{"id":9859,"date":"2025-06-28T22:59:05","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T14:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=9859"},"modified":"2025-12-18T12:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T04:55:18","slug":"20250628flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Flights for 2025 Independence Day Trip to Alaska"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I made a trip over Independence Day to Alaska. This post would be about the flights back and forth, which were filled with lots of drama but everything turned out fine in the end.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_215346.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_215346.jpg\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Chugach Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-major-2', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider2.sync( secondarySlider2 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-3', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-major-3', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider3.sync( secondarySlider3 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-4', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-major-4', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider4.sync( secondarySlider4 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-5', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-major-5', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider5.sync( secondarySlider5 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Ticketing\">Ticketing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I first discovered this set of tickets in October 2024, when American Airlines offered a flight from Boston to Anchorage for just $260 on Saturday, June 28, with a connection in Dallas. The fare required a morning flight from Boston to Dallas, followed by the second of the two daily flights from Dallas to Anchorage, resulting in a layover of more than eight hours in Dallas, a prospect that didn\u2019t trouble me at the time, as I thought I could use the opportunity to explore downtown Dallas. The timing seemed ideal, as June 28 fell on the Saturday before the July 4 holiday.<br \/>\nTo complement the outbound journey, I found that Alaska Airlines had standard award availability for a return flight on Saturday, July 5, a redeye from Anchorage to Minneapolis. From there, American Airlines could bring me home to Boston, initially with a connection in LaGuardia (though later, due to schedule changes, the connection shifted to Chicago). Remarkably, the entire return trip cost just 15k American Airlines miles, which felt like an incredible bargain given the proximity to the holiday.<br \/>\nEven better, a month later, American Airlines reduced the BOS-DFW-ANC fare to $234, still in the main cabin. Needless to say, I didn\u2019t hesitate to take advantage of this further savings.<br \/>\nI had previously visited Anchorage in both 2020 and 2021, and with soaring mountains lining the city\u2019s skyline, I felt confident that another week spent there would offer abundant opportunities for rewarding outdoor adventures.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"American_Airlines_Flights_2555_and_399_from_Boston_to_Anchorage_via_Dallas_Fort_Worth\">American Airlines Flights 2555 and 399 from Boston to Anchorage via Dallas Fort Worth<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>My flight to Dallas was scheduled to depart Boston at 6:52am, and I calculated that I could catch it by taking the first MBTA Blue Line train of the day, thus sparing myself the expense of a rideshare. The timing turned out to be a bit tight, but ultimately manageable.<br \/>\nAmerican Airlines operated two daily flights from Dallas to Anchorage, flight 399 departing at 3:14 pm, and flight 395 departing at 7 pm. Unfortunately, first class on both flights was entirely sold out, so the prospect of an upgrade was out of the question. In the days leading up to departure, the earlier flight, 399, was also completely booked. However, I observed 7 available seats had opened on the morning of departure. Given that my ticketed flight 395 would arrive in Anchorage quite late, I decided to attempt standby for the earlier flight to try shortening what would otherwise be a very long day.<br \/>\nI understood that, when standing by for an earlier domestic flight in the US with checked baggage, it is common practice to have bags tagged on the standby flight. I had read that certain carriers (Delta) have special procedures to ensure that checked bags travel with the passenger. However, the checkin agent informed me that that\u2019s not the case with American, and my bags would fly with the earlier flight 395, whether I made the standby or not. (That wasn\u2019t an issue for me, since I was first on the standby list, and in case I didn\u2019t make it, I would happily retrieve them from the baggage office instead of waiting for them at the carousel.)<\/p>\n<p>After sorting out my checked bags, I entered the line for security screening at 6:04am, and cleared it 10 minutes later. Then I made way for the gate where boarding was underway, no time wasted.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines 2555<br \/>\nBoston, MA (BOS) &#8211; Dallas Fort Worth, TX (DFW)<br \/>\nAirbus A321 (N165NN)<br \/>\nSeat 3F<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 6:52am<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 6:56am<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 10:09am<br \/>\nActual Arrival \t    &#8211; 9:14am<br \/>\n3 hours and 20 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=237631946&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the takeoff:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PY2sZ5JxLTA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_073458.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_073458.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Breakfast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The omelet tasted quite good.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The flight to Dallas was largely uneventful. Low clouds hung over Boston, and much of the journey across the eastern states was shrouded in overcast skies, leaving little to see below. I spent most of the flight asleep, making up for the early start. With less headwind, we landed well ahead of schedule (and had a 14-minute wait for the gate to be available).<\/p>\n<p>One minor discomfort arose during our descent: the cabin seemed somewhat over-pressurized. At an altitude of 2000 meters, the cabin pressure was 7 mBar higher than it was after landing, a subtle but noticeable difference for my sensitive drum.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the landing:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FG-q9LokphM\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>For the next leg to Anchorage, it turned out that flight 399 had 12 available seats prior to departure, so all 8 standbys were cleared. First class was sold out, and unfortunately by the time my upgrade was cleared, all the main cabin extra seats were taken so I was relegated to a standard seat.<\/p>\n<p>After boarding, we had an extended wait at the gate for &#8220;maintenance signoff&#8221;, which struck me as odd considering the aircraft had been on the ground in Dallas for quite some time before our scheduled departure. One would expect American Airlines to manage such matters in a more orderly fashion.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines 399<br \/>\nDallas Fort Worth, TX (DFW) &#8211; Anchorage, AK (ANC)<br \/>\nAirbus A321neo (N446AN)<br \/>\nSeat 15A<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 3:15pm<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 3:55pm<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 7:00pm<br \/>\nActual Arrival \t    &#8211; 7:04pm<br \/>\n6 hours and 9 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=237631991&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the takeoff:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PFsQRurYsmk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: x-small\">Part of this video after 3:09 are sped up to 2x speed.<\/div>\n<p>Probably given the flight&#8217;s considerable duration, the crew procrastinated until 9000m elevation (23 minutes after takeoff) to turn off the seat belt sign, after which they started to peddle dinner. My status with American afforded me a free selection, which I picked the cheese plate. It proved merely edible, nothing more.<\/p>\n<p>This was a very long flight, which I spent between naps and movie clips, with tedium gradually settling in as the hours wore on. However, things took a turn as we approached Anchorage, where the clouds broke up over Prince William Sound, revealing stunning sights of snowy mountains and glaciers below. Later, having descended beneath the overcast layer between 3500 and 4500m, the magnificent Chugach Mountains emerged into view\u2014the very ranges I had planned to explore in the coming week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_214647C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_214647C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_214741C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_214741C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_215343C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_215343C9.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Chugach Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I hiked Flattop-Flaketop loop the next day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_215529.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_215529.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Anchorage Airport\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Anchorage Airport<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_215709.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_215709.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Tordrillo Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Tordrillo Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_220023.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_220023.jpg\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Chugach Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_220047C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_220047C9.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Chugach Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Last time I was in Anchorage, I climbed South Pioneer Peak. This time, I planned on East Twin Peak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_220259C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_220259C9.jpg\" alt=\"Anchorage against Backdrop of Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Anchorage against Backdrop of Chugach Mountains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250628_214647C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250628_214741C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250628_215343C9.jpg\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250628_215529.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Anchorage Airport\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250628_215709.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Tordrillo Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250628_220023.jpg\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250628_220047C9.jpg\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250628_220259C9.jpg\" alt=\"Anchorage against Backdrop of Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_214647C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_214647C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_214741C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_214741C9.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Snowy Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_215343C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_215343C9.jpg\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Chugach Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I hiked Flattop-Flaketop loop the next day.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_215529.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_215529.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Anchorage Airport\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Anchorage Airport<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_215709.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_215709.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Tordrillo Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Tordrillo Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_220023.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_220023.jpg\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Chugach Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_220047C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_220047C9.jpg\" alt=\"Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Chugach Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Last time I was in Anchorage, I climbed South Pioneer Peak. This time, I planned on East Twin Peak.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250628_220259C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250628_220259C9.jpg\" alt=\"Anchorage against Backdrop of Chugach Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Anchorage against Backdrop of Chugach Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>We reached the gate at 7:10pm, and I retrieved my checked bags at 7:44pm. This 34-minute gap was beyond the standards some other carriers adhered to, but given American&#8217;s limited presence in Anchorage (and the general sense of sloppiness that characterized this flight), that&#8217;s hardly surprising.<br \/>\nOn the flip side, this wait didn&#8217;t bother me that much in the end, as I booked my rental car based on my original flight&#8217;s arrival time, so I still needed to wait a little bit at the rental counter before the car&#8217;s ready.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Alaska_Airlines_Flight_59_American_Airlines_Flights_2619_and_1933_from_Anchorage_to_Boston_via_Minneapolis_and_Charlotte\">Alaska Airlines Flight 59, American Airlines Flights 2619 and 1933 from Anchorage to Boston, via Minneapolis and Charlotte<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Fast forward to July 5. I wrapped up the day&#8217;s activities much earlier than expected, and made it to the airport 4 hours before my flight to Minneapolis. As this was the weekend after the July 4 holiday, it was a bustling scene at the airport with numerous redeyes poised to depart for the Continental United States. This holiday exodus manifested in the long security screening queue, yet remarkably, Anchorage Airport offered a priority lane clearly marked for airline elite members, through which I effortlessly glided.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_182045.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_182045.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/a><\/br>Passage<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Between Rental Car Center and terminal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_184338.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_184338.jpg\" alt=\"Terminal Interior\" \/><\/a><\/br>Terminal Interior<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Very long lines outside Sun Country checkin counter.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_185339.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_185339.jpg\" alt=\"Delta Airlines B763 (N174DZ)\" \/><\/a><\/br>Delta Airlines B763 (N174DZ)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Delta operated one daily widebody between Anchorage and Atlanta.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250705_182045.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250705_184338.jpg\" alt=\"Terminal Interior\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250705_185339.jpg\" alt=\"Delta Airlines B763 (N174DZ)\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_182045.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_182045.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Passage<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Between Rental Car Center and terminal.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_184338.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_184338.jpg\" alt=\"Terminal Interior\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Terminal Interior<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Very long lines outside Sun Country checkin counter.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_185339.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_185339.jpg\" alt=\"Delta Airlines B763 (N174DZ)\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Delta Airlines B763 (N174DZ)<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Delta operated one daily widebody between Anchorage and Atlanta.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In the days preceding my departure, the number of available first class seats on this Minneapolis flight fluctuated between 0 and 1. Since Alaska Airlines prioritized upgrades for its MVP 100k and 75k elites before any elites with American Airlines, I was #4 on the upgrade list hence wasn&#8217;t expecting an upgrade. Surprisingly, moments before departure, I checked my app and it showed I was upgraded, apparently claiming the final available first class seat. &#128515;<\/p>\n<p>Alaska Airlines 59<br \/>\nAnchorage, AK (ANC) &#8211; Minneapolis St Paul, MN (MSP)<br \/>\nBoeing 737-900 (N238AK)<br \/>\nSeat 2A<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 10:35pm<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 10:35pm<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 7:00am+1<br \/>\nActual Arrival \t    &#8211; 6:43m+1<br \/>\n5 hours and 8 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=237632019&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>As for the flight, I liked the retro style first class seats on Alaska Airlines with their generous padding, though I could envision the lack of head support if I was a few inches taller. I sat on the left side of the plane. Given the route and the season, my position promised a rare spectacle of both sunset and sunrise during this 5-hours flight. Only that this was a redeye where most people sought whatever slumber they could find, hence the crew explicitly suggested window shades to be closed to preserve the darkness of the cabin.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_223834.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_223834.jpg\" alt=\"Turnagain Arm\" \/><\/a><\/br>Turnagain Arm<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_233201.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_233201.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset Glow\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sunset Glow<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_013127.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_013127.jpg\" alt=\"Twilight\" \/><\/a><\/br>Twilight<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_033915.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_033915.jpg\" alt=\"Islands among Mississippi River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Islands among Mississippi River<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250705_223834.jpg\" alt=\"Turnagain Arm\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250705_233201.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset Glow\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250706_013127.jpg\" alt=\"Twilight\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250706_033915.jpg\" alt=\"Islands among Mississippi River\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_223834.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_223834.jpg\" alt=\"Turnagain Arm\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Turnagain Arm<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250705_233201.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250705_233201.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset Glow\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sunset Glow<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_013127.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_013127.jpg\" alt=\"Twilight\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Twilight<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_033915.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_033915.jpg\" alt=\"Islands among Mississippi River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Islands among Mississippi River<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the landing:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/a3HgbREU468\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It was a somewhat bumpy ride from Anchorage to Minneapolis. After that, my original itinerary was<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Minneapolis 10:18am -> Chicago O&#8217;Hare 12:29pm<\/li>\n<li>Chicago O&#8217;Hare 1:20pm -> Boston 4:39pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This schedule offered me a long connection in Minneapolis (over 3 hours) and a tight one in Chicago (less than an hour). Initially, this arrangement seemed ideal. I could enjoy the Escape Lounge (part of PPS) in Minneapolis. While the lounge proved spacious with passable breakfast offerings, many seats would have benefited from more thorough cleaning.<\/p>\n<p>Sunday, July 6 promised an enticing morning of sports, Wimbledon and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, that suited my interest. Just as I thought I could watch (most of) the Grand Prix before my Chicago flight, American Airlines notified me of a delay. The inbound aircraft (N309JR) was held up in Chicago, quite surprising as I had occasionally observed its punctuality for weeks prior. After a quick search, I discovered an alternative route:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Minneapolis 9:52am -> Charlotte 1:30pm<\/li>\n<li>Charlotte 3:10pm -> Boston 5:21pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This option would prove more efficient if I missed my Chicago connection (though it would arrive 42 minutes later if I made that connection). Anticipating further delays on the Chicago route, I called American Airlines to secure this &#8220;better&#8221; itinerary.<\/p>\n<p>Curiously, I hadn&#8217;t appeared on the upgrade lists for either of my original Chicago-routed flights. I suspected that once Alaska Airlines confirmed my ANC-MSP upgrade, they &#8220;took over&#8221; control of the ticket, and some technical glitch removed me from subsequent upgrade lists. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">In Anchorage, Alaska gate agents had actually paged me regarding something like &#8220;reassociate vcr,&#8221; though they couldn&#8217;t identify the precise issue.<\/span> With this in mind, it made sense to &#8220;reset&#8221; my ticket.<\/p>\n<p>It turned out that the weather was very bad in Chicago with widespread delays that day. Had I continued onto Chicago with my original itinerary, I would get home 3 hours (instead of 42 minutes) late.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/Screenshot_20250706_093803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/Screenshot_20250706_093803.jpg\" alt=\"Inbound Aircraft at Chicago Airport\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">This screenshot, captured after boarding my Charlotte flight, shows my original flight&#8217;s inbound aircraft still queued for takeoff at Chicago O&#8217;Hare\u2014already 20 minutes past its scheduled departure time.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>American Airlines 2619<br \/>\nMinneapolis St Paul, MN (MSP) &#8211; Charlotte, NC (CLT)<br \/>\nAirbus A321 (N198UW)<br \/>\nSeat 1A<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 9:52am<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 9:58am<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 1:30pm<br \/>\nActual Arrival \t    &#8211; 1:06pm<br \/>\n2 hours and 8 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=237632051&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the takeoff:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0PSueewXG9U\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>By the time I switched to the Charlotte flight, a single first class seat remained, with a lengthy upgrade list already in place. Fortunately, my status positioned me at the top of this list, securing me the coveted final seat. It&#8217;s quite the contrary for my connecting flight from Charlotte to Boston, with one person on the upgrade list and two first class seats available. Within half an hour, however, another traveler had joined the queue, relegating me to third position and ultimately leaving me in the main cabin. (I found myself rather surprised by the absence of lower-tier American Airlines elite members on that particular flight.)<\/p>\n<p>As for the flight itself, MSP-CLT was just over American Airlines&#8217; first class meal threshold (900mi) while BOS-ORD was under. Having properly stuffed my stomach in Minneapolis&#8217; lounge (given there was no PPS lounge in Chicago O&#8217;Hare), the lunch felt a little bit too much. Apart from that, the flight was uneventful.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_104250.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_104250.jpg\" alt=\"Lunch\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lunch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My second time trying out this Chicken Breast.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_101909C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_101909C.jpg\" width=\"75%\" alt=\"Dirty Seat Belt\" \/><\/a><\/br>Dirty Seat Belt<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I expected better maintenance from American Airlines.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250706_104250.jpg\" alt=\"Lunch\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250706_101909C.jpg\" alt=\"Dirty Seat Belt\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_104250.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_104250.jpg\" alt=\"Lunch\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lunch<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">My second time trying out this Chicken Breast.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_101909C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_101909C.jpg\" alt=\"Dirty Seat Belt\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Dirty Seat Belt<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I expected better maintenance from American Airlines.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The flight from Minneapolis to Charlotte overflew Chicago, where I saw dense clouds below, indicative of ominous weather. The clouds gradually dispersed after that, revealing patchworks of landscape below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_121303.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_121303.jpg\" alt=\"Ohio River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ohio River<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Near Cincinnati<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_130314.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_130314.jpg\" alt=\"Carowinds Amusement Park\" \/><\/a><\/br>Carowinds Amusement Park<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Built across the state line of North and South Carolinas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250706_121303.jpg\" alt=\"Ohio River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails-s\/20250706_130314.jpg\" alt=\"Carowinds Amusement Park\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_121303.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_121303.jpg\" alt=\"Ohio River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ohio River<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Near Cincinnati<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/20250706_130314.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/06\/28\/thumbnails\/20250706_130314.jpg\" alt=\"Carowinds Amusement Park\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Carowinds Amusement Park<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Built across the state line of North and South Carolinas.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of the landing:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3lHp57R7EJc\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>After landing in Charlotte, I attempted to visit The Club, a PPS lounge. Expectedly there was a waiting list. But after I gained entry, the experience proved underwhelming: its buffet part was almost non-existent, and the food that I ordered never came.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines 1933<br \/>\nCharlotte, NC (CLT) &#8211; Boston, MA (BOS)<br \/>\nBoeing 737-800 (N968AN)<br \/>\nSeat 8D<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 3:10pm<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 3:21pm<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 5:21pm<br \/>\nActual Arrival \t    &#8211; 5:02pm<br \/>\n1 hour and 41 minutes<\/p>\n<p>For the final flight back home, it was operated by a 24-year old 738 (N968AN). I noticed the floor yielded slightly whenever passengers walked down the aisle past my seat, which was somewhat disconcerting.  Fortunately, the floor remained intact at the end of the day.<br \/>\nCuriously, the drink service for this flight commenced approximately an hour after takeoff, well beyond the halfway point of the flight, the cause of which remained a mystery.<\/p>\n<p>It had been a long day so I was feeling a bit tired and slept through most of the flight, which went smoothly.<br \/>\nI checked two bags at Anchorage, which, following my itinerary change in Minneapolis, were both rerouted onto this flight (despite American Airlines app showing one of them had been stranded in Minneapolis. In a curious aftermath, American Airlines sent me an apologetic email regarding the supposedly delayed baggage and offered to deliver it to my address, presenting an opportunity for dishonesty had I chosen to falsely claim that I never retrieved the &#8220;left-behind&#8221; bag).<br \/>\nAfter collecting my bags 15 minutes after our gate arrival, I boarded the subway home, concluding the trip.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I made a trip over Independence Day to Alaska. This post would be about the flights back and forth, which were filled with lots of drama but everything turned out fine in the end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,676,2],"tags":[537,188],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9859"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9859"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10094,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9859\/revisions\/10094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}