Your browser is not supported. Please upgrade to one of the following browsers:
Microsoft
Internet Explorer 8+
You may proceed to the site by clicking here, however some pages might not
work correctly.
Nick Kurczewski Now where did I park my Porsche? Delta Air Lines’ “surprise and delight” Porsche experience makes for some very unusual company. This is the classiest way to get to a connecting flight, and quite possibly the slowest way to drive a supremely powerful German luxury sedan.
We’re experiencing a view of JFK Airport from Delta Airlines’ pair of “high-value customer” Porsche Panamera sedans. The service is provided free of charge to frequent fliers with a Diamond status and, in most cases, a fairly snug connection time from one flight to another.
Our drivers, Ronald Lewis and Derrick D’Souza, have been trained in the art of high-speed driving at Porsche’s very own performance academy in Birmingham, Alabama. Ironically, here on the bustling tarmac of one of the world’s busiest airports, their freshly honed driving skills – not to mention the Panamera sedan’s 420-horsepower turbocharged engine – are reined in by a strictly enforced 25-mph speed limit.
Nick KurczewskiNick Kurczewski
Nick Kurczewski
Enlarge
On the other hand, the slow speed provides extra time to take in one of the strangest views you’ll ever experience in an automobile. Meandering our way along the newly constructed Terminal 4, row after row of jets are lined up, as a multitude of buzzing airport vehicles service these mighty behemoths. Forget the hustle and bustle of cabs and cranky commuters; you haven’t experienced New York City traffic until a Boeing or Airbus is suddenly in your way.
When you’re outweighed by hundreds of thousands of pounds, along with untold amounts of turbine thrust, you don’t start honking or waving your fist like you would in Times Square, however.
Delta first began its association with Porsche several years ago at its home-base in Atlanta, Georgia. The service includes a range of Porsche Panamera sedans and Cayenne SUVs. Since its inception, the fleet has grown to approximately 20 vehicles and the program has expanded to Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York City.
This VIP-level of service is the ultimate “surprise and delight feature,” according to Gail Grimmet, senior VP for Delta’s New York-based operations. “We want to be able to provide a unique experience for our passengers. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Nick Kurczewski
Nick Kurczewski
Nick Kurczewski
Nick Kurczewski
Enlarge
Indeed, this service can’t be booked ahead of time – the program is truly meant to surprise some of Delta’s most frequent fliers. A wide range of factors are involved in scheduling who experiences life onboard a Delta Porsche, such as the customer’s connection time, that day’s flight schedule and, of course, the passenger’s medallion status.
Typically a driver greets the soon-to-be VIP passenger on the jet bridge, as they’re disembarking their flight. The passenger and his or her luggage is then led directly to the idling Porsche, which whisks them away (at a brisk 25 mph) to their connecting flight.
Nick Kurczewski Our Porsche pilots for the day included Delta passenger services agents Ronald Lewis (left) and Derrick D’Souza. “They’re like big kids,” said Derrick D’Souza, referring to the passengers he drives in the Porsche program. A self-confessed “huge car guy,” he says that driving the Porsches – especially during the high-speed training program – leaves him with “a smile from ear to ear.” The Delta Porsche fleet at JFK airport regularly performs around 40 trips per day, with 2-3 drivers on-duty from the early morning to late at night.
Rolling past jumbo-jets, we were certainly enjoying the ride in the pair of Panamera 4S Executive sedans, which sticker at about $125-grand per copy. At these low speeds, the twin-turbocharged V-6 under the hood barely emits a whisper in the leather-lined cabin. We opted for the front seat but, if you happen to be (not so very) fresh from a long flight, the legroom in the back of the Porsche is absolutely first class.
Nick Kurczewski
Nick KurczewskiNick Kurczewski
Enlarge
The Panamera’s active all-wheel-drive should be handy if the weather doesn’t want to play nice during your trip. The large hatchback opening and 15.7 cu. ft. trunk should also easily handle the bulkiest of carry-ons. Then again, if you’ve gone overboard with the souvenirs, the rear seats can be folded to expand available cargo room to more than 40 cu. ft.
On an open road, minus taxing jets and push-back trucks, this Panamera sedan would sprint from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.8 seconds. Whilte it’s not quite enough to take flight, it’s certainly capable of keeping this Stuttgart-built sedan’s nose ahead of many rivals, all while getting the next Delta passenger to their gate with a Porsche-induced grin.
Related Stories 
2015 Porsche Macan raises the performance bar for compact luxury crossovers 
2015 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 get sport-focused GTS variants 
Cadillac’s 200 MPH CTS-V is just the beginning 
Five facts about the ferocious Ford GT 
2015 Detroit Auto Show: 10 best concepts, cars, and trucks Tags: porsche , panamera , sedans-coupes-compact cars
Your browser is not supported. Please upgrade to one of the following browsers:
Microsoft
Internet Explorer 8+
You may proceed to the site by clicking here, however some pages might not
work correctly.
A plane from Cleveland to New York City boarded with just two passengers and then made its journey after severe delays wreaked havoc.
One of these passengers, a certain Chris O’Leary, who lives in Brooklyn and works as both a media strategist and the editor of Brew York, decided to update the world wide web with various details regarding his eerie journey.
Chris O’Leary’s day didn’t get off to the best start when severe weather meant that his flight from Cleveland to New York City’s La Guardia airport was originally delayed by three and a half hours.
It was at this point that he decided to begin his epic Twitter updates that would soon go viral.
Welp. Guess it’s gonna be one of those days. pic.twitter.com/tmQ9lapZ4m
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
I have the most-delayed flight out of Cleveland today. pic.twitter.com/7jeRjJvYeh
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
Chris O’Leary couldn’t help but be a little disheartened by the delay, which meant that he would be arriving in New York around 6 hours late.
Looks like I’m getting home 6 hours late, missing almost a fill day of work. I’m sure @delta‘s doing all they can, but this still sucks.
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
However, when he finally got on his plane, Chris O’Leary learnt something rather spectacular had happened.
It turned out that Delta had rebooked everyone else that was supposed to be on his plane onto another flight. So, this resulted in Chris O’Leary being the only passenger.
They rebooked everyone but me on another flight to LGA, so I am literally the only person on this plane. pic.twitter.com/ZZNPACUOfR
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
O’Leary was also joined by the two flight attendants as well as the pilot. As you can imagine, O’Leary was rather flabbergasted by how peculiar his journey had now become.
No, I’m not joking. I’m the only one on this plane. pic.twitter.com/UcZ8BZLop1
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
Just got a personal safety briefing from my two flight attendants.
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
However, just when it looked like Chris O’Leary was going to have one heck of a story to tell his family for eternity, another passenger arrived to ruin his potential tale.
The thrill is gone, you guys. Just as we were about to push back, they reconnected the jet bridge to let a second passenger on the flight.
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
As his story went more and more viral, Chris found himself even more freaked out by the attention he was receiving.
Well, this has been a interesting day. Who knew the simple act of getting on the plane you’re supposed to could amuse so many people?
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 13, 2015
[Image via Twitter]
CHICAGO, Jan. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for ZU, CLF, DAL, COP and MSFT.
To see what our analysts have discovered about a particular stock, read the InvestorsObserver’s PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link. (Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
ZU: http://www.investorsobserver.com/pr/11520150/ZU
CLF: http://www.investorsobserver.com/pr/11520150/CLF
DAL: http://www.investorsobserver.com/pr/11520150/DAL
COP: http://www.investorsobserver.com/pr/11520150/COP
MSFT: http://www.investorsobserver.com/pr/11520150/MSFT
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
Today’s PriceWatch Alerts cover the following stocks: Zulily (NASDAQ: ZU), Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF), Delta Airlines (NYSE: DAL), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). InvestorsObserver’s PriceWatch Alerts contain concise, detailed strategies for each stock we cover, including position protection tactics designed to defend investors from potential market shifts. While many other market reports only provide stock news and opinion, we offer strategies that can bulwark investments against uncertainty and increase chances of making a profit, even if a stock goes down.
“We go above and beyond typical market coverage,” said Bobby Raines, Analyst at InvestorsObserver. “Trading experts and beginning investors alike can find value in our PriceWatch Alerts. We provide actionable strategies that protect investments with basic hedging tactics, along with a concise explanation of our techniques.”
InvestorsObserver.com is an online newsletter which focuses on the U.S. equities and options markets. Our analytical tools, screening techniques, rigorous research methods and committed staff provide solid information to help subscribers make the best possible investment decisions. For more information go to www.investorsobserver.com.
All stocks and options shown are examples only– not recommendations to buy or sell. Our picks do not represent a positive or negative outlook on any security. Potential returns do not take into account your trade size, brokerage commissions or taxes–expenses that will affect actual investment returns. Stocks and options involve risk, thus they are not suitable for all investors. Prior to buying or selling options, a person should request a copy of Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options available at http://www.cboe.com/Resources/Intro.aspx. Privacy policy available upon request.
SOURCE InvestorsObserver
RELATED LINKS
http://www.investorsobserver.com
(CNN) – Imagine boarding your next flight and having the entire cabin to yourself.
In this age of overstuffed planes, where we squeeze our bodies into cramped seats and jockey for overhead bin space, it sounds like a dream — one that would never happen.
But it did — sort of — on Monday for a man who boarded a long-delayed Delta Airlines flight from Cleveland to New York to find that all his fellow passengers had been rebooked on other flights.
The man, Chris O’Leary of New York City, did what most of us would probably do. He chose an aisle seat near the front of the plane and stretched out. He chuckled at the absurdity of his situation. And he got a flight attendant to snap pictures of him, with rows of empty seats in the background.
Then he began tweeting.
“They rebooked everyone but me on another flight to LGA, so I am literally the only person on this plane,” he posted.
“No, I’m not joking,” he tweeted a few minutes later. “I’m the only one on this plane.”
The rare situation was caused by bad weather, which caused several flight delays in the Northeast. O’Leary’s Flight 6259, which normally seats 76 people, was delayed for six hours, and somehow he missed out on being rebooked.
Often, an airline will cancel a near-empty flight. But Delta Airlines told KABC, a CNN affliliate, that it needed to get O’Leary’s plane to New York’s La Guardia Airport for flights later in the day.
As it turned out, O’Leary was not the only passenger on the flight. The plane was about to push back when, at the last minute, another man hopped on. The two didn’t keep each other company, however. O’Leary told ABC News the other guy reclined his seat and slept most of the way.
Even so O’Leary, a media strategist and editor of a beer-lovers’ website, won’t forget his semi-private jet ride anytime soon.
“It was definitely the most memorable flight I’ve been on in recent memory if only for the sheer lack of passengers to become bothersome,” he told ABC News. “There were no screaming babies, no one listening to loud lyrics or reclining their seats or taking off their shoes.”
Advertisement
TORONTO – After hours of delays, Delta Airlines treated two passengers to a semi-private flight to New York on Monday.
Chris O’Leary, who was trying to get home to New York, arrived late to the airport in Cleveland because his flight was delayed for several hours.
Turns out, passengers scheduled to fly on the 7:15 a.m. flight rebooked on another flight and were already en route to New York.
“Part of this is my own stupidity but it ended up working out in my favour,” O’Leary told ABC News.
When O’Leary’s flight was called, he was the only person to board the plane.
They rebooked everyone but me on another flight to LGA, so I am literally the only person on this plane. pic.twitter.com/ZZNPACUOfR
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
O’Leary tweeted his experience as a solo flyer.
“Just got a personal safety briefing from my two flight attendants,” he tweeted.
Just got a personal safety briefing from my two flight attendants.
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
No, I’m not joking. I’m the only one on this plane. pic.twitter.com/UcZ8BZLop1
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
Then, this happened: “The thrill is gone, you guys. Just as we were about to push back, they reconnected the jet bridge to let a second passenger on the flight.”
The thrill is gone, you guys. Just as we were about to push back, they reconnected the jet bridge to let a second passenger on the flight.
Delta Airlines flight 2116 made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after a midair mechanical scare forced the flight to turn around.
The Boeing 757-200 — registration N757AT— was headed to Minneapolis when pilots reported a “mechanical emergency,” reports KTLA.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the flight took off from LAX Tuesday morning at about 8:30 local time with 146 passengers and six crew on board.
The 30-year-old Boeing jet soon reported a mechanical problem and was forced to turn back. The aircraft spent about an hour circling over the Pacific Ocean southwest of Los Angeles before touching down successfully.
Delta released the following statement:
The crew of Delta flight 2116 from Los Angeles to Minneapolis/St. Paul followed procedures to return to Los Angeles International after a potential systems issue was observed. The aircraft landed safely without incident and taxied to the gate under its own power. Delta is currently working to accommodate customers while technicians examine the aircraft. Safety is always Delta’s top priority and apologizes to customers for the inconvenience.
SEE ALSO:
10 Safest Airlines In The World
After hours of delay, a Delta Airlines plane took off with just two passengers, the rest of which were booked onto an earlier flight.
ABC News reports that Chris O’Leary from Brooklyn, New York, thought he was the only passenger on the flight when he realized that everyone else were placed on an earlier flight.
“It was definitely the most memorable flight I’ve been on in recent memory if only for the sheer lack of passengers to become bothersome,” O’Leary told ABC News. “There were no screaming babies, no one listening to loud lyrics or reclining their seats or taking [off] their shoes.”
O’Leary’s previous flight at 7:15 am out of Cleveland had been cancelled, and he was re booked onto a later flight at 9:39 am. He received updates about the delay on his phone, so he stayed in his hotel until the time came close. When he got to the airport, he was told that all of the other passengers were booked on an earlier flight.
They rebooked everyone but me on another flight to LGA, so I am literally the only person on this plane. pic.twitter.com/ZZNPACUOfR
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
However, O’Leary wasn’t alone for long. The plane circled back to pick up one more passenger, who spent the flight asleep.
“He took advantage of the fact the flight was empty and reclined his seat all the way (and slept),” O’Leary said.
Delta is not a stranger to delays. Back in October 2014, a Delta flight was delayed after a passenger was sick and precautions were taken to make sure it wasn’t Ebola.
Another incident took place in December 2014, when a Delta flight was delayed when a group of Ultra Orthodox Jews refuse to take off until all the women were removed from their rows.
After hours of delays, one New York-bound passenger thought that he was getting the private plane treatment when he boarded his flight and realized he was the only passenger.
The passenger, a Brooklyn-based man named Chris O’Leary, started tweeting about his amazement before the plane took off, saying how he got a personalized safety briefing and a one-on-one run down from the captain about the flight.
“It was definitely the most memorable flight I’ve been on in recent memory if only for the sheer lack of passengers to become bothersome,” O’Leary told ABC News. “There were no screaming babies, no one listening to loud lyrics or reclining their seats or taking their shoes.”
Although it seemed like he was getting to fly home solo, the plane ended up going back to the gate one last time to pick up a second passenger.
Just got a personal safety briefing from my two flight attendants.
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
They didn’t end up chatting away throughout the flight, however.
“He took advantage of the fact the flight was empty and reclined his seat all the way (and slept),” O’Leary said of the second passenger.
It isn’t clear how many people were originally scheduled to be on board the 76-seater regional plane, but according to O’Leary, he was the only who was not rebooked on an earlier flight after they faced a number of delays.
O’Leary was actually scheduled on a 7:15 a.m. flight out of Cleveland but when that flight got cancelled, he was re-booked on this flight, which was scheduled to take off at 9:39 a.m.
The thrill is gone, you guys. Just as we were about to push back, they reconnected the jet bridge to let a second passenger on the flight. ??
— Chris O’Leary (@ohhleary) January 12, 2015
The flight was delayed for hours, and since O’Leary learned of the delays by phone notifications, he stayed in his hotel until shortly before the flight was actually due to take off.
When he arrived at the airport, he heard his name being paged on the loud speaker and he was informed that everyone else had been rebooked on earlier flights because of the delay.
“Part of this is my own stupidity but it ended up working out in my favor,” he said of the fact that he missed the pages to get on an earlier flight.
A Delta Airlines spokesman confirmed that there were two passengers on board.
Often times when planes fly with a small number of passengers it’s because the plane itself is needed in the destination city for a later flight.