APR 30, 22 .. OUR FLIGHT HOME FROM ARIZONA AND NEVADA TO ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Patti and I flew back up here to Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday the 19th of April. We actually arrived in Anchorage early in the morning (just after 12am midnight) on Wednesday the 20th. 

We flew on Delta Airlines. This was sort of a first for us because we usually (read : always) fly on Alaska Airlines our home airline. We chose Delta because Alaska and its pilots are negotiating a new contract and some flights have been cancelled as a result thereof. We did NOT want to even remotely consider having a flight get cancelled.

We had two flights. First, from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Seattle, Washington. Second, from Seattle, Washington, to Anchorage, Alaska. On both of our flights all seats were taken possibly because of other passengers not wanting to deal with possible flight cancelations. On both flights we were booked to sit in separate rows. I was in (the dreaded) center seat on both flights. Patti was on the aisle on one flight and at a window on the other.

Why did this happen? I even asked Delta Airlines (Why did this happen?) when I did an online review of our trip. So far no answer.

Boarding time arrived in Las Vegas. When we got to the gate to go down the jet way into the aircraft, we were told (with absolutely NO advanced warning) that our seats had been changed!!

Instead of sitting apart, in different rows, we were going to sit beside one another IN the Comfort Section up front just behind the First Class Section!! These seats cost an additonal $50 each when selected during the ticketing of the trip!!

Will you all just look at the leg room we had up in very front of the Comfort Section!!

Immediately ahead of us were the First Class fliers. Being in the Comfort Section, we were allowed to use the First Class toilet with no waiting line.

I sure wish I knew why the above change in seating happened. We probably will never know. 

IF I had to hazard a wild guess this would be it : I have been a Delta Airlines Sky Miles Member for 28 years and my current Sky Mile Mileage is 174,100 miles. So maybe, just maybe, with seats in the Comfort Section available, my long tenure with Delta may have been a contributing factor.

We had a three hour layover in Seattle.

While awaiting our connecting flight North to Anchorage, I asked at the counter IF we could possibly be seated together on the upcoming flight. Yes we could! We were still in the back of the plane, but had adjoining seats on the aisle and center. Much better than being in separate rows.

Some cloud formations from 35,000 feet. We never seem to tire of looking at the cloud formations as we fly.

Man Oh Manischewitz it is sure nice to be back home in Alaska.

Cap and Patti

FEB 9, 19 .. THE FLIGHT .. IRKUTSK RUSSIAN SIBERIA to SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

The time is neigh for Patti and I to meet in Seoul, South Korea. It has been almost four months since I flew from Anchorage to Seattle / to Seoul / to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia / to Irkutsk Russian Siberia.

Yesterday, at 7:09am in the dark and cold (minus -38°F) of a Russian Siberian winter morning, I walked, with my rolling duffel bag and my carry-on backpack, from my flat to the Hotel Irkutsk where a taxi was awaiting me at 7:15am to take me to the Irkutsk International Airport.

As I shared yesterday on dot.net, as I was making the above walk I thought to myself..

" If I fall and hurt myself, I could freeze-to-death before anyone would find me in this alleyway to the hotel. Am I getting too old to be doing this?"

Obviously, as I now write from Seoul, I got to the hotel, to the airport, on the plane, off the plane, into Seoul and met my friends Terry and Kathy who I stayed with here in Seoul last October of 2018.

Below are some photos of my trip.

A lot had to happen before I got to my boarding gate. But finally I arrived to find a very welcome sight awaiting me.

My airline, simply known as S7, is the largest commercial airline within Russia.

The below photo shows another S7 airliner approaching us. 

Does it look cold out there?

We're airborne.

The flight was 4-1/2 hours. I slept a lot of the flight.

S7 borders on being a radical low cost airline. When the early-in-the-flight beverage cart came down the aisle, we had the choice of : water / orange juice / tea / coffee. Period! No soft drinks. No snacks.

Then, just past the midpoint of the flight, suddenly, much to my surprise and joy, lunch appeared.

What surprises await me?

Call me 'different', but I love airline meals. 

My lunch entree was (top) chicken with vegetables and (bottom) steamed rice. 

What I wonder is in the box?

Just look! How much fun is this!

A salad, some fruit, a piece of bread and for dessert, a very nice chocolate bar.

We're almost to Seoul.

Never, on all of my airline flights over a lifetime, has the sun been such that the shadow of my aircraft suddenly appeared.

The shadow and aircraft are about to become one!

Will all of you just look at the Incheon International Airport concourse that I looked upon immediately as I emerged from the jetway exit!

I have never seen a more beautiful airport concourse in my life.

Smiles from Patti (still in Seattle waiting-out a severe snowstorm) and Cap now settling here in Seoul awaiting Patti's arrival on Monday.