When our giant Boeing 777 lifted off in Chicago there were just 30 passengers on board. It seemed to be a sign of the economic distress that has gripped the USA and the world. But in another sense it was symbolic of a day that was out of the ordinary.
It started when our phone rang while our clock showed 4:00 AM. It was then that we discovered the clock was out by one hour and it was actually 5:00AM. Bob, our driver from Airlink was in the driveway waiting. It has been a long time since we moved that fast but at 5:24 we were loaded and on the road. Bob got us to the airport right on time and he drove sensibly all the way.
After we checked in the situation was wait and then wait some more. The plane froze overnight and they couldn’t get it started. When they did the cabin was too cold for passengers so they ran the engines until it warmed up. Even then there wasn’t a warm seat for a bum. They had to be self heated.
When we got to Chicago it was a rush to the gate for the flight to Beijing but it worked out OK. They were close together and we made it in time.
Every passenger had an entire row to stretch out and sleep . There was no line-up for the washrooms and there was lots of food. Just the same United Airline lost a lot of money on that flight.
We went over the North Pole and all the while we were above the Arctic Circle there was a red sunset/sunrise glow on the horizon. Since it is winter there is no sun on the ground but at 35000 ft. there is another view and it is spectacular. The sun was at its maximum visible point, the Arctic Circle and we could see it from the air.
Thirteen hours after takeoff we arrived at Beijing but Gwen’s luggage didn’t. At this moment we are still hoping it will show up.
The usual scamsters were at the airport. They offered to get us to some hotel for a mere 20 times the going rate. At any rate we got rid of t hem and then had some fun finding a cabbie who actually knew where we wanted to go. But we did and we are now camped the Beijing Capital Airport Hotel and it is comfortable.
Tomorrow we got to Harbin and hopefully with all of our luggage. If you wish to send us an e-mail use emerson_480@msn.com
It started when our phone rang while our clock showed 4:00 AM. It was then that we discovered the clock was out by one hour and it was actually 5:00AM. Bob, our driver from Airlink was in the driveway waiting. It has been a long time since we moved that fast but at 5:24 we were loaded and on the road. Bob got us to the airport right on time and he drove sensibly all the way.
After we checked in the situation was wait and then wait some more. The plane froze overnight and they couldn’t get it started. When they did the cabin was too cold for passengers so they ran the engines until it warmed up. Even then there wasn’t a warm seat for a bum. They had to be self heated.
When we got to Chicago it was a rush to the gate for the flight to Beijing but it worked out OK. They were close together and we made it in time.
Every passenger had an entire row to stretch out and sleep . There was no line-up for the washrooms and there was lots of food. Just the same United Airline lost a lot of money on that flight.
We went over the North Pole and all the while we were above the Arctic Circle there was a red sunset/sunrise glow on the horizon. Since it is winter there is no sun on the ground but at 35000 ft. there is another view and it is spectacular. The sun was at its maximum visible point, the Arctic Circle and we could see it from the air.
Thirteen hours after takeoff we arrived at Beijing but Gwen’s luggage didn’t. At this moment we are still hoping it will show up.
The usual scamsters were at the airport. They offered to get us to some hotel for a mere 20 times the going rate. At any rate we got rid of t hem and then had some fun finding a cabbie who actually knew where we wanted to go. But we did and we are now camped the Beijing Capital Airport Hotel and it is comfortable.
Tomorrow we got to Harbin and hopefully with all of our luggage. If you wish to send us an e-mail use emerson_480@msn.com
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