Posted By: pat
Home at last..... - 12/14/2020 06:09 PM
So here we are, home again. And I won’t say at last here because that might intimate I’d rather be here than where we were and we all know that’s not true and particularly with the snow flurrying out there. But it’s reality time.....
We left BSV, having had a lovely two weeks trip. The accommodations are perfect for us and the staff couldn’t be anymore obliging and pleasant than they are. We picked up Lesley Bruce on our way to the airport at 11:30 - very convenient car return. Got to the airport way too early as we jumped through all the hurdles and were in the gate area by 12:00 with almost two hours before take off but all was good. The flight attendant on our arrival flight said we had to be there a full three hours ahead of time and we were pretty sure she was clueless on that but what the heck! When it’s time to go, it’s time to go!
Airport observation - they are socially distancing passenger seating in the departure lounge and given we left on a midday Saturday flight, there was still plenty of seating to go around and we couldn’t help but miss the Saturday crowds we’re accustomed to. Just a sign of the times, but sad for the island and the airlines.
Our flight had lots of empty seats and AA was still holding center seats open, at least in the preferred seating area. The flight was fine and typical for the year of Covid - no food, no drinks to speak of, no snacks but we got to CLT safe and sound and that’s all that matters, right?
I had a wheelchair assist in the terminal and after some initial confusion and a serious shortage of transporters, I was really glad I did. Believe it or not, and I think it was due to where they landed us, we were asked for the old blue immigration entry forms which we haven’t seen in at least 4-5 years but there were no GE kiosks in our arrival area. Quickly filled them out and we were on our way again, this time to claim our luggage and take it for a walk to the recheck area. Chores done, we began the walk to the E terminal gate area - at least three quarters of a mile away - and finally we reached our destination and our wait began anew. After two weeks of gourmet island food, we grabbed a Burger King dinner in the gate area.
We had an AE flight to our regional airport, 23 passengers in all, one for every row of the plane if you were of a mind. Smooth flight and we were a few minutes early until the pilot announced a visibility problem on the ground and the possibility we might end up in Philly instead. Groans from all corners of the plane......... But all’s well that ends well. He circled for a bit and in the end we were runway bound at our airport of choice, and even with the brief moments of drama we were only about five minutes late in our arrival.
HPN observation - not sure what branch of the military they were but we were greeted upon arrival by a group of soldiers questioning us as to whether or not we had completed the NYS Medical Entry Form required and providing the same forms to those who had not. We handed ours off to the last soldiers before we entered into the main terminal at which point we thanked them for their service and we were home free.
Grabbed our bags, met our driver and we were home and in bed by midnight. And now as the flurries continue and there’s much talk of a major storm for later this week, we hope for April soon come!
Got our PCR tests done this morning - feeling fine but just need to be safe for those we love.
We left BSV, having had a lovely two weeks trip. The accommodations are perfect for us and the staff couldn’t be anymore obliging and pleasant than they are. We picked up Lesley Bruce on our way to the airport at 11:30 - very convenient car return. Got to the airport way too early as we jumped through all the hurdles and were in the gate area by 12:00 with almost two hours before take off but all was good. The flight attendant on our arrival flight said we had to be there a full three hours ahead of time and we were pretty sure she was clueless on that but what the heck! When it’s time to go, it’s time to go!
Airport observation - they are socially distancing passenger seating in the departure lounge and given we left on a midday Saturday flight, there was still plenty of seating to go around and we couldn’t help but miss the Saturday crowds we’re accustomed to. Just a sign of the times, but sad for the island and the airlines.
Our flight had lots of empty seats and AA was still holding center seats open, at least in the preferred seating area. The flight was fine and typical for the year of Covid - no food, no drinks to speak of, no snacks but we got to CLT safe and sound and that’s all that matters, right?
I had a wheelchair assist in the terminal and after some initial confusion and a serious shortage of transporters, I was really glad I did. Believe it or not, and I think it was due to where they landed us, we were asked for the old blue immigration entry forms which we haven’t seen in at least 4-5 years but there were no GE kiosks in our arrival area. Quickly filled them out and we were on our way again, this time to claim our luggage and take it for a walk to the recheck area. Chores done, we began the walk to the E terminal gate area - at least three quarters of a mile away - and finally we reached our destination and our wait began anew. After two weeks of gourmet island food, we grabbed a Burger King dinner in the gate area.
We had an AE flight to our regional airport, 23 passengers in all, one for every row of the plane if you were of a mind. Smooth flight and we were a few minutes early until the pilot announced a visibility problem on the ground and the possibility we might end up in Philly instead. Groans from all corners of the plane......... But all’s well that ends well. He circled for a bit and in the end we were runway bound at our airport of choice, and even with the brief moments of drama we were only about five minutes late in our arrival.
HPN observation - not sure what branch of the military they were but we were greeted upon arrival by a group of soldiers questioning us as to whether or not we had completed the NYS Medical Entry Form required and providing the same forms to those who had not. We handed ours off to the last soldiers before we entered into the main terminal at which point we thanked them for their service and we were home free.
Grabbed our bags, met our driver and we were home and in bed by midnight. And now as the flurries continue and there’s much talk of a major storm for later this week, we hope for April soon come!
Got our PCR tests done this morning - feeling fine but just need to be safe for those we love.
