Spoke too soon...

I had hoped today would be one of leisurely travel. An early afternoon flight, avoiding all the crowds, and leaving lots of time to rest up and prepare for the working week. Maybe even spend some time in the hotel gym or pool. Instead, another long-haul short-haul.

It all started innocently enough - the 14:00 flight delayed to 14:25, which we boarded approximately on time. Once the doors closed, the captain announces that O'Hare flow control has assigned us a wheels-up time of 15:26, so we prepare to sit at the gate for another 50 minutes.

Time enough to start flipping through the enRoute magazine. By 14:50 though, they announced the cancellation of our flight due to thunderstorms in the Chicago area. We had to wait another 10 minutes for the gate agent (agent de sol) to come aboard, just to explain that we need to make our own re-bookings.

Luckily, with no checked luggage (see below) or duty free, I was allowed to go back into the sterile zone of the airport, rather than out through Canada Customs, luggage carousel, back to the Air Canada check-in counter, and then in through US Customs again.

Of course, the "white courtesy phones" are only on the arrivals level, so I have to use my cell phone to call Air Canada Reservations, but can't get through. Now it sounds like a situation for the American Express Travel emergency line. The next flight is in 90 minutes (16:40), but it might also get cancelled. Otherwise, it'll be the 17:30. I'm now seriously inquiring about going into Milwaukee (17:50). I'm feeling lucky, and choose the earliest flight, but make sure to get the name of the agent, in case I have to call back.

Then it's back to the lounge again, for wine and cookies. While there, I see we're delayed yet again, until 18:00. Time for another bowl of soup.

When it's time to try leaving again, I find myself seated next to a prominent national newscast personality. Some interesting observations:

• She's left-handed. Scribbles lots of notes into a coil notebook.


• Able to slip back and forth effortlessly between English and French, when speaking to Francophone colleagues.


• Very fidgety (or else deathly afraid of DVT.)


• Highly attached to Blackberry.


• Flies in economy class, yet doesn't seem that familiar with Air Canada policies and service. Probably takes most trips on government or military aircraft.


• Not too certain on time zones and flying times. One wonders how she fared while reporting from Afghanistan.

A switch to runway 06R, plus a ground radar fault delays our actual takeoff until 19:00 ET. As promised, the flight is turbulent, but lands early at 19:15 CT. By the time I'm finally settled in to the hotel room, I stop the clock at 21:00, for a grand total of 10 hours travel time.