Vindy's Kalea Hall gets connected on inaugural flight

By Kalea Hall | July 2, 2016 at 12:02a.m.

CHICAGO

We arrived at the bustling Terminal 3, Concourse L of Chicago O’Hare International Airport just before 10 a.m. Friday.

Outside Gate L2A is the smell of coffee – a necessity for me after I finish a few interviews.

I had just gotten off a historic flight: the first flight from Youngstown to Chicago on the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport’s new Great Lakes Jet Express service.

The new air service’s goal is to connect Youngstown to the world and the world to Youngstown.

The comfortable Embraer ERJ-145 jet seats 49 people. On this flight, 36 passengers made the trip.

Notice, I said comfortable. I am 6 feet tall, and this plane was so comfortable, I nearly dozed off.

But I had some cloud watching to do after that invigorating liftoff.

MY JOURNEY

What an assignment: I have always wanted to spend the day at the airport just watching as people take off for home, vacation or business.

We live in a world with seven continents and more than 190 countries. These countries are filled with new experiences, differences and adventures that travelers dream of – well, at least this one does.

I have been outside of the United States four times, and I do my best to go on as many domestic adventures as I can every year.

When I was in Peru during the summer 2011, I got the itch for travel, but it didn’t come easy. I had to get over the fear. The fear that makes you want what you know and nothing else. The fear that makes you want to sit in the corner with a blanket and a warm cup of tea. I was afraid, like so many are, of getting out of my comfort zone.

But, as clich as it may sound, staying grounded in one spot is not living life to the fullest.

I learned to prefer the journey.

I have just flown from Youngstown to Chicago and I have hundreds of destinations to choose from. O’Hare International Airport has about 1,106 daily direct flights to 157 U.S. cities and about 132 daily direct flights to 58 international destinations, as of June 2016, according to the airport’s website.

HOW TO CONNECT

To see how our Youngstown service connects, I selected a trip to Las Vegas flown by American Airlines.

Customers can directly connect from Great Lakes Jet Express to an American or Delta flight now, but connections to other airlines will come in the future.

My pretend flight to Las Vegas was leaving at 12:20 p.m. Thankfully, our plane landed at just before 10 a.m., so I had the time to slowly down my coffee.

I quickly found the flight I planned to take on the departure board. Concourse K13 is where I am heading. That was easy.

Away I went. I had some time to spare because Concourse K was only around the corner. Ronald McDonald greeted me with a smile and of course I had to take a picture. Then, came a blast of scents from the nearby food court. Don’t worry, fellow travelers, if you are laid over here you will not go hungry.

O’Hare’s Terminal 3 also has the shops for those in need of a newspaper, book or even Harley-Davidson gear.

Other airlines landing in Terminal 3 are: Air Alaska, American Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Airlines, Iberia Airlines and Spirit Airlines. The terminal was filled with a diversity of people. Yet, all knew who Olaf, Elsa and Anna – from Disney’s “Frozen” – were when they made an appearance.

TIME TO GO

As I walked to my Las Vegas flight, I took a look at my fellow travelers.

Some were definitely frequent travelers and some were noticeably not, but all were staying connected. They woke up early, packed a bag and got on a plane to connect with someone or some place. Even on their way to connect, they made connections at this airport, like the little girl who jumped into Elsa’s lap.

If my day at Chicago O’Hare International Airport taught me anything it’s how we all need to connect, to travel, to get out.

Youngstown is my home, and I truly treasure it. The city and surrounding areas are in the midst of a revitalization.

Now, more than ever before, is the time for the community to connect with the world using our new local connection and continue to tell our story.