leanneandtonya

Leanne and Tonya's 6 Hour Return
Flight Fiasco

I knew it wasn't a good sign when I saw icicles hanging off the
airplanes wings and a sheet of ice was forming on the
windows when we were boarding the plane. Kelly and Sue
had graciously given up their assigned seats to Tonya and
myself so we could make it home that night since NWA had
over booked our flight back to Ft. Lauderdale. Not only was
their act of kindness thoughtful but also very smart since
Tonya and I spent 3 hrs on opposite ends of the
unairconditioned airplane in freezing rain in front of the
docking pad while our "faulty valve" in the cock pit of the
plane had to be replaced not once but twice. After both of
these mechanical malfunctions were apparently resolved we
had to "de-ice" the plane for the 2nd time this time adding
another substance to increase the effectiveness that the first
coat was lacking according to the pilot. At this point, a night
at the Westin was looking pretty good to Tonya and I.

Needless to say when we finally started down the runway
during take off you could hear a pin drop on the plane. All of
us hoping the whole de-icing and valve repairs went well. I'll
have to say Tonya was a trooper through the whole thing
even though she has a fear of flying because I'll have to say I
was feeling a little anxious myself when we were going down
the runway during take off. I don't know which of us had it
worse ..Tonya who had to sit beside an obnxious drunk
woman or myself who got the seat beside the only lavatory
on the plane which was continuously occupied during the 3
hr down time. However, we landed safely in Ft. Lauderdale
at 4am and I made it to work at 11am with no car because my
car was in a parking lot somewhere with a flat tire. Alls well
that ends well though..many thanks to Kelly and Sue for
getting me to work Monday.