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"Fun" with flying.
I am home after the journey from hell. Summary: There was an ice storm in northwest New York state and southern Ontario which caused a whole load of flights to/from Toronto Pearson airport to be horribly delayed or cancelled. Mine was delayed for 26 hours.
It was rather awful because we got no food and drink provided by the airline until around 5 am, when we were supposed to have taken off at 9.55pm the previous day and been fed and watered within an hour of that time. There was some food and drink for sale at the airport, as well as a water fountain, which we could use while stuck at the gate - but no cups were provided for free, so people not in the habit of going through security with an empty bottle to fill once they're through were dehydrated. Also our checked luggage, having been screened, were not given back to us once it was decided that the plane would be cancelled. So we all had to spend the day with nothing but whatever we had in our hand luggage - which was a particular problem for me since it meant I did not have my wheelchair charger.
Unsurprisingly, between stress, spending all that time in an airport or aeroplane with thousands of other people, and sitting upright for far more hours than my spine will allow, I am now rather ill. All I can say is that if this had to happen to me, I'm glad it was when I was 41, with a credit card, travel insurance, and a well-treated anxiety disorder - rather than when I was 21. Tomorrow's job is to claim on said travel insurance. I have the letter from the airline stating the delay, both of my boarding passes, and receipts for my food, hotel, and taxi. (I'm not sure if I have the receipt for the emergency phone charger which I had to buy at the airport, nor if that's a thing I can even claim for, but I'm going to try.)
I would like to write a timeline of events, but that involves more spoons than I currently have available. So just "enjoy" my Skype and/or text messages.
Saturday
11:28 AM, EDT
Our plans for the day have been ruined by [a] the car rental place being late to pick up Grant, [b] a weather warning for an ice storm in western New York state.
So it no longer seems safe or sensible to drive down to Corning to go to the Glass Museum, and we have to find something to do closer to home.
Alexa, 11:29 AM
That's a shame.
11:30 AM
We can go in the summer when the museum is open until 8pm rather than now when it's only open until 5pm.
Sunday
2:03 PM, EDT
Driving back to Toronto. We are only running an hour late so far!
2:45 PM
We are getting on the road again. See you at the airport!
6:34 PM
We are in a vegan restaurant near Toronto Airport.
6:52 PM
Alexa, 6:57 PM
Indian?
6:58 PM
Yes, but they also do pizza and burgers. And hot chocolate!
9:14 PM
They keep insanely announcing the Montreal flight but not the Gatwick flight which is going out of the same gate AND was moved!
I would have been sitting at B27 like an idiot if I had headphones in and/or less of a clue.
9:20 PM
I am regretting not packing my phone charger in hand luggage. Looks like a long wait.
So, so glad we got proper food!
9:33 PM
Toronto Pearson Int'l (CYYZ) is currently experiencing:
arrival delays for airborne aircraft an average of 41 minutes
inbound flights delayed at their origin an average of 5 hours 3 minutes due to snow and ice
departure delays an average of 1 hours
9:41 PM
Hooray, TS 473 (the flight blocking our gate) is on the move!
9:47 PM
Canada's weather is delaying everyone. The terminal is PACKED. Glad I travel with my own chair, because there aren't any seats to be found.
10:14 PM
My plane is at the gate and is being unpacked. Apparently it flew in from Montego Bay.
10:15 PM
They're now estimating our flight at 23:00.
Apparently TS 473 has been moved into a shed. Not sure if it's being de-iced there, or just keeping it dry before it moves to the runway.
Ooh. The crew are now going through the gate!
Oh. They came back.
10:40 PM
TS 473 literally JUST took off 4 minutes ago.
Got to say, I'm happier here in the terminal with space to move around and a toilet and drinking water and WIFI than stuck out on the runway.
11:00 PM
About to board!
11:12 PM
Wheelchair duly photographed!
11:45 PM
Apparently they ONLY JUST finished getting all the bags off the inbound flight, so we're not going anywhere for a while.
11:57 PM
Flight now delayed until 01:30.
Monday
12:20 AM, EDT
Wolfy is bored
12:54 AM
Really glad we stayed in bed longer this morning. So tired!
Grant, 12:56 AM
Wasn't long enough, could have been there longer and Wolfie still could have made her flight
1:01 AM
Apparently so. Oh well.
I have 9% battery left, need to conserve it.
Grant, 1:02 AM
I'll bring you a battery charger
1:03 AM
Go to sleep xx
1:14 AM
Eeep, there's another Air Transat flight which was due to leave an hour before ours and still hasn't
Grant, 1:15 AM
You are supposed to get there in 4 hours...
1:31 AM
Phone charger get!
4:30 AM
GUESS WHO HASN'T LEFT YET?
4:34 AM
They don't have enough ground crew. I've watched a whole movie already.
4:46 AM
Also we haven't been fed yet and some of the passengers are threatening to revolt. I just had to Google the legal limits for an airline pilot's working day because a woman was freaking out that she didn't feel safe.
Update: https://flightaware.com/live/flight/TSC722
5:30 AM
Flight has been cancelled!
Supposedly they're going to take us to a hotel or something
Place your bets for whether there is wheelchair-accessible travel or anyone to help me with my luggage.
6:11 AM
I need a bed
Apparently all the local hotels are overbooked.
6:44 AM
Tired, grumpy Wolfy
Grant, 7:45 AM
:(
my poor Wolfie! of course things went too smoothly to get you there something else had to happen!
7:45 AM
I need you
Feeling very sick
Please come
Grant, 7:49 AM
:( I would like to, but by the time I get there, something may happen and you'll be off somewhere
7:50 AM
Flight rescheduled for 21:55
Stuck here. Scared.
Grant, 7:52 AM
They haven't mentioned letting you into a lounge or giving you a room for the day yet?
7:52 AM
Supposedly all the hotels are full.
Feeling very very sick and need to lie down and sleep. Also need vegan food.
Grant, 7:54 AM
;( that's not very helpful by them
7:54 AM
I don't actually believe that ALL the hotels in the whole of Toronto are full
Grant, 7:54 AM
It would help if it didn't take so long for me to get there
7:55 AM
I don't have my bag and aren't allowed to get it
It is "in a secure area".
8:04 AM
Have booked a room in the Novotel.
Claiming on travel.insurance when I have a brain.
Grant, 8:07 AM
Okay, are you taking the subway to get there?
8:09 AM
No, cab paid for by air transat
Grant, 8:11 AM
okay
8:37 AM
I have a $14.05 falafel sandwich, paid for by Air Transat.
Grant, 8:38 AM
Wolfie got ALL the extras <3
8:43 AM
Cab is here
Not really, I am paying for my own hotel.
Text to Richard & Mum, 8:51 AM
Flight cancelled & rescheduled 24 hours later. Going to Novotel. Paying for it with credit card, will reclaim from travel insurance.
9:53 AM
Eating overpriced hotel breakfast. Do not care. Need food.
5:15 PM
Urgh. https://www.flightview.com/airport/YYZ-Toronto-ON/departures
Grant, 5:17 PM
Still quite a few delays on there
5:19 PM
No useful information here: https://www.airtransat.com/en-CA/Travel-information/Flight-status-and-schedule/Arrivals-Departures?ici=homepage&icn=moteur_flight-schedule#/departure/results/YYZ
"Delayed". Thanks. WE KNOW.
I love sleeping in my clothes without getting to clean my teeth or charge my wheelchair, because we weren't allowed our checked baggage back.
Richard, 5:22 PM
morning my wolf of love
YYZ’s departures board optimistically has TS722 “on time” (ignoring the small matter of it already being a day late)
5:22 PM
I know
But look at all the other flights.
Grant, 5:27 PM
Should I book an Amtrak for you to come back till Canada learns how to deal with snow?
5:27 PM
Ha.
I should call the airline but I doubt they have a clue what's going on. I'm just very reluctant to leave my hotel room with big bed, private toilet and shower to go and wait in an uncomfortable terminal for gods only know how long.
Grant, 5:30 PM
At the moment, you should be fine, but you should call by 7pm to make sure the flight is happening
6:02 PM
I don't think they'll know as early as 7pm.
6:18 PM
My back hurts like hell.
Grant, 6:19 PM
I'm sorry Wolfie, if only I could live with you, we wouldn't need to do all this hassle
6:23 PM
My hands are tied by hunger. Going to get a cab to the place where we ate yesterday and order a pizza.
Grant, 6:24 PM
Air Transat is paying? (inlove)
6:25 PM
No, but I need food. Keeping that $14 falafel sandwich in reserve.
Grant, 6:25 PM
Okay
8:57 PM
At airport. Have eaten Veggie Planet pizza with Daiya cheese, green peppers, carrots and vegan chicken.
9:14 PM
At security
9:53 PM
On plane, no WiFi this far out. Exhausted and sore. Passengers stinky. Paploo is comforting.
Richard, 10:00 PM
I was wondering if you were stuck sitting in the wheelchair all night.
10:00 PM
I was stuck sitting physically upright which is why my spine is screaming.
10:28 PM
Ooh they have a new aircraft security video with normal people rather than animated blue humans.
Richard, 10:32 PM
So you're actually in danger of flying somewhere today then?
10:52 PM
The captain has left the aircraft to assess the situation on the ramp with loading the items.
Usually Pearson load 84 planes per hour, currently they're doing 22 planes per hour.
10:56 PM
There is ONE person loading our plane.
11:07 PM
Currently three (3) "cans" of luggage is missing, so we will be here a while. I have not checked out of my hotel room, with their blessing, so I do have a place to go if necessary. Please keep Grant updated via Skype. Please tell me how the other flights are, I have no WiFi.
Richard, 11:10 PM
Average departure delay 51 minutes. There were a couple of planes going for deicing when it started snowing but most planes are going straight to the runway now.
11:29 PM
The crazy woman is screaming again, I want her gone.
11:30 PM
Everyone is now delayed waiting for my wheelchair.
Richard, 11:34 PM
Do they at least know where it is?
11:35 PM
Wheelchair was not lost, just not on the plane, awaiting a fork-lift truck. We might be leaving in 15 minutes.
11:51 PM
We are moving!
Richard, 11:52 PM
Yay! I'll let Grant know. I sleep now. Love you.
Tuesday
11:53 AM (BST)
We have landed.
12:30 PM
I have wheelchair and am going to passport control.
2:53 PM
Home. I sleep now.
It was rather awful because we got no food and drink provided by the airline until around 5 am, when we were supposed to have taken off at 9.55pm the previous day and been fed and watered within an hour of that time. There was some food and drink for sale at the airport, as well as a water fountain, which we could use while stuck at the gate - but no cups were provided for free, so people not in the habit of going through security with an empty bottle to fill once they're through were dehydrated. Also our checked luggage, having been screened, were not given back to us once it was decided that the plane would be cancelled. So we all had to spend the day with nothing but whatever we had in our hand luggage - which was a particular problem for me since it meant I did not have my wheelchair charger.
Unsurprisingly, between stress, spending all that time in an airport or aeroplane with thousands of other people, and sitting upright for far more hours than my spine will allow, I am now rather ill. All I can say is that if this had to happen to me, I'm glad it was when I was 41, with a credit card, travel insurance, and a well-treated anxiety disorder - rather than when I was 21. Tomorrow's job is to claim on said travel insurance. I have the letter from the airline stating the delay, both of my boarding passes, and receipts for my food, hotel, and taxi. (I'm not sure if I have the receipt for the emergency phone charger which I had to buy at the airport, nor if that's a thing I can even claim for, but I'm going to try.)
I would like to write a timeline of events, but that involves more spoons than I currently have available. So just "enjoy" my Skype and/or text messages.
Saturday
11:28 AM, EDT
Our plans for the day have been ruined by [a] the car rental place being late to pick up Grant, [b] a weather warning for an ice storm in western New York state.
So it no longer seems safe or sensible to drive down to Corning to go to the Glass Museum, and we have to find something to do closer to home.
Alexa, 11:29 AM
That's a shame.
11:30 AM
We can go in the summer when the museum is open until 8pm rather than now when it's only open until 5pm.
Sunday
2:03 PM, EDT
Driving back to Toronto. We are only running an hour late so far!
2:45 PM
We are getting on the road again. See you at the airport!
6:34 PM
We are in a vegan restaurant near Toronto Airport.
6:52 PM
Alexa, 6:57 PM
Indian?
6:58 PM
Yes, but they also do pizza and burgers. And hot chocolate!
9:14 PM
They keep insanely announcing the Montreal flight but not the Gatwick flight which is going out of the same gate AND was moved!
I would have been sitting at B27 like an idiot if I had headphones in and/or less of a clue.
9:20 PM
I am regretting not packing my phone charger in hand luggage. Looks like a long wait.
So, so glad we got proper food!
9:33 PM
Toronto Pearson Int'l (CYYZ) is currently experiencing:
arrival delays for airborne aircraft an average of 41 minutes
inbound flights delayed at their origin an average of 5 hours 3 minutes due to snow and ice
departure delays an average of 1 hours
9:41 PM
Hooray, TS 473 (the flight blocking our gate) is on the move!
9:47 PM
Canada's weather is delaying everyone. The terminal is PACKED. Glad I travel with my own chair, because there aren't any seats to be found.
10:14 PM
My plane is at the gate and is being unpacked. Apparently it flew in from Montego Bay.
10:15 PM
They're now estimating our flight at 23:00.
Apparently TS 473 has been moved into a shed. Not sure if it's being de-iced there, or just keeping it dry before it moves to the runway.
Ooh. The crew are now going through the gate!
Oh. They came back.
10:40 PM
TS 473 literally JUST took off 4 minutes ago.
Got to say, I'm happier here in the terminal with space to move around and a toilet and drinking water and WIFI than stuck out on the runway.
11:00 PM
About to board!
11:12 PM
Wheelchair duly photographed!
11:45 PM
Apparently they ONLY JUST finished getting all the bags off the inbound flight, so we're not going anywhere for a while.
11:57 PM
Flight now delayed until 01:30.
Monday
12:20 AM, EDT
Wolfy is bored
12:54 AM
Really glad we stayed in bed longer this morning. So tired!
Grant, 12:56 AM
Wasn't long enough, could have been there longer and Wolfie still could have made her flight
1:01 AM
Apparently so. Oh well.
I have 9% battery left, need to conserve it.
Grant, 1:02 AM
I'll bring you a battery charger
1:03 AM
Go to sleep xx
1:14 AM
Eeep, there's another Air Transat flight which was due to leave an hour before ours and still hasn't
Grant, 1:15 AM
You are supposed to get there in 4 hours...
1:31 AM
Phone charger get!
4:30 AM
GUESS WHO HASN'T LEFT YET?
4:34 AM
They don't have enough ground crew. I've watched a whole movie already.
4:46 AM
Also we haven't been fed yet and some of the passengers are threatening to revolt. I just had to Google the legal limits for an airline pilot's working day because a woman was freaking out that she didn't feel safe.
Update: https://flightaware.com/live/flight/TSC722
5:30 AM
Flight has been cancelled!
Supposedly they're going to take us to a hotel or something
Place your bets for whether there is wheelchair-accessible travel or anyone to help me with my luggage.
6:11 AM
I need a bed
Apparently all the local hotels are overbooked.
6:44 AM
Tired, grumpy Wolfy
Grant, 7:45 AM
:(
my poor Wolfie! of course things went too smoothly to get you there something else had to happen!
7:45 AM
I need you
Feeling very sick
Please come
Grant, 7:49 AM
:( I would like to, but by the time I get there, something may happen and you'll be off somewhere
7:50 AM
Flight rescheduled for 21:55
Stuck here. Scared.
Grant, 7:52 AM
They haven't mentioned letting you into a lounge or giving you a room for the day yet?
7:52 AM
Supposedly all the hotels are full.
Feeling very very sick and need to lie down and sleep. Also need vegan food.
Grant, 7:54 AM
;( that's not very helpful by them
7:54 AM
I don't actually believe that ALL the hotels in the whole of Toronto are full
Grant, 7:54 AM
It would help if it didn't take so long for me to get there
7:55 AM
I don't have my bag and aren't allowed to get it
It is "in a secure area".
8:04 AM
Have booked a room in the Novotel.
Claiming on travel.insurance when I have a brain.
Grant, 8:07 AM
Okay, are you taking the subway to get there?
8:09 AM
No, cab paid for by air transat
Grant, 8:11 AM
okay
8:37 AM
I have a $14.05 falafel sandwich, paid for by Air Transat.
Grant, 8:38 AM
Wolfie got ALL the extras <3
8:43 AM
Cab is here
Not really, I am paying for my own hotel.
Text to Richard & Mum, 8:51 AM
Flight cancelled & rescheduled 24 hours later. Going to Novotel. Paying for it with credit card, will reclaim from travel insurance.
9:53 AM
Eating overpriced hotel breakfast. Do not care. Need food.
5:15 PM
Urgh. https://www.flightview.com/airport/YYZ-Toronto-ON/departures
Grant, 5:17 PM
Still quite a few delays on there
5:19 PM
No useful information here: https://www.airtransat.com/en-CA/Travel-information/Flight-status-and-schedule/Arrivals-Departures?ici=homepage&icn=moteur_flight-schedule#/departure/results/YYZ
"Delayed". Thanks. WE KNOW.
I love sleeping in my clothes without getting to clean my teeth or charge my wheelchair, because we weren't allowed our checked baggage back.
Richard, 5:22 PM
morning my wolf of love
YYZ’s departures board optimistically has TS722 “on time” (ignoring the small matter of it already being a day late)
5:22 PM
I know
But look at all the other flights.
Grant, 5:27 PM
Should I book an Amtrak for you to come back till Canada learns how to deal with snow?
5:27 PM
Ha.
I should call the airline but I doubt they have a clue what's going on. I'm just very reluctant to leave my hotel room with big bed, private toilet and shower to go and wait in an uncomfortable terminal for gods only know how long.
Grant, 5:30 PM
At the moment, you should be fine, but you should call by 7pm to make sure the flight is happening
6:02 PM
I don't think they'll know as early as 7pm.
6:18 PM
My back hurts like hell.
Grant, 6:19 PM
I'm sorry Wolfie, if only I could live with you, we wouldn't need to do all this hassle
6:23 PM
My hands are tied by hunger. Going to get a cab to the place where we ate yesterday and order a pizza.
Grant, 6:24 PM
Air Transat is paying? (inlove)
6:25 PM
No, but I need food. Keeping that $14 falafel sandwich in reserve.
Grant, 6:25 PM
Okay
8:57 PM
At airport. Have eaten Veggie Planet pizza with Daiya cheese, green peppers, carrots and vegan chicken.
9:14 PM
At security
9:53 PM
On plane, no WiFi this far out. Exhausted and sore. Passengers stinky. Paploo is comforting.
Richard, 10:00 PM
I was wondering if you were stuck sitting in the wheelchair all night.
10:00 PM
I was stuck sitting physically upright which is why my spine is screaming.
10:28 PM
Ooh they have a new aircraft security video with normal people rather than animated blue humans.
Richard, 10:32 PM
So you're actually in danger of flying somewhere today then?
10:52 PM
The captain has left the aircraft to assess the situation on the ramp with loading the items.
Usually Pearson load 84 planes per hour, currently they're doing 22 planes per hour.
10:56 PM
There is ONE person loading our plane.
11:07 PM
Currently three (3) "cans" of luggage is missing, so we will be here a while. I have not checked out of my hotel room, with their blessing, so I do have a place to go if necessary. Please keep Grant updated via Skype. Please tell me how the other flights are, I have no WiFi.
Richard, 11:10 PM
Average departure delay 51 minutes. There were a couple of planes going for deicing when it started snowing but most planes are going straight to the runway now.
11:29 PM
The crazy woman is screaming again, I want her gone.
11:30 PM
Everyone is now delayed waiting for my wheelchair.
Richard, 11:34 PM
Do they at least know where it is?
11:35 PM
Wheelchair was not lost, just not on the plane, awaiting a fork-lift truck. We might be leaving in 15 minutes.
11:51 PM
We are moving!
Richard, 11:52 PM
Yay! I'll let Grant know. I sleep now. Love you.
Tuesday
11:53 AM (BST)
We have landed.
12:30 PM
I have wheelchair and am going to passport control.
2:53 PM
Home. I sleep now.