Heading to Colorado Springs

Rising majestically over 14,000 feet in the air, Pike's Peak dominates the skyline of Colorado Springs.

A much-anticipated trip to Colorado Springs took place in late March when I flew out from Raleigh to rendezvous with family who made the two hour drive down from the Rocky Mountains. Colorado Springs held a special allure for us. Home to the US Air Force Academy, the city is known for its stunning mountain views, particularly Pikes Peak, and the unique rock formations of Garden of the Gods. The city also boasts a strong community spirit, with numerous festivals and events, and is a hub for outdoor activities. We selected a long weekend when my grandchildren would off from school on the Monday, thereby giving us more time to enjoy the area and one another’s company. 

Admirals Clubs offer complimentary snacks and drinks, along with premium drinks and Wi-Fi.

My journey began on a Friday morning at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), where I was surprised to discover that only one American Airlines Priority Counter was staffed. It seems that every time I’m flying, there’s a shortage of agents coupled with a number of passengers ahead of me experiencing some travel-related problem requiring a good amount of time to solve. Eventually, it was my turn to check in, after which I headed directly over to the nearby CLEAR lane. Since I also have TSA PreCheck, I was given expedited screening and was on the concourse in short order. The agents staffing the Admirals Club across from Gate C3 gave me a warm welcome and I was pleased to note the club was sparsely populated that morning. I enjoyed the peace and quiet and used the time to get some work done. Boarding for my initial flight to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) was briefly delayed due to the late arrival of the inbound aircraft, but before too long I was settled into Seat 2B, my favorite on the port side of the aircraft. American was flying a B737-800 on the route that day with 16 seats in the forward cabin arranged in a 2x2 configuration spread over four rows.

I had to work overtime to keep my food tray from sliding, but the Short Rib lunch entrée hit the spot.

There were no pre-departure beverages offered. The doors closed at 11:28, we pushed back at 11:40 to taxi out to Runway 23R. The flight was airborne by 11:50 and, although this was some 20 minutes after the scheduled departure time, the Captain announced that it would only be a three hour and 10 minute flight, putting us on the ground on time. Hot towels were distributed 15 minutes after take off, followed by the beverage service along with a ramekin of Warmed Nuts. I had pre ordered the Braised Short Rib with Espagnole Sauce that was presented with Mac N’ Cheese a Green Salad and a Lemon Dessert Cake. I will admit the beef had a great taste and the entrée was pretty good for an airline meal. The only problem was the arm on the right side of my seat, which inexplicably kept falling down without provocation (and with it my tray). Our flight attendant told me she had already reported it to the Captain as it happened repeatedly on the inbound flight from DFW. Little good that did me as I was forced to prop my right leg up in order to keep the tray steady. We pulled into Gate C11 and, as luck would have it, my connecting flight was leaving from Gate C38 and it was a short four-minute walk to the Admirals Club located between Gates C19 and C20. 

American Airlines operates nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges which are located in 32 airports worldwide.

It was a treat to be welcomed by the friendly agent on duty once I presented my credentials at the entrance. While this club in Terminal C did seem less hectic than the larger one in Terminal D, it was still difficult to find a seat during that mid-afternoon rush at American’s hub airport. Luckily, before too long, I snagged one near the cantilevered “window wall” which afforded panoramic views of the runway. Even with all its visitors though, this lounge was relatively quiet, providing a calm and relaxing environment that proved to be a welcome respite from the terminal chaos. A sweep of the food offerings showed it to be typical of that presented in other American clubs, but the custom-made avocado toast appeared to be quite popular and I also observed that a good selection of craft beer and specialty cocktails were being promoted at the bar. One negative note was the lack of ample electrical outlets and USB ports. I observed many folks scrambling about looking for any accessible plugs or ports in order to charge their devices.

AA doesn't offer seat back screens on narrow body aircraft, but does provide streaming entertainment.

My connecting flight to Colorado Springs departed on schedule at 2:50 that afternoon and the First Officer informed us our flying time would be one hour and 28 minutes. The carrier was flying the same type on this leg and I was again seated in 2B.  While the First Class seats aren't as flashy as those on newer aircraft, they do provide a comfortable experience for domestic flights. Each seat pair features a central console with a drink tray, storage, and a universal outlet. The seats also have adjustable headrests. But, there’s no in-flight entertainment system. Instead, American relies on streaming services to passengers’ personal devices. I’m not sure if the company is deferring cabin maintenance on their aircraft, but the recline on my seat back wasn’t working properly. Every time I leaned the seat forward from a reclined position, it would “jump” even further forward. It was annoying to say the least, particularly after putting up with the falling arm rest on my first flight. Due to the shortened schedule, flight attendants only conducted a beverage service that afternoon, but never came around again in the forward cabin to determine if passengers wanted anything additional in the way of drinks or snacks. But, it was a clear day in Colorado when we descended into the airport and we were afforded superb views of the majestic Rockies on landing.

The Colorado Springs Airport is the second-busiest airport in Colorado after Denver International.

The Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is relatively small with a little more than 1.5 million passengers passing through last year. Compared with larger airports, it’s lauded for its convenient location and easy navigation. It also offers a more personalized travel experience. Their teams of Airport Volunteer Ambassadors and PAWS for COS therapy dogs are available solely to assist passengers. The airport also boasts amenities like free Wi Fi, valet parking, and on-site rental car availability, all of which helps to contribute to a stress-free travel experience. The three-level, 275,000 square-foot airport opened in 1994 and was designed for easy navigation, with the farthest of their 12 gates located less than 1,000 feet from the ticket counters or baggage carousel. COS is only a short, 20-minute drive from downtown, offering quick access to major highways and attractions and it was very easy for me to find the Uber pick up location. I was on my way to the hotel within 20 minutes after landing.

The Marriott lobby featured a great fireplace and several cozy areas for relaxation and socializing.

The Colorado Springs Marriott was only 18 miles from COS, but the Uber cost me $70, which I found to be rather expensive. Although I liked the lobby, the hotel overall was somewhat disappointing. I was recognized as a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member at check in and valued being granted Executive Lounge access, but I don’t believe it to be a 4-star property as mentioned on the website for a number of reasons. The lack of in-room safes and those nasty refillable plastic bottles of body wash, shampoo and conditioner in the bath were both negatives in my opinion. And sad would be too kind a word for the Executive Lounge on Level 9. I was greeted on arrival that evening by an attendant sweeping the floor who claimed, “there’s plenty of good stuff left.” I appreciated his being friendly, but wasn’t sure what he was referring to as the snacks on offer were meager at best and not very tasty at all. Finally, it’s no secret that hotels saved a great deal of money during the pandemic by limiting housekeeping services although they didn’t lower their rates. The pandemic’s been over for several years now yet guests at this Marriott weren’t eligible for clean bed linens unless they stayed more than three consecutive nights. 

Despite these first world negatives, I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of enjoying my family time. I’ll tell you all about our visit to Colorado Springs in a future post. 

Until next time…safe travels.

Despite these negatives, I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of enjoying my family time. I’ll tell you all about our visit to Colorado Springs in a future post. 

Until next time…safe travels.