She made a packing list, and I helped pare it down so that we didn't have the "50 lb cruise suitcase" again. Since it was early winter in Australia, she had to pack some warmer clothes. I also had her take my bigger suitcase because after two weeks of travel, Chris' suitcase and clothes bag were overflowing.
Amy and I headed to the airport on Tuesday afternoon around 5:15 pm for her 7:35 pm flight. Because of Chris' Global Services status with United (the elite of travelers), Amy was flying with Premier Access allowing her priority check-in and TSA Pre-check. While she checked her luggage, I got a pass to get through security and to go to her gate with her. Sadly I did not have TSA Pre-check. I went back through the regular security line, but fortunately it was not busy at all.
As I got through the scanners, Amy had this bummed look on her face and showed me the alert she had just received saying her flight was delayed until 9:15 pm. Which meant that she would miss her San Francisco connection to Australia. She tried calling Chris, but he wouldn't answer. He had just started a meeting at the Parliament Building in Canberra. He must have gotten the message that Amy's flight was delayed as Amy kept calling and texting.
He halted his meeting for 15 minutes to help us out. Because he is Global Services, United people bend over backward to help him. He got Amy switched to a flight to Los Angeles and a connection there to Australia (she would have to give up her first class seat on the flight to Los Angeles, but would still have it for the long flight to Australia). She said, "I can do that." Of course you can. This girl will be forever spoiled for a regular seat on a flight.
The gate agent for the LA flight said that they would not let Amy board if her luggage was on another flight and suggested that we go talk to the Customer Service people across the hall. Keyonna helped get everything sorted out, allowing Amy to fly to LAX while her luggage was on the San Francisco flight. As soon as Chris was able, he got back on the phone with United to get Amy's luggage sorted out.
I stayed at the airport until Amy's flight left.
She landed at LAX with no problem and hung out in the United lounge until her Sydney flight left around 11 pm. Apparently, the original flight from San Francisco to Sydney was delayed as well. She could have stayed on that flight, but we didn't know and just couldn't take the chance.
Chris was up early and at the airport on Thursday morning (about 2 pm Wednesday Colorado time). Though he was not able to get a pass to meet Amy at her gate, his Global Services status netted him a lady who went to the gate for him and made sure Amy arrived safely. Her luggage arrived with the San Fran flight around the same time as her LAX to Sydney flight and she was able to pick it up at baggage claim. All good for my adventurous one.
