Last month, I took a quick, overnight trip to Charlotte, N.C., to watch my brother play on opening day of the baseball season.

Planning the trip last minute, I opted to fly early Saturday morning as opposed to a late Friday evening flight. I flew American Airlines from Philadelphia International Airport to Charlotte Douglas International Airport at 8:30 a.m., leaving for the airport around 6 a.m. to be safe.

While airport security was busy for an early Saturday morning, it did not take us long to pass through. I arrived with time to spare, stopping in Terminal C for breakfast.

The gate agents began the boarding process on time and it went smoothly. The agents made several announcements informing passengers of the full flight and limited overhead bin storage, suggesting passengers with rollerboards check them if possible.

I was one of the first to board in first class. Once we were settled in the comfortable and roomy seats, the friendly flight attendant offered a drink before takeoff. I opted for a mimosa. My seat in the first row allowed extra room to stretch out.

The rest of the boarding process took a bit longer than expected, as passengers moved slowly and had difficulty finding overhead storage. While there was not a meal on the 74-minute flight, we were offered a basket of healthy snacks.

The flight landed 20 minutes ahead of schedule and quickly deplaned. It was an easy flight.

American Airlines

First Class
Philadelphia (PHL) to Charlotte (CLT)
tel 800 433 7300