We are home after a long slug. Our flight out of Chicago left 5 hours late. First we had a maintenance issue that took 3 hours; then we boarded, only to sit at the gate 2 more hours while we waited for someone to come load the valet checked bags and then we had to wait to be de-iced since there were snowflakes in the air. Those seats on the regional jets that AA uses between Albuquerque and Chicago are just the worst.

The pilot apologized profusely for the poor service we received from AA - I am writing a letter.

Looking forward to seeing pix from the TAJ extension!