While I have mostly dedicated my blog to Christmas related entries for this month, today's entry is all about the day trip I did on Frontier Airlines from Atlanta to Orlando and back to Atlanta December 8, 2024.
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| A Frontier Airlines Airbus A320 |
The reason for my little day trip, which started when I departed from Atlanta at 10am and returned by 5pm, was to do a little shopping in the airport. The Go Wild Pass is super convenient, though one needs to be mindful of what they are taking with them in their personal item to avoid any fees where it could be considered a "Carry On" upon return. My messenger bag was filled to the brink when I returned and barely fit into the metal bag sizer that Frontier uses.
If you're interested in actual shopping, the best shops are located outside of the security area, although I've been told that some of the shops in Concourse C are decent. Fortunately, Hudson/Avolta is conveniently located within the concourses, which I appreciated since I could use my employee discount.
Flying with Frontier Airlines: Since I have the Go Wild Pass, I can essentially fly as much as I want throughout the year for just the cost of taxes each way, with some blackout dates. Despite the horror stories I've heard about their service, I didn't encounter any issues. Then again, I've never really had service issues with any airline I've flown with, except for Eastern losing our luggage when I was a kid.
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| Watching The Phantom of the Opera in seat 24A |
There was a gate agent in Atlanta who seemed disinterested in acknowledging passengers as individuals. For the flight from Atlanta, only three exit row seats were available, and I missed out on them as I was on a conference call for work. However, seat 24A, a window seat on the A320, was comfortable enough, and I had sufficient legroom to stretch out a bit. Considering I'm just shy of 5'8" these days, I can't imagine 6'4" Terry being as comfortable, but it seemed comparable to our AA flight from LAX to ATL a few years ago.
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| I loved the legroom in Exit Row 12A |
On my flight back, twelve exit row seats were available, and I was first up for it. I don't mind the basics of exit rows—it's a trade-off for a bit more room. I had at least a foot and a half between my knees and the seat in front of me.
Frontier, like Spirit and other budget carriers, doesn't offer free beverages and snacks, but their menu does have some decent offerings, including good options for alcoholic beverages. I was all set with what I grabbed at the newsstands with my discount. Interestingly, Frontier is one of the only airlines I've seen that doesn't provide airsickness bags in the seat pocket in front of you. I'm not sure what I would have done if I or the people next to me got sick. I know it happens, but I guess one either deals with it somehow or runs to the lavatory in the front or one of the two in the rear and hopes no one is in it.
Despite these quirks, my experience with Frontier was positive. The flight crew was professional, and the boarding process was smooth. An airline experience is often as good as you make it. The most important thing is getting from point A to B safely, and Frontier delivered on that front.
Back to Hudson: I love working for them, but I get a little envious when I travel and see stores outside my districts. Ft. Lauderdale carries wraps we don't have in ATL, and Orlando has some bombass chicken salad sandwiches that really hit the spot.
Considering my flights today were between ATL and Florida, I expected some turbulence, but aside from a couple of bumps on the way down, there was none. It's strange, given that all the flights I've done in, out, and over Florida in the past have been rough.
Every time I go to Florida, it feels like home—the sun is always inviting. But as someone who escaped Florida 28 years ago, I'm only interested in quick visits, never to take residence again, unless the political scene changes to be more people-friendly. The scenery is always great, whether you're crossing over lakes or land that resembles a grid with the way the roads are paved.
If I ever were to move back to Florida, it would have to be around Orlando or somewhere south of Orlando. Terry and I could transfer without any issues from our jobs. For the next four years, though, that's not going to happen. Perhaps transferring somewhere in Europe or Asia is more likely.
Nuclear Power Plants: Something I noticed this trip that I hadn't before were a few nuclear power plants. Remember when they told us nuclear would be cleaner and cheaper to produce? If so, are those receiving power from those sources paying less?
A320 Musings: I used to be a B757 fan, but I love the squeaky sounds before takeoff on Airbus aircraft. The brown noise of the engines is the same sound that I fall asleep to almost every night. Not sure why, but it's relaxing to me.
The landing in Atlanta was abrupt—the first time I ever felt all the wheels touch down at almost the exact same time. Better than a tail strike, I suppose.
We also landed on a runway, rode it down to T, turned around, taxied up to D, and cut through D and E to taxi back to T. The logistics of airlines that don't have dedicated gates is a little baffling.
All in all I had a great time just flying. Over the years, I thought about creating my own onboard courier or hand-carry courier service but it's one of those things that I just never got around to. Perhaps with my access to Frontier, I just might make that jump on my days off. ;-)
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