The Seats Are Leather, But it's Still Coach
Written: Aug 02 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: chocolate chip cookies, leather seats
Cons: old planes, tight pitch, armrests make big seats feel small
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| pbyaeger's Full Review: Midwest Express |
For the last few years, I've been looking for reasons to fly the much heralded airline, Midwest Express. Given that everyone's singing their praises, I kept looking for reasons to go to Milwaukee--not that Milwaukee's a bad place. Hey, any city that still serves schaumtorte is a fine and glorious place, I say.
Anyway, this weekend I finally got the chance--we used Midwest Express to fly RT from LGA (New York) to LAX (Los Angeles), with stops in Milwaukee. Since both going and coming were hampered by weather here on the east coast (a little rain, and those ninny air traffic control people go paranoid) our trip was less than easy.
The gory details: we arrived to learn we'd miss our connecting flight, and the night in Milwaukee would be at our expense. While that's fine, the Midwest Express rep could have attempted some interest or concern. He was as bland as a pancake. What was especially frustrating is that the flight before ours went out 3 hours late and almost empty, and had the Midwest Express rep we called TOLD us, we would have changed to the earlier flight and made the connection. Boo hiss.
But, alas, we had to wait on our delayed flight. Since it didn't leave until the time the following flight was scheduled, the people on the later flight changed to our flight, and the bird was stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Here's the first surprise: those comfy wide leather seats are also FATTER, so that big pitch they promise is the same rammed-crammed knee-breaking coach pitch you'll have anywhere else. My long legs were rammed into the seat in front of me--and same with hubby. The guy in front of him tried to recline, but hubby's right to have legs trumped his right to lie back and snore. Sorry, bud. And don't bother going for bulkhead--there's a closet there, and you'll have less legroom.
Second, since those fat seats have phones, tray tables and all in the armrests, they're not that wide after all. Oh, yes, they are definitely better than normal coach. But if you're a big person, you may not be comfortable. Lucky for us, on our return flights, the flight attendants were proactive goddess genius women, and they REMOVED our armrest so we
could be more comfy. Bless them.
Second surprise: those chocolate chip cookies everyone raves about really do smell amazing. But they're only served during lunch flights--and since all our flights were changed due to weather, we only got them one time. The flight attendants served from the back. We were up front. By the time she reached us, well, let's just say everyone in the back pigged out and took extras. Oh, they were tasty. Yes indeed. But I wish they'd served cookies from both ends.
While we're on the food mode, I will give them decent marks for meals. They tout their dinner on china with real linen--big deal, I say. Lunch was fresh fruit with smoked meats (haven't they heard of food allergies), cheese, and two tasty, crunchy shrimp. Breakfast on 2 flights--omelet with redskin potatoes (dry). On another flight, they ran out of hot breakfast, so hubby had to chew on cold cereal. No dinners, so no comment. I will say they have amazing fruit--it is fresh, tasty, and perfectly ripe. We also got a snack on our red-eye flight--all designed to induce sleep: a smoked turkey and swiss sandwich, with champagne and a Hershey bar.
The champagne flowed freely--a nice touch. It was a sweeter variety. Wine is served with dinner. Beer, however, is not free. Surprise!
The planes were in good condition, but were clearly old. Our first, a DC-9 was the worst, with groovy carpet-art decorating and old controls. The others were a bit more modern, all MD-80s, but all could've used updating. The restrooms were miniature--a baby would've had trouble fitting and I can't imagine using the changing table unless the parent left the door open and just reached in to change the diaper.
Aisles were nice and wide, and bin space seemed generous. I just wish people in the back didn't pull that "dump the rollaboard up front" trick. If you choose to bring your luggage on the plane, you deal with it. Don't make me stuff my tote bag under the seat because you're too lazy to tug.
Baggage arrived promptly, but my suitcase got rather dirty--and every time we picked up our bags, they were upside down. I realize it's not the airline's fault, but if they're so customer focused, why not try to set the bags right side up? It's rather difficult to grab a suitcase by its bottom. Also, all tags are done by hand--no computerized bag tags.
While we didn't expect true first class service on Midwest Express, I think we both thought the end product wasn't that spectacular. Granted, we paid only a few dollars more than el-cheapo economy. But even with the decent price, I'm not sure why everyone is so wild about this airline.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
pbyaeger
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Pamela Yaeger
Location: Long Island, NY
Reviews written: 157
Trusted by: 158 members
About Me:
I whine, therefore I am.
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