The Trip That Quickly Became A Nightmare
 

Ms Omsflyer and I were scheduled to fly DEN-SFO on 3 Dec on UA 1110 leaving at 535 pm. The plan was to overnite at the Airport Hilton and then head to Tokyo the next day - we had actually been able to use GPU's - spend 2 days , then on to Guangzhou where she had some business meetings. I was tagging along as eye candy! Our original plan was to cab to the hotel stopping at the In n Out in Miibrae for a little treat to bring to the hotel - burgers and club floor beer! First delay message came as we were driving to the airport and by arrival another came thru. Decided to can the In n Out and grabbed some wine and apps at Elways. During the time spent in Elways 10 more delay texts came thru. Also sporadically 3 push notifications came thru letting us know that our 535 pm flight had departed. Departure boards all confirmed the delays. Called the 1K desk and protected us on the last flight out as I was primarily concerned with crew timing out. After a few glasses of a nice Pinot we went to the UC where the agent confirmed a 945 departure but wheels up at 1046 - made no sense to me or him. Finally got on board and arrived in SFO about midnite - little over 4 hues delayed.

Took a cab to the Hilton and the fun ( nightmare ) began. Cab let us out prior to portico and we stepped out into the rain and onto the slick tile. Next thing I knew, I was down on my back holding my knee. Pretty much knew that I had blown it out. So eye candy is on his back on the wet tile with rain coming down and doing a lot of moaning. Ms Omsflyer is trying to call 911 and get somebody to bring some towels or blanket. I could not raise my leg so was pretty much stuck there. Front desk manager comes out and spends most of the time telling us that there was a "slippery when wet sign". Paramedics come and I get a very nice ride to Peninsula Hospital ER. Really great docs and staff who confirm that I have completely torn my quadriceps tendon - general consensus is to repair it within a few days. Straight leg brace is placed and we return to Hilton about 330 am. Very nice helpful gentleman - he was the night person who picks up breakfast menus from doors - gets wheel chair and our bags and takes us to our room. Apologizes profusely for the fiasco upon our first arrival - he was the only one to really help then, getting towels, blankets to keep me warm

Awake about 7 and start the flight cancellation / rebook process. Our tickets were originally first class DEN-SFO-DEN and I needed this as I could not maneuver with my leg non bendable. 1K desk was helpful and found us 2 seats on UA 1491 at 219 pm. Also cancelled the Japan flights. Told me that if I sent in a letter from my doc they would waive the change penalties except for $50. They also arranged a wheelchair at SFO. Also called my orthopedic friend and got on the OR schedule at noon the next day. Off to SFO, a little hassle at TSA Pre but overall not bad. Oh, they had no wheelchair request or wheelchairs available. Decided to hobble down on Ms Omsflyers arm - not looking like eye candy now. We were real early so decided to try the new Centurion Lounge - great addition! First delay text comes thru as we are hobbling to the gate. 5 more texts come thru as the creeping delay goes on due to awaiting aircraft. We finally board, sit for about 20 min while maintenance does some repairs then are told to deboard as the mechanical problem is more extensive. Start the protection calls and get us backed up at 540 am next day - can still make my surgery time! About 30 minutes later they reboard and we are off arriving DEN about 3 1/2.hours late

We have a great car service we use when we are going to be gone for a long time and the driver is right there. PM me if you need a great service. Grabs bags,etc and fusses over getting the seat back and me into the front seat. Arrive home and about 1 hr later discover we are missing our backpack assume it got left in trunk so call and - no backpack. Now this only held an iPad, 2 Bose headphones, a camera, an iMac with all of Ms Omsflyer work products and 2 passports. We are convinced that all is lost but miracles, it had been left curbside in all the rush and security had picked it up and it was returned with all intact.

Surgery was successful but a ski season is lost - we already had 8 days in and were going for 50. Side story, we were flying ANA from NRT - CAN and they cancelled and refunded 100% of fare with docs note - no status with them just Star Gold. 2 million miler 1K forever on UA and they need to keep a little. Go figure

Sorry for this lengthy epistle but it got so bad I almost had to laugh!

Quite the episode. You hit SFO and the Bay Area in our heaviest rain in years and reaaly messed up air travel.

Hope the knee recovery goes well.

One item of advice -- never assume a delayed flight will be delayed and not leave earlier. It happens regularly.

Second item of advice -- look into a Polar Care Kodiak Cold Therapy Unit. Sometimes the othro guy has a loaner or a friend might have one. They are great.

Thanks for the info on the cold unit. Agree never assume anything about delays but found it interesting that we were getting texts about delays and push notifications that flight had left. We certainly did get there in the middle of your rain. You folks needed it!

Wish you a speedy recovery!

I always buy insurance before a trip now.

I hope that your surgery goes well and you have a easy recovery.

Don't you wish we got do overs in life? There's about one minute in that story I bet you'd love to do over. It's not enough that you had to miss your Asia trip, but now you miss ski season. Thanks for sharing and what a painful story.

Missing ski season stinks. Where do you ski?

Oh, sorry about your knee and missed trip.

Thanks for the cheers - appreciate it! We ski at Vail have a home there and have been skiing there since late 60's. have always had a full pass - never bought pass insurance. We were going for 50 days this year. Have been skiing since I was 10 - now about to hit 70- and have always gotten in at least 1 or 2 days in each season even with old injuries. Have a great Holiday Season!

My sympathies to you omsflyer and best wishes for a successful surgery, a speedy recovery, and prompt return to eye candy status. :D

I say that while I'm on day 18 in the hospital following surgery on one of my two broken legs...which happened stepping off a curb in San Francisco. I get out tomorrow. Yay!

I have one flight still booked over Christmas and 4 flights in January on UA and since I'll be in a wheelchair for the foreseeable future, I don't know if I will have to cancel some or all of them. The $50 fee is post-merger. Pre-merger on UA the entire amount was usable on another ticket, with a doctor's note.