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Off to Azerbaijan

Off to Azerbaijan

After last year's fun Singapore F1 Grand Prix experience, the travel group decided to go again, but this time to Azerbaijan... because why not.  Unfortunately my two travel buddies had to cancel so I'm doing a solo trip.  This was my first time in Azerbaijan and I was blown away. What a beautiful and spotlessly clean city with a stunning location on the Caspian Sea, magnificent old and new architecture, great food and friendly people.   

This trip is a mostly Emirates First Class trip, but first up is a United positioning flight to and overnight in Dallas.  Unfortunately, DIA is one of the most poorly run airport in the country.  Tonight it was nothing but FULL signs for both East and West garages sign on the drive in.  Older and wiser, I knew that this was total BS at 7pm on a Wednesday.  And naturally, there were literally thousands of open spaces in the West Garage, and I parked right by the door to the elevator to CLEAR+ and PreCheck.

Yay, trains are working tonight and not many passengers at 7pm.

With plenty of time, I headed to the Centurion Lounge in the C concourse.

Denver DEN to Dallas DFW
United UA 514
A319
9:00p-11:59pm (sked)
September 11, 2024

So far so good.

Nice new interior on a 26 year old A319.

Not a good sign. Three techs can't figure our our "minor toilet issue"...

... and the delay begins.  Estimated 9:35pm departure.  LOL.

And we wait...

And wait...

My AA backup, just in case... 

A new plane and a new gate...

What's another 15 minutes?

Denver DEN to Dallas DFW
United UA 514
A319
11:32p-2:21am +1 (actual)
September 11, 2024
 

Our new plane, a 27 year old A320.

And we're finally off, only 3 hours late.

On final approach to DFW for our 2:50am arrival. Thanks United.

Off to the Skylink for the short ride to Terminal D

And the Grand Hyatt.

Nice Globalist upgrade... for my 4 hour stay.

My Instagram video of my Baku trip summary