The Time I Didn't Go To New Orleans

Yesterday was so strange that I don't know where to start.

We were supposed to go to New Orleans to speak at a conference.  Chris and I both would be presenting Friday in the morning.  Christopher's parents were to watch Eliot.  I had a weird feeling about the trip from the beginning, but was just going with it anyway.

In the morning, we left at 8:00 am for the airport.  We were flying out of Reagan in D.C., so we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time.  The traffic was bad, but Chris's dad gave us a ride so we took the HOV lane. We made it at 9:00 am--plenty of time.  We weren't checking any bags, so we made it through security and to the gate by 9:20 am.  Our flight was still "on time".

As we walked to the gate, we heard a few announcements about other flights with U.S. Airways (our carrier) being cancelled.  Some issue on the ground with the other arriving plane.  Something to do with communication on the computer and those flights not being released.  There were at least two flights cancelled with this same situation.  Chris asked, "What do you do if your flight is cancelled?"  I said I didn't know.  Schedule another one?  But surely it was those plane at that other location, not our plane.

At 10:00 am, we got some food.  Back to the gate to wait.  Our flight was supposed to board at 11:05 am and then leave at 11:35 am.  By 11:40 am, nothing, and no word of a delay.  A passenger made an announcement that she spoke to someone from U.S. Airways.  They said they'd make an announcement soon and our flight would be delayed or cancelled.

After a little while, someone came up and said our plane was still in New Orleans.  It hadn't been released yet due to communication or computer issues.  Some passenger yelled, "What does that mean?" The U.S. Airways person said it meant we'd be delayed, but we don't know how long, but at least three hours since it is a two hour, forty minute flight.  But another flight was leaving at 1:50 pm for New Orleans and had no word of a delay yet.

Yet.  I didn't believe for a second that this 1:50 pm flight wouldn't have the same situation.  Like everyone else, we got in line to ask questions.  Well, that 1:50 pm flight was already booked full.  We had two options:  fly with Delta to Philly and then to New Orleans arriving at 8:00 pm (but it was packed and no room for luggage) or fly out in the morning.  We obviously needed luggage and there were so many people in front of us that those flights would probably fill up before we had a chance.  There was no point in flying in the morning because Chris's panel was around 9:00 am and mine about 11:00 am.

U.S. Airways would refund us since our flight was cancelled.  We booked our hotel through Priceline, but they said they'd refund the hotel if they could verify that the flight was cancelled.  We called Charity to let her know we wouldn't need a ride and wouldn't be coming and wouldn't be presenting. I felt bad, but what can you do?  Chris's parents came to get us.  We arrived back at their house about 1:30 pm.  We should have been in New Orleans by then.  What a strange, strange day.  I don't know why it happened this way, but I really think every little thing happens for a reason (some big reasons, some little reasons).  And now we're just hanging out in Woodbridge for the weekend instead.