Chicago O’Hare International Airport

I expected longer lines at immigration and therefore hurried a bit up, only to find immigration empty. There was nobody in front of me, so I had the choice off all open counters. After being questioned about my travel and the normal procedure (this time no need to show my ticket) I reached the baggage claim area.
My checked luggage arrived after several minutes. Many pieces of luggage without priority sticker arrived before, but I noticed some people from the Business Cabin who still waited for their luggage as mine had arrived. Customs was fast and I reached the drop off point for the connection flights only fifteen minutes after arriving at ORD, which was not that bad, especially as I had a tight connection.
As I arrived at the station for the shuttle train to the other terminals, one of the train had just arrived and I quickly boarded it. At terminal 1 I used the elite line for security. There were some people queuing and I doubt the lines for the regular passengers were much longer.
Security took some time, as the passenger in front of me had put a bag on his laptop and therefore had to be screened a second time. I put belt, shoes and cardigan off and put them aside my laptop, as the number of boxes were limited. Again no “signal” and after I put on my shoes and belt and put my laptop back in its bag I headed to the C Concourse, where my flight to LAX would leave.

The gate area was crowded as I arrive there at 13:55. I decided to use the time to buy some water to drink during waiting time. Boarding should start at 14:15 for the 14:55 departure. It began five minutes late and the waiting list seems to be full as the flight seems also to be full.

Boarding started at 14:20 with First and Star Gold / Star Silver Passengers. I boarded and took my seat in the first row of Economy Plus Cabin. I stored my luggage. Suddenly, an announcement was made, they noticed, they had no captain for this flight. They could not get an additional captain earlier than 2 hours later and therefore had to deboard the plane again. Reboarding was announced to start at 15:45. So we deboarded and I decided to go back to the Main Terminal. While arriving there, I heard an announcement passengers of UA 121 to LAX were requested to remain in the gate area and some seconds later, that we could board again, time to head back again.

Boarding had started again as I arrived at the gate at 14:50.

18 August 2006
ORD – LAX
[Chicago O’Hare – Los Angeles]
UA 121 (United); Boeing 767-300 (N671UA)
Gate C 19
14:55 – 17:15 [effective 15:15 – 17:20]
Economy Plus Class
Seat 10 A

We had to wait for connecting passengers and pushed finally back at 15:15. Boarding was really fast the second time and therefore the delay was not as big as expected. The captain came over the microphone and informed us, that we would probably arrive in LAX in time.

We were airborne at 15:30 and headed westwards to Los Angeles.

The plane was equipped with two classes. The First Class Cabin and the Economy Plus / Economy Cabin. The seats looked old and the plug for the headphone does not work, one had to press against it to get at least one side of the headphone working. The reading light does not work either and the video screen in front was also not working correctly. Before landing one of the flight attendants came around and looked for everything not working properly and noticed it. It was a long list …

After being 30 minutes in the air the first of two beverage rounds started. As on all domestic flights one had to pay for food, while non-alcoholic beverage was served free of charge. I opted for a Pepsi and got it with a small packet of assorted nuts.

The crew had to start the video system twice as it does not work properly. I relaxed during the flight and read a bit in the Hemisphere Magazine. The fasten seat belt sign were switched on several times, but I again would not call this flight bumpy.

The second beverage round was done 90 minutes prior to landing and I again opted for a Pepsi to stay awake as it was past midnight in Germany at this time.

Finally we began our approach to Los Angels and touched down at 17:15 and arrived at our gate five minutes later. Deboarding was fast and I arrived at the crowded belt area five minutes later. This time my trolley was among the first to arrive and I headed to the hotel shuttle stop.

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