A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to New Zealand

I've been on the road for several days, first to Salt Lake City, then a quick trip home, and then what I thought was going to be a trip to New Zealand. However, American Airlines has provided a delay in my travels.

I boarded a plane in Chicago last night, with the expectation of flying to Los Angeles. I expected to switch to an Air New Zealand flight for the 12-hour flight to Auckland. The plane backed out from the Chicago terminal and proceeded to the runway. I also knew that a blizzard was due to "blow in" soon. I realized something was amiss when we started taxiing back to the gate.

In short, there was a mechanical problem with the plane. We sat on board for more than an hour as mechanics tried to fix the problem. Apparently, they were unable to make quick repairs and pronounced that "this bird won't fly tonight." More than 200 passengers walked off the plane and soon surrounded the only two ticket agents in sight. It was an ugly scene as everyone demanded to be re-ticketed onto the next flight which obviously wasn't going to hold an additional 200 passengers.

Even worse, the snow and high winds were expected to arrive soon. Anyone who didn't fly out within the next 2 or 3 hours probably would be stuck at the O'Hare airport for 2 or 3 days.

I walked over to a quiet corner and called American Airlines ticketing on my cell phone. A few minutes later I was re-booked. I looked over at the angry mob that still surrounded the two harried ticket agents at the airport. I picked up my things and walked to my new gate assignment, thinking that technology is a wonderful thing. Without my cell phone, I would still be standing in that angry crowd.

I did leave Chicago a couple of hours later as the snow was coming down. However, I arrived in Los Angeles too late to make my connection on Air New Zealand. I spent the night in a nearby hotel and am now booked to leave on this evening's flight. That should get me to Auckland in plenty of time to attend the opening ceremonies of the AFFHO genealogy conference.

I wonder where my luggage is?

Comments

[theKiwi]

Oh yes - my wife and I, or I alone have had several instances like that - delayed by ice and snow in Chicago, delayed even leaving for Chicago from Grand Rapids because of thunderstorms in Chicago. One of my "angry crowd" scenes as you describe with about 100 people at Grand Rapids led me to going home to try it all again the next day - I didn't have a cell phone in those days.

And the last time going to New Zealand in October 2007 we were very late to Chicago because Chicago had been closed due to thunderstorms, finally got there, with the assumption that our plane to LAX would be there because Chicago had been closed, which it was by small margin - we were about the last ones on before they shut the door, and then commenced an indefinite wait.

But I couldn't get an ETA into LAX out of the crew to know what would be happening with the next leg to Auckland, so since we hadn't started taxiing yet I used my cell phone from on the plane to call United Customer Service and got the scoop from them on what our flight to LAX was up to, and the flight to NZ and she had us nearly booked onto the later flight to NZ, when she got word that our flight to NZ was also delayed, so left us on our scheduled flight.

We made it, but as your surmise our luggage didn't. Close calls at Chicago or LAX always result in luggage not making it to New Zealand. We've spent our $100 (the allowance they give you if your luggage is delayed) each from Air New Zealand on some interesting purchases.

But the hassles with air terminals and luggage fade to a distant memory once one arrives there (usually).

Safe Travels

Roger

[Toni Carrier]

Let's hear it for technology!

[Marilyn]

To the Kiwi:
Roger:
You're from Grand Rapids? I'm from Grand Rapids. Live on the near West Side. Do you think this story can match the recent "four hour trip" from Chicago on AmTrak?

[theKiwi]

Well I suppose in terms of the expected v's the actual the Amtrak situation was certainly a shocker.

But then a trip from Grand Rapids to my Dad's home in New Zealand is usually 28-30 hours door to door, and since you leave in the afternoon of the first day you've already been up 10 hours here, then you get to my Dad's house mid to late morning so you're up for another 10 hours after you get there it makes for a VERY long day. The aggravations with ice, thunderstorms, luggage only add to that.

Roger

[Brenda]

It's amazing what a cool head and a little patience can do in combination with the miracles of modern technology. Well done! :-)

[Bettie]

Wow,, I have read about doing this.. what exactly do you say to whoever answers the phone. Do they charge for a new ticket or what?

[Dick Eastman]

No. The airline will rebook you at no additional charge if the flight is canceled. The problem is getting it done when the airline folks are very busy. In this case, two ticket agents at the gate could not quickly handle the 200 or so passengers who had just walked off a jumbo jet.

- Dick Eastman

[Cathie Christie]

Thanks for the tip...
Have a good flight and enjoy New Zealand.
Cathie

[Kim]

Dick,
Hope you have a fabulous trip! As an airline pilot and mother of two daughters with grandparents in Australia, I understand the frustration and exhaustion; have lived this scenario and others as exasperating for 20+ years. My consolation is to watch the ancestral homes passing under our jet and think of how our ancestors made the same crossings. From Hingham Mass where my ancestors arrived in 1638 to the "Frontier" in western Mass, New York state, PA, Nebraska, Illinois and California thinking of the terrifying Atlantic crossings, the struggle to make a home out of the wilderness with each successive frontier; the disease that took loved ones sometimes several in a week. Thinking of walking to your new sod home in Nebraska with little food or water, no Advil or sunglasses, hot shower or latte, no bug spray or facilities "sanitized for your protection," most likely to never see your family back East ever again. Not to mention the suffering and heroic sacrifice our soldiers endured again and again to protect it all and make it better for us, the future. We may be inconvenienced, but we must not forget what our amazing ancestors (and parents!) have lived through in order for us to be able to fly jets to the Antipodes for a vacation or meeting! Thanks for all you do to help us learn about these "gone but not forgotten" heroes.