Posted by Helen on: 08.16.2006 /
My father was scheduled to fly from London to Chicago last Thursday. I took it for granted he’d be here that day. In fact my main concern was whether my husband could pick him up since my children were playing in a masterclass and, being the ‘music’ parent, I wanted to be there.
On Thursday morning people were advised not to go to the airport unless they absolutely had to because of the suspected terrorist plot. My Dad called the airline and changed his flight to Tuesday, the next available day.
We’re scheduled to fly to Yellowstone with him on Saturday to spend a week there with my brothers and families and my mother (and some other extended family for part of the time).
At first I was thinking, Tuesday is still in plenty of time for Saturday. But then I realized he might not be able to rebook before Saturday if the Tuesday flight got cancelled. And the airlines have had to cancel a proportion of their flights to Chicago routinely since Thursday to ease airport congestion in London.
When Tuesday arrived I definitely wasn’t taking it for granted any more that my Dad would get here. I was very happy when his flight showed up online as ‘departed’. It was a couple of hours late arriving due to the time it takes to implement current security measures. But so what? He’s here…finally!
My Dad told me what it was like at Heathrow airport. I hadn’t heard this part in the news. When he walked in the terminal he was immediately asked by a uniformed person “Why are you here and where are you going?” He told them and they said “You need to go back out to the car park and up onto the roof”.
I thought someone must be kidding, but no - my Dad said, when he got there they had marquees set up and chairs and people with loudspeakers. Every passenger now has to go up there and wait until their flight is announced before they’re permitted to even enter the terminal.
Comment by: Julie Marie
1I’m glad your dad made it, safely and at last! Sounds like you have a great vacation planned.
Just when you thought the new travel prcesses were getting smoothed out and were flowing well…(at least here in the states)…terrorist plots have us sitting on top of parking garages.
Comment by: Helen
2Thanks - me too! I’m glad your Dad is doing better after his recent trip to the ER :(
Tell me about it…on the other hand, my Dad said they did look after people well on the roof - they were giving out free refreshments :)
Comment by: Julie marie
3I can only imagine the airport vendors are crying the blues right now…I’ll bet they pay top dollar for their space…and now people don’t have time to spend money there!
Comment by: Pam Hogeweide
4glad your dad made it safely. my friend tracy from Hong Kong was in UK to visit family and got caught up in the mess, too, with her young son in tow. her email simply read, “bloody terrorists.”
have a wonderful time in yellowstone. it’s such a fascinating and wild place to explore!
Comment by: jim
5The times they are a changing… (and I’m not even going to mention that Dylan now hosts his own show on XM radio)