41,000 ft somewhere over Siberia (December 23, 2004)

I rushed out of bed at 5:15 a.m. getting for a whole day trip to BKK. It was quite a cold morning in Minneapolis (-2F when my partner drove me to the airport at 6:15 a.m.). AA check-in counter was quite busy with holiday travelers. Luckily, I checked in online already. However, since I have a medium-size carry on along with my backpack, I decided to check in my carry on and did so without any problem using the electronic kiok. Security was a quick for a busy day like to this morning. When I got to the gate, boarding has begun. My group was called to board shortly after I got to the gate.

We closed the door at around 7 a.m., then the caption brought some bad news to us. One of the tires was to be replaced since it didn’t have enough air. Wow, my worst nightmare came true. I would be late catching my Northwest flights, which were on a total difference reservation. An hour later, the tire was replaced and we were off to Chicago. After this one-hour delay, I still have about 1 hour to catch my Northwest flight. Now, checking my carry-on seems to be a horrible idea. Service on AA was decent, just a few selection of drink for a 55-minute flight. Seats were quite generous for coach. FAs were very professional.

We finally landed in ORD and I got out of the gate with 55 minutes to get my checked-in bag from AA and catch my ORD-DTW flight. Ran down to the luggage claim, I waited for my bag. Fifteen minutes seem to be forever. My bag finally appeared. Now, if I could ran to Terminal 2 with 25-minutes to spare. Lucky for me, security was again very light. I went through security in about 2 minutes and ran toward gate E13. On the way to the way, I noticed a NW monitor and checked for my flight information. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My ORD-DTW was delayed for one-hour. But wait, that mean I might miss my DTW-NRT connection since I only have 70-minute layover in DTW. So, I went to the joint NW/CO club at ORD, which is very nice and spacious. The agent there told me that with the current information she had, I would have 20-minute to make my connection in DTW. However, I should go to the ticketing desk and ask to see if I can catch UA non-stop ORD-NRT, and then my original NRT-BKK. What a great idea, since I would be for sure escort my parents to BKK (They were on SFO-NRT-BKK).

After about 20-minute standing at the ticketing desk, the agent couldn’t do anything for me: (1) I couldn’t be rebook on the nonstop UA ORD-NRT because I am a discounted WBC (Z fare) and I used a dollar off discount!, (2) she offered to reroute me, ORD-MSP-SFO (overnight) and SFO-NRT-BKK (next day), which was totally unacceptable to me as I want to be on the same flight with my parents, both are in their late 70s and clueless about BKK and how to make their final leg of the trip from BKK-SGN the next day. Well, I kept my original flight schedule and hoped that Northwest would hold the plane for a little as I might not be the only one with weather delayed.

Numerous phone calls to my parents’ mobile phones went unanswered. I left several messages, but I am sure they won’t check them once they leave the US. I boarded the delayed ORD-DTW flight and prayed that miracle would happen. We took off at about 11:45 a.m. and the flight is a short 50 minutes.

Would I make my connection? Please let me, I suffered enough already the last few days. I accidentally have feeling for someone (X) I hardly known. But I am not single anymore, I have a partner for about 7 years. I tried to get X out of my mind, but I couldn’t. What just happened to me? How could I fall so hard for someone I don’t know. To him, I might just another boy toy. All I want now was to make the flight, so I wouldn’t abandon my parents. I don’t think that was too much to ask.

We landed in DTW at about 1:45 p.m., and taxing to the gate. But our gate was occupied by another plane. Noooooo. We found another gate, but ground crews have to move all the equipment. Well, I got off the plane at 2:00 p.m. and ran to A38. Yes, the 744 plane was still there, it was delayed until 2:20 p.m. Wait, but the door was closed. I immediately asked an agent at the counter. He just grabbed my ticket and wrote “A41-A43” while saying “This flight is closed, go to gate A41-A43 to rebook.” I just couldn’t believe what I heard. I went over to A41-A43 and there must be 50+ people in line. Is this really how Northwest treat its WBC customers? Well, I paid for a discounted WBC ticket, but still I expected more for what I paid. I got out of line and went to WorldClubs near A38-40. There were 2 agents working the counter and 5 people were in line ahead of me. And it seems like there would be a while. I got out my mobile phone and called the Worldperks Elite line; there, I was advised that I was rebooked on the DTW-NGO-MNL flight (with an overnight in MNL, then connect on Phillipines Airlines for MNL-BKK) which leaves in 20 minutes. She told me just go to the gate for my new flight and get the boarding pass.

I am now sitting in 2A on my DTW-NGO-MNL, still don’t know what lie ahead of me. I was told to get on the flight and don’t know if I get accommodation in MNL, how my parents will react when they find out that I am not on their flight. Will they wait for me at BKK airport? Fortunately, I book a package in BKK with roundtrip transfers and hotel, but does my parents know that?

As for my in-flight services, I am happy to report that the crew has been excellent, very attentive and caring. The Japanese Dinner is somewhat disappointing, but the service truly made up for it. I was addressed by name, green tea was brought to me every time my cup was empty. Now, if there is a simple answer to my personal problem and somehow I can let my parents know that I won’t be able to escort them to BKK, that will be my Xmas wishes. Like a FA on my ORD-DTW comforted an older couple who was delayed and might miss their connection to MIA “everything will be okay … you can’t do anything now … so seat back and enjoy the flight.”