How could we have forgotten that it's the day after Hump Day. I miss my camel.

Hey, we were on that “diversion”! Crazy situation. There were four flights ATL-DC area last night: a 7:45, 9, and 10 to DCA, and a 9 to iad.

We were inbound on the last segment of a very long international itinerary (DPS-ICN-ATL-DCA, then a positioning IAD-SEA to get home.). Originally we were on the 9pm to DCA. Then we switched to the 9pm to iad because it was more convenient for our hotel using the weather waiver. Then that flight was delayed 3 hours, so we switched back to the 7:45 DCA (because at that point we’d breezed through immigration with time to spare.)

Then our new flight got delayed about 45 minutes, and then a mad rush to board it ASAP started because noise restrictions prevent flying a 321 into DCA after x o’clock. (Apparently 319/320s are fine - only the 321 is affected.). Turns out you actually can board a full 321 in 20 minutes if people are motivated enough.

We “pushed” with one minute to spare, and then a ground stop in ATL killed the whole plan. So the crew and ops made the decision to divert the plane to IAD before we even left ATL. We got in at 11pm. For us, it was a real win; we ended up at the airport we wanted, right around our originally scheduled arrival time, and even with upgrades. But others weren’t so lucky. DL did provide bus service, which was nice... but many people who only wanted to end up at DCA got off the plane and ended up on one of the other flights because they didn’t announce the bus until arrival at IAD.

Getting off turned out to be a very, very bad plan for those folks, because the other three flights last night ended up delayed by crazy amounts:

9pm to IAD - arrived 1:57 AM +1 (3h delay)
9pm to DCA - arrived 10:24 AM +1 (11.5 hr delay)
10pm to DCA - arrived 4:20 AM +1 (4.5 hr delay)

Id say we made our pretty well, compared to the 11 hour delay our original flight took. We ended up on the only flight that allowed us any sleep...


tl;dr DCA has crazy noise restrictions. In an irops situation, flights to IAD are a smarter bet.

You Tube

No, emus are nice or at least the ones that are in the Australian zoo "walk through" exhibits are. Maybe more importantly, they taste good if the meat isn't overcooked. [Emu breast on a buffet can be dry and tough.]

Maybe I should try it again, then, as just a carefully cooked piece of meat. I had it as part of a “coat of arms” pizza in Australia and it was really tough. (The kangaroo meat, on the other hand, was delicious.)

Overcooked roo is also bad, and also not a good buffet choice. It can be strong, dry, and tough. When it's done right, it reminds one of beef but with a much softer texture.

Did you have ostrich in Australia too?

I think they were hand raised, so that they had contact with (kind) humans from a young age.

Didn't you try to make friends with your emu in the wild? It was probably hungry and thirsty. You could have shared some craft beer with it.

Is some beer missing from your household? Maybe that's why the emu liked Mr Kipper.....or maybe the emu realized that Mr Kipper was the key to getting lot of publicity in the local media.

Then you must be living with an emu whisperer.