Air Travel!
Only in Alaska!
I am so thankful to have made it home on the day before Thanksgiving, I am so tired of Air Travel. Only in Alaska would you experience something like I did. I hope you all have had a wonderful Thanksgiving day!
But before I tell you my “let me in, let me in” Air Travel story, I will tell you that I was coming home to Homer, Alaska from a wonderful trip with my girlfriend to New York State. Our trip had been fabulous until the flight coming back home from Newark, NJ to Seattle, Wa. on Tues, November 20.
About 30 minutes prior to landing in Seattle, I abruptly became nauseated and began throwing up. It came on very fast and it was very nasty! By the time we landed I was barely coherent and my belly ached something awful. I threw up all evening and considered going to the ER but after taking a medication that melted under my tongue, my gut started to feel better. I am sure it was food poisoning.
On Wednesday morning we were up at 4AM and heading to the SEA-TAC airport for our flights back to Alaska. I was so dehydrated that I walked at a snail’s pace. I was afraid to drink or eat anything for fear I would start to throw up again, but on the plane I was able to keep small amounts of water down and I slept most of the way to Anchorage.
Air Travel
The picture above is of the aircraft I was trying to get on but the door wasn’t closed when I headed out…Now the fun part started.
On Tuesday, the airlines had changed our flight schedule so that our arrival time in Anchorage became 9 AM Wednesday instead of 5 PM. So I attempted to get an earlier flight to Homer as a stand-by passenger. I felt horrid. I just wanted to crawl into bed, but you have seen airports and you know that there just isn’t anyplace comfortable to lay down. I waited an hour at the gate, but I was told that everyone had checked in and the plane was full. The ticket agent tore up my stand-by pass and gave me a pass for the evening flight.
So I started to leave the terminal and started walking down the long airport hallway and had gone about 300-400 feet when I thought I heard my name being called. I almost ignored it because I thought I was imagining things because I was so sick. But I turned around and saw someone at the ticket counter making a gentle gesture to come here. I yelled, “are you talking to me”? She said ” yes” and motioned me to come back.
When I got there she said they had bumped some luggage and would let me on. She didn’t have a ticket for me and said to the agent, “hurry, unlock the door and take her out, they know she is coming”. I was thanking God because I just wanted to go home and go to bed. I had only walked 1/4 of the way to the airplane when the pilot closed the airplane door and locked it! I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I thought they were just trying to keep the plane cabin warm, but when I got up to the airplane the door stayed closed. I could see the pilot, but he didn’t notice me. So I started pounding on the airplane, and I mean POUNDING with my arms and fists! I thought to myself, “this is so absurd, this kind of thing could only happen in Alaska”! Finally the Airplanes door opened and I found myself face to face with a very surprised, very sheepish looking young pilot. I said, probably a little louder than I needed to, “I am the stand-by passenger that you accepted”! He let me get on the plane and virtually everyone onboard was laughing out loud. A male passenger yelled out….”I bet you thought you were going to have to ride on the wing”. And then he kept laughing. Once we were airborne it was one of the smoothest and prettiest flights between Anchorage and Homer that I’ve had in a very long time. I’m always thankful on Thanksgiving, but for this one, today, I’m just so thankful to be HOME and done with Airplanes for awhile.
Holly Uhler says
Oh lord LOL, I would have tossed up on the guy who ripped up the ticket! lol
Dana Wales says
Glad you got on and mad it home!
Roberta says
I have always wanted to go to New York and Alaska! (Hopefully if I do get to go, no sicknesses will happen!)
Kimberly Murray says
Sorry to hear of your suspected bout with food poisoning while airborne. Nice that the airlines was able to get you in on an earlier flight so you could return home sooner! Not sure why they made you bang on the door though???
Terri's Little Haven (Terri Ramsey Beavers) says
I can’t even imagine how horrible it would be to travel while sick. Glad you made it home on time. I was born in Alaska but I haven’t been back since I was a small child. I would love to see it as an adult.
Denise Taylor-Dennis says
Wow what a crazy experience I’m glad you made it home okay.
Huguette E. says
Wow, I never thought about being sick when traveling. Ouch, what awful timing. Being sick is bad enough. Sorry for your bad day, but glad you got home in time for Thanksgiving. You had an extra thing to be thankful for 🙂
MsDarkstar says
Glad that you made it home but sorry that you were so sick. I cannot even imagine being sick like that on a plane… it’s bad enough when you’re earthbound.
Debbie Welchert says
I bet a plane ride over Alaska is just breathtaking but to do it sick would be just terrible. So glad you made it home safe and sound.
Ashley C says
And I thought our regional airport was small because you had to sometimes walk on the tarmac to get on your plane!
Ally says
I’m glad that people were at least able to smile about it rather than getting angry. Definitely sounds like an adventure, though! And trust me, now you have bragging rights when people start in on their “horrible trip” whose only problem was an hour’s delay or some such (:
Jennifer Mae Hiles says
Sound like you had quite an adventure! I don’t know what I would do if that happened to me! I know that my face would have turned red when I was let in though!
Kayleen Considine says
That’s terrible!! I’m glad they let you on the plane. I wouldn’t have thought to pound on the door.
Kathleen Kelly says
How awful for you especially after such a long flight already…hope you are feeling better!! I have flown a lot and never gotten sick and I imagine it is not fun…take care..
Colleen says
I’ve flown alot too and this is the first time I got sick. I’ve babied myself and am well now.
Patricia Graefe says
I have never been to Alaska; I have only seen pictures. I can’t imagine flying for so long! I am glad that you finally made it home. I feel like I should be sending you some chicken soup and biscuits! I hope your Christmas is less stressful 🙂
Colleen says
lolol. I really would have enjoyed that chicken soup!
Tammi Bivans says
So sorry to hear about your travel experience and also that you were sick. I would love to travel to Alaska someday. I’m glad that you were able to get on the plane and go home to bed.
Colleen says
Thanks Tammi
Faith Bosnick says
I hope you are feeling better!!! I can’t imagine being in your shoes pounding on the door – how could they let the stand-by passenger on and then close he door before he/she can even get on the plane. I hope the rest of your trip was uneventful and that you got plenty of rest! I’ve never been to Alaska but I’ve heard it’s very beautiful!
Colleen says
Hi Faith, yes the trip was really fun. And I”m feeling all better now 🙂 But I won’t forget having to pound on the airplane to get in!
terri carney says
i so wanna visit Alaska its amazingly beautiful. the land itself is the beauty of Alaska.
Colleen says
Yup come in July…
Carol Hanson says
Oh dear……you poor girl. What a terrible ending to a most wonderful trip for you an B. Glad to know you are home safely…and probably snug in your cozy bed. Love you ~
Colleen says
Thank you Dear Sis! Yes I haven’t eaten much solids yet but am feeling much better.
Linda Gehring says
Hope your trip was somewhat good! Alaska is so beautiful!!
Colleen says
Yup had a ball
Yvonne D says
What a terrible time to be sick (on a plane) I hope that you still had nice trip anyhow!
Colleen says
I did have a fabulous trip Yvonne, thanks