Similar to our departure two years ago, getting to Ecuador was an adventure in itself. This time, the fun was stateside; the adventure was leaving for Ecuador. Our class was departing from three different locations: Boston, Newark and San Francisco. The plan was to meet in Houston, gather, and together board one airplane, destination: Ecuador. Those leaving from Newark, the group I was leading, had the most exciting things happen!!
Two days before our departure, there was a huge snowstorm. On Friday, we shoveled and made sure that the car was able to get out the following day. On Saturday, I woke up at 6:00 AM to get to the Newark airport at 8:30 AM for the 11:30 AM departure. We left for the airport around 7:00 AM and got to the airport around 8:00 AM. Seeing the sunrise rise over the Manhattan skyline and seeing the early morning rays shine on Downtown Manhattan was breathtaking. Even though the sun was behind us while we were driving to Newark, it was spectacular to see it from the right wing car mirror. Our plane was departing from Terminal C. However, it was an escapade to get there. I thought we would be in Terminal C on our first try. The airport is a maze!! Instead of Terminal C, we were in Terminal A. We went from A to B and finally ended up in C. It was great to see all three terminals in 30 minutes. That was the first part that was fun, at least for me.
As everyone met, passed through customs and went to our gate, we noticed that one of us, Katelyn, did not have a seat number. We figured that we would ask the attendants when it was time to board the airplane. When we got to our gate, we noticed that there was another plane leaving for San Francisco, which was leaving about 10 minutes before we had to board our plane to leave for Houston. I became curious, so I went to ask someone at another gate because there was no one at our gate for me to ask. They had informed that they had no idea and that I would have to ask someone that was stationed at our gate… I waited at our gate for about an hour and no one ever showed up… I decided that someone would eventually figure out that 10 minutes will be too short of a time frame. We had about an hour before we had to board the plane. Shortly after, there was an announcement notifying us that our gate number had changed.
Now for the second funny part!! (At this time, those leaving from Boston and San Francisco were on their way to Houston.) When we got to the other gate, there was a surprise waiting for us!! United Airlines had overbooked the plane by 25 people!! We waited in line to see what we could do. As we were getting closer, we heard that they were still booking people for planes that were also already overbooked… I was confused as to why they were doing that. When it was our turn, we had informed the attendant that we were flying as group and were on a Global Service Learning Trip. The attendant said that she would not know any more until 15 minutes before boarding. As people boarded, I was hoping that something would happen (knowing that Katelyn’s chance of getting on the plane was slim, but there was hope). All other passengers had boarded the plane and we were still there waiting, still hoping, but nothing happened. We needed to get on. It was hard for me to leave someone behind… Along with overbooking the plane, United updated us that the crew was missing and that we would leave as soon as they came. We were off to Houston and when we landed, I had talk to Jeff, Eric and Kiley and they were working on getting Katelyn a flight. Once we were on the plane and ready to leave for Ecuador, I thought that I had the whole row to myself!! All three seats!! As I was enjoying the moment, there was an announcement saying that the captains were missing. Not knowing much about airplanes, I did know that we were not going anywhere for a while if the captain was not piloting the plane. After a while, one captain showed up… but we were still waiting for the other captain. When the co-captain finally showed up, some passengers also came into the plane and two little children and an adult joined me in the row. The captain had come from another flight and that flight was also delayed. Everyone was on the plane and it was time to go!! As we were leaving Houston, we were informed that Katelyn was going to be landing Monday evening.
Off to Ecuador we go!!
Two days before our departure, there was a huge snowstorm. On Friday, we shoveled and made sure that the car was able to get out the following day. On Saturday, I woke up at 6:00 AM to get to the Newark airport at 8:30 AM for the 11:30 AM departure. We left for the airport around 7:00 AM and got to the airport around 8:00 AM. Seeing the sunrise rise over the Manhattan skyline and seeing the early morning rays shine on Downtown Manhattan was breathtaking. Even though the sun was behind us while we were driving to Newark, it was spectacular to see it from the right wing car mirror. Our plane was departing from Terminal C. However, it was an escapade to get there. I thought we would be in Terminal C on our first try. The airport is a maze!! Instead of Terminal C, we were in Terminal A. We went from A to B and finally ended up in C. It was great to see all three terminals in 30 minutes. That was the first part that was fun, at least for me.
As everyone met, passed through customs and went to our gate, we noticed that one of us, Katelyn, did not have a seat number. We figured that we would ask the attendants when it was time to board the airplane. When we got to our gate, we noticed that there was another plane leaving for San Francisco, which was leaving about 10 minutes before we had to board our plane to leave for Houston. I became curious, so I went to ask someone at another gate because there was no one at our gate for me to ask. They had informed that they had no idea and that I would have to ask someone that was stationed at our gate… I waited at our gate for about an hour and no one ever showed up… I decided that someone would eventually figure out that 10 minutes will be too short of a time frame. We had about an hour before we had to board the plane. Shortly after, there was an announcement notifying us that our gate number had changed.
Now for the second funny part!! (At this time, those leaving from Boston and San Francisco were on their way to Houston.) When we got to the other gate, there was a surprise waiting for us!! United Airlines had overbooked the plane by 25 people!! We waited in line to see what we could do. As we were getting closer, we heard that they were still booking people for planes that were also already overbooked… I was confused as to why they were doing that. When it was our turn, we had informed the attendant that we were flying as group and were on a Global Service Learning Trip. The attendant said that she would not know any more until 15 minutes before boarding. As people boarded, I was hoping that something would happen (knowing that Katelyn’s chance of getting on the plane was slim, but there was hope). All other passengers had boarded the plane and we were still there waiting, still hoping, but nothing happened. We needed to get on. It was hard for me to leave someone behind… Along with overbooking the plane, United updated us that the crew was missing and that we would leave as soon as they came. We were off to Houston and when we landed, I had talk to Jeff, Eric and Kiley and they were working on getting Katelyn a flight. Once we were on the plane and ready to leave for Ecuador, I thought that I had the whole row to myself!! All three seats!! As I was enjoying the moment, there was an announcement saying that the captains were missing. Not knowing much about airplanes, I did know that we were not going anywhere for a while if the captain was not piloting the plane. After a while, one captain showed up… but we were still waiting for the other captain. When the co-captain finally showed up, some passengers also came into the plane and two little children and an adult joined me in the row. The captain had come from another flight and that flight was also delayed. Everyone was on the plane and it was time to go!! As we were leaving Houston, we were informed that Katelyn was going to be landing Monday evening.
Off to Ecuador we go!!