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by FLYGVA and airoli
After a breakfast in a nice and charming cafe with alanw and Francisco we drove to the airport and dropped the rental car and took one of the shuttles to the airport.
We were able to use the First Class Counters; no one was queuing there and we were able to check in all the way to Singapore (though one has to change Boarding Passes in Chicago). Security was fast and we were on our way to the Red Carpet Club at San Diego airport. The RCC is nothing special.
The lavatories were quite dirty due to a malfunction of one of the toilets.
We left the lounge a few minutes after boarding had started but this time we were not the last first class passengers who boarded the plane.
23 May 2007
SAN – ORD
[San Diego Lindberg Field – Chicago O'Hare]
UA 1230 (United Airlines); Boeing 757-200 (N563UA)
Gate 14
13:32 – 19:30 [effective 13:37 – 19:45]
First Class
Seat 03 B
At board we were greeted by the flight attendants and our jackets were hung up in the wardrobe at the front of the cabin.
The flight was completely booked in all classes.
We had looked the day before in the United Airlines flight schedule and this was the last flight which we could took to get on our 01:00 am departure to Seoul.
We pushed back a bit late at 13:37 but had to wait half an hour on the tarmac. The captain came over the microphone and told us about the delay due to heavy rain over the Rockies. He continued he speech he also expected us to arrive more or less in time in Chicago. Channel 9 was turned on and it was once again interesting to follow the conversation between ground control and planes. But I have to admit I did not understand everything.
Finally at 14:00 it was our turn and we continued our roll to the runway. Two minutes later we were airborne and headed over the Pacific before we made the final U-Turn back to the coast. After the seat belt signs were switched off the flight attendants jumped in action and after a few minutes we got some assorted warm nuts and were asked what we would like to drink. I opted for a Pepsi but was told only Coke was served. Hm, I thought UA was one of the “Pepsi” Airlines. We both got the whole can and I took this
opportunity to ask, if they had not served "Pepsi" in the past. We were friendly told, I was right but starting May 1st United had switched to "Coke". They were not quite used to offering Coke now instead of Pepsi. This time we also had a choice of food, either a Cesar Salad or a chicken wrap. I skipped the offering knowing I would have plenty of food on the next flight but Oli ordered the Cesar Salad.
So I let him speak about the both “q's”, quality and quantity:
As far as I remember, the salad was quite okay and the portion adequate. In terms of quality however, it did not excel over what you might find at your average family dining chain outlet. If I remember correctly, UA was feeling dissipative that day and even threw in a slice of foil-wrapped, orange "Cheddar" cheese as well as one Milano cookie for dessert. I stuck to club soda and coffee for drinks, knowing that decent wine would
be in the offing later that night.
This time the tray table were prepared and the food was very good for UA domestic standards especially in comparison to the flight from Chicago to San Diego two days earlier.
I reclined my seat and relaxed a bit skipped through the Hemisphere Magazine.
The cabin was a bit dirty and looked aged but was otherwise okay.
This time the crew only blocked the front galley once for ten minutes. I overall, this crew were much friendlier than the crew on the flight to San Diego. Several rounds of beverages were made and the service was very attentive and personal. I enjoyed this flight much more than the previous flight.
Due to the usual heavy traffic in Chicago we had to fly waiting patterns. The crew gave back the coats after we began the final approach and before they took their seats.
We touched down at 19:35, roughly 15 minutes late, which was not that bad remembering the delay of 30 minutes in San Diego.
We were at our gate at 19:45 and headed to the United Airlines First Class Lounge since we had a First Class flight and plenty of time. So we relaxed in the United First Class Lounge up to the closing of the lounge at 22:00 after the last flight to Europe had started boarding.