China 2019 – Once Again
An inauspicious start. Short form, I missed my flight. Did I not get modern technology quite right, or do I need to slow down.
Thought I had scheduled a car pick up (Bless them, Uber) at 4:30 but no one came so scrambled and finally got a car at 5 AM. Still time to get to the 6:24 flight, but alas, really damn, a major accident on 93 delayed me further. At the airport check-in; less than one hour to departure they do not accept luggage. Redirected to a later flight through LA and a connection on Saturday. One day delay. More on the implications of this redirect later.
Modern technology at its best. Immediately on my cell phone contacting the hotel in Beijing that I was delayed a day and not to cancel the room and too reserve a room at LAX.
Life full of plusses and minuses.
Flight from Boston to LAX was on an Airbus A321S. Registration number N138AN and serial number 7009. It was delivered to American on April 1, 2016.
Arrived at LAX fairly refreshed. Exit into LA weather. Warmth, a concept net yet arrived in April in Boston. Fleece and jacket shed stored in luggage, warmth quite a relief. Surprisingly short wait for Hilton at Airport bus and short ride to hotel.
Asked for a room with view of airport runway and got my wish. Still fascinated by planes flying and coming in to land. A few molecules of air different between top and bottom of the wing and it is absorbed upwards, more grace than birds, no flapping, seemingly effortless. Descending, quite linearly, but then wheels hit ground and a large puff of smoke, friction and it is a large truck screeching to a halt, brakes full on.
Inside the tube you do not realize the brand design on the outside. Cigarettes, cookies and airplanes have external designs and passengers, like cigarettes are packaged. In the brief time, Qantas, how wonderfully colorful and intricate, Korean Air, less artistic but a nice blue, Alaskan Air with mages on the tail and US Carriers American and United with their logo.
Nextmorning, up early and off to LAX at 7:45 for 10 AM flight. Not going to be late this time.