Take what you will from this: I just landed at RIC at around 11:30 PM EST last night. It also happened to be an American Airlines flight.

The arrival was actually 30 minutes ahead of schedule which was nice. I didn’t know that was possible. Tail wind? Who knows.

I was just glad to be off the plane with 2 crying babies and the air pressure making my ears feel like an ice pick was being slowly inserted into my brain.

For what it’s worth, we flew from a 3 hour layover in Miami. Miami of course was big, busy and crowded. Getting off the plane in RIC was a major contrast.

Walking into RIC from a crowded plane late at night (or any time in the evening) can be eerie. Everything is closed and it’s just the small quiet crowd from one plane.

It’s a short walk down the hall, around the corner and down the escalator to baggage claim. You always beat the bags. It’s so odd that luggage takes so long to get from the plane to baggage claim.

There are 6 baggage claim areas. 3 to the left of the escalator and 3 to the right. AA from Miami was on the sign for bay 2, on the right.

Last night, the conveyor belt finally started rolling but after about 20 bags slowly came into view, the belt stops and everyone glances around at each other questioning yet not questioning.

If you’ve ever flown into Richmond you kind of know the bags take their time-if they arrive at all. Finally another belt starts up but it’s belt 1. The sign over number 1 changes to AA from Miami. Someone over the load speaker announces the change. I was exhausted but I’m pretty sure he said Miami baggage is now at claim 3? But only #1 is running and the sign clearly says Miami.

A few people grab their bags and walk away. Most of the crowd remains. Someone in a neon yellow vest with a “Piedmont” logo starts pulling bags off the belt and putting them on the floor. Nobody questions it. Instead, people slowly stagger like zombies closer to the bags being lined up near the conveyor belt.

It’s a bit of a mess. It’s hard to see the bags since everyone is clustered together near the slowly growing line of bags. It’s hard to tell how much time has passed but it feels like an eternity. After the crowd thins a bit I spot the neon green tag I put on my bag.

Finally time to head to the parking deck where I left my car. It’s on the second floor of the deck… or maybe it was the third? Eventually I’m on the road again. About $100 lighter from the week of parking fees. It’s now about 1:30 AM. 2 hours. Ironically, about the length of my flight from Miami.