12-13-2010 \u2013 Flying Home<\/p>\n
Early to rise so we could get to airport.\u00a0 The traffic in down town San juan is a mess most of the time<\/strong> but at 6AM it is not as bad.\u00a0 We got in the cab with the extra bags from the kids (so they wouldn\u2019t have to pay for extra since I am FF).\u00a0\u00a0 When we arrived last week the driver was efficient but not extremely fast, and there was way more traffic but today the driver was auditioning for \u201cspeed racer\u201d status.\u00a0 We were passing police cars right and left, cutting people<\/strong> off, dashing for the exit, it was great.\u00a0 Not enough handles in the taxi to keep from bobbing and weaving all over the seat. \u00a0Good think it was still dark as I didn’t see all that much.<\/p>\n At the airport<\/strong> \u2013 first airport<\/strong> I have been to that there is an \u201cAgricultural\u201d xray check<\/strong> before you even get in the terminal.\u00a0 The check<\/strong> in was fairly efficient, but since I am priority it was nice for us to get in the line<\/strong> with one<\/strong> person and not the line<\/strong> with 51 persons\u2026 Also first place in a long time<\/strong> that priority meant something.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t mean enough to get an upgrade on our tickets, even if I wanted to as they were award tickets(American Airlines) \u00a0and most of the agents I have talked to didn\u2019t even want to see if we could get an upgrade, actually they acted like we were lucky to just have a ticket.\u00a0\u00a0 Once through that line<\/strong> we moved to TSA checks and the ticket check<\/strong> was the same they pushed us priority to a line<\/strong> with no one<\/strong> in and through final check<\/strong> before the scanners but then it slowed down as TSA doesn\u2019t give a crap if your priority or not.\u00a0 That line<\/strong> was slow as there were people<\/strong> not prepared to get all their stuff checked but one<\/strong> thing different is they had body scanners but did not have them in use, we all went metal scan only? Maybe they use them at times but we didn’t get the opportunity to show our “stuff” on the body scan.\u00a0 They might have had to stop me to make sure what stuff I had\u2026 ha!.<\/p>\n Needless to say we were plenty early so we had a wonderful breakfast that the \u201cgrab and go at the gate\u201d vendor, actually I had to walk way back up the hall as there was only one<\/strong> of the 3 grab and go guys in business that early.<\/p>\n We got the call, started the load process and boy was that slow. \u00a0Some people<\/strong> prefer to block all the others and stand in the isle while they contemplate if they have the right stuff out and need to fold their coat just so, etc. \u00a0Anyway we got under way and the 5 1\/2 hour flight<\/strong> was ok, a little rough in spots but nothing unusual. \u00a0The economy seats were not too bad but my butt was aching good when we finally got to Dallas.<\/p>\n At Dallas I suggested we get Popeye’s then head over to the other terminal (we came in to D and had to go to A to catch the flight<\/strong> out). \u00a0that was pretty good (for fast food at and airport) and they were way more efficient than what we had seen the past week. \u00a0From there we climbed up to the train, over to Terminal A and out to the gate, located a seat and sat down, in the back of the same lounge was my cousin. \u00a0I went over and found out he had been in Mexico for a few days and they had been delayed enough that they missed their connection<\/strong> to OKC<\/strong> and would be standby on our flight<\/strong>. \u00a0Again I asked about upgrade and this time<\/strong> she put us on the list but it didn’t look promising with all the people<\/strong> waiting it would be a full flight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n We made that short flight<\/strong> to OKC<\/strong> , luckily all our bags came through, we grabbed them and trekked to the car. \u00a0Got it all in and headed home. \u00a0Just before we get home we get a call that the kids were delayed in San Juan and missed their connection<\/strong> in Miami. \u00a0Now they had to argue with the agents about all the delay and problems it would cause. \u00a0American in their infinite wisdom had changed the kids flights and connection<\/strong> times several times over the past months and squeezed their connection<\/strong> to 55 minutes. \u00a0I don’t care what airport<\/strong> you’re in unless it is Lawton or Tulsa that is not enough time<\/strong> and for sure you bags will not all make it. \u00a0Well, guess what. \u00a0When they did get to Dallas around 10 pm several of the bags were missing. \u00a0Even with the missing in Miami they couldn’t get the bags on the right flight<\/strong> and make it work.<\/p>\n