On our way (sort of)

Setting off from Juneau’s record snow/rainy winter feels like a godsend. The trip started off with a great free upgrade to 1st class and ensuing Champaign sips set the tone for a fantastic vacation. After a smooth flight we were whisked away to Cedarbrook lodge for a great night of comfortable sleep. I was even able to get in a short run the next morning.  However our first hiccup occurred.. American Airlines emailed us, with 4 hours notice, that our flight was delayed.. enough that we would miss our international connection. With a panicked early sprint to the airport we managed to secure middle seats down to Dallas to keep our original schedule on Alaska airlines. 

Well… that changed, while on the tarmac we had an engine failure so we returned to the airport. Now it looks like we won’t make our flight. While scrambling at the airport, American called us back from this morning and informs us that because the Alaska flight broke down it’s their responsibility to rebook us. Funny enough after waiting in line at Alaska, they say it’s American’s responsibility…. Again panicked, we raced to the gate were they are supposed to reboard us (but we’ll miss our connection and there are no flights to Chile for days from Dallas). A kick ass Alaska desk lady, Anna, started helping us. She ran down to the tarmac to pull our bags so they didn’t leave with out us and diligently worked to rearrange our whole trip to get us magically down to Chile a day late through an intricate web of connections. We were in high spirits once we had confirmed bookings but then as she went to get our bags we all learned that an over zealous employee had whisked them on to the next Dallas flight which was pulling away in front of us… our spirits sank as we became separated from our bags and could not continue because they cannot fly internationally without us. But Anna didn’t give up, she rerouted us again, and rerouted our bags so now we were off to Houston and our bags should meet us tomorrow before we fly on to Chile. Exhausted we landed in Houston at midnight….. to be continued.