We left the hotel on December 21st to head home to Chicago for Christmas. We had a wonderful time with both of our families. We got to go shopping on Michigan Avenue, shopping at my favorite mall (Woodfield for all you Chicagoans out there!). We went to see The Desolation of Smaug and Anchorman 2. We ate a ton of delicious food! We played lots and lots of games. (We're a big board game family.) All in all, we had a great time.
But on January 3rd, it was time to go home. We had a super early flight because we were meeting the movers that morning so we could move in to our new home. We packed our suitcases, said goodbye to my sister (who couldn't go to the airport), and got ready for bed. Right before I crawled beneath those nice warm blankets, I checked our flight status. Cancelled. My stress level immediately skyrocketed. What were we supposed to do? The movers were already scheduled to come and they wouldn't come on the weekends. I was starting my new job on Monday. In my mind, we were screwed.
So I called United. Only they couldn't get us out on Friday. Saturday was the earliest. So we decided that we would wait to fly out until Sunday since we wouldn't have any of our stuff. Sleeping in a completely empty apartment all weekend didn't exactly appeal to me. We were able to reschedule the movers for Monday morning so it was only going to be one night in the empty apartment. I could deal with that.
Fast forward to Saturday night. I checked the flight status early this time. No point in packing everything up again if our flight was cancelled. Cancelled. Fuck. Sorry, I normally try not to swear on this blog, but it couldn't be helped. We had been automatically rebooked to Monday morning. Not good enough. So I called United and was told that my hold time was going to be greater than 60 minutes. Omg. I literally cooked an entire dinner and ate before I finally got through to an agent. And then I was told that the Monday morning one was the earliest they could get us out on. Thanks a lot United.
So we called the movers and left a message saying that we needed them to come just an hour or so later on Monday morning. The next morning, at 2am, we bundled up and headed to the airport. After religiously checking the flight status all day Sunday, I felt like it was pretty safe to go. It was -17 degrees out on our way there, but it felt like -35. Holy cold.
Anyway, we finally got onto the plane and made it to VA. We are all moved in and are now just working on unpacking our boxes. I was able to push my start date back to Wednesday (my employer was super awesome and understanding). It feels so great to sleep in my own bed, sit on my own couch, and eat off my own dishes. Home sweet home.
Sorry that got so long guys. Do you have any airline horror stories to tell me? Do share!
Oh my god, that's horrible!! I'm glad that you guys are now there, moved in and everything! I can understand that stress level upon seeing that your flights were cancelled!!
ReplyDeleteSo, I was going to go to Cancun for a week over Christmas and I was all packed, ready to go. I was flying out of Vegas while my fiance and his family were flying out of Seattle - they were going to get in Friday afternoon while I got in that night. I was already a little nervous about getting into Mexico at night by myself so when I'm waiting around my apt, waiting for my friend to pick me up, I panicked slightly at seeing that my flight was delayed. I checked and that meant I had a 30 min window of catching my connecting flight in Houston. I called and the lady tells me that it wasn't enough time and I'd probably miss it. I asked to be scheduled on something else. There was nothing. She goes: Oh, I can schedule you for something tomorrow. I was like, I don't want to lose 2 days in cancun! And I also didn't want to have to spend the night in the Houston airport. So I hang up, determined that I'd run really fast and catch the flight. Right as I hang up I get another email and it's been delayed again -- not arriving until after my connection left. I call back. My friend is already there to pick me up so I get in the car. After an HOUR on the phone, the lady gets me on the best option possible which had me flying into LA and then taking a red eye out and landing early morning on Sat. I could do that. I'd miss a night of sleep but at least I wasn't going to be missing any of my vacation there!
Only problem was that flight didn't leave until that night and I was already at the airport. I spent SEVEN hours in the airport before getting to LA, 4 hour layover, red eye flight and got in at 6 am into Cancun with about 3 hours of sleep. Needless to say I felt super weird that whole first day there since I was so sleep deprived! haha. Holiday traveling can be so stressful!
Omg. That is horrible. I actually had a similar experience when flying to Puerto Vallarta this past summer only I did it on purpose. I had to spend the night in the airport on the way there and on the way back. But if I hadn't the ticket would have gone from $600 to like $2000 so for me it was worth it. But man did it suck! After I finally got home I was like no way, never going to an airport again. Lol. Of course, 6 months later I was flying to Chicago. I'm glad that you ended up working it out so that you didn't miss any of your vacation! Oh and I was also flying into Mexico to meet some friends and even though I was arriving during the day I was still super nervous to be flying into Mexico all by myself. So I totally get that. Stupid airlines and stupid flights and stupid weather! Lol. Someone needs to invent a teleporter asap. :)
DeleteUgh, that sounds terrible. At least everything pretty much worked out in the end. The weather was killer in Chicago this past weekend. :P
ReplyDeleteYeah very true. The weather in Chicago is always killer. I take it that's where you live? What part? I grew up in Glendale Heights.
DeleteOh my gosh, that's terrible! I'm glad you got all moved in though and are using your own belongings :) I felt like that after the ice storm at Christmas when we had to go to a hotel... no one could understand why I didn't enjoy the hotel SO Much... I said MY BED! I want my own bed, lol.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any personal airline stories that are horrific, but I can certainly give you a few :P I used to WORK for United. About 9 years ago as one of the people on the phone before I went to University... and it sucked. It was absolutely dreadful! I've listened to people sob because they can't get on a flight and are the maid of honor at their best friends wedding and are going to miss it. Worst job ever maybe lol.
You got a new job Rebecca :) That's exciting!! Good Luck(although I suppose you already started since it's Saturday now :P)
Yes, hotels are okay for a few days, but two months in a hotel??? I was so over it. After two months of not sleeping in my own bed I was done. The day we got back I swear to you I had the best nights sleep ever.
DeleteI feel like that would be a terrible job. People probably scream at you a lot. I tried to be nice because I knew that it wasn't their fault, it was the weather, but still it's pretty frustrating.
Thank you so much! My first week went really well and hopefully it will continue to. :)
This sounds awful! I think 2 months in a hotel would kill my soul. And also I live about 2 1/2 hours from Chicago and it was so cold and snowy that week that for the first time ever I considered moving away from Michigan. However, this post has made moving again super unappealing... ;) Glad your stressful adventure is over and you are all moved in!
ReplyDeleteSabrina @ I Heart Y.A. Fiction
I think it did kill my soul a little. I am so happy I get to cook and eat real food again!! We had a little kitchen in our hotel, but there was only so much you could do with the stuff that they gave us. I am so happy I don't live in Chicago anymore. So sick of the cold and the massive amount of snow. I like visiting now...and then leaving. Lol.
DeleteWow, the longest I've lived in a hotel was 10 days and I was so tired of it, I can't imagine how you did that for two months. But yay that you're finally all moved in! And ugh about the airline, that is not good. I love Chicago, but I couldn't take those cold days...I guess that was the problem with the flight? At least your employer was understanding! ~Pam
ReplyDeleteYeah I was so freaking over that stupid hotel. Lol. Yeah, I love Chicago too but I am so glad that I don't live there anymore. The flights were cancelled because of snowstorms both in Chicago and in DC. Yes, I was so thankful that my employer was so nice about it.
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