natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Are We There Yet?
I don’t normally write much about our arrival day. I am perfectly content to post “We arrived at the airport, everything went smoothly, our flight took off on time and then 3 hours later, we landed in Orlando.”
Unfortunately, that was not what happened…
As I’m sure all of you know (especially any of you who live along the east coast), this has been a MISERABLE winter! In February alone, the Boston area has received almost 100 inches of snow. Every weekend, we have seen storms dumping between a foot and 3 feet of snow.
The transportation system is a mess and subsequently commuter trains into the city have been delayed or sometimes they just don’t show up!
I was supposed to start back up with my farm job in early February, but on the first day it was starting, nobody showed up and we ended up cancelling the two sessions until the end of March because there is just too much snow and it has been too cold.
Suffice to say, we could not get out of Dodge fast enough.
Our flight on Monday morning was scheduled for a 7:35 departure. There had been a snow storm over the weekend, Valentine’s Day Saturday into Sunday, about a foot and a half, but it was over by early afternoon and that evening all flights for the next morning were showing as “on time”
Our driver arrived at our home for our 4:45 am pickup. Roads were fine, it was a holiday (President’s Day) so traffic was light. The driver pulled to the curb, Mark and I got out of the van, the boys climbed out from the backseat and Nate asked “Who’s backpack is that?”
Mark had forgotten his backpack on the van floor. That is SO unlike him. WTG Nate! PHEW!
We had our boarding passes and breezed through bag check and even security. We got to the gate around 6:15 and had breakfast from Dunkin Donuts. Our flight was listed as on time, but there was no plane at Gate 11.
As it was approaching 7:00, our boarding time, there was still no plane.
When the whole family goes away on a trip, I don’t post anything on Facebook until we return home. I trust my friends. I really do- but friends of my friends? Who knows.
But since there is an additional layer on anonymity (however slight) here on the DIS, I did announce our trip plans over on the FAQ board and many of my friends over there were wishing us well as I updated them on our “progress”
Eventually an announcement was made that our plane was here at the airport, but there was not a gate available for our flight.
Around 8:30:
We saw firefighters over at a nearby gate, but we never did find out what had gone on.
One friend over on the FAQ was tracking my flight and posted this:
A plane landed at our gate, but it was a larger plane than we were going to be taking.
As we watched the plane out of the window, we saw mechanics coming over and start working on the engine. That can’t be good! They took a part out of the engine and then about 30 minutes later, a box arrived with a new part. They put that in. Unfortunately, this was a plane to NYC, with a lot of people who would be missing their connecting flights. There was quite an angry mob lined-up at the checkin desk! They were announcing that there was not a single hotel room available in NYC, so if the passengers weren’t going to make their connecting flight, they should not get onto the plane.
Meanwhile, another announcement was made that our plane was at the airport, but there was still not a gate available.
For the next couple of hours, there were very few announcements, but our boarding time would be changed a few more times as we watched the departure board.
Meanwhile, the plane to NYC finally took off and another plane took its place at the gate we were supposed to be flying from. Not our plane.
At the gate next to us, a plane had been idling, but not moving, for over 2 hours!!! I’m not sure where it came from or where it was going, but if they were having trouble finding a gate for our plane, they could have towed that one out of there!
Another message from an FAQ friend:
Around 10:30, I decided to go to the ladies room and on my way I heard someone call out “Dee!” It was the education manager for the organization I work for. She was flying out to visit family in Florida (a different flight) and her gate had been changed 4 times that morning!
Thankfully, when I came back, they FINALLY announced a gate change for us.
When they made the announcement that we were going to be boarding soon they said needed to refuel first. I couldn't help but think
"Um, couldn't you have gassed up the plane sometime in the 4 hours we were waiting?"
We boarded at 11 am, the same time we were supposed to be landing in Orlando.
At 11:30 it was wheels up.
I took a couple of pictures in the plane, which my family hates
Caught!
OK, I guess I will just point my camera out the window.
At 2:40, we landed, 20 minutes early (if you can call 3 hours and 40 mintues late, early).
Continued in Next Post
I don’t normally write much about our arrival day. I am perfectly content to post “We arrived at the airport, everything went smoothly, our flight took off on time and then 3 hours later, we landed in Orlando.”
Unfortunately, that was not what happened…
As I’m sure all of you know (especially any of you who live along the east coast), this has been a MISERABLE winter! In February alone, the Boston area has received almost 100 inches of snow. Every weekend, we have seen storms dumping between a foot and 3 feet of snow.
The transportation system is a mess and subsequently commuter trains into the city have been delayed or sometimes they just don’t show up!
I was supposed to start back up with my farm job in early February, but on the first day it was starting, nobody showed up and we ended up cancelling the two sessions until the end of March because there is just too much snow and it has been too cold.
Suffice to say, we could not get out of Dodge fast enough.
Our flight on Monday morning was scheduled for a 7:35 departure. There had been a snow storm over the weekend, Valentine’s Day Saturday into Sunday, about a foot and a half, but it was over by early afternoon and that evening all flights for the next morning were showing as “on time”
Our driver arrived at our home for our 4:45 am pickup. Roads were fine, it was a holiday (President’s Day) so traffic was light. The driver pulled to the curb, Mark and I got out of the van, the boys climbed out from the backseat and Nate asked “Who’s backpack is that?”
Mark had forgotten his backpack on the van floor. That is SO unlike him. WTG Nate! PHEW!
We had our boarding passes and breezed through bag check and even security. We got to the gate around 6:15 and had breakfast from Dunkin Donuts. Our flight was listed as on time, but there was no plane at Gate 11.
As it was approaching 7:00, our boarding time, there was still no plane.
When the whole family goes away on a trip, I don’t post anything on Facebook until we return home. I trust my friends. I really do- but friends of my friends? Who knows.
But since there is an additional layer on anonymity (however slight) here on the DIS, I did announce our trip plans over on the FAQ board and many of my friends over there were wishing us well as I updated them on our “progress”
Eventually an announcement was made that our plane was here at the airport, but there was not a gate available for our flight.
Around 8:30:
We saw firefighters over at a nearby gate, but we never did find out what had gone on.
One friend over on the FAQ was tracking my flight and posted this:
A plane landed at our gate, but it was a larger plane than we were going to be taking.
As we watched the plane out of the window, we saw mechanics coming over and start working on the engine. That can’t be good! They took a part out of the engine and then about 30 minutes later, a box arrived with a new part. They put that in. Unfortunately, this was a plane to NYC, with a lot of people who would be missing their connecting flights. There was quite an angry mob lined-up at the checkin desk! They were announcing that there was not a single hotel room available in NYC, so if the passengers weren’t going to make their connecting flight, they should not get onto the plane.
Meanwhile, another announcement was made that our plane was at the airport, but there was still not a gate available.
For the next couple of hours, there were very few announcements, but our boarding time would be changed a few more times as we watched the departure board.
Meanwhile, the plane to NYC finally took off and another plane took its place at the gate we were supposed to be flying from. Not our plane.
At the gate next to us, a plane had been idling, but not moving, for over 2 hours!!! I’m not sure where it came from or where it was going, but if they were having trouble finding a gate for our plane, they could have towed that one out of there!
Another message from an FAQ friend:
Around 10:30, I decided to go to the ladies room and on my way I heard someone call out “Dee!” It was the education manager for the organization I work for. She was flying out to visit family in Florida (a different flight) and her gate had been changed 4 times that morning!
Thankfully, when I came back, they FINALLY announced a gate change for us.
When they made the announcement that we were going to be boarding soon they said needed to refuel first. I couldn't help but think
"Um, couldn't you have gassed up the plane sometime in the 4 hours we were waiting?"
Thanks Jay. Your offer is almost worth it. Just boarded. Have a great week all.
Off to see the wizard!
We boarded at 11 am, the same time we were supposed to be landing in Orlando.
At 11:30 it was wheels up.
I took a couple of pictures in the plane, which my family hates
Caught!
OK, I guess I will just point my camera out the window.
At 2:40, we landed, 20 minutes early (if you can call 3 hours and 40 mintues late, early).
Continued in Next Post
Last edited:
Aren't you glad you got picked up at 4:45???
Well played. 
. Love that "welcome sign". So easy to spot lol
Jay!
