by FLYGVA
Since we were 30 minutes after scheduled arrival time I expected long lines at immigration, but as we arrived, we were the only passengers and had a very quick questioning. Even our routing and the very short time in the US were not a problem at all. Due to the data collection, it seems they already know about our travel habits and also that we are quite frequently only a short time in the US. But we might be wrong. Anyway, we waited for our luggage and our luggage were among the first five pieces on the belt, which had all been marked with the priority luggage tag.

So we needed from arriving at immigration to dropping our bags after customs less than 15 minutes and were in the train from terminal 5 to terminal 1 round about 30 minutes after we touched down. This is very fast and much faster than I had expected. Well done, ORD!

Arriving at terminal 1 at the check-in counters of United, they were a lot of people queuing at the First Class, 1 K, Premier Executive and Star Gold counters we choose one of the empty e-ticket counters which had staff and asked if we could check in there, although we had a paper ticket but were short of time. Because we had not that much time the check in agent agreed and checked us in. Friendly and in the typical American way with some comments about our flights ...

Security took some time and once again, laptop out of the bag and since we are in the US put off shoes, belt ... Luckily no additional screening this time.

We headed of the Red Carpet Club in the C concourse for a quick visit before we finally headed to the gate. They were boarding Economy Class at this time and we decided to wait until the end before we entered the plane. They boarded through the middle door, but there were a long line back in the jetway and the gate area was already nearly empty.

21 May 2007
ORD - SAN
[Chicago O'Hare – San Diego Lindberg Field]
UA 87 (United Airlines); Boeing 757-200 (N568UA)
Gate C 26
20:05 – 22:20 [effective 20:10 – 22:11]
First Class
Seat 03 B

We were the last two passengers of the First Class Cabin, but luckily there was some space left in the overhead bin to store our carry on.

We were offered a choice of water or orange juice for pre departure drinks. The crew showed the safety demonstration video during our push back at 20:10. Channel 9 was turned on this flight and so we could follow the conversation between cockpit crew and ground control. We had to queue up at the runway before it was our turn and we were airborne at 20:25.

After the seat belt sings were switched off crew jumped in action ... correct it would be described with: they slowly started to work, to jump in action would describe something quite different from what this crew did. As dinner one had the choice between a fruit – cheese plate and a cheese – fruit place. Since this was even worse that I had expected I skipped dinner. Airoli took the plate which consists of three slices of cheese and some assorted slices of three different types fruit. Beverage was available. One got a glass of the beverage one had asked for, nothing else, not even the can. And it seems not possible to have the beverage without ice, though I asked without ice explicitly I got some tonic water for my ice.

Service was below the (low) standard service level. They were not friendly, they were only present. One had to ask for if one liked to have another glass of water, orange juice between the two beverage rounds. They walked through the cabin, collected empty glasses but did not offer anything themselves. A very passive crew. I think this is ridiculous, even if it is not an Asian airlines, but this service is even low for the United Airlines (and probably also Lufthansa) standard.

Cockpit crew came one after the other out of the cockpit two times and the flight attendants blocked the entrance to the front galley. The first time shortly after the meal service was ready; they came out for app. ten minutes which is in my eyes okay. The second time app. 90 minutes prior to landing it took them nearly 25 minutes. During this time there was no service in the First Class Cabin, at least one passenger, who had still the tray, was barely unable to leave her seat to go to one of the rear lavatories. The most annoying thing, one flight attendant was together with both members of the cockpit crew in the cockpit for nearly 15 minutes before the remaining member of the cabin crew finally phoned the cockpit and the other member of the cockpit crew used the lavatories. Would love to know what they have done in the cockpit this long time. This should not happen.

The flight itself was okay, some time a bit bumpy and seat belt signs were turned on, but otherwise nothing special to report.

We began our descent into Lindberg Field and touched down at 22:11 and arrived at our gate three minutes later. Crew had forgotten to hand back the coats, so we had to help ourselves what caused a bit of a trouble since we were blocking ourselves but crew did nothing do hand them out – they only excused for forgetting it. Argh ....

We deboarded the plane and headed to the baggage belt. Our flight was not shown on the screens and we had to wait 20 minutes before the flights showed up on the screens and the luggage finally was delivered. This time the priority luggage tag did not have any effect. My luggage showed up some minutes after them of airoli.

We left Lindbergh field and headed for the shuttles to the rental cars.

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