Two Flights Down...

One flight to go! We survived the 6-hour flight to LA and the 13-hour flight to Seoul, and we both agree. The second leg was far better than the first. We were pretty frazzled up until that point. The flight to LA was an hour late leaving. We knew that, once we got to LA, we had three hours to deplane, get our bags, go to the international terminal, check in, and clear security. A one-hour departure delay was not good news. However, somehow the pilot made up time in the air so that we were only 20 minutes late arriving. That was a relief--until we got to baggage claim. We waited impatiently for 45 minutes.  No bags.  I marched down to baggage services, and explained we were trying to make an international connection.  The agent was very nice and told me that all our bags had made it to LA, but they still hadn't "dropped.". Great. I went back to join Brian at the carousel, and heard someone say our flight's bags were on a different carousel!   Sure enough. There were our bags two carousel's down from the one marked with our flight number going around and around. We grabbed our bags and took off sprinting to the international terminal (three buildings away) with three pieces of luggage and four carry-ons. We made it! Checking in at 11:00 pm for our 12:20 flight.  Big relief!  Until we saw the security line.   It looked like the line for Space Mountain!! Thankfully, after twenty minutes winding through the rope maze, after our flight had been announced as "boarding," an Asiana ticket agent pulled us out of the line and fast-tracked us. If she hadn't we might still be there! Brian and I were impressed by Asiana all around. They did a great job of making sure that what could have been a miserable flight was actually pleasant.  They provided two meals (with actual silverware), a snack, juice and water throughout the flight, hot towels, slippers and eye masks, complimentary toothbrush and toothpaste, and on demand movies.  And  that was in coach!!  Brian talked the flight attendant into letting him take a peek into business class.  According to him, it was like a five star resort.  He said, "It was so peaceful up there, and it smelled like daisies!"  Truly, from our perspective in coach, Asiana made Delta look like a Greyhound bus!  Kind of a shame that no American airlines seem have that kind of service anymore.


We are now sitting in the airport in Seoul (without any doubt the most immaculately clean airport I've ever seen) waiting for our last leg--a two hour flight to Nanjing.  Can't wait to get there and see our boy, probably tomorrow, but maybe tonight!

 

Brian in Korea looking remarkably fresh after 22 hours of travel....

And the crash shortly thereafter.  He's actually snoring!