Back to boring: GSP-ATL-MCO Delta 717 and 757 Economy Review

Just after arriving home from my Virginia trip I received a request to help on a project down in Orlando. I really dislike Orlando under the best of circumstances. Add in COVID and the poor response that Florida has taken doesn’t exactly make me more exited to travel.

This route is a trip I’ve taken probably 50 times over the past 10 years. It’s about the most boring flight I could personally take, I know many people travel to Orlando for vacation, but for me, I’m not thrilled. Anyway let’s get into it.

In this trip

1 :Back to boring: GSP-ATL-MCO Delta 717 and 757 Economy Review

     1.1: GSP Airport
     1.2: Delta 717 Exit Row Review
     1.3: ATL Airport Transfer
     1.4: Delta 757 Exit Row Review
     1.5: Final Thoughts

2:Back To Boring: Hilton Garden Inn Orlando International Drive North Review.

3 :Back to boring: MCO-ATL-GSP Delta 757 and 717 Economy Review

GSP Airport

This trips starts like so many of mine, at GSP. This airport has really come a long way in the decade I’ve been using it.

This isn’t an early flight, but with the late fall sunrise time, it’s still a little dim when I arrived around 7am for my 7:40 flight.

Security as usual isn’t very busy. Even though there are lots of signs, it seems like people are constantly in the wrong lines here. Not sure how, but it seems like a persistent problem at most airports.

Waiting in line there are of course the now common distancing spots. The ones here in GSP have fun little sayings, Valerie has talked about these too.

Most of the shops and restaurants are closed here. The only one that I’ve seen open consistently is the Dunkin. The Escape Lounge is still closed.

Upstairs at the gate boarding had started. With the lightly loaded planes these days I’ve really started pushing my arrival times. I don’t like sitting in airports, even in lounges. I’d much rather arrive just in time.

My 717 ride down to Atlanta this morning. This one still has it’s eyebrow windows.

Delta 717 Exit Row Review

Welcome onboard. Tons of space in the exit row and power in each seat.

No in seat entertainment on the 717. It was also just announced that these would be leaving the Delta fleet in the next 5 years. That too will be a sad day, much like when the MDs left.

Nice A320 waiting for the 9AM departure to ATL.

Pushed back and ready to go. I think I’ve said this before, but with COVID, there’s no longer the wait to depart. It’s push back, take-off, and land, usually a few minutes early. Something I could get use to.

The only down side to these seats is the lack of arm rest, it does add a little width, but you don’t have a place to put your arm.

Taxiing out to the runway. It was a very nice September day.

And away we go. We took off to the North-East. This route actually adds a non-negligible amount of time to the trip.

Turning back down towards Atlanta.

Quiet flight this morning. I like that Delta is still keeping space between everyone.

Very soon the Atlanta airport is within sight.

Some nice morning views of Downtown Atlanta.

On the ground after a very uneventful flight.

A nice 757 waiting next to our gate. During COVID flying has been very smooth operationally. But I guess that’s what happens when everything is running at less than half capacity.

And into the gate here at the A concourse.

ATL Airport Transfer

Monday mornings at ATL are usually packed, not these days.

My next flight is out of the B concourse so I headed downstairs to grab a ride on the plane train.

The first few cars were more crowded, I usually aim for the last car in the train anyway.

The next stop is concourse B.

Heading back up.

Back upstairs I went to the B concourse Skyclub for some breakfast. I’m very boring so cheerios are perfect for me.

Nice 717 sitting down below.

Once I got the boarding notification on my Delta App I headed for the gate.

Delta 757 Exit Row Review

I love the 757, it’s one of my favorite narrow body planes flying. Delta’s exit row configuration is great. Tons of space. Now that the MDs have gone west, I think every Delta plane has power in each seat.

In seat entertainment. These 757s are great on this front.

Very nice day to fly, even on this very boring trip.

Much like the 717, the armrest is mostly missing. There’s a small one, but it’s very far forward, it’s not particularly useful.

Almost done boarding, there’s still lots of overhead space available these days.

After pushing back we headed for the runway. No real wait, I’ve spent over an hour waiting to take off here before. I don’t miss that.

Away we go.

We soon turned south and headed for MCO.

Mood lights on full display. It’s a daytime flight so these don’t make as much of an impression as during the evening.

Snacks were distributed. All my favorite things, water and cheezits.

It became a little more cloudy as we approached Orlando, not surprising, it is still Florida after all.

Prepping for landing on this quite flight.

Approaching one of my least favorite destinations.

On the ground and coming into the gate. The Orlando airport really isn’t much to look at, most domestic airports aren’t but Orlando is really drab.

Off the plane and onto the train.

Outside I go. Usually this area is mobbed with people trying to catch tour busses to Disney and cabs to various hotels, it’s a little more pleasant when it’s empty.

Final Thoughts

I still don’t like Orlando. I do like flying on 757s so I’m torn. For Delta, MCO has long been a 757 outpost. The A321 did seem to take on some of this load, but these days the 757 seems to be the most prevalent.

These flights were perfectly on-time and pleasant yet still very boring.

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