The worst travel experience. It's not what you think!!

The worst travel experience. Ever.

Ok, so based on my last couple days trying to get out of NYC back to Chicago during the massive snowstorm that hit the East coast you might think that was my worst travel story. Ever. It was not. (Can you believe it?)

That’s right. Zombieland kill of the week goes to……

April 1994. Trip from San Diego to Boston for my sister’s wedding. Actually, it was not the trip to the wedding that was the issue. It was the trip back. Let me explain.

Remember that this was pre-911. Things were different in air travel. You had a lot more leeway in what you could and could not bring onto the plane and also in how security was handled. I traveled for this trip back to my sister’s wedding alone with my daughter (who was almost 4 and going to be the flower girl) and my son (who was about 15 months old). I was going to be the bridesmaid in the wedding as well. My husband was unable to go so it was just the two kids and I.

The flight there (as I said) was fine. I think we had a change of planes in some city but it couldn’t have been eventful for me to not even remember the city! It was the trip home that was horrible.

Got to Boston Logan airport with plenty of time before the flight. I recall it being a night flight, booked that way so that the kids could sleep most of the way home. We did have a scheduled change of planes (again, can’t remember where) but it was only going to be one change, not a big deal.  Traveling with kids brings it’s own challenges because there is always extra STUFF that you have with you. Some of the items:

·      The kids themselves

·      Umbrella stroller for the baby

·      Diaper/tote type of bag with all miscellaneous crap

·      Meghan’s doll (that she took EVERYWHERE) and a blanket for Connor

·      A small (think 6 pack) type cooler with milk for the baby and his medicine (he was just getting off an ear infection)

·      That damn flower girl bouquet basket that Meghan insisted on carrying home to San Diego

So, we get to the airport, no problem. Get through security, no problem. Wait for flight to board, no problem. But then there is an apparent problem. With the plane. Sigh…

So we wait, and wait and wait. I don’t remember how long. But that’s not important because that is not he worst of it. Not by a long shot! Both kids fall asleep (bless them!) so when it was time to board the new plane (not sure what happened to the broken one sitting at the gate) I couldn’t get the sleeping kids and all their crap onto the plane. It just wasn’t physically possible. And my daughter slept like the living dead. So she was pure dead weight. The gate attendants were unable (or unwilling) to help me carry her on board. So they called a baggage handler from baggage handling area to carry my sleeping daughter on board the plane. I can tell you I didn’t get this man’s name. But he was a huge (think 300 pound football player type) man who obviously had kids of his own. Because he couldn’t have been more gentle and helpful if it was his own kids. If I had any money I would have tipped him!

So off we go! But wait, there’s more! See because of the broken plane, we had to be re-routed all over the place to get to San Diego. So our plane made stops (and we changed planes) at the following places:

·                                           Boston to St. Louis

·                                          4-6 hour layover in St. Louis.

·                                          St. Louis to Phoenix

·                                          Phoenix to Las Vegas

·                                          Las Vegas to San Diego

Did I mention that we changed planes at all these locations? Yep, with two kids under 5, stroller, baby bag, the doll, the medicine and yes, that damn flower girl basket!!!!

It got to the point that whatever these kids wanted, I gave it to them. Just to keep them happy. Mommy rules went flying out the window (no pun intended)!  If they wanted to take their shoes off and run all over the gate area in St. Louis, have at it. If they wanted Skittles for breakfast, let’s go! If they wanted to sleep on the floor at the airport in Phoenix, sounds good to me. Whatever. Kept. Them. Sane.   (And me too!!)

When we finally landed in San Diego, my husband met us at the gate (remember, pre-911) and I handed those wonderful kids to him and once we got home, I locked myself in our room for a whole day. It was truly the trip from hell!! And I do need to mention that the kids (overall) were really well behaved! I mean as well as can be expected!

So when I think of the hell that I went through this past week getting out of NYC I try not to complain too much. Because it could be so much worse! Thanks for playing; let us know what your worst travel experience was!!!

            

It’s a Global Entry kind of day!!

So headed up to the wonderland of Northern Chicago for my Global Entry interview today. Not even going to talk about the crazy snow, traffic and generally shitty conditions. That’s not what this is about. It’s about the Global Entry interview!!

Once you get “conditionally approved” by the Global Entry Powers That Be (aka: Customs and Border Patrol) you get an email explaining the process and directing you to sign up for an appointment for your interview to finalize the process. You have basically all of the participating airports with interview centers to choose from, and the closest to me was Chicago O’Hare, which is my go-to airport for international travel.

It was super easy to make the appointment, all done on line and since they have Saturday appointments to chose from, it makes it convenient for the working masses. My appointment was at 10:00 am today and with the weather being what it was I wanted to be there early, just in case. As it turns out they were running ½ hour behind: there was about 8 people ahead of me in line.

Once they call your name you are brought back into the “interview area”, which is basically a desk with a couple chairs and computer terminal. The Customs and Boarder patrol dude was super nice and it was a simple process. His computer was giving him technical difficulties but the actual process was simple. They look at your passport, driver’s license and the interview letter that was emailed to you. Then they take your picture and your fingerprints (electronically) and ask you a few simple questions. Such as:

o   Have you ever been arrested domestically or abroad?

o   Have you ever had any immigration violations brought against you?

o   Have you ever used another name? (Not counting maiden names).

That was about it. Simple. Took about 15 minutes total and pretty straightforward. I should note that in all honesty, they have already done your background check. They know who you are and what you are all about. I think they just want to see you and match up your face to passport. Then he gives you a temporary card with your ID number on it and gives you the speech. Some highlights:

o   You will get your permanent card in the mail. No need to take that with you on trips. It is mainly for driving back and forth from Canada or Mexico.

o   You will receive an email in about 48 hours with further instructions on using your new Global Entry info when you book your future flights.

o   Cannot be applied to any current flights already booked, only for new flights.

o   You should for first time uses with all your preferred rewards airlines check in at the ticket desk so that they have all your information updated when you use the system for the first time. (After that you can check in online, etc).

o   Although technically you don’t have to fill out the customs form on the airplane any more, my dude explained that they tell folks to still fill it out because as he said: “kiosks break, machines run out of paper, stuff happens. Better to be prepared just in case”.

Like I said, simple process! I think that this is going to be a good thing and for only $100 for 5 years you really can’t beat the price. Anything that makes your entry back into the good old USA quick and painless is a win-win for me!!

Happy travels!!!!