These pics are sitting & in the Holiday Inn lobby, waiting for their shuttle to come get us. It was just after midnight when I took these pics. We did finally get into our room at the Red Lion Hotel at 12:30am. I was so thankful we were in Seattle & didn’t have to be at the airport until 9:30am, I was still going to get 8 hrs of sleep!

So the next morning we get to the Seattle airport at 9:30, I go to the e-ticket thing to check in & it tells me to go to customer service. So, I went to the ladies that check-in luggage, thinking they were customer service – they can’t find us in the computer. We have to haul luggage to a 3rd line to see what is up — At first they try to tell me I can’t use the ticket twice (really? I didn’t know that, I’ve done it before) they said – “you flew to Juneau at 11:21 on the 21st” I just looked at the guy, he wanted to know why we’d fly to Juneau to come to Seattle & try again (do I really look that stupid?!). I said, with a smile – “yes, my flight is at 11:21 on the 21st, that’s today and it’s only 9:45”. He looked around at the computer again & repeats, there is no reservation for us, they can’t find us anywhere – not even with my confirmation number. This is the result of our ticket having been for Tucson-Dallas-Seattle-Juneau, changing to Tucson-Chicago-Seattle-Juneau, to Tucson-Pheonix-Seattle-Juneau all on the same day, even though the Seattle-Juneau portion was never changed. Finally they get another person & look far enough back in the history to see that yes I have a ticket & no I haven’t used it yet, because in fact that flight hasn’t gone yet. But, there isn’t room for us on the flight now. So we wait a bit longer while they work on it – they do find 3 seats on the plane, but in 3 different areas…. It was a good thing I was on a full nights sleep or I probably would have burst into tears! So, off to another security check – but in the confusion I forgot to have Christine drink the Capri-Sun…. another tip – they don’t like Capri-Sun packaging, it looks like play-doh (something else suspicious, fyi)…I think the guy could tell I was ready to cry – I asked ‘please, I forgot to have her drink it, we drank the 3 water bottles, can we please just throw it away?’ He obliged – much to my great relief! There were so many security lines & I just wanted to get to the other side & on the plane. After bathroom stops we got some breakfast & then went to the gate, they were able to get us 3 seats together and they were pleasantly close to the middle, just 2 or 3 rows behind the wing.

What a relief to have done bathroom stops, have breakfast & lunch with us, have coffee, and have lifted off out of Seattle to Juneau. Now, there is always the possibility of not being able to get into Juneau, but I’d talked to mom & dad and the weather seemed fine and a non-issue – so even though there was still a chance of not landing, I needed the relief & know that in a few short hours we’d be with mom & dad and this trip would be over.

We flew the 3 hours to Juneau & again, we were going to land early. It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day. It was so pretty seeing all the snow on the mountains again after such a long time. We were on final approach when all of a sudden I could hardly see, my thought was “I’m sure glad they have instruments & it’s not about what they can’t see”, we were waiting to feel the touch down when I started thinking “we’re going up”. It is the weirdest feeling to be going down & all of a sudden know you are going up but you can’t see! My heart just stopped, I thought “Lord, please, please, please, please don’t make us have to unload & collect luggage to spend the night somewhere and then have to do all this again” I was pretty much to the point of begging, trying real hard to not to “help” with my suggestions. After a few minutes the pilot came on & said “as you’ve noticed, we didn’t land, that is what is called a missed approach. During our final approach the visibility went from 10 miles to less than 1 mile. It was such a sudden snow squall we’re going to circle & expect it to pass so we can try again.” We did circle for a half hr or so & then landed without hitch.

We were soooooo glad to get off that plane in Juneau & see dad standing there when we walked through security. To know our trip was done for another week. God blessed us in so many ways and answered so many prayers on that trip. I now know I can do all those different scenarios on my own – as the adult – I can even smile (mostly) and remain kind (I kept all sarcastic remarks to myself, I didn’t say them). We had safe travels, even though there were plenty of unexpected events.

– Lessons learned –
You can get seats & be on the plane – that plane still might not take off.
When one airline says “nothing available” – another airline can get you out.
You can have your ticket changed to 3 different destinations fairly easily. (granted, it might wipe you out of the system :)! )
Don’t talk on cell phone when giving ID to go through security.
Security guards in the same airport aren’t all equal.
Passenger weight & balance is important on a 727.
You may have a hotel reservation and not have a room.
It is good to get to the airport 2 hrs early.
You might have an airline ticket – but they can’t find you in the computer.
You can’t use the same ticket twice, just in case you’re wondering.
They can still eek out 3 seats – just not together, but they’ll work at fixing it.
Play-doh (or Capri-Suns) are suspicious when going thru airport security.
You might be moments from landing – and not.
This can all happen during one portion of the same trip-in the same 24 hrs.
Boy, am I thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves, protects, provides for me & cares how I feel.