Who have imagined that i am going to book on United again after my very bad experience with them on June 2000.

A friend of mine, encouraged me to book on them again and give them a try, because he was insisting that they have really changed. i thought... Oh well, whatever. the surprise came when i wanted to do a second trip to st. louis and after checking, United had reasonable prices with a connecting service in chicago. I was thinking to give it a try, i was on a vacation in the USA, and i thought well since the Cable modem went down when i was trying to book, why dont i just call them. I called, and while speaking with the reservation agent, i brought up to her that i am an employee to Emirates airlines. She was happy with that, and she said that the flights may be over booked that day, but she can put me on first with only paying the full fare economy, and she will fax me the ticket in minuites after the confirmation and payments are made. Things went well with her, and i got the fax in the same hour after giving her my credit card number.

The day of departure came, and it was time to see how things have really changed as david always whined for me not wanting to fly United again. well, i had to make some change in the flight time, and it had some thing to do when pulling my reservation on the system at checkin, the checkin agent thought that my reservation was cancelled, we had some argument, but she called her supervisor, who was able to see what was wrong, and that my reservation still exist, and that i am booked on first class "computer Error", i go past security, "sir, you have been selected for a random security check" , "impressive" i said, so i place my roller bag, and let them open it. they found my few khaki pants, jumpers, pajamas, shampoos and disposable razors, in addition to my electronic tooth brush" and offcourse, my laptop had more attention, where i had to switch it on and then switch it off", i was wearing sandals!   no shoes taking off! haha.

I boarded that A320, the flight attendant seemed a little bit uncomfortable with me being middleastern, or was it because i was the first one to board? dunno, whatever, but this flight attendant's attitude has changed completely after that and we will get into that some time soon. I place my carry ons in the over head, and try to secure my laptop case, so it doesnt get damaged. flight attendants starts closing the over heads and then the purser says "Flight attendants, please arm doors for departure" i was like.. "hmm, now we are going to push back". we pushed back and engines were started. weather was sunny. we taxied and taxied non stop, then when the plane turned on the runway, the pilot said "flight attendants, positions for take off" i knew it is time to take off, he didnt hold on the runway, he just pushed up the engines. and the plane started rotating, i didnt like the A320 take off to be honest, i kinda love the 777 or the MD-80 take offs.

Now time in the air. after take off, the seat belt signs went off, the flight attendants started serving continental breakfast. I had butter, bread, yoghurt, fruits and an Omlete. after that i wanted to go to the lavatory, and i told the same flight attendant that i am also like her, and i totally understand why was she uncomfotable, she laughed and she seemed to be a wonderful lady. we kinda talked about Airbus VS. Boeing! hehehe... dont hit me guys for that.

we landed in Chicago exactly on schedule, and i had to run to my connecting flight. slight 5 minuites delay, but it was ok, it was also a shorter flight. nothing different on this flight except the beverage services on first, but on coach, i had no idea what was going on.

returning flight! well, STL-ORD, crew weren't that friendly, A senior flight attendant who had some attitude, but i didnt have to interact much with her for a 40 minuites flight.

ORD-IAD, well, this was so exciting, the equipment was a 767-300, i was on business class on that flight. it was so nice. Crew were pretty young and all male! i was surprised, i chatted with one of them who told me he was gay, and i told him i work for Emirates airlines. He complained how does it suck for juniors that they dont get to fly internationally except when a senior crew cannot take that trip and then they call them to fill that gap. when touch down, the captain Cracked the plane on the runway, three over heads pop down open hehehe. i was like, Oh man, aint i a lover of the 777?

after all, i would recommend United's first class, they really have changed. but they need to improve more.