This is Sean’s summary of the Infamous 54 hour journey that American Airlines kindly allowed us to experience as a result of on plane refusing to take off. I was gonna change it, add to it, basically steal it and make it my own. That is, Steal It. But when have I had time for such a thing.
So, it is what it is.
Sean and the kids have diarrhea. At least I can take meds. kids have diapers.
2:30 wake
3:30 get in van. James drove us
checking in-horrible- took 2 hours. We were there 3 hours early but the lady passive-agressively takes 2 hours to check us slowly through. We then 40 min wait for security. barely made the plane in time.
I had to run back for Chelsea. sweater stuck in scanning machine
get on plane. 20 minutes. plane -broken weather antennae. unfix-able.
on phone for 1 hour with American- no results
talk to lady named Anne with American from Wisconsin for 1 hour get it sorted to go through Houston.
Anne’s interjection: I realized after changing terminals from the AA terminal to the Continental that I had lost the kids shoes. BOTH OF THE KIDS GOOD SHOES!! No way to go back and look for them, because I’d have to go through security TWO more times. So my kids went bare foot for the entire trip. Of course, every Stewardess we met felt the need to point this out and state some safety issue.
go to Houston
in Houston -told plane is broken. Continental swaps the plane for new one. Wish American airlines knew about this kind of solution.
rebook Cathay airline. spend entire layover on phone fixing things with Cathay and paying 150/p/p. Finish giving credit card ($1,100) as boarding- last passenger with team-mate
both flights no one sat together- not even Samantha our nearly 4 year old was near us. But strangely our fellow passengers agreed to let Samantha sit next to me. Imagine. At least we were all lucky to be on the same plane.- we nearly weren’t
get to sfo. bags don’t show at baggage claim. baggage claim says they might be at Cathay.
go to hotel @6-rest/shower/ boys to McDonald’s
go back to airport @9- get quite nice tickets with everyone sitting near each other in groups. bags still unfound.
immigration/security- no lines!
long flight to Hong Kong. just before take off, the stewardess presents us all with our baggage claim tickets! They finally found our bags!!
Timothy has a rough time for an hour wanting to sleep but can’t.
Hongkong airport. peaceful and kids get some food and playground time.
trip to BKK tiring but it goes ok. Our pilot is Jackie Chan.
in BKK they detain Frank from Ghana to check his health for half an hour.
Meet my dad and give him some of his books.
Go to restaurant for food and smoothies.
waiting area for flight, my dad plays out with our kids while we rest. Dad’s flight is to Malaysia later in the day. Thanks dad.
Restful flight. Samantha quickly falls asleep.
Good friend picks us up in our truck.
load everything into 4WD and taxi. Batton down the hatches for the water fights. Timothy falls asleep
guesthouse very nice, team seems happy. Meet our other 3 rested members.
We drive to grocery store. get dinner.
home. House seems fine.
kids put in bed.
Anne to sleep at 8pm
I am unable to sleep until 10. (55 hours of sleep deprivation)
kids wide awake at 1am. Anne takes the 1-3 shift. I take them from 3-4.
7:30 kids wide awake and wandering around the yard so I go get them.
9:00 Pii waan shows up and fixes everything. she is so overjoyed to see us that she nearly cries.
9:30-9:45 finish breakfast and write this.
I am very glad that Gift our translator is with the team to take care of them. I expect they will have lots of fun playing in the citywide water fights today. But as for me zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………….
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