Lounges, Layovers, and Learning Experiences

I was given a three-day trip during my second week on reserve, and after three long weeks on the ground, it felt fantastic to be back in the air again. Even though the report time was painfully early and the release time notably late, it definitely beats sitting around on reserve.

I got paired up with an incredibly experienced and chill captain—honestly, the most relaxed captain I've flown with so far. Knowing that I'd been out of the cockpit for a few weeks, he kindly took all the flying legs on our first day, which initially was planned to have four legs.

The first two legs were smooth and uneventful, and our third leg into LaGuardia was equally routine. However, once we landed, we discovered that our next flight was significantly delayed—by almost four hours—due to the inbound aircraft running late from Raleigh. But this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Our captain knew the ins and outs of the terminal and led us to the Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia, which, hands-down, was one of the nicest airport lounges I've ever visited.

Inside, the lounge was immaculate and welcoming, with genuinely delicious food options. I ordered grilled salmon while my crew opted for burgers. Curious, I also tried non-alcoholic beer for the first time. Even though I’m not a fan of beer, I was shocked by how authentic it tasted—so much so that I repeatedly asked the server to confirm it was truly alcohol-free. The buffet spread looked equally impressive, making the entire unexpected delay far more enjoyable than it might otherwise have been.

Eventually, our inbound plane arrived, and we quickly boarded, set up, and started taxiing. Then, LaGuardia threw us another curveball. Ground control instructed us to return to clearance delivery for a new routing. We had to find a safe spot to park, reprogram our route, and coordinate everything with dispatch. Just as we were ready to depart again, we learned that our departure gate was closed due to air traffic flow restrictions, forcing another wait. After more back-and-forth with dispatch, our release finally came through, but then our gate closed again. By this point, both the captain and I had timed out.

We had no choice but to taxi back to the gate, leading to an unexpected overnight stay at LaGuardia and totally reshuffling our schedule. The next day, we were reassigned twice. Eventually, the captain was given two additional legs while I deadheaded to Nashville to meet up with him before flying back together to LaGuardia.

The return flight from Nashville to LaGuardia was a highlight for me, thanks largely to the captain’s relaxed yet insightful teaching style. He let me experiment with different techniques and gently offered guidance and practical tips. It was exactly the kind of supportive environment where I learn best.

Tomorrow, we’re scheduled for a deadhead out of LaGuardia, followed by two more legs before finally heading home. I can't wait to wrap up this adventure and get back to my family.