Tiers and Dreams – AA3360 Chicago O’Hare to Toronto Pearson with a Nighttime Approach Special

Chicago XV – Tiers and Dreams
AA3360 Chicago O’Hare to Toronto Pearson, with a Nighttime Approach Special

Contents:

• Tiers? And Dreams? Huh?
• Off to Heathrow, American Airlines FlAAgship Lounge
• American Airlines AA99 London – Chicago
• Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• Back to O’Hare, AA AAdmrials Club
• American Airlines AA1380 Chicago to St Louis, St Louis AAdmirals Club, AA1685 St Louis to Dallas Fort Worth
  
• DFW and AAn CEO encounter…
• American Airlines AA1180 – Dallas Fort Worth to San Juan
• The Intercontinental San Juan and #Rucksackgate
• San Juan International Airport
• American Airlines AA1591 San Juan to Dallas Forth Worth
• More messing around DFW
• American Airlines AA1618 Dallas Fort Worth to St Louis International, A quick STL Stop, American Airlines AA1186 St Louis to Chicago
• The Hyatt Regency O’Hare with a Rucksack gate update
• One Time Exception: A Chicago Photographic Interlude
• O’Hare Take 3, AA AAdmirals Club
• AA3360 Chicago O’Hare to Toronto Pearson – THIS SECTION
• Toronto Airport Omnishambles – The Long Wait, BA Toronto Lounge
• BA96 Toronto to London Heathrow featuring the British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner
• Homeward bound
• The long and winding road

AA 3630 Chicago O’Hare to Toronto Pearson International
American Eagle Embraer ERJ-145, Main Cabin (sold as World Traveller Plus)
20 Tier Points Earned, 500 Avios Earned + 500 Avios Gold Bonus

The photos:

• http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/2013/11/04/american-eagle-chicago-to-toronto-1-of-3.html
• http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/2013/11/05/american-eagle-chicago-to-toronto-2-of-3-night-time-approach-into-yyz.html
• http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/2013/11/06/american-eagle-chicago-to-toronto-3-of-3.html

I was welcomed aboard as I entered the little ERJ-145, and headed down to my usual seat of 12A. Whilst on a connection, 1A and further up the front is more preferred, 12A is the emergency exit row – and thus more legroom.

My kind of seat.

Taken in-flight

In case of emergency…

I also noticed a new kind of safety belt too. Very odd, considering the rest of the plane had normal safety belt clips.

Loading took time as the ERJ filled up with a mixture of O&D passengers as well as a lot of transit passengers – mostly British passport holders. An interesting mix.

There was a ground hold before we were allowed to push back, so the plane settled down in quiet until it was time for the safety demonstration.

Eventually, the pushback began, and the safety demonstration was performed. With that out of the way, our little Embraer 145 begun its taxi out

New planes – a 737-800 and an Embraer 170

Soon, it was our turn to line up for take off, and those little Rolls Royce Allison Engines spooled up for a rocketing take-off.

The take off took us past Chicago, across the lakes, and tracking towards Toronto, with a few extra loops thrown in.

The city of Chicago in the distance – See you soon!

Clearing the cloud layer

No smoking… seatbelts on… as it was pretty bumpy…

As we begun our short hop over to Toronto, the colours changed as the evening sunset begun to fall.

Meanwhile, cabin service had begun, with a drinks only service offered.

Diet Cola. I’m so original in my drinks… and don’t judge my music tastes either… believe me, this is not the worst I can unleash!

Meanwhile, the colours changed into a fiery sunset

As the Sun set, our plane begun its decent, with new colours,

The cloud also misted a lot… with more rain than cloud, indicating a bumpy landing ahead.

However, when the layer cleared I was rewarded with a lovely view of Greater Toronto and Toronto itself at night. I’ll let the picture do the talking.

City of Toronto in the distance.

The plane completed its final decent, touching down in the Toronto night

With a bit of reverser we made it to Toronto, with a long taxi over to the American Eagle Gates.

Wet. Toronto. This is vaguely familiar.

Turning for the Gate.

Our ERJ parked at its stand, and soon enough we were all released.

Overall: The staff weren’t as good as the staff I had last time on a Chicago-Toronto leg, but it provided the service needed for a one and a bit hour flight. The cherry on top was of course the sights of Toronto at night – worth it.

Next up: A final “gift” from American Airlines, A panic, A Delay, and the BA Lounge.

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