COU is categorized as a primary commercial service airport, which allows it to receive additional funds based on the number of annual boardings, in a similar way to how they currently receive AIP entitlement fundsaddxb2 wrote: ↑Apr 14, 2020Why is Columbia Regional Airport getting nearly $20m? Seems excessive for a regional airport that’s within easy driving distance of 2 major airports, especially considering STL (15x larger) is getting 3x that.
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Anyone here flown recently? How was the experience?
I have a trip next week on WN and, needless to say, I am a bit nervous about it. My trip consists of a one-way flight with a 24 hour layover followed by a 16 hour drive back to STL. I have furniture in storage that absolutely needs to go otherwise I would have cancelled.
I have a trip next week on WN and, needless to say, I am a bit nervous about it. My trip consists of a one-way flight with a 24 hour layover followed by a 16 hour drive back to STL. I have furniture in storage that absolutely needs to go otherwise I would have cancelled.
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I haven’t since February but a co worker went to DC in mid March on a day trip and had no more than 7 people per flight.pdm_ad wrote: ↑Apr 15, 2020Anyone here flown recently? How was the experience?
I have a trip next week on WN and, needless to say, I am a bit nervous about it. My trip consists of a one-way flight with a 24 hour layover followed by a 16 hour drive back to STL. I have furniture in storage that absolutely needs to go otherwise I would have cancelled.
With so few people flying I figure your risk isn’t all that high. Might be less than going to the grocery store. I’d personally wear a mask. You can call the airline and ask how many people are on your flight the day before if that helps any.pdm_ad wrote: ↑Apr 15, 2020Anyone here flown recently? How was the experience?
I have a trip next week on WN and, needless to say, I am a bit nervous about it. My trip consists of a one-way flight with a 24 hour layover followed by a 16 hour drive back to STL. I have furniture in storage that absolutely needs to go otherwise I would have cancelled.
^ That's a good idea jshank, I'll call WN the day before. I've got 3 masks, 3 pairs of gloves and Clorox wipes so I think I am prepared.
My business travels came to halt but our company is still needs to move crews and project staff around.pdm_ad wrote: ↑Apr 15, 2020Anyone here flown recently? How was the experience?
I have a trip next week on WN and, needless to say, I am a bit nervous about it. My trip consists of a one-way flight with a 24 hour layover followed by a 16 hour drive back to STL. I have furniture in storage that absolutely needs to go otherwise I would have cancelled.
I would check seat assignment before getting on the plane. Had a project manager who had a recent flight with very few people on it like dblnSouthCity but the airline bunched them up together in one section of the plan. No one thought about creating space until they had all sat down next to each other because of their seat assignment. They all scattered as soon as someone said something to the flight attendant which was more than happy not be around a bunched group as well. So we pushed that story to our employees who have to fly and recommend that they check seating assignments prior to boarding
Eerie.Johnbythesea wrote: ↑Apr 15, 2020I flew through Lambert Friday, April 3, mid-afternoon.
But on the bright side, if you were traveling through there armed with a face mask and some Clorox wipes it looks like you really wouldn't be getting a whole of exposure. Or at least not much more than maybe going to the grocery store.
Some of that would depend on the age of the plane and the length of the flight, in terms of how much the air is recycled. Obviously still best to avoid it if you can. But maybe not so bad if you need to travel.
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^My understanding is that aircraft air really isn't recycled much. (Which is why it's so dry. It's pressurized and heated, but . . . the air up there is dry dry dry.) Pressurized aircraft may be a bit like a balloon, but I expect they're a very leaky balloon, seeing as they're literally inflated by a jet engine. (With the single modern exception of the 787, I believe.) There was a story a while back suggesting aircraft really weren't a significant point of infection. (Though they sure helped to move infected people around fast.) It was popular press stuff, so take it with a grain of salt, but . . . if I had any place to go now might not be a bad time to fly, really. It's only my sense of obligation (and my very conscientious wife) that's keeping my butt inside. I am getting really really itchy.
^^^ Damn that is dead. Thanks for posting John. I'll try and snap a few shots from T2.
Recent video from Lambert. He also has some interesting behind-the-scenes videos from the closed sections of C and D.
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^ Isn't that the same guy who had some 'behind-the-scenes' videos taken down by the airport?
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^Yep. He's reposted the videos that were taken down. More than once, seemingly. Once you've uploaded a video you have several options. You can make it "private," "unlisted," or "public." Could be he's just bounced back and forth between public and private. Can't see any reason why you couldn't do that. When I upload I always go to "unlisted" first so that I can share things with co-conspirators for review. I've never taken anything back from public to private, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't. And in that case it might well look to the outside world as though it were never there.
Anyway, the video must not have been that big a deal, as he seems to still be working there. And periodically posting videos. I have to assume the bosses know this. Anyway, I feel slightly cheated. I subscribed after toe C/D video, but I never got the shoutout so far as I can tell. Ah well. Strange mix of content, but who am I to talk?
As he says "This is serious . . . think about someone who you might give the virus. Wash your hands and don't touch your face."
Anyway, the video must not have been that big a deal, as he seems to still be working there. And periodically posting videos. I have to assume the bosses know this. Anyway, I feel slightly cheated. I subscribed after toe C/D video, but I never got the shoutout so far as I can tell. Ah well. Strange mix of content, but who am I to talk?
As he says "This is serious . . . think about someone who you might give the virus. Wash your hands and don't touch your face."
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I'm actually flying tomorrow from my place in ATL to FLL on DL. (was going to go on WN but they cancelled the flight on me earlier today) Have gone through the airport in ATL around the 24th of March and it was eerily dead, including the plane train. I have whats considered essential business travel relating to compliance with state and federal environmental laws for trucking companies. I'm curious how many people will be on the 757 tomorrow.
One thing that will be interesting is see what happens when demand starts to return. Will some airlines do better than others and will some increase market share in STL relative to others? Get the sense demand in STL will return a bit faster than other airports due to being less tourism and international travel based demand relative to many places.
One thing that will be interesting is see what happens when demand starts to return. Will some airlines do better than others and will some increase market share in STL relative to others? Get the sense demand in STL will return a bit faster than other airports due to being less tourism and international travel based demand relative to many places.
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It'll also be interesting to see what it does to aircraft retirements. There was a lot of talk that it would accelerate retirements of older aircraft, but . . . with oil futures going the way they are this would have to be a great time for airlines with cash to buy contracts; to hedge, if they can do it. Which could mean that aircraft that have higher fuel costs but no lease could suddenly get a lot cheaper to operate. Interesting times, sadly. I really look forward to flying again, though. Whenever I can.
Drove past yesterday and saw that they cleared land across the highway at about where T2 is. What is the plan there?
Woodson Terrace mentioned that a hotel showed interested in the southeast corner last year.
I believe they’re also planning a pedestrian connection between Woodson Rd and Terminal 2 MetroLink. It was in the very early planning stages but an engineering firm was considering a tunnel or bridge.
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I believe they’re also planning a pedestrian connection between Woodson Rd and Terminal 2 MetroLink. It was in the very early planning stages but an engineering firm was considering a tunnel or bridge.
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Hadn't heard anything about that...but that is an excellent idea. I think a bridge would be the better of the two.addxb2 wrote: ↑Apr 23, 2020I believe they’re also planning a pedestrian connection between Woodson Rd and Terminal 2 MetroLink. It was in the very early planning stages but an engineering firm was considering a tunnel or bridge.
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I'll miss the B757s and the Mad Dogs. At least AA was able to retire their MD-80s in style last year, if it were this year there would be no farewell to them. I don't see Delta doing anything special with the MD-88s with what is going on right now.symphonicpoet wrote: ↑Apr 21, 2020It'll also be interesting to see what it does to aircraft retirements. There was a lot of talk that it would accelerate retirements of older aircraft, but . . . with oil futures going the way they are this would have to be a great time for airlines with cash to buy contracts; to hedge, if they can do it. Which could mean that aircraft that have higher fuel costs but no lease could suddenly get a lot cheaper to operate. Interesting times, sadly. I really look forward to flying again, though. Whenever I can.
I came back to the US in late March after living in Taiwan for 7 years. It was a surreal change to come back the US with most places closed and so much isolation. In Taiwan life goes on normally, albeit with some social distancing. Restaurants and shops check your temperature before you enter, you can freely sit and crowd in places. Most people where masks out in public. Flew back on EVA BR056 from TPE-ORD on a B777-300ER, 300+ seat plane and only 39 people onboard! AA cancelled my original schedule back to STL the day after I got back from TW on a B737 on an early afternoon flight, but they moved me to an E175, then they cancelled that flight and moved me the a 655am AA2007 flight on an A319. I was sitting in 1A and at 1F was an AA pilot who was sent to DFW to take a B737 and fly to storage in New Mexico. Only 11 people on that flight, and only 2 people including me in First Class.
I too am looking forward to flying again, I have a trip planned to Washington DC next month, AA has already rebooked me on flights through CLT and PHL as the non-stops from STL-DCA are gone....
I've seen videos posted by Delta and Southwest recently that make me wonder something. They're going on and on about how they sanitize planes now and clean them really good. Did they not do this before? I would've thought that would but maybe not. And once this virus stops, they should continue cleaning and sanitizing the planes as they are doing now,
In regards to the airport, do we know if they're sanitizing Lambert (and other airports) late at night or whenever there are very few people in the airports? It would make sense.
In regards to the airport, do we know if they're sanitizing Lambert (and other airports) late at night or whenever there are very few people in the airports? It would make sense.
I’d say half the flights I take there is leftover trash in the seat pocket. I think they have cleaning crews that go thru them overnight but between flights during the day it’s usually just flight attendants quickly looking for trash to pick up. I’m not sure how often they have been getting cleaned “really good”.chriss752 wrote: ↑Apr 24, 2020I've seen videos posted by Delta and Southwest recently that make me wonder something. They're going on and on about how they sanitize planes now and clean them really good. Did they not do this before? I would've thought that would but maybe not. And once this virus stops, they should continue cleaning and sanitizing the planes as they are doing now,
In regards to the airport, do we know if they're sanitizing Lambert (and other airports) late at night or whenever there are very few people in the airports? It would make sense.
Took a flight yesterday, #1400, STL to TPA. I arrived at T2 around 9a and I was the only person in the TSA line. Left from E24 and I could see down the entire terminal where there were 10 people or less walking from my gate all the way down to E4. Typically you can only see a hundred feet or so because of the crowds and it was an interesting perspective to see the entire length of the East Terminal from inside.
Only 20 people on the flight, attendants reserved the first two rows and instructed everyone to spread out. Most people sat at a window and, pointing out the obvious, it was a great experience having the plane basically for yourself. I haven't experienced anything like it since my days of flying in the upper deck of the TW 747s.
The only issue with the flight, besides the constant turbulence, was that the pilots overshot a 180 degree turn on the taxiway and nearly struck a light so we had to wait 15 minutes for a tug to drive out and pull us out. The attendants had never seen that, neither had I, and when we arrived at the gate I overheard the pilot blaming the tower saying they changed course on them at the last second.
Only 20 people on the flight, attendants reserved the first two rows and instructed everyone to spread out. Most people sat at a window and, pointing out the obvious, it was a great experience having the plane basically for yourself. I haven't experienced anything like it since my days of flying in the upper deck of the TW 747s.
The only issue with the flight, besides the constant turbulence, was that the pilots overshot a 180 degree turn on the taxiway and nearly struck a light so we had to wait 15 minutes for a tug to drive out and pull us out. The attendants had never seen that, neither had I, and when we arrived at the gate I overheard the pilot blaming the tower saying they changed course on them at the last second.
Considering that most flights have a 45 minute turnaround from arrival to departure, absolutely not in between every flight. You'd be lucky to get a full cleaning, not mentioning sanitizing, during an overnight stop.chriss752 wrote: ↑Apr 24, 2020I've seen videos posted by Delta and Southwest recently that make me wonder something. They're going on and on about how they sanitize planes now and clean them really good. Did they not do this before?
A science center type bridge would make for great plane spotting! Put a couple MD on top for good measuresc4mayor wrote: ↑Apr 23, 2020Hadn't heard anything about that...but that is an excellent idea. I think a bridge would be the better of the two.addxb2 wrote: ↑Apr 23, 2020I believe they’re also planning a pedestrian connection between Woodson Rd and Terminal 2 MetroLink. It was in the very early planning stages but an engineering firm was considering a tunnel or bridge.