I stayed in Baku for a few days prior to going back to the US. They needed to stabilized my knee and knock out this pneumonia that I had. So it was wonderful as I just rested and received calls and visits from friends. Tuesday morning they picked me up at 2 AM to take me to the airport for a 4:50 AM flight to Frankfurt with connecting flight to LA arriving at 2 PM Tuesday (I gain 12 hours). Got to the airport went through customs and security, and got on Lufthansa, a nice plane with plenty of leg room. I requested an isle seat so I could stretch my legs and get up and walk around when it starts getting stiff. Made it to Frankfurt in 4 1/2 hours and when I arrived at 7 AM, it was snowing lightly.... yuck.
 |
| Frankfurt Airport Closed |
I got off in terminal A but notice the connecting flight was in terminal Z. The shuttle took us to terminal Z but stop at Z4, my gate was Z69. Good thing I had 3 hours layover because it took about 45 minutes to walk there. As I am waiting to get on the plane, the snow was getting heavier but planes were still taking off so I wasn't worried (I should have been!!). We boarded at 10 AM, the snow was getting worse. We were told that the flight would be delayed, and then again delayed, and then again delayed... At 5 PM (after being on board since 10 AM) they cancelled the flight. Before we got off, they did offer us something to eat which figure I better eat something. After finally getting off the plane, we were told to go to customer service to reschedule our flight. The lines were so long, I ended up standing in line for 7 hours (total time on the plane and waiting to reschedule was 14 hours). They finally schedule me for the next day a flight from Frankfurt at 1:30 PM to Munich and then Munich to LA at 3:30 PM. I had to sleep in the airport as there were no hotels available (a fair was in town) and all roads in and out of the airport were closed. After sleeping for a couple hours I am waiting in the lounge for my flight and I notice that the time between getting to Munich and the connecting flight to LA was only about 30 minutes. If that airport is anything like Frankfurt, then I wouldn't have enough time. I went up to the counter and was told to go to customer service counter again (which was a good 2-3 hours standing in line again) to have it changed. I told them they really needed to change my flight to the earlier one, because I don't think I will make the connecting flight. She was very rude to me and told me it wasn't a problem, and they can't change it because of my luggage needed to be with me and to just sit down and deal with it. At this point I was going to write a not nice e-mail to this airline and airport. As I was waiting for my flight, they announce that the flight to Munich was delayed 45 minutes. I shook my head and when up to the counter and told them if they don't change this I will have a melt down. I am tired and hungry and I need to get to LA. I also didn't have a working phone, so I was able to use the airline phone to call my son. I kept giving him different times of when I was coming in on the different flights. I was angry and frustrated and told them I wasn't moving until I got a flight to LA. After 20 minutes, they found a flight on United going to DC and then LA. She asked if I wanted to go to Washington to LA.. Yes, just get me out of here!!! (They hate putting you on another airline because it cost them more money). So again, I called my son and told him the time of the flight (hopefully this was the last time). I had 1 hour to get to the terminal (again, I was at terminal A needed to get to terminal Z). Tickets in hand, I am off to terminal Z hopefully for the last time. I Never want to see this airport again!! As I was heading to the terminal I found the UA reservation counter (most of Frankfurt airport is Lufthansa), so I got my boarding passes and called my son to confirm again. I got to the gate and had 10 minutes to spare, once I was on the plane I finally relax at least I was headed home yea..... Once I was in DC, I went through customs and waited for my luggage and guess what? My luggage NEVER made it on the airplane, it was still in Frankfurt. So in DC I was told, once I got to LA to file a claim for my lost luggage. I went through customs and security and off to my connecting flight and as I arrived at the gate, they just announced boarding (yea... I made it, I'm going home). Landed in LA at 1 AM, filed a claim for my luggage, and then my son, daughter-in-law and grand kids picked me up and drove me home. After 3 days, 3 cancelled flights, I finally made it!!I had to rent a car, no extra car in my family or friends and anyone who lives here knows you need a car to get around. There is no straight through public transportation. PC does not reimburse for rental cars, they expect your family or friends to take time off to drive you to doctors appointment's which all of my family and friends work and I would not ask them to take time off to take me.
I did go to the doctor's on Friday, he was very thorough and took lots of blood and x rays. I go back in a couple of weeks to find out the results. Wish me luck.
Life Challenge: Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.... Guy Kawasaki
No comments:
Post a Comment