2/16–Home sweet home

Got up at the crack of dawn, of course.  Our bodies are not yet over the 50 hours of no sleep, but they still only require about 8 hours of down time before we can no longer be in the bed!  Twiddled our thumbs for a while until we went down for breakfast. Very good – buffet with all the fixin’s – but very pricey.  United vouchers don’t go very far at all here (since we spent them all last night – they didn’t go at all today!).

We hop on the 9:30 shuttle because we want to be sure to be at the airport early.  Once again, security is a breeze, no one around. We head to the gate for the 12:20 flight and find the customer service counter – which is also empty. Wow – what a difference a day makes!  We talk to the very nice agent, who listens to our story (everyone keeps asking whether we bumped ourselves or got bumped – to which we always answer – we weren’t bumped we were scrubbed due to mechanical – oh!!!!) which obviously gives us more clout because he clicks and clacks on his keyboard for about 5 minutes and finally comes up with a real live boarding pass for me!  YAY! I’m on!

Ed and I aren’t sitting together but the customer service agent says we can ask the gate agent. So, a little bit later, the gate agent arrives and I ask. He can’t do anything now, but he says when we board he may be able to get us together. Ok.  But then Ground Hog Day occurs!  The incoming flight is late. Our flight is delayed.  Ugh. I talk to the gate agent again – who is so sweet – and after ascertaining, that indeed, we are delayed, we go have a drink – what the hell – if its going to be a long day – let’s start it off right!  

I go back to check on the flight status – and the gate’s now been changed!  Double ugh! So, we drink up and take the long hike from C terminal to A terminal.  Still delayed, but at least we’re at the gate.  The A gates are the multiple gates where there are 4 planes at one gate. So we watch the little CRJs sitting there, one by one leaving for other destinations (like Richmond).  I ask the gate agent for seats together, and he gives them to us easily. Hmmm….what’s up with that?

Then at 12:45 they call the flight. What? We are escorted to the CRJ that has been sitting there ever since we arrived a little before noon. Ok, now we’re confused. Did they change equipment? This isn’t the plane that was late arriving from Detroit? Then, to add to the confusion, the darn flight isn’t even full! WHAT?  You had me on standby and there isn’t a full flight?????? Sigh…..the angst for nothing!

But, long story short, we make it back to Savannah in good time, smooth flight, our bags are miraculously waiting for us in the locked United luggage office, our car is patiently (and in one piece) waiting for us at the hotel and we are on the road to HHI before 4. Not too shabby!  And that is the end of that!