We are back...
Jan. 8th, 2013 10:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smittenbyuWe are back in the US. All numb, exhausted and sick. Yes, still sick. The last leg of the virus is still roaming around us. I haven't wished anyone happy new year except the doctor we took D to in Bangalore on Jan. 1!
The journey was super long and the worst ever. We boarded the plane fine. D was ultra excited! She got tired of waiting to leave for the airport, at 9pm. We dropped off sis and she happily said bye and wondered where the airport was. We reached the airport at 11pm and she showered N with kisses for finally bringing her there! She so patiently went through the lines for everything without a little fuss even! At check-in, we were asked to check-in the stroller. I argued that I needed it in Paris and every flight I have been on has allowed me to gate check it. Well, they let us go saying we need to check with ground crew, the flight was a full flight.
D and I board the plane as there's one lady dealing with parents and their strollers. She tells us they are going to be delivered at the final destination. Angry parents respond. She clearly didn't know how to handle the situation. She was also asking people to check in their big (although the right carry-on size) carry-ons. "It's a full flight tonight!" Parents with kids past their bedtime don't want to be messed with. D & I boarded while N took care of the situation.
We settled in and D couldn't wait to take off. The whole flight boarded and N was nowhere to be seen. Every spot on the overhead compartment was getting filled up and he had the luggage. I almost asked our flight attendant to check on him. He had our passports too. And there he appeared with a sling bag with items and no luggage. He was sharing how one other dad was very mad about this whole fiasco that the supervisors came in to handle the situation, only the general manager was able to explain that this particular airbus didn't allow the space needed for strollers and other light cargo that other newer planes do. He tried to talk to the Air France staff too and got that confirmation. That's all we were looking for. Some explanation instead of just a brush off and treating us as if it's some policy that we made up!
Of course, no Air France experience is complete without them blaming Delta airlines for something. I think they are very upset to be working with them or something.
We also didn't get seats together. D & I got the window and aisle. He got two rows behind with two other passengers next to him. The gentlemen on the other aisle was willing to switch if he got his aisle seat. The lady in middle didn't mind switching but had a headache and would prefer the aisle. ummmm....We are not magicians. So, we let it be. The flight attendant was already dealing with many switches. And we left it alone.
D buckled herself in and once we took off she kept asking for Arlington! Little did she know the length of our journey!! We drugged her up and she slept off. And that was the end of a happy baby! She turned into an appendage of mine and going to the bathroom was tough! She nursed, drank water, ate a biscuit/cracker every few hours and was attached. I watched the stupidest movi Asterix & Obelix.
Sure enough when we were landing she refused to sit in her own seat, she was so uncomfortable. The flight attendant took her from me and helped to buckle her in - which actually made it worse since she can't tolerate people she doesn't know touching her. She screamed and cried and just like that she dozed off to sleep!
We got down in Paris and she was back on to me. We were told that our stroller will see us in DC and that there were free ones we could use at the airport. They don't have a seatbelt. A toddler and a mechanism without a restraint don't go well together. So, wherever we walked, I had to carry her. We got access to the lounge as N is a frequent flyer. She slept for some time on the couch so I could sleep on another couch. But another baby was wailing and so she was back on me! 5 hours went slowly and we were back on our flight to DC.
I forget the second take-off. I think she was a happy baby over it. But she slept off too. And she slept most of the time. I watched a nice movie - English Vinglish. An awesome movie! Sridevi was my favourite actress and it was nice to see her again. A great movie whether you follow Indian movies or not!
Landing was again traumatic but not as bad as the first time. She again knocked out and slept off. It took us forever to get out of the airport. Immigration was a breeze but the customs line was so long! We took help of the porter as we had four suitcases, hand luggage, car seat and stroller! There was no way she would let me put her down to help with one trolley!
We made it home, got showered, got changed, and she slept off! In 32 hours of travel, she slept most of the time!! And she still slept through the night!
The journey was super long and the worst ever. We boarded the plane fine. D was ultra excited! She got tired of waiting to leave for the airport, at 9pm. We dropped off sis and she happily said bye and wondered where the airport was. We reached the airport at 11pm and she showered N with kisses for finally bringing her there! She so patiently went through the lines for everything without a little fuss even! At check-in, we were asked to check-in the stroller. I argued that I needed it in Paris and every flight I have been on has allowed me to gate check it. Well, they let us go saying we need to check with ground crew, the flight was a full flight.
D and I board the plane as there's one lady dealing with parents and their strollers. She tells us they are going to be delivered at the final destination. Angry parents respond. She clearly didn't know how to handle the situation. She was also asking people to check in their big (although the right carry-on size) carry-ons. "It's a full flight tonight!" Parents with kids past their bedtime don't want to be messed with. D & I boarded while N took care of the situation.
We settled in and D couldn't wait to take off. The whole flight boarded and N was nowhere to be seen. Every spot on the overhead compartment was getting filled up and he had the luggage. I almost asked our flight attendant to check on him. He had our passports too. And there he appeared with a sling bag with items and no luggage. He was sharing how one other dad was very mad about this whole fiasco that the supervisors came in to handle the situation, only the general manager was able to explain that this particular airbus didn't allow the space needed for strollers and other light cargo that other newer planes do. He tried to talk to the Air France staff too and got that confirmation. That's all we were looking for. Some explanation instead of just a brush off and treating us as if it's some policy that we made up!
Of course, no Air France experience is complete without them blaming Delta airlines for something. I think they are very upset to be working with them or something.
We also didn't get seats together. D & I got the window and aisle. He got two rows behind with two other passengers next to him. The gentlemen on the other aisle was willing to switch if he got his aisle seat. The lady in middle didn't mind switching but had a headache and would prefer the aisle. ummmm....We are not magicians. So, we let it be. The flight attendant was already dealing with many switches. And we left it alone.
D buckled herself in and once we took off she kept asking for Arlington! Little did she know the length of our journey!! We drugged her up and she slept off. And that was the end of a happy baby! She turned into an appendage of mine and going to the bathroom was tough! She nursed, drank water, ate a biscuit/cracker every few hours and was attached. I watched the stupidest movi Asterix & Obelix.
Sure enough when we were landing she refused to sit in her own seat, she was so uncomfortable. The flight attendant took her from me and helped to buckle her in - which actually made it worse since she can't tolerate people she doesn't know touching her. She screamed and cried and just like that she dozed off to sleep!
We got down in Paris and she was back on to me. We were told that our stroller will see us in DC and that there were free ones we could use at the airport. They don't have a seatbelt. A toddler and a mechanism without a restraint don't go well together. So, wherever we walked, I had to carry her. We got access to the lounge as N is a frequent flyer. She slept for some time on the couch so I could sleep on another couch. But another baby was wailing and so she was back on me! 5 hours went slowly and we were back on our flight to DC.
I forget the second take-off. I think she was a happy baby over it. But she slept off too. And she slept most of the time. I watched a nice movie - English Vinglish. An awesome movie! Sridevi was my favourite actress and it was nice to see her again. A great movie whether you follow Indian movies or not!
Landing was again traumatic but not as bad as the first time. She again knocked out and slept off. It took us forever to get out of the airport. Immigration was a breeze but the customs line was so long! We took help of the porter as we had four suitcases, hand luggage, car seat and stroller! There was no way she would let me put her down to help with one trolley!
We made it home, got showered, got changed, and she slept off! In 32 hours of travel, she slept most of the time!! And she still slept through the night!
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no subject
Date: 2013-01-11 08:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-12 10:27 pm (UTC)At the same time, she slept most of the way and so I could watch movies!! :) But it was sad to not see the usual cheerful D who loves to travel. N was very much looking forward to seeing her as she was so wonderful when I flew from DC to India!
I think we are completely nuts to agreeing on flying anywhere again!!!! hehehehe
no subject
Date: 2013-01-14 06:41 am (UTC)It'll be exciting meeting baby E!! :D