Jay is attending a seminar in Chicago for 2 days with another colleague, and again, he tagged me along with him.
Yesterday, Monday, was our flight to Chicago. He didn't get the business class ticket and sat in economy with me. According to him, the flight is just a little over an hour, and it wouldn't make a difference if he took the cheapest seat.
9:10 a.m. United Air App Update: "We'll see you soon! Flight UA2331 departs at 1:10 p.m. at Gate C19 in Concourse C.
9:45 a.m. Our Uber ride arrived.
10:50 a.m. We arrived at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Thankfully, we weren't stuck in traffic. It was smooth, and we got to enjoy African music all through it.
11:40 a.m. We arrived at our gate at C19 and decided to have BRB burgers for lunch. I had their crispy chicken sandwich. Jay ordered their cheeseburger, and both shared an order of french fries.
12:03 p.m. UA App Update: Our flight has a new departure time because air traffic control is limiting the number of planes allowed to land each hour at our destination. Our flight departs at a new time, 2:40 p.m.
12:07 pm. UA App Update: Our flight is now less delayed. From 2:40 p.m., the new departure time is at 2:15 p.m.
12:55 p.m. UA App Update: It's boarding time.
1:10 p.m. Our plane should depart at this time, but it was moved.
1:09 p.m. We checked in our bags at the gate for free. It's a full flight.
1:35 p.m. After the flight attendant distributed earphones, I decided to watch a movie.
It wasn't easy to decide what movie since my heart and mind were set on watching the downloaded Korean drama on my phone on Netflix. I have a few of them to catch up on. But I decided to enjoy instead what United Air has to offer.
I chose a 2025 British short movie, A Friend of Dorothy. I have no idea about this film, but Miriam Margolyes (as Dorothy) is in it. She's funny, as I always see her as a guest at The Graham Norton Show. The movie is also with Alistair Nwachukwu, a new actor, as her friend, JJ.
2:08 p.m. The movie was over. It was beautiful. I wanted more. It's that kind of movie.
3:23 p.m. I decided to watch The Intern starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.
3:31 p.m. 9 minutes to go till we'll be up in the air.
3:37 p.m. The captain said we're ready for departure but took that back right away. We'll be waiting for another hour. The estimated new departure time is at 4:45 p.m.
3:48 pm. UA App Update: Flight UA2331 has a new departure time because of an air traffic control ground stop. Our flight now departs at 6:00 p.m.
4:36 p.m. We're going back to a gate.
4:39 p.m. We're back at the gate.
4:44 p.m. We've deplaned. The plane needs to cool down.
5:00 p.m. Our new departure time is now at 7:00 p.m.
5:43 p.m. While waiting at gate D1, we were told that we have to wait for another hour.
5:48 p.m. Our new departure time is now at 8:00 pm.
6:00 p.m. The United Air app updated the time to 7:00 p.m. departure.
6:50 p.m. UA App Update: 8:00 p.m. new departure time.
7:17 p.m. It's boarding once again.
7:19 p.m. Depart in 41 minutes.
7:28 p.m. I'm going to continue watching the movie where I left off.
It was the part where Ben Whittaker (played by Robert De Niro) and 3 of his male colleagues broke into their boss Jules Ostin's (played by Anne Hathaway) mother's house. The intention of the break in was to hack her computer and delete a message she accidentally sent to her mother's email account.
7:41 p.m. The captain welcomed us all aboard.
8:16 p.m. The captain updated us that it'll be in 9 more minutes till our departure.
8:20 p.m. "Flight attendants, please be seated for departure!" said the captain.
8:24 p.m. We're in the air, finally.
8:26 p.m. The movie ended. I also realized that I think I've watched this movie, but I wasn't really paying attention to it. You see, I tune in to shows and "watch" (but not really) movies while at work.
8:28 p.m. I wanted to watch the movie Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, but I wouldn't be able to finish the whole film while on this flight.
9:16 p.m. The captain updated us on the weather in Chicago.
9:17 pm. The flight attendant apologized that they weren't able to serve drinks and snacks due to the turbulence during this flight.
9:50 pm. Touchdown!
It's 8:50 Chicago time.
9:05 p.m. The plane is still taxiing. A little girl a few seats away is singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
9:10 p.m. Our assigned gate is still occupied, according to the pilot.
9:43 p.m. More apologies from the pilot. We have to wait a few minutes more.
9:53 p.m. The plane is taxiing again.
9:56 p.m. Another apology from the pilot, and we're back to where we were waiting.
10:04 p.m. He said, "We're now ready to go."
10:09 p.m. We're still here.
10:10 p.m. Taxiing again.
10:20 p.m. Same
10:28 p.m. UA App Update: Welcome to Chicago! Our checked bags are in Terminal 1 Carousel 3."
10:35 p.m. We got off the plane.
10:39 p.m. To the baggage claim
11:13 p.m. We're on an Uber ride with Jay's colleague, Ronald.
The driver wondered about the influx of late-night arrivals. "Was it because of the storm earlier?" He also answered his question.
11:33 p.m. We've arrived at our hotel.
We would have arrived in Chicago at 8:00 p.m. if we had driven, but the delay and the long wait were nobody's fault.
Now, where do we find a restaurant that is still open at close to midnight?
