Review of American Airlines flight Washington → Chicago in Economy

Airline American Airlines
Flight AA2239
Class Economy
Seat 21E
Aircraft Boeing 737-800
Flight time 02:05
Take-off 05 Jul 15, 20:00
Arrival at 05 Jul 15, 21:05
AA   #50 out of 113 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 483 reviews
aussenrist
By 1845
Published on 20th October 2015
Hi and welcome to this fifth installment of my flight reports!

The routing for this trip was as follows:
1. CX806 HKG-ORD B777-300ER [http://flight-report.com/en/report-11725.html]
2. AA4319 ORD-MSP Embraer E-175 [http://flight-report.com/en/report-11769.html]
3. AA3067 MSN-ORD Embraer E-145 [http://flight-report.com/en/report-11836.html]
4. AA2323 ORD-DCA B737-800 [http://flight-report.com/en/report-11913.html]
5. AA2239 DCA-ORD B737-800 [You are here!]
6. CX807 ORD-HKG B777-300ER [http://flight-report.com/en/report-12515.html]

Background

Although travelling together to DC, this time I flew without my friend again because he was too late to book this flight and could only take the next day US flight back to Chicago via Charlotte.

Flight Report

After staying several days in DC, it was time to go back Chicago. I took the DC Metro and arrived the DCA airport around 6:50pm.

photo IMG_20150705_185218 copy

DCA terminal map

photo IMG_20150705_185934

As I had my online check-in last night, I just printed out the boarding pass at kiosk

photo IMG_20150705_190321 copyphoto IMG_20150705_190427 copy

Main Hall of DCA airport

photo DSCF2568 copy

Then I proceeded to the TSA checkpoint. There was a long queue but very smooth. Airside of the terminal.

photo IMG_20150705_192021 copy

Headed to my gate. The ground staff were preparing.

photo IMG_20150705_192422 copy

Our plane was already here. It was in old livery.

photo DSCF2572 copy

Still have time to boarding I walked around to make some airport snapshots and prepare my “dinner”.

photo DSCF2573 copyphoto DSCF2577 copyphoto DSCF2578 copy

An Aadvantage Card advertisement.

photo IMG_20150705_193216 copy

Not many passengers sat and waited alongside the gate. Indeed a lot of people (including me) gathered outside the restaurant and watched the Live Woman World Cup Final which the USA vs Japan! At that moment it was 0-0.

photo IMG_20150705_192548 copy

Soon the boarding started. Embarking.

photo IMG_20150705_194612photo IMG_20150705_194648

Walking to my middle seat. The FAs for this flight were very young and friendly. This time my window seat neighbor was a teenager.

photo IMG_20150705_194740 copy

Seatback pocket was clean this time! The legroom was adequate for me.

photo IMG_20150705_195234

Seatback materials. The American meal looks good (but I didn’t try)

photo IMG_20150705_195340photo IMG_20150705_195414photo IMG_20150705_195547

Later a family of 5 came. Their seats were mainly located at my previous row but one of them was the roadside seat next to me. And the daughter came and sat next to me.

Safety video was playing during push back. And we took off!

photo IMG_20150705_200113

After takeoff the plane still had empty seats. Knowing that there was an empty seat next to her mother, the daughter moved to it and sat. And I slid to the roadside seat for more legroom! :P

The FAs turned off the light for resting after the beverage services. Compared with the outbound flight, this cabin was newer and lightening was installed on this plane.

photo IMG_20150705_202841

Variety show was playing on the overhead screens.

photo IMG_20150705_205116

And I had my sandwiches “dinner” …

photo IMG_20150705_205810

After “dinner” I went to the toilet. Aside from the former user forgot to unclog the sink, it was clean and in normal standard.

photo IMG_20150705_214221

For the rest of the time the teenager watched “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and I continued reading the seatback magazine. An introduction of American fleet collection and inflight services.

photo IMG_20150705_205847photo IMG_20150705_205928

Soon the plane was about to land. The FA started collecting garbage.

photo IMG_20150705_215843 copy

We arrived on time!

During disembarking I followed the disability who brought his dogs for the flight

photo IMG_20150705_212452 copy

Passing baggage claim in ORD Terminal 3

photo IMG_20150705_213358

Then I took the CTA blue line to my hostel in the Near North.

And this is the flight report.










Below are the first part tourist bonus of Days and Nights in Chicago (Days). Enjoy!

Baha'i House of Worship in Evanston IL

photo DSCF2595 copy

Chinatown Chicago

photo DSCF2964 copy

And we go to Yum Cha in Chinatown :D

photo DSCF2957 copy

The University of Chicago. Many HK students know (or hate :o)) it because its Chicago School of Economics was once the core of Economics syllabus in HK Public Exam (I am also the victim LOL)

photo DSCF2818 copy

Chicago skyline from the Adler Planetarium

photo DSCF2942 copy

The Bean!

photo DSCF2734 copy

Damen CTA Station

photo DSCF2681 copy

The Art Institute of Chicago.

photo DSCF2996 copy

I saw many masterpieces including American Gothic!

photo DSCF2997 copy

And I hereby thank Vincent for helping me to conclude this report

photo dscf3014 copy

Thank you for your reading!
See more

Verdict

American Airlines

7.1/10
Cabin7.5
Cabin crew8.5
Entertainment/wifi6.0
Meal/catering6.5

Washington - DCA

8.5/10
Efficiency8.5
Access9.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.5

Chicago - ORD

8.1/10
Efficiency8.5
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0

Conclusion

The return flight to ORD was better than the outbound flight. It was on time. Seat was clean and comfort. The FAs were friendly, young and energetic.

Information on the route Washington (DCA) → Chicago (ORD)

4 Comments

  • Comment 150567 by
    NGO85 — 1622 Comments

    Thanks for sharing this report with us.

    I was about to say, DCA looked pretty quiet at that hour, but everyone was watching the US-Japan Women’s World Cup game. It’s weird seeing the BSI on a plane with the old “tin can” livery. You seemed to have good weather throughout your trip.

    • Comment 328676 by
      aussenrist — AUTHOR 224 Comments

      Thanks for your comment and sharing NGO85!

      - Before boarding I even thought that the cabin would be older than my outbound flight. I have a little surprise on it.
      - For my whole US trip it was mostly in good weather except 2 sudden and heavy rain in Chicago and Minneapolis.

  • Comment 158607 by
    Pilpintu — 723 Comments

    Thanks for sharing!

    I was amazed by Reagan airport's architecture, with its tall, imposing domes and arcades. After reading your FR I did some googling and learned about Jeffersonian architecture. I can see all those octagons in your pictures! Very beautiful!

    Also, I was shocked to see that food is not free in American Airlines. I checked their fares online and they are not precisely the most economical airline around. I think I will never complain about LAN's snacks again! At least they're included in the ticket price!

    Best =)

    • Comment 335805 by
      aussenrist — AUTHOR 224 Comments

      Thanks for your comment Nechus!

      - Thanks for your information since I do not know the story behind the DCA architecture before! I also think that the airport departure hall is gorgeous.
      - This is a short US domestic flight so no food or snacks are provided. At that moment AA was the only option for my travelling inside US (for renewing my CX member status). IMO their fees were reasonable (brought as multi-city ticket). BTW it is always nice for a carrier providing free snacks to passenger^^

Login to post a comment.