It’s time to head back home. This has been a successful trip for me so far professionally. We finished up working early so I used my favorite Delta Medallion benefit, free same day changes/standby. I called the day before and while I couldn’t be confirmed on an earlier flight, I was added to the standby list and the phone agent said I had a really good chance of clearing. I took the risk and headed to the airport early the next day.
In this trip
1 :Back to work travel: Delta 717 and CRJ900 Economy. GSP-ATL-ROA business trip
2 :Back to work travel: Lynchburg VA Hilton Garden Inn
3 :Back to work travel: ROA-ATL-GSP Delta CRJ900 and 717 Economy Comfort and Economy. World Record Run
3.1: ROA Airport
3.2: Delta CRJ900 Economy Comfort Review
3.3: ATL Airport Transfer
3.4: Delta 717 Review
3.5: Final Thoughts
ROA Airport
Very gross day here in Virginia. It’s late September so not really surprising weather. At least it’s not cold yet.
I like small airports, they are usually very fast to get into and out of. This is the rental car return area. No rapid returns here, just old school park the car and bring the keys to the counter.
The covered walk way was nice in the rain. It’s an interesting design, instead of shedding the water off the sides, it channels into the middle. Good thing there are no tall trees to drop leaves into the downspouts.
Dreary day, the architecture is interesting. It almost feels like a 1980s mall. It’s not really a bad thing, just a point of reference.
The check in desks and baggage drop are to the right. This airport is serviced by Delta, United, American, and Allegiant.
Upstairs to the gates and security. Pretty quite these days with COVID.
After breezing through security here are the flights today at ROA. Not to many, but a good amount for a small airport.
This is the main hall from just after security. Like I said, small airport.
Delta CRJ900 Economy Comfort Review
The inbound plane arriving, I still don’t have a confirmed seat, but I’m hopeful.
I checked with the gate agent, while she still cannot clear me just yet, she says I’ll easily make this flight. Sweet, I love to get home early. I didn’t know it yet, but I’m about to get home very early.
Welcome on board. I flew this same seat on the way up, these are great seats on the CRJ900.
No video screens on these flights, but Delta doesn’t fly the CRJs on long legs anyway. There is streaming entertainment but I don’t think I’ve bothered with that in a few years. I’m more than happy to just listen to a podcast or two.
Yep, the weather has miraculously changed in the last 10 minutes.
Even though Delta is doing a great job with cleaning these planes, I still like to give all the touch points a good wipe. They distribute these wipes when you board. I usually hit the arm rests, tray table, window shade, and then anything within 18 inches of my face like the interior wall and head rest.
Power in every seat is great. I especially like this on return trips where I’ve been working all day and my phone is in need of a quick charge.
Very wet takeoff roll. Note, this picture was taken at 12:23 PM.
Not such a great view from the window today.
All of my favorite snacks were distributed.
Once above the clouds it was a beautiful day. Reminds me of when I lived in Cleveland, one winter I went a whole week without seeing the sun until I took a quick flight.
Not much doing here today.
Lots of leg room. Very nice to just relax, enjoy some Cheez-Its, and listen to a Cartalk rerun.
Back down into the gray for landing at ATL.
And on the ground.
At the gate in a very grey Atlanta. Here’s where I checked my phone, I looked and saw there was another flight to GSP that was in the boarding process and scheduled to leave in 15 minutes. It was 2 concourses away at B, but I only have my backpack so let’s hustle.
ATL Airport
Not a lot of pictures today, I’m walking with some purpose today.
Made it! I walked up to the gate agent and asked if there are any seats available, the plane was fully boarded and she was doing some paperwork. She asked if I was Gold Medallion or higher, I said I was and she asked for my name. Within 30 seconds she told me to scan my boarding pass for my later flight.
I’m so appreciative of this. She really went out of her way to get me onto this flight. It saved me 2 hours of waiting around Atlanta. She easily could have said “sorry it’s too late” but she didn’t and I’m very grateful.
Delta 717 Economy Review
Boarded and ready to go. I’m backback only on this trip so boarding last isn’t an issue. Not that there’s a shortage of overhead space with the planes so lightly loaded.
Good enough for me, but again, I’m not very tall.
Still a very gloomy day.
See you later Atlanta.
More snacks. I don’t usually bother on this short leg, but I haven’t eaten lunch yet and it’s getting to late afternoon so I had some more cheez-its.
As on the previous flight, it’s beautiful above the clouds.
With no one sitting next to me, it’s nice to spread out a little bit.
Back under the clouds.
Home again to a rainy GSP. This picture was taken at 2:30 PM.
Final Thoughts
This was my first business trip during COVID. I knew what to expect with flying but the whole experience of traveling for work is just different. Lots of takeout, delivery, and contactless activities.
As a final note, I went from ROA-ATL-GSP in 2 hours and 7 minutes. I’m not going to say it’s a world record, but I’m pretty sure no one has ever done that so quickly on a commercial flight. It might be the fastest anyone has traveled between those two airports, but I’ll honestly never know.