Thursday, July 15, 2004
back in Boston (finally)!!
Damn..who would have thought that a power outage in the town of Eagan, Minnesota would have wreaked such serious havoc (and I do mean havoc)at several airports across the entire country! Apparently this power outage caused a "computer problem" at Northwest Airlines' headquarters, thus causing several people (Michael & I included) to have a less-than-perfect time trying to get back home.
The first sign of trouble appeared right after we got dropped off at SFO (around 7 am PST) and we saw this insanely huge line for check-in. We tried the curbside check-in outside, which allowed us to check in our luggage, but we couldn't get our boarding passes (apparently the printer wasn't working). We had to go back inside and line up to use the e-ticket check in. Not only was the line long, but it was extremely slow since none of the check-in computers were working. The employees kept rebooting them, but they kept returning with "Network Error" . Nonetheless, we finally managed to get our boarding passes and get to our flight on time. We thought the flight would be seriously delayed (it was for 8:20am) since everyone else would have been held up trying to check-in. But it was only held back by 10 minutes or so, and we ended up getting to Detroit on time (around 4pm EST).
Our connecting flight was for 4:58pm, but once we de-planed in DTW, we saw that it had been cancelled! The only other Boston flight showing on the screens was one for a 3:30pm flight (had already left). We talked to an a ticket agent and she told us that we had been reserved seats for a 9:00pm flight, but that she could try and get us on the very next flight (7:00pm). She checked and managed to get us the very last 2 seats on that flight, and plus she gave us each meal vouchers due to the delay.
So we then scuttled all the way to the food court, to get some Honey Mustard Chicken Salads from Quizno's (they have amazingly delicious salads for only $7). After that, we got some good coffee (me) and cinnamon tea (Michael) at Coffee Bean. At that point (this was like 6:30pm), Michael & I were pretty happy...we just finished having our delicious meals & hot drinks (free) and we were just about to head over to our gate, without having to wait at all. We were thinking that we were pretty lucky to have gotten seats on the 7:00pm flight, and that it was probably even better to have ended this way rather than with our original schedule, as in that case we wouldn't have time for a lunch.
Well, we spoke too soon. Just before we were about to head over to our gate, we saw that our flight had been delayed to 8:30. Bugger. We waited around for a while, watched TV and/or read (by this time i had a huge headache). Around 8pm, we looked to the display screens only to find out that this flight also got cancelled. The only remaining flight was the 9:00pm one (which had been delayed to 11:30pm). It was a shame since that was the flight that we had initially been on, before we were bumped up. It turned out we couldn't get back on it, since that was already overbooked (with 20+ ppl on the waiting list).
Anyway, at this point it was pretty much pandemonium at our gate and the surrounding ones...crying kids, frustrated parents, busy corporate folks chatting away on their cell phones. Pretty much everyone there had been there for several hours (by 10pm, we had been there for six hours), since they kept getting delayed flight after delayed flight. We waited for what seemed like hours to talk to a ticket agent, and she gave us a 5pm flight for Thursday (the earlier ones were booked). We had the option of going on earlier flights with other airlines, but all of those involved 2 or more stopovers, resulting in a 5-hour flight (instead of a less-than 2 hour direct one). We got some meal vouchers, but she wouldn't book us a hotel, warning that they were probably all booked by now since there had been so many cancellations.
Well luckily Michael managed to talk to a ticket agent who did finally give us a hotel voucher, along with $20 in meal vouchers per person (some of which would be available at the hotel)! After thanking our lucky stars (most of the other folks trying to get back to Boston were still waiting in line, frustrated as ever on what to do), we took the next shuttle over to the hotel (the Northwest Inn). Luckily by the time we got over there, there were still rooms available (we didn't actually have reservations, it's first come, first serve). The hotel itself was very close to the Detroit airport (town of Romulus, MI), so close that we could hear the planes take off right outside our window. It was pretty cheap-looking motel from the outside, but the room inside was pretty ok. By the time we got there it was around midnight. We had a small "dinner" consisting of hard-boiled eggs (my mom had prepared us a few for the trip), cheese sticks, Balance Bars, and a peach. Not exactly gourmet, but we weren't really that hungry anyway.
The next morning we slept in (we were still on California time) and checked out at 11am (the absolute latest). The next hotel over (the Sheraton) wouldn't serve us breakfast since it was too late, but the next one (Hilton) did. We both got these huge 3-egg omelettes with cheese, ham, and peppers (Michael's had onions and mushrooms as well). It was so huge I finished just 85% of mine and I was stuffed (usually i finish it all and then am still a bit hungry for a dessert). But it was ok since by that time it was around noon and i guess it counted as both breakfast AND lunch, since i wouldn't end up eating till 7pm anyways.
Well, from then on, we were lucky. :) At that time we headed off to the airport, to see if we could fly stand-by on the 1:30pm flight (after all, why wait 3 1/2 hours more when you don't have to). We got to the gate just as soon as they were boarding, and lucky for us, we were allowed on! After that, everything went pretty smoothly. We got to Logan around 3:30pm, and had no trouble getting our bags (they were just sitting there, unattended..pretty crappy security, but whatever). At that point we were just glad to be back.
We didn't know what to do though, about our remaining $34 in meal vouchers. They were only valid at airport restaurants, and for up to 24 hours after it was issued..so if we didn't use them then, they would be lost. We still weren't hungry at all though (huge omelette was still sitting in my stomach)...so we thought of ordering some takeout for a good (read: expensive) restaurant, to take home for dinner later on (especially since we had no food in our fridges at home) So after getting our suitcases, we went upstairs to the check-in area and found this restaurant near a security entrance. It looked pretty pricey (a place we would never go to if we were paying) and to my surprise they offered all items to go. So we ordered steak tips & rice (for Michael), cobb salad (for me), garlic mashed potatoes, and a Fudge Chocolate layer cake. We weren't going to get the cake at first (it was $5.95, plus sugar makes Michael dizzy, wheat makes my stomach ill) but we did anyway (it won some "Best of Boston" award..plus we figured we deserved a treat after all we went through). Anyway, the tab came out to $33.69 or something like that, so we didn't have to spend a cent.
We took the bags of food, our suitcases on the T, and went home (I got off at Central to go to SP, while Michael went to Kendall to head back to Ashdown). By the time I finally i got home, it was 5-something pm. I was so glad to be back!! After checking all my email, etc..i went and got the packages that were waiting for me (my foam roller, from performbetter.com, and the Yamaha keyboard for Michael's birthday present).
Around 7pm Michael came over for dinner (our 2nd meal of the day) and we ate the the food we got at the airport. It was pretty good (the steak tips were great), though I'd have to say the chocolate cake was the best! We ate it along with Tosci's vanilla ice cream, and it rocked. Yay!
The first sign of trouble appeared right after we got dropped off at SFO (around 7 am PST) and we saw this insanely huge line for check-in. We tried the curbside check-in outside, which allowed us to check in our luggage, but we couldn't get our boarding passes (apparently the printer wasn't working). We had to go back inside and line up to use the e-ticket check in. Not only was the line long, but it was extremely slow since none of the check-in computers were working. The employees kept rebooting them, but they kept returning with "Network Error" . Nonetheless, we finally managed to get our boarding passes and get to our flight on time. We thought the flight would be seriously delayed (it was for 8:20am) since everyone else would have been held up trying to check-in. But it was only held back by 10 minutes or so, and we ended up getting to Detroit on time (around 4pm EST).
Our connecting flight was for 4:58pm, but once we de-planed in DTW, we saw that it had been cancelled! The only other Boston flight showing on the screens was one for a 3:30pm flight (had already left). We talked to an a ticket agent and she told us that we had been reserved seats for a 9:00pm flight, but that she could try and get us on the very next flight (7:00pm). She checked and managed to get us the very last 2 seats on that flight, and plus she gave us each meal vouchers due to the delay.
So we then scuttled all the way to the food court, to get some Honey Mustard Chicken Salads from Quizno's (they have amazingly delicious salads for only $7). After that, we got some good coffee (me) and cinnamon tea (Michael) at Coffee Bean. At that point (this was like 6:30pm), Michael & I were pretty happy...we just finished having our delicious meals & hot drinks (free) and we were just about to head over to our gate, without having to wait at all. We were thinking that we were pretty lucky to have gotten seats on the 7:00pm flight, and that it was probably even better to have ended this way rather than with our original schedule, as in that case we wouldn't have time for a lunch.
Well, we spoke too soon. Just before we were about to head over to our gate, we saw that our flight had been delayed to 8:30. Bugger. We waited around for a while, watched TV and/or read (by this time i had a huge headache). Around 8pm, we looked to the display screens only to find out that this flight also got cancelled. The only remaining flight was the 9:00pm one (which had been delayed to 11:30pm). It was a shame since that was the flight that we had initially been on, before we were bumped up. It turned out we couldn't get back on it, since that was already overbooked (with 20+ ppl on the waiting list).
Anyway, at this point it was pretty much pandemonium at our gate and the surrounding ones...crying kids, frustrated parents, busy corporate folks chatting away on their cell phones. Pretty much everyone there had been there for several hours (by 10pm, we had been there for six hours), since they kept getting delayed flight after delayed flight. We waited for what seemed like hours to talk to a ticket agent, and she gave us a 5pm flight for Thursday (the earlier ones were booked). We had the option of going on earlier flights with other airlines, but all of those involved 2 or more stopovers, resulting in a 5-hour flight (instead of a less-than 2 hour direct one). We got some meal vouchers, but she wouldn't book us a hotel, warning that they were probably all booked by now since there had been so many cancellations.
Well luckily Michael managed to talk to a ticket agent who did finally give us a hotel voucher, along with $20 in meal vouchers per person (some of which would be available at the hotel)! After thanking our lucky stars (most of the other folks trying to get back to Boston were still waiting in line, frustrated as ever on what to do), we took the next shuttle over to the hotel (the Northwest Inn). Luckily by the time we got over there, there were still rooms available (we didn't actually have reservations, it's first come, first serve). The hotel itself was very close to the Detroit airport (town of Romulus, MI), so close that we could hear the planes take off right outside our window. It was pretty cheap-looking motel from the outside, but the room inside was pretty ok. By the time we got there it was around midnight. We had a small "dinner" consisting of hard-boiled eggs (my mom had prepared us a few for the trip), cheese sticks, Balance Bars, and a peach. Not exactly gourmet, but we weren't really that hungry anyway.
The next morning we slept in (we were still on California time) and checked out at 11am (the absolute latest). The next hotel over (the Sheraton) wouldn't serve us breakfast since it was too late, but the next one (Hilton) did. We both got these huge 3-egg omelettes with cheese, ham, and peppers (Michael's had onions and mushrooms as well). It was so huge I finished just 85% of mine and I was stuffed (usually i finish it all and then am still a bit hungry for a dessert). But it was ok since by that time it was around noon and i guess it counted as both breakfast AND lunch, since i wouldn't end up eating till 7pm anyways.
Well, from then on, we were lucky. :) At that time we headed off to the airport, to see if we could fly stand-by on the 1:30pm flight (after all, why wait 3 1/2 hours more when you don't have to). We got to the gate just as soon as they were boarding, and lucky for us, we were allowed on! After that, everything went pretty smoothly. We got to Logan around 3:30pm, and had no trouble getting our bags (they were just sitting there, unattended..pretty crappy security, but whatever). At that point we were just glad to be back.
We didn't know what to do though, about our remaining $34 in meal vouchers. They were only valid at airport restaurants, and for up to 24 hours after it was issued..so if we didn't use them then, they would be lost. We still weren't hungry at all though (huge omelette was still sitting in my stomach)...so we thought of ordering some takeout for a good (read: expensive) restaurant, to take home for dinner later on (especially since we had no food in our fridges at home) So after getting our suitcases, we went upstairs to the check-in area and found this restaurant near a security entrance. It looked pretty pricey (a place we would never go to if we were paying) and to my surprise they offered all items to go. So we ordered steak tips & rice (for Michael), cobb salad (for me), garlic mashed potatoes, and a Fudge Chocolate layer cake. We weren't going to get the cake at first (it was $5.95, plus sugar makes Michael dizzy, wheat makes my stomach ill) but we did anyway (it won some "Best of Boston" award..plus we figured we deserved a treat after all we went through). Anyway, the tab came out to $33.69 or something like that, so we didn't have to spend a cent.
We took the bags of food, our suitcases on the T, and went home (I got off at Central to go to SP, while Michael went to Kendall to head back to Ashdown). By the time I finally i got home, it was 5-something pm. I was so glad to be back!! After checking all my email, etc..i went and got the packages that were waiting for me (my foam roller, from performbetter.com, and the Yamaha keyboard for Michael's birthday present).
Around 7pm Michael came over for dinner (our 2nd meal of the day) and we ate the the food we got at the airport. It was pretty good (the steak tips were great), though I'd have to say the chocolate cake was the best! We ate it along with Tosci's vanilla ice cream, and it rocked. Yay!
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