I am having some issues with FT and have lost two iterations of this each one more concise than the last. Hopefully third time is a charm!

Capital One Landing DCA
DCA was not super busy, and for once I was able to use Clear to get through faster. Once I cleared security I walked towards the D gates where the lounge is.

I used the Capital One app to make a reservation a few weeks in advance, and that seems like the best way to ensure access. Kudos to Cap1 for such an innovative feature.

My waiter explained the concept to me — there is a QR code for drinks and hot plates, and a buffet bar where you can be served pre-plated things.

I ordered using the app and about 5 minutes later my delicious hanger steak appeared.

I followed it up with the shrimp, still good but a little less wow.

Capital One definitely did not skimp me on my pour.

Then I checked out the buffet and grabbed a few more snacks



Before long it was time to head to the gate to board. The Capital One Landing at DCA is a restaurant branded as a lounge, but since it has friendly staff, a gorgeous decor, and good food it is a great option. Hopefully they are able to keep the quality up!

A Newark Disaster
UA4560
CRJ-550
2A
DCA-EWR
Scheduled: 3:00pm-4:35pm
Actual: 2:53pm-6:17pm*
We boarded on time, which was a relief since this was the flight I was worried about delays on.

During boarding, the friendly FA did a PDB service with bottles of water.

At this point we enjoyed some great views of the monuments as we taxied to the runway. When we got towards the front of the queue to take off, we ended up moving over on the apron and parking. The Captain announced Newark was on a ground stop and we should know more in 20 minutes.

20 minutes later, Newark instituted a delay program due to the controller shortage and we were assigned a 5pm ish takeoff slot. This was going to leave me with a tight connection for my 6:40pm flight to London that finished boarding at 6:25pm.

After a few false starts and further delays, at 5:03pm we took off. While it was still looking tight, I was not too worried as I could sprint to the gate and make it before boarding closed.

However, we entered a 20 minute hold over Delaware and I nervously sipped some ginger ale and enjoyed a few snacks.

We landed at 6:07pm after a 1hr3min flight. We made it to about 100 yards from the gate at 6:12pm and I was feeling pretty good. Then, Newark found a new way to remind me never to connect through it: after a 5 minute delay to find wing walker, at 6:17pm we parked, and the door was opened, since on the CRJ the door has stairs it needs to be opened before the gate can be moved. As the gate was being moved, it appeared to strike a parked baggage cart, which led to a 34 minute comedy of errors in which what felt like the entire ramp team worked to free the gate and get us off board.

At 6:42pm, 2 minutes after my 6:40pm flight which was showing on time was due to depart, I got off the plane and sprinted from C72 to C130 in about 3 minutes. When I got there out of breath the door by the gate was closed, but thankfully the aircraft door was still open. A passenger who was late to the plane but arrived during boarding was debating his seat assignment with the gate agents, it seemed like the seat he paid for was reassigned when they assumed he wouldn’t make it. However, since he was there I guess they held the door to the plane as they sorted it out. In the mean time, they had given my Polaris seat, 7F, away to the person atop the upgrade list who was in 20A in Premium Plus (the seat I initially booked). I was given a choice to try and have them put me in Polaris on a later flight, or accept the downgrade and get on board in Premium Plus and get a refund. Since I had sprinted through the airport and been stressing since the DCA flight hit rolling delays I decided to board and just get to London. The door to the plane closed immediately after I got on board and we started to taxi as soon as I sat down.

UA4560
Boeing 767-300ER
7F 20A
EWR-LHR
Scheduled: 6:40pm-6:55am +1
Actual: 7:02pm-7:10am +1
​​​​I did not have time to take a picture before sitting down, but I had the usual Premium Plus spread.

About 30 minutes after takeoff a drink was served.

Then 1hr into the flight the meal, a choice of chicken or stir fry, was served. The chicken was a tiny portion and mostly bone, but the green curry sauce in the foil was incredible.

1hr45 minutes after takeoff my tray was cleared and I got ready to sleep. I slept very well, better than I typically do in Polaris, probably due to all the energy invested in worrying about making it. I woke up as we started or final descent and quickly got ready for landing, We touched down on a very stormy and windy day 6hrs30min after taking off.

Bus to Birmingham
This trip i decided to see how the National Express bus worked as a means of getting to Birmingham. Heathrow was busy but organized so 18 minutes after deplaning I was at the bus station and had time to grab a snack before boarding my 8am bus to Birmingham.

The bus was comfortable and I had a row to myself. It worked out to be a great decision since the weather caused lots of train delays and cancellations.

Obligatory lucozade.

Delicious Christmas wrap.


At around 11:30am the bus pulled into Birmingham’s Bus Station and my journey was complete. While it didn’t feel smooth, in the end it all worked out. Let this be a warning to all about connecting in Newark.

To be continued!