Chicago O'Hare Overhead Picture

Just wanted to share this fun snap I grabbed coming into land at O'Hare.

KORD

I Should Fly Private

The allure of private aviation is picking your fellow travelers. I was flying this weekend for work and the experience was great, except for other travelers I encountered.  I had a connection at EWR and my flights in and out were pleasant and arrived early. The problems came from people not familiar with the Walk Left, Stand Right concept on escalators and moving walkways. Also one person next to me smelled like they boarded right after a long workout at a gym. The kids sitting behind me were also playing their iPads at full volume and their parent didn't care. I won't tolerate noise from an electronic device other then headphones.  I immediately got the parent to put a stop to it; if not I would have called a flight attendant (I've done that before to make a point that "turn it down" and "silent" are different).  Basic courtesies and manners would greatly improve everyone's flying experience; too bad they are harder to find than an early flight from Newark. 

Delivery Spots Available in 2018

Fun Photo From Portland

My flight from Portland was delayed two hours because of storms in Chicago.  I was able to explore the airport and shop without paying sales tax, then I was able to see this great sunset.  I didn't mind the extra time in Portland because it shortened my layover at SFO.

Cool Sunset on a United A319 at PDX

Denver to LA - What A View

Denver to LA is one of the prettiest flights in the world, but only for people on the left side of the aircraft.  I flew this route twice last month, both on clear mornings, and the views were spectacular.  Leaving DEN for the Rocky Mountains, there are great views of the rugged terrain of western Colorado.  The flight goes southwest down to northern Arizona and Monument Valley followed by the Grand Canyon.  Then the mountains of southern California rise and then give way to the LA area and the airport.  I was lucky and was also able to parallel landing traffic and enjoyed the long taxi around LAX with many foreign carriers to spot.

Monument Valley

LAX Landing Traffic

United's Healthy-ish First Class Meals

The turkey and egg wrap was good and the soup superb, but there's no fun in eating grapes on a plane.  Next they'll be handing out oatmeal raisin cookies rather than chocolate chip (wait, that's happening already).

The Soup and Beer Were Fun

Virgin Atlantic Doesn't Need Paint

Old news by now, but it is still funny for me to think how UK airlines can relax because Scotland voted NO and the Union Jack won't have to be repainted.

The Union Jack Will Stay

Kingman, AZ Airport - IGM

The Kingman, AZ airport is one of the scariest airports in the USA, for aircraft at least. It's one of several "bone yard" airports where aircraft are placed in long term storage or scrapped.  Most of the airliners parked there will never fly out. I flew by recently, at a safe distance from my aircraft's perspective, and felt like sharing.   

Kingman, AZ and Local Area

Save 14% With Frontier This Week

Frontier will offer a 14% discount until 11:59 pm Eastern time Oct. 9, 2014. The discount will apply to regular and sale fares for domestic travel.  Tickets must be purchased online at FlyFrontier.com using the promo code PUMPKIN. 

Big Ole Jet Airliner

Boeing 767 BBJ by Comlux Aviation

Are you a head of state on a budget?  Do you want your own state aircraft, but the treasury coffers aren't very deep?  Find the thought of flying yourself and entourage commercial or on two or more charters miserable?  Well Comlux Aviation can help with their 767-200 BBJ.  It's a 767-200 in an executive configuration with seating for 60 and a 14 hour range. I saw it parked at the private aviation ramp at IAD.

For Heads Of State On A Budget

I Ate Only Airline Food For Two Days

I'm running short on status miles again this year, so I took two trips to Puerto Rico last month and stayed in the airport for less than an hour each time.  As a fun game, I decided to eat only food served in flight for the whole two days of travel.  The results were mixed, ranging from a very good steak to a frozen banana and a small bag of crisps.

Breakfast Day 1

737-900 First Class Seat With Free DirecTV

United Airlines Classic Snack Box - $7.99

CRJ-200 Row 1 Seats

First Class Light Snack on ~500 Flight

United A319 First Class Row 1

Overnight Flight Cheeseburger Meal

757 Seat On Overnight Flight

Breakfast on Day 2

More Uncomfortable 737 Seats

Warm Nuts and Beer

Soup is Always Good

Another 737 Seat, This Time On The Right Side

Final Meal After Two Days Eating With United

Miserable Travel Week, Except While In Air

What a miserable travel week; I'll have more details later, but for now I'd like to highlight a positive travel development.  United's new content streaming system is working and on a few of their Airbus aircraft already.  It's free to use and has good content selections, just be sure to board with a full battery because there is still no power on board.

Remember The Last Point