FLYING OUT OF NEWARK LIBERTY

It had been a long time since the Sports Diva had flown out of another airport other than LaGuardia or JFK.

The last time I flew out of Newark Liberty was maybe two years ago on an American Airlines flight from where else, Las Vegas to Newark Liberty with a stop in DFW, that’s Dallas Fort Worth Airport in Texas.

On that trip, I arrived back in Newark but stayed at the airport until a halfway decent hour because since I live in New York City, the Long Island Railroad and the New Jersey transit trains had stopped running.

Even though JFK is in my backyard, (no really it is), for some unknown reason, fares are higher than normal and this was way before we had this gas thing going on.

So since the Sports Diva is all about getting the best bang for her buck, you betcha I’m going over to New Jersey for a really cheap flight no matter if it’s American, Delta, Southwest or Spirit Airlines.

Don’t care, it’s all about the cheapness.

Besides if it gets me from point A to Point B, you have a seat on your airline, the Sports Diva will travel .

Coming back, I have a return from Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport(the new name of the airport, by the way)back to Newark Liberty.

Unlike my outbound flight, which left at 6pm EST, my return flight leaves at 9:20am, Vegas time.

Once again, even with paying for a carryon, I still came out cheaper than if I had flown out of JFK.

That’s what it’s all about , saving money my peeps, so that I can go on even more 30 Plus Teams Tours .

COMING HOME ON THE NOT SO FRIENDLY SKIES OF UNITED AIRLINES

I returned back to New York on Friday morning , actually Newark Liberty Airport , after spending 5 great days doing a 30 Plus Teams Tour of Las Vegas .

Las Vegas to Newark Liberty Airport turned out to be a cheaper fare than flying into the airport that’s in my backyard , JFK .

I got a “Basic Economy ” ticket from United Airlines .

I hadn’t flown on United Airlines since I lived in Los Angeles and that was a long time ago .

After the flight was over, I can see why I hadn’t flown them in years .

For one thing , United Airlines at Las Vegas McCarron International Airport isn’t in Terminal 1, where most of the other domestic carriers are.

It’s located in Terminal 3 where most of the International flights are.

To get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, you must take a shuttle bus .

If you want to try to walk to Terminal 3 from Terminal 1, dont even think about it .

This is Las Vegas after all , where things aren’t as close as they seem .

It’s not even close, and for some reason , there’s no Terminal 2.

Don’t ask.

When I finally arrived at the terminal to check in, I looked at the flights going back to the New York City area, which is Newark Liberty and JFK .

‘Cancelled , Cancelled , Cancelled , Delayed ‘.

Due to really bad weather in New York and New Jersey , a lot of flights have been cancelled.

Mine was delayed frim 10:45pm until 11:05pm.

Great.

I walked up to the kiosk and put in ny information .

I was going to carry on my little bag which was airline approved to fit into the overhead bin.

No such luck .

It wasn’t approved by United.

“Oh no. You have a basic economy ticket. You can only have a personal item. You have to check in your bag which is full size. It’s $30.”

This wasn’t friendly at all.

I’ve flown on other airlines with “Basic Economy “and let’s just say the Sports Diva isn’t a happy camper right now .

When I got to my gate , more surprises were to come.

‘This is a gate and time change for United flight 1999 with service to Newark Liberty . The flight is now leaving on time at 10:45pm and is now leaving from Gate 56 insted of Gate 53.

I was getting a lot of exercise in Vegas, even at the airport.

When we finally got on board , we were delayed again .

NO AIRCONDITIONING!

United really?

I was looking for entertainment but United wanted you to download their own app BEFORE you get on the plane, so you could watch movies, play movies,etc.

C’mon United step up your game, you aren’t Spirit Airlines .

I was so tired that I didn’t care that I was sitting in the middle seat or that I even missed the safety demonstration .

There was more “friendliness” from United when I looked for my bag.

After getting myself refreshed, I went to the baggage claim where my bag was.

Or at least where it should been.

I went down to baggage claim number 6 , and even though this was the the baggage claim for Flight 1999 , my bag was no where to to be found.

I went to the baggage office for all airlines, handed the lady my tag, and even described my bag, only to have the lady tell me;

“Nope, no leopard bag here. Did they tell you it was here?”

I was told to go to the United Baggage area where they could trace my bag.

The lady behind the counter looked as though I was interrupting her from something important , like a happy hour meeting or something .

“Oh your bag is at Baggage Claim 2.”

I walked to the baggage claim not wanting to know how on earth my bag got to a baggage claim where flight 1999 didn’t even arrive at .

I was ready to get out and take the PATH train to New York City .

After all this travelling by plane, I was more than ready to deal with the crazies on the New York City subways .

If it sounds like the Sports Diva had the return flight from hell, yeah I did.

Thank you United Airlines .

LAS VEGAS BABY ! – LAS VEGAS , NEVADA- TRYING TO LEAVE ON A JET BLUE PLANE

I’m  really  excited  about  going  to  Las Vegas ,  Nevada ,  but then I  get really  excited  about  going  anywhere  whether  it’s  a  30 Plus  Teams  Tour  or  not .

Or  at  least  I  was  until  I  reached  JFK ,  which  is  the airport  basically  in my backyard .

Jet  Blue  airlines  had told me via email  to be prepared  for  delays  at the  airport  due to  the  major  construction  that  always  seems  to  go  on at this  airport   so I  knew what  to expect .

I always  try to   get to  the  airport  or bus terminal  early  because  I  hate being rushed and I  also  like  to  people  watch.

I  checked  in for my flight ,  JetBlue  flight  7-Eleven  JFK New York  to Las Vegas  McCarron  International  Airport .

The  departure  time was  6:30pm ,  NewYork  time arriving  at  9:20pm ,  Las Vegas  time .

With  the  time  change ,  it would  be  a  five hour  and  50 minute  flight .

That’s  right ,  I  said  supposed  to  leave  at  6:30pm .

As  I  looked  down  at  my phone ,  I had received  another  email  from  Jet  Blue .

My flight ,  which  originated  from  San  Juan ,  Puerto  Rico ,  was going  to  be late  getting  to New York   and therefore  we would be  delayed  leaving  JFK  but also  arriving  in  Las  Vegas .

How  much  delayed  at JFK ?

”  Just  an hour  “,  was the  word from  the  gate  agents .

The  “just  one  hour  ” turned  into  almost  two hours and the gate  changed as well from Gate 18 to Gate 2.

Finally ,  around  8 pm ,  our row numbers  were finally  called .

HELLO  LAS  VEGAS ! !

Or so we thought .

This  is  JFK ,   nothing  ever goes  smoothly  at this  airport ,  including  airplanes  taking  off when  they’re  supposed  to .

It’s  like  the  New York

 

City  traffic  during  rush  hour ,  bumper  to bumper .

Nobody  is  going  ANY WHERE ,  even  on an airplane  runway .

So for  another  hour, or so it seemed ,  I  wasn’t  leaving  on a JetBlue  flight  and neither  were the  other  passengers .

Around  9:30pm  or so, the pilot  said  those  words we all wanted  to  hear

“WE  ARE READY FOR  TAKEOFF.”

By the   grace  of  God ,  Las Vegas ,  Nevada ,  here I  come!