When I wrote about the special 18-mile United flight yesterday, I had no idea how much of an emotional roller coaster I was about to embark upon. It was a painful day. But ultimately an instructive one.
United Airlines ran a one-off Burbank to Los Angeles flight yesterday, a distance of only 18 miles with a flight time of only 15 minutes.
My office is 10 minutes from Burbank Airport. When I saw the flight yesterday, my first thought was not if I could take it, but whether I should take it.
But as I followed the flight path on Flightradar24, my heart quickly filled with regret. The flight cruised at 5,000 feet and took a scenic route over the Hollywood sign and downtown Los Angeles.
Not only would I have had the plane virtually to myself (only one other passenger in first class and just a handful in economy class), I would have been afforded incredible views of my hometown.
And even more importantly, it would have been a great story for the blog and a unique route that has never operated before and might never operate again. Taking a mainline United flight between the two airports I use most would really have been special.
You can imagine the regret that set in. I had the chance and I forfeited it. This unique moment was available to me and I let it pass. And why?
Because I did not want to deal with 90 minutes of traffic in an Uber going back to the office. At the time, I thought it was a waste of time and money. I have a business to run, after all. Who has time for fun and games at a whim?
And I recognized, even at the height of my misery, that I did make the rational choice and my deep feelings of regret were purely irrational emotional reactions. I’d even go so far as to call them childish (not that such a realization made me feel any better).
Later in the day, after my wife gently consoled me and my business partner more bluntly pointed out that I was acting crazy, some discernment returned.
Why don’t I get this concerned when I miss out on a dinner with my family? Why don’t I make it a priority to spend more time with my parents and grandmother? How can I be more devastated about missing an ultimately inconsequential 15-minute flight than all that is wrong in our world today?
CONCLUSION
I would be lying if I said I am glad I missed the flight yesterday. I’d rather have my cake and eat it too. Ultimately, though, if the missed flight leads to a bit more discernment in my time and priorities, it was a good thing.
I suppose…
Can any of you aviation geeks out there understand my state of mind?
image: JCS / Wikimedia Commons
I would have loved to go! How did you hear about it? I understand your feelings of regret for such a unique opportunity. I would’ve done it in a heartbeat!!
I feel that same tinge of regret about not flying on the Concorde when I could.
If I never shower on a A380 or book Singapore suites, meh. As flying F Transpacific on Queen of the skies, as well as Transcon on A380 checks those bucket list boxes.
Don’t get me started on the Concorde!
An 18 mile flight that left 18 minutes EARLY and still arrived LAX(after taxiiing for 25 minutes, no doubt) 25 minutes LATE to the gate?
Add travel to and from each airport etc…No thanks.
Flying at 5,000 feet over LA? Admit it, that would have been fun.
That would have been cool.
Sorry, 16 minutes early. Math is hard(for me:))
It appeared to be in the air for only 15 minutes, but had a long taxi at BUR and a long wait for a gate at LAX.
Another United long wait for a gate at LAX. Sigh…..
If I was you Matthew, I’d go to one of the numerous flight schools around Van Nuys airport and arrange for an introductory flight in a Cessna/Piper (usually around $100). They could take you around LA and you’d get to try the controls a bit. Sounds like a cool column topic to me.
Great idea.
A basic pilots license would nicely round out your aviation expertise. That could lead to multi-engine, instrument rating, commercial, etc. The Sky is the limit. Go for it Sir and take us along for the ride in your column.
I actually had flight training when I was in the USAF. Learned how to fly on a Piper Cherokee. Would be fun to return to the skies in a single-engine aircraft.
As obsessions go, this seems pretty harmless. Don’t sweat it. You’ll have plenty of other unique opportunities. Meanwhile, do the ones you can.
Would the blog post revenue about the flight not have cancelled out the cost associated with the flight itself?
Easily. I just hate Uber.
You are a self-centered arrogant entitled prick. You made the right call to stay home, but you shouldn’t fly period. It is too risky.
Noted.
Eat your cake and have it too… That’s the correct saying.
Hahaha nice reply Matthew. Holy Moly there’s some real peaches out there.
Yes I know I’ve been tetchy at times when I strongly disagree but sheesh…. what a do*che.
Or was “Mo Schlappig” making a bizarre joke??
Not to my knowledge, though the name looks suspicious.
As an AvGeek, and someone with an unhealthy obsession with window seat photography, though perhaps not quite to your extent, I get it. I’m still bummed that I couldn’t make AA 80 work, for instance. And I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment every time I have to pass up a big sale fare because I decide I don’t have the time to position to another continent.
But then I get home on time and see my son excitedly tell me about his day and then shift into his game of hide-and-seek with me, which reminds me that it’s not THAT big a deal to miss out on this type of stuff.
This flight was not actually for sale on the United website. It was a one off flight because the aircraft usually operates 2306 BUR-SFO, which was cancelled. The light passenger load originally scheduled was flown to LAX and rebooked on another LAX SFO flight.
I get how you feel. But clearly you made the right call.
I’ll second the recommendation to go do a sight seeing flight with a flight school. I would also suggest trying it as a pre-dawn departure. Watching the sun rise from altitude is an experience not to be missed.
I think it’s the one-off uniqueness of the city pair using a mainline airline and aircraft that’s what is missed. I should recall interesting short-hauls that I took such as AAs ONT-LAX route on a small prop plane with wings overhead straight over the 10 Fwy for about 25 or so minutes. Loved it, it was a great way to connect into LAX. UA still has MTY-SFO, flew that 757. There still is the LAX-SAN route on AA. There was for a short while years back a LAX to Oceanside route; there used to be LAX-Oxnard taking you low over the SF Valley inbound. Maybe they’ll be a LAX-LGB or SNA run. But for what it is worth, with your many flights into, out of LAX you already experienced seeing your hometown from 5,000, 4, 3, 2, 1, .5., .1., .05 feet.
This is exactly right. I can take Blade anytime on a scenic tour from BUR to LAX, but how often can I take a scheduled United mainline jet?
Yes, we all have these kind of regrets. I once baulked at the price of a painting I wanted at auction. Regretted it and ended up paying 10 times the price when it came up again 15 years later. Lesson learnt.
Maybe you’ll get another chance in the future.
I’m a recently retired flight attendant. In the 70’s (yes,that’s when I was hired by Continental Airlines) we had a 6am ferry flight from LAX to BUR daily! where we would pick up passengers and fly them to Seattle. How I cherished that short sweet flight! I was glued to the window either in the cabin or the cockpit, enjoying a panoramic view of my city that I grew up in. I’m so lucky to have experienced that!
Wow! I had no idea. Thanks for sharing Angelina!
I love your passion, and I’m now fully convinced why yours is one of the few blogs I read daily. I’ll keep it simple with the descriptives. Your passion just shines through.
The other time I noted it, was some years back when you flew to countries with names sounding like crapistan, also flying those countries airlines.
Let your audience describe you any way they want, and I’ll keep reading your blog.