[Note: If interested, please read the text, or/and, I hope, you, at least, enjoy the pictures below...]

If one was a frequent (air) traveler in the pre-pandemic days, and takes a (commercial) flight in recent times, there are many nuances that would be noticeable. After several years of complete break from air-travel, I recently flew (pax) three (short) B2B legs (one round-trip and one one-way), within a span of 3-4 days. Years before these pandemic constraints ruled air-travel, during the last decade or so, I'd considered myself a seasoned flyer...including long-haul flights. In fact, of my last few air travels, I clearly recall one in an AA B777, a non-stop leg lasting nearly 17.5 hours (comprised an hour or so of diversion to an ALTN APT, due to poor weather conditions at the DEST APT - when the cockpit announcement was heard of the diversion, it had made me take a mental note for more serious (virtual) adherence to fuel planning...🙂..., even in our make-believe world, for such (adverse-weather/poor-visibility) contingencies, especially after being afloat for 16+ hours, and, possibly compounded by a night arrival, as was the case in my above (RW) instance...).

Anyway, back to the bits of recollections from my recent (short) round-trip flight...

On a clear, warm, and sunny day, after tightening my mask, I entered the main terminal building of KAUS (Austin–Bergstrom Intl.) airport, with a bit of (uncharacteristic) uneasiness, for my late afternoon flight. The terminal and counters were busy, teeming with masked-up travelers. In my eagerness, I approached an "AA" self-service kiosk (AA and UA counters were adjacent to each other), keyed in my "UA" confirmation No. into the "AA" kiosk, and was wondering why it would not accept...🙂....before a kind and observant AA staff directed me to the next set of kiosks for UA. The United a/c was an A319 (see screenshots below). I'd thought I would probably be in an A320 or a B737, but didn't know UA actually has 97 319s (and 96 320s) in current service. My (still existing, and, to my surprise, un-expired) trans-oceanic miles had fortunately allowed me to get seating in the pointy end of the plane, and, also being able to board at the beginning, I did manage to sneak a quick peek at this (RW) airbus cockpit while the Pilots were setting up their stuff...an activity, always a bit of fascination for this virtual pilot...

We lifted off from the northbound runway of KAUS (see MAP of route, below), into scattered clouds and blue sky...in bright ~90 degrees (F) weather...as I watched, from my window seat, the extended flaps sliding back into their receptacles. The flight was nice, with no unruly on-board incidence of any kind...that we occasionally hear about these days...

I noticed (in the seat-pocket), the UA Hemispheres Magazine, with the odd (but comforting) label, on its front cover, stating that the magazine has been treated with an antimicrobial protection...a clear sign of the times...while I gingerly thumbed through the pages. In cruise, when the steward came along the isle, with the refreshments cart, I, wishing for a specific beverage, offered my credit card. I was politely told that, as a health (safety) measure, impromptu credit card payments are (understandably) no longer accepted on board, but, I was good and entitled to my (free) refreshment, and was offered the serving of a South African Shiraz (on the label, it said, "a pleasant and charming" wine...🙂...which it was...), complete with UA napkins, that had duly printed with (pandemic-era) text, "mask off, drink, eat, mask on" - cautioning to remove masks only briefly for drinking and eating...another sign of the times...a rule I strictly adhered to...while trying to enjoy my beverage...

I'd checked and known beforehand that the Chicago weather would be different...so, after just about 2.5 hours of airtime, as we approached Chicago airspace, the pilots (expectedly) announced the (arrival) weather to be rainy, windy, and blustery, in the ~40s,...not unusual for Chicago fall. While I noticed expressions of surprise and concern, among a few of my fellow-pax, I was glad I'd packed a reasonably thick jacket in my carry-on...the real thick ones been long discarded/donated in the past...🙂...For approach into KORD, the Airbus (first) flew eastward just over and past the Hancock Center building, to the Lake side, (I could clearly spot the iconic dark-hued skyscraper, below), and, then, it made a gentle 180 degrees turn back, directly over the waters, westward, overflying the twin-ribbons of Lake Shore Drive, to land (I believe) on Rwy 28C. While taxiing to the gate, I spotted, in motion, (see images below), a Cathay Pacific 747, an ANA Cargo 767 (note an exact image below of the livery (I saw) with the bold blue lettering), and a Lufthansa 747, all lifting off, one by one, into the air from the adjacent runways, for far-off and (exotic) far-east destinations,...KORD is always a good airport to spot the big birds...

For the return flight, from KORD, it was an United Express ERJ-135, an a/c, I don't recall been ever on, in the past. With only 3-abreast (1+2) seating in this ultra narrow-body twinjet, I was alone by myself, comfortably seated, on left side of the isle, in the third row. As our ERJ-135 taxied for takeoff, seemingly for a very long time, past O'Hare's crisscrossing runways, I spotted another ERJ, trailing behind an Austrian 777 (see 777 image below), keeping a safe distance, (coincidentally, btw, rhyming with my past B2B posts, here, about Austrian Airlines and its 777s),...the ERJ Express looking so "small" next to the massive T7...! Readying for takeoff roll, our ERJ (momentarily) stopped right on the numbers, straddling the (KORD) Rwy marking "22L", and, the fuselage of this plane being small and slim, I could clearly see the left "2" of "22L" (see screenshot), below me, on the runway...those (RW) RWY marking numbers, viewed in proximity, are actually quite large....unlike, as they might appear (virtually and visually) in our SIM...

As the ERJ sharply climbed its way, upward, away from the cityscape, through the overcast grey clouds, in light rain and wind, I braced myself for a bit of mild turbulence, but, there was none perceptible...and barely an hour or so into the flight, above the cloud-layers, I could see again the rising sun, bright in the far-off clear blue sky, as the jet raced (southward) towards the (welcome) warmth of the South...an aspect of the local weather, I would probably miss most, henceforward,...oh well...

Thanks for your interest...! Happy flying...!!

[Credits: Miscellaneous freeware and payware a/c]

Very nice shots!

(Just when I was wondering about your absence here..) .Enjoyed the narrative, seeing the traffic in my imagination before scrolling down to see it reproduced in your shots.

John

Great story and shots from your flight mate .

Great set of shots - again ! 👍🏽

cheers 😉

Interesting story and nice pics, P_7878! My last long haul (Germany to South East Asia) I did early last year and I really enjoyed it. Friendly crew and great food and wine on both legs! At that time I was blissfully unaware of what would hit us soon after my return. 

Alaska738, John, johnbow, pmplayer, Bernd:

Many thanks for the comments...!!

[Bernd: Glad you got in on a long-haul...just before the airline napkins were re-designed...🙂...]