Amazing Race: Family Edition

There was a little excitement returning back home from our family ski vacation.

Saturday, February 24th
The Parents: flying direct from Denver to Toronto
Christopher: flying to Toronto, connecting through Montreal
Nancy: flying to Hartford, connecting through Lincoln, Nebraska & Chicago (it was cheap!)

Check-in: We were greeted by some of the longest airport check-in lines I have ever seen. United was experiencing some power outages with their computer system and having great difficulty checking passengers in. Fortunately we had arrived at the airport in plenty of time (we were worried about the road conditions after a storm that didn't end up materializing), plus Christopher and I had dropped off our parents and their luggage before returning the rental car, allowing them even more time to make it through the check-in line. So when we got back from dropping off the car, we just hopped in line with them.

Amazingly enough, we all made it through check-in and security in time to make our flights - not that it mattered...

The Parents: we dropped them off at their gate as boarding had started
Christopher: his flight to Montreal was delayed, meaning he would miss his connection. But he managed to phone Air Canada and secure a seat on the next flight out
Nancy: the flight from Lincoln, NB to Chicago was cancelled (bad storm in Chicago), so I decided to stay in Denver in hopes of getting on something else out. I didn't think Nebraska was exactly the hub of airline activity either...

The Parents: mechanical problem with plane - flight cancelled. Everyone was re-booked for a flight the next day and given vouchers for a hotel & meals
Christopher: made it home - luck boy!
Nancy: although the first confirmed seat that I could book back to Hartford wasn't until Monday (two days later) I made it on standby for a flight to DC, and could standby for the connection from DC to Hartford. However, the flight to DC was held on the ground for over an hour as 2 marshalls removed 3 passengers from the plane and they also had to dig through all the baggage to remove their checked luggage. Needless to say, I missed my standby connection to Hartford and was forced to spend the night in DC

Sunday, February 25th
The Parents: were scheduled to leave at noon, their flight was delayed, and delayed, and eventually cancelled. Apparently someone ordered the wrong part to fix the mechanical problem.
Nancy: though I did not have a confirmed flight from DC to Hartford until Monday, I went to the airport first thing in the morning to try and get on a flight via standby. Unfortunately DC was hit by a brutal storm and no flight were getting out at all. So Christopher booked me another room on Priceline and I went back to the Holiday Inn to wash my clothes in the bathroom sink - nice!

Monday, February 26th
The Parents: finally made it out on their flight, with an extra 50,000 Aeroplan points to compensate them for the delay
Nancy: managed to get on an earlier flight to Hartford on standby and didn't have to wait in the airport until 9pm, thank goodness!

The whole time this was going on I kept on thinking that this is what it's like to be on the Amazing Race. Running around through the airport, trying to get booked on flights, get on standby lists for other flights, wear the same clothes for days. Although it doesn't seem nearly as fun and exciting as it does on TV, I think I could do it. Rob & Amber - look out for Nancy & Christopher!

I also can't believe that our parents spent over 48 hours straight with each other without Christopher or I to 'manage' them. Apparently my dad was teaching Christopher's mom some tai chi in the airport to help calm her nerves. Oh to be a fly on the wall...