Relaxing at home after my 6th workday of the month. Last night I went to work for my 1st in a stint of 3 CDO's (Continuous Duty Overnights).
The Flight Attendant assigned to my line is very senior. He doesn't care to work much as I've only seen him once.
Sure enough last night a reserve Flight Attendant was assigned at the last minute.
Somehow we blocked out 7 minutes early. Captains leg.
Flight was planned at FL200. We stopped at 12,000 as it made little difference in fuel for climbing all the way up for a 90 NM flight.
Blocked in an astonishing 20 minutes early. This didn't hit me until I was filling out the paperwork at the hotel.
"Hey Jim, it's 9:50PM" I said.
"And? " asked my Captain.
"We're early...we weren't due to arrive until 9:50PM." I continued.
"Holy smokes you're right, first time all month we're at the hotel at our arrival time!" he said.
Same room 419.
Van scheduled for 5:20AM like always.
This cab driver is unique in many ways. One way is she bakes for flight crews. Sometimes a meal...often pastries. This morning she had fresh blueberry bread and chocolate bread.
I was sipping coffee and noticed it was 5:23AM.
"Hey guys, ya think we should head to the airport?" I said.
Off we went.
This station is very good. I was walking around for my preflight at 5:32 AM. Scheduled departure was 6AM.
At 5:50AM boarding was done, bags loaded, weight and balance computed....and away we went....10 minutes early. Well oiled machine...every now and then.
My leg airborne at 5:57 AM. Blasted off and immediately noticed lightening in the distance. The forecast was for scattered storms. I saw a thick line.
If the weather had not been there we would have been 35 minutes early (for a 50 minute blocked flight. With the weather we had a big detour.
We were vectored in between two minor weather systems. Heavy rain but a fairly smooth ride.

Wipers on high. We picked up the runway about 2 miles out. Lightening to the west of the runway. Lots of it. I mentioned if we went missed I would go north and then east. Thankfully an uneventful landing at 6:28AM.
With the lightening the ramp was closed meaning no one to park us. The rain and lightening got worse. Finally at 7AM a ramp manager guided us in and we parked.
After a quick bus ride I was eating donuts with my family at 7:50AM.
Done until tonight.