Finally—two and a half years later than I had expected (thanks be to Covid)—I reached one million miles on UA881 on Aug. 12 shortly after takeoff toward HND. On my much shorter flight earlier that day from PIT to ORD, the pilot came over just before takeoff and gave me some fancy local chocolates, a Million Miler coin, and several cards signed by all the crew and ground staff as well as her business card with a personal message. Then she made an announcement before going back into the cockpit congratulating me on reaching a million miles on the present flight—to a smattering of applause. (Reader, it was the right journey, but the wrong flight. I didn't correct her.)

On UA881, before take off someone from the ground crew came on and gave me a card "from" Scott Kirby and took my photo with it, and shortly before landing the purser (?) came and gave me a card signed by all the crew. I was hoping for a bottle of champagne but no such luck.

It was great that I was able to do the whole trip in Polaris/domestic first thanks to Plus Points. Sadly, given that I'm in Japan and travel to Europe as much as the US, only purchase Y fares, and we don't get PQMs for having a UA-branded card outside the US, this is my last year as a 1K and with Plus Points. At least I'm spending that year with style!