AIRLINE: Outbound I have just returned from New York. I flew down this AM on the 8:30 Delta Shuttle. If I'm right, we used an Airbus A320. It was great to fly on a big plane for a change, versus those tiny Canadair Regional Jets. The 3 across configuration worked just nicely. The weather was rough. I hadn't had any breakfast and the ride prevented the f/a from serving bagels. (They gave them to us on the way off the plane) When we landed, I was rolling a bit with the discomfort of being jostled too much. Arrival/Final Approach Gloomly weather in LGA. Saw Air Canada's A319 "Trans-Canada" plane, Air Canada's A320 (standard colors, probably heading for Toronto or Montreal), Air Tran, US Airways' Airbus (strange how Delta got their Buses, just after US Airways announced that they would introduce the same on their Shuttle routes?) and that's about it. Bad weather and weekend, didn't net up very much. Our final approach into LGA seemed to be very fast and pretty low. But after leaving the airport on the New York Airport Shuttle bus, I saw an American MD-80 coming in the same way. When we hit the runway, it seemed very fast and I felt a slight swerving on the front nose gear that might have been done by the pilot deliberately, just to test his handling on the aircraft on the runway. Much like pedestrians check out the sidewalk when they suspect glare ice. Delta Shuttle Gate Area I was thrilled to see a mini library of business and leisure magazines waiting for me and some PC's running Bloomberg stock quotes. (For a Saturday, the place seemed tame. I know the place has to be hopping during the week.) I was a bit disapointed with the terminal design. For a reason I couldn't put my finger on, the decor seemed to say: "temporary." And after looking at a sign on an emergency exit stated 'construction area' I guess I had my answer. For business travelers, I just expected the Ritz! La Guardia Rotuna Terminal The Delta Shuttle terminal empties into a florescant green rotunda that must be as old as the former Mayor La Guardia. Its design says "1940's forever" to me. Perhaps they'll change it soon. Connections to Manhattan Fortune was with me today. I wanted to come into the City and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. Everything supported that. As soon as I stepped outside the dated terminal, a motorcoach was waiting and I got the last seat. (BTW $17.00 round trip or $10.00 one-way to Grand Centeral or the Port Authority) Hadn't been to the City since 1997. Enjoyed the electronic Christmas caroling, Aida (the new Elton John-Time Rice musical in Times Square), lunch at the Marriot Marquis, and just walking around -- despite the rain, New York City is a great place to be! Going Home My trip back was roughly the exact reverse of going. Again, traveling on the weekend makes for easy connections. It was just a 20 minute ride to LGA via the Tunnel and some bumpy highway. My first stop was my terminal. Check-in was a breeze. They told us that the weather conditions up to Boston prohibited serving in-flight food service and that they'd pass out a snack and water on the way in. They strongly encouraged everyone to use the facilities as no standees would be allowed. The departing flight for Washington Reagan Airport, they said passengers found standing, the plane would return to LaGuardia or Washington, implying those caught would be in trouble. I had taken care of that issue on the way in after getting off the bus. BTW, I ate the cafeteria in off the rotunda. Not bad, but again for Delta's business elite, I thought they'd get better. En Route Surprising, the trip was relativly smooth, except for some bumps over Hartford. Our route, according to the screen, seem to follow just south of Hartford and then before you know it, we were turning around Providence and got landing clearance about 15 minutes prior to touchdown. Final Comments Good trip, although I miss flying into JFK and catching any international traffic. (particularly during the evening! Gone, and very much missed, from Kennedy and LGA, is our beloved TWA) And that's it! Mike Burris Cambridge, Massachusetts