Storms + O'Hare = Travel Delays

I’ve had some flight delays before: mechanical difficulties derailing my trip to Morocco for a day, the trip to Iraq that involved two unexpected layovers and 1 expected and missing the connecting flight to Dublin because at Logan I had to exit the airport to get to the terminal the flight was leaving from and go through security all over again.

My trip from Dayton, Ohio, to Newark, New Jersey via Chicago takes the cake.I finished the Flying Pig Half marathon Sunday morning, drove the hour from Cincinnati to Dayton and was ready to board the plane and bask in post-half marathon endorphins.

I was supposed to leave Dayton (DAY) at 7:09 pm est, arrive in Chicago (ORD) at 7:22 pm cst, run to the other end of the terminal to grab the 8:00 pm cst flight to Newark (EWR) that would get me home at 11:13 pm est.

Sitting in Dayton, all I saw was blue sky, but apparently storms were brewing in Chicago that led to a ground stop for awhile.

This was the delay updates I got throughout my travels:

1) United flight 3762 DAY-ORD on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 8:11 pm from gate B17.

Arrival time now 8:24 pm.

Lynn: Shit, I’m going to miss my connecting flight. Maybe my Newark flight will be delayed

2) United flight 3762 DAY-ORD on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 8:47 pm from gate B17.

Arrival time now 9:00 pm.

Lynn: Well, I really am going to miss my flight, there’s no way the Newark plane will be that late. Let me check the app to see where the Newark plane is coming from.

3) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 8:30 pm from gate B18.

Arrival time now 11:43 pm.

Lynn: Ok, it’s delayed, but I’ still going to miss it. Better email work.

4) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 9:10 pm from gate B18.

Arrival time now 12:23 am.

Lynn: Hmm, I wonder how fast I can run between the two gates, which are on complete opposite sides of the airport? Maybe running 13.1 miles this morning wasn’t a good idea for the legs.

5) United flight 3762 DAY-ORD on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 9:46 pm from gate B17.

Arrival time now 9:59 pm.

Lynn: well never mind. I’m going to call about airport hotels. Maybe I’ll find one with HBO and I can watch Game of Thrones. At least some good will come out of this mess.

6) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 11:00 pm from gate B22.

Arrival time now 2:13 am.

Lynn: Wait, this seems promising! United is just teasing me now. Oh, the plane has landed. They’re letting us board! I finally get to leave Dayton! (which besides having very nice, helpful gate agents, have electrical outlets everywhere!)

7) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 11:30 pm from gate B22.

Arrival time now 2:43 am.

Lynn; This is promising. How do I get back to NYC from Newark at 2:43. I’m glad I have an iPhone now. To Google! To NJTRANSIT! To AMTRAK! (10 minutes later) Crap, I’m going to have to call my folks.

8) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 11:50 pm from gate B22.

Arrival time now 3:03 am

Lynn: Yep, I’m going to have to call my parents to get picked up at the airport.

9) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 12:30 am from gate B21.

Arrival time now 3:03 am.

Lynn: I’m never leaving O’Hare.

10) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 12:05 am from gate B21.

Arrival time now 3:14 am.

Lynn: What. The. Hell. 

11) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 12:37 am from gate B21.

Arrival time now 3:14 am.

Lynn: Damn you, United. Make up your mind! Oh, wait, our plane finally landed!!!!! The agents are saying something about getting ready for us to board. Hallelujah! [White flash] Was that lightening? [Another white flash] Crap. I am never leaving O’Hare.

12) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 1:05 am from gate B21.

Arrival time now 4:04 am.

The gate agents say we’re waiting for the storm to pass.

Lynn: I give up.

13) Missing email – Departure time of 1:15 am

Lynn: I’m going to find a row of seats and take a nap. I’m never leaving. Ever.

14) United flight 3562 ORD-EWR on 6MAY delayed.

Departure time now 1:30 am from gate B21.

Arrival time now 4:04 am.

Lynn: Sure, whatever United. Wait, why are people moving toward the gate?

We boarded, the pilot said we were going to leave soon, but I still didn’t believe. Even when I felt the plane move, I didn’t believe. But then we took off and I promptly fell asleep. Didn’t wake up until we landed in Newark. Actual arrival time, based on my watch, 4:37am. Yes, my parents picked me up.

Lesson: never fly through O’Hare again. Ever!

Also, having my flying pig stress toy helped. 

 Strangely enough, even if all the waiting, I didn’t manage to finish my book.