We had rented a car the day before to drive to San Francisco from San Luis Obispo (cheaper than driving your car and parking it for three weeks) and spent the night at the Crowne Plaza… a decision made to avoid commuter traffic the following day to insure we caught a noon flight out of SF International Airport to Dallas.

We caught the hotel shuttle mid-morning to the airport and boarded the plane about 12:30 for the flight to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (4th largest in the United States). After a 2-hour layover, we caught a 9 1/2 hour connector flight to Santiago, Chile. Of note was our improved seating assignment: economy plus… wider seats, more leg room and more amenities like metal silverware, cloth napkins, and porcelain plates. Our fight to Dallas was in the back of the plane in economy class, very tight quarters and simpler amenities… and next to the one bathroom. Had to contend with a line to the facility in my aisle seat.