Nightmare of a Flight to the US

So I know I've been in Vegas for more than a week now, but whatever, I'll start blogging more, I promise...

So let's start with my flight, specifically from FRA to ORD; I only slept 2 HOURS!!!! I was so mad, I fell asleep before the plane even took off, I woke up not sure where we were or how much longer, but they showed the map thingy and it said, "time since departure: 2:34" I was NOT HAPPY!!! I had 6 hours to go!!!

So I started flipping through the movie channels and radio stations, I ended up falling asleep on my tray table and man I woke up in some hurting!!

So about midway over the Atlantic, we hit some pretty crazy turbulence, we had head wind like nothing else. So it doesn't make me feel good to hear, "flight attendants pleas take your seats..." about 5 times... NO WAY! I seriously thought I was going to die... Ok, maybe not, but still.

Sad thing is, that wasn't the worst of it.

So we got to O'hare alright, grabbed my bags, rechecked them, and started looking for the USO, I was doing alright. I hopped on an elevator and took it back up to the main level, doors opened and walah, there is the USO on it's own level.... now, how do I get there....
So I hung out at the USO for a while but finally had to leave to go make my connection, I figured O'hare is notorious for being slammed with people so I might want to make it through a little early.

So I get up there and realize that O'hare is the same airport I flew through last time I went to the good ole US of A. But here comes the worst part of my story...

So I get up to the gate, it's about 1345 and we are to board at 1425, I notice that there is no plane outside; eh, I figured it is just taxiing in and we'll be good to go... about 1410 comes around, still no plane. Tell me why the counter guy comes on the PA and says, no joke: Sorry for the delay folks, but as you can see our plane is not yet here, it is in the hangar being worked on for mechanical issues. (Sara starts worrying) We're not sure how much longer it should take but be patient with us and we should have an update for you in about 15 mins. But since it's coming from the hangar we'll be able to get right on it and not have to worry about cleaning and people exiting as it will be empty."

Ok, so hello, don't tell me the plane you are going to be sending me on is being worked on for mechanical issues 15 mins before I'm supposed to get on it!!!

20 (1430) mins later, "eh, sorry folks, they are still working on it and it looks to be about 30 mins before we can have it finished. If you would like to go on a walk-about before the plane gets here feel free, just check the flight monitors for updates."

So that was funny because everyone then is like, forget this, I'm going to go get food, I'm gonna go to the bathroom. Over the PA we hear not two seconds after that one was made "And just like that folks it looks like they've fixed the problem, but it will still take them about 15 mins to taxi the bird over here, so if you still need to go on a walk-about feel free, just please be back here as we are looking at a 1500 departure." (HAHA, what are you kidding me? 1500? I don't think so!)

So we wait... and wait... finally our bird shows up at 1500, but I thought we were supposed to leave at 1500... Oh well... So the flight crew boards and we are told we'll be boarding any moment, the flight crew just needs to do safety checks, finally about 1520 we get the OK to start boarding. I have NEVER been on a flight where they board FRONT to BACK! because it's dumb! So about 40 mins later I finally get to board, I'm on the back of the plane and it takes me about 10 mins to get on just because we're having to push through people who have already boarded! DUMB

so here comes the good part, it's about 1600, we were supposed to leave at 1456 and actually arrive early. Now we are leaving about the time we should be landing, ok, not really, but still. So we're all chillin on the plane, listening to the safety instructions and no joke, over the intercom... "Sorry for the delay folks but it looks like we're going to have another one. They are finishing up some paperwork and we cannot shove off until that is done. I've been told it will be about 30 mins; so you are free to leave the plane, but I'm being told that if you do we want you to take all of your items, because if we get a quick go ahead we are going to be closing the door and leaving. Again sorry for the delay but (begin chessiness) Safety is always number one with United!"

So we chill, hang out on the plane, and finally we get the "Ok" to take off, about 1620 local time now. We sit at the gate for another 20 mins it seems just waiting for whatever reason... Take off was finally at 1640; nearly two hours behind schedule.

I didn't call them to let them know I was going to be late, I figured they'd check, which they did, but when they checked it showed a 30 min delay, so they showed up at 1730 Vegas time (originally I was to land at 1645) and realized I was not going to be there for another 45 mins. So they hung out I guess. When we landed because I was at the back I got off at the end, ran to the bathroom, I hate plane lavatories, then hopped on the sky line. FYI, in Vegas when they say NEXT stop from Concourse D to Terminal 1, there is ONLY one stop!!!! So I stayed on at Terminal 1 because I thought for sure they'd announce if that was the baggage claim, oh no! so ooops, it only took me about 45 mins after landing to get to baggage claim and they were freaking out, like how do we know if someone got on the plane??? I guess someone told them to file a police report hahahahah! But I made it, it was nice just grabbing my bags from the conveyer belt and walking out, it was about 110, me in jeans, carrying a hoody and wearing flip flops, oh yeah, you could tell I was from Germany.

So that was my flight, quite entertaining wasn't it? Oh yeah....