Our Journey Home

I didn't take any pics of our trip home. We were just glad to finally get there.

We start the morning off running a little late. I started to panic and was told by everyone it would be fine and to calm down. I was worried because our flights were going through Miami and Orlando, right where the hurricane was supposed to hit. On the early morning flight we were going to be getting in just before the hurricane hit but if we missed our flights we might get stuck in an airport somewhere with cancelled flights. We got to the airport started unloading everything and then I see my dad just leave. We're already in a crunch for time and we really needed his help getting the baggage to the counter so I'm baffled by why he just left. Then my sister tells me that the tailgate of the truck was accidentally never put up and my moms suitcase had fallen off the back somewhere! So we move on and expect him back any minute with the found luggage. My mom gets in line and we start bringing all the luggage to the line. After waiting for about 10 minutes I notice that the line says United. I turn to her and say "I didn't know United and American Airlines were affiliated." Right as I say that I realize they are not! We were in the wrong line! My heart sinks! Now I really start to panic. I run over to the American line and start telling the lady that were on the next flight and getting close to missing it and need help and she yells at me to get in line. They are so lovely. We are the last people they halp from that flight and we have A LOT of luggage. She of course makes sure to tell us that we need to arrive earlier blah blah blah. I KNOW!! She gets both my mom and I on the flight and then can't get Afton on. After what feels like an eternity of her trying to get afton into her seat, she can't and lets us know we have missed our flight! Unbelievable! After awhile she figures out that it was because they overbooked the flight and the seat they overbooked was Aftons. It takes another 45 minutes at the airport for her to figure it out and get us on the next flight which just so happens to be the dreaded RED EYE!! My mom's luggage is never found or returned. And yes is was very clearly tagged with her name, address, phone etc. There are very FEW honest and good people these days.

We head to the airport at 4 in the afternoon leaving plenty of time for everything to go absolutley wrong like it did that morning... and nothing goes wrong. We get on the plane and arrive in LA. Our flight there is running on time then gets bumped back 30 minutes, then another 30 minutes, then 45 minutes, then another 30 until it is no longer leaving at 10:00 p.m. but leaves after midnight. Not fun when you have a 2 year old that you just want to get on the plane so that she can sleep!

We finally get on the plane, get to Miami and we've missed our connecting flight. We are then put on the next one out in a couple of hours. In all we got to the airport in Fresno at 4:00 and didn't get to PR until 2:30 the next day! A 14 hour flight turned into 23 hours.

Now, on the upside. Afton was AWESOME and a total champ. Emery slept almost the whole way. I had my mom to go back with me and help. We still made it to Miami before the hurricane hit and the airport was shut down. Emery didn't get sick from the travel. And, We recieved a 450 dollar voucher for having such a terrible flying experience! Looks like our return flight is covered.