Timaru to Texas: Part III, Shout Out to American Airlines

Kia Ora!

Does this story about our trip home seem long? It seemed so to us too!

It wasn't until we arrived in Dallas at 1:00 AM that I realized how rattled the agents may have been in Los Angeles. The ticket agent that changed our ticket to get us out of LAX ticketed us into San Antonio, and our luggage was ticketed to end up in Dallas. Luckily I noticed this and the relaxed, friendly American Airlines agent in Dallas quickly fixed it. Tagging the luggage to end in Dallas was apparently an intended strategy for all those refugees out of LAX. He reassured everyone that overnight their luggage would be redirected to their final destinations. Baggage agents were going to work all night matching all that luggage with the final destination and retag it? I was dubious.

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt outside Terminal D in Dallas and flew out at the next morning. I never thought the Formula 1 race track would be a welcome site, but there it was on our approach. We landed about 9:00 AM.

Formula 1 race track

There's Rob!

 We were so happy to be back in Austin, descend the escalator to Baggage Claim and see our wonderful son-in-law, Rob Ignatowski, waiting for us. Except for the missing carry-on that was left in LAX, all of our luggage arrived.


That's not the end of the story. Here is the rest:

9:00 PM Sunday--American Airlines called. They found the missing bag.
8:00 AM Monday--American Airlines called. The bag was on its way to Austin.
1:00 PM Monday--American Airlines called. Your bag is at Austin Bergstrom Airport.

 

 

Missing bag returned

 KC retrieved it. The contents were intact. We were home safely and all our luggage got here despite the incredible events that transpired November 1, 2013 at LAX.



Kudos to American airlines personnel for their good service in trying circumstances and especially to the baggage agents!

 Our hearts go out to those killed and injured and their families. A special prayer also for the shooter, who must be a seriously disturbed individual. Along with that prayer, a deeply felt concern over the idolization of guns in this country and the paranoia about guns, spawned by the National Rifle Association, that prevents a sane policy of gun ownership and use.

Cheers,
Kiwi Traveler

Timaru to Texas: Part I, An Uneventful Beginning

Kia Ora!

KC seems amazed at the number of bags

The commercial commuter van picked us up at our front door in Timaru to transport us to Christchurch Airport. We splurged on First Class tickets for over the water that not only gave us access to the First Class lounge all the way with food, make-your-own cocktails, beer, wine, and soft drinks, but allowed us each to check three bags of 50 pounds or less. We each had two carry-on items also.

Shades of Blue

The flight to Auckland was seamless. I always enjoy a window seat and particularly admired the many shades of blue from the water below to the stratosphere.

Follow the broad green stripe

One can take a bus in Auckland from the domestic terminal where we landed to the international terminal. But I have always been fortunate enough to have decent weather and chose to walk. Today was no different. The walkway is clearly marked by a green stripe. After the confines of an aircraft, walking feels great. We pushed our two loaded luggage carts on this 10-15 minute walk, about 1/2 mile.

On to Auckland and Air New Zealand Flight 6 to Los Angeles Airport (LAX.) All seemed as usual. If so, why had I felt compelled to document the contents of my three bags? And place a note in each bag of my address at the final destination so lost bags could be redirected? As I reviewed my expenditures on clothes and holiday gifts, I was over the customs allowance for two persons. Furthermore, I was transporting one-half liter too much wine. Rather than be fined for trying to beat the system, I recorded all of this and claimed my expenditures on the declaration form later with receipts to back up my claim. I planned to pay duty on the excess. I had an uneasy feeling that all would not be usual, but what?

Despite a flat space, sleep is difficult

I am always amused that the arrival time in Los Angeles is before we leave Auckland through the convention of the international date line. We left Auckland at 7:30PM on November 1 and arrived at LAX about 9:30 AM the same date. KC, at over 6'3", appreciated the stretched out overnight accommodation. I do not relax or sleep well no matter the accommodation. This trip was no different.
There the normality of the journey ended early the next morning before breakfast. As the Kiwis say, it all "turned to custard".

 ...to be continued...

Kiwi Traveler

On Our Way

Greetings from LAX,

That is as far as KC and I have gotten so far on our trip west to New Zealand. So far.

Back Story: There is no where else on earth KC thinks he would like to be. So he is always angling for work in New Zealand. This is our fourth sojourn to the islands. We have lived in Greymouth, Invercargill, and Takapuna. Today we are heading for Timaru, on the east coast where KC will be employed (and I of course will play and write.) Our departure has been up in the air waiting for passports to be returned from the NZ Embassy in Washington, DC. They arrived on Wednesday afternoon, but our seats on Friday's flights (March 1) had been relinquished. NZ contacts were making the travel arrangements. Whether wait listing paid off or someone pulled strings is unknown to me. On Thursday, February 28 about 4:00 PM we were notified that the trip was on.

 Less than 24 hours and we were underway. Though I planned to take only one piece of luggage plus a carry-on, one glance at the pile I accumulated sent me to the garage to find another piece of luggage. Why does it seem I always take more than I probably need?

So we are this far, staring out the window at the flight activity at Los Angeles airport on a 6 hour layover. We will land in Auckland after an overnight flight of about 12 hours and go right on to Wellington. I will be back on after we arrive and have access to the internet. Kiwi Traveler