20 & 21 Dec - Cancelled Flight! Horrendous experience!

20th & 21st Dec- 38 Hours Ordeal at LAX Airport

We went to check in shortly after 5am. And I learnt that my checked-in luggage was overweight so I had to repack it. We had to go through security checks and it was pretty long. They singled us out and we had to wait for the female attendants to check on us. However, I had to repack my stuff as I put in my toiletries into the hand-carry bag so I had to repack it into another bag and check-in that bag.

So I had to go out and get in to do the security check again. Arrgh. Again, I have to wait for the female attendant to pat me down. Took my shoes to check for bomb chemicals. They are really strict but it seems strange that I was singled out. While I was queuing to check-in my bag, I noticed that quite a number of flights to Denver were cancelled but our flight was not cancelled so I didn't really bother much about it.

The airport is really small as it is for domestic flights of United Airlines. There wasn't much to do. This also explains why we could sleep like a stray in that airport because domestic flights do not operate in the night.
We made it to the boarding gate with some time to board the plane and took this picture before we boarded the plane. Beautiful sunrise! When I sat down in the aircraft, I went straight to sleep. This was because I didn't sleep that much, was busy watching my anime so I only took short naps in between the shows. We sat in the aircraft at 7am and I was woke up by Becky at 7.30pm. The pilot announced thatt our flight was cancelled due to heavy snowstorm in Denver resulting in the closure of Denver Airport. So shit! So we weren't the only ones affected after all. All flights to denver were cancelled.

So we got off the plane and headed to the baggage claim area to retrieve our checked luggages. We waited almost an hour before our luggage came through. After retrieving our luggages, we headed to the United Airlines ticketing counter to try and get a change of flight.

The queue was super long and we queued for about half an hour before a very rude male United Airlines staff came to tell us that we were supposed to go elsewhere. So we pushed our luggages from terminal 7 to terminal 6 and queued all over again. we were in the queue for 4 hours before we got our turn.

Basically, we whiled away the time by talking to people in front and behind us and playing sudoku. We were in the queue for 3 hr and I took the time to briefly charged my handphone before dumping the charger into my luggage.

The lady at the counter told us that it was the Christmas week, all flights were fully booked, there was no use in transferring to another airline and that the best she could do for us was to put us on standby for the 4pm direct flight to JFK airport. So we took it and checked our luggages in again and went through the stupid security check AGAIN.

The queue was super long as many flights were affected due the closure of Denver Airport closing and there were only 4 counters open to handle the situation! >_<> The only cheap food shop was Macdonald. And we still quite optimistic about getting a plane. This was because today was the first day of the tour and it was nothing - just airport transfer. The 2nd day is then the start of the real tour.

All the electrical sockets were taken up so we couldn't use our lappie freely. So we rotted in the airport till 10.10pm, where again we waited anxiously at the boarding gate hoping we would get a seat. Okay.. It was Becky who waited anxiously, I just fell asleep when she woke me up and told me that she gave up her seat. Apparently, the flight only had one seat available and Becky gave it up as she didn't like the idea of splitting up.

And so it was back to the customer service counter, saw the same old faces, in the same predicament as us, back in the lines too. Actually we were automatically rolled onto the next standby list for the next flight but i guess all of us are just holding to the slight hope that if we plead our case harder, some miracle will happen and they will somehow get us on a confirm flight. S0 we were merely put on standby for the next flight to JFK at 11.30pm. And we learnt a lesson that you shouldn't throw your temper on the staff even if they are unfriendly and not helpful because they might just bump you down the waiting list. We think that happened to a old couple.

And the cycle of anticipation followed by disappointment started all over again as we couldn't get onto that flight. This was followed by despair when we found out that this was the last flight out to JFK for the night and the next available flight was at 7am the next morning. Yeah.. We were still on standby list. Arrgh..

So we spent the night in LAX airport again. The domestic terminal that we were in is :(
It only has one pathetic macdonald, one starbuck, a place selling pizza and salad and higher class Indian mama shop. No other decent shops...

It was so irritating, we had to waste money to buy a phone card to call the agent that we will be late. The surcharge was huge! We bought $20 and $3.20 deducted as a surcharge when you call. It's really crazy! Luckily, Garry was meeting us. He acted as our middleman throughout this ordeal.


21 Dec

Becky went back to the customer service counter and queue throughout the night. I was suppose to queue with her but I went to lie down on a chair to rest and end up sleeping till 5am. Poor Becky was sitting at the queue through out the night. Anyway when it came to her turn, the guy at the counter say it was her lucky day and that UA had just opened a new flight out to Washington Dallas. So we were given confirmed seats on the 10am flight from LA to Washington Dallas and then Washington to Newark flight. The only downside was that this was to Newark and our luggages were JFK and that we will only reach NY at 11pm. It meant that we had to take a taxi down to JFK to collect the luggages and meet up with the tour.

While waiting, I told Becky we should try to ask the staff to put up on standby for the 8.40am direct flight to JFK while holding on to this confirmed tickets. It was still better to get our luggages and leave this god damn airport quickly.

Anyway, it was a cruel joke on us again as Becky was offered one seat on the 8.40am flight to JFK. Luckily, we speculated this scenario just a few minutes go but we didn't get down to a conclusion. During that short decision making time, we agreed that Becky should go leave first to collect the luggages, instead of us both going to Newark and then having to travel to JFK to collect the luggages. So Becky boarded the 8.40am flight alone and I waited till 10.10m to fly to Washington Dallas. And I was still feeling optimistic over the whole issue, bought a hashbrown to pamper myself.

As I was flying on a clear day, the view of the land was good.
Things didn't turn out well when I arrived in Washington. Due to the time difference, I arrived at around 6+pm, but I was still pretty optimistic. Everything will be fine and I got myself a donut from Dunking Donuts. Strolled around the airport as my flight to Newark was at 9.30pm. I also talked to a Philipino lady who has been staying in US for some time.

I decided to call Garry at around 8.15pm to tell him that I will be coming soon and where should I meet them. That's when my world came crashing down, he told me that they were on their way to Philidelphia. They were no longer in New York!!!! I had only 7 mins left on the phone card so I asked the tour guide to quickly give me some options. He gave me 3 options.

1. Go to Penn's Landing and take an airbus. (Luckily I didn't choose this option, I had no idead that Penn's Landing was actually one of NY's subway stop.)
2. Fly to Philidelphia.
3. Stay in Washington airport as they will be heading down to Abraham Lincoln Memorial around 1 to 2 pm.

They were going to stay in the Hyatt Hotel in Philidelphia. And the guide said that if I couldn't meet up with them, I will forever be chasing after them. Arrgh!!! I don't want that to happen!!!! Taking a taxi from NY to Philidelphia is crazy, it will go into hundreds of dollars! I don't want to waste more money! It wasn't meant to be an expensive trip!!!

After that the call was cut off. No more minutes left on the phone card. There wasn't any point in flying to NY because I asked the guide if the airbus still works in the night. He didn't really know. So I was left with option 2 and 3. I didn't want to stay in another airport again, even though it is definitely more interesting than LAX domestic airport. Sleeping in another airport is not fun. I have not bath for 3 days. My phone was left with little power as I only charged it for a while and my charger was in the luggage. How to call! I was saving the power for emergency purposes.. So arrgh!!!!!!!!

And I wondered how Becky will cope at her side. I was afraid that something bad might happen to Becky and I will be too ashamed to meet her parents. They might blame us for doing stupid decisions for splitting up.

Anyway, I went to check the screen to see if there was a flight to Philidelphia. If there wasn't any, then I had no choice but to stay in the airport. There was a flight to Philidelphia at 9.40am and it was the last flight! I had to give up the Newark flight as they were at 2 different terminals. I quickly find a staff at a counter, she said she was not obliged to help me but she was nice and helped me to check if there were available seats. She said there was 1 more seat left and she could put me on standby list. However, the system refused to put me on as my ticket was tied with Becky. Her counter couldn't make the changes. So I had to travel to another terminal. When I arrived there, I stopped a female staff and she was not helpful!!! Made my heart sinked. I needed help and she had to say some unhelpful stuff.

When I arrived at the terminal, I met the Philipino lady and I poured out my woes. She was really nice and consoled me. After that, I went to queue at a customer service counter and the queue was moving so slowly! By the time it is my turn, the flight would have fly long time ago. I decided to go straight to the booth that is in charge of the flight that I was going to take. So I asked the person behind me to book my place in the queue and the old man had to joke with me by asking me to pay him and the person in front $20 each. I was already not in a mood for jokes and if I still must pay more money is going to make me go mad. So I broke down and shock him. Lol.. Tears always work. The man in front of me told the old man now you will have to pay her $20 instead. Err.. Anyway, at that time, it just wasn't a time for jokes. I didn't want to stay in the airport. I already missed a day of tour. Part of the trip has been wasted. Sunk cost.

Anyway, I went to the counter with tears streaming. Okay.. It wasn't that obvious but with my slight sniffling, the man in front of me and the lady at the counter noticed that I was perturbed. Anyway, she said that I can get a seat to Philidelphia!!! Hurray!! I was so relieved!!! I went back to the previous queue and chatted a bit with the old man. They actually lived in Singapore before, stayed in the East Coast area. Then I went to talk to the Philipino lady and she was happy that I could leave. She said she probably had to stay in the airport again, the flight seems full.. A3 was my boarding area. Walked through the groundway and go up the plane. I was actually pissed off to see that there were a couple of seats left empty. This was because they told me I was on waiting list. Meh.. They should have just give me the seats and stop saying the 'waiting list' words.

Arrived in Philidelphia airport. The flight was an hour. I was so glad. Now I just need to get to Hyatt Hotel.

Took a long time to get the luggage and I went to study the transportation area. Apparently, there's shuttle service and you can talk to the lady in a counter and tell her where to go and she will give you a number. When your number is called out, it means your driver is outside the airport waiting for you.

At first the black lady in the counter didn't seem that friendly, but she noticed my camera and we had little chat. She must have been tired as she has been working on a full shift so she was actually quite a nice person.

I took the shuttle service and talked to another girl and she was from LA, California. She said she loves the sunshine over there. Cold places were not her cup of tea. Anyway, I got down and paid the exact fare of $8. And I actually forgot to tip the driver!!! Totally regretted it, should have just give him $10. I forgot that I was in America.

Arrived at the hotel and called Garry from the reception counter. I was so glad to see Garry and Becky!! The feeling was like coming out from an isolated island and finding your friends waiting for you.

Well, the experience of being put on standby and being stuck in the airport for so long was really unpleasant but I guess the whole incident was pretty interesting after I went through it. I realised I am pretty flexible after all and I learnt a lot about how airlines operate. But I definitely wouldn't want to meet with this kind of situation again. It is NOT FUN!!!