Alaska Airlines PDX-BOI-PDX

[Justinf]

Firstly, with the absence of pics, this will probably be a pretty boring trip report, but I remembered I didn't turn my mobile phone to flight mode before switching it off on both legs so I couldn't take any onboard pics, which is a shame as flying over the Cascades and snowcapped mountains was truly a highlight.
I had a free day in Portland, Oregon, which is a place I love by the way. All those brews and I discovered a truly amazing Mexican bar/restaurant that served the best chimichangas I have ever had. Sigh! But I yearned to travel to a place I hadn't been before so I decided to do a day trip to Boise, Idaho. Why? Well, why not.

Flight: Alaska Airlines 2513
Operated By Horizon Air as Alaska Airlines.
Check in with Alaska Airlines.
Equipment: Bombardier Q400
Departs: Portland, OR (PDX) on Sun, Dec 2 at 9:15 am
Arrives: Boise (BOI) on Sun, Dec 2 at 11:29 am
Class: T(Coach)
Seats: 17D

I was staying the Hotel deLuxe in Portland. Firstly, what a great place! It is a 1950s Hollywood themed hotel. I paid around US$125 per night and could not have been more impressed. What also made it great was that it was one block to the Max Light Rail line that took me straight to the airport for $2.50 one way. I set my alarm for 6.30am with the aim to be at the light rail stop by 7am and being a 40- to 45-minute trip out to PDX, that would get me at check in by around 8am for my 9.15am flight. Too easy. Well, my alarm didn't go off because I stupidly set it for 6.30pm instead of am. A mistake I make regularly and you would think I would have learned by now. Nope. Fortunately I woke just before 7am and with a fright, I jumped in the shower and was out the door by 7.15am in record time. The tram was due in 12 minutes and with tenmperature hovering around 8 degrees it was comfortable enough to wait out in the open. The tram arrived at 7.27am and I was soon at PDX at around 8.15am. As I only had hand luggage, I printed out my BP from the self-serve kiosk and was then waiting in line at security. This is the part I despite about air travel in the US. Security. Fortunately the line wasn't too long. But the hassle of having to get your BP and your ID ready for the security person to check and then put it away and then get the iPad out of my hand luggage out and shoes off and jacket off and belt off...well, you get the picture. I am not criticising the procedure. Just complaining that I don't like it, that's all. Anyway, once again I was required to go through the scanner where you are required to stand with your feet apart and your hands above your head and it scans your whole body. I read somewhere that you can refuse this and be frisked instead. With the amount of times I had already gone through this thing in two weeks, I seriously thought about the frisk search, but opted to get it over and done with quickly. At 8.30am I was downstairs where the prop planes departed. It was a strange feeling not having access to a airline Lounge of some sort. This was the first time in a few years where I had to 'slum' it with the great unwashed at the boarding gate. I bought a tub of fruit salad and a coffee for breakfast and waited until boarding. Boarding was called at about 8.50am and I walked through the tunnel to the gate where my Q400 was ready and waiting. Here it is in all its glory.


Strangely enough, I had never flown on a Q400 before. I have been on the ATR72, but never on a Q400 and was quite looking forward to it. We pushed back on time and the captain said the climb out of PDX would be rough and the middle part of the journey could be pretty bumpy, but descent into Boise should be fairly smooth. he was right. It was rough on the climb and the seatbelt sign remained on for a good 30 minutes. Service on this 1 hour and 15 minute flight was a basic drink of your choice (soft drinks, tea or coffee, juice, water) and a basic snack of pretzels or peanuts. I had water and peanuts and watched the clouds roll by and the mountains below. The aircraft was in good condition and the service basic. Soon we were descending into BOI and landed.

 

[Justinf]

I took a cab ($13 plus tip) to the Idaho State Capitol Building and it was magnificent.







Boise itself was quite pretty. Very mild for this time of year (about 11 degrees celcius), but pleasant enough for walking around. Big mistake coming on a Sunday. The place was dead (see pic below).





After a nice lunch and a visit to the museum and a stroll around the park, I looked at my watch and it was only 1.45pm. Oh dear. My return flight wasn't until 6.30pm, so I decided to head back out to the airport and hope I could snag an early flight and make it back to Portland in time for the delicious Mexican restaurant I dicovered on my first night.
I hailed a cab and was at the airport at 2pm. I strolled up to the Alaska Airline desk and was informed I could catch the 3pm flight back to PDX, but would be required to pay $25. No problem. I handed over the cash and was through security quickly.

Flight:
Alaska Airlines 2301
Operated By Horizon Air as Alaska Airlines. Check in
with Alaska Airlines.
Equipment: Bombardier Q400
Departs: Boise (BOI) on
Sun, Dec 2 at 3pm
Arrives: Portland, OR (PDX) on Sun, Dec 2 at 3.55


Standard boarding procedure. Pushed back on time. Was told that the first half of the flight would be smooth sailing, but descent into PDX would be a bit rough. The view of the mountains en route was amazing. Descent into PDX was a bit bumpy, but not too bad. Service on this leg was the same as the flight over. This time I chose Coke and peanuts on this one hour and 10 minute flight. I did consider a beer, but couldn't be bothered getting my wallet out of my backpack in the overhead bin. How's that for lazy!!!!!!
Arrived on time, straight onto the Max Light Rail and back at my room for a quick shower and then a few beers and some amazing Mexican food by 7pm. Bliss.

Overall Alaska Airlines was fine and the $25 charge fee for changing my flight was fair.
Wished I could have taken more pics.

 

[Justinf]

145 views and not one person could be bothered responding. My last trip report on here.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Persistence wins the game!

 

[straitman]

145 views and not one person could be bothered responding. My last trip report on here.

What do you want people to say?

From someone who does not do TRs I think it is a good trip report and I appreciate the effort you went to in putting it together.

There, I just broke my own (unwritten rule) of reading but not commenting on TRs :!:

 

[serfty]

145 views and not one person could be bothered responding. My last trip report on here.

Cheer up, I try to read every thread, but while I may have brushed through this one earlier I do save TR's for weekends and other times when I have the bandwidth for photo's etc. Also, I don't like interjecting too much until I see a TR is complete.

I used to do detailed trip reports but find it hard to get the time to do them justice - last month I tried the style of almost real-time Blogging - at least events are fresh.

Gotta love the cheap public transport for many airports in the USA.

As for Boise, it looked peaceful enough - how much was the fare?

 

[Justinf]

I do apologise for my rant. No excuses, just frustrates me sometimes that people do some really good TRs and nobody responds, but that is their perogative and I have been guilty of it myself.
Once again, sorry for the rant.
Serfty, the reurn fare was about US$165.

 

[docjames]

Hi Justinf,

Nice TR. Have only just seen it.

 

[Justinf]

Thanks Doc.
I wish to apologise again. Totally out of character.

 

[serfty]

...
Serfty, the reurn fare was about US$165.

Interesting - what booking class? Being AS, no SC's but they may have been points earn.

 

[kpc]

I must admit I don't often read or reply to TRs...I have done TRs myself as well so I understand your frustration....at the end of the day, you can't force someone to read or reply to one.....so I now only do TRs if I personally want a detailed summary of a partic. trip to enjoy and reminisce years down the track. btw Boise does not sound a partic. interesting place to visit.