US3379 DCA DFW 1325 1602 ER7 3A

I zooped down to the gate right at boarding time to find
no plane parked. Presently it showed up, and we took off
what, 30 late. I rather enjoyed the F retrofitted on the RJ.
The seat was pretty nice, and the FA was pretty nice but not
very available as she was back in coach for much of the
trip. The trip was scheduled for 3h 37, so I expected a
mealy sort of thing, but what came was the usual basket, out
of which I had the usual Biscoffs and a packet of cranberry
nut mix. Glenlivet was the high point of the flight.

A pretty view when we were just above the clouds - more
contrails than usual, I thought. Interesting cloud
formations, too. Apparently we were skirting thunderheads
and went way farther south than normal. Quite a few bumps in
spots. We pulled into the gate almost exactly an hour late.

The United club is off at the other end of the concourse (at
least it's in the same one). The Skylink takes just a couple
minutes, and I was behind a nourishing supper of Walker's
shortbread and Beam in good time.

US 545 DFW PHX 1830 2010 321 1A

F-f-for s-s-shome reason the trek back was longer than the
trip over, and I made it to about the middle of boarding,
by which time there was barely room in the overhead for my
very modest-size bag. After collapsing into my seat I told
the cute rather zaftig blonde FA to give me a double
Glenlivet, and I would not bother her for the rest of the
flight, and so it was. On landing, heartfelt thanks to her
and a walk down the concourse to the low A club, where
presently sbm12 came by, and we went upstairs to partake of
a few doses of inky liquid and/or suds. The plan was to
head out when the place closed at 10, but sbm12 got a text from
fenx, who was at the other terminal sans ticket. We hopped
the bus there, and sbm12 found him a gate pass; we continued
our socializing at the gate, where nothing of note was
apparently happening. Oh, at the ticket counter, sbm12 made a
hit with the staff, who had been settling into a nostalgic
funk; his enthusiasm was rewarded by smiles and a piece or
two of Continental memorabilia.

At the gate our numbers were increased by deirdre (the prime
mover of this exercise) and steve64. We had a good time
becoming acquainted and then after those formalities getting
to the real business of the day, discussing miles and points
and stuff.

As Shannon had said, there wasn't going to be any
commemorative hoopla; sbm12 did his best to create some, which
earned incredulity from the assembled crowd (it was actually
not that heavy a flight) and I believe gratitude from the
employees. He hung back chatting with them and thus became
the last passenger ever to board a CO flight.