My first flight on Frontier Airlines out of the Trenton-Mercer Airport, and there were many questions--about parking, how early to arrive, and what size luggage could I take on board without being charged extra.
The 25 minute drive to the airport from Princeton beats going to Newark. The parking is free and expansive, and I was told that they do regular security checks of the lots. Even at 5am I had to park some distance out. They say to get there two hours ahead. I got there just under an hour ahead, and cut it very close. You can read wall displays about the glorious history of aviation in Trenton while waiting in line downstairs at security. For the trip to NC, regular carry-on luggage was included in the price, but other destinations have different restrictions. It's worth reading the small print.
Successful passage through security lands you in a (bathroomless) holding area, after which passengers walk out onto the tarmac and climb the stairs into the plane, just like the good old days. Typically, only presidents get to do the stair thing anymore, for a photo op. Trapped in a "jet bridge", we wouldn't have been able to see the sun rising on this new-old era.
Both flights, to Raleigh-Durham and back, only took an hour, which is shorter than from Newark in part because planes can leave or approach Trenton more directly than a busier airport.
As we unloaded in Trenton, a petite elderly woman insisted on walking down the ramp rather than wait for a wheelchair. Unable to convince her otherwise, the flight captain offered to walk her down the ramp to the terminal. The rest of us walked slowly behind this very endearing sight, the lady's frail hand tucked around the arm of her escort, resplendent in his captain's uniform.
After he delivered her to the terminal, I asked him how many gallons the jet had used during the flight. He said typically 900 to 1000 gallons, with a full load in the Airbus of 138 passengers. That works out to about 7 gallons per passenger for the 500 mile trip, or about 70 miles per gallon per person--equivalent to two people in a car getting 35 miles per gallon during the 9 hour road trip. Better than one would have guessed. Of course, there are a lot of other things that factor in to a carbon footprint for the trip--the fuel consumption enabling the airport and all of its employees and amenities, versus the 500+ miles of concrete road and the spread-out amenities of the freeway. But it's interesting to see how one particular plane ride on one day compares to car travel.
The pilot confirmed my understanding that jets descending towards their destinations essentially coast. They put their engines on idle, then "spool up" the fans in the engines as they approach the runway, so the engines are ready to deliver full power in case the landing needs to be aborted at the last moment.
The airport and its 1960's era tarmac experience is brought to you by Mercer County. The county also runs the Howell Living History Farm, which dials time back to 1900. All in all, a fine way to travel, forwards and back at the same time.
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