United Airlines' LAX-MCI / MCI-LAX inaugural flights

United

LAX-MCI and MCI-LAX inaugural

Good morning from the Sheraton Gateway LAX.

Not much traffic. And yes, the still unfinished Automated People Mover tracks.

Walking to LAX.

The famous LAX pylons.

United Airlines LAX-MCI inaugural, UA 5320, on the board.

No line at TSA.

United Club for breakfast.

Zero sign this is an inaugural flight.

Don't even think the gate agents know this is an inaugural.

First person onboard N628SY. Crew had no idea this was an inaugural flight.

Looks like a 787 inside for engine maintenance. 1x UA 777-200, 2x UA 787, 1x AS 737 MAX, 1x ANZ 777-300ER, 1x AF A350.

1x UA 777-200, 2x UA 787, 1x AS 737 MAX, 1x ANZ 777-300ER, 1x AF A350.

Parallel take-off with AA A321neo (?).

Overnight oats were not bad.

Close-up.

Arrived in Kansas City.

Return inaugural MCI-LAX boards in 72 minutes.

At least Kansas City was excited, and gave snack bags.

Concourse B, Kansas City International Airport.

N628SY ready to depart.

Close-up.

Inaugural flight arrival of UA 5320, LAX-MCI, on the arrivals board.

Inaugural flight departure of UA 5632, MCI-LAX, on the departures board.

Better photo.

Concourse B, Kansas City International Airport.

Waiting to board. Several people from management here-- lots of inaugural pre-boarding speeches.

Boarding.

Getting back on board N628SY for return inaugural MCI-LAX.

Water cannon salute for United's MCI-LAX inaugural.

Taking off.

Return food definitely worse. Uh.

Uh.

Not excited. Chorizo was okay, tho.

The rice was apparently imported from Spain and unsurprisingly tasted... not fresh.

MCI-LAX inaugural arrived at LAX. Still zero fanfare at LAX.

United's inaugural flights from Los Angeles to Kansas City as well as the return inaugural the same day, on the same airplane. LAX gave no sign at all this was an inaugural flight, the crew didn't even know it was an inaugural, which was disappointing. However, Kansas City International Airport was excited, with gift bags and a special announcement on arrival. United's team there noted it was MCI's first non-stop to LAX, and that with this flight, MCI was now connected to all seven United hubs, so quite cool for them.

Kelsey, Carl, and Holly took great care of us on the ground for the return (not that there was much, pretty sure I was only inaugural flight chaser today?), and after a brief layover and quick crew change, was a smooth flight back to LAX. Unlike the reasonably decent cold breakfast of overnight oats on the way to MCI, the return to LAX was a kind of sad/fancy boxed thing complete with some terrible Spanish rice. Was random and nice to talk to some LAX based crew who had an unexpected diversion to MCI the day before, and who ended up deadheading home on the return inaugural.

Still zero fanfare or recognition it was an inaugural flight on arrival at LAX, but at least Starlink onboard was nice?