Show Me the Way to Go Home

I’m tired and I want to go to bed…..

Ah, so last Friday we flew home from overseas – except there was no way to get home…

I’m not sure if you can read all the boards above, but just about EVERYTHING is cancelled.

The airline did not reschedule us and when I called they said they could get us home on Sunday on a 6:24pm flight.  SUNDAY???  GUH.  

Nope, Sundays not gonna work for us.  We flew into New York at 10:30am on Friday.  

New York to Detroit – dozens of flights a day leave from the three New York area airports – DOZENS, and we landed in the morning – not at night.  All we could see were Delta planes– taking off everywhere and our carrier was almost completely cancelled (grounded).  Plus there was no snow – so what did you do airline?  Piss the union off??  Still not sure – they gave us no reason other than “air traffic control” was responsible – so nope, not their problem.  

So, me and the Customer Service man did a very long dance, neither one of us enjoyed – you know, like being made to go to prom with your long lost, blind date, never met before, cousin kind of dance.  We spent way too much time together, he held all the cards (i.e., we went to the prom in your cousins Dune Buggy and you’re up-do got all wind blown, but he was your only ride home) so you are stuck, with him, until you can make an escape – home…. 

When all was said and done, we found a flight that gave us 2 hours to collect our luggage and get to another New York airport, on our dime (or should I say Benjamin)– super fast. Haha, super fast – in New York City – haha!   (Where’s cousin Joe’s dune buggy when you need it)?

Plus, we couldn’t go home, we had to go to Chicago first – you know, for a quick look around – to make sure all was well at O’Hare.

A search on the holy internet provided us with a private car service, we called and the phone was answered by an angelic lady who was a delight to do business with.  Um, airlines – a little Customer Service training can go a long way, if you know what I mean….She forwarded me directly to the driver, who was there in 7 minutes flat.

A little private car humor for you (has to be a running joke in NYC) is to “look for the black GM Suburban”.  When you walk out the door, they are ALL BLACK SUBURBANS.  After we almost got into a privately owned one – we waited for the man with the “Mr. Beth” sign in his window (was in too much of a hurry, didn’t snap a photo – but I like it – I may go by that name from now on).

Travelled the streets of New York slowly, slowly, slowly, sped through the tunnel and across the bridge and then slowly, slowly, slowly.  All the while following on google maps in the back seat, counting the minutes…..

You know what, we made it to LaGuardia, on time, luggage rechecked – all the way through to Detroit – AHHHH – can you hear the angels singing?  We sure did.

Then, then the snow started to fall.  OMG – stop, stop, stop – immediately stop it, now.  After a de-icing, the flight took off – 20 minutes late.  I would like to say nothing was cancelled at LaGuardia – so Newark – you are all a bunch of (insert proper cat descriptor) here.

Ok, in the air – we did have an hour to make the next connecting flight (now shortened by 20 minutes), have to change terminals – the flight attendant told us they are close to each other – just through a tunnel.  Thank God we don’t have to collect our luggage.

We land – Chicago is sunny and dry as Brut Champagne.  Change terminals, make a pit stop and honestly, walk straight on to the next flight when we get to the gate.  Five minutes later and the gate would have been closed.

So in case you were wondering, O’Hare looked fine, in fact it looked great on our couldn’t have been better ten minute “layover” and smelled like Garrett’s popcorn.  Good thing we didn’t stop for any! 

As usual, it's upright in my camera and in the folder - just not here.....