One FINAL Airport Story

It just wouldn't be a memorable trip if we didn't have airport stories, now would it???

After saying our goodbyes, we headed to the airport - with QUITE a bit of stuff!!  2 rolling bags, a computer case, a LONG fishing pole case, an insulated carry bag full of fish, a smaller ice chest full of fish, and a large ice chest full of fish!!  Yes, we needed help when we got to the Loreto airport!!

We checked 3 items and did 2 personal carry-ons and 2 larger carry-ons and our flight to LA went just fine!!

The LA airport hadn't changed any from a week ago - darn!!  Actually customs went just fine and they didn't even open the fish - HOORAY!!!  We of course had it all taped up!! 

So after customs you drop your checked baggage off again - as I've said before, nothing is marked very well and you just kind of guess what to do!!  We dropped the checked luggage off to this guy at the United place sitting there and he had no idea what was happening - after worrying that we had dropped it in the right place, we finally got it all figured out and headed outdoors to walk to our terminal.

At the next terminal, of course the automatic check in place couldn't find us so we had to wait for a representative and finally got boarding passes and headed to the gate, only to find out we had to go through security again.  They herded us OUTSIDE to stand on a bridge like overpass and we waited and waited and waited - it was ridiculous!!!  (also quite chilly outside!) 

FINALLY we got through security and of course they insisted on checking out the fish - they ripped off all of our duct tape and proceeded to take EVERY single baggie of fish out and inspect it.  They did repackage it but not with the same type of tape.

I grabbed 2 sandwiches and a small coke (to the tune of $25.00) and we got to our gate - of course it was delayed.............early evening flights are ALWAYS delayed, aren't they???

We finally got to board - it was a larger plane with 3 seats on each side and naturally the seats we had were the ones where the overhead bins are full of whatever (computer equipment???) so we had to put our roller bag and the ice chest across the way and down one set of seats.  Glenn went to put the ice chest up (on its side as it was too tall) and the darn handle came off - the entire ice chest fell and hit this poor older lady in the shoulder and fish went flying everywhere as of course their darn tape was so flimsy!!!  OH MY - it was chaotic, wondering if the lady was OK and trying to pick up frozen fish all over the floor and re put it in the ice chest and then trying to get it back up there with now NO tape on it and of course, the line behind us is waiting and waiting as they can't get by till we get it done!!  WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!  Glenn felt so bad for the lady - she said it just hurt and would probably bruise but the airline did do a report just in case....................

Needless to say, we waited till EVERYONE had disembarked the plane before we tried to get the ice chest down - sure enough, the lid had been off most of the flight - GRRRRRRRR- and we put the handle back on and got off!!

The Denver Airport never looked so good!!!!  We started towards the moving walkway and then the entire handle breaks off - the side deal was now busted............so once again we pick up fish..........this is getting old!!!  We ended up putting the ice chest on top of the roller bag and remembered we had a little bit of duct tape in the suitcase so pulled it out and taped once, all the way around it!!

And then Jaime and the kids arrived to pick us up and the daunting airline saga was behind us!!!

It was certainly a great trip for Glenn's 60th b'day and one he will never forget!!!