Then it got a little bumpy, right about the time they started the drink service.
I like almonds, but really, bring back the cheese-its. I brought a cooking bar with me from the Skyclub.
Soon after I received my water and almonds, they announced that we were going to fly though some rough weather. The flight attendants had to stop serving and get the carts put away.
About 15 minutes later it smoothed out and they resumed service. This is a pretty quiet flight today. Not super full either, so that always helps.
As we began descending they came and collected our trash and made the standard announcements. An additional one that struck me as different was the reminder where the emergency exits are and what the signage includes. That struck me as a little odd.
Anyway, my movie was just finishing and we only had a few minutes left in the air. I made a quick music playlist and packed up my bag.
We landed into a half raining ATL. Literally half of the airport is poring and the other is completely dry and nearly sunny. South east rain showers are always so patchy.
Like I said, super patchy.
We came into the B gates, and while I like that Skyclub, my next flight is out of E so I’m going to overshoot a bit and go to the Skyclub in F.
ATL Airport Transfer and Skyclub
Into the Terminal I walked right for the train.
I prefer the last car in the train. It’s usually the least popular car and today was no exception.
Whole car to myself. As you can see, just one in-front is pretty full.
Into the F terminal I go, little overshoot from E but worth it.
This isn’t my favorite Skyclub in the system, but it’s close. I think I like Salt Lake City more.
All lounges should be outside. It’s just better. I have a 2 hour layover to kill so I really enjoyed the outside. After a few hours in the lounge I headed from F to E.
Delta 737-800 Exit Row
I was a little surprised they weren’t boarding yet when I arrived, they soon made an announcement that the cleaners were still on board. After an hour of cleaning I was getting a little cranky.
We finally started boarding and again it was a free for all. I understand wanting to get people on the plane, but it seems silly to just pack the jetbridge.
As I boarded very much towards the end, my bag ended up about 10 rows behind me. Happens, but man, I was lucky, they started checking the 5 or so bags after mine.
Lots of leg room in these rows. Power in every seat and regular tray tables. It’s the best of everything.
This is were I get very pedantic. I’ve not seen Delta planes have carpet like this.
Holy shit Greenville flights are talkative. It’s like being in a bar at happy hour right now. South Carolina people are just too damn friendly. I’m wearing my noise cancelling Sony’s and it’s still fucking loud. Sorry to go all cranky pants, but damn, people need to be quiet.
Anyway, the pilot came on and told us it would be a pretty rough flight due to the weather and that everyone would need to remain seated for pretty much the whole flight. It was super wet outside from the shower, but seemed to have cleared nicely and the sun was even out.
We took off to the west, and began our turn south then east. This oddly adds a considerable amount of time to this short flight.
Fun little pocket between the clouds. Like the pilot said, no service on this flight and it was a little rough.
This flight was even sunny for the entire trip. Got some nice views of the lakes and mountains. I’m really starting to run out of things to talk about on this flight. I probably fly it 20 times a year and for whatever reason, I keep talking about it.
Into Greenville there was a TUI 787. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen their planes out of place. These, I assume, are for cargo operations. BA is running cargo flights into GSP too.
Into the gate.
Final Thoughts
This was very much a back to basic work trip for me. Missing out on the Centurion in DFW is disappointing but not surprising. Lounges are crowded these days, the Centurions are among the worst. The Skyclub is the savior but obviously no where near as nice.
I was getting a little frustrated with the “board everyone all at once” approach the gate agents are taking. Even when running a little behind, just mobbing the gate won’t help.
Every time I ride on an A321 I enjoy it. The 737 with the updated IFE is good too and the exit rows are perfect. The A321 doesn’t have as nice of ones outside of Comfort Plus. Anyway, I’m home and had a nice boring work trip.
Much appreciated! Helped a lot for an oldie who hasn’t flown in more than 25 years.
Glad it helps!