Giorno Ventitre

Italy 2024

Siamo in casa. (We are home.)

Here is the story of how we beat the storm…

Got up at 5:15am and finished packing. An airport taxi service picked us up in Lucca at 6:30. We easily made our flight from Florence and flew to Paris – on time.

The flight from Paris to Atlanta was half hour late taking off. We were prepared to land at an alternate airport but, landed in Atlanta half hour late. It was raining and pilot ordered everyone to stay in thier seats about an hour from landing. Landing wasn't too bad. So, because we were late another plane took the gate assignment which meant we didn't have gate to deplane. We waited outside the gate for 45 minutes after an 9-hour flight (80mph head winds). The Delta app told us  we probably would not make our flight so we had an option to fly out at 11:30 pm. We choose that option. So, it automatically booked us on that flight.  Delta app is very good.

Went through U.S. customs using Global Entry. The line to customs not using Global Entry has to be 750 people lined up. (I think some of them are in line today.) Then went to pick up our luggage and deposit it so it can be flown domestically. Then went to a screening line where TSA pre-check apparently was not used – damn! By the time we got through screening it was it was 8:50pm and our original fight was 9:00. We had been  talking to a lady who  was from Pittsburgh  and she said she called home and her husband said the 11:30 pm flight was delayed because the plane couldn't make it out of Orlando. Had visions of staying there the for the night.

One great thing about the Atlanta airport is the train from one terminal to another is FAST.  Believe or not we reached our original gate at nine but  boarding had closed. The girl at the desk said wave at the pilot and maybe he will let us in (I thought - fat chance.) Here is Dow with other passengers who were also missing the flight jumping up and down waving. Then another pilot appeared saying -  he missed the flight also. He started to wave in uniform – little more clout. Plus, some more important people than the gate agent got involved and talked the pilot into returning to pick us up. Well, believe or not, they set up the jet bridge again allowing us to board the plane. By that time at least 10 other people who had been on the Paris flight and were stuck in line, had appeared. The pilot helping us was going to Pittsburgh to fly some planes of the 911th Airlift Wing  on Friday.

Success for us but there was no way the luggage would make it. We use Apple Air Tags in our luggage to track it  Well I could see it was not on the plane. When we got to Pittsburgh, we talked to a  lady in an Delta lost luggage office.  As soon as we said our name, she was on her computer and said the luggage was in Atlanta and would be delivered to our house on Friday.

On our front porch  today at 10:00am was our luggage. Thank you very much Delta. They were extremely helpful.

If you end up entering the U.S. through Atlanta – I would allow extra time in between flights. Atlanta is a great airport but their passport control sucks!

Paris passport control is now automated and faster.

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