Saturday morning started early. . . . . 4:30AM! with Jim anxious, anxious, anxious! Anxious to get home, but not anxious to experience the airports, TSA, traveling public and/or a combination of all of those factors!
We had to be at the airport early since we had no seat assignments for our flights between Phoenix and Harrisburg. Orbitz had said they had submitted them, however, we’re not really sure they did!
Sunrise found us sitting outside the Hilton, waiting for the 5:30AM shuttle to the Airport. We arrived at the Delta Counter only to find out that we had been assigned middle seats in the back of the plane! Thanks, Orbitz!!! Never again will we book through them!
Orbitz had not informed us that our flight had changed!! Instead of Ontario to Phoenix, Phoenix to Detroit, Detroit to Harrisburg, we were now booked on flights from Ontario to Phoenix, Phoenix to Minneapolis and Minneapolis to Harrisburg, arriving home around 11PM!! Thank goodness for an extraordinary customer service agent at Delta!!
Our Plane getting ready for our flight to Phoenix
She played around on the computer and (for a fee!) she found us a flight from Phoenix directly to Philadelphia, and Philadelphia to Harrisburg, arriving home at 8:30PM. Not only did she get us an ideal itinerary, but she got us 1st class from Ontario to Phoenix, (for a fee!) Bulkhead from Phoenix to Philadelphia, and Exit row from Philadelphia to Harrisburg!
Somewhere over Riverside County, heading east towards Phoenix
The flights went well, from Ontario through Philadelphia. With a layover of several hours in Philly, we decided to have “dinner” at the airport ~ Chinese looked like the best option.
Chinese Food at Philly Airport
We had one more experience awaiting us. Shoulda known! We got to the correct gate, sat and waited for the flight home! 8:30 seemed a reality! NOT!! As we looked out the windows, we noticed all the planes lined up waiting for the runway ~ I counted at least 30 at that point. What gives?
Would you believe a Thunder/Lightning Storm? Traffic in and out was halted, and our flight was no exception!
Before we were ready to board, an announcement was made that they need “volunteers” to give up their seats and before he had finished the announcement, Jim was out of his seat! We volunteered in exchange for a free ticket each, overnight stay in Philly and Jim asked for a free breakfast to boot! Two others volunteered, but we were the first!
The Little MRI Tube that will take us to Harrisburg. . . . .
We watched them pull our luggage off the plane and sit on the tarmac and then the flight boarded As soon as it was loaded, they called all of our names and told us we could board. Nuts! The doors shut and just then the loudest clap of thunder followed by a bolt of lightening hit! and the rain started. Guess what? We sat! and we sat! and we sat! We sat for about an hour and were then informed that they were opening a secondary runway and we would be the first to take off. . . . . . and why ahead of all those other planes? Who cares? We were on our way!
We didn’t get bumped and arrived in Harrisburg about an hour and half late, but! Since our luggage was loaded last, guess who had the first luggage on the carousel? Bingo! We grabbed it and went!
Home at last!
