Ignorance Is Bliss

I did NOT sleep well at all, but I guess that’s what happens when you nap all day. I think also the fear of oversleeping didn’t help my situation. After about 3 hours of sleep (literally) I was up, checked into my flights and had all my bags downstairs!

Prachit picked me up to bring me to the airport (which was so helpful) and I loved the fact it was only about 10 minutes away. I had no problems checking in except for the fact the women legit laughed at me when she saw my bags. So I punched her in the face. Ok, no I didn’t, but she did laugh, rightfully so I guess. I didn’t think I had THAT much!

Chiang Mai airport is VERY small which was nice as it didn’t take long to find the gate. The flight was quick and I spent the time watching “World’s Funniest Videos”. I enjoyed it as there was no talking (so really anyone could enjoy it). I had no problems getting my bags and finding the shuttle to take me to the airport hotel.

The hotel is VERY nice and much better than your typical airport hotel. I checked in and quickly dropped my stuff in my room before taking a WELL NEEDED shower! I didn’t even make it THAT hot, but I loved the idea that, if I wanted to, I could make it hot!

I then hung out poolside (it was so nice) and grabbed some lunch (well, I ordered breakfast, but it was yummy) and just relaxed! I was surprised how you couldn’t really hear the planes overhead. I was a good girl and wore sun block and didn’t stay out too long! After another shower (I am addicted) I decided I would buy internet (sheesh no free wifi these days) so I could print out my boarding pass. I had done the ‘web check in’ in the morning but didn’t have a printer.

I went to hit print and United says “I’m sorry, your flight is cancelled”. Awesome United, AWESOME! Did it say, “We know you want to get home, so here’s what you need to do?” Nope, just cancelled (in red of course). Now I expected to have some issues either flying into DC or from DC home (since DC can’t handle snow) seeing as their airport has been closed for days! But this said my flight from Bangkok to Japan was cancelled. So, after telling myself to play it cool I went to the front desk. He said maybe it was a website problem (uuuh I don’t think websites randomly tell you that you no longer have a flight) and so he kept calling United (good start). He told me, as of now, it was still all set. However, he went on to say that if it is cancelled they would keep it on the down low and wait for everyone to get to the airport in the morning. He looked at me as though I should be satisfied with the answer that maybe I would never get home; I’d just have to see! Ha! So I KINDLY told him that if I missed this flight to Japan I would miss all my other flights and if it is cancelled I would rather rebook my plans tonight rather than at 5:00am (I do try to be very nice as I know what it is like to work in customer service).

He called again and this time got someone who said that the flight was still on schedule and I was booked etc. but a different leg of it was cancelled. That made me feel BETTER, but I needed some more confirmation. So after checking every free flight tracker website that exists, I determined that the flight from Japan to Chicago (the same flight that continues on and the one I almost booked) was cancelled! I felt better about the situation so I went downstairs for dinner. The hotel is VERY big and had a ton of options for dinner which was nice.

After returning to my room, the departure page for the Bangkok airport had refreshed to tell me my flight TO Japan was indeed cancelled. Before, it said the leg from Japan to Chicago was cancelled and that was it. But now, I had big red letters telling me I was not going anywhere. I had written down every United phone number possible (since I was counting on running into trouble in DC) and after 5 unsuccessful attempts (every office was conveniently closed) I finally managed to get somebody. She reassured me the flight was not cancelled; only the flight from Japan to Chicago was. However, after checking a few more websites (now all updated with the cancellation of my flight – including the United website) I called back and tried to explain how every website now said my flight was cancelled. Oh how I miss English, as all I wanted to know was why SUDDENLY my flight was cancelled.

So, I did what everyone would do. I called my mommy. Ok ok I first emailed my Dad to have him call the United number in the U.S. so they could tell me the situation from the U.S. perspective. But, next I know mom and I were skypeing. She had it on speaker phone to the representative (in the U.S.) who told us my flight was indeed cancelled and I would be able to fly out February 18th, in one week. I wish you could have seen my mom’s face. “You want me to stay here another week?” she asked the man (she was pretending to be me). Now I know, I know, getting stuck in Thailand…..BUT at this point I was ready to go home, everything was packed and I was out of money. Neither of us could believe he told me my only option was to wait a week, especially because United hadn’t even contacted me about the cancelled flight (no emails or cell phone notification) After some searching, he decided I could try to get on a Thai Airways flight to LA and then a United flight from LA to Boston, but I would leave and get in 12 hours later. I didn’t LOVE this idea, but I just wanted to come home. The problem was Thai airways wouldn’t open until after my ‘original’ flight would have left, AND when booking on another airline United couldn’t confirm for 12 hours blah blah red tape blah blah so I really had no confirmation and if I didn’t get that flight I’d have nowhere to go! So, mom & I hung up with the plan that she would call Thai and United at the appropriate hours we had been told (since it was now 11:30 PM – my time), and then she would let me know when I needed to head to the airport.

Next thing I know, my mom is calling me back on skype saying my original flight was not cancelled at ALL! (She had decided to check the United website one more time and unbelievably it was no longer saying CANCELLED in red.) After a few more calls to Thai and United (confirming and re-confirming that the flight was indeed a go) we both agreed this was great news, but I also didn’t really like taking the risk of this flight that couldn’t make up its mind. I also liked that with the Thai flight I was flying through Los Angeles (not through D.C.) so it didn’t seem like it would be as difficult to get back to Boston. Needless to say, I was exhausted and realized that if I had just printed out my boarding pass in the morning I never would have found out about all the cancellation not cancellation, etc. Ignorance is bliss, huh? (sometimes it just doesn’t pay to be proactive!!)

Since my flight is now apparently still scheduled (and I am exhausted) I have decided to just go to sleep and deal with any problems in the morning!

Hugs and kisses from a girl who has no clue when she will get home!