MARCH 1-2 - TRAVELLING BACK HOME

Our flight home was scheduled on United's 11:30 a.m. flight to Newark with a connection at 6:30 p.m. to Seattle.  George was going to pick us up at 9 a.m. and take us to the Ben Gurion International Airport.  

However, in the morning, we received an email from United stating that our flight to Newark was delayed with a new departing time at 4:00 p.m.  We, of course, would miss our connecting flight to Seattle.  

I immediately contacted Moody, who, in turn, contacted A&K and George arrived later in the day to take us to the airport.  A&K also arranged for us to have a later check-out time with the hotel.  

We made the mistake of trying to check-in online rather than waiting to get to the airport.  As everyone knows by now, I HATE using the cell phone for anything other than making calls and for occasional texting.  I don't do any internet stuff on the phone.  Well, between trying to upload or download (whatever it is) the results of the CCP virus test and our passports (which couldn't be done on the laptop) two hours had passed!  For some reason, United wouldn't accept uploading photos of our passports - we had to scan them!  Michael's QR scanner app on the phone wouldn't work and after I was able to download the app, it did.  What a complete waste of time.  

Completely frustrated, we went out for a final walk along the beach.  The weather was lovely but we were told that the temperature can reach over 100 with tons of humidity in the summer.  We're glad we visited when we did. 

 

As scheduled, George picked us up and got us to the airport where we met the VIP representative from A&K who navigated us through the airport.  First, he took charge of our two suitcases and we approached the first security checkpoint.  Being VIPs, we were taken to the head of the line.  The gal asked several questions, primarily about our visit to Jordan.  Why were we there?  Where did we stay?  Did we meet anyone?  How long were we there?  Peace treaties aside, Israel takes its security VERY seriously.  After providing satisfactory answers to all her questions, she wished us a safe trip home and we proceeded in the airport.  

At the time we were there, the luggage scanners below the airport were not functioning and there was a huge scanner in the departure area for checked baggage (aside from the usual security scanners we have in this country).  Again, there were probably over 50 people waiting to have their suitcases (not carry-ons) scanned.  Our VIP rep told us to wait on the line while he checked out what was going on.  He came back, took us out of the line, brought us to the front of line where the guy putting the luggage through the scanner took a look at us, plopped a couple of stickers on our suitcases and sent us on our way - without scanning our soon-to-be checked luggage.  

We then proceeded to the check-in counter where, again, the VIP rep handled everything with our passports and obtained our boarding passes.  

 Traveling business class, we were able to wait for our flight in the United lounge.

Eventually, we got on the plane and we were on our way to Newark!  

Very comfortable seating that converted to a bed for a very long flight back home!  

As we knew would happen, we missed our connecting flight in Newark and went immediately to the United service desk to get the information for our flight home.  We were put up at a hotel which, again, got screwed up because I HATE using cellphones.  The gal at the United desk sent us a text which I opened, chose the hotel, told her which one we wanted, obtained the information for the next day's flight and went to the hotel pick-up area at the Newark Airport.  

(We really dislike Newark Airport - we've been there a couple of times arriving later in the evening.  You have to take a train to the hotel van area but the train doesn't run all night.  You have to get off at one stop and then wait for another train - usually about 20 minutes later - to take you to the hotel van stop.  It's extremely inconvenient particularly after a very long flight and you just want to get to the hotel.)

Anyway, I can't recall which hotel we picked, but when we got there, they didn't have us in the computer.  Apparently, telling the gal which hotel we wanted wasn't enough - we were supposed to "select" the hotel which I didn't see on the tiny screen of a cellphone.  Ugh!  Anyway, after seeing how nuts I was getting, the gentleman behind the desk calmly brought us outside and called us a cab that took us to another hotel nearby where there was room for us.  

For most people who use cellphones for everything, this would've been no big deal.  For us, the luddites that we are, it was a bit of a pain considering it was almost midnight and our connecting flight to Seattle was at 6:50 a.m.

Once we got to the hotel, we had a decent night's sleep, got up, took a quick shower and took the shuttle to the airport where we boarded our flight back home.  

When we got to Seattle, customs didn't even collect the carefully filled-out declaration I prepared but our luggage arrived safe and sound and that's all I ever care about.  Our wonderful car service brought us home and here we are!