November 2008:
-BMI baby flight (Knock Ireland-->Glasgow) cancelled due to engine difficulties. I rebook an Aer Arann Galway-EDI for 220EUR. Fortunately, I have great relatives in Ireland.

December 2008: EDI-LHR (BA) LHR-JFK (DL)
-The BA flight down to London is delayed. My friend is on a BMI flight which departed EDI at the same time as mine, though his flight was not delayed. We both had the same DL flight to JFK. I land in LHR 40 minutes before the DL departure at the "new and improved" terminal 5. For some reason, we were all forced to produce our passports at this line, even though it was a domestic flight. The computer software at the checkpoint malfunctioned, and I stood there.

Eventually, a BA employee takes pity on me, and lets me pass the line and some 60 passengers stuck in line. I paid £1176.32 for a one-way VS premium economy ticket to Newark. Mom was panicking in New York, worried that I wuld not be home for Christmas. I was so exhausted I did not even notice the niceties that PE could offer.

February 2009: My return to Ireland.
-My flight from Knock to Glasgow is....CANCELLED due to bad weather, the snow storms which hit the UK and Ireland. Lesson learned: lightning strikes twice. I book a flight again from Galway to EDI this time for 100EUR a few days later. During the Galway to EDI flight, I experienced my first day suffering under a week long bought of diarrhea. Fortunately, I was so drained by the illness that I slept for the flight.

March 2009: Delta EDI-JFK direct.
-The plane engine has a crack in its covering. They patch it and blow dry it with a gigantic tube-thing. (Not my most eloquent sentence, I know.) We are given vouchers for food and drink. As the repair took too long and the crew could not legally staff the plane, we were put in the Hilton Edinburgh Airport. I would have preferred if we could get a partner flight with Air France or KLM, but we departed the next day. At the hilton, we had a buffet dinner and a free drink. It was alright. Passengers were .....ing as we sat on the ground for 20 minutes for extra catering. When I fly to New York, I am flying home from university, so I am not losing a precious day of holidaying and a small fortune in hotel reservations.

December 2009
- EDI-LHR-JFK on BA. This occurred during the "Day After Tomorrow" snowstorms in DC, NY, and Boston. I arrived in and departed from LHR hours before snow hit London. Flights to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. were cancelled, as were flights to Newark. My flight departed at 6 pm to arrive at 9. I call home to say that my flight is departing. We land in a scene I have never yet beheld and doubtfully will again. JFK was snow covered and utterly deserted. We landed at 9 pm, and deplaned at 12:30am. We waited in baggage for 3 hours until a few were allowed to pass through customs. I elected to do so and collect my baggage the next day. The BA crew allowed us to snack and take drinks as we pleased.

The ground crews were useless. Although the snow had long since ceased to fall, the "homies" on the ground were engaging in verbal arguments with friends, family, and staff inquiring after their progress. By verbal arguments, I mean expletives and street slang. I tell you as I was told by my father.

January 2010 JFK-LHR-EDI with BA
-What goes around comes around. Massive snowstorms grip the UK, while Northern Europe flies in road salt and other supplies to help the beleaguered British. Tankers are also directed to UK ports to compensate for the cessation of natural gas production at North Sea production wells. I book a flight a few days later and have dinner and beer at a venerable, 80 year-old pub restaurant with my grandparents.

April 2010 JFK-LHR-EDI with BA
-Upgraded to J from Y, sitting on the plane during a 40 minute delay at Kennedy. Quite frankly, I did not give a damn.

May 2010 EDI-LHR-JFK with BA
-BA strike. I re-arrange my flights and drive my family crazy changing dates.
I arrive into Kennedy on a 747 double-decker plane with a grand total of 50-70 passengers. F looked deserted, J had 3 people, and 80% of Y pax had their own row of 3 or 4 seats to sleep in. I cannot speak for W/premium economy.


I have flown a total of 6 round trips from JFK to EDI, and only one has been without ANY incidents. I will be taking another 6 before my degree is won. In addition, I have flown a total of 5 little inter-Europe getaways. 3 were without incident.