Wow...a different itinerary, with a cruise that departed from Amsterdam; headed south to La Rochelle as a port access for the Bordeaux region of France; to Bilbao, the city of design in northern Spain; La Coruna, Spain; overnight in Lisbon, Portugal; Cadiz, Spain as the port for Seville; overnight on the Island of Ibiza, a renowned international "party crowd" destination; and then arrived in Barcelona, Spain. The September departure had appeal because the European travel crowds of August would have reduced, and the weather would have cooled...
I had started to accumulate frequent flyer points on American Airlines, and they had an itinerary with a direct return flight from Barcelona to Miami for what had been considered a modern-day reasonable cost of $1,050 in coach.
The mid-day departure from Miami had appeal because any later in Florida at the time of year, risks a passenger and luggage loading and take-off delay due to developing thunderstorms (that close the airports until they pass, nearly daily). With the suggested three hour terminal arrival prior to departure for international flights, and the 1.25 hour leisurely drive from northern Palm Beach County, I allowed 5 hours. As this meant driving during Interstate 95's rush hour, and for her change of pace activity, I took Mom. This allowed us to travel in the high-speed lane. Nevertheless we ran into some anxiety-producing all-lanes traffic! We picked up my brother in Fort Lauderdale, so that he could drop me off at the terminal that would save over $200 for parking for the two weeks.
Miami International is a "gateway to Latin America" and the departure passenger drop offs are spread out. From the American sign it was quite a walk with my one-piece of rolling lightest weight luggage and small carry-on to the LAST passenger check-in area. I arrived to the large "Disney-esque" switch back coral check-in line. 45 minutes later, I was at the counter; my luggage weighed in at 45 pounds (under the 50 pound extra fee limit); and the attendant was able to switch me from center to aisle seats for all THREE flight legs to Amsterdam. "Security" had another long switch back line; and after "undressing" and hands over head x-ray scanning and titanium shoulder implant wand scanning I made it thru, and to the LAST departure gate in the terminal in just over 2 hours!
I was in the last boarding group to be called that probably meant that the overhead bins would be full! The plane was full! A number of the passengers apparently cheated because I was the first in line for my group but when I arrived at my next to the last row from the back, most of the seats were already full! Ahhh...the carry on was put under my seat; the baby was already screaming behind me; the passengers beside me did not acknowledge my smiles and hellos (nor did they speak for the 3-hour flight, but did jab me a few times in the ribs!); and I "wedged" into the smallest seat with the least leg room I've yet to see, to prepare for take-off ! My...aren't the flight crew members young, attractive, thin , smiling, welcoming and attentive? The taped security instructional animated video played and we were ready to depart!
We taxied away from the gate, and I noticed the storm clouds building, and the pilot related that we were in a long cue to depart...would we best the storm and would we arrive in time with less than 2 hours of connection time at New York's JFK, to make the next leg to London's Heathrow? To be continued...
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