GRR to SAN

Today we flew from Grand Rapids (GRR) to San Diego (SAN). Our flight from GRR was delayed by about 45 minutes due to weather (snow) and as a result we had to run to our connecting gate in Minneapolis (MSP). We managed to get off our flight from GRR to MSP as quickly as possible and hustled our way to our departure gate. As we arrived at the departure gate, a good 10 minute hike from our arrival gate, we could see our plane – already backed away from the gate. We’d missed our connecting flight by about five minutes.

Oh well, such schedule disappointments are part of travel. We were thankful that Northwest Airlines had booked us on the next flight from MSP to SAN prior to our leaving GRR. Not finding any gate agents around to confirm our seating with we decided to walk back towards the main entrance. Realizing it was lunch time, we headed to Chili’s Too, a restaurant at the airport, and had lunch. After lunch we decided to walk to our new departure gate, again at the proverbial “other side of the airport.” Along the way we found a Northwest gate agent and proceeded to get our new seat assignments and boarding passes for the later flight. To our suprise and pleasure the gate agent booked all four of us in First Class for the flight from MSP to SAN. This was the first time that my son and my mother-in-law had ever been in First Class; in my son’s words – it was “AWSOME!”

Sometimes delays are met with pleasure . . . the wait in the airport wasn’t wonderful, although the upgraded seats were appreciated by all.