Review of American Airlines flight Orlando → Charlotte in Domestic First

INTRODUCTION

Welcome back!
This report is covering leg 3 of 4 of a trip down to Orlando this past April. Originating in Toronto, my booking took me through Charlotte. Today's SHORT report highlights the service between MCO and CLT. AA operates a massive operation out of Charlotte, post merger. The hub has been seeing growth between CLT and Europe and also the Caribbean. Having travelled through this gateway multiple times, the increase of passengers is quite evident.  
My primary carrier in and out of MCO has always been AA. There is been a great cut in Orlando's service by AA, most notably, MCO-JFK which as operated by a Boeing 767, when last I booked that flight.  AA has multiple daily flights between the two cities which are all operated by the A321 and the A332 in high season months. 
Todays flight was delayed by almost 3 hours and as a result AA's booking system automatically rebooked me on later flights. Initially, checkin crew bumped me out of First class into economy but I REFUSED to take that flight.  Luckily, the crew at the gate found me a seat. 

Check-in was smooth at MCO as were the TSA lines. Once I got to the gate I only just realized that our flight, along with all other CLT flights were delayed. CLT was experiencing severe thunderstorms, causing a ground stop. 

The crew at the gate advised us to sit back, relax and even find some food as there was no definite time of departure for our flight. Spotting was done in the meantime.

Other AA flights headed out to DFW, LAX and MIA as ours stood delayed. 

aircraft : N188US; Airbus A321-200; 17.3 Years

Around 2.5 hours later our flight began boarding. This would have caused me to miss my initial connection via CLT onto YYZ. 

Pushback

Due to the late departure, snacks were given out before taxi.

Taxi & Takeoff

A left turn towards CLT.

As we flew further north, thunderstorms were developing off the FL coast, which sent our route right into the Atlantic. 

Sunset came soon after.

The bright colors lit the cabin before the aircraft disappeared behind the clouds 

Descent into CLT

Final into RWY 36L and gate on a wet evening. 

Our route for this flight after deviating for weather.