Erk's 2014 Pacamerican Circle

[serfty]

For some reason, the shuttle driver has left the Expressway, seemingly to avoid a toll.

...

I could hear a subway train but not see it as it was above me. Snow falls as the trains move on the elevated viaduct.

...

Train on a viaduct in Queens

Ahh .. the "L" ...

 

[robd]

Flight Report, DL2482 PDX - ATL
Wednesday 22 January

Plane: I am on it now. Can't tell you the tail number right now. It's a B737. Edit: N3734B

Captain: Not sure.

CSM: Tom

Seat: 20C

Check-in: Used priority lane with several others. Guy was calling out names of FF programs/tiers that could use the lane. I said I was VFF Gold but had no idea what a Velocity was. He did allow me to stay in the line.

When I did check-in (with the VFF card & passport, guy tells me that there's a $60 USD baggage charge. I stand my ground & say that's not right because I'm gold, man.

As I mentioned earlier in the report, DL shows me as VA silver because that's what I was when I booked the flight. I've since gone gold & have the card (which he has in front of him, Global Wallet side up.

Calling someone on the phone, he keeps on telling the guy on the phone that I'm Virgin Atlantic gold but the boarding pass says silver. I correct him & say that I'm VA & that VS is VS. In the end, he over-rides the charge but the boarding pass remains the same. Lining up would have been 5 minutes & 10-15 minutes at the desk. He thanks me for my patience & wishes me a safe flight.

I didn't think VA status gave you baggage on DL & VX ?

 

[markis10]

I didn't think VA status gave you baggage on DL & VX ?

Correct, priority baggage but you still have to pay for it.

 

[serfty]

Correct, priority baggage but you still have to pay for it.

To Confirm: (Gold Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer)

-Delta Air Lines

• Priority Check-in
• Priority Boarding
• Priority Baggage
• Priority Screening
• Lounge Access
• Receive a 25% discount on upgrades to Economy Comfort[SUP]™[/SUP] and enjoy extra legroom and seating in the first few rows of the Economy cabin, plus complimentary spirits and up to 50% more recline on selected International and Transcontinental services*. Find out more.

 

[erkpod]

Correct, priority baggage but you still have to pay for it.

I haven't paid for baggage yet on this trip.

 

[erkpod]

Love these signs today in New York!

 

[gwilli1]

I was the same as Erk and didn't pay for any luggage on VX or DL last year on my US travels.

Correct, priority baggage but you still have to pay for it.

 

[markis10]

I was the same as Erk and didn't pay for any luggage on VX or DL last year on my US travels.

Sounds like an unofficial benefit, one not to be expected but appreciated

 

[erkpod]

Day 23, NYC
Thursday 23 January

So cold outside. About 7°F or -13°C. But it is still great to be here even though my original plan was to be in Miami right now.

NYC is NYC. You either love it or hate it. I love it. It was hard to leave it off the original plan but I woke up to myself when I was in Vegas & added another 3 sectors to my trip.

Here's one of the factors that changed my mind...



... and she's happy to see me. She's a little ray of sunshine.

I found a little ray of sunshine ... ok, the sun was out all day but it was still freezing!

It's a winter wonderland for someone like me but not for the people who are keeping the city moving - it is still moving. Some of it was moving slowly but Manhattan traffic is Manhattan traffic.

An older Canadian friend of mine wondered why I am NYC rather than Miami. Miami has never really done anything for me & I could not care less that some dude called Justine Beaver was in Miami the same time I was.

NYC has a subway & if you've been playing along at home, you'll know I love the system. And yes, I do go for subway rides for fun. The out trip to Brooklyn was my first non solo trip on the subway & it seemed to go really fast because of the excellent company. The trip back to Manhattan was a lot slower because everything was running all stations on the local line - which is a typical day at work for me anyway.

Reconstruction after Superstorm Sandy was going on last year when I was here around this time and it is still going on now. It will be going on until October next year. Aside from that, many trains were parked on the express tracks to keep them out of the snow overnight.





We didn't know the name of this bridge on the way out so I looked it up on the way back. This was one of the few times I have phone service.





And people say my system's complex!

 

[erkpod]

Day 24, NYC
Friday 24 January



I found where I made my snowman last year. He wasn't waiting for me.



I found the Statue of Liberty.



I found an NYPD car at Times Square. It was around this point I found ice in my mo. Time to go inside.





I found a ferris wheel inside Toys R Us!

Now at McDonalds Time Square thawing out. With wind chill, it's about 0°F or -17°C. Yet I'm not shivering....

 

[erkpod]

I decided to go for a subway ride which shouldn't surprise anyone.



I thought about getting a C train.



My original plan was to get an E train & then the AirTrain to JFK. But there were delays. An empty train (out of service) passed by.



I got an A train down the express line & then saw a D train, thinking it was going to Coney Island. But as I later worked out, I was Bronx bound. On the D, they don't change the destination signs. Coney Island trains were on another platform. Never mind.



Riding to the Bronx end of the D, an employee asked me if I wanted her to take my photo. But I'd done it already. Sure beats some people's attitude where they sookylala about people taking photos.



So I headed back towards Manhattan.

 

[erkpod]

Riding back towards Manhattan on the D train, I changed trains at 161th, the station servicing Yankee Stadium.



I decided to head back to Manhattan on the 4 train. This meant an escalator ride & then some stairs & back onto an elevated section of line. This also meant I had phone & data service. Some stations (like 42nd St Port Authority station) now has wifi.



Outside also means cold & there was some snow on the tracks & platforms.







Yankee Stadium is very close to the station but is a decent hike away from Manhattan. The surrounding open parks were snow covered so I presume the playing surface of Yankee Stadium would have been the same.

 

[erkpod]

Mucking around at the Times Square Visitor Centre



At least that guy's going the right way!



It's free to hang around. guy!



SECURITY!



Totally blank.



Welcome to Times Squar, Erk!

 

[amaroo]

Day 24, NYC

I found a ferris wheel inside Toys R Us!

With wind chill, it's about 0°F or -17°C. Yet I'm not shivering....

The kids took us into that Toys R Us store.....it was absolutely packed! That and the Lego store at the Rock felt like the busiest stores on Earth.

-17C......Got the long johns on yet?

Enjoy NYC

 

[erkpod]

The kids took us into that Toys R Us store.....it was absolutely packed! That and the Lego store at the Rock felt like the busiest stores on Earth.

-17C......Got the long johns on yet?

Enjoy NYC

I didn't layer yesterday but I did today & did notice a difference. The major problem for me has been exposed skin (face).

 

[bluedoggin]

Brilliant TR mate, some of your captions and comments have me rolling

 

[Atleastonce]

Can't wait for the cruise photos Erk. I would love to do a KISSCruise out of Florida.

 

[erkpod]

NYC, Friday/Saturday 24/25 January
Days 24 & 25

I'm having a great time here in NYC wandering the streets, riding the subways & hanging out with my little ray of sunshine. It probably hasn't been above freezing since I've been here & I have done a lot of the touristy things the last times I have been in NYC. The fact that I'm here is enough for me & corresponds with my traveler not tourist mantra.


Except for a very short flurry when I arrived on Thursday, I haven't seen any snow falling until this afternoon (Saturday). Now I've just discovered on TV a channel which rotates through traffic CCTV images.


The AirTrain servicing the terminals at JFK has been out of action since I've been here. A customer service agent told me that there was a track fire a few days ago & they were waiting for replacement parts & a tech to arrive from Canada. The advantages of speaking the same language. I also spoke with an AA pilot who had just flown in from the UK & is flying to South America tomorrow


I might go out for a walk a little later.

 

[erkpod]

This currency exchange board shows amounts in other currencies with $500 USD & $1000 USD purchases. Great idea!



I'm not sure if this is a score or a price.



Found this FDNY Ladder on a job near Penn Station.



I could have sung the Mr Plow song to X but she wouldn't get the Simpsons reference. I haven't seen a sign to drop the plow again.



Lots of snow on the ground in uncleared areas

 

[erkpod]

Situation normal for locals, lots of photos for me!