We flew SEA-DEN this morning with Captain Molly Flanagan, our second flight with this UA 757 / 767 pilot and UA "celebrity," at least on FlyerTalk.
Why is she so popular? First, unlike some UA pilots she turns on UA's unique air-traffic control audio, Channel 9, for the passengers. Second, she keeps passengers scrupulously up to date with announcements about the flight's progress. Third, her practice is to come out of the cockpit and welcome the F (First Class) cabin in person before the flight, as she did this morning. Finally, she's one of a relatively few pilots to go to the trouble of handing out signed business cards to each passenger in F, although she didn't this morning, probably being somewhat busy with an FAA inspector riding along today.
This morning we turned the tables and asked our flight attendant to pass along a Wandering Warners card to her with our thank-you note scribbled on it.
We've also had the pleasure of meeting Captain Denny Flanagan, the other famous Flanagan pilot. They're not related except for both being exemplary pilot-ambassadors for UA.
A good start to our flying day as we sit in one of the DEN RCCs for a couple of hours until boarding DEN-ABQ.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.