Just So I Never Forget Yesterday
Flight Itinerary 1/8/07
Depart: 7.30 AM Vienna, Austria
Arrive: 9.05 AM London, United Kindom
Depart: 12.45PM London, United Kingdom
Arrive: 3.50PM Chicago, IL
Depart: 5.40PM Chicago, IL
Arrive: 7.10 PM Minneapolis, MN
Estimated Travel Time: 18hr 40min
Estimated Arrival in St. Cloud: 9.30-10PM
What Really Happened:
Vienna (+1 hr GMT)
Got up at 2.10 AM, because I had already been awake for over an hour.
Dressed, started throwing last of items into suitcases.
Broke zipper on suitcase British Airways lost and damaged on flight to Vienna.
Cried.
Smoked while trying to calm down.
Roommates mother had extra suitcase, crying stopped.
Folded up couch that was our uncomfortable bed for 2 weeks.
Said goodbye to Mutti.
Hauled four suitcases, two carry on's and laptop down four flights of stairs in three trips.
Airport Car arrived 4.20 AM.
Arrived Vienna around 5.15AM
Checked in at British Airways desk, was assured our 4 suitcases would arrive with us in Mpls.
Ate lovely breakfast of eggs, bacon, bread and last of Austrian strong, small coffee.
Relished being able to smoke in the airport while at our table in the Cafe.
Went through passport control, then found security.
Went through super easy checkpoint, then went to gate.
Time: 6.30AM
7.00AM BA calls to board plane, after 10 minutes when I'm the third person from the front of the line, boarding halts.
7.45 AM BA announces due to a mechanical problem with the plane, there would be a three hour delay. There are no other available BA planes for us to use.
8.05 AM remember roommate has laptop with, send urgent email to Susan and Rainy asking for one or both to call and notify my parents as to whats going on. It's 1AM central time at this point and by the time it would be late enough to call, I should be in the air.
Left secure area to go to lovely cafe that lets people smoke in it, there are no tables. Finally secure a non-smoking table, leave roommate there and head to glass box room where smokers hang out.
9.30 AM go back through security to sit at gate.
10.15 AM BA finally announces boarding. Board plane.
10.45 AM Sit. Wait. More passengers are coming.
11.15 AM Told communication problem, no more passengers are coming, sorry for the delay. Also told the reason for our original delay was because of some sort of hydrolics problem. BA didn't have the parts, but the Swiss airline did. They could not loan to BA, they had to loan the parts to the Air Austria, then Air Austria could loan to BA. Most of the delay was due to figuring out how to get the parts from the Swiss.
London, Heathrow Airport (GMT)
12.45 Arrive at Heathrow as our flight to Chicago is taking off. We were told the entire flight that the BA team was working on re-booking any connecting flights and every one just needed to go to the connection desk when we get through security to get our new flight or to have them book a new flight.
1.45 Was helped at BA connection desk and was told, oops, we were already booked for a 2.15 flight but because it took so long to get in front of the person now telling us, we no longer were able to catch that flight. We got both our flight to Chicago (3.30PM) and to Mpls (8.05 PM)re-booked, super sorry, have a nice day.
3PM BA started boarding passengers and we settled into our seats. Only to wait, and wait and wait again.
3.45 BA announced that because one of the emergency exits was missing A LIGHT BULB, they needed to not replace the bulb, but close that exit. They then needed to move passengers to other seats on the plan, away from the exit. Fortunately, we were under booked and they could do that.
4.30 PM Plane finally left terminal and started to head to the runway.
Chicago, Illinois (-7hrs GMT)
7.10 PM Arrived one hour late in Chicago. Were told by BA attendants that most connecting flights were already re-booked. When we left the plane, any passengers with flights already re-booked, to find our names posted on the wall with our new flight information.
7.30 PM Found name and sheets of paper with our new flight information. BA was thinking ahead and though we technically hadn't missed our flight to Mpls, most likely would between going through immigration, collecting baggage and going through customs with said baggage. Was in shock they were ahead of the game. Super. Another note along with the new flight info, all of our luggage did not arrive with us and we could report it lost once we got to Mpls. Super.
7.40 PM Fought tears through the entire que to get through immigration. Fought with roommate and told him what a pessimist he was and I didn't want to hear him complain one more time because I was in the same situation he was, but was trying to be positive and at least focus on getting home.
7.50 PM Looked for luggage at baggage claim, just in case. No luck.
8.30 PM Customs personal took pity on the weary travelers when they found out the day they were having traveling and that all four suitcases didn't arrive with them. Just stamped declarations with out looking at them. Sweet!
8.00 PM Found tram to take us to terminal we needed. Propped up roommate in seat by door so I could have first cigarette in hours.
8.05 PM Found roommate in tears and no longer willing to move on because he was so exhausted and BA has sucked the life out of him with all of the luggage issues. BA still hasn't found his missing suitcases from his flight TO Vienna.
8.10 PM Convince roommate to go on.
8.25 PM Stand in line to be checked in at United Airlines counter for flight to Mpls.
8.45 PM Get selected for extra security check when UA printed tickets (upgraded seats and it wasn't even their fault!)
8.55 PM Call parents (finally) on my credit card only to be disconnected after a few minutes.
9.15 PM Finally call parents back after purchasing phone card.
9.45 PM UA boarded on time. I was the only person in my row. Nice.
10.15 PM Flight left terminal. Please note, this is the only flight that took off on time all day long. Also note, this was the only non-British Airways flight.
11.20 PM Arrive in Minneapolis...EARLY!
Minneapolis
11.30 PM Found baggage claim, propped up roommate on chair facing claim since we already knew our suitcases most likely wouldn't be there.
11.32 PM SMOKED more than one cigarette.
11.40 PM Saw my father talking to roommate and went inside to see him.
11.50 PM File lost baggage claim with United Airlines as American Airlines (BA's affiliate within the US) would not take our claim since we arrived in Mpls with United. Even after explaining that the suitcases never arrived in the US and BA had lost them. Fine.
11.55 PM Filed claim with UA and they said they would deliver them when they arrived in US.
Midnight Dad left to get car, I went to smoke more cigarettes.
12.20 AM Left Minneapolis Airport for St. Cloud.
2AMish Home Sweet Home!
Depart: 7.30 AM Vienna, Austria
Arrive: 9.05 AM London, United Kindom
Depart: 12.45PM London, United Kingdom
Arrive: 3.50PM Chicago, IL
Depart: 5.40PM Chicago, IL
Arrive: 7.10 PM Minneapolis, MN
Estimated Travel Time: 18hr 40min
Estimated Arrival in St. Cloud: 9.30-10PM
What Really Happened:
Vienna (+1 hr GMT)
Got up at 2.10 AM, because I had already been awake for over an hour.
Dressed, started throwing last of items into suitcases.
Broke zipper on suitcase British Airways lost and damaged on flight to Vienna.
Cried.
Smoked while trying to calm down.
Roommates mother had extra suitcase, crying stopped.
Folded up couch that was our uncomfortable bed for 2 weeks.
Said goodbye to Mutti.
Hauled four suitcases, two carry on's and laptop down four flights of stairs in three trips.
Airport Car arrived 4.20 AM.
Arrived Vienna around 5.15AM
Checked in at British Airways desk, was assured our 4 suitcases would arrive with us in Mpls.
Ate lovely breakfast of eggs, bacon, bread and last of Austrian strong, small coffee.
Relished being able to smoke in the airport while at our table in the Cafe.
Went through passport control, then found security.
Went through super easy checkpoint, then went to gate.
Time: 6.30AM
7.00AM BA calls to board plane, after 10 minutes when I'm the third person from the front of the line, boarding halts.
7.45 AM BA announces due to a mechanical problem with the plane, there would be a three hour delay. There are no other available BA planes for us to use.
8.05 AM remember roommate has laptop with, send urgent email to Susan and Rainy asking for one or both to call and notify my parents as to whats going on. It's 1AM central time at this point and by the time it would be late enough to call, I should be in the air.
Left secure area to go to lovely cafe that lets people smoke in it, there are no tables. Finally secure a non-smoking table, leave roommate there and head to glass box room where smokers hang out.
9.30 AM go back through security to sit at gate.
10.15 AM BA finally announces boarding. Board plane.
10.45 AM Sit. Wait. More passengers are coming.
11.15 AM Told communication problem, no more passengers are coming, sorry for the delay. Also told the reason for our original delay was because of some sort of hydrolics problem. BA didn't have the parts, but the Swiss airline did. They could not loan to BA, they had to loan the parts to the Air Austria, then Air Austria could loan to BA. Most of the delay was due to figuring out how to get the parts from the Swiss.
London, Heathrow Airport (GMT)
12.45 Arrive at Heathrow as our flight to Chicago is taking off. We were told the entire flight that the BA team was working on re-booking any connecting flights and every one just needed to go to the connection desk when we get through security to get our new flight or to have them book a new flight.
1.45 Was helped at BA connection desk and was told, oops, we were already booked for a 2.15 flight but because it took so long to get in front of the person now telling us, we no longer were able to catch that flight. We got both our flight to Chicago (3.30PM) and to Mpls (8.05 PM)re-booked, super sorry, have a nice day.
3PM BA started boarding passengers and we settled into our seats. Only to wait, and wait and wait again.
3.45 BA announced that because one of the emergency exits was missing A LIGHT BULB, they needed to not replace the bulb, but close that exit. They then needed to move passengers to other seats on the plan, away from the exit. Fortunately, we were under booked and they could do that.
4.30 PM Plane finally left terminal and started to head to the runway.
Chicago, Illinois (-7hrs GMT)
7.10 PM Arrived one hour late in Chicago. Were told by BA attendants that most connecting flights were already re-booked. When we left the plane, any passengers with flights already re-booked, to find our names posted on the wall with our new flight information.
7.30 PM Found name and sheets of paper with our new flight information. BA was thinking ahead and though we technically hadn't missed our flight to Mpls, most likely would between going through immigration, collecting baggage and going through customs with said baggage. Was in shock they were ahead of the game. Super. Another note along with the new flight info, all of our luggage did not arrive with us and we could report it lost once we got to Mpls. Super.
7.40 PM Fought tears through the entire que to get through immigration. Fought with roommate and told him what a pessimist he was and I didn't want to hear him complain one more time because I was in the same situation he was, but was trying to be positive and at least focus on getting home.
7.50 PM Looked for luggage at baggage claim, just in case. No luck.
8.30 PM Customs personal took pity on the weary travelers when they found out the day they were having traveling and that all four suitcases didn't arrive with them. Just stamped declarations with out looking at them. Sweet!
8.00 PM Found tram to take us to terminal we needed. Propped up roommate in seat by door so I could have first cigarette in hours.
8.05 PM Found roommate in tears and no longer willing to move on because he was so exhausted and BA has sucked the life out of him with all of the luggage issues. BA still hasn't found his missing suitcases from his flight TO Vienna.
8.10 PM Convince roommate to go on.
8.25 PM Stand in line to be checked in at United Airlines counter for flight to Mpls.
8.45 PM Get selected for extra security check when UA printed tickets (upgraded seats and it wasn't even their fault!)
8.55 PM Call parents (finally) on my credit card only to be disconnected after a few minutes.
9.15 PM Finally call parents back after purchasing phone card.
9.45 PM UA boarded on time. I was the only person in my row. Nice.
10.15 PM Flight left terminal. Please note, this is the only flight that took off on time all day long. Also note, this was the only non-British Airways flight.
11.20 PM Arrive in Minneapolis...EARLY!
Minneapolis
11.30 PM Found baggage claim, propped up roommate on chair facing claim since we already knew our suitcases most likely wouldn't be there.
11.32 PM SMOKED more than one cigarette.
11.40 PM Saw my father talking to roommate and went inside to see him.
11.50 PM File lost baggage claim with United Airlines as American Airlines (BA's affiliate within the US) would not take our claim since we arrived in Mpls with United. Even after explaining that the suitcases never arrived in the US and BA had lost them. Fine.
11.55 PM Filed claim with UA and they said they would deliver them when they arrived in US.
Midnight Dad left to get car, I went to smoke more cigarettes.
12.20 AM Left Minneapolis Airport for St. Cloud.
2AMish Home Sweet Home!