Flying
I really do have more important things to be doing, but this article on what to do if you’re bumped off an airplane flight caught my attention. I read it in entirety, along with most of another site linked to it about federal law regarding all this, and am greatly encouraged.
You see, my mom keeps talking about paying for our flights so we can go to X Y or Z “some day” etc. It’s very generous and greatly appreciated, but I keep thinking “There is NO WAY I want to fly anywhere with four kids.” This is based on what I read in the headlines (passengers getting stuck in delayed planes on the tarmac for hours without clean bathrooms, water, diapers etc, American grounding thousands of flights last week, numerous delays and reroutings, etc) and from what I hear from those who have actually flown and encountered amazing situations I want no part of (multi-hour delays in departures, missed connections, rude flight attendants, cancelled flights left and right, asking them to fly in or out of different airports, some of which are nowhere near where you’re going or coming to, vouchers that are no good, baggage being sent all over the place, but not where it’s supposed to go…).
So after reading this, I’m thinking that maybe, just maybe, I’ll risk flying somewhere with the kids someday. But I’ll still plan on packing the kitchen sink in my diaper bag “just in case”. Along with my cell phone and a printout of what I read so I know what to do if X Y or Z happens!
Oh and I think I’ll try to fly Jet Blue too. They fly in and out of Burlington so it’s a legitimate option and they come highly recommended for how they treat people across the board.
PS - I’m adding another link - a new post on yahoo w/in the last hour. It’s about time (first update in 30 years)!
April 17th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Oh, boy. Don’t get me started! Don’t get me wrong - we don’t regret going to California at all. We’ll just never do it again. BEING there was fine. Getting there and back was a story I just won’t get into. And that’s with only 2 children, albeit one of them being a baby who needs diapers and formula. Even my laid-back husband admits that with 3 kids, that may be our breaking point.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Mom told me a little about it - enough to reinforce my thoughts and feelings all the more! I’m sure I’ve got some of the details wrong - perhaps even which airports, but did you ever hear her tell about the trip where they were supposed to leave from TF Green, and they were told instead (after they arrived at the airport) to leave from Newark instead (?hello?) and the airline put them on a train (a train!) along with their luggage (I think that was a good thing to not send their luggage on ahead but again, can you imagine negotiating all that?) to get there and then that flight didn’t pan out so they got vouchers that were no good for a hotel (after taking a bus to get there and then back to the airport) and then another hotel for the night (another bus, and what about food and the next am . . . .) can you imagine that with kids? (I don’t think so!) The problem is that these things don’t seem to be the exception.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Thankfully our experience was the exception for us and not the norm. With all the flying we’ve done, this was the only difficult travel we’ve had in a long time. And the only problem really was delays, which with young children who have been up since 5 am and are missing needed naps is no small thing! We were within 10 minutes of missing a flight that would have left us stranded, but my God’s grace we made it! I think the unpredictability is what is hardest. There is just no way to be prepared. But a direct flight, esp w/out time zones, I would probably do again. We’ve been to NE about 4 times now on direct flights and have never had a problem.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
FYI, our trip to the Grand canyon via Amtrak & Newwark was truly an experience, but the amazing thing was, I “felt” the hand of God thru it all and for all the difficulties dad and I remained “amazingly calm”, not to our credit but to His. I managed to pray before I left, asking Him for patience for our upcoming journey, to bless our time, and to make His presence known. Little did I know, that at every turn, everything worked out “just right”. :
They managed to get our luggage off the cart!, gave us each lunch and dinner vouchers for $12 per meal, got sandwiches before we left the airport
. Got on a train that was “full”,(thought we would have to wait till 4 or 6 pm and got seats together after New London) and the hotel that we did get was much nicer that the one that was booked and they took our dinner voucher at the Steak House,(which we were told were only good at the airport 
). Next day was an adventure but too long to explain but we “made” it all the way and the trip was great. But what was really great was we “knew” He was with us. Can’t put it into words, but I knew. Can’t say I would want to travel this way all the time and definitely not with children, but it was an adventure and one I’ll never forget 
. Love, mom
April 28th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’ve preferred train travel forever. Unfortunately can’t take the time for far distances. Glad you had a good experience Marie.
Continental has taken very good care of Chap throughout this Winter and Spring. The airport and plane personnel have been recognizing him (Possibly as the man with a can that they are afraid will fall down). He is greeted as Mr. Cook by many –the parking attendants, curb-side check-in porters, stewardesses, wheelchair pushers, and security wanding-men. And they have been up-grading his tickets (mine too last week - Thank You) perhaps because he travels to FL and back, sooooooo often!! Using the Presidents Club as a go-between seems to be the key to his excessive attention.
Surgery will be June 4 (unless a sooner spot opens)
Love, Mom