After surviving lots of taunts from friends about the routing, I embarked on this itinerary last Sunday. (the best one: "I guess "round trip" really means round trip!") If I didn't hear (or couldn't figure out) runway information, it's not included. Security at both points was routine. Here we go: Sunday 10 April 2011 UA6995 FWA-ORD (op. Skywest) Seat 7B on a CRJ-200. The Sunday evening weather forecast was stormy. I kept a very close eye on my departure before leaving. For about 15 minutes around Noon, the flight showed a 60 minute delay. I wasn't worried, as I had a 2 hour, 45 minute layover at ORD. The flight left FWA Gate 6. We battled a headwind. Otherwise, the flight was uneventful. The flight arrived ORD Gate F1A. Despite the prior predicted delay, we left FWA a few minutes late and arrived ORD a few minutes early. UA253 ORD-DEN Seat 37H on a Boeing 777-200. The flight left from ORD Gate C16 and departed from Runway 28 at 1901. At its peak, we had 104mph headwind and at 38,000 feet, it was -65 outside. Brrr. Among the flights I heard on ATC: Mercury 7544, 7577, 7526, 7541, Redwood 26, November 245, Jetlink 6016, Lindbergh 7408, 7389, 7450, Fivestar 515, and NZ2 (Air New Zealand flight #2, flying LAX-LHR). I don't know what these callsigns mean, and I don't have a bookmark for airline callsigns (what's a good website for that?) The flight arrived at DEN on Runway 7 at 2007 and then stopped at DEN Gate B16. We left ORD a few minutes late and arrived DEN a few minutes early. Questions: Why did ATC refer to us as "United 253 Heavy"? CO1604 DEN-LAS Seat 25D on a Boeing 737-800 The flight left from DEN Gate B16. My IFE didn't work, so I switched seats with 25E and purchased ($6) DirecTV on-demand IFE, while the passenger formerly in 25E took a nap in 25D. The flight arrived at LAS Gate D21. We left DEN a few minutes late and arrived LAS a few minutes early. Wednesday 13 April 2011 UA309 LAS-SFO Seat 22D on a Boeing 757-200. I purchased a $19 Economy Plus seat upon web check-in, so I moved to seat 11D. The flight left from LAS Gate D53. We left about 25 minutes late, as the prior IAD-LAS flight with this aircraft was delayed at IAD. The flight arrived at SFO Gate F82. UA158 SFO-ORD Seat 23D on a Boeing 757-200. At SFO, my carry-on suitcase was gate checked to ORD and onto FWA. I asked a SFO gate agent about Economy Plus, and she traded me my prior seat for a free Economy Plus upgrade, as my prior seat would be used to keep a group of passengers together. I sat in 15E. The flight left from SFO Gate F80. Of note, we had a female captain. I listened to a bit of ATC, and she was told by ATC to reduce speed. Her response was a repeat of that request, with the editorial word "Bummer!" Among the flights I heard on ATC: Lifeguard 203, Alpine 5405, Redwood 358, Citrus 225, Mountain 8558, Cargolux 771. The flight arrived at ORD Gate C11. Thursday 14 April 2011 UA6271 ORD-FWA (Op. Skywest) Seat 2B on a CRJ-200. I was re-seated to satisfy weight and balance. I sat in 8D, as a result. The flight had 9 passengers on it, but the return FWA-ORD leg had roughly 20-25 passengers waiting to board at FWA. The flight left from ORD Gate F2D. We cruised at 19,000 feet, above the clouds. The flight arrived at FWA Gate 6. - Blaine <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".