UA168 DEN-BWI

Another troublesome carry-on experience. The E+ aisle seat netted me a group 4 boarding group. Front of the aircraft (6D), nearest bin with room for my backpack, Aisle 16. I think that Premier Status will get me group 1 boarding privileges, I will be happy if this is true. There was one Rolling carry-on turned side-ways in the bin across the aisle from my seat. I thought it was the solution I needed. I turned it wheels first into the bin. To my surprise it extended beyond the edge of the bin. The bin wouldn’t close with it like this. I found the FA and told her my dilemma. I pointed to the only other person in my row, 6F, and then pointed to the bin, “I know he didn’t bring everything in this bin!” Both the PAX and the FA laughed with me. I pointed to the bag I tried to adjust and said “That isn’t supposed to happen.” The FA then tried to adjust the bag the same way I did. She then said “This bag shouldn’t be here, it should have been checked.” The owner of the bag was watching the FA and the FA noticed this. She asked the PAX “Is this your bag?” The PAX responded “Yes, it always fits.” The FA said, “Would you like to come and try to close the bin?” To this the PAX responded “No” and that was the end of it. The FA left and started a conversation with another FA at the front Galley in the A319 (I was told twice this was going to be a 757). The PAX in 6F pointed down at the floor in front of our seats and said “have you tried there?” The bulk head does not go all the way to the floor in the A319. I knew this but had forgotten. So, I slid my backpack under the bulkhead and under the seat in front of me. I walked to the front galley and told the FA that I had figured it out and showed her my solution. I asked if it would do and she said that it would.
The in-flight video system was broken, so there was not any video for the flight. The Captain apologized as the did the purser. As soon as the seatbelt light went out, I retrieved my backpack and dug out my headphones. I fired up my Ipaq and selected the longest movie I had on one of my SD cards. I have two 1 gig SD card with 5 full length movies on each. I use Pocket DVD wizard to compress the DVD video down to 192mb per DVD. The longest movie I had was “Forrest Gump.” I didn’t get to finish it, almost, but the ending was just a little farther away than BWI.
I seem to be having the worst luck with overhead bins and IFE. I have not been on an UA/TED aircraft yet this month that has the Classical channel that works. Last month I wrote an email to CS and was given a cert for my non-functioning IFE on both legs in and out of Denver. I don’t think I will press my luck again.
I am at Nature’s Café at BWI at 1:45am. It is open 24 hours. There is one person sleeping and another on a laptop. I cannot find any WiFi that is not secured and my T-mobile data card cannot find a signal even though my T-mobile phone can. Sigh…. another call to T-mobile CS. Maybe later….. I am on the public side of security. Security opens back up at 3:30am. I think I will stay up until I can get through security. I think I will be a little safer on the other side if I am sleeping. It will be harder to cut the straps off of my backpack if you can’t get a knife through security. I have heard that sometimes people who sleep in airports get their laptop bags stolen while they are sleeping even though the wrap the shoulder strap around them. The thief just gently cuts the straps without waking the victim and makes off with the bag. I think I have a solution that I may just patent! I’ll let you know when I have it patented. That’s all for now…

I haven’t seen one reply yet. Over 300 views at last check…. How am I doing? Is this a suitable Trip Report for this forum? Is there any information that I have left out that is normal for a trip report?

I finally got connected using the T-mobile Data Card (3:05am). I had to go curbside. It seems to be faster than it has ever been!

Cheers!
M.