We got to the airport around 7:20am. Jonathan unloaded all six luggage and pushed two carts into the checkout counter as I stayed behind with the kids in the van. Once I got the 'signal' from Jonathan, I started to take Akemi out of the carseat and into the stroller and carried Ayumi in my arms into the airport. The checkout lady shared that our SFO to Shanghai (PVG) flight was overbooked and they were looking for volunteers. We should of took it as a 'hint', that we might of not make our flight. Concerned, we asked if we would miss that flight and she shared that we would make it if everything goes accordingly.
Going through security was fine. After years of traveling as a consultant, I've become a pro at unloading and reloading, even with two kids. Ayumi in the Bjorn, I pass through and Jonathan & Akemi followed behind me. We were two hours before our flight and had plenty of time.
As it started to approach our departure time, we noticed that our flight was getting delayed by 30mins. We were cutting it close but we still had time for our transfer flight. We didn't take off from LA till 11am. Our transfer flight out of SFO was at 11:18 a boarding. I knew we missed it, but Jonathan seemed to be hopeful, since the checkout lady gave him the reassurance that they will hold the flight since the airline knew they had transfers. I knew that it was a 'liner', but didn't want to rain on the parade and didn't say anything to Jonathan. Midway through our flight, the stewardess reports that she had bad news. Our flight to Shanghai departed and UA will try to accommodate those that missed the flight.
By the time we get to SFO, it was 12pm. We hurried to the customer service desk and Jonathan asked for next available flights. The next one was Friday from SFO to Japan (NRT) and then to PVG. However there was no guarantees that we could all sit together and they would not accommodate us overnite at a hotel. The customer service lady gave us a flyer with a hotel discount. After an hour with her, Jonathan called the premier executive line and finds out that there were no seats available for all of us to sit together in economy plus. Only in coach near the last rows in the center aisle. Furious, Jonathan goes back to the customer service desk.
Coincidentally, another passenger requested for a supervisor, so we spoke with her. She saw Akemi running around the area and Ayumi in the Bjorn. She comped us a room at the Hilton airport. In the end, we decided to fly back to LAX at no charge and book a new flight entirely. The supervisor gave us food vouchers and we had a very late lunch at the airport.
Through this experience, Akemi was great. She ran around the airport, played peek a boo behind signs, and managed to find her snacks in the duffle bag. Thank goodness that I overpacked the bag with snacks. I forgot to feed her lunch and we didn't eat till 2pm.
By the time we left the airport it was 3pm. We borrowed a carseat from UA and was planning on getting a rental car till we found out it would of been $150 to rent one for a day. We opted to go straight to the hotel. Jonathan shared our story with the Hotel checkin lady , who recently had a baby. To our surprise she gave us a 2 bedroom suite.
We didn't think the day could get any worse and decided to take the free shuttle into town (Burlingame) and grab a bite to eat. I should of known better since the kids didn't sleep much on the plane and had a long day. By the time we found a place to eat and sat down to order food, Akemi had a meltdown. We got our food packed up and caught the cab back to our hotel. Both kids passed out in the cab ride. At least we had a quiet dinner in the hotel room.
Unfortunately at nite, Ayumi was so tired, she wouldn't sleep at all. We had a very LONG nite.
We learned our lesson and had breakfast via room service.
In the end, we flew back around 2pm on Friday and arrived around 5pm. Stuck in LA Friday traffic with Ayumi crying all the way home, we were finally home.
