Getting home turned out to be quite an adventure. The bottom line is – we all made it – and all’s well that ends well. (When I talk about airline flights I don’t just say ‘all's well that ends’.)
I actually got about 4 hours of somewhat restless sleep on the plane. It was a long flight – about 2 hours longer than heading the other way – but it was still the same 5,724 miles – even though it took longer. Heading over we had a nice tail wind, but not heading back to the U S.
We got off the plane in Philadelphia and went directly to Customs, where we waited and waited – and waited! That one kink in our schedule led to five of us missing the plane leaving Philadelphia. Our plane got into Philly about 25 – 30 minutes late – but there was still enough time had they processed us right away. They didn’t.
We knew we were on a tight time frame, but we erroneously presumed that our seats would be available to us up to departure time, since we were on a connecting flight with their airline – and we still had time to make it, though barely. We were so wrong. They had given everyone in our group’s seats away – and one of the attendants told us there was only room for 4 of us to board – quickly…while the other one was trying to override that decision and tell us it was too late. But there were 6 of us….
Four of us scooted down the ramp, boarded the plane, and then found out their count was off. There was one seat left, which gave Alice a spot – but no room for the other three of us. Mary volunteered to stay instead of someone else…. In my haste to accommodate the stewardess who was trying to get us off as quickly as they had put us on my one tactical error was not keeping Mary and Jean together – so they got a little extra unscheduled adventure out of the process…since Mary had to wait for Jean in Phoenix. My mistake.
It actually became a bit of an adventure for all of us! As it ended up, Forrest, Heather, Marie, Jean and I were left behind. The staff at the counter found another flight that the four of us going to Portland, Oregon, could get on – but we’d have to hurry. It meant changing carriers – and Delta’s departure gate was a long ways away.
Jean’s final destination was Phoenix – and her ride home was Mary, who was on the plane that just left…. They had another flight leaving in a couple of hours for Phoenix, and the staff at the U S Airways counter promised to take good care of her – so we hastily said our goodbye’s and trusted their promise. Truly the hardest part of that process was leaving Jean at the U S Airways counter.
The four of us diverted to Delta Airlines were told we had been placed on a direct flight to Portland. Not. Not only was it not direct, we had to change planes and terminals again after we got to Minneapolis, Minnesota, but they did eventually get us to the right Portland, so I’m not complaining. There was a brief moment that I wondered if they were sending us to Maine….
When we landed in Minnesota I noticed that there was a lot of snow piled all along the runways. There were even a few flakes in the air. It was Minne-snow-ta in all its purported winter glory.
The real kicker of our adventure was that in spite of our circuitous route we actually made it to Portland, Oregon before the group who flew on the scheduled flight through Phoenix. Their plane was delayed about 45 minutes leaving Phoenix (or they’d never have made that connection, they told us after we reconnected). In fact, all their seats were released there, too, and they all had to be re-ticketed – but at least they all got on….
The reunion in Portland was spectacular. We loved being reunited. It was proof of how bonded the group had become. I learned during the U S adventures that I should have had my cell phone along for when we were back stateside. Communication would have helped a lot. Note to self for future reference….
All of our luggage was on the Phoenix – Portland flight except for Forrest and Heather’s large suitcase. That was our one final glitch. The airline was able to track it down for Forrest. It had been put on Flight 90 instead of Flight 88. The airline delivered it to their home later that night.
The final loose end was tied up when I called Mary to find out if she and Jean found each other O K. It was a little challenging because Mary didn’t know when Jean would be arriving…but they managed. Jean had a great time with the adventure – and it will definitely give them something extra to talk about!
We scattered to catch our various rides home - those of us on the school bus Forrest had arranged for were very glad we weren't driving....
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