The StarMegaDo officially started on Tuesday, November 3rd, at ORD RCC, but a number of us were coming in the night before to position ourselves for the early morning start.
I had already used my ‘add-on’ flight from ORD-EWR as part of the overall StarMegaDo, so checked into flying to ORD from GRR. I can fly to LAX from GRR for $250, but to go GRR-ORD for a 20minute wheels up/wheels down, all the airlines wanted $300
Yeah, that wasn’t happening. Checked into Amtrak, which was only $35r.t. but since there’s only one train/day Holland-Chicago, decided to travel the old-fashioned way – by car. It’s 2.5hours from Holland, MI, to O’Hare area.
Trip down was uneventful, and I arrived to the meeting place, Giordano’s Pizza, about an hour after everyone else, having gotten a late start. It was a fun, if short evening, due to the early wake-up call. Everyone indulged in both the deep dish as well as normal pizza. Some American Airline maintenance workers were at the next table, and I chatted w/ them for a few minutes as we were all leaving, telling them about the upcoming trip. Them, you actually want to see airport hangers (confused). LOL – yes we do.
Most people were staying at O’Hare hotel properties, but I was trying to find something that wouldn’t cost me a fortune in parking + hotel costs. Ended up staying at the Glenview Fairfield Inn 20minutes away at AAA rate of $71 & book-ended the trip, staying there on the return at a rate of $47. They let me keep my car there for free, so even w/ the cab the next morning at $30 it was cheaper than the airport park-n-fly & I was getting a ride from
SweetWillie on the return after another FT Do w/ fellow FTers at an ORD-area Mexican restaurant. And it allowed me to get some bonus points from Marriott due to their MegaBonus promotion. I didn't sleep very well, not due to the hotel but due to the excitement & not wanting to oversleep, so started the trip w/ not much sleep - something that was going to continue throughout the entire week. BTW - I would definitely recommend this property if someone is a Marriott person & needs a 'mattress run'.
Got to the airport at 6:30am after a quick cab ride; the cab driver quizzed me about rental car costs because he was planning a trip to Florida & renting a car vs driving. I had already checked-in online so thought it would be easy-peasy. Headed towards TSA & the agent there made me stop & put my normal-sized (not even overpacked!) roll-aboard in the container to measure for size. I argued w/ her a bit as it was a regular one, but she insisted. What really had me steaming was that she was letting businessmen w/ larger roll-aboards than me go through. Talk about a double-standard. And then when I put it in & it fit easily, she said I had to put it in the other way too.
But that small exception aside, TSA went smoothly & I was off to the RCC.
I entered at 6:45am & said I’m here for the FT event, and the agent cheerfully directed me to the part of the RCC that had been closed off just for us. There were other FTers there already. Decided to use a drink chit around 7am for a screwdriver, only to be told they don’t serve booze until 8:30am. What?! Blashphemy
So I headed back to our area & settled for a oj & a croissant. UA had put out United Music CDs, ps luggage tags, and the United Age of Flight book as give-aways for us. Some of us already had the AOF book from meeting w/ Captain Denny, so
tommy777 suggested that we take one anyone & ‘pay it forward’ by giving it to another FTer in Europe that might not have it. So we did, but crikey that book is heavy!
Captain Denny was in attendance; it was his day off but he came into meet w/ all of us, signed books, chatted, went on the tour with us. Our Captain for the flight, Captain Hale, came in to talk with us. They also had put a token in one of the books & the person who had that book got to do the pre-flight stuff w/ the captain. Alas, I had picked up one of the books that was still shrinkwrapped.
A number of UA management was there to mingle w/ us, and Graham Atkinson spoke for a short while. Also, some of the FTers zoomed in on the management who was there to ask questions. Then they split us up into 2 groups for the tour. They stored our luggage in one of the RCC conference rooms. You know how you look for your luggage by looking for the FT yellow tags? Well, try a room full of luggage w/ FT yellow tags
We were going to the flight tower (not FAA; UA where they’re in charge of the alleys/planes), captains & flight attendants areas, and then also into flight ops. It was really interesting. We went downstairs & there are long corridors w/ hundreds of garment bags, roll-aboards, and jep cases, not to mention captains and flight attendants wandering around. I think we were told there were 1,000 pilots based out of ORD. We went up lots & lots of stairs to the flight tower, where one of the managers explained how it all worked. There are normally 3-4 of them up there, each responsible for different areas/alleys/gates, and besides working w/ the planes they have to coordinate with each other, etc. Went into more details, but I don’t recall it all.
Then down we went through the pilot area and got to see some of them briefing for their Shanghai flight, then over to the flight attendant area, and then we went into the cafeteria/United shop for a few minutes. I bought a long-sleeved United t-shirt and a United cap. Then we crossed the hall to a conference room next to flight ops, and the manager there explained all the various areas of flight ops as well as the ORD modernization plan. Then we toured the flight ops section. We were allowed to take pictures throughout but in there & other areas we had to keep somewhat quiet because – oh yeah – they were doing their real job LOL…
We then headed down to the gate. We were there early. UA had upgraded the plane from a CR7 to a A320. First had checked in full, and there were 17 people on the waitlist for upgrade – all FTers! Because we were there early, they escorted those who wanted to see the cockpit, have their pic taken in it, down in 3s – including Freddie Jr during my turn. Then we all started boarding, and the good times continued. There were 44 FTers on UA678. I think the few that were not FTers were wondering what the heck was going on.
I was in 8D & chatting w/ others when
tommy777 came in & said you’re in my seat. Me, confused – no I’ve got this. He said no you’ve got 2C, which was his seat. I got an op-up!
He &
Randy had decided, even though UA had put them in first, to go coach.
Violist also gave
lili his seat. The Captain said he would have Channel 9 on, and would periodically do updates for the FTers through the flight, including taking them through the flight plan. He also had made copies of the flight plan & autographed each one, and I handed them out to the FTers.
The Wall Street Journal journalist was sitting behind me, so we chatted about flying, etc. He interviewed a # of FTers throughout the entire megado, as well as did video. Really nice guy. The FAs announced that the Buy-on-Board in Economy was free for this flight, which in addition to take-off & landing, also got applause! It was a short but fun-filled flight. F had a cheese tray I think (geesh, it’s only been a week; guess the meal was memorable LOL). I about fell out of my seat when they offered
lili her choice of 2 types of vodka for her bloody mary & one of them was Belvedere! Was that special catering for us? I would have had the Belvedere vs the wine, which was no great shakes.
We landed & the Captain wished us all a great onward trip. Upon disembarking, we were instructed to head over to Continental for the meeting point.
Sbm12, Randy & I think someone else picked up the checked luggage & brought it there.
I promise, promise to do the rest of the trip report soon! Cheers.
