Wednesday, December 24, 2008

utah sweet utah

What an airplane trip from HELL! Our luck definitely did NOT improve with airplanes and airports. All seemed well with only a 15 minute delay until our plane "broke" and we had to switch. It all went downhill from there. The new plane we were supposed to get on couldn't pull into the terminal because the snow banks were too high. Once that problem was solved and we finally boarded (now 90 minutes late) we settled into our seats only to find out that our cargo door was still open?! and to make matters infinitely worse -due to the ridiculously bad wind chill (-25ish)- a majority of the detroit airport workers went home?!?!?! there were only a few employees to service the thirty planes that needed to takeoff and land. We waited ON THE PLANE for almost four hours before moving. I CANNOT believe that Zeb did as well as he did. He was happy and pleasant and running up and down the aisle. The plane crew was really nice and let us move around and whatnot. I was afraid of getting deep vein thrombosis or something ridiculous- plus I was getting more and more uncomfortable every minute sitting there so I tried to walk around a lot.
After the INSANE 5 and a half hour delay we finally took off. The plane ride was diabolical. We took off at midnight and landed at almost four am Toledo time. Zeb slept almost the entire plane ride- but I cannot say the same for Kent or me. We had one minor catastrophe during the flight. Zeb slept on Kent's lap (no room on mine) and so I had the drinks on my tray. Kent grabbed his drink from my tray and didn't get a good enough grasp. It dropped upside down directly onto Zeb's sleeping head. He FREAKED- as would I if freezing cold Ocean Spray cran-apple juice with ice was poured on my sleeping head and down my ears and shirt. I think he inhaled some of it too. I couldn't stop giggling (that's what I do at HIGHLY inappropriate times and when I am really tired). Thank heavens he was calmed quickly.

We finally landed in SLC only to find out that our luggage had mysteriously disappeared. Imagine that. No freaking luggage. There were no Northwest agents available to make a claim either- and it has to be done AT THE AIRPORT upon arrival or else you can't make a claim. All of our christmas presents and Kent's clothes and my shoes were gone. After the most ridiculous wait we finally left the airport at six AM toledo time. Zeb was highly entertained by my dad and the escalators -thank heavens.
We made it home to sleep for a few hours and then I began the attempt to recover or at least locate our bag. Apparently it is very typical for airlines to HAVE NO FREAKING IDEA where bags are during holiday weeks. They told us there were hundreds of bags at the airport that we could come and look through- but that they didn't think ours were there. They weren't sure where they were though. We would just have to call the airport every time a Delta or Northwest flight came in from Detroit.
Our bags showed up at midnight that night on the front door. We will call it a Christmas miracle. At ten when we went to bed we called the airlines and they said they still had not located the bag.
While on the plane Kent and I decided to never travel again for Christmas- but now we are very happy to be here. I don't have my camera cord to upload pictures- but I'm borrowing one- so by tomorrow I should be back in blogging business.

Merry Christmas! Let's hope the trip home isn't quite so long and ridiculous.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh my. We fly out tomorrow. I was already soooo nervous but now I want to barf.

Linz said...

SOrry for the traveling torture! I am so glad that your bags made it back to you! That really is a Christmas miracle!

I had to laugh at the story of Sleeping Zeb and the apple juice. You kind of have to laugh at those things. (I remember when we went to Sea World, Michael put Auri on his lap and let her bear the ENTIRE wave of ice cold water. She was so mad, but she was okay. No harm done!)

Merry Christmas!! Have a wonderful time in Utah!

yaya said...

Leisy, I hate,hate,hate flying (just ask Craig and Ames) and I also triple hate airports. Our last little jaunt to New York City ( a mere 1hr and few min.flight) took 10hrs! I so sympathize (is that even a word?) with you but I'm happy you made it and I know your family is thrilled to see you guys! Have a wonderful Christmas!

Chris Howell said...

Leisy, we're in SC with Amy and Craig. We have had the winter from Hell since last Wed eve. Thurs we had a record snow fall of nearly 20 inches in a 24 hr period. Most of Spokane was shut down Thurs and Friday with more snow on Sunday and we woke to a full 5 additional inches just from Sunday eve's storm, We were to fly out on Mon and I was prepared to spend xmas in DNVR, but except for a 45 min delay out of SPK we were on time to Charlotte and met Craig there. I feel your pain and am happy we're all caught up with families.

Deneal said...

You know, I feel really bad for you...but thanks so much for giving us a great laugh! Matt said he would LOVE to watch the two of you tell this story in person--I bet it's even funnier. Glad it turned out well in the end. Merry Christmas!

Cynthia said...

So glad you finally made it safe, even though it was a horrible flight (yet funny to read!). And yes, you should definitely stay in Toledo next Christmas. Can you imagine all that craziness with two little ones?!?

dockters said...

I died when I texted you and you guys were still sitting in Detroit! I'm so glad you finally made it to Utah! Please wave at the mountains for me...oh how i miss it there!!!! Have so much fun! Merry Christmas!

Michelle said...

SO glad you're here!!

Jason, Kodi, Jake and Tyler said...

Sorry, i hope you don't mind if I still look at your blog randomly. Kristen and Paul came out to utah too, and they had almost the same problems you guys did. YUCK! their luggage came three different days, and the last one ended up in Hong Kong. I hope you all get home okay!

brittani c. said...

Even though I heard about this when we saw you guys in Lehi, reading this had me in stitches! I hope it's something you can laugh about now. I am glad you made it in one piece. I would've been bawling....just wait, it'll happen to me next year.