Houston - "Smouston"...

June 28, 2012

Well, we arrived with 15 minutes to exit the plane and get to the next gate, people were very kind and allowed us and another guy to exit fairly quickly… by the time we got off the plane we had 12 minutes to get from United Airlines at Terminal B to Air Canada at Terminal A to board our next flight.  Our only hope was that our next plane was delayed for some reason… don’t laugh, we could at least hope!  We looked like participants on the “Amazing Race” as we ran through the airport terminals, arriving at our gate 7 minutes before take off!!!  Only to hear the attendant say so very kindly “you just missed it!”  Are you kidding me!?!?  It’s not even time for take-off yet.  We could see the plane still sitting there!! He explained they have already pulled the gate away from the plane and if they pull it back to the plane they will be a fined by the FFA.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know the 10 min rule, but couldn’t you see we were in route and maybe hold the plane just a few minutes for us?!?   Well, that answer is “No!”  So, again, I am thinking “are you kidding me!?!  Well, that was not exactly what I was thinking; I had a few more words in my mind that didn’t come out of my mouth.

We caught our breath and looked at the options that Air Canada might suggest….  knowing, that it is United’s responsibility to re-book us and get us to Athens.  The Air Canada attendant directed us to Terminal C to talk with a United representative-- by now we have done the A-B-C Terminals.

Thank goodness there wasn’t a long line at United and we were thrilled to find that they had already re-booked us on another United flight that was leaving in 30 minutes… Geeez, why didn’t that guy at Air Canada tell us!!!!  Anyway, so here we go again back to Terminal B as quick as we could get there!  And was delighted to find that they had our boarding passes waiting at the gate kiosk.  We are thinking how lucky was that, because in Tulsa they told us there were no other United flights to Toronto today if we didn’t make our connection in Houston!! 

So with luck on our side, we boarded the plane immediately being seated in Row 4!!!  Which by the way, Row 4 was awesome, since we now only have 50 min (rather than 2 hours) to get off this plane and go through a small custom check-point in Toronto before flying to Greece.  Thank goodness we don’t have to get our checked luggage, it goes through direct.   And by now, I’m really hoping my luggage gets there with us!

Being seated on the plane we were trying to relax as we waited for takeoff…. and then we continued to sit and wait!  I’m thinking “oh no” we can’t be delayed again before this take off!!  Yep, 30 minutes and still sitting.  Finally, “take off” and soon thereafter the pilot announces we have 2 hours and 18 minutes before landing… we were thinking we would only have 30 minutes to connect, but after calculating the new arrival time we were still arriving close to scheduled time.  We ask the flight attendant to confirm landing time… she talked with the pilot and it looks like we do have 45 minutes; so just maybe with a little more luck on our side we might actually catch our last connection in Toronto for the overnight flight to Greece.   Okay, they just shaved another 5 minutes off our time we will have to get from point A to point B.

You gotta love to travel and the experience of the adventure just getting there!!  Guess, we’ll keep our fingers crossed again on this flight and until we land-- I really don’t want to stay in Toronto overnight :-(  Come on United Airlines!!!

Continues:  Flight in Toronto