TRIP REPORT: AA882 Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (Exit Row) – Still for the Friends

AA882 Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (Exit Row)
Still for the Friends

Time for something I haven’t done for a while – a US Domestic Segment down the back of an American Airlines flight. How are things doing for those of us in steerage on this hour-and-a-bit run to Atlanta? 

• Still for the friends
• But first. A trip to Liverpool, North West England.  But why?
• To the… daytime Heathrow run?
• Lounging around with Cathay Pacific and American Airlines
• AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare (Main Cabin Extra)
• Into the USA, A Scammer Taxi driver and the Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• The Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Airplane Art Extra from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Exploring a craft at the Museum of Contemporary Photography
• The Gundam Base, Chicago
• Random Chicago Eats
• Off the Camera Roll – Views and Images of a Windy City
• An Early Return to O’Hare and the American Airlines Flagship Lounge
• AA882 to Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (Exit Row)
• A Quick Atlanta Transit
• BA226 to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to London Heathrow Terminal 3 (World Traveller/Economy Class)
• Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory and The Journey Home
• It’s Still for Friends

AA882 Chicago O’Hare Terminal 3 to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (T-Gates)
American Airlines
Airbus A319
Seat 13F, Main Cabin (Exit Row)
606 Miles Flown, 151 Tier Miles Earned, 1 Sector Earned (RJ Programme)

Boarding the A319, I was welcomed by the crew as I headed for the exit row. With three cabin crew aboard, they looked in jovial spirits. Which is good to see, if I’m honest – especially these days.

One of these logos is not like the others… 

I headed to Row 14 and to the F side, stowing both of my bags in the overhead compartment and got settled in. I also grabbed some spare chocolate I had brought from the UK, which I didn’t particularly want to take back with me (after all, Cadbury’s Orange Twirls break up easily, especially since they’ve been in my day bag).

Settling into the seat, it’s a typical American Airlines short-haul seat, by Collins Aerospace – this being the Meridian seat. It’s fine enough, even on this Airbus A319. Amazing what happens when you give the product space to breathe…

Sadly, the A319 has been through its Oasis refit, so there are no IFE screens.

With four passengers expected for the exit rows turning up (one at each window, one at the aisle), the exit seat confirmation was asked for and requested, with a verbal response required.

With that done and the formality complete, I paused the flight attendant and asked her to share the chocolate amongst the crew.  I don’t think I’ve seen such genuine delight from a crew member for some time. And as word spread, they all came to thank me, one by one. For me, it was a way of getting shot of some chocolate I didn’t want to take home.

Benefits all around.

With everyone aboard, the safety demonstration was carried out manually by the crew as the aircraft pushed back for its journey to Atlanta.

With the briefing complete, it was time to push back and begin this journey.

Preparing to taxi out 

United Airbus A320

American Eagle E170

United Boeing 737-800

Life in the terminals yet. 

Thankfully, there was a short taxi to the runway with the A319 pootling around the many taxiways of O’Hare. Soon enough, it was the turn of our aircraft to line up and wait.

Lining up for the active 

And with a roar, the engines groaned into life, propelling the aircraft into the sky.

It made a tight turn heading out of Chicago O’Hare, as it turned southwards and began its mission to Atlanta.

Bye Chicago. See in October hopefully 

For me, I had some wonderful views of the fading light.

For entertainment, I hopped onto the in-flight Wi-Fi. Again, once connected to the aainflight SSID and logging in (and watching an AT&T and a Mastercard advert), I was able to access the free internet aboard the aircraft.

From what I could work out, this aircraft was connected to the Intelsat Ku Network. Whilst I couldn’t get to speedtest.net on it, I was able to run a fast.com test instead, indicating that I was getting around 8 Mbps of speed. More than enough, and it didn’t feel laggy when browsing, which is always a good sign.

There was power at the seat – with emPower outlets at the seat bottom.

As the aircraft continued to level out, the crew began their in-flight service. Given I was in Main Cabin, this would be snacks (biscotti and pretzels) and non alcoholic drinks (because I’m not paying for alcohol unless I’m desperate… and I’m nowhere near desperate).

For drinks, I swear I said Coke Zero, with the flight attendant interpreting it as Club Soda. No matter. I was offered two cans of the stuff (with one of them offering decent relief way along the line), so I wasn’t too fussed.

I just sat back and watched twinkling lights as the aircraft made its way from Chicago to Atlanta.

And soon enough, the cabin was tidied down with the 1 and a half hour flight turning from evening to night, and soon the lights of Atlanta came into view.

With the cabin secure and darkened, I had some wonderful views as the aircraft completed its descent into Atlanta – including a flyby over the airport.

Hello ATL. 

The Airbus A319 completed its mission and landed safely at Delta Central – I mean Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

on the ground. 

Given we pulled off towards the T gates, the A319 made quick progress taxiing around the airport, as it headed towards the T Gates (the gates attached to the main terminal building).

I was happy, as this gave me a little padding on a tight connection.

Eventually, the aircraft made its way to the gate area, turned and parked up.

With the engines powered down and the cabin lights on, it was time to make a reasonably quick exit off the aircraft – whilst I had 1 hour and 10 minutes to make it across the field, I wasn’t in the mood to waste time.

Checking I had all my items, I thanked the crew and headed back into a place I haven’t been for many years… Atlanta Airport.

Overall:

For a short US Domestic segment, it delivered what I needed – transport from A to B, with a friendly crew (helped with Orange Twirls), with smiles and crew that seemed to want to be there, rather than just another domestic turn.

Whilst the lack of IFE Screens is always a low point, having free accessible Wi-Fi more than made up for this, with the ability to charge if I had remembered to bring my mains power block with me.

That and being on time was really helpful, given that I had a quick transit next, and given what was happening in the USA at that point, the thought of going airside that day if I missed my connection did not bear thinking about.

Next:

A Quick Atlanta transit adventure.

Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.

Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon and Instagram!

Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.