I ran out of the plane as soon as I was able, but I shouldn’t have bothered because there was no way I was catching my plane. And even if I had caught my plane, there was no way my bags would have made it on the plane with me. Once I got to the Air Canada ticket desk I was put on standby for the night flight out to Toronto. After an hour and half, we ((there were about 8 other people in my situation)) found out that flight was full. So they put us on standby for the next flight… to Montreal ((insert eye-roll here)). After more running/speed walking I reached gate 27 to find out if they can get me on. Oh and if I may interrupt myself  for a second, who taught the English to count? Why the hell does gate 27 *not* come after gate 26? It went 24, 26, 25, 28, 29 and then 27 or something ridiculous like that. Sure they weren’t all on the same side, but even then it didn’t make sense!

Anyway, once all the passengers were on the plane the lady at the gate typed away at her keyboard for about 15 mintues.  Once she was done, she walked over to the girl beside me and told her that the plane was full and that they ((Air Canada)) would have to get her on the next flight. I was only slightly relieved because it was a flight to Montreal and with the way the day had been going, I was expecting another delay. But I wasn’t expecting this…

I walked into the cabin and walked briskly by the first class cabin as I assumed there was no way my seat would be in there – even though it clearly stated on my ticket that I was in 04F- Aisle Seat. I only realised when I walked into the business cabin that started at row 12. So I had to walk back and interrupt the snobs in First Class. I was embarrassed and flustered, and suddenly everything seemed foreign to me. I couldn’t even find the bloody overhead compartment! I signaled to one of the guys in neon vests to help me put up my suitcase when a voice behind me said, “Yes”. I think he meant it to say, “Yes, that is where your suitcase goes”. Feeling even more embarrassed now I pulled open the compartment and attempted to put my case in. It wouldn’t fit, so I opened my expanded case and took out my coat just in time for the guy to come over and put it in the over-head compartment for me.

Thankfully, after the three hour delay we spent on the tarmac, the rest of the flight continued mostly without incident ((I can’t imagine how frustrating it must have been for those who were in economy – I slept during the delay)). I would like to go on about how great it was to be able to sit in first class but the endless delays and hassle caused by Air Canada strongly overshadow the exprience. After arriving in Montreal, going through customs and checking in again I realised that despite being delayed in Heathrow for almost five hours, my bags still didn’t make it in with me.

Once my delayed ((yet again)) flight landed in Toronto, I went to the customer service desk in the baggage claim area and filed a report. They gave me a little card with the tracking information and off I went. I was home. 10 1/2 hours later than I was originally scheduled. We got home at 2am, and the sight of my room made the nightmare more real. I was 3,200miles away from the love of my life again. I had just had an exhausting day and I couldn’t even comfort myself by sinking into his arms.

My only saving grace was that I didn’t have to go into work for another two days. Two days that I had planned on using to unpack, do laundry and re-organise my room and my things ((of course, I’m just obsessing now because at least I was able to unwind instead)) but I couldn’t do any of that. My cases arrived four days after I arrived, just in time for the weekend and the drama was over.

And so ends my holiday tale; have you ever been on a dream holiday that ended in disaster?

Posts in this series:
Part 1: The holiday.
Part 2: The gift.
Part 3: The New Year.
Part 4: Flickr Friday: The never-ending story.
Part 5: Even the never-ending journey has to end sometime ((you are here)).

Popularity: 24% [?]