mph
Dec 21, 01, 9:07 am
20 Dec 2001
UA 182 LAX-IAD A319 0700
UA 7628 IAD-PIT J41 1520
Woke up at 3:45, parked in LAX lot B at 5:00. I got a good spot near the entrance. I didn't have to wait long for a bus to the terminal, but they were full and there were long lines already.
In Terminal 7, I bypassed the long lines and used EasyCheck-In, no waiting. Then I beniftted from the wisdom of FlyerTalk, walked past the long T7 security line, down the sidewalk to T6, and through T6 security, no waiting. 15 minutes from the curb to the gate, 90 minutes before the 7:00 departure.
I wandered around for a bit and got some coffee and hash browns. Back at the gate, they were looking for bump volunteers. The offer was $600 in vouchers or UA's new round-trip voucher for the 48 states. I inquired, but they could not confirm me to PIT on the same day.
We left on time and the flight was uneventful. I was in 3A, one of the best seats in Economy. But it was hard to see te video screen, since it's in front of 3B. So I slept a lot. My breakfast was apple-filled rolled pancakes, which were OK. The purser (male) made a few jokes; "There are numerous entertainment options aboard this A319; first is the person next to you..."
At IAD, I made the arduous journey on the mobile lounges to the A gates. I was scheduled for the UA 7387 IAD-PIT 1650, but got to the gate half an hour before the earlier flight listed above. I asked if I could stand by, and the GA said that was fine, but my bags wouldn't make it. That was fine; I'd rather wait around PIT with my family than alone at IAD.
I cleared the list, and I think we went out with one empty seat. The FA, "Krys" was popular with the passengers. She mostly used the ordinary text for the safety lecture, but threw in enough smirks and winks to keep people watching.
The UX flights to PIT pull up to the main terminal alongside the UA mainline gates (in contrast, US operates commuter flights to a different terminal). We "deplaned" and walked into the terminal building and started up a stairwell. At the first landing, the people in front of me exited through a door, and I followed. Mistake. We were in a baggage claim with banners proclaiming "Welcome to the United States." The post-immigration, pre-customs baggage claim. Not where you should be after a domestic flight.
We annoyed the Customs officers, who pondered for a couple of minutes and decided to photocopy our BP stubs as evidence that we "entered" the country there. Once we were back in America, we had to go through security (luckily not the main security line) in order to get back into the terminal and take the tram to the landside terminal.
Once there, I was happy to find my family, and also to find that my checked bags did make it on my earlier flight!
UA 182 LAX-IAD A319 0700
UA 7628 IAD-PIT J41 1520
Woke up at 3:45, parked in LAX lot B at 5:00. I got a good spot near the entrance. I didn't have to wait long for a bus to the terminal, but they were full and there were long lines already.
In Terminal 7, I bypassed the long lines and used EasyCheck-In, no waiting. Then I beniftted from the wisdom of FlyerTalk, walked past the long T7 security line, down the sidewalk to T6, and through T6 security, no waiting. 15 minutes from the curb to the gate, 90 minutes before the 7:00 departure.
I wandered around for a bit and got some coffee and hash browns. Back at the gate, they were looking for bump volunteers. The offer was $600 in vouchers or UA's new round-trip voucher for the 48 states. I inquired, but they could not confirm me to PIT on the same day.
We left on time and the flight was uneventful. I was in 3A, one of the best seats in Economy. But it was hard to see te video screen, since it's in front of 3B. So I slept a lot. My breakfast was apple-filled rolled pancakes, which were OK. The purser (male) made a few jokes; "There are numerous entertainment options aboard this A319; first is the person next to you..."
At IAD, I made the arduous journey on the mobile lounges to the A gates. I was scheduled for the UA 7387 IAD-PIT 1650, but got to the gate half an hour before the earlier flight listed above. I asked if I could stand by, and the GA said that was fine, but my bags wouldn't make it. That was fine; I'd rather wait around PIT with my family than alone at IAD.
I cleared the list, and I think we went out with one empty seat. The FA, "Krys" was popular with the passengers. She mostly used the ordinary text for the safety lecture, but threw in enough smirks and winks to keep people watching.
The UX flights to PIT pull up to the main terminal alongside the UA mainline gates (in contrast, US operates commuter flights to a different terminal). We "deplaned" and walked into the terminal building and started up a stairwell. At the first landing, the people in front of me exited through a door, and I followed. Mistake. We were in a baggage claim with banners proclaiming "Welcome to the United States." The post-immigration, pre-customs baggage claim. Not where you should be after a domestic flight.
We annoyed the Customs officers, who pondered for a couple of minutes and decided to photocopy our BP stubs as evidence that we "entered" the country there. Once we were back in America, we had to go through security (luckily not the main security line) in order to get back into the terminal and take the tram to the landside terminal.
Once there, I was happy to find my family, and also to find that my checked bags did make it on my earlier flight!