A United Airlines Bombardier CRJ-700 approaches the runway to land at Los Angeles International Airport. Photo / iStock
Andrew Louis flies UA5639 from Montrose, Colorado, to Los Angeles, California.
The plane: A Bombardier CRJ-700.
Class: Economy.
On time: Departed 14 minutes late, but arrived on time.
My seat: A comfortable window seat with an empty seat next to me. Clean and tidy, though the inflight magazine and safety card have seen better days.
Fellow passengers: Mainly Americans and a few Asian travellers. One or two young families, but mostly couples and singles.
How full: Three-quarters full. The rear of the plane was almost empty, but has loud engine noise.
Entertainment: None, but the flight's only 90 minutes.
The service: Courteous and polite, with a smile.
Food and drink: Non-alcoholic drinks are free. No food.
The toilets: Only one at the rear of the plane. Close examination reveals that the rubbish bin is already full - and I am the first one to use it on this flight. Tsk tsk, cleaners.
Luggage: Plenty of storage above and under the seat in front.
The airport experience: Montrose Airport is small and has wonderfully short queues. We went through the usual shoes-off drill at security check. The departure gate is comfortable with plenty of seating and four televisions Restrooms are available and there's a bar serving alcohol and food. There is free wifi and a few power points.
Would I fly this again? Yes. If you come to Colorado for the Rockies, this flight saves you more time than flying out via Denver.
Vail combines luxury with festive charm better than anywhere else.