I had a feeling some glitches were in store when I checked my flights a week ago, only to find out my departure was booked for Oct. 3, NOT Nov. 3! You can imagine the horror to my eyes when I figured out what happened, as it throws the entire reservation out of whack. You're probably wondering how I mucked up my own flights, being a travel agent and all...well, I didn't book them so I can proudly say it wasn't my fault! I should have, however, checked the itinerary for accuracy as soon as I received the tickets, rather than just file them in a folder. Thankfully our great team at Vision made some phone calls, asked for some favors, and had it fixed.
And of course I leave absolutely everything to the last minute, packing, running around buying more camera and trekking gear, you know, everything that most people start preparing for at least a few days before heading across the world.
Last year, when we traveled to southern Africa, our luggage never arrived Johannesburg and made it 6 days on safari with our carry on. It wasn't the end of the world, I had all my camera gear and everything that was important - but I'm petrified of that happening again, and insisted that I travel only carry on this time. After-all, I need safari and trekking gear, clothes for business meetings and dresses for parties. After much stress, weighing and measuring, I did it! Bag is a little large but I squeezed it in the overhead with a sigh of relief the airline didn't take a second look at it.
After an uneventful flight over the pond we start our decent into Amsterdam, cabin crew is preparing for arrival, I'm thinking to myself, "yeah, this is great, on-time arrival, got all my bags, it'll be a breeze connecting to my 1005am departure for Entebbe". With 15 minutes to landing, the captain comes on and advises that due to weather we have to land in Rotterdam to wait it out and fuel up. AWESOME. A number of flights were diverted here and after sitting on the tarmac for an hour, we're up in the air for a 10 minute hop into Schipol Airport! Missed my connection, along with 100's of others. What a gong show. The line must be 2km long for rebooking. There's no way I'm getting out today, or likely tomorrow.
Frantically trying to get through to someone (its 2am in Calgary), sending emails, trying to phone KLM, I emailed a friend in Switzerland to see if he could help. MIRACLE! I stood in the line for almost 2 hours, sure that anything that was available would be gone by the time I made it to the front - he emails me back, flight re-booked departing Amsterdam tonight via Dubai, landing at Entebbe at 1240pm. Happily headed up to bar for a beer, everyone in line gawking how I got my flight fixed while they had to wait another 2 hours in line to talk to someone. I can't express how thankful I am for the help.
Our group departs tomorrow, Entebbe-Kasese on the last flight of the day at 1230pm, so now I have to figure out how I'll meet up with them at Kyambura Lodge, but am just thankful I'll be in Uganda! (knock on wood)
Next, a phone call to insurance to start a claim for expenses and missed portions of the trip.
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