Aboard TK2309 ... ADB to IST

I need to write this fast. This is just a 45-minute flight + a 30-minute taxi to our gate when we land in IST. (That taxi time might be a slight exaggeration ... but not by much. IST is a huge airport.) They are about to begin a full-blown breakfast service in the business class cabin in which we are flying. Thanks to the United Airlines miles we’ve been accumulating, we get to make this “coronavirus emergency flight” in style.

So how has our day progressed so far? Up at 4:30a ... called the taxi at 5:45a ... at the airport for check-in by 6:15a ... at the gate an hour later at 7:15a (I’ll explain why below) ... onboard the aircraft and in our seats by 7:30a ... the 737-800 in the air before our scheduled departure time of 8:00a ... breakfast served, eaten, and trays collected by 8:20a ... descent into IST begun at 8:25a.

Due to all the flight cancelations, there’s little air traffic. So, we’re expected to land 30 minutes ahead of our scheduled arrival time. A little side bonus of the COVID-19 chaos.

Why did it take so long between our check-in and gate arrival? A small hiccup with our bags. Turns out that whoever entered our reservation into the THY system misread the United’s $0 charge for our 70-lb x 2 (per person) luggage allowance as 0 luggage allowance. We got it straightened out and our bags are in the belly of the aircraft winging their way to İstanbul ... as we are. All’s well that ends well.

I’ve got some nice views below me as the aircraft finishes crossing the Sea of Marmara. Time to check it out. More from the lounge at IST ... 🤞🏻Read more