This flight was from Bangkok to Shanghai. It was a bit of a walk and once we started boarding, we had to go downstairs and get on a packed bus (standing room only) where they drove us to the plane. We then had to walk up the steps to get to the plane. That wasn't fun carrying my luggage. We soon settled into our Business Class seats (this plane didn't have a first class). They only gave us a prepackaged sandwich for our meal and a thimble of water which was all served in the dark. Then off to sleep. This was a 5 hour flight. Right before landing they served us breakfast which was a crepe with scrambled eggs in it -- I tried to eat it but just couldn't get it down. This airline food seems to be getting worse with each flight.
Once we landed in Shanghai we needed to figure out how to get our boarding pass for our ANA flight. We wandered around aimlessly. I really didn't think it was going to be that difficult. We finally figured out that we had to go through Chinese immigration once again and explain to them that we weren't staying in their country -- only in transit. It took a while but they finally figured out what we were doing after I showed them a copy of our airline itinerary. After we got their stamp approval off we went to figure out where we needed to go to find ANA. We went all over the place and I was getting exhausted. Finally we found a security person that explained where we needed to go.
We got to the ANA desk at 7:00 am and someone said that the desk opened up 3 hours before the flight. We thought that wasn't too bad because our flight was at 10:15 am so it should be opening in 15 minutes. Well they finally opened at 7:45 am. We were second in line so we thought we would just breeze through and we would be on our way. When we explained what we needed they asked us about our luggage. I explained that it was checked all the way to Chicago. They then explained that we were supposed to pick it up and recheck it with them. I thought I was going to lose it at that point. I think the lady could sense that and told me not to worry that they would help us. Good thing since our luggage was in a secured area and there was no way we would be able to get in to get it. One of their employees escorted us through a back way to get back into the secured area, took us to our luggage that had been put to the side, and loaded it onto a trolley for us. He then told us to go out the way we had earlier and come back up to their desk. We did that but stopped briefly to put the amenity kits that we had received in the checked luggage. As we finished that, he was waiting for us at their desk and took us to the front of the line to be processed.
This time we got a different person to process us. I asked her about checking our luggage all the way through to DFW and she said yes. Then after numerous phone calls to someone (speaking Chinese) she said she could only check it through to Chicago. However, she was going to give us all our boarding passes so we wouldn't have to track down United and get the ones from them. That was nice to hear. After she processed us, we were free to go through security which is very easy in Shanghai.
This 2 hour flight we were in Economy so we had no lounge access. We got to the gate and wanted something to eat. I told Krista I couldn't walk another step. She said no worries, I will go check it out. She came back with ham and cheese sandwiches for us which were pretty good for airport food. It wasn't long till they started boarding us. We were towards the front of the line and went to our seats on row 25. It was difficult to get our things in the overhead because of all the people coming, but we finally did. Krista has been helping me get my carryon (with laptop in it) into the overhead bin. It is very awkward because it doesn't have a handled to help get it in the bin. It is my new Vera Bradley bag and I am not sure I like it for this reason. It would be fine if I could just put it under the seat in front of me (sometimes I can) but this seat, it wouldn't fit and you can't do that in first and business class.
Soon after we took off (maybe even before), I went to sleep. I was beginning to get tired. At one point I woke up and Krista said they were serving the meals. I told her that I didn't want anything. I couldn't believe that on a 2 hour flight in Economy they were serving a full meal. I was impressed. However, I got a look at Krista's meal and there is no way I could or would eat that -- it stunk.
The flight was over quickly and we landed in Tokyo Narita airport. Once again we had to go through security and the lines were pretty long but we did get through and off to our gate we went. We were hoping we could find a lounge nearby but had no idea where anything was and I know we walked at least 10 miles to get there. As we turned the corner I thought our gate would be there but instead there was a HUGE United Club Lounge. We went in to see if we were in the right place and we were. I immediately asked if there was someplace we could take showers and they directed us to them. We checked in and were assigned a shower room. There was a sign up saying not to take more than 20 minutes so we had to rush. I knew that wouldn't be a problem for me but I wasn't sure about Krista. The rooms were very nice with everything provided for you. After a quick shower with clean clothes, I was good to go. As I came out, Krista was right behind me. I was impressed. She had even washed her hair and dried it.
We then found us a seat (the lounge was not yet very full) and then went to check out the food. There really wasn't that much to eat, but if you wanted liquor, there was plenty of it. At first I just ate a banana and a glass of water but Krista found some potato chips and cokes and that was good my next time up. Krista found us a place to go set up our computers and charge them so we spent the rest of the time there. I charged my computer on one desk and my iphone on another desk. We decided to leave the lounge about 15 minutes before boarding because Krista needed to purchase some ear plugs to help with pressure at one of the stores.
We then went to our gate. People were getting in line so we got in line also. It wasn't long before they announced that they were getting ready for boarding. They even scanned a few of the boarding passes and then they stopped and called those people back. It seemed there were mechanical issues with the plane so we were all waiting. They came back from time to time to give us updates. They finally came over to us and told us to go back to the lounge because it would be awhile. We went back there but they were closing down and there was no more food. We were about 2 hours late in boarding.
The flight was about 11 hours I think. The meal service was very quick and pretty good. I opted out of dessert (ice cream) and off to sleep I went. I think I slept most of the night and got up when I smelled coffee. It was time for breakfast. I began to worry about our connection to DFW. We only had a 3 hour layover there and 2 hours of it was eaten up with our late departure. I asked the flight attendant and she told me that we had plenty of time.
As soon as we landed, we ran all the way to immigration (20 miles). The lines were short so we got right through. Then the waiting game began -- waiting for our luggage. Mine came out pretty quick. I think Krista's were the last pieces off. There was no way we could make our connection. We still had another line to go through. Once we got through that, we went to the transfer desk with our luggage and I told her we were trying to get to DFW. She looked and said you have 14 minutes to drop your luggage off and get to the plane -- no way. I asked her if there was anything else. She looked and said no and once again urged us to run to catch our flight. I told her that my luggage needed to be tagged to DFW since it was only tagged as far as ORD. She then wanted my luggage receipts. I had to dig through my overstuffed purse to find them. I then asked her if American had anything. She checked on that and said -- "oh, you have already been rebooked on American". Ok. One minute you tell me to run, then you tell me I am rebooked on American. Well at least it was a couple of hours before American left so I didn't have to run. She sent us off to the American counter and they checked our luggage through to DFW and gave us boarding passes.
Boarding passes in hand, we got on the train to take us to the correct terminal and then walked another 30 mile to our gate. While sitting at the gate, I noticed that our gate had changed. Krista was out walking around so I sent her a text telling her that our gate had changed. We picked up all our stuff and then moved to the new gate (only 1 mile away). When it got time to start boarding this plane, there were problems, delays, and more delays. I was afraid they were going to cancel it, but they didn't. They found us another plane 1/2 mile away. Soon after we got to the gate we started boarding. United didn't put us in first class which kind of irked me, but they did get us the bulkhead row which was good. The flight was only a little over 2 hours which went fast -- and they had Diet Dr Pepper!
We landed around midnight in Dallas. We thought we were finally home. We had to wait just a little while longer. It seemed there was no gate agent in sight to let us off the plane, so we waited, and waited and waited. I guess one thing was good. By the time we got off the plane and to the baggage claim, Craig and Jim already had all of our luggage claimed and we were ready to go! After all we had only been traveling about 48 hours and about 40 of these hours had been on January 5 since we crossed the international date line on the way back.
Well this has been a good trip, but I am glad we are home. I hope Krista has a speedy recovery now that she can rest.
However, standby -- my next trip is coming up in March 2013. I will be going on an Asia Cruisetour. We will be visiting China, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Singapore (I think that is all). There won't be as many flight connections on that trip but I am sure there will be some excitement along the way.
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