Airport Adventure (a.k.a. Snow vs. Seattle)

Some of you may have heard that Seattle was hit by a couple of snowstorms this past week, and if you're from Utah, or another snow-friendly state, you might wonder, 'What's the big deal?'. Let's just say, Seattle almost never sees snow, and certainly not multiple inches, from 2 different storms, in the same week. This being said, I had an adventure getting home for Christmas...if you want the details, read on...

Sunday
12:00 p.m. ~ Starts snowing in Seattle (after snowing 1/2 of Saturday, and another storm Thursday)

...Still snowing....

4:45 p.m.~ Arrive at airport, 2 hrs early, and check the big departure/arrival screen to make sure my flight isn't cancelled - Nope, it says BOARDING. Boarding???!!! How can it be boarding? *Mild panic* I run to the Delta counter to make sure it isn't boarding, then run back to Emily's car to grab my bag so I can check it and get through security.

5:30 p.m. ~ Get in line at ticket counter to ask why my flight says BOARDING

5:32 ~ Here somebody sitting by the line say - that flight hasn't left, it hasn't started boarding...there's a empty seat by her, so I sit down

5:45 ~ Pull out the Ensign, and the lady next to me says she'll read it after I finish, since it looks like we're going to be here a while...

6:45 ~ 5:10 flight to SLC finally boards...okay, they're about 1 hr 30 min late, so we'll probaby leave around 8? Okay, that'll work...just as long as we get out tonight :)

6:45-11:30

~ De-icer machine breaks

~ De-icer machine gets fixed

~ Planes have to be de-iced multiple times

~ 5:10 flight stays at the gate waiting to be de-iced

~ We learn that flight crews can only be on the clock for so long....

11:30 pm ~ The dreaded C-word = CANCELLED

11:32 pm ~ My airport buddies and I get on the phone with Delta to rebook

11:42 pm ~ Actually talk to someone at Delta and get rebooked for new flight at 10:30 a.m. Monday (my friend got through to Delta first, and at first they told her that the next available flight was 6:50 on Thursday - yes, Christmas Day, thankfully, they created a new flight)

Decide to stay the night, since there's a flight at 6, we might be able to go on standby, and it's still snowing outside, so going home and coming back looks risky.

Monday
12:00 a.m. ~ Call my mom to let her know that she can go to bed, since I won't be coming home until later

2:15 a.m ~ Manage to fall asleep in one of the uncomfortable airport chairs

3:15 a.m. ~ Wake up from sleeping in the chair - there's really no way to get comfortable in the those chairs! And by now, the floor looks pretty gross and all the benches are taken :(

4:45 a.m. ~ Alexis gets in line to get our boarding passes for 10:30 a.m. flight (HUGE line, since large flights to Cincinnati and Atlanta just got cancelled around 4:00)

5:45 a.m. ~ Actually talk to gate agent, get on standby for 10:14 flight and find out that I don't actually have a seat on the 10:30 flight, but I'm on confirmed standby (which is better that regular standby)

6:15 a.m. ~ Head to Starbucks for breakfast

9:45 a.m. ~ Talk to Jeff's sister, as she comes off the plane

10:10-10:20 a.m. ~ Alexis, Karen and I all get called to fly on the 10:14 flight!! I gave Alexis a high-five when she got called, and I ran to the desk when called my name...okay, so we were a little loopy (what do you expect after 1 hr of sleep and wondering whether or not we'll be home for Christmas?)

1:55 p.m. MT ~ Land in SLC!!! Yay for an airport that can handle snow!

2:15 p.m. ~ Get in line to have my luggage delivered to my parents' house, since it's not in UT

3:15 p.m. ~ Give the Delta agent my information, so my luggage can be delivered

4:30 p.m ~ Finally arrive home!

8:30 p.m. ~ Go to bed

9:00 p.m. ~ Luggage arrives ;)

Final score: Snow 10, Seattle -2