When I say finally home....I mean finally. It took me 30 hours of sitting at airports or on an airplane to make it home. I was supposed to get back Tuesday, but did not get back until Wednesday. Let me share my sob story--I promise it will be entertaining!!!
It all started Monday. The parents drove up to meet Aaron and I at Perkins before I flew out. It was lightly snowing at this point. Got to the airport a bit after 11:00 to check in and find out my flight was canceled (Chicago was having a bit more snow). No problem, they booked me on a different flight to Chicago and a different one to London. But, I was excited because I upgraded to first class/business class for 25,000 miles and $300.00 (which ended up being worth every penny!!). Well, that flight got canceled. So, I went back to the ticket counter to see if they could divert me through dallas and then to gatwick. So, I was put on that itinerary. Then, the Dallas flight was delayed 45 minutes (the exact time of my layover....) so they put me back on a flight to chicago and then to London Heathrow. The flight did not leave for a couple of more hours (at 4:15). So, I went and hung out in the Armed Forces Lounge. They provide complimentary food, beverages, internet and huge comfy leather recliners. And, there were these two cute old ladies that volunteer so I got to talk to them for an hour or so. I looked at the time... and decided to head to the gate...just to see that flight was delayed until 6:15. ARRRGGHHH! But, then I got excited when I remembered there was a Chili's (craving Chili's since we arrived in England....). So, I sat at the bar and ordered food and a glass of wine. Got to sit next to this really nice couple from Steamboat Springs and our bartender was really entertaining. Again, I have the Feder gift of gab so found it easy to pass the time.
So, I boarded the plane....in first class :) Sat next to this really nice guy Mike who owns a company that makes Flame retardant clothing... And, we were finally off! So, I got my free cocktails in first class and was loving life...until we tried to Land. Visibility was 1/16 of a mile and at that the planes are required by FAA regulation to use auto-pilot to land. So, we are approaching and I could see the runway lights and waiting for the feeling of touch down, when all of a sudden we accelerated back into the air. This temporarily freaked everyone out until the pilot stated that the auto-pilot was not letting them land and that we were going to circle around and land from the other direction.... Same thing...almost ready to touch down and we were back in the air. So, he flew us to St. Louis.
In St. Louis we got off the plane, walked to the next gate and waited for about 45 minutes just to board a different plane (luckily still got first class) and fly back to Chicago. I tried to find out additional flight information, but the dudes at the American Airlines Ticket counter politely stated that they would help me with that in Chicago. So, we get to Chicago and since I was in first class, I was one of the first ones out. Mike, my seat partner was lucky in being from Chicago.... I was second in line at the counter. Trying to patiently wait as the agent helped this couple get a hotel voucher (apparently, they were going to pay for our hotel since it was mechanically related). So, after about what seemed like 40 minutes...it was my turn. I explained how I missed my international flight.... "oh, you have to go down the terminal to rebooking assisstance..." Give me a break!!!!! She would not even tell me if they put me on a different flight. Up to this point I was just going with the flow, having a some-what good time meeting people....but now I was getting pissed! It was 11pm at this point--12 hours after my fun began. I could have driven to Chicago and then some by then.
So, I walked down the terminal to rebooking assistance...which was a desk with 5 red phones...No one to personally help us 15 people that were in similar situations. I picked up the phone and a lady politely informed me that I was put on the 9:30 am flight to Heathrow (getting in at 10:30pm). She asked if I would want a Hotel--um DA! I politely said yes and she transferred me to Hotels.com who then pissed me off even further and said it was past some deadline to book for the night. Come on! So, I attempted to go back to the gate we flew into to see if the lady would help me with a voucher...no luck. Not there. I remembered how nice the USO (armed forces lounge) was in Minneapolis and decided to go there. I needed to email some people to see if someone could come pick me up at that hour (we live 2.5 hours north of London) since the military shuttle only operates in the am. Navigated myself through the airport for what seemed like the City of CHicago because it was on the opposite end of the frickin' airport. Oh, yeah and all I had was my purse. I thought I was playing it smart not having a lot of luggage to drag through airports--so I checked both bags. STUPID!! No change of underwear, no clean clothes; luckily I had deodorant and a toothbrush/toothpaste. But, I remembered the minneapolis USO...they had towels, showers, toiletries...I was getting all excited about curling up in a leather recliner. And then the nightmare continued.....
The most ghetto looking lounge! About 20 waiting-room style chairs. To use a shower, you had to go to the airport Hilton athletic club which did not open until 5 am. I just started to Laugh and think "bring it on"!. So, I emailed people and called one of the senior enlisted in my clinic to arrange transportation. Luckily, since I was on official business, they said they would pay for a hotel at the airport in London since I was getting in so late. At this point, I would have paid for it myself because the last thing I wanted was to arrive and get by myself in a cab at midnight and travel 2.5 hours by cab.... did not exactly make me feel safe. So, I spent a little time trying to find a hotel by the airport. Now it is 2am...So, I found a "chair" and attempted to get comfortable...maybe got 20 minutes of sleep.
At 4 am after being frustrated, I decided to contact AA to find out about my luggage (temporarily forgot about it during my rebooking fiasco...) The lady on the phone said that normally you have to reclaim your luggage and then check it in when you arrive at the airport (interesting...never left....sarcasm duly noted). So, I had to walk outside and over to terminal 2 because the security checkpoints between the terminals were closed until 5am... Find the baggage claim area just to read a sign that the luggage is not available and would be on the next flight to London, which thankfully was my flight.
So, I go and check in and luckily that flight left on time.
Business class was so worth it!!!! Worth every penny!!! Tons of leg room with reclining chairs and foot rests. We were given a shower kit with face wipes, slippers, etc....and, a menu of our breakfast, snack, and dinner options. I enjoyed too many mimosas, seafood couscous, excellent cheese and crackers....and everytime my wine glass was getting empty, the flight attendant came by to top it off. I was spoiled to the point that I think I will be disappointed flying coach :)
And, when I arrived to the Sheraton I enjoyed the most incredible shower and the most comfortable bed with a down featherbed and huge comfy pillows....slept like a baby!
For the next year, everyone is coming to visit us! I will not fly transatlantic for a VERY, VERY long time :)
Hope you enjoyed the story. I will post pics of my trip to MN later.
