Non-Rev Gremlins
Friends had planned their trip to Europe meticulously, but there‘s always Murphy‘s law AND those pesky non-rev gremlins. ^_^
The flights over went smoothly, this is the story of their return.
Now between sightseeing, shopping and trips to the beach, my Spanish adventurers did hear, from me and others, about an impending East Coast snowstorm. But they thought, we’ve always been lucky, we have backups and really, what are the chances of a huge snowstorm shutting down the entire East Coast in October.
So the morning of Oct 29 they headed for the airport for their once a day flight.
At the airport they were hit with the news of ‘Snowtober’ the Qantas and Air France strikes and the revised standby list. Uh-huh what were the chances.
http://bestsmileys.com/fainting/1.gif
Surprising not all of this “lucky band” made it out, and so the ‘Picasso group’ began the search for a hotel for the night.
Meanwhile the lucky ‘Goya Group’ has their JFK bound flight diverted to BOS. I get a quick message, (
on a borrowed phone because no one charged the phone in Spain) asking me to look into hotels and flights out of BOS.
I message back that the entire East Coast is a mess, and find out that the original message was premature - they won’t be needing anything because….
they can’t get off the plane in BOS……. customs!
Back in Barcelona the ‘Picasso Group’ is having no luck finding a hotel.
Sometime later
On the tarmac in BOS the storm is getting worse, the Captain is giving updates, the FA’s are busy, some pax whose final destination is BOS are asking if they can deplane and “just leave our luggage” and the fuel truck shows up.
Back in Spain the ‘Picasso Group’ finally find a hotel, somewhere between Barcelona and Sitges and see that it’s unlikely that everyone will be going home the next day - so much for “open flights and “never fail” backups.
Much Much Later:
‘Goya Group’ finally on way to JFK, but can’t get out - will be sleeping in the terminal.
‘Picasso Group’ aren't sleeping at all, people are running up and down the hotel's hallway all night.
Day two - the odyssey continues:
The ‘Goya-JFK group’ have hot dogs for breakfast - it’s the shortest line
“Picasso group’ up early want to get to the airport. .
Everyone hopeful.
Sometime later (Day 2)
'Goya group’ splits up and all make it home on various flights.
‘Picasso group’ most make it out - two left behind.
Day three
The last members of the ‘Picasso Group' make it home, vowing never to fly anywhere without checking the 14 day weather forecast again.
