First, the airline screwed up our seats, AGAIN. Each child was placed all over the airline. It was a total mess, but there was one perk to the whole fiasco. We were sent down to the woman at desk 1 for assistance. She said she would help us, and actually did not. However, while we were waiting in line we had a celebrity sighting ;)
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| Jeff's amazing eye spotted Nick Lachey in front of us at the airport. It was one of MY trip highlights. |
We were sent to the gate to figure out the seat fiasco. When we got to the gate, they were not informed of our issue at all. They also told us to go on the airplane and try to fight for seats, on our own. Luckily Jeff lost his cool (which he rarely does) and we got a little more support. The guy at the desk radioed the airplane to let them know a family was coming that had 3 kids that were displaced. When we arrived at the plane, we needed to stand outside until the entire plane was loaded, so that they could ask if anyone would move. The one guy helping us, both to probably humor us and calm us down, offered to take a picture of us waiting in front of the plane.
Things got worse from there. Nobody wanted to move. They suggested we maybe get on a later flight so we can all sit together. WHAT? We are all just standing there, now inside at the front of the plane, and everyone is staring at us. Finally a member of the flight crew notices a whole row is empty (how was this not noticed before) and tells us its great news because that empty row is just behind the two seats we were assigned together (out of all 5). We head back to the seats, thrilled and exhausted, to find the three empty but the row in front DOES NOT have two empty seats. Because 2 of the people from the empty row were sitting in the wrong row, of course. Luckily two women (a mother and daughter I think) offer to move on the other side of the aisle and we have 5 seats across.
I believe this was the best choice they've ever made in their lives. Why? Because 1/2 way through the flight Ryan projectile-vomited all over the place. He narrowly missed Brooke (thanks to her speedy agility) but managed to cover his entire seat and body. The flight attendants we were so angry with just shortly before swooped in to save the day. They covered Ryan with a blanket so I could go change him in the bathroom (which was quite the feat) and cleaned and covered his entire seat with blankets. The rest of the trip kept us on edge, as Ryan sat with a garbage bag on his lap ready for the next attack. He actually made it the rest of the flight, but puked again after we had landed. We were so desperate to get off, and of course we had to stand and wait for 30 minutes in order to pull up to our gate. We then had to wait to get off last - because our luggage was all over the plane and because we needed Ryan's sandals (because his were in a plastic bag covered in puke) from Jeff's bag which was several rows back.
Despite all this, everyone was in decent spirits when we got off the plane. It was a miracle we didnt have 5 tantrums right there clearing customs. We cleared without issue, and fairly fast.
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| Luke took a ride through customs |
