Yes, you might have noticed the time lag in my dates, as by now I've already concluded my travels. Well, I didn't want to spend my entire vacation on the computer. I do enough of that every day at work. And this was NOT work. But, never fear, I did keep up my blog. The iPhone is a great thing. So I will work over the next couple of days to move those writings over to this site.
So stay tuned.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Day 1: LA to Paris by way of London
Having to wake up early for a flight is never my idea of fun, unless, that is, I'm headed somewhere fun.
Paris definitely applies.
My 9 a.m. flight dictated that I had to get up around 5 that morning to shuffle my bones off to the airport. So when my phone rang at 3:30, my first thought in my stupor was, "Oh my God, I missed my flight." Or my ride was downstairs wondering where the hell I was.
Luckily it was neither but instead the automated flight update from American telling me my initial leg to Miami had been delayed by nearly four hours. Not good, as that would mean I'd miss connecting flight to Charles de Gaulle.
So up I went to my computer to retrieve the AA customer service number so I could figure out what the heck to do.
After the lady who answered, that is after, of course, I was on hold for 10 minutes, I was given several options, all of which were horrible. Fly to Dallas at midnight, get to Miami around 8 in the morning, and then head on to Paris after waiting in the airport for 10 hours. No.
How about the same flight to Dallas and on to Miami, then heading to New York's JFK around noon before connecting to Paris. Double no.
But wait, the next option sounded best, although either way I cut it I'd lose a full day in Paris. Fly to London non-stop and then wait about an hour before taking a puddle-jumper to the city of lights and get there by 6 p.m., still 9 hours later than I originally planned. But, especially on an awards flight, beggars can't be choosers.
The rest of the day went off without a hitch, and I was lucky enough to sit next to a nice couple from San Jose. The husband offered me an Ambien, which worked wonders right in the middle of watching the movie "The Messenger" with Woody Harrelson. Next thing I know, the flight attendants are serving us our breakfast meal as we approach Heathrow. Now that's flying (if you can't afford business or first class).
The only snafu I hit during my hour layover in London was having to check Bill's bottle of Jack Daniels, which I purchased duty-free at LAX before leaving. Thankfully it didn't break in my backpack. Oh, yeah my luggage.
For about two minutes, I thought they lost both of my bags. At Charles de Gaulle, after passing through customs, everyone's luggage comes down the carousel...except mine. In my best (or worst) broken French, I ask for a lost luggage form and begin to fill it out, when one of the baggage guys walks up to the American desk with, voila, my bags. Now it was bound to be a great trip!
Paris definitely applies.
My 9 a.m. flight dictated that I had to get up around 5 that morning to shuffle my bones off to the airport. So when my phone rang at 3:30, my first thought in my stupor was, "Oh my God, I missed my flight." Or my ride was downstairs wondering where the hell I was.
Luckily it was neither but instead the automated flight update from American telling me my initial leg to Miami had been delayed by nearly four hours. Not good, as that would mean I'd miss connecting flight to Charles de Gaulle.
So up I went to my computer to retrieve the AA customer service number so I could figure out what the heck to do.
After the lady who answered, that is after, of course, I was on hold for 10 minutes, I was given several options, all of which were horrible. Fly to Dallas at midnight, get to Miami around 8 in the morning, and then head on to Paris after waiting in the airport for 10 hours. No.
How about the same flight to Dallas and on to Miami, then heading to New York's JFK around noon before connecting to Paris. Double no.
But wait, the next option sounded best, although either way I cut it I'd lose a full day in Paris. Fly to London non-stop and then wait about an hour before taking a puddle-jumper to the city of lights and get there by 6 p.m., still 9 hours later than I originally planned. But, especially on an awards flight, beggars can't be choosers.
The rest of the day went off without a hitch, and I was lucky enough to sit next to a nice couple from San Jose. The husband offered me an Ambien, which worked wonders right in the middle of watching the movie "The Messenger" with Woody Harrelson. Next thing I know, the flight attendants are serving us our breakfast meal as we approach Heathrow. Now that's flying (if you can't afford business or first class).
The only snafu I hit during my hour layover in London was having to check Bill's bottle of Jack Daniels, which I purchased duty-free at LAX before leaving. Thankfully it didn't break in my backpack. Oh, yeah my luggage.
For about two minutes, I thought they lost both of my bags. At Charles de Gaulle, after passing through customs, everyone's luggage comes down the carousel...except mine. In my best (or worst) broken French, I ask for a lost luggage form and begin to fill it out, when one of the baggage guys walks up to the American desk with, voila, my bags. Now it was bound to be a great trip!
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