[BI] Flight Report United NY Laguardia - Chicago O'hare

"I must be in some third-world-country" - Vice-President Joe Biden about Laguardia Airport

Within this in mind, I'm flying from New York Laguardia Airport to Chicago O'Hare Airport with United Airlines on Economy Class today, let's see how "third world country" this airport in the greatest metropolitan in the world is.

美國副總統拜登在紐約拉瓜迪亞機場坐飛機時曾經講到過好似自己去咗第三世界國家，今次我就乘搭聯航航空由這個第三世界國家的機場前往芝加哥

 I checked in the night before, wished for a greater chance to have TSA Pre-check... And I did!

前一晚就上網check-in，希望得到TSA Pre-check
TSA Pre的旅客可以不用排隊，直接接受比較簡單的安全檢查。譬如說不用脫鞋同除皮帶等等

 Entering the airport, constructions are everywhere...

機場入口，到處都在施工

 Drop-off area, it's not the first time I come to Laguardia (last time was summer 2013) and I can only say it has gotten worse

落客區域，這是我第二次來到拉瓜迪亞機場，對上一次已經是2013年夏天。我只可以話這個機場時愈做愈差

 Going to print my boarding pass

就算check咗in都要去櫃檯從新打印一張登機證先舒服XD

 My boarding pass, EXPEDITED SCREENING!

登機證，加急安檢！

 TSA Pre-check, I can skip this long line

有TSA Pre-check就不用再這裡排隊了

 Inside the terminal.
Looks familiar? A scene of Sully was a total reproduction of this place, and Sully was such a great film! (but not a great film to watch on an airplane -Jimmy Fallon)

客運大樓內
好眼熟？最近上映的電影SULLY就在這裡取景！SULLY真系超好睇（不過學Jimmy Fallon話，千奇唔好在飛機上睇）

 Full flight...

全滿

 So we were informed that the flight is delayed due to the previous flight, which was also delayed.

被告知航班以為上一班延遲到達，需要延誤

N849UA

IAE2522 Engines

First flight: 18/01/2002, Age: 14 years

 Entertainment system

飛機上的娛樂系統

 This is a newly refurbished aircraft, featuring the newest United Economy Class product - which don't provide IFE and maximizing the fuel efficiency. Notice how slim are the seats.

聯合航空最新翻新的經濟艙：取消個人娛樂系統，超薄座椅以增加腿部空間和減低油耗

 The cabin

客艙

 I feel like the legroom is slightly better than Air Canada's A319, but the slim seat isn't comfortable at all. Fortunately it was only a 2 hours flight.

雖然空間稍微比加拿大航空的A319闊落，但這麼薄的座椅一點都不舒服。好彩只是2小時的航班。

 After we boarded the aircraft, we were informed that both of the rear lavatories (there are 3 lavatories on UA's A319, 1 at the front and 2 at the rear) wren't functioning and the front lavatory can only be used after reaching a certain altitude. They called a whole maintenance team to try solve the problem but failed to. The captain eventually called the operation center for a permission to fly with only one lavatory functioning. The crews were distributing drinks when we were waiting on board, apparently it's a very bad decision because the queue for the toilet was really long after reaching the altitude of 2000ft. 

Our aircraft finally pushed back at about half past 12, 2 hours later than schedule.

登機後被告知機上3個廁所中後方的兩個廁所完全不能使用，前方的廁所也只能在到達2000尺高度上才能使用，需要修理。成班maintenance整咗個半鐘話無法修好，需要返回芝加哥基地維修。機長於是向運營中心申請使用一個廁所飛往芝加哥。最後搞到一點鐘先push back。
等待期間，空姐派發飲料，但其實是一個非常錯誤的選擇，因為一到2000尺前方廁所就排起長龍...

 Wi-Fi is available, which I consider useless for short-haul but life-saving for long-haul

機上Wi-Fi，雖然我覺得短途客機完全沒作用

 There are some great movies available... for free

電影選擇就好多

 Flight map

飛行路線

 Snacks on the flight

Recently United has promoted about the coffee they serve on board, and that's why I really want to try this Illy coffee... Hmmmm it's better than Tim Hortons, that's all I can say about. (btw Air Canada has VanHoutte). Also I think a snack is enough for any flights under 4 hours, passengers won't get hungry in those short-haul flights (e.g. HK-TW) and distributing meals on these flights only adds tasks for flight attendants and could be dangerous.

機上餐飲
最近聯合航空宣傳其咖啡是Illy提供的適合在飛機上引用的咖啡，專門點杯試下... 其實又咪差唔多（比TimHortons好點啦），加拿大航空提供的是VanHoutte
另外，小弟覺得短途航線（eg港台線）完全沒上熱餐的必要，乘客在4小時內唔會感到餓，空姐派餐只會增加佢地的危險

 I got a warm welcome from pilots on the flight deck! And finally (I think) I flew on a flight commanded by a female pilot (although she was only First Officer, but really young!)

降落後受到機頭歡迎，FO系一位年輕金髮姐姐！

 After a long delay I finally arrived at Chicago

搞咗咁久終於到達芝加哥

 Chef-d'oeuvre of architecture!

芝加哥機場簡直就是建築學的傑作

 Chef-d'oeuvre of art! Last time I came to O'hare for a transit to Tokyo Narita, and this tunnel remarks my memory!

同樣也是藝術傑作！上次到來芝加哥奧黑爾是兩年前轉機去東京成田，對這條隧道留下很深印象

 More tunnel, leads to CTA 'L' station

需要經過更多隧道來到CTA地鐵站

 CTA 'L' O'Hare station

In March 2014, a train conductor felled on sleep and caused a terrible accident, you can re-watch that surveillance video here: https://youtu.be/OL8uWWFlQG8

地鐵奧黑爾車站
2014年3月，車站發生一件嚴重事件：一名司機睡著後沒有將車停下，當時的監控錄像拍下驚險一幕（https://youtu.be/OL8uWWFlQG8）

 CTA 'L' Blue Line, from O'Hare to Forest hill via downtown Chicago

地鐵藍線，前往市中心

 Inside the train

I could say it's the worst airport rail link, possibly the worst of any subway/metro system in the world! The train was shaky and noisyyyyyy, I'm pretty sure it exceeded 80 decibels!
車廂內
不僅是我見過全世界最差的機場聯外鐵路，也是我見過全世界最糟糕的地鐵。車廂搖晃不定不止，噪音也非常大，絕對超過80分貝！ 

 But the 'L' can connect you to any corners of Chicago

不過地鐵可以帶你去到芝加哥每一個角落

So finally, there's a photo of Chicago: Trump Tower and and an EVA Air Cargo B747

Conclusion: Lots of airports in third-world-country are better than Laguardia, and lots of airlines in third-world-country are better than United. Anyway... United is very special for me and I'll tell you why on my next flight report!
最後這張相片：芝加哥市中心的川普大廈，一架長榮貨運的747在上面飛過
總的來說：好多第三世界國家的機場好過拉瓜迪亞，好多第三世界的航空公司好過聯合航空。無論如何，聯合航空對我來說是一間很特別的航空公司，我在下一篇Flight Report會解釋！