Delta Does It Again
I have a longstanding love-hate relationship with Delta Airlines.
Many moons ago, on our very first European trip, Will and I flew Delta home, connecting in Atlanta. Unfortunately, weather was a factor, so our connection to Chicago was delayed—and delayed again. Delta had no answers other than to wait, so jetlagged, exhausted, and angry, we waited. Other airlines began to resume service, and still, we waited. We could’ve driven home faster, but our luggage was probably in a cargo bay somewhere in the airport, so even that wasn’t an option.
I never forgot that experience, so Delta became my least likely airline to book. Not that it mattered because once we had kids, we didn’t travel much, and when we did, Southwest dominated our Nashville airport.
Enter 2024.
Deep into the points and miles credit card game, I was determined to book a reasonable flight deal to D.C. from Raleigh. With more than a little hesitation on my part, that turned out to be Delta through a SkyTeam alliance.
I booked the flight, and when travel day arrived, I told Will, “If our flight gets canceled, we will hop in the car and drive. It’s only about a four-hour drive.”
Have more prescient words ever been spoken?
Sure enough, as we sat in the airport, we watched other flights take off while a summer thunderstorm threatened ours. The time kept getting pushed back further, but finally, we were boarding nearly three hours later.
And then we sat on the tarmac. First, it was a mechanical issue. Then it was the weather. Finally, at 10:00 P.M., the flight was canceled as the crew was about to time out.
We had an 8:30 a.m. visa appointment the next day. There was no way we weren’t going to show up. It could take months to get another one.
Will and I looked at one another, knowing Operation Plan B had just commenced.
We scrambled to grab our things and the kids’ belongings and rushed off the plane past the long line of passengers awaiting their rescheduling or refunds. Thankfully, we didn’t check bags, so we practically ran to the parking lot, knowing how limited our time was to get to Washington, D.C.
Once in the car, we only stopped once to fill the gas tank, grab coffee and snacks, and then get on the road.
Will and I talked the whole way, desperate to stay awake and alert when we were exhausted and waaaaaay past our bedtimes with kids asleep in the backseat. In Richmond, Virginia, we came upon a nasty accident that threatened to keep us from making it in time. I called the hotel we’d booked and begged them to keep us on the books because our flight had been canceled, and now we were driving instead.
Finally, FINALLY, we pulled in front of the hotel at 4:00 a.m.
Bone-weary from the drive, we checked in, made our way to our room, and collapsed. I was terrified that we wouldn’t wake up if we fell asleep. Knowing there was a good possibility I couldn’t stay awake, I set an alarm for 6:30 and fell into a deep, much-needed sleep.
Reader, we did get up in time to make the appointment, and I’ll tell you about that fiasco next time.